Space Force Approves New Satellite Jammer for Operational Use
The Space Force formally accepted its Meadowlands jammer for operational use earlier this month, an upgrade to its current electronic warfare portfolio.
Air Force Accelerates Sending B-21s to Ellsworth
The arrival of the Air Force’s B-21 Raider at its first operational base is fast approaching, and the service’s plans for its newest stealth bomber are coming into focus. In an exclusive interview with Air & Space Forces Magazine on June 26, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said plans to bed down the first B-21 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., in 2027 are on track. The service has even pushed its schedule forward slightly, Meink said, though he would not detail by how much.
Air Force Leaders Say AI Guidance, More Changes to BMT Coming
Air Force will soon issue new guidance on the use of artificial intelligence and will implement a sweeping modernization of Basic Military Training by 2027 following a summit of top service leaders.
New AI ‘Agent Network’ Could Gather Intel Faster for Strike Packages
A new Pentagon initiative could shrink the timelines for air and space commanders to gather and sort through the intelligence necessary to conduct operations.
OA-1K Crashed After Pilot Mistakenly Turned Off Fuel: New Report
An Air Force pilot learning to fly the new OA-1K inadvertently shut off the plane’s fuel in the middle of a training sortie last October, leading to the Skyraider II crashing in an Oklahoma field, according to a new investigation report.
Radar Sweep
Honeywell Aerospace CEO Says AI Works for Blueprints but Isn’t Ready for the Cockpit
The Wall Street Journal
Honeywell Aerospace has flown the nest. Long part of industrial conglomerate Honeywell International, the company completed its spinoff June 29 into a standalone manufacturer focused on things that fly—working on everything from cooling airplane cabins to guiding the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Artemis II mission past the moon.
In Defence Investment Plan Preview, Britain Bets Big on Drones, ‘Hybrid’ Navy
Breaking Defense
Hours before the expected publication of the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, the United Kingdom has released new details about its contents, emphasizing a dramatic shift to hybrid and unmanned systems for years to come.
US and Iran Pause Strikes but Disagree over Next Steps on Talks
The Associated Press
The United States and Iran on June 29 separately announced they will send delegations to Qatar this week, though Tehran insisted it has not agreed to meet with the U.S. “at any level” after attacks across the Persian Gulf over the weekend challenged negotiations to end the war.
In a Bold Move, Rocket Lab Acquires Iridium Communications
Ars Technica
Rocket Lab announced on June 29 that it is acquiring the satellite communications company Iridium. The deal, made for cash and shares of Rocket Lab stock, values Iridium at about $8 billion. The deal pairs the launch company, founded and led by Peter Beck, with a decades-old profitable satellite company whose network of 80 satellites in low-Earth orbit provides telecommunications services.
Marine Corps Inks First Contract for Autonomous Ground Vehicle Production
Defense One
The Marine Corps will pay Overland AI $19.7 million to produce more than a dozen autonomous ground vehicles by early 2027. The vehicles, due to be delivered in about nine months, will be part of the Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems program, which is part of the service’s counterdrone approach, and support resupply missions.
TRANSCOM Seeks Partners to Study Autonomous, Cargo-Moving Drone Boats for Future Ops
DefenseScoop
U.S. Transportation Command wants to partner with external stakeholders to explore integrating autonomous and remotely piloted drone boats into its global mobility network and military supply chains.
Air Force Discloses B-2 Can Launch Stealth Anti-Ship Missiles in Surprise Announcement
The War Zone
One of the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 bombers fired an AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) during a recent live-fire sinking exercise in the Western Pacific. The stealthy LRASM was not previously known to be in the B-2’s arsenal.
Hegseth Announces New Defense Policy Board After Clearing Out Previous Panel
The Hill
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on June 29 announced the 15 individuals who will make up the new Defense Policy Board, just a little more than a year after the previous panel was cleared out by the Pentagon chief.
Air Force Ponders Future for Red Hawk Beyond Pilot Training
National Defense Magazine
The Air Force won’t begin receiving its first production lot of Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk jet trainers until 2027, but that has not stopped the service from exploring what else it could do with the aircraft beyond producing student pilots at Air Education and Training Command.
Hegseth, Rubio, and Caine Had an Auto-Deleting Signal Chat
The Atlantic
The State Department last week released records ... in response to Freedom of Information Act litigation by Democracy Forward, which has filed more than 400 legal actions against the Trump administration since last January. The new release, which we reviewed, includes 13 Signal chats from the first six months of 2025 that have not been previously reported.
This Is What an Air Force Contingency Response Element Does
Task & Purpose
In the wake of two major earthquakes that hit Venezuela, the United States military is surging aid, personnel, and aircraft to help coordinate relief. Roughly 100 highly specialized Airmen from a contingency response element arrived in the country with the vital job of helping restart airport operations after the quakes.