Air Force to Buy More KC-46s, Skip Tanker Competition
The Air Force will buy up to 75 more KC-46 aerial refuelers to recapitalize its KC-135 fleet, deciding against a competition for the next phase of its tanker plans.
USAF Pilots Fly Australian F-35 in Pacific First
The U.S. Air Force put two of its pilots in the cockpit of Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs during the large-scale Talisman Sabre exercise in Australia last week. The move, intended to strengthen interoperability among allies, provides U.S. Air Force pilots with a unique opportunity to fly a fifth-generation aircraft belonging to a partner nation.
Space Force, Congress Look to Address Growing Crunch on Launch Facilities
Lawmakers and Space Force officials alike are preparing for long-term changes to how the Pentagon manages space launches amid surging demand and aging infrastructure, recent legislation and strategy documents show.
Air Force Investigating Airman’s Death at Nuclear Missile Base
A security forces Airman died early July 20 while on duty at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., the 90th Missile Wing said in a brief release.
How ’26 Defense Policy Bill Takes Aim at Speed, Ease of Technological Innovation
The competing House and Senate versions of the 2026 defense policy bill advancing through each chamber both contains provisions aimed at expanding or speeding up efforts to get new software and technology into the hands of warfighters.
Radar Sweep
Ukraine Ups Its Arms Production, Asking Allies to Pay for It
The New York Times
Ukraine has been ramping up domestic arms production significantly, unable to rely as heavily as it once did on an increasingly uncertain supply of weapons from its allies. ... That reality has produced a fundamental shift in Ukraine’s appeals to its Western allies. Rather than pleading primarily for arms, as it did early in the war, Ukraine is increasingly asking for the money to build its own weapons.
700 Marines to Withdraw from LA, Pentagon Says
CBS News
The roughly 700 Active-Duty Marines who deployed to Los Angeles earlier this summer following protests against immigration policies will head home, the Pentagon said July 21.
Passive Ground-Based Sensor Networks Could Bolster Air, Missile Defense Resilience: CSIS
Breaking Defense
Moving away from reliance on large, ground-based radars in favor of a networked layer of smaller passive sensors could “substantially improve” US air and missile defenses and decrease vulnerability to attack, argues a new study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Could Modular Manufacturing Solve US Weapons Stockpile Woes?
Defense One
The U.S. is facing a reckoning with its ability to manufacture enough weapons to fight a well-stocked, near-peer adversary while also continually modernizing its arsenal. For all the talk about “magazine depth,” and individual efforts with specific munitions, experts say the problem can’t be tackled without a major shift in how weapons are developed and manufactured overall.
Russia Seen as Boosting Combat-Drone Output, Switching Attack Angles
Defense News
The expansion of Russia’s production of Shahed-type drones is likely to keep growing, with an objective of being able to deploy 2,000 drones in a single strike, according to the assessment of a senior German military official.
Hegseth Moves to Oust ‘Chinese Labor’ from Pentagon Cloud Services, Orders Wider Review
Breaking Defense
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced an urgent review of the Pentagon’s digital ecosystems, after saying the DOD had been alerted of a “potential vulnerability” in its cloud services architecture.
Near-Collision Between B-52 and SkyWest Jet Was Caught on Camera
NBC News
A concertgoer at the North Dakota State Fair recorded footage of a B-52 bomber and a SkyWest jet on a collision course, but he didn't realize he was watching a potential disaster unfolding before his very eyes. ... Now the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Force, and the airline are all investigating the incident, which happened as thousands of people were gathered below on the fairground.
China’s New Drone Wingmen Look Set for Military Parade Unveiling
The War Zone
Satellite imagery of preparations for a major upcoming military parade in China shows that new ‘loyal wingman’ type drones, or at least mockups thereof, are set to be revealed. A video clip has now emerged that is also drawing new attention to Chinese crewed-uncrewed teaming developments.
The Evolution of Military Tattoos, from Sailor Jerry to Skull Logos
Military Times
They say your body is a temple. In the military, that temple is often covered in eagles, unit insignia, and enough skulls to make a biker gang blush.