Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of March 18, 2024. The decision came almost six months after the F-35 finished a series of Joint Simulation Environment tests. Navy destroyers are being tested at an unprecedented rate in the Middle East. U.S. and coalition forces took out a steady stream of Houthi attack drones Saturday. At least 31 directed-energy initiatives are underway across the U.S. Department of Defense. Some are more mature than others. The Texas adjutant general stood in uniform beside the former president during a campaign event on immigration policy. The Marines have a regular drumbeat of MEUs ready to deploy. Lacking ready amphib ships, though, they're turning to other means of getting to sea. If the F-35 upgrades known as Technology Refresh 3 aren't ready for deliveries to resume in the third quarter, Lockheed said it may slow down production. Flight tests are slated to begin in 2024. The delays could have a cascading effect that hurts the Air Force’s ability to manage its units worldwide. Load More