Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David H. Berger and the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Troy E. Black, lead Marines of Headquarters Marine Corps to celebrate the Marine Corps' 247th birthday in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 9, 2022. U.S. Marine Corps / Sgt. Kathryn Adams
The Naval Brief: U.S., Chinese leaders finally meet; Spies get prison; Air defenses for Ukraine; and more...
Welcome to The Naval Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the sea services’ future.
Biden-Xi meeting. The leaders of the United States and China will meet face to face for the first time next week at the G-20 summit in Indonesia. President Biden is expected to discuss Taiwan with President Xi, as well as China’s support for Russia, Defense One reports. Xi recently gained an unprecedented third term, and the U.S. has taken actions to restrict Chinese access to sophisticated microchips and American workers in the industry.
Spy couple sentenced. Jonathan Toebbe, a nuclear engineer for the Navy who tried to sell secrets about the design of nuclear-powered warships, was sentenced Wednesday to more than 19 years in prison, the Justice Department announced. His wife Diana, who conspired with him, was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison.
Air defenses, arriving. Ukrainian forces are now using the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, provided by the U.S. to protect against aerial threats by Russian forces, Defense One reports. The crews had been trained in an unnamed European country, according to the Pentagon.
Sign up to get The Naval Brief every Thursday from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. Happy Birthday, Marine Corps, on your 247th birthday. You can watch their birthday video here.
From Defense One
Russian Forces Retreat from Kherson, In Major Loss // Patrick Tucker
Retaking the city will put Ukrainian rockets in range of a new swath of targets in Crimea and elsewhere.
"Wonder Weapons" Will Not Win Russia's War // Raphael S. Cohen and Gian Gentile
Russia's turn to kamikaze drones is premised on a flawed strategy.
More Than 100 C-130s Are Down, Likely Because Mechanics Scratched Their Propellers, Air Force Says // Marcus Weisgerber
The standard practice of inscribing serial numbers during inspections turns out to be counterproductive.