Israeli strikes pounded Gaza on Feb. 4, killing at least 24 Palestinians, including two babies, according to health officials in the territory, where a fragile ceasefire is under increasing strain. Israel said it killed three militant leaders and others who posed a threat to its forces, and that some strikes came in response to a Hamas attack that seriously wounded one of its soldiers.
Plans for U.S.-Iran nuclear talks on Feb. 6 are back on, after several Middle Eastern leaders urgently lobbied the Trump administration on Feb. 4 not to follow through on threats to walk away, two U.S. officials told Axios.
The fiscal 2027 budget season has barely started, but the head of the House Armed Services Committee is setting two major goals for the year: securing $450 billion for defense in an upcoming reconciliation bill, and using the next defense policy bill to expand the defense industrial base.
“Recently, the New York Times and the Washington Post published stories that can leave readers with the impression that U.S. military members are war criminals. In this instance, it’s for allegations of perfidy with respect to a Sept. 2, 2025 strike on an alleged drug boat that killed 11 people. The authors include reporters I’ve known and respected for years, yet for whatever reason, the stories stumble over the law (which, admittedly, does have nuances) and omit facts pertinent to analyzing alleged perfidy,” writes retired Maj. Gen. Charles J. Dunlap Jr., the former deputy judge advocate general of the Air Force.
Airbus and Singapore have announced that they have completed the certification of the Automatic Air to Air Refueling (A3R) capability of the Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport, a key technological step that will allow automated refueling from the European-made system.
The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit is on the hunt for commercial sensing capabilities that the department could launch into space to help detect, track, and defeat missile threats.
Canada is reevaluating its planned purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets over the escalating trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa in what has become a flash point in bilateral relations between the two allies.
On Jan. 21, the Air Force conducted a live warhead test of a new standoff cruise missile that was developed in less than a year and a half. The Extended Range Attack Munition, or ERAM, is an air-launched cruise missile that is designed to allow the Air Force to strike high-value fixed targets from standoff range with precision guidance, at an affordable cost.
The U.S. Navy has shown no signs of reversing course on major changes to its pipeline for new naval aviators in its latest draft requirements for a replacement for its T-45 Goshawk jet trainers. The Navy has already axed carrier qualifications from the syllabus for prospective tactical jet pilots and has plans to significantly alter how other training is done at bases ashore.
RTX’s Raytheon division committed to surging its missile output after months of pressure from Pentagon officials. The defense contractor said Feb. 4 it reached agreements with the Defense Department to speed deliveries and increase production capacity of Tomahawk missiles, AMRAAM missiles, and multiple versions of its Standard Missiles.
U.S. Air Force Sports Outreach Program Manager Katie Spencer has overseen planning for six Super Bowl flyovers, but each year presents new challenges. She and her team are always ready to meet and exceed expectations, especially to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday.
