Marcus Weisgerber
@MarcusReports
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Dad, Husband, Golden Retriever enthusiast, #AvGeek, New Yorker. Former biz editor @DefenseOne RT ≠ Endorsement
Joined January 2011
Some personal news: After nearly 10 years, next Friday will be my last day at @DefenseOne. I've decided to pursue an exciting career opportunity outside of journalism. More about that later. 1/X.
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JUST IN: "The Crew made the decision to go" — Inside RCH 871, which saved 640 from the Taliban . from @TaraCopp and me
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BREAKING: Vice President Mike Pence announces that uniformed members of the U.S. Space Force will be called Guardians. Threre you have it: Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Guardians.
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BREAKING: Boeing CEO David Calhoun says company executives should not have agreed to former President Trump’s terms for the new Air Force One. The company today announced it lost $660M building the two planes.
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The military jets using the call sign “FRANK” is significant. Frank Luke Jr. was an American fighter ace in World War I better known as the “Arizona Balloon Buster.” He is credited with shooting down 14 German surveillance balloons
Chinese high-altitude surveillance #balloon: . USAF F-22s FRANK01 & 02 launched from Langley AFB, VA joining up with KC-135R #AE04B3 57-1473 GASMN02 for aerial refueling.
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Defense Secretary Jim Mattis talked to reporters at the Pentagon this afternoon. Asked his biggest military concern in 2018, he responded: “I don’t have concerns. I create them”.
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"Putin’s war is not the result of NATO expansion. It is the cause of NATO expansion," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during an address at the Reagan National Defense Forum #RNDF2022.
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BREAKING: The US Air Force will roll out its new B-21 stealth bomber the “first week of December,” Andrew Hunter, the head of USAF acquisition says #asc22.
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BREAKING: The Pentagon says defense contractors in Texas must get COVID-19 vaccine despite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott banning a vaccine mandate in the state. “These requirements are promulgated pursuant to Federal law and supersede any contrary State or local law or ordinance"
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BREAKING: Ukrainian forces who sunk a Russian warship with Harpoon missiles in June trained in the United States, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer Bill LaPlante says.
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“Air Force One I'm just going to call a very unique moment, a very unique negotiation, a very unique set of risks that Boeing probably shouldn't have taken, but we are where we are, and we're going to deliver great airplanes,” Calhoun said on the company’s quarterly earnings call.
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JUST IN: The U.S. Air Force says it successfully fired a hypersonic weapon. A B-52 bomber launched the Lockheed Martin-made Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon. The ARRW missile flew at more than five-times the speed of sound
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Pentagon says Russians at same air base in Syria were not targeted. Russians were informed about strike in advance, Pentagon spokesman says.
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Since acting SecNav Thomas Modly said there is “no situation where you go to the media, because the media has an agenda,” I ask my Pentagon Press Corps colleagues to reply with examples of how press coverage of an issue helped protect troops or improve their quality of life. Go!.
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EXCLUSIVE: US Air Force Flew a Half Million Coronavirus Test Kits From Italy to Tennessee
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BREAKING: Raytheon Technologies says it cannot quickly make new Stinger missiles, which the US has been sending to Ukraine. CEO Greg Hayes says the company must redesign electronics in the missile and seeker. "That's going to take us a little bit of time.".
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WOW: New York air traffic controller to Russian Air Force cargo plane: "We sincerely thank you for all of the assistance you're bringing in." The plane in on final approach landing on runway 31L at JFK momentarily
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JUST IN: Here's the full list of weapons part of the Biden administration's $800 million aid package for Ukraine. Of note, 155-millimeter howitzers and 40,000 artillery rounds. It's the first time the U.S. military has provided artillery
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Gen. McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, says the US military has Apache attack helicopters, MQ-9 Reaper drones, F-15 fighters and AC-130 Gunships flying over Afghanistan #Kabul.
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BREAKING: The U.S. has formally kicked Turkey out of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program over Ankara’s buying S-400 missile interceptors from Russia
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JUST IN: The US Air Force says it needs $5 billion by June to fix weather-damaged bases. If Congress doesn’t come up with the cash, Air Force says it will ground planes, cut pilot training and cancel construction projects at other bases
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LaPlante said the Ukrainian forces trained in the U.S. over Memorial Day Weekend in late May. The Harpoons were modified to fire from the back of flatbed trucks, he said.
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NEW TONIGHT: Biden Ditches Trump’s Red, White & Blue Air Force One Paint Scheme For Classic Blue-and-White .
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BREAKING: @Boeing says it only has a $170M deal with @usairforce to help with requirements for new Air Force One.
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This is an incredibly comprehensive list of “shit Pentagon people say.” It was compiled by @JoyAngela during her time in “the building.” Send along anything that’s missing!
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FYI, it’s THIS Richard Spencer, the current Navy secretary:
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I can't recall a time when a branch of the military has issued a statement contradicting a president or president elect
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JUST IN: It’s official . This is paint job for Trump’s new Air Force One, as depicted in new Pentagon budget documents
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EXCLUSIVE: US Preparing to Put Nuclear Bombers Back on 24-Hour Alert
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BREAKING: Richard Spencer is now the acting defense secretary. Transition happened at 3:04 p.m.
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BREAKING: Trump's @StateDept has approved $1.8B in arms deals to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Kenya and UK.
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When I flew out to the UK's Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier a few weeks ago, the ship's captain nonchalantly told me they had an F-TYPE @Jaguar in the hangar below. Well here it is on the flight deck alongside an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter @HMSQnlz Photo: @LockheedMartin
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On the flight to New York, SecDef Esper was asked about Alexander Vindman. Here’s a transcript of the discussion
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Here's Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' letter of resignation. It comes one day after President Trump announced he would pull U.S. troops from Syria
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.@DefenseOne @USNavy Navy destroyers USS Ross & USS Porter were the warships to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles into Syria.
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Remember 8 months ago when Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman would't get screwed by the Army?.
On the flight to New York, SecDef Esper was asked about Alexander Vindman. Here’s a transcript of the discussion
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JUST IN: US Special Operations Command chooses L3Harris Technologies to supply up to 75 attack planes in a deal that could be worth $3B
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BREAKING: A Russian Air Force An-124 cargo plane carrying coronavirus medical supplies has landed at New York's JFK airport.
WOW: New York air traffic controller to Russian Air Force cargo plane: "We sincerely thank you for all of the assistance you're bringing in." The plane in on final approach landing on runway 31L at JFK momentarily
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Let’s start with atrocious conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center & the need for better armored vehicles to protect troops who were regularly getting killed by roadside. Here's how then Defense Secretary Robert Gates summed up press coverage of those two issues: " (2/X).
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🧵Today as @Boeing delivers the final 747, here's a look at how the military has used the Queen of the Skies over the past five decades.
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BREAKING: Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said @northropgrumman is secretly building FIVE B-21 stealth bombers right now. Kendall is speaking at the Air Force Association's annual conference right now.
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JUST IN: An Air Force C-17 from Fort Bragg in North Carolina just landed at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington. Two more C-17s from Fort Bragg are not far behind. Their destination is not listed
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JUST IN: Biden Extends Ban on Turkey Buying F-35 Stealth Fighter
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I've been MIA from Twitter for the past two weeks. Here's what happened to me after getting my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
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Hello from Andrews Air Force Base! It’s B-21 bomber rollout day. I’m en route to @northropgrumman in Palmdale, California, with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. Busy day at Andrews where French President Macron just left. Plus an Air Force One sighting
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If you’re in Boston look up. A Russian air Force cargo plane is about to fly over you!
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BREAKING: US should NOT sell Turkey F-35 Joint Strike Fighter if Turkey buys S-400 surface to air missile system from Russia, Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, head of European Command & NATO Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, tells Senate Armed Services Committee.
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JUST IN: President Biden is talking to CEOs and just referenced Russia's use of hypersonic weapons in Ukraine. He said the Russian military is using fast-flying hypersonic weapons because its "the only thing they can get through" Ukrainian defenses.
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JUST IN This happened to journalist @natsecwatson, a former @USArmy soldier, at @Dulles_Airport yesterday:. CBP officer, holding Watson’s passport: “What do you do?”. Watson “Journalism.”. CBP officer “So you write propaganda, right?”. Full exchange here
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Of note, that roll out coincides with the Reagan National Defense Forum when dozens of top military officials are already in California. The B-21 is being built by Northrop Grumman in Palmdale about an hour away from the conference.
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JUST IN: Adm. Mike Gilday, the chief of naval operations, urges defense companies to hire Afghan and Ukrainian refugees emigrating to the United States. Shipbuilders have been struggling to hire trades workers, especially welders.
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WOW: Rail workers going on strike could slow weapons and equipment deliveries to Ukraine and American troops deployed overseas. It’s not just food and packages traveling on the rails, folks.
Small add from me tonight: U.S. Transportation Command, the military’s cargo and logistics arm, said it is prioritizing aid to Ukraine and overseas deployments in order to mitigate any impact from the strike. via @politico.
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Just met Jackson at the Pentagon. He’s a medical alert assistance dog for a Vietnam vet who had trouble leaving his house until he came along five years ago. 15/10 CC: @paws4vets
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Here’s an EA-18G Growler landing on the USS Gerald Ford. The jet is participating in flight trials with the @USNavy’s newest aircraft carrier
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JUST IN: The @usairforce has more F-35s in its inventory than F-22s. @LockheedMartin delivered the 196th Joint Strike Fighter (pictured) this week
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“I gained even more of an appreciation for the important accountability role of the press early in my tenure when newspaper reports exposed two glaring bureaucratic shortcomings, in the outpatient treatment of wounded warriors at Walter Reed . (3/X).
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JUST IN: @LockheedMartin becomes the latest defense contractor to suspend political contributions joining @Boeing, @northropgrumman, @RaytheonTech, @BAESystemsInc and @LeidosInc
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JUST IN: "U.S. early earning systems detected the incoming ballistic missiles well in advance, providing U.S. and coalition forces adequate time to take appropriate force protection measures," a U.S. defense official tells reporters at the Pentagon.
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NEXT WEEK: The U.S. Air Force will name its new F-15EX fighter jet. What should they call it? How about this: F-15EX Lightning Rod
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". and resistance to purchasing life-saving MRAPs for troops downrange. Responding to both of these critical issues, which only came to my attention through the media, became my top priority and two of my earliest and most significant management decisions." (4/X).
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BREAKING: The US could begin training Ukrainian troops how to use sophisticated NASAMS missile defense system as soon as next month, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says at Pentagon briefing #Ukraine.
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JUST IN: Here's something you don't see every day: Drone-maker General Atomics issues a public statement criticizing the U.S. government for not sending its drones to Ukraine. Company says it's even offered two its drones and train the Ukrainians for price of $1
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EXCLUSIVE: The secret history of the Air Force One shadow fleet. Defense One has assembled the most comprehensive history of four Boeing 757s that the Air Force doesn't acknowledge exist.
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Today's US strike on Syrian air base did not target people, Pentagon spokesman says. Infrastructure and weapons targeted.
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"Long line at the gas station." Great @usairforce caption on this pic of KC-10 refueling an F-35 as B-2 & F-16s wait
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Spotted at the Farnborough Air Show in England: A @taylorswift13-themed Air Asia plane. Who wants one?? #FIA18
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BREAKING: Finland has chosen to buy the F-35 over the U.S.-made F/A-18 Super Hornet and three other European-made fighter jets. It's the second consecutive win for the F-35 in Europe following Switzerland choosing the F-35 in June.
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BREAKING: Defense Secretary Mattis orders review of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Air Force One programs
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The was the mold infestation at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, home to thousands of American troops. After learning about the conditions from @Oriana0214's reporting, then-SecAF @HONDeborahJames moved quickly to clean up the base.
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Judging by the number of DMs, texts and emails I’ve received from natsec and non-natsec people about the @realspaceforce trailer, a lot of people are going to be watching this show.
Wait, who's in charge of what now? Steve Carell, welcome to Space Force. May 29th.
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"Some people here [in the US] and in Europe still think that Russia is a sleeping bear. But in fact, is a frightened jackal, in a bear's skin," Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Volodymyr Havrylov says.
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BREAKING: Pentagon says Iran fired "more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq." #Soleimani
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There are so many stories about pilots being starved for oxygen in numerous military aircraft. @TaraCopp, @StephenLosey, @ValerieInsinna, @laraseligman & others have covered extensively . (6/X).
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UPDATE: A spokesperson for Bill LaPlante says the Ukrainian officials were not trained in the US & would not say where they were trained. Here is the full quote for context
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JUST IN: Raytheon Technologies Invests in Hypersonic Aircraft Startup Hermeus. It’s the first investment by the aerospace and defense giant’s new venture arm.
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BREAKING: Several Pentagon eateries are closed as workers participate in "Day Without Immigrants Strike" @Starbucks @BurgerKing among closed.
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The USAF called the successful test a “major accomplishment.” The ARRW missile failed during three prior tests.
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EXCLUSIVE: Lockheed Martin is pitching an F-22/F-35 hybrid to U.S. Air Force to counter Russian and Chinese threats
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BREAKING: The Pentagon says it successfully shot down an ICBM with the Ground Based Midcourse Defense interceptor.
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BREAKING: Poland will give its MiG-29 fighter jets to the US. Presumably the US will give them to Ukraine
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An Army Lakota helicopter has been flying low level over downtown Washington while an FBI surveillance plane orbits the city from high above
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JUST IN: Boeing says took a $660 million loss building the new Air Force One "primarily driven by higher supplier costs." The charge was reported in the company's quarterly earnings today. The current contract requires Boeing, not the taxpayers, to pay for its cost overruns.
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YAL-1, better known as the Airborne Laser, was a test aircraft built to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles. The modified 747-400 had a nose-mounted laser powered by chemicals that were stored in tanks inside the plane. The military canceled the project in 2011
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NEW: Since the creation of the defense secretary cabinet position in 1947, there had previously only been two acting secretaries. There have been four over the past 21 months of Trump’s presidency
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This is my last story for @DefenseOne. It's taken years to report and closes out a 20-year career in journalism.
EXCLUSIVE: The secret history of the Air Force One shadow fleet. Defense One has assembled the most comprehensive history of four Boeing 757s that the Air Force doesn't acknowledge exist.
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Listening to President Trump, you would think the military is getting $700B. Not the case. Federal law caps the Pentagon fiscal 2018 budget at $549B. Plus, Congress hasn't actually passed a 2018 budget and the government might shut down this week. But other than that, all good.
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SCOOP: Pentagon Reorganizes Industrial Policy Office to Shore Up Defense Firms, Supply Chain. The restructure gives two new deputies to the assistant secretary for industrial policy—and "dissolves" another.
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Link to Gates the press conference where Gates made those comments: (5/X).
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Ukrainian military pilots question whether US-made Gray Eagle drones would be effective in war with Russia, @JackDetsch reports. “It’s very dangerous to use such expensive drones in our case, because of the enemy’s air defense. It’s not Afghanistan here”
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JUST IN: President Biden authorized the military to shoot down the balloon on WEDNESDAY “as soon as the mission could be accomplished without undue risk to American lives under the balloon’s path,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a new statement
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