ACC Unveils New Way to Measure Readiness
Air Combat Command is changing how it measures and tracks readiness for its fleet of aircraft, with a top general saying the focus is on “simplicity” and better articulating what its wings need.
Kadena Sends ‘Message You Can’t Ignore’ with Huge Elephant Walk
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. In a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and more.
JetZero Pitches Blended Wing Body Tanker as ’Game-Changer’
The KC-Z4, a blended wing body tanker concept being developed by startup JetZero, could fuel larger groups of aircraft at longer range to hold more targets at risk, company officials say.
USAF, Boeing May Modify Air Force One Requirements to Get Delivery by 2027
The Air Force is in talks with Boeing to modify requirements for its new VC-25B presidential aircraft in a push to get them into service by 2027.
Radar Sweep
Space Force Sharpens Focus on Deterring Rivals
SpaceNews
American military leaders are speaking more openly than ever about fighting in space—not just defending it. After decades of treating space primarily as a support domain for earthbound operations, the new rhetoric reflects a broader transformation in U.S. space strategy, one that increasingly views space as a dynamic, contested domain in which the ability to maneuver—and, if needed, strike—is essential.
Hegseth Bans Affirmative Action at Military Service Academies
Military Times
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has barred the U.S. military service academies from considering race, gender, or ethnicity in their admissions processes, ending the practice of affirmative action upheld by the Supreme Court two years ago. In a memo published May 9, Hegseth directed the schools to rank applicants by an aggregate score factoring in athletic ability, past military experience, and other qualifications.
Trump Is to Accept a Luxury 747 From Qatar for Use as Air Force One
The New York Times
The Trump administration plans to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 plane as a donation from the Qatari royal family that will be upgraded to serve as Air Force One, in possibly the biggest foreign gift ever received by the U.S. government.
Pentagon Directs Military to Pull Library Books That Address Diversity, Anti-Racism, Gender Issues
The Associated Press
The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism, or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force May 9. It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies, and instructional materials.
MDA Plans Overhaul of Missile Defense Targets with Industry Callout
Inside Defense
The Missile Defense Agency wants to overhaul the payload systems it uses to test U.S. missile defense systems, launching a formal request for information to expand the flexibility, speed, and realism of future target vehicles. May 8, the agency issued the RFI and set a June 23 deadline for industry responses, seeking a “paradigm shift” in how the Defense Department simulates missile threats during developmental and operational testing.
Trump’s Budget Hawk Takes Over the DOGE Agenda. First Up: The Military.
The Wall Street Journal
Russ Vought, President Trump’s top budget official, is looking to lock in many of Elon Musk’s cost-cutting efforts once the billionaire CEO steps aside from government. A key part of his plan: steamrolling Congress. Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, has already drawn the ire of Republican national security hawks by insisting that military spending receive increases only through a procedure known as budget reconciliation, as opposed to the annual budget.
PODCAST: Understanding the CCA Edge: Innovators’ Insights
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) stand forth as one of the most important airpower developments of the twenty-first century. In this Aerospace Advantage episode, we learn more about them by talking to two of the people involved with developing and building them. We explain CCA’s technological journey, explore where the program currently stands, and discuss the pathway for production, test, and initial operational fielding.
Air Force Special Operations Wants to Fire Cruise Missiles from Reaper Drones
Defense One
Cruise missiles are getting smaller and that’s opening up ways to give older drones fighter jet-like capabilities, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command said.
Trump Administration to Revive National Space Council
POLITICO
The White House is reviving the National Space Council, a historically influential policy body that could help guide the administration’s ambitious space goals, while acting as a counterbalance to Elon Musk. The revival of the council ends speculation that President Donald Trump would not bring back the office following lobbying from Musk’s SpaceX company.
Two Secretive Loyal Wingman Drones Aimed at the European Market in Development from Kratos
The War Zone
Two new drone designs, Apollo and Athena, are in development at Kratos with a particular focus on collaborative operations with other crewed and uncrewed aircraft, and an eye toward sales in Europe.
Army Secretary Says It Will Be ‘Success’ if Prime Contractor Dies on His Watch
Breaking Defense
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll hasn’t masked his desire to shake up the defense sector but he upped the ante, calling it a “success” if a large prime contractor closes its doors in the coming years if they can’t start operating more efficiently. “I will measure it as success if in the next two years, one of the primes is no longer in business, and the rest of them have all gotten stronger,” he said May 8 on the TBPN podcast.
How New Drones Are Sneaking Past Jammers on Ukraine’s Front Lines
The Economist
Drones have transformed the war in Ukraine. Commanders sit in bunkers scanning banks of screens, as surveillance drones hunt for targets on the ground. Once they are spotted, artillery or mortars may blast them. Or bomb-dropping or kamikaze drones zoom in for the kill. The problem is that well over half the drones in the air are downed by jamming and accidents. But a new addition to the arsenal of both sides is proving more effective. They are fiber optic drones. With no radio signal to detect or jam, they are proving much harder to stop.
Northrop Tests Tech to Help Hypersonic Vehicles Maneuver Without GPS
Defense News
Two recent groundbreaking hypersonic test flights featured a Northrop Grumman capability designed to allow high-speed systems to navigate and maneuver when GPS isn’t available. The company told Defense News that its inertial measurement unit, or IMU, flew onboard Stratolaunch’s Talon-A glide vehicle during its first two hypersonic flights in December and March.
US Special Ops Gets First Skyraider II Close Support Planes, Eyes Bespoke Mission Sets
Breaking Defense
Air Force Special Operations Command has received its first five 0A-1K Skyraider II close air support prop planes, the first of what officials said they hope to be a fleet highly configurable plane for bespoke special missions.
The Military’s Only Search and Rescue Dog Has Retired
Task & Purpose
The Air Force’s search and rescue field is losing a veteran service member. A decorated member of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Callie retired after six years of service. Yes, Callie is a dog. A dog with years of experience and several deployments.