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The New York Times
President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain drug cartels designated as terrorist groups. The directive has infuriated Mexico’s leaders, who have rejected the idea of U.S. forces on Mexican soil. But despite their disagreements about what actions to take, officials and security analysts in both countries agree that cartels are amassing new levels of firepower, transforming some groups into full-fledged paramilitary forces.
DefenseScoop
A recent experiment held by the Air Force demonstrated that industry-developed artificial intelligence tools can not only shorten the time it takes battle managers to make decisions, but also give operators a more holistic picture of the battlespace.
Defense News
As Rocket Lab prepares to roll out its new Neutron rocket as a fresh competitor for military and commercial missions, the firm on Aug. 28 unveiled the launch complex from which the vehicle will fly— possibly by the end of the year.
Marvin Test Solutions
The need for a universal armament test solution, one that is easy to use, portable and rugged, with rapid test and setup times, and common across all platforms and weapons, has become readily apparent and increasingly in demand on the flightline. Working closely with armament maintainers from across the globe, both DOD and ally, Marvin Test Solutions (MTS) identified key functionality and capabilities essential to supporting legacy, current, and future generation platforms and weapons systems.
Breaking Defense
Japan’s Ministry of Defense has submitted its budget request for the 2026 fiscal year, with plans to build a multilayered drone network for littoral warfare as well as the development of a submarine-launched missile.
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
America’s ability to secure its interests demands a robust Air Force. The current security environment will tolerate nothing less. The service has traditionally measured its prowess via capacity, capabilities, and readiness. The Air Force currently lags in each of these three areas. Retired Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, JV Venable, and Robert “Otis” Winkler discuss these challenges and outline what needs to be done to reset the Air Force.
Breaking Defense
Planned Trump administration cuts to satellite programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are likely to have negative knock-on effects to the Defense Department’s weather prediction capabilities, according to government and military officials.
The Associated Press
An Israeli airstrike killed the prime minister of the Houthi rebel-controlled government in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, the Houthis said Aug. 30. He was the most senior Houthi official killed in the Israeli-U.S. campaign against the Iranian-backed rebels.
The Hill
The U.S. approved a nearly $330 million package of military sales to Ukraine, including an extension of satellite communications services for its Starlink terminals and equipment and services to sustain its Patriot air defense systems.
The Guardian
Xi Jinping has criticized the “bullying behavior” of other countries while Vladimir Putin has blamed the west for his war on Ukraine, on the second day of a major summit in China which seeks to challenge western-led multilateral blocs.
One More Thing
The War Zone
Boeing has provided a new rendering for its F/A-XX proposal, and it’s remarkably similar to concept artwork that has already been released for its F-47, selected for the U.S. Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance ‘fighter’ initiative. While it’s important not to read too much into declassified conceptual renderings of either of those aircraft, based on the artwork, the new art does, at least, correspond with Boeing’s previous hints that the F/A-XX and F-47 would incorporate significant commonalities.
