Early Bird Brief: August 8, 2024

Welcome to the Early Bird Brief's LinkedIn Edition, a tightly edited round-up of today's most important military and defense stories. To get the full EBB, with dozens of stories, subscribe here.

Today's Top 5:

Ukraine pierces Russian border, triggering fierce clashes

(Reuters) Russia said on Wednesday it was fighting intense battles against Ukrainian forces that had penetrated its southern border near a major natural gas transmission hub Read More

Creating space careers for enlisted soldiers a priority, officials say

(Defense News) The U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command has sent a proposal up the chain to establish a space-dedicated military occupation specialty for non-commissioned officers during the earlier stages of their careers Read More

I had a body part repossessed: Post-9/11 amputee vets say VA care is failing them

(The War Horse) The concerns of veterans with prosthetics are now making their way to Capitol Hill, signaling a growing acknowledgment of VA shortcomings Read More

Metal weakness may have led to fatal Osprey crash off Japan

(The Associated Press) A gear crack that led to a fatal crash of a V-22 Osprey last year may have been started by weak spots in a metal used to manufacture that part, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. Read More

Counter-drone missile competition possible in 2025, Army officials say

(Defense News) The U.S. Army is considering holding a competition in fiscal 2025 for a next-generation interceptor to take out threats from unmanned aerial systems Read More

For the full EBB, with dozens of daily story links, subscribe here.