U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jason Fernandez (right), a soldier with 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Airborne Infantry Division, prepares his troops for air assault training with the Royal Thai Army as part of Cobra Gold 2022.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jason Fernandez (right), a soldier with 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Airborne Infantry Division, prepares his troops for air assault training with the Royal Thai Army as part of Cobra Gold 2022. U.S. Army / Sgt. Brendon T. Green-Daring

The Army Brief: Boosting defense funding; Logistics failure; Russian drones; and more...

Welcome to The Army Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the service’s future. 

More defense money in 2023. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is prompting politicians to reconsider how much the Defense Department will need in 2023, and it appears to be much more, Defense One reports. The increase in funds may be used to support more troop deployments and to buy more weapons.

Stalled convoy. A large convoy of Russian vehicles appears to be stalled on its way to Kyiv, raising questions about how coordinated the planning was for the invasion, Defense One reports. There have been reports of vehicles running out of fuel and soldiers only being given three days worth of food. 

Struggling Russians. Defense One looked into five reasons why Putin and his military are struggling in their invasion of Ukraine, from overconfidence to European reactions.

Sign up to get The Army Brief every Friday morning from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On or around March 6, 1745, Casimir Pulaski was born in Warsaw, Poland, and would later become known as the “father of the American cavalry” due to his fighting and leadership during the American Revolutionary War. 


From Defense One

Where Are Russia's Drones? // Samuel Bendett

The Ukraine invasion offers scant evidence of the Russian military's hard-won prowess with unmanned aircraft.

It's 'Effectively Impossible' To Kick Russia Out Of The UN, But There Are Other Options // Jacqueline Feldscher

Diplomats could remove Russia from the human rights council or refuse to recognize a Russian-backed government in Ukraine, experts say.

Here's Why a Ukraine No-Fly Zone's a No-Go // Marcus Weisgerberand Tara Copp

NATO officials say it's off the table, but there could be a "nuanced option."

What Just Happened With Putin's Nuclear Forces? Here's What Experts Say // Caitlin M. Kenneyand Bradley Peniston

Whatever it is, U.S. officials are calling it escalatory–but not "high alert."