C-17 ‘BEE Liners’ Push Their Limits in Sprawling Pacific Exercise
The C-17-flying 21st Airlift Squadron is one of dozens of units taking part in the first-of-its-kind Air Force exercise stretching across the Pacific Ocean this month.
Space Force Component in Pacific Gets New Commander
The Space Force’s main arm in the Pacific got a new leader July 25, as Brig. Gen. Brian Denaro succeeded Maj. Gen. Anthony J. Mastalir as head of Space Forces Indo-Pacific.
MC-130J Tests Aerodynamic ‘Finlets’ to Reduce Drag, Fuel Costs
An MC-130J special operations aircraft took off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., earlier this month with tiny aluminum fins mounted to its rear door and on either side of its tail fin—the latest step by the Air Force to squeeze fuel efficiency out of its fleet.
NATO Will Follow Space Force Lead with a Single Front Door for Industry
LAS VEGAS—NATO is following the Space Force’s lead in setting up a “Front Door” program for the private sector, to connect vendors with acquirers and analyze their supply chains for potential threats and vulnerabilities, the alliance and Space Force officials...
Radar Sweep
Trump Hints at When New Air Force One from Qatar Could Take Off
USA Today
President Donald Trump suggested he could be flying on a refurbished Air Force One, gifted to the United States by the Middle Eastern country of Qatar, as soon as February of 2026.
Boeing Downplays Impending Fighter Jet Worker Strike
Defense One
Boeing leaders say they are not concerned about the impact of 3,200 union workers going on strike next week at three St. Louis-area facilities that produce fighter jets and munitions.
How SASC, HASC Want to Spend Reconciliation on Golden Dome, Munitions
Breaking Defense
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have sent the Pentagon guidance for how lawmakers want to see $150 billion in defense funding from the reconciliation bill spent, providing new details on which programs stand to benefit from the added money.
Slingshot’s New AI-Enabled Tool Helps Space Force Train for Satellite Ops
DefenseScoop
Defense startup Slingshot Aerospace has created an artificial intelligence capability that allows the Space Force to train guardians for real-life satellite tactics and maneuvers, the company announced July 29. The Thinking Agent for Logical Operations and Strategy (TALOS) tool is an AI-powered agent able to study and clone various spacecraft operations into a simulated environment of the space domain. ... Members of the Space Force have already tested and used TALOS during training exercises, and the company is now looking at how the technology can assist the service even more.
Longer Assignments Coming Soon for Troops Heading to South Korea
Military Times
A new Pentagon directive implementing longer tours of duty in South Korea will improve force stability, support service members’ quality of life, and enhance readiness in the face of regional threats, U.S. Forces Korea officials said
Army, Marine Corps, Navy Have No Plan to Stop Using M18, M17 Pistols
Task & Purpose
The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps are not planning to pause use of the M18 pistol as a primary, daily service sidearm for their troops, the services told Task & Purpose, even as units in the Air Force pull the weapon from service after an Airman was killed when his M18 discharged last week.
MQ-25 Stingray Carrier-Based Uncrewed Tanker Ground Testing Now Underway
The War Zone
Ground testing has begun on the production representative MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone for the U.S. Navy. This comes ahead of an expected first flight before the end of this year, a goal the Navy has previously said will require “a ton of work” to achieve.
New Login System Coming for Defense Department and Some VA Websites
Military.com
The Defense Department is adopting a new online login and authentication system that will replace the current protocols for users accessing Defense Department and Veterans Affairs websites like Tricare, the MHS Genesis medical records system, and AccessVA.
After Deadly DC Plane Crash, Army Expands Use of Navigation Devices
The Washington Post
The Army unit involved in January’s deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport received new navigation devices last month, as military officials take steps to improve pilots’ awareness of other aircraft around them.
Russia Kills 27 Civilians in Ukraine as the Kremlin Remains Defiant over Trump Threats
The Associated Press
Glide bombs and ballistic missiles struck a Ukrainian prison and a medical facility overnight as Russia’s relentless strikes on civilian areas killed at least 27 people across the country, officials said July 29, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to soon punish Russia with sanctions and tariffs unless it stops.
Flock of Birds Nearly Cause Spanish F-18 to Crash on Crowded Beach During Airshow
Euronews
A flock of birds nearly caused a Spanish Air Force F-18 Hornet fighter jet to crash on a crowded beach during a major airshow. During the Gijón Air Festival—which was held over the weekend in Asturias in northern Spain—the jet was performing a low-altitude display when it suddenly pulled off an evasive maneuver.