Author Archive

Rachel Oswald

Rachel Oswald
Rachel Oswald is a reporter for Global Security Newswire, where she covers a wide range of defense issues, including North Korea and missile defense. Prior to joining GSN in 2009, Rachel covered Georgia politics and local government for more than two years at The Covington News, where she won four Georgia Press Association awards for investigative journalism and business reporting. In 2013, she traveled to Kazakhstan as an International Reporting Project fellow where she reported on nonproliferation issues. She is a graduate of the George Washington University, where she majored in Middle Eastern Studies.
Business

Air Force Secretary Doubles Down on Nuclear Mission

Air Force leaders want the world to know their June decision save the embattled nuclear corps from forced cutbacks was an absolute necessity. By Rachel Oswald

Business

Mid-Level Management Is the Air Force's Latest Fix for Its Nuclear Problems

Still recovering from the recent scandals at its Global Strike Command, the Air Force is changing how it manages America's Minuteman 3 nukes. By Rachel Oswald

Science & Tech

The Pentagon Wants To Buy 14 More Ground-Based Inceptor Missiles

The ground-based Midcourse Defense system broke a 6-year losing streak when it took out a simulated missile over the Pacific. Now the Pentagon wants $1 billion to buy 14 more of the interceptors. By Rachel Oswald

Threats

Does North Korea Actually Have a Cruise Missile?

A recent warning from U.S. Air Force officials about Pyongyang's missile capabilities may have materialized faster than at first thought. By Rachel Oswald

Policy

Congress Says Pentagon's Long-Range Bombers Are 'Increasingly Irrelevant'

Congress sounds the alarm on America's aging bomber fleet: fix them up or put them to pasture. By Rachel Oswald

Threats

Number of Islamic Extremists Groups Up 60 Percent Since 2010

Terrorist groups based out of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen represent the most serious threat to the United States, according to a new RAND report. By Rachel Oswald

Threats

Hagel Wants Gulf States to Combine Missile Defense Systems

It’s a tall order, but uniting air and missile defense from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could deter an attack from Iran. By Rachel Oswald

Policy

House Panel Approves Extra $60 Million for Antimissile Defense

Despite failures with its West Coast system, lawmakers offer Pentagon more money to build an extra missile interceptor. By Rachel Oswald

Policy

GOP: Speed Up Missile Interceptors to Poland

Senate Republicans are pushing for a stronger message of deterrence to Russia, bumping up delivery deadline by two years. By Rachel Oswald

Business

West Coast Missile Defense System Remains on Hold

Following a failed test last year, the Pentagon still has not convinced Congress a California- and Alaska-based defense system is ready for prime time. By Rachel Oswald

Threats

Saudi Arabia Unveils Ballistic Missiles in Military Parade, But Why Now?

For the first time ever, Saudi Arabia showed off ballistic missiles it's had since the 1980s. To find out why, analysts point 1,200 miles northeast of Riyadh. By Rachel Oswald

Business

After Cheating Scandal, Air Force Switches to Pass-Fail for Nuclear Missileers

Air Force officials say an expectation that perfect test scores were needed for advancement up the ranks fueled the recent cheating scandal. By Rachel Oswald

Threats

U.S. May 'Adjust' Its Missile Defenses in Europe

Amid rising tensions with Russia, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the U.S. may speed up the timing for fielding antimissile systems in Europe. By Rachel Oswald

Business

Audit Warns of Problems Launching U.S. Missile Defenses in Europe

'Significant delays' will continue if the Pentagon doesn't change its current plan. By Rachel Oswald

Policy

Lawmakers Want to Speed Up the Delivery of Missile Interceptors to Europe

In light of tensions with Russia over Ukraine, several U.S. lawmakers want to speed up the deployment of missile interceptors to Europe. By Rachel Oswald

Threats

After Crimea, U.S. Nuclear Agency Reviews Russia Aid

The National Nuclear Security Administration is reassessing its assistance to Russia amid continuing tension over Ukraine. By Rachel Oswald

Threats

Report: Delays in Missile Defense for Poland, Romania

After Russia’s move in Crimea, a new report says the antimissile capabilities, meant to protect Europe from an attack by Iran, are behind schedule. By Rachel Oswald

Threats

North Korean Missile Launch Tower Nearly Complete, Satellites Show

New satellite images show the structure appears near completion, but could it hold an ICBM? By Rachel Oswald

Business

Spending Bill Boosts Nuclear Warhead Funding by Nearly $1 Billion

The omnibus spending bill provides $7.8 billion for National Nuclear Security Administration work on the nuclear arsenal. By Rachel Oswald

Business

U.S. Will Start Cutting Its Submarine Missile Launchers Next Year

The New START treaty requires the U.S. and Russia to reduce their stockpiles and long-range delivery vehicles by 2018. By Rachel Oswald