Maggie Ybarra

Elon Musk, SpaceX to sue federal government to break space-launch monopoly

A fledgling commercial space transport company plans to shake up the space launch industry by filing a federal lawsuit against the Air Force — a challenge to the military service's contracting procedures for national security launches.

April 25, 2014

Russian jets enter Ukrainian airspace; Pentagon calls for nation to ‘deescalate the situation’

Russian warplanes have entered Ukraine airspace several times within the past 24 hours, conducting what one Pentagon official describes as "small probes."

April 25, 2014

Chuck Hagel can’t get Russian defense counterpart on phone

A Pentagon spokesman told reporters Friday that the U.S. defense secretary has been trying to communicate with Russian officials but has yet to hear back from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu or anyone else.

April 25, 2014

Russia plans new military exercises near border with Ukraine

Russian military officials said they plan to engage in a new series of military exercises near the Ukraine border in response to ongoing NATO training exercises in Poland.

April 24, 2014

Navy security officer fatally shot at Norfolk to be honored at Arlington

A Navy security forces officer who was fatally shot during a security breach at Naval Station Norfolk last month will receive an award for his heroism at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday.

April 23, 2014

Reports: Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland plan joint military brigade

Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland are planning to band together and form a joint military brigade, according to local media reports.

April 23, 2014

Less silent suffering: Veterans’ post-traumatic stress taken seriously

Baseball stadiums are some of the few places where Navy Cmdr. Steven Dundas feels safe, where his mind is not anxiously inching toward the past and latching onto memories of children with missing body parts and the stench of burning swamp fires.

April 22, 2014

Hagel pledges nonlethal military aid to Ukraine

The Pentagon will begin shipping nonlethal military aid to Ukraine and extend the deployment of fighter jets providing security to Poland in response to what Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called Russia's "dangerously irresponsible" actions.

April 17, 2014

Pentagon extends deployment of fighter jets to Poland amid Ukraine crisis

A squadron of fighter jets that shipped out to Poland in March at the height of Russia's aggressive efforts to separate the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine will remain in the country until the end of the year.

April 17, 2014

Multinational naval fleet to depart Germany for Baltic Sea within days

A multinational naval force is expected to depart for the Baltic Sea from Germany within days as part of a NATO military contingent intended to counter Russian provocation in the Ukraine.

April 16, 2014

Jordanian fighters fire on border-crossing Syrian convoy

Jordanian fighter jets on Wednesday fired on a convoy of camouflaged armored vehicles that illegally attempted to breach the country's border with Syria by scaling rough terrain.

April 16, 2014

Fuel-filled wings, ability to swarm: Pentagon offers glimpse at future of drone fleet

The Pentagon is laying out a road map for the future of its drone fleet, which includes unmanned planes with fuel-filled wings that can fly more sophisticated weapons systems to more isolated hot spots and smaller drones capable of operating in unison to swarm an enemy.

April 15, 2014

NATO set to consider proposals for beefing up military presence in Eastern Europe

NATO's highest political decision-making body and its military committee have been mulling over a report that shows an array of air, land and naval options the alliance can tap to support skittish Easter European allies that see Russian forces amassing along the Ukraine border as a threat to their sovereignty.

April 15, 2014

Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine

Russia's military has test-fired a multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile, attracting the attention of U.S. officials.

April 15, 2014

On-board fire hobbles Navy guided-missile cruiser

A charred Navy guided-missile cruiser is making its way across the Atlantic Ocean toward Europe after a fire broke out in a gas turbine generator, Navy officials said Tuesday.

April 15, 2014

Russian fighter jet buzzes U.S. Navy destroyer in Black Sea

A Russian fighter jet aggressively taunted an American warship in the Black Sea by making "numerous close-range low-altitude passes" and exhibiting what some Pentagon officials described as provocative behavior and unprofessional conduct.

April 14, 2014

Navy base on the line as Mauritius tries to pit U.S., U.K. in island’s sovereignty bid

The island nation of Mauritius is trying to wedge itself between Washington and London in a diplomatic drive for control of a group of British-ruled islands — one of which has been leased to the U.S. military for nearly 50 years.

April 9, 2014

Republicans hit administration for timid response to Russian war gaming

NATO is increasing the number of fighter jets and surveillance aircraft supporting U.S. allies in Eastern Europe, but some Republicans remain critical of the Obama administration for not taking a more proactive posture toward what they describe as Russian war-gaming in the region.

April 7, 2014

Lax guidance feeds Afghan corruption; report says billions in aid wasted

The government's top watchdog for Afghan reconstruction says the State Department's failure to provide guidance over the use of billions of dollars in U.S. funds for rebuilding projects is exacerbating problems with rampant corruption ahead of the much-anticipated U.S. troop pullout.

April 2, 2014

Another Fort Hood attack leaves 4 dead, 16 hurt

Four people including the gunman are dead after another shooting rampage at the same Texas Army base where 13 people were killed in a 2009 murder spree.

April 2, 2014