Daily Report

Dec. 18, 2025
VC-25B Artist Rendering

USAF Moves Up Air Force One Delivery; Acquires 2 Extra 747-8s for Parts, Training

The Air Force is now expecting delivery of the first VC-25B presidential transport by mid-2028, months ahead of its last official projection, a service spokesperson said this week. USAF also announced it is buying two used Boeing 747-8 jetliners for training and spare parts to be delivered in 2026, calling the $400 million deal part of its “acceleration efforts” for the oft-delayed presidential airlift program.

Air Force IT Leaders Adopt Commercial-First Strategy

The Department of the Air Force is embracing the new commercial-first approach to IT ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, outsourcing networks and other infrastructure and reducing the amount of customization required from vendors, say the chief information officers for several DAF organizations.

Radar Sweep

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Ukraine Plan Calls for Enhanced Military, with US and European Backup

The New York Times

The U.S.-European peace plan to deter future Russian attacks on Ukraine calls for a more robust Ukrainian military, the deployment of European forces inside the country, and increased use of American intelligence, according to officials familiar with drafts that detail the proposal.

Pentagon AI Chief Departing to Work on Golden Dome Effort

DefenseScoop

Douglas Matty is exiting his role as the Pentagon’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer and moving on to focus on the Trump administration’s “Golden Dome for America” missile defense initiative, DefenseScoop has learned.

More KC-135 Tankers Deploy to the Caribbean

The War Zone

The Pentagon is continuing to pour assets into the Caribbean to beef up the Trump administration’s military pressure on Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and enhanced drug interdiction operations. As additional aerial refueling tankers arrive in the region, the White House is also reportedly preparing to seize more sanctioned oil tankers to further impact Maduro’s income.