Joint Statement Reaffirming a Shared Commitment to Defense Industrial Resilience

View Online IMMEDIATE RELEASE Joint Statement Reaffirming a Shared Commitment to Defense Industrial Resilience March 20, 2026 We, the National Armaments Directors and senior government officials of the member nations of the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR), convened for our 2nd Annual Plenary meeting, virtually, on March 18, 2026, to reaffirm our commitment to accelerating defense industrial cooperation. We reaffirmed the PIPIR Statement of Core Vision and Terms of Reference, discussed the collective challenges and opportunities to defense industrial cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and endorsed the 2026 roadmap for PIPIR workstream initiatives. We also endorsed the accession of Thailand and the United Kingdom to PIPIR, welcoming them as the 15th and 16th members, respectively, to join our Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic partnership. Collectively, we are committed to strengthening defense industrial resilience to promote the continued regional security, economic security, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. We discussed current capacity shortfalls and resilience challenges in the global defense industrial base that impede our ability to meet combined operational needs but acknowledged positive momentum through PIPIR in addressing barriers to increased armaments cooperation. We further reaffirmed our commitment to exploring avenues across the Partnership to strengthen defense industrial base integration to de-risk supply chains, expand forward sustainment capacity, remove policy and regulatory impediments to cooperation, and accelerate production of key systems and components. We discussed the significant progress that has been achieved through PIPIR since its establishment, recalling the announcement of two marquee initiatives by the U.S. Secretary of War at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May 2025, including the development of a forward repair capability for P-8 radar systems in Australia and the development of standards for small unmanned aerial systems across the Indo-Pacific. We agreed to the following next steps for these marquee initiatives: Expanding the scope of the regional sustainment hub in Australia to support additional P-8 operators in the Indo-Pacific, a project recently announced at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May 2025. Endorsing four Statements of Intent to foster cooperation on small unmanned aerial systems' battery and small motor development through executing an industry survey and sharing results among participants, pursuing reciprocal standards and a common procurement policy, and identifying efforts towards a future battery project. We agreed that PIPIR continues to make tangible progress toward addressing barriers and accelerating defense industrial collaboration to promote a stronger, more resilient, more integrated, defense industrial base. We also reaffirmed the importance of multilateral frameworks such as PIPIR to help facilitate the rapid delivery of relevant capabilities to our combined defense forces. In doing so, we took measure of the progress made since our last plenary on these efforts: Building on the success of the Multinational Armaments Resilience Seminar, the first Indo-Pacific focused multinational armaments cooperation course, to be executed on a yearly basis, and co-hosted by the Department of War's Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and rotating PIPIR members. Continuing our campaign of learning through multiple industrial base-focused subject-matter expert exchanges, tabletop exercises, and collaborative learning events. We also discussed and endorsed several new lines of effort that will strengthen the Partnership by creating more opportunities for collaboration and will advance defense industrial resilience in the Indo-Pacific and globally: Committing to a project that will explore feasibility and opportunity to establish a forward-deployed F100/F110 engine repair hub in Japan, which, will support regional sustainment for F-15 and F-16 platforms operated by the United States Air Force and partner nations. Progressing the effort to establish a CH-47 Chinook T-55 engine repair hub in the Republic of Korea, a project recently announced at the US-ROK Logistics Cooperations Committee in July 2025. Establishment of a new Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) production initiative between the US and Japan, chaired by Japan. Expanding energetics and munitions development by assessing the potential for interest and funding for the 30mm-by-173mm ammunition load, assemble, and pack line effort with the Philippines. Supporting regional co-production opportunities by exploring modular UAV projects across many mission sets. Instituting new tools and techniques, such as a project development guide, that provides a methodology to identify and assess future collaborations resulting in enhanced project efficiency and efficacy, information sharing, and transparency among governments, industry partners, and stakeholders.

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Air Refuelers Among Transcom's Most Critical Assets

View Online Air Refuelers Among Transcom's Most Critical Assets March 20, 2026 |  By C. Todd Lopez Aircraft such as the KC-135 Stratotanker and the new KC-46 Pegasus, both mid-air refuelers, play a major role in helping the U.S. Transportation Command extend the reach of the joint force worldwide.   " Midnight Hammer showed just how much it actually takes to move the joint force at speed," said Air Force Gen. Randall Reed, Transcom commander, during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee's cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee, March 18. "And we continue to see that each time we engage in operations."  Refueler aircraft played a large role in helping American bombers make it from the United States to Iran in June 2025 to execute Operation Midnight Hammer, where U.S. forces dropped massive bombs on Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, resulting in the destruction of Iranian nuclear capabilities.  Reed told lawmakers during the hearing that refuelers are among the most critical assets in the Transcom inventory.  "Currently, the air refueling fleet is the most stressed fleet that we have," he said. "But it is the one that I use the most to actually set the conditions to get the joint force on the move." The KC-135 Stratotanker was first introduced in the late 1950s. It is an aircraft that is still playing an important role for Transcom, though it needs modernization to remain a contributor to the command's mission. Transcom is also using the newly introduced KC-46 Pegasus.   "For the KC-135 that we continue to fly, we appreciate the continued investment and sustainment and spare parts for it," Reed said. "It is a fantastic plane."  Right now, Reed said, Congress is funding efforts to address connectivity issues with the KC-135.  "Adversaries continue to advance in their ability to see us and to affect us," Reed said. "With that, we continue to press for increased connectivity of fleet, to be able to get information inside the airplanes, to the crew, so that they could see what's happening around them, that I can give them direction and control and that they can be more responsive."  As the Air Force continues to buy newer KC-46 Pegasus aircraft, older KC-135 Stratotankers will be retired, Reed said, adding that Transcom will always have enough refueling capabilities.  "Once we get to the current end of the buy , we will still have about 300 KC-135s," he said. "They will be close to 70 years old, and they will need some care. And so, whatever we do, we need to invest in the whole thing, because I need them all."

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Department Extends Invitation to Bring Back Troops Separated for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine

View Online Department Extends Invitation to Bring Back Troops Separated for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine March 20, 2026 |  By C. Todd Lopez Service members forced to leave the military for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine now have an extra year to return to the service, if they so choose, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said today. In 2021, Pentagon officials issued a mandate that forced service members to either be vaccinated for COVID-19 or forced out of the military. Over the course of 500 days, nearly 8,000 active-duty and reserve service members were involuntarily separated for refusing to take the vaccine. Many others left voluntarily when their enlistments ended. Last year, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order regarding reinstating service members discharged under the department's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Following that executive order, the War Department invited those service members to return and pick up where they left off. Part of that direction included correcting the records of some service members who were discharged with a less than honorable service characterization. Some service members — those involuntarily separated solely for refusing to take the vaccine — were and are still eligible to receive some kinds of compensation. That initial invitation closes out next month. Now, the War Department is extending the deadline to April 1, 2027, giving those service members an extra year to decide whether they want to continue serving. "While I am proud of our efforts over the past year, our obligations to make things right are not yet complete," Hegseth said in a video posted today to social media. "I am therefore extending the application of the department's reinstatement and return to service guidance established last April." To encourage the return of experienced and dedicated service members, the active-service obligation for individuals returning to service under this guidance is now reduced from four years to two years, Hegseth said. That change, he said, isn't just for former service members who choose to return over the next year. Barring a few exceptions, those who have already returned and incurred a four-year service obligation will need to serve only two years. "This change reflects our confidence that returning [service] members will make an immediate and positive impact and aligns our reinstatement policy with the needs of both the service members and the military services," Hegseth said. While the military services have already reached out to service members who were separated under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the secretary has instructed the services to reach out again to reassess interest in the new offer. "Given this policy modification, and to ensure that everyone whose career was cut short under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate receives the respect they deserve, I direct the secretaries of the military departments — the Army, the Navy and the Air Force — within 60 days, to once again recontact those who have not rejoined already and inform them of this new information and this new opportunity," the secretary said.

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Army Aviation Takes Major Leap With Delivery of First Autonomous-Ready Black Hawk

View Online Army Aviation Takes Major Leap With Delivery of First Autonomous-Ready Black Hawk March 20, 2026 |  By U.S. Army Capability Program Executive, Aviation The Army officially received a groundbreaking H-60Mx Black Hawk helicopter upgraded for autonomous or piloted flight. This next-generation optionally piloted vehicle begins a rigorous testing phase, marking a pivotal moment in the Army's push to build a safer, smarter and more versatile helicopter fleet for the future.  A Decade of Innovation   This achievement is not an overnight success. It is the result of more than a decade of pioneering work in autonomous flight. The technology at the heart of this helicopter originated from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System program. The ALIAS program began over 10 years ago. It was founded on the visionary goal of creating a removable kit for existing aircraft, which would provide a high degree of automation. The goal was to reduce the complexity of flying, enhance safety and allow pilots to focus on higher-level mission tasks.   A military aircraft manufacturing company partnered with the research agency on this effort. As a direct result, the company developed technology that enables rotary and fixed-wing aircraft to be flown with and without people on board. After years of successful demonstrations on both commercial and military aircraft, the technology has matured. It is now a reliable system, ready for formal military evaluation.  A Smarter Generation of Aircraft   At its heart, this is no ordinary Black Hawk. The revolutionary technology serves as the aircraft's powerful flight control and autonomy system. Functioning like a highly advanced digital co-pilot, the system can manage the most complex tasks of flight, from takeoff to landing. This allows the helicopter to perform missions completely on its own or with a remote crew supervising from a secure ground station, offering unprecedented flexibility.  This advanced capability is delivered through the ALIAS optionally piloted vehicle kit. This comprehensive package includes the system's autonomy mission manager, which serves as the brain of the operation, and a software development kit. The SDK is a crucial feature that allows third-party software and new sensor technologies to be integrated, opening the door for continuous innovation. This kit approach provides a critical pathway to adapt sophisticated autonomy to existing aircraft, significantly reducing the time and cost required to field this game-changing technology across the fleet.  A key part of this upgrade is replacing the helicopter's traditional mechanical flight controls with a modern fly-by-wire electronic system. This makes the aircraft significantly more stable and easier to handle, particularly in challenging conditions with low visibility. By automating difficult maneuvers, the system dramatically reduces pilot workload, allowing the crew to focus less on the mechanics of flying and more on managing the critical mission at hand.  The Path Forward   In the coming months, Army test pilots and engineers will put the optionally piloted Black Hawk through its paces. These tests will check how well the aircraft can be controlled from the ground. They will examine how well the aircraft performs complex, real-world mission scenarios independently. The Army will also evaluate how this technology can keep soldiers safer and more effective.   This single helicopter leads a much broader vision. It is the primary testbed for the Army's Strategic Autonomy Flight Enabler program. The goal of SAFE is to develop a universal and scalable autonomy kit. This kit could be installed across the Army's entire fleet of Black Hawk helicopters and integrated into future aircraft designs.  Partners in Texas are collaborating on the ALIAS autonomy technology. The state is sponsoring a multiyear autonomy testbed effort through Texas A&M University's George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex. This effort uses modified UH-60L Black Hawks. The aim is to determine the value of autonomous aircraft for wildland firefighting and related state missions.  By proving this technology, the Army aims to unlock a new era of aviation that will not only save lives but also ensure that critical missions can be completed under any circumstance. The delivery of the first optionally piloted Black Hawk is more than a hardware handover. It is a tangible step toward a future in which technology and soldiers work together in powerful new ways to ensure mission success.

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Innovation in Action: Airman-Built 3D Model Strengthens Air Traffic Controller Training

View Online Innovation in Action: Airman-Built 3D Model Strengthens Air Traffic Controller Training March 20, 2026 |  By Air Force Senior Airman Imani West Airmen assigned to the 19th Operations Support Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, are taking a creative approach to training the next generation of air traffic controllers by developing a detailed 3D model that visually represents aircraft patterns and procedures used at the installation.   The innovation demonstrates how airmen are leveraging emerging technologies and creative problem-solving to improve training and operational readiness.    The immersive training tool was designed and produced by Air Force Airman Jay Perry, 19th OSS air traffic control apprentice. It provides a scale representation of the base's airspace and flight patterns. The project was inspired by an idea from Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Sanders, 19th OSS noncommissioned officer in charge of training and standardization.    Traditional training methods often rely on instructors holding model aircraft or cards to demonstrate aircraft positions and movements. While effective, the approach can make it difficult for visual and tactile learners to fully imagine spacing, conflict points and maneuvering patterns.   "This model allows us to physically show where aircraft may break in the pattern, extend downwind or maneuver differently," Sanders said. "It helps airmen understand when conflict may exist or when it doesn't, based on the flight path."    The model re-creates the installation's airspace layout at scale and uses magnets to hold miniature aircraft in place, allowing instructors to demonstrate real-world scenarios more accurately. The enhanced visualization helps trainees better understand aircraft spacing, sequencing and potential conflict areas.    Perry used a 3D modeling program to build his creation, but he made it by manipulating shapes to create detailed designs. After designing each component digitally, Perry prepared the parts for printing and produced them using multiple 3D printers available at the base innovation lab.   The process required careful planning, preparation and experimentation.    "Everything started from a single block in the design software," Perry said. "Each piece had to be separated and designed in a way that it could be printed and assembled later. It might look simple when you see the final model, but a lot of thought went into making sure the supports, slopes and connections would actually work."    One of the biggest challenges was ensuring the model could support its own structure at the scale required to accurately represent the airfield. The team experimented with different stand designs and angles to create a realistic yet durable layout.   By transforming abstract training concepts into a physical, visual model, the 19th Operations Support Squadron is helping trainees better grasp the complexities of airfield operations. This ensures controllers are better equipped to manage the skies above the base.    The project also highlights a broader culture of innovation across the installation, where airmen at every level are encouraged to identify challenges and develop solutions that enhance mission effectiveness.

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