Daily Report

Sept. 9, 2025
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Edited by Greg Hadley with Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula USAF (Ret.) and Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF (Ret.)

The Right Military Leader for the Air Force  

By Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF (Ret.) and Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula USAF (Ret.)
“This much is certain: First, U.S. Air Force airpower is vital to deter adversaries and secure victory in conflict; and second, the U.S. Air Force is too small, too old, and too lacking in combat readiness to meet the nation’s security requirements. The Air Force needs decisive, insightful leadership not only to acknowledge these challenges but to solve them. One name stands at the top of that select list: Gen. Ken ‘Cruiser’ Wilsbach,” write retired Gen. Ron Fogleman and Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula.

SDA Director Tournear Departing on Eve of Crucial Launch

By Greg Hadley
Derek M. Tournear, the head of the Space Development Agency that spearheaded the trailblazing push to buy and launch small satellites at a speed and scale unseen in military space circles, is departing the organization for a job in academia just before a momentous launch. 

Trio of Air Force Generals Nominated for Third Stars

By Greg Hadley
A trio of Air Force general officers have been nominated for a third star and new jobs, the Pentagon announced Sept. 8. Two of the three—Maj. Gen. Kenyon K. Bell and Maj. Gen. Brandon D. Parker—are slated to join the Air Staff. Maj. Gen. Robert D. Davis, meanwhile, would lead U.S. Northern Command’s Alaskan Command.

Radar Sweep

House, Senate Leaders Look to Speed Up NDAA Work This Week

Military Times

Both chambers of Congress will work to advance the annual defense authorization bill this week, trying to navigate through hundreds of member amendment proposals and adopt final drafts to be used in upcoming conference negotiations. Senate leaders late last week set up votes starting Sept. 9 on the must-pass military legislation, which includes spending plans for hundreds of Defense Department programs and the renewal of a host of military pay and benefits programs.

MQ-28 Ghost Bat with Aerial Refueling Capability Hinted at by Boeing

The War Zone

A recent computer-generated video from Boeing includes MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones with apparent receptacles on top of their fuselages to allow for aerial refueling from boom-equipped tankers. Mid-air refueling capability would extend the MQ-28’s reach and on-station time, but would also add complexity and cost to the design.

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US-China Rivalry Sparks a Submarine Arms Race

The Wall Street Journal

China is on the verge of becoming a world-class submarine power, with new technology and a bigger, better fleet that is gaining on the U.S. and its allies—spurring a new undersea arms race in the Pacific. Rapid improvements are making Beijing’s underwater navy quieter and faster, capable of carrying more advanced weapons and better sensors and able to remain submerged for longer.

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Tanks Were Just Tanks, Until Drones Made Them Change

The New York Times

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the two sides’ tank divisions looked much as they did during the Cold War. Now, Russia’s and Ukraine’s Soviet-era tanks rumble across the battlefield covered in anti-drone nets and spikes, dangling chains, and unwieldy cages.

Air Force Academy Chapel Project Gets Another $90 Million, Bringing Total to $335 Million

KOAA

The Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel restoration project is getting more expensive with yet another delay, now targeting Nov. 2028 as the completion date. Last month, the Department of Defense (DoD) awarded another $88 million contract to construction firm J.E. Dunn for chapel restoration work, which bumped the estimated total cost up 36% from $247 million to $335 million.

One More Thing

The Unusual Asymmetry of the C-17 Globemaster III

The War Zone

The annals of aviation history are scattered with asymmetric aircraft designs, some of them notably more extreme than others. Perhaps less well-known among this diverse group is the U.S. Air Force’s airlift specialist, the C-17A Globemaster III. The sheer size of this aircraft means that its lopsidedness is less often seen by casual observers, especially when it’s on the ground. But once spotted, the feature is hard to ignore and is worth a closer look.