Air Force Backtracks on Boot Height Standards
Two months after rolling out an eight-inch minimum height requirement for combat boots, the Air Force is cutting the requirement down to six inches to make compliance easier for more Airmen.
NATO Fighters Shoot Down Russian Drones Over Poland
Russian drones were shot down by NATO fighter jets over Poland, alliance officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine Sept. 10, marking the first time that allied aircraft assigned to protect the alliance’s eastern flank have used force to defend NATO airspace.
SDA’s First Operational Data Satellites Launch Successfully
The U.S. military launched 21 satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Sept. 10, carrying out the first phase of the Space Development Agency’s plan to put more than 100 operational “Tranche 1” data transport spacecraft in orbit over the next year.
Natalie Crawford, Icon of USAF Analysis and Modernization, Dies at 86
Natalie Crawford, whose analysis helped shape and build Air Force modernization for decades, has died at 86. Crawford, who joined RAND Corp. in 1964 and spent more than 60 years as an analyst and expert there, was an influential and instrumental voice in the development of almost every innovation pioneered over that time, from precision weapons to stealth.
Radar Sweep
House Passes NDAA, With $848B Topline and Protections for Ukraine Aid
Breaking Defense
The House passed its version of the fiscal 2026 defense policy bill Sept. 10, with members rallying to protect funding for military aid to Ukraine and to speed defense procurement at home.
Trump Offers Ambiguous Initial Response to Russian Drone Incursion into Poland’s Airspace
The Associated Press
President Donald Trump offered an ambiguous initial response to Russia’s drone incursion into Poland’s airspace, a provocative act by Moscow that has put the United States’ NATO allies in Europe on edge. “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
US Air Force May Keep Minuteman III Nukes Operating Until 2050: Report
Air Force Times
The Air Force may be forced to keep operating its already half-century-old Minuteman III nuclear missiles until 2050, as the replacement Sentinel program continues to run into delays, government auditors said Sept. 10.
National Guard Documents Show Public ‘Fear,’ Veterans’ ‘Shame’ Over DC Presence
The Washington Post
The National Guard, in measuring public sentiment about President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C., has assessed that its mission is perceived as “leveraging fear,” driving a “wedge between citizens and the military,” and promoting a sense of “shame” among some troops and veterans, according to internal documents reviewed by The Washington Post.
OPINION: NATO Must Draw a Red Line After Russian Drones Over Poland
Forbes
Russia has once again crossed a dangerous line in its war against Ukraine—this time, by sending more than a dozen drones into NATO territory. Now NATO must be equally plain: Deterrence works only when red lines are clear and backed by force, writes retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula.
Russia-Belarus Military Drills Start This Week. Here’s What to Know
Defense News
The last time Russia and Belarus held major joint military drills in 2022, Moscow sent its troops into Ukraine just days later. Now the two close allies are conducting war games again, raising tensions anew in the region.
USAF’s Quicksink Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Seen in Detail Like Never Before
The War Zone
We now have our first full look at a modified 2,000-pound-class GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, optimized for use as an anti-ship munition as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Quicksink program. The Air Force has been pursuing Quicksink as a lower-cost means of bolstering its capacity to launch strikes on enemy ships.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Wants ‘Global Risk Algorithm’ To Help Measure Threats Worldwide
DefenseScoop
The joint force recognizes a dire need to adopt and apply advanced algorithms and other next-generation AI capabilities to help commanders and Pentagon decision-makers understand and manage threats as they confront pressing security challenges in multiple regions around the world, according to the highest-ranking U.S. military officer.
Air Force Test Pilot Picked to Command Year-Long Mars Simulation Mission
Task & Purpose
An Air Force test pilot will lead a four-person NASA crew living for a year inside a simulated Mars habitat as the space agency gears up for future long-term flights. The crew will also include a Space Force officer who oversees spy satellites.
