A sailor with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 jumps from an MH-60S helicopter in Glorietta Bay in Coronado, California.

A sailor with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 jumps from an MH-60S helicopter in Glorietta Bay in Coronado, California. U.S. Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sara Eshleman

The Naval Brief: Threats to naval drones; Urban warfare lessons; Troop abortion access; and more...

Welcome to The Naval Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the sea services’ future.

Protecting drones. After Iranian forces tried to steal three naval drones in the Middle East, Defense One spoke to experts about the protection of drones as the Navy plans to increase the number and integration of unmanned vessels in fleet operations.

Urban warfare. Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the war in Ukraine is demonstrating to militaries the right and wrong ways to conduct operations in urban environments, Defense One reports. His vision of future deployed units—smaller, mobile, and steathier is similar to the Marine Corps’ modernization efforts. 

Abortion access. About 40 percent of women serving in the military no longer have access to abortion services, or face greater restrictions based on where they live, following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Defense One reports. The new study said “it is not unreasonable to expect” that there will be decreases in women wanting to serve and staying in the military because of the restrictions.

Sign up to get The Naval Brief every Thursday from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On this day in 1950, the Inchon Landing during the Korean War began, with Marines coming ashore following bombardments and mine clearing. 


From Defense One

Some Russian Forces Appear to Be Fleeing Ukraine, Pentagon Says // Tara Copp

An inability to avoid certain strategic errors has eroded Russia's hold on eastern Ukraine, officials said.

Conservative Groups Urging Lawmakers To Vote 'No' On More Ukraine Aid // Jacqueline Feldscher

"This new package will prolong a fight that lacks an American dog, allowing regional allies to shirk their security responsibilities yet again," one former Trump official said.

Arlington's Confederate Memorial Should Go, Commission Says // Jacqueline Feldscher

The 1914 monument "is problematic from top to bottom," the Naming Commission's vice chair said.