Daily Report

Nov. 26, 2025

Editor’s Note

The Daily Report will not publish Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and we’ll be back in your inboxes Monday, Dec. 1!

Air Force Confirms SEAD Role of F-35s in Midnight Hammer

The Air Force F-35As that participated in Operation Midnight Hammer—the June 22 strike against Iranian uranium enrichment and nuclear research facilities—conducted both suppression of enemy air defenses, also called SEAD, and provided fighter cover for the strike force as it departed Iran, the service acknowledged Nov. 24.

Radar Sweep

Hazing, Bullying Reports Up as Hegseth Pushes for Rougher Training

Military Times

When the Pentagon’s top civilian Pete Hegseth told an auditorium full of generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., in September that he felt proscriptions against bullying and hazing were “undercutting commanders and [noncommissioned officers],” the military was already seeing a rise in complaints about these practices.

USAF Plan to Fly C-5, C-17s Even Longer Elicits Concern

Defense One

The Air Force aims to keep its aging C-5 and C-17 airlifters flying years longer than planned as it awaits a next-gen replacement, officials said in recently released documents. That’s alarming some former mobility leaders.

One More Thing

VIDEO: Why Are So Many US Military Aircraft Painted Grey?

Task & Purpose

Military aircraft come in all shapes and sizes, but these days nearly all of them have one thing in common: they are painted grey. Boring, monotonous grey. But military aviation has a colorful history: from the invasion stripes and red tails of World War II to the bare metal of Korea and the camo schemes of Vietnam.