HTML Version <!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>AWACS Damaged in Iranian Attack</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: More on the Strike at Prince Sultan Air Base and GPS Ground System Program May Be Axed</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://www.afa.org/doolittle-leadership-center/podcast/" target="_blank"><img width="680" height="90" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2026/02/DLC_Podcast_DR_680x90.jpg"></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;">March 30, 2026</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 with Courtney Albon, Matthew Cox, Chris Gordon, Stephen Losey and Todd South</p></td></tr><tr class="view-in-browser"><td align="center"><a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/daily-report/20260330/?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="494" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2026/03/6274417-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/2026/03/6274417-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2026/03/6274417-scaled-450x327.jpg 450w, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2026/03/6274417-scaled-620x450.jpg 620w, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2026/03/6274417-scaled-768x557.jpg 768w, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2026/03/6274417-scaled-675x490.jpg 675w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /><em style='display: block; font-size: 0.8em; margin-bottom: 0.6em'>A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, July 11, 2020. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Duncan C. Bevan</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/key-e-3-awacs-aircraft-damaged-iranian-attack-saudi-air-base/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">Key E-3 AWACS Damaged in Iranian Attack on Saudi Air Base</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 and Stephen Losey</p><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.</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/pentagon-eyes-canceling-troubled-gps-ground-system/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">Pentagon Eyes Canceling ‘Troubled’ GPS Ground System</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 Courtney Albon</p><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">Amid persistent development and testing delays, the Space Force is considering canceling a long-delayed effort to develop a ground system to manage its newest GPS satellites, a spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine. </p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.rtx.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=a-sf-daily-report&utm_campaign=rtx-brand&utm_content=connectprotect-f35"><img width="680" height="265" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2026/02/RTX_Feb26_680x265_0006_F35-Protecting.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/chaplains-ordered-to-shed-rank-ret-af-leaders-question-move/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">Hegseth’s Push for Chaplains to Remove Rank Sparks Debate</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 Matthew Cox</p><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently ordered chaplains to shed their officer rank insignia to make them more approachable to lower ranks—a move that has sparked a debate over why chaplains need to be viewed as officers.</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/us-forces-saudi-arabia-iran-attack/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">US Forces at Saudi Air Base Suffer Iranian Attack</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;">Multiple American service members were wounded and some aircraft were damaged in a March 27 Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.</p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.marvintest.com/landing/smartcan3"><img width="680" height="265" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2026/03/MTS_March2026_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/macdill-remains-on-alert-as-indictments-drop-in-failed-bomb-attack/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">MacDill Remains on Alert as Indictments Drop in Failed Bomb Attack</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 Stephen Losey</p><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., home of U.S. Central Command, remains on heightened security status after the Justice Department announced two indictments stemming from an attempted bombing at the base. Alen Zheng, 20, of Land O’Lakes, Fla., was charged March...</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/34th-fighter-squadron-rude-rams-win-coveted-raytheon-trophy/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">34th Fighter Squadron ‘Rude Rams’ Win Coveted Raytheon Trophy</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 Todd South</p><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">The 34th Fighter Squadron won the Raytheon Trophy for its air superiority performance in 2025 in two major Middle East operations and a series of responses in the Pacific. The F-35 Lightning II squadron received the honor following its role in Operation Rough Rider targeting Houthi rebel missile sites in Yemen, its penetrating offensive work escorting bombers during Operation Midnight Hammer to strike Iranian nuclear sites, and dozens of alert scrambles to counter aggression in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, according to a release.</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/data-centers-in-space-could-enable-golden-dome-experts/?src=dr" style="text-decoration: none; color: #222222;">Data Centers in Space Could Enable Golden Dome: Experts</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 Courtney Albon</p><p class="bodytext" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 0; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7;">The tech industry’s pursuit of space-based AI data centers could have positive implications for military space operations, potentially enabling faster communication speeds from multiple orbits for programs like Golden Dome, industry and defense officials said March 24. </p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.usaa.com/military?txid=OTH:TX1:MBATHE7NE5"><img width="680" height="265" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2025/11/USAA_Dec2025_InsuranceCapability_A2792_680x265px_01.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;">US Sailors, Marines Deployed amid Iran War Reach CENTCOM Region</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5805819-uss-tripoli-central-command-middle-east/" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Hill</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Tripoli arrived at the U.S. Central Command area in the Middle East on March 27. CENTCOM stated March 28 that the flagship delivered about 3,500 Sailors and Marines from the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, along with “transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets.”</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 Weighs Military Operation to Extract Iran’s Uranium</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-weighs-military-operation-to-extract-irans-uranium-37427c8b?st=8w3aRu&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 weighing a military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, according to U.S. officials, a complex and risky mission that would likely put American forces inside the country for days or longer.</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;">Pakistan Says It Will Host US-Iran Talks, While Iran Warns US Ground Troops Would Be ‘Set on Fire’</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-29-2026-26caaef651be1cb4d482b29adaa2d600" 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;">Pakistan announced March 29 that it will soon host talks between the U.S. and Iran, though there was no immediate word from Washington or Tehran, and it was unclear whether discussions on the monthlong war would be direct or indirect.</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;">PODCAST: Understanding the Threat Environment in Space</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/podcast/understanding-the-threat-environment-in-space-chief-lerch/" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">For decades, adversaries like China have pressed hard to erase the spacepower advantage of the United States. This includes weapons to attack our space systems and technologies on orbit to hold U.S. forces in all domains at risk. Bottom line, space is more contested today than ever before. Our Mitchell Institute team explores these realities with Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Deputy of Chief of Space Operations. </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;">Russia Mapping US Assets to Help Iran, Zelenskyy Says</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-mapping-us-assets-to-help-iran-zelenskyy-says-ukriane-war-putin-satellite/" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">POLITICO</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of helping Tehran target U.S. military assets in the Middle East, including with satellite images ahead of Iranian strikes on an American base in Saudi Arabia.</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;">Hardened Underground Facilities Now Being Sought for Al Udeid Air Base</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.twz.com/news-features/hardened-underground-facilities-now-being-sought-for-al-udeid-air-base" 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;">With its facilities in the Middle East frequently targeted by Iranian missiles and drones, U.S. Central Command is looking for better ways to protect its troops and capabilities. This week, the command and its subordinate units put out two calls for information from companies that can design and provide hardened infrastructure, including underground facilities, as well as shelters.</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.uav.com/" target="_blank"><img width="300" height="250" src="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2026/02/300x250px.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;">Space Command Wants to Move Nearly 200 People to New Alabama HQ This Year</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2026/03/space-command-wants-move-nearly-200-people-new-alabama-hq-year/412472/?oref=d1-featured-river-secondary" 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;">Space Command aims to move about 200 people from Colorado to its new headquarters in Alabama by year's end. “I'm happy at the progress that we're making, and that progress will continue over the next couple of years as we work to get a significant portion of our staff there, even while the permanent headquarters is being built,” Gen. Stephen Whiting, who leads U.S. Space Command, told senators during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing March 26.</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;">Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/events/2026-spacepower-security-forum/" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">Register now for the April 1 Spacepower Security Forum featuring Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, Lt. Gen. David Miller, Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess, and more. Don’t miss this unique and intimate gathering in Arlington, Va.</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;">Ukraine Offers Gulf Allies Drone Defense in Bid for Scarce Patriot Missiles</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/03/27/ukraine-offers-gulf-allies-drone-defense-in-bid-for-scarce-patriot-missiles/" 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;">After years of trying to stop Iran-designed Shahed drones over its own cities, Ukraine is now sending counter-drone teams to Gulf partners—and pitching the help as a trade between equals.</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;">NATO Sees $145B in Munitions Needs, as Members All Hit 2 Percent GDP for First Time</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/nato-sees-145b-in-munitions-needs-as-members-all-hit-2-percent-gdp-for-first-time/" 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;">NATO officials have identified up to $145 billion in shared munition and air defense requirements across member-states, with Secretary General Mark Rutte vowing to push weapon production as a top priority at the next NATO summit.</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;">Judge Grants Anthropic Preliminary Injunction but Pentagon CTO Says Ban Still Stands</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/judge-grants-anthropic-preliminary-injunction-but-pentagon-cto-says-ban-still-stands/" 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;"> Federal Judge Rita Lin issued a sweeping preliminary injunction in Anthropic’s favor March 26, the latest move in the weekslong conflict between the AI company and the U.S. government.</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;">Iran-Backed Houthis Fire Missile at Israel from Yemen, Risking Further Escalation</h2><p><a class="radar-link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/iran-backed-houthis-fire-missile-israel-yemen-risking-escalation-rcna265581" style="color: #214a86; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">NBC News</a> </p><p class="bodytext-radar" style="font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #555555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0;">The Yemen-based Houthi militant group claimed responsibility for an attack on Israel on March 28, marking the Iran-backed group’s entry into the widening conflict in the Middle East, one that could further disrupt the region’s vital shipping lanes.</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;">6 Air Force Members Were Stranded in Alaskan Wilderness After Plane Broke Apart Midair: Inside Their Survival</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://people.com/6-air-force-members-survived-deadly-plane-crash-in-1954-11933232" target="_blank">People</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;">What began as a routine military flight over Alaska on Feb. 5, 1954, turned into a catastrophe that killed seven passengers, three crewmen, and left six Airmen—Rupert Pratt, Eli LaDuke, Huey Montgomery, Ed Fox, Ed Olsen, and Bobby Sallis—scattered across a frozen wilderness, forced to fight for survival.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr class="row-spacer" height="25"><td style="background: #1f2a39; 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Plaintext Version Air & Space Forces Magazine Daily Report for March 30, 2026 View in your Web Browser: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/daily-report/20260330/?src=dr Edited by Greg Hadley with Courtney Albon, Matthew Cox, Chris Gordon, Stephen Losey and Todd South -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.afa.org/doolittle-leadership-center/podcast/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key E-3 AWACS Damaged in Iranian Attack on Saudi Air Base By Chris Gordon and Stephen Losey An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/key-e-3-awacs-aircraft-damaged-iranian-attack-saudi-air-base/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pentagon Eyes Canceling ‘Troubled’ GPS Ground System By Courtney Albon Amid persistent development and testing delays, the Space Force is considering canceling a long-delayed effort to develop a ground system to manage its newest GPS satellites, a spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/pentagon-eyes-canceling-troubled-gps-ground-system/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.rtx.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=a-sf-daily-report&utm_campaign=rtx-brand&utm_content=connectprotect-f35 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hegseth’s Push for Chaplains to Remove Rank Sparks Debate By Matthew Cox Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently ordered chaplains to shed their officer rank insignia to make them more approachable to lower ranks—a move that has sparked a debate over why chaplains need to be viewed as officers. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/chaplains-ordered-to-shed-rank-ret-af-leaders-question-move/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- US Forces at Saudi Air Base Suffer Iranian Attack By Chris Gordon Multiple American service members were wounded and some aircraft were damaged in a March 27 Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-forces-saudi-arabia-iran-attack/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.marvintest.com/landing/smartcan3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MacDill Remains on Alert as Indictments Drop in Failed Bomb Attack By Stephen Losey MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., home of U.S. Central Command, remains on heightened security status after the Justice Department announced two indictments stemming from an attempted bombing at the base. Alen Zheng, 20, of Land O’Lakes, Fla., was charged March... https://www.airandspaceforces.com/macdill-remains-on-alert-as-indictments-drop-in-failed-bomb-attack/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34th Fighter Squadron ‘Rude Rams’ Win Coveted Raytheon Trophy By Todd South The 34th Fighter Squadron won the Raytheon Trophy for its air superiority performance in 2025 in two major Middle East operations and a series of responses in the Pacific. The F-35 Lightning II squadron received the honor following its role in Operation Rough Rider targeting Houthi rebel missile sites in Yemen, its penetrating offensive work escorting bombers during Operation Midnight Hammer to strike Iranian nuclear sites, and dozens of alert scrambles to counter aggression in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, according to a release. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/34th-fighter-squadron-rude-rams-win-coveted-raytheon-trophy/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Data Centers in Space Could Enable Golden Dome: Experts By Courtney Albon The tech industry’s pursuit of space-based AI data centers could have positive implications for military space operations, potentially enabling faster communication speeds from multiple orbits for programs like Golden Dome, industry and defense officials said March 24. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/data-centers-in-space-could-enable-golden-dome-experts/?src=dr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.usaa.com/military?txid=OTH:TX1:MBATHE7NE5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Radar Sweep -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- US Sailors, Marines Deployed amid Iran War Reach CENTCOM Region U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Tripoli arrived at the U.S. Central Command area in the Middle East on March 27. CENTCOM stated March 28 that the flagship delivered about 3,500 Sailors and Marines from the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, along with “transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets.” https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5805819-uss-tripoli-central-command-middle-east/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trump Weighs Military Operation to Extract Iran’s Uranium President Trump is weighing a military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, according to U.S. officials, a complex and risky mission that would likely put American forces inside the country for days or longer. https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-weighs-military-operation-to-extract-irans-uranium-37427c8b?st=8w3aRu&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink (Gift Link) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan Says It Will Host US-Iran Talks, While Iran Warns US Ground Troops Would Be ‘Set on Fire’ Pakistan announced March 29 that it will soon host talks between the U.S. and Iran, though there was no immediate word from Washington or Tehran, and it was unclear whether discussions on the monthlong war would be direct or indirect. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-29-2026-26caaef651be1cb4d482b29adaa2d600 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PODCAST: Understanding the Threat Environment in Space For decades, adversaries like China have pressed hard to erase the spacepower advantage of the United States. This includes weapons to attack our space systems and technologies on orbit to hold U.S. forces in all domains at risk. Bottom line, space is more contested today than ever before. Our Mitchell Institute team explores these realities with Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Deputy of Chief of Space Operations. https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/podcast/understanding-the-threat-environment-in-space-chief-lerch/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Russia Mapping US Assets to Help Iran, Zelenskyy Says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of helping Tehran target U.S. military assets in the Middle East, including with satellite images ahead of Iranian strikes on an American base in Saudi Arabia. https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-mapping-us-assets-to-help-iran-zelenskyy-says-ukriane-war-putin-satellite/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hardened Underground Facilities Now Being Sought for Al Udeid Air Base With its facilities in the Middle East frequently targeted by Iranian missiles and drones, U.S. Central Command is looking for better ways to protect its troops and capabilities. This week, the command and its subordinate units put out two calls for information from companies that can design and provide hardened infrastructure, including underground facilities, as well as shelters. https://www.twz.com/news-features/hardened-underground-facilities-now-being-sought-for-al-udeid-air-base -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.uav.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Space Command Wants to Move Nearly 200 People to New Alabama HQ This Year Space Command aims to move about 200 people from Colorado to its new headquarters in Alabama by year's end. “I'm happy at the progress that we're making, and that progress will continue over the next couple of years as we work to get a significant portion of our staff there, even while the permanent headquarters is being built,” Gen. Stephen Whiting, who leads U.S. Space Command, told senators during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing March 26. https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2026/03/space-command-wants-move-nearly-200-people-new-alabama-hq-year/412472/?oref=d1-featured-river-secondary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum Register now for the April 1 Spacepower Security Forum featuring Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, Lt. Gen. David Miller, Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess, and more. Don’t miss this unique and intimate gathering in Arlington, Va. https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/events/2026-spacepower-security-forum/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ukraine Offers Gulf Allies Drone Defense in Bid for Scarce Patriot Missiles After years of trying to stop Iran-designed Shahed drones over its own cities, Ukraine is now sending counter-drone teams to Gulf partners—and pitching the help as a trade between equals. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/03/27/ukraine-offers-gulf-allies-drone-defense-in-bid-for-scarce-patriot-missiles/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NATO Sees $145B in Munitions Needs, as Members All Hit 2 Percent GDP for First Time NATO officials have identified up to $145 billion in shared munition and air defense requirements across member-states, with Secretary General Mark Rutte vowing to push weapon production as a top priority at the next NATO summit. https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/nato-sees-145b-in-munitions-needs-as-members-all-hit-2-percent-gdp-for-first-time/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Grants Anthropic Preliminary Injunction but Pentagon CTO Says Ban Still Stands Federal Judge Rita Lin issued a sweeping preliminary injunction in Anthropic’s favor March 26, the latest move in the weekslong conflict between the AI company and the U.S. government. https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/judge-grants-anthropic-preliminary-injunction-but-pentagon-cto-says-ban-still-stands/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iran-Backed Houthis Fire Missile at Israel from Yemen, Risking Further Escalation The Yemen-based Houthi militant group claimed responsibility for an attack on Israel on March 28, marking the Iran-backed group’s entry into the widening conflict in the Middle East, one that could further disrupt the region’s vital shipping lanes. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/iran-backed-houthis-fire-missile-israel-yemen-risking-escalation-rcna265581 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One More Thing... 6 Air Force Members Were Stranded in Alaskan Wilderness After Plane Broke Apart Midair: Inside Their Survival What began as a routine military flight over Alaska on Feb. 5, 1954, turned into a catastrophe that killed seven passengers, three crewmen, and left six Airmen—Rupert Pratt, Eli LaDuke, Huey Montgomery, Ed Fox, Ed Olsen, and Bobby Sallis—scattered across a frozen wilderness, forced to fight for survival. https://people.com/6-air-force-members-survived-deadly-plane-crash-in-1954-11933232 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advertisement ] https://www.saic.com/what-we-do/decision-advantage?utm_source=airandspaceforces&utm_content=decisionadvantage-faster-bannerad-680x265&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=saic-decision-advantage-fy27 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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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