Radar Sweep
Israel Strikes Syrian Capital, Sending Warning to Government
Israel launched deadly airstrikes on Syria’s capital on July 16, damaging a compound housing the defense ministry and hitting an area near the presidential palace, according to the Israeli military and Syrian authorities.
Ukraine Braces for Trump’s 50-Day Window amid Escalating Russian Strikes
This week marked a possible pivot by President Donald Trump regarding Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with his Monday announcement of a "really big" deal to provide Kyiv with new weapons and threats to impose further sanctions on Russia if it fails to agree a ceasefire within 50 days.
Salt Typhoon Hacks into National Guard Systems a ‘Serious Escalation,’ Experts Warn
A prolific Chinese hacking unit’s breach into National Guard networks poses a serious threat to Defense Department systems and is a major escalation of the group’s initial breach into core telecom networks first uncovered last year, according to experts.
USAF Denies It Refueled Israel’s Fighters During War with Iran
It’s been weeks since Israel concluded its 12-day war against Iran, and still many questions remain in regards to how the Israel Defense Forces were able to achieve what they did. One puzzle that stands out above all the others has to do with the Israeli Air Force being able to sustain operations and achieve significant effects over such great distances.
Space Force Training for On-Orbit Warfare in Inaugural Resolute Space Exercise
The Space Force has officially kicked off its largest exercise to date known as Resolute Space 2025, a weekslong event that will pit Guardians against realistic simulated threats, according to service officials.
SASC Defense Policy Bill Adds Billions for Arleigh Burke Destroyer, Sentinel ICBM Programs
The Senate Armed Services Committee laid out the details of its $914 billion draft defense policy bill July 17, shedding light on the beneficiaries of a $32 billion increase to the defense topline that include the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile programs.
Incoming Ellsworth Commander Criticized Air Force Base’s Culture in B-1B Lancer Crash Report
An Air Force colonel set to take over Ellsworth Air Force Base’s 28th Bomb Wing later this month harshly criticized the culture of the South Dakota bomber squadrons he’s preparing to oversee in a scathing crash report last year.
Hypersonics, AI, Drone Swarms: Pentagon Pours $179 Billion into R&D
The Pentagon’s proposed 2026 fiscal year budget comes in at more than one trillion dollars, and $179 billion of that is just for research, development, testing, and evaluation. That money doesn’t go toward buying new jets, tanks, warships, or missiles. It funds the programs and technologies that could determine who wins or loses the next fight.
SpaceOps: New Space Force Plan Aims to Boost Allied Teamwork
The U.S. Space Force last week released its first International Partnership Strategy, revealing a shift in mindset from treating allies purely as customers for U.S. space capabilities to co-developers and operators, amid tightening budgets and growing threats in the domain.
Through Trial and Error, Iran Found Gaps in Israel’s Storied Air Defenses
Israel’s recent war with Iran served as a cautionary tale for countries with sophisticated missile defenses and those that seek to have them. Over 12 days, Iran pierced Israel’s defenses with increasing success, showing that even the world’s most advanced systems can be penetrated.
‘The Babyface Gunner’ Took One of World War II’s Most Dangerous Jobs at Age 14
By 1942, World War II in Europe was in full swing, and the 8th Air Force, with its mix of B-17 and B-24 bombers, was targeting key installations throughout the theater. Like many men during World War II, DeSales Glover wanted to serve his country. The problem was that he was only 14 years old.