Senate Adds Billions for Air Force Programs to GOP Spending Bill
Senate lawmakers unveiled legislation June 4 that would funnel at least $26 billion to the Air Force and Space Force starting this year.
This General Could Be the First Airman to Lead AFRICOM
Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson is nominated to become the first Air Force general to lead U.S. Africa Command.
Top NATO Official Says All Members May Hit Spending Target After 11 Years
"Most, if not all," NATO countries will soon achieve their longtime goal of spending 2 percent of their GDPs on defense, but that may not be enough, Secretary-General Mark Rutte said at the NATO ministerial in Brussels. He also said members will be assigned responsibilities that match their capabilities at the full NATO meeting later this month.
Air Force’s First Female 4-Star Takes Command
Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger—the Air Force’s first female four-star general—assumes command of Air Force Materiel Command, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Radar Sweep
Bill Would Cover ‘Forever Chemical’ Exposure at Bases Under VA Benefits
Task & Purpose
A bipartisan bill would allow veterans with health issues caused by exposure to “forever chemicals” at U.S. military bases to be treated as service-connected disabilities, which would further open the door to health care and benefits compensation for those impacted.
Logistics While Under Attack: Key to a CCA Force Design
Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies in 2024 executed a major exercise looking at logistical requirements for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. In the institute's latest podcast, Mark Gunzinger discusses his new report on the exercise with workshop participants Robert “Otis” Winkler of Kratos, Andrew “Scar” VanTimmeren of Anduril, and Scott “Fug” Gilloon of General Atomics.
RTX to Ramp AIM-9X Production to 2,500 Missiles Per Year with New $1.1 Billion Award
Inside Defense
Defense giant RTX plans to increase its AIM-9X Block II production to 2,500 missiles per year, the company announced June 4 after receiving a $1.1 billion Navy contract modification earlier in the week.
US Is Redirecting Critical Antidrone Technology From Ukraine to US Forces
The Wall Street Journal
The Trump administration is redirecting a key antidrone technology earmarked for Ukraine to American forces, a move that reflects the Pentagon’s waning commitment to Kyiv's defense.
‘We Need Your Creative, Innovative, Patriotic, and Diabolical Minds’: Joint Chiefs Chairman Caine
Breaking Defense
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, chose a massive AI conference in the nation’s capital for one of his first public addresses as chairman, invoking his own business background in a passionate appeal to tech entrepreneurs in the audience.
Air Force Special Operations Command Names New Enlisted Leader as Predecessor Faces Investigation
Military.com
Air Force Special Operations Command has named a new top enlisted leader nearly two months after his predecessor was removed from the role amid an ongoing investigation.
China May Own the ‘Narrative’ of Future Conflict If the US Crushes the Satellite Imagery Biz: Experts
Defense One
Congress is weighing reductions to the National Reconnaissance Office's budget for acquiring commercial satellite imagery, a move that could ultimately give China an edge in the influence domain and on the battlefield.
Smaller Version of Quicksink Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Tested by USAF
The War Zone
A 500-pound-class Quicksink bomb offers a lower-cost anti-ship weapon that bombers and fighters could carry in significant numbers.
A Drone Strike Devastated Russia’s Air Force. The US is Vulnerable, Too.
The Washington Post
The audacious attacks on Russian airfields highlight the power of unconventional, asymmetric warfare—and the threat to U.S. strategic bases and ports, experts say.
Ukraine Seeks Air Defense Systems as Western Backers Meet Without the Pentagon Chief
Associated Press
Ukraine’s president on June 4 urged Western backers to speed up deliveries of air defense systems to counter Russian missile strikes and to help boost weapons production.
Lockheed Martin Launches ‘AI Fight Club’ to Test Algorithms for Warfare
SpaceNews
Lockheed Martin is launching a new initiative called “AI Fight Club,” a virtual battleground where companies can test their artificial intelligence algorithms for use in military applications.
What Will DOD Civilians Do At the Border? The Pentagon Won’t Say.
Defense One
The Pentagon will send some civilian employees to support the Homeland Security Department with the southern border mission and “internal immigration enforcement,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced June 2.
Ukrainian Commander’s Exclusive Insights on Brutal Drone Warfare on the Frontline
The War Zone
The commander of Azov's Unmanned Systems Battalion shares the latest details about how tactics are evolving in the bloody Donbas region.
Coasties Braved Withering German Fire to Put Troops Ashore on D-Day
Military.com
In oral histories and in a Coast Guard interview, Coast Guard Gunner's Mate Frank DeVita, of Brooklyn, New York, spoke of the numbing fear that the boat crews had to overcome on D-Day, the beginning of the Allied invasion of France that became a turning point in the war against Nazi Germany during World War II. Friday marks the 81st anniversary of the massive military operation.