241: US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine Worth $300M + US Army Tests Extended Range MLRS / HIMARS Missile + F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a Program of Record (official) + FY 2025 USAF Budget Request + More

I - On Defense Podcast

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
12 Mar- U.S. Army Vessels (USAV SP4 James A. Loux (LSV-6), USAV Monterrey (LCU30), USAV Matamoros (LCU26), and USAV Wilson Warf (LCU11) from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), departed Joint Base Langley-Eustis en-route to the E. Mediterranean to establish a roll-on, roll-off dock capability that allows ship to shore humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
12 Mar- Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon in the Red Sea. The missile did not impact the vessel and there were no injuries or damage reported. United States Central Command and a coalition vessel successfully engaged and destroyed two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.
2. IDF reports over 4,000 targets struck during the war in the north (Lebanon) against Hezbollah.
3. US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine Worth $300M. Includes artillery ammunition (105mm & 155mm), Stinger missiles, Anti-tank munitions, and other materiel.
4. US Army and Lockheed Martin test the Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missile at White Sands, NM. Range reported to be over 150k (nearly doubled from 70k).
5. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program achieves Milestone C (yay).
6. FY2025 USAF Budget Request from Breaking Defense (Michael Marrow).