Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 31, 2021

Soldiers wearing the Integrated Visual Augmentation System while mounted in a Stryker vehicle in Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washignton, February 2021 © US Army / Courtney Bacon

CNBC: Microsoft wins U.S. Army contract for augmented reality headsets, worth up to $21.9 billion over 10 years

* Microsoft will deliver to the U.S. Army more than 120,000 devices based on its HoloLens augmented reality headset.

* The deal, which could be worth as much as $21.88 billion over 10 years, follows a contract Microsoft received to build prototype headsets for the Army.

* The contract comes a year and a half after Microsoft won a cloud contract from the Pentagon that could be worth up to $10 billion.

The U.S. Army said Wednesday that Microsoft has won a contract to build more than custom HoloLens augmented reality headsets.

The contract for over 120,000 headsets could be worth up to $21.88 billion over 10 years, a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC.

Microsoft shares moved higher after the announcement. The stock was up 1.7% to $235.77 per share at the end of Wednesday’s trading session.

The deal shows Microsoft can generate meaningful revenue from a futuristic product resulting from years of research, beyond core areas such as operating systems and productivity software.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 31, 2021

Microsoft wins $22 billion deal making headsets for US Army -- AP

Microsoft Wins Enormous Contract to Supply HoloLens for Combat Soldiers, US Army Says -- Sputnik

The US military must plan for encounters with private military companies -- Brookings

Russian and U.S. military chiefs of staff hold phone call -- Reuters

US Army enters final phase of development before kicking off Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program -- Defense News

Army Awards $50 Million Contract for New Special Operations Sniper Rifle -- Military.com

Navy’s Aviation Boss Lays Out Big Vision For Drone-Packed Carriers Of The Future -- Warzone/The Drive

USS Tripoli prepares for sea trials after fitting-out tests -- UPI

Military Using Alternatives to Suez Canal In Middle East -- US Department of Defense

Lawmakers anxious over lack of Pentagon picks -- Politico

Senators press for answers in Space Command move decision -- The Hill

Biden’s infrastructure plan includes billions to develop emerging tech the military needs -- CrISRNet

A Good Battery Is the Best Defense Against a Military Assault -- WSJ

Defense contractor Cubic Corp accepts proposal to go private -- The Hill

Military-wide stand downs expected to be complete by Thursday -- UPI

Reversing Trump, Pentagon releases new transgender policies -- AP

US military’s new transgender policy will pay troops’ transition bills – reports -- RT

Marines Under Investigation After Ammo, Explosives Reportedly Go Missing at Pendleton -- Military.com

Video: Fort Bragg Issues Plea as Reports of Equipment Theft Surge at US Military Installation -- Sputnik

DoD Spent Hundreds of Millions on Air Transport in Afghanistan -- But Didn't Ask Allies for Repayment -- Military.com

Massive ‘Mobility Guardian’ exercise to practice humanitarian aid response -- Air Force Times

Dutch ship to join British carrier strike group in first deployment -- UPI

NATO scrambles jets 10 times to track Russian military planes across Europe -- CNN

NORAD Tracks 2 Russian Spy Planes That Entered Alaskan Air Defense Zone -- Miltiary.com/Medill News Service

Moscow offered to restore military contacts within Russia-NATO Council -- TASS

China's Relationship With Myanmar's Military: It's Complicated -- NPR

China's Military Preparing for U.S. Intervention in Taiwan Strait -- Newsweek

The Chinese Military Might Not Be in Control of Escalating Crises -- Foreign Policy

Japan, Indonesia Sign Defense Deal Amid Beijing's Maritime Expansion -- Radio Free Asia

Australia to build guided missiles to boost defense capacity -- AP

Brazil military chiefs quit as Bolsonaro seeks their support -- AP

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Bath Iron Works starts building new Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyer USS J. William Middendorf

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works has started construction of the future USS J. William Middendorf (DDG 138), a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that will strengthen the U.S. Navy’s missile-defense and escort capacity during sustained operations in the Red Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, and Indo-Pacific. The ceremonial first steel cut took place in Maine on May 19, 2026, as the Navy continues relying on Flight III destroyers equipped with the SPY-6 radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system to replace the air defense and command role of retiring Ticonderoga-class cruisers ahead of the future DDG(X) program. Read full defense news at this link... USS J. William Middendorf belongs to the Flight III configuration that began with USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), the first Flight III destroyer commissioned in October 2023. (Picture source: US Navy) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/tSRkVWI via IFTTT

U.S. Army Conducts Gunnery Exercise With Latest Air Defense System Sgt Stout.

U.S. Army officials confirmed that a live gunnery exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, is underway, featuring the latest-generation Sgt Stout short-range air defense system. The drills mark a significant step toward full operational integration as units across the force adapt to evolving threats from drones, rotary-wing aircraft, and low-flying munitions. It matters because Sgt. Stout enhances the Army’s ability to defend forward-deployed troops and critical infrastructure from modern aerial threats. Read full Defense News at this link ... A U.S. Army SGT Stout SHORAD air defense vehicle maneuvers into firing position during live-fire training with the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, on October 3, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/NYmsS1n via IFTTT

US-built first Saudi MMSC frigate HMS Saud launched at Fincantieri’s shipyard

According to information published by the Saudi Ministry of Defense on December 18, 2025, the first Multi-Mission Surface Combatant frigate constructed in the United States for the Royal Saudi Navy has been officially launched at Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. The ship, designated HMS Saud with pennant number 820 and also known as Jalalat Al-Malik Saud in honor of King Saud, is the lead vessel in a four-ship program ordered under Project Tuwaiq through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework, a deal that defense officials have repeatedly described as a cornerstone of bilateral naval cooperation. Read more. The HMS Saud (820) has an overall length of approximately 118 meters, in some sources detailed as 118.6 meters, with a beam of 17.6 meters, a draft of about 4.3 meters, and a full-load displacement estimated at roughly 3,600 tonnes. (Picture source: Saudi MoD) Read full Defense news. from World Defence News https://ift....

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