| 'THE UKRAINIANS ARE IN ARE IN A GOOD POSITION': America's top general in Europe, Gen. Christopher Cavoli — who is both the supreme NATO and U.S. European commander — has told Congress that the U.S. has been working closely with Ukraine on its plans for a counteroffensive against Russia, including ways to gain the element of surprise despite the fact the Russians and the whole world know the military operation is coming. "Of course, we've worked on all that with them. And, of course, it wouldn't be a surprise if we talked about it in public," Cavoli testified before the House Armed Services Committee yesterday. "Any force can always use more of everything. But according to the modeling that we [have] very carefully done with them, the Ukrainians are in a good position." UKRAINE HAS ALMOST ALL PROMISED MILITARY VEHICLES, NATO SAYS ENOUGH TO WIN? Cavoli's assurances came as the chairman of the committee, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), questioned whether the Biden administration was providing Ukraine with everything it needs to win, not just improving its position on the battlefield. "I'm hopeful the coming counteroffensive will provide a final stinging defeat for Putin," Rogers said in his opening statement. "But that will require the president to stop being so reluctant to provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to be successful. His hesitation over being too escalatory has only prolonged the war and driven up cost in terms of dollars and lives." In his questioning of Cavoli, Rogers zeroed in on the Pentagon's massive stockpile of cluster munitions. "The U.S. military has over three million cluster munitions that can be fired from 155 Howitzers currently in Ukraine's possession," Rogers said. "And Russia is using these munitions right now against the Ukrainians. Can you please explain the battlefield military utility that giving Ukraine the DPICMs [dual-purpose improved conventional munitions] that we have would have in particular in places like Bakhmut?" Cavoli answered without explaining the U.S. resistance to providing the munitions, which are banned by 123 nations, but not the U.S. "We call it dual purpose because it releases bomblets, some of which are anti-personnel fragmentation grenades, and some of which are shaped charges that attack vehicles from above," he said. "It's a very effective munition. It's very effective against mixed targets of personnel and equipment, especially when those targets are gathered into dense formations." CLUSTER BOMBS WOULD BE 'VERY EFFECTIVE' FOR UKRAINE, NATO COMMANDER SAYS READ OUR LIPS: NO F-16s: The recurring question of providing Ukraine with modern, 4th generation aircraft, such as U.S. F-16s, was again answered by the administration with a resounding "not at this time." "We have focused with resources on the highest priority capabilities, and that has been air defense artillery and armor," testified Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. "And aircraft, while on the list, Western modern aircraft is about eighth on the list." "What Ukraine really needs to do is control the airspace over its country and over its forces. And they've been doing that very effectively with ground-based air defense," said Cavoli. "It's been very well served by ground-based air defense. They've also got some capabilities that we've married to their Soviet-era airframes for offensive operations." Both Poland and Slovakia have recently given older MiG-29s to Ukraine to bolster its depleted air forces. "The contributions that some NATO allies have made of legacy Soviet aircraft have been helpful to the Ukrainians, because their pilots are trained on those aircraft. They know how to use them; they know how to maintain them," said Wallander. CHINA'S XI AND UKRAINE'S ZELENSKY SPEAK FOR FIRST TIME SINCE RUSSIAN INVASION Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre's Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Conrad Hoyt. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn't work, shoot us an email and we'll add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE Subscribe today to the Washington Examiner magazine and get Washington Briefing: politics and policy stories that will keep you up to date with what's going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Just $1.00 an issue! HAPPENING TODAY: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will address a joint meeting of Congress this morning in honor of the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. The bipartisan invitation to speak was issued by leaders of both chambers, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Yoon's speech will be livestreamed at 10:30 a.m. at https://www.speaker.gov/live. Following the speech, Yoon is scheduled to have lunch at 1 p.m. with both Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Vice President Kamala Harris at the State Department before heading over to the Pentagon for a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at 3:20 p.m. US-ROK NUCLEAR AGREEMENT 'COMPLETE CONSULTATION': The agreement announced yesterday by Yoon and President Joe Biden is as much about reassuring South Korea as it is about warning North Korea that an attack on its southern neighbor and the U.S. would be a disaster. As tensions have risen on the Korean Peninsula, public sentiment in South Korea began to build in favor of Seoul developing its own nuclear arsenal so it wouldn't be at the mercy of Washington's decisions about when or if a nuclear response was warranted. In return for remaining a non-nuclear military power, South Korea will get an increased nuclear presence in the form of periodic docking on U.S. ballistic missile submarines and enhanced consultation over the use of nuclear weapons in defense of itself. "It's about strengthening deterrence in response to the DPRK's [North Korea's] escalatory behavior and to and dealing with complete consultation," said Biden, who ominously warned, "A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action." "President Biden has reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to extended deterrence towards the Republic of Korea," said Yoon. "Our two countries have agreed to immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of North Korea's nuclear attack, and promise to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly, and decisively using the full force of the alliance, including the United States's nuclear weapons." HOW US NUCLEAR SUBMARINE VISITS TO SOUTH KOREA ARE FOCUSED ON NORTH KOREA AND CHINA ALSO TODAY: DETENTION HEARING FOR ACCUSED LEAKER: Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old Airman First Class charged with the damaging leak of an untold number of highly-classified documents, is due in a federal courtroom in Worcester, Massachusetts. Teixeira has been in jail since his arrest on April 14, and federal prosecutors are arguing he is a flight risk and should remain incarcerated until trial. "There simply is no condition or combination of conditions that can ensure the Defendant will not further disclose additional information still in his knowledge or possession," prosecutors said in court papers filed ahead of today's detention hearing. "The damage the Defendant has already caused to the U.S. national security is immense. The damage the Defendant is still capable of causing is extraordinary." Meanwhile, the Air Force has temporarily suspended the commander of the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, along with the detachment commander, reported Washington Examiner defense reporter Mike Brest. The two leaders of the unit where Teixeira worked have also lost access to classified systems and information pending further investigation, Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman, told Brest. AIR FORCE SUSPENDS TWO LEADERS OF ALLEGED PENTAGON LEAKER'S UNIT WHY SO FEW? While U.S. allies Britain, France, and Germany have been airlifting hundreds of their stranded nationals out of war-torn Sudan, the U.S. has only seen a trickle of Americans evacuating by land to Port Sudan, an eastern coastal town on the Red Sea. Americans and dual nationals who have made it to Port Sudan can take a ferry to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Others have been flown out on the evacuation flights conducted by U.S. allies. The White House insists despite the estimates that there are roughly 16,000 U.S. citizens in Sudan, there just aren't that many U.S. citizens who want to leave. "I will tell you that the universe of Americans, American citizens that have expressed a desire to leave and a willingness to move on short notice is a very small number," said NSC spokesman John Kirby on CNN yesterday. "It's in the many dozens … And so because that population is so small, right now we're focused on making sure that they have access to information to get on these ground routes." Kirby acknowledged that "allies and partners" have been opening up some seats on their planes for other foreign nationals, including Americans. "And so we are providing that information for them as well. That may be another way to get out," he said. SECOND AMERICAN KILLED IN SUDANESE VIOLENCE, WHITE HOUSE SAYS PROMOTIONS ADVANCE: The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted by voice "en bloc" to approve and send to the Senate floor 1,279 military nominations in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. The list includes 12 general officer and flag officer promotions. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) continues to block the promotion of 184 three-and-four-star senior officer promotions in an effort to force the Pentagon to rescind its policy of granting paid leave and reimbursing travel expenses for military women who need to travel to a different state to obtain abortion services. INDUSTRY WATCH: BOEING TAKES A HIT: Boeing released its financial results for the first quarter of 2023, and its defense sector suffered $211 million in losses, mostly because of a $245 million pre-tax charge on the KC-46A Pegasus tanker program, which the company said was "largely driven by the previously shared supplier quality issue resulting in factory disruption and rework." Overall revenue for the Defense, Space, and Security sector was $6.5 billion, up 19% from the same quarter last year. Revenue for the entire company was $17.9 billion, with an operating loss of $425 million. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Rundown Washington Examiner: Air Force suspends two leaders of alleged Pentagon leaker's unit Washington Examiner: Prosecutors say alleged leaker is a 'serious flight risk' who sought to destroy evidence Washington Examiner: US to dock nuclear submarines in South Korea for first time in decades Washington Examiner: How US nuclear submarine visits to South Korea are focused on North Korea and China Washington Examiner: China's Xi and Ukraine's Zelensky speak for first time since Russian invasion Washington Examiner: Cluster bombs would be 'very effective' for Ukraine, NATO commander says Washington Examiner: Ukraine has almost all promised military vehicles, NATO says Washington Examiner: Taiwan shares intelligence with Five Eyes, spy chief reveals Washington Examiner: Second American killed in Sudanese violence, White House says Washington Examiner: US denies involvement in Taliban's killing of ISIS-K leader responsible for Kabul bombing Washington Examiner: World War I naval strategist has lessons for America's looming conflict with China. AP: Why China is trying to mediate in Russia's war with Ukraine Washington Post: Buildup Resumed At Suspected Chinese Military Site In UAE, Leak Says Washington Post: Russia Can Fund War in Ukraine for Another Year Despite Sanctions, Leaked Document Says Wall Street Journal: Ukraine Battles To Hold Off Russia In Bakhmut U.S. News & World Report: U.S.: Russian Subs in Atlantic 'More Active Than We've Seen Them in Years' 19fortyfive.com: 'Bleeding to Death': The Russian Military Looks Stuck in Ukraine CNN: Russian Ground Forces 'Bigger Today' Than At Start Of The War In Ukraine, U.S. General Says 19fortyfive.com: How Close Are We to Nuclear War with Russia? Reuters: Three Russian Aircraft Intercepted Over Baltic Sea, German Air Force Says 19fortyfive.com: What Happens if Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan Dies? C4ISRNET: Zero Trust Could Have Limited Pentagon Leak, Navy CTO Says Breaking Defense: Boeing Hit with Fresh $245 Million KC-46A Charge, Erasing Defense Sector's Q1 Profits Air & Space Forces Magazine: Days from Retirement, Hinote Warns That Air Force Modernization 'Could Come Off the Rails' Aviation Week: Why the USAF Wants to Change How Acquisitions Can Begin Breaking Defense: Space Force Wraps Initial Plan for Building 'Hybrid' Commercial/Military 'Outernet' Air & Space Forces Magazine: DOD Digs In: F-16s Not a Priority for Ukraine, Despite Russian Airpower Air & Space Forces Magazine: 'Electric Air Taxis' To Begin Testing at Edwards AFB By March '24 Air & Space Forces Magazine: 14 Airmen Become US Citizens in New Basic Training Naturalization Process Marine Corps Times: How 13 Marine Security Guards Helped In Sudan Embassy Evacuation Calendar THURSDAY | APRIL 27 7 a.m. 7920 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Va. — Potomac Officers Club 2023 Industrial Space Defense Summit, with Assistant Air Force Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration Frank Calvelli; Vice Adm. Jon Hill, director of the Missile Defense Agency; and Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Space and Missile Defense John Hill https://potomacofficersclub.com/events/poc-2023 10 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the U.S. virtual discussion: "The Elections in Turkey and Poland: How Domestic Corruption Undermines Democracy," with Cassandra Emmons, democracy data analyst at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems; Lisel Hintz, assistant professor of European and Eurasian studies at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies; and Josh Rudolph, senior fellow for malign finance at the GMFUS Alliance for Securing Democracy https://www.gmfus.org/event/elections-turkey-and-poland 12 p.m. — Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments report release webinar: "Air Power Metamorphosis: Rethinking Air Force Combat Force Modernization," with author Chris Bowie, CSBA non-resident senior fellow; Thomas Mahnken, CSBA president and CEO; and moderated by air power analyst Jeremiah Gertler https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register 12:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of the Air Force FY2024 Budget Request," with testimony from Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown; and Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 1 p.m. 2020 Rayburn — Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe hearing: "Church, State, and Russia's War on Ukraine," with Epiphanius I, metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine; Most Rev. Yevstratiy Zoria, metropolitan of Bila Tserkva; Most Rev. Borys Gudziak, archbishop of Philadelphia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Rev. Dr. Igor Bandura, vice president of international affairs at the Baptist Union of Ukraine https://www.youtube.com/watch 3:20 p.m. — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to the Pentagon FRIDAY | APRIL 28 10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of the Navy FY2024 Budget Request," with testimony from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday; Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 4 p.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee hearing: "A Review of the Defense Intelligence Enterprise's Posture and Capabilities in Strategic Competition and in Synchronizing Intelligence Efforts to Counter the People's Republic Of China," with testimony from Ronald Moultrie, undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security; Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander, U.S. Cyber Command and director, National Security Agency; and Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director, Defense Intelligence Agency https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/iso WEDNESDAY | MAY 3 10 a.m. 406 Dirksen — Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing: "The 2024 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget and implementation of Water Resources Development Act of 2022" http://epw.senate.gov 3 p.m. — Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress virtual conversation with retired Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan, author, White Sun War, The Campaign For Taiwan, a fictional account of a future war between the U.S. and China over Taiwan; and Joshua Huminski, director, Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence and Global Affairs https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register WEDNESDAY | MAY 3 3 p.m. — Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress virtual conversation on "Taiwan, Ukraine and the future of war," with retired Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan, author of White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan; and Joshua Huminski, director, Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence and Global Affairs https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register THURSDAY | MAY 4 4:15 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual event: "A Conversation with Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander, U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command," with Rebeccah Heinrichs, Hudson senior fellow and director, Keystone Defense Initiative https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conversation-with-gen-bussiere WEDNESDAY | MAY 10 2:30 a.m. EDT Brussels, Belgium — NATO's highest military authority, the Military Committee, meets in person at NATO headquarters, with opening remarks by Dutch Navy Adm. Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee; and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news 10 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies "Schriever Spacepower Series," with Maj. Gen. Shawn Bratton, commander, Space Training and Readiness Command https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/5-10 11:30 a.m. EDT Brussels, Belgium — Press conference with Dutch Navy Adm. Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee; NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg; U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, supreme allied commander Europe, and French Gen. Philippe Lavigne, supreme allied commander transformation https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news | | | "A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action."
| President Joe Biden, speaking in the Rose Garden as the U.S. and South Korea announce their new agreement on nuclear deterrence.
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