The Army Brief: Abortion leave bill; Pre-ordered HIMARS; 5G’s potential; and more...

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

Abortion travel. A new Democrat-sponsored amendment for the Senate’s 2023 defense bill would give troops leave days and funding to travel to receive an abortion if they cannot get the procedure locally, Defense One reports. The leave would be approved by a doctor to protect their privacy and can also be used to accompany a dependent.

More HIMARS. Ukraine will receive 18 more HIMARS as part of a $1.1 billion weapons package, but they will not be available for two years, Defense One reports. The package also includes aerial drone radars, explosive ordnance disposal equipment, and hundreds of vehicles.

5G drones. In experiments by Lockheed Martin and Verizon, small drones with camera and signals technology connected to computers via 5G were able to find a simulated target better than simpler camera drones, Defense One reports. The experiments also demonstrated the speed and higher data transfer capabilities of 5G could be helpful to troops in the future. 

Sign up to get The Army Brief every Friday morning from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On this date in 1975, the AH-64 Apache helicopter made its first flight.

From Defense One

US Troops Are Volunteering to Fly Abortion Seekers Across State Lines // Jacqueline Feldscher

Using personal planes, off duty, and out of uniform, the pilots say it's their "patriotic duty" to help Americans.

VA Taking 'Prudent' Steps to Protect Employees Who Provide Abortions // Elizabeth Howe

The department announced its plans to continue offering abortions shortly after Roe v Wade was overturned in June.

Nord Stream Leaks Underline Gray-Zone Risks // Elisabeth Braw

Damaging a neighbor's environment can be easy, cheap, and deniable.