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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"><head><title>Summer of Pacific Exercises Begins</title><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no"><meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=9; IE=8; IE=7; IE=EDGE" /><style type="text/css">body { margin: 0 !important; } #overall-container table { max-width: 680px !important; } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px) { body { width:100% !important; min-width:100% !important; } table, td { max-width: 100% !important; } table#email-container { width: 100% !important; } img { max-width: 100% !important; height: auto !important; } .bodytext, h2.article-title { margin: 0.8em !important; } .article-hr { margin: 1.0em 0.5em !important; } .footer-small p, .footer-small a { font-size: 0.4em !important; } .wp-post-image { margin: 0.3em 0 !important; } .editors-note { padding: 0.5em 0.8em !important; } }</style></head><body><div style="display: none; font-size: 1px; color: #333333; line-height: 1px; max-height: 0px; max-width: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden;">PLUS KC-46 Refueling Mishap and Future Tanker Plans</div><table id="overall-container" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><table id="email-container" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 680px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://innovate.rise8.us/nist-continuous-ato" target="_blank"><img width="680" height="90" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/06/RISE8_DR_July-Email-Header.png"></a></td></tr><tr class="logo"><td align="center"><img style="margin: 0;" alt="airforcemag daily report logo" height="92" width="450" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/Image/AFM_Daily_Report.jpg"></td></tr><tr class="date"><td align="center"><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #1E4A85; font-weight: bold; margin: 0 0 .8em !important;">July 9, 2025</p></td></tr><tr class="date"><td align="center"><p class="article-author" style="font-size: 0.8em; text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 0.8em;">Edited by Greg Hadley and Chris Gordon</p></td></tr><tr class="view-in-browser"><td align="center"><a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/daily-report/20250709/?src=dr" style="background: #3F6EB2; border-radius: 9px; color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; padding: 0.8em 2em; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: .7em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em;" target="_blank">View In Browser</a></td></tr><tr class="featured-image"><td align="center"><img width="680" height="383" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/07/9071468-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-680x9999 size-680x9999 wp-post-image" alt="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 0.8em 0 0.1em;" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/07/9071468-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/07/9071468-450x253.jpg 450w, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/07/9071468-800x450.jpg 800w, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/07/9071468-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/07/9071468-675x380.jpg 675w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /><em style='display: block; font-size: 0.8em; margin-bottom: 0.6em'>A U.S. Airman directs a Tunner 60K aircraft cargo loader to load equipment into a C-17 Globemaster III as part of Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise 25-1 on the flight line at Travis Air Force Base, California, May 19, 2025. The exercise was conducted in preparation for Exercise Mobility Guardian, Air Mobility Command’s premier biennial exercise which demonstrates the command’s newly developed techniques, tactics and procedures to establish operations upon arrival to the deployment location. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Robert Nichols</em></td></tr><tr class="article"><td><h2 class="article-title" style="font-size: 1.1em; text-align: center; margin: 0; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0.8em 0; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-space-force-summer-pacific-exercises-series/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">Air Force, Space Force Kick Off Major Pacific Exercises</a></h2><p class="article-author" style="font-size: 0.8em; text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.8em 0;">By Greg Hadley</p><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">The Air Force and Space Force kicked off a busy summer of major exercises across the Pacific on July 8, with thousands of Airmen and Guardians and hundreds of aircraft and satellites set to participate in a so-called Department-Level Exercise series. </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr class="article-hr" style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr class="article"><td><h2 class="article-title" style="font-size: 1.1em; text-align: center; margin: 0; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0.8em 0; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/kc-46-boom-damaged-f-22s/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s</a></h2><p class="article-author" style="font-size: 0.8em; text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.8em 0;">By Chris Gordon</p><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”</p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/podcast/"><img width="680" height="265" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/05/Mitchell-Podcast_680x265.jpg" style="margin: 1.1em 0;"></a></td></tr><tr class="article"><td><h2 class="article-title" style="font-size: 1.1em; text-align: center; margin: 0; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0.8em 0; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-shakeup-tanker-plans-2026-budget/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">Air Force Budget Hints at Shift in Tanker Plans—and More KC-46s</a></h2><p class="article-author" style="font-size: 0.8em; text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.8em 0;">By Greg Hadley</p><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">The Air Force appears to be leaning buying toward more KC-46 refuelers rather than developing a stealthy future tanker, based on budget documents released this week. USAF’s plans prioritize connectivity upgrades and self-protection measures for its aerial refueling fleet. No...</p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.marvintest.com/landing/smartcan1"><img width="680" height="265" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/04/MarvinTest_DR_April25.jpg" style="margin: 1.1em 0;"></a></td></tr><tr class="article"><td><h2 class="article-title" style="font-size: 1.1em; text-align: center; margin: 0; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0.8em 0; line-height: 1.5em;">This Day in 1944<br/>Donald Pucket’s Medal of Honor</h2><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">During an effective attack against vital oil installations in Ploesti, Romania, 1st Lt. Donald D. Pucket's B-24 Liberator received direct hits from anti-aircraft fire just after “bombs away.” One crew member was instantly killed, six others were severely wounded, and the aircraft was badly damaged. After regaining control of the airplane and turning it over to his copilot, Pucket calmed the crew, administered first aid, surveyed the damage, and jettisoned all guns and equipment. But the airplane continued to lose altitude. He then ordered the crew to bail out, but three members were too badly wounded. After the other crew members jump, he refused to abandon his airplane and was last seen fighting to regain control before crashing on a mountainside. Pucket was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.</p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.usaa.com/join?txid=OTH:TX1:5WHRNU5YHL"><img width="680" height="265" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/07/USAA_July25_783_Affinity_CS_Eligbility_Enewsletter_680x265.jpg" style="margin: 1.1em 0;"></a></td></tr><tr class="row-spacer" height="25"><td> </td></tr><tr><td align="center" class="radar-sweep" style="background-color: #F4F5F9;"><table id="radar-sweep" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" valign="top" width="90%"></tbody><tr class="row-spacer" height="24"><td> </td></tr><tr class="title""><td align="center"><h3 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.3em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold;">Radar Sweep</h3></td></tr><tr class="row-spacer" height=12><td> </td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">Trump Caught Off Guard by Pentagon’s Abrupt Move to Pause Ukraine Weapons Deliveries </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ukraine-weapons-pentagon-15694071ddb6f7040273e9ef090e84c4" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">President Donald Trump’s decision to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine came after he privately expressed frustration with Pentagon officials for announcing a pause in some deliveries last week—a move that he felt wasn’t properly coordinated with the White House, according to three people familiar with the matter. </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">White House Weighs Giving Ukraine Another Patriot Air-Defense System </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/trump-says-putins-assurances-on-ukraine-meaningless-af8fc373?st=Tu4QcH&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Wall Street Journal</a> <em style="font-size: 0.8em;">(Gift Link)</em></p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">President Trump is considering sending an additional Patriot air-defense system to Ukraine after vowing in recent days to strengthen Kyiv against Russian attacks, according to two officials. </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">From Fighter Jets to Space Systems: Military Sends Lawmakers Over $20B-Worth of Unfunded Priorities </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/from-fighters-jets-to-space-systems-military-sends-lawmakers-over-20b-worth-of-unfunded-priorities/" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Breaking Defense</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">It’s much like the time every year when children the world over stamp envelopes for the North Pole and enclose their deepest desires for Santa Claus—only this happens in the spring or summer, deals in potentially billions of dollars-worth of weapons instead of toys and is legally mandated. That’s right, it’s Unfunded Priorities List season. </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">Trump’s New Favorite General </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/archive/2025/07/razin-caine-donald-trump-joint-chiefs/683440/?gift=aJ5TSRnx7-t9KxVl0ju7AYIOA_gjJSfQlb_WAnsnP-g&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a> <em style="font-size: 0.8em;">(Gift Link)</em></p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">Trump seems to have been drawn to Air Force General Dan “Razin” Caine at least in part because he loved his nickname—which happens to be Caine’s F-16 call sign. ... Heather Penney, a retired Air Force major who flew F-16s with Caine, put it this way when I spoke with her: “Making an offensive counter air push with Razin in the lead—man, everything died in front of us. He was just so good.” </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">What Trump’s Order on ‘Unleashing American Drone Dominance’ Means for the US Military </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://defensescoop.com/2025/07/08/trump-executive-order-unleashing-american-drone-dominance-military-implications/" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">DefenseScoop</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">While the Trump administration’s recently issued executive order on “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” places a sharp focus on civilian use of unmanned aircraft, the new policy also includes multiple provisions that could have implications for Pentagon and military personnel. </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.ga-asi.com/ga-asi-welcomes-usaf-designation-for-new-cca-yfq-42a" target="_blank"><img width="300" height="250" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/06/GenAtom_July25_THE_FUTURE_OF_AIRPOWER_STATIC_300x250.png"></a></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">Former Air Force Chiefs Sound Alarm About Planned F-35, E-7 Cuts </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/07/08/former-air-force-chiefs-sound-alarm-about-planned-f-35-e-7-cuts/" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Defense News</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">On July 7, more than a dozen retired top Air Force generals—including six former chiefs of staff—released a letter urging Congress to reverse Pentagon plans to kill the E-7 Wedgetail program and slash F-35 procurement. </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">Air Force Review Spotlights Risks in Space Agency’s Go-Fast Approach </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.airforcetimes.com/space/2025/07/08/air-force-review-spotlights-risks-in-space-agencys-go-fast-approach/" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Air Force Times</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">The Space Development Agency’s focus on rapid satellite delivery may expose the office to “undetected or misunderstood risks,” according to a report from the Air Force Inspector General obtained by Defense News. </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">China’s Two-Seat J-20 Stealth Fighter Poised to Enter Operational Service </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-j-20s-two-seat-stealth-fighter-poised-for-operational-service" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The War Zone</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">A flurry of new images showing the two-seat variant of China’s J-20 stealth fighter has emerged online. As well as providing new views of the two-seater, which also now wears a darker paint scheme, recent imagery published on Chinese social media reveals the progress being made in other fighter programs, including the J-35 family of carrier-based and land-based stealth fighters. </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">Army Aims to Quadruple Patriot Missile Procurement </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/07/army-aims-quadruple-patriot-missile-procurement/406577/?oref=d1-homepage-top-story" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Defense One</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">The U.S. Army has asked for a big boost to its Patriot air defense stockpile in the 2026 budget request, as the service drives to increase its “magazine depth” for various munitions. </p></td></tr><tr><td><hr style="border: none; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; margin: 1.6em 0;"></td></tr><tr><td align="left"><h2 style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0;">Winston Beauchamp Retires from Federal Service After 29 Years at Air Force, IC </h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://defensescoop.com/2025/07/08/winston-beauchamp-retires-from-federal-service-air-force-ic/" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">DefenseScoop</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">After nearly three decades of working for the U.S. government, Winston Beauchamp announced on July 4 that he’s departing from his role within the Department of the Air Force and leaving active federal service. Beauchamp began working for the department in 2015, and most recently served as the director of security, special program oversight and information protection within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. </p></td></tr><tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="dark-block" style="margin: 1em 0; background: #F4F5F9;" valign="top" width="100%"><tbody><tr class="row-spacer" height="25"><td style="background: #1f2a39; border-color: #1f2a39; border-top-right-radius: 9px; border-top-left-radius: 9px;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="background: #1f2a39;" align="center"><table width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left"><h3 style="font-size: 1em; color: #dddddd; margin: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.8em; font-weight: normal">One More Thing</h3><h2 style="font-size: 1em; color: #eeeeee; margin: 0; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: 0.01em;">World-Traveling Air Force Couple Shares Tips for Family Adventures </h2><p class="bodytext-radar"><a style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; color: #dddddd; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.03em; text-decoration: underline #bbbbbb solid;" href="https://militaryfamilies.com/military-travel/world-traveling-air-force-couple-shares-tips-for-family-adventures/" target="_blank">Military Families Magazine</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #eeeeee; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.01em;">Joshua de Amusategui enlisted in the Air Force hoping to travel the world. But the military—or fate—had other plans and unintentionally supported a blossoming love story with his high school sweetheart, Ashley. </p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr class="row-spacer" height="25"><td style="background: #1f2a39; border-color: #1f2a39; border-bottom-left-radius: 9px; border-bottom-right-radius: 9px;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.afa.org/air-space-cyber-conference/" target="_blank"><img width="680" height="265" style="margin: 0.8em 0;" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/06/ASC2025_680x265.png"></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="padding: 1.1em 0 1em; text-align: center; background: #2d3d44;"><table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0><tbody><tr class="footer-logo"><td align="center"><img width="171" style="margin-bottom: 0.8em;" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/Image/ASF_mag_logo_white.png"></td></tr><tr class="footer-nav"><td align="center" style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 0.9em;"><a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/daily-report/?src=dr" style="font-size: 0.9em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Daily Report</a> | <a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/contact-us/?src=dr" style="font-size: 0.9em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Contact Us</a> | <a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/advertise/?src=dr" style="font-size: 0.9em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Advertise</a> | <a href="https://www.afa.org/join/?src=dr" style="font-size: 0.9em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Join AFA</a> | <a href="https://www.afa.org/?src=dr" style="font-size: 0.9em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Air & Space Forces Association</a> | <a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/reprint-permission/?src=dr" style="font-size: 0.9em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Reprints</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><p style="margin: 0.8em 0 0;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ASForcesMag" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn2.iconfinder.com/data/icons/social-icons-33/128/Facebook-512.png" width="33"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ASForcesMag" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn0.iconfinder.com/data/icons/social-network-7/50/4-512.png" width="35"></a></p></td></tr><tr class="footer-small"><td align="center"><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #555555; font-size: 0.6em; margin: 0.8em 0">Published by the Air & Space Forces Association.<br/><a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/?src=dr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #214a86; font-size: 1em;" target="_blank">airandspaceforces.com</a> material is under copyright by the Air & Space Forces Association. All rights reserved.<br/>The Air & Space Forces Association, 1201 S. Joyce Street, C6, Arlington, VA 22202<br/>To unsubscribe or change your preferences, please visit <a href="{{EmailPreferenceCenter}}" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #214a86; font-size: 1em;" target="_blank">options</a>.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></body></html>

Plaintext Version
Air & Space Forces Magazine Daily Report for July 9, 2025 View in your Web Browser: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/daily-report/20250709/?src=dr Edited by Greg Hadley and Chris Gordon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://innovate.rise8.us/nist-continuous-ato -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Force, Space Force Kick Off Major Pacific Exercises By Greg Hadley The Air Force and Space Force kicked off a busy summer of major exercises across the Pacific on July 8, with thousands of Airmen and Guardians and hundreds of aircraft and satellites set to participate in a so-called Department-Level Exercise series. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-space-force-summer-pacific-exercises-series/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s By Chris Gordon A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.” https://www.airandspaceforces.com/kc-46-boom-damaged-f-22s/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/podcast/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Force Budget Hints at Shift in Tanker Plans—and More KC-46s By Greg Hadley The Air Force appears to be leaning buying toward more KC-46 refuelers rather than developing a stealthy future tanker, based on budget documents released this week. USAF’s plans prioritize connectivity upgrades and self-protection measures for its aerial refueling fleet. No... https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-shakeup-tanker-plans-2026-budget/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.marvintest.com/landing/smartcan1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Day in 1944<br/>Donald Pucket’s Medal of Honor During an effective attack against vital oil installations in Ploesti, Romania, 1st Lt. Donald D. Pucket's B-24 Liberator received direct hits from anti-aircraft fire just after “bombs away.” One crew member was instantly killed, six others were severely wounded, and the aircraft was badly damaged. After regaining control of the airplane and turning it over to his copilot, Pucket calmed the crew, administered first aid, surveyed the damage, and jettisoned all guns and equipment. But the airplane continued to lose altitude. He then ordered the crew to bail out, but three members were too badly wounded. After the other crew members jump, he refused to abandon his airplane and was last seen fighting to regain control before crashing on a mountainside. Pucket was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.usaa.com/join?txid=OTH:TX1:5WHRNU5YHL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Radar Sweep -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trump Caught Off Guard by Pentagon’s Abrupt Move to Pause Ukraine Weapons Deliveries President Donald Trump’s decision to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine came after he privately expressed frustration with Pentagon officials for announcing a pause in some deliveries last week—a move that he felt wasn’t properly coordinated with the White House, according to three people familiar with the matter. https://apnews.com/article/trump-ukraine-weapons-pentagon-15694071ddb6f7040273e9ef090e84c4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- White House Weighs Giving Ukraine Another Patriot Air-Defense System President Trump is considering sending an additional Patriot air-defense system to Ukraine after vowing in recent days to strengthen Kyiv against Russian attacks, according to two officials. https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/trump-says-putins-assurances-on-ukraine-meaningless-af8fc373?st=Tu4QcH&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink (Gift Link) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Fighter Jets to Space Systems: Military Sends Lawmakers Over $20B-Worth of Unfunded Priorities It’s much like the time every year when children the world over stamp envelopes for the North Pole and enclose their deepest desires for Santa Claus—only this happens in the spring or summer, deals in potentially billions of dollars-worth of weapons instead of toys and is legally mandated. That’s right, it’s Unfunded Priorities List season. https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/from-fighters-jets-to-space-systems-military-sends-lawmakers-over-20b-worth-of-unfunded-priorities/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trump’s New Favorite General Trump seems to have been drawn to Air Force General Dan “Razin” Caine at least in part because he loved his nickname—which happens to be Caine’s F-16 call sign. ... Heather Penney, a retired Air Force major who flew F-16s with Caine, put it this way when I spoke with her: “Making an offensive counter air push with Razin in the lead—man, everything died in front of us. He was just so good.” https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/archive/2025/07/razin-caine-donald-trump-joint-chiefs/683440/?gift=aJ5TSRnx7-t9KxVl0ju7AYIOA_gjJSfQlb_WAnsnP-g&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share (Gift Link) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What Trump’s Order on ‘Unleashing American Drone Dominance’ Means for the US Military While the Trump administration’s recently issued executive order on “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” places a sharp focus on civilian use of unmanned aircraft, the new policy also includes multiple provisions that could have implications for Pentagon and military personnel. https://defensescoop.com/2025/07/08/trump-executive-order-unleashing-american-drone-dominance-military-implications/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.ga-asi.com/ga-asi-welcomes-usaf-designation-for-new-cca-yfq-42a -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Former Air Force Chiefs Sound Alarm About Planned F-35, E-7 Cuts On July 7, more than a dozen retired top Air Force generals—including six former chiefs of staff—released a letter urging Congress to reverse Pentagon plans to kill the E-7 Wedgetail program and slash F-35 procurement. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/07/08/former-air-force-chiefs-sound-alarm-about-planned-f-35-e-7-cuts/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Force Review Spotlights Risks in Space Agency’s Go-Fast Approach The Space Development Agency’s focus on rapid satellite delivery may expose the office to “undetected or misunderstood risks,” according to a report from the Air Force Inspector General obtained by Defense News. https://www.airforcetimes.com/space/2025/07/08/air-force-review-spotlights-risks-in-space-agencys-go-fast-approach/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- China’s Two-Seat J-20 Stealth Fighter Poised to Enter Operational Service A flurry of new images showing the two-seat variant of China’s J-20 stealth fighter has emerged online. As well as providing new views of the two-seater, which also now wears a darker paint scheme, recent imagery published on Chinese social media reveals the progress being made in other fighter programs, including the J-35 family of carrier-based and land-based stealth fighters. https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-j-20s-two-seat-stealth-fighter-poised-for-operational-service -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Army Aims to Quadruple Patriot Missile Procurement The U.S. Army has asked for a big boost to its Patriot air defense stockpile in the 2026 budget request, as the service drives to increase its “magazine depth” for various munitions. https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/07/army-aims-quadruple-patriot-missile-procurement/406577/?oref=d1-homepage-top-story -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winston Beauchamp Retires from Federal Service After 29 Years at Air Force, IC After nearly three decades of working for the U.S. government, Winston Beauchamp announced on July 4 that he’s departing from his role within the Department of the Air Force and leaving active federal service. Beauchamp began working for the department in 2015, and most recently served as the director of security, special program oversight and information protection within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. https://defensescoop.com/2025/07/08/winston-beauchamp-retires-from-federal-service-air-force-ic/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One More Thing... World-Traveling Air Force Couple Shares Tips for Family Adventures Joshua de Amusategui enlisted in the Air Force hoping to travel the world. But the military—or fate—had other plans and unintentionally supported a blossoming love story with his high school sweetheart, Ashley. https://militaryfamilies.com/military-travel/world-traveling-air-force-couple-shares-tips-for-family-adventures/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.afa.org/air-space-cyber-conference/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Daily Report: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/daily-report/ - Contact Us: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/contact-us/ - Advertise With Us: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/advertise/ - Purchase/Reprint: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/reprint-permission/ - Air & Space Forces Assoc.: https://www.afa.org - Join AFA: https://www.afa.org/join/ - A&SF Mag on Facebook: https://facebook.com/ASForcesMag - A&SF Mag on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASForcesMag -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Published by the Air & Space Forces Association All airandspaceforces.com material is under copyright of the Air & Space Forces Association. 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