Trump Picks Schiess as Next Space Force Chief
Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess has been nominated by President Donald Trump to become the next Chief of Space Operations, the top uniformed leader in the U.S. Space Force.
AFA, Space Force Leaders Honor Gen. Schriever with Statue and Toast
The long-standing legacy of a man who first envisioned the need for the United States to achieve space superiority echoed through the decades at the unveiling of his bronze statue during the Air & Space Forces Association’s inaugural “Salute to Space” celebration on May 1.
New ‘Bridge’ Air Force One Finishes Testing Ahead of Summer Debut
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.
Pentagon’s Big Bet on Reconciliation Sparks Lawmaker Concerns
The Pentagon is counting on Congress to navigate a legislative tightrope and pass a party-line bill to fund nearly a quarter of its $1.5 trillion budget request for fiscal 2027, including billions of dollars for top priorities like Golden Dome, the F-35, munitions, and unmanned systems. Experts and lawmakers from across the political spectrum think the Defense Department is betting too big on that plan—and fear a future headache if it fails.
New USAFA Superintendent, Air Mobility Command Boss Among Three-Star Nominations
President Donald Trump’s administration sent a batch of three-star Air Force nominations to Congress for approval on April 30, including a new superintendent for the U.S. Air Force Academy and the next commander of Air Mobility Command, officially pushing that job down to a three-star position.
Denys Overholser, Stealth Pioneer Whose Work Led to the F-117, Dies at 86
Denys Overholser, the Lockheed Martin engineer whose insights on the mathematics of radar cross section led directly to the first operational stealth attack airplane and permanently reshaped combat aircraft design and tactics, died April 28 at the age of 86.
Radar Sweep
Trump Says the US Will ‘Guide’ Stranded Ships from the Strait of Hormuz, Starting on May 4
The Associated Press
The United States will launch an effort on May 4 to “guide” stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said, giving few details about what could be a sweeping attempt to help hundreds of vessels and some 20,000 seafarers. Iran quickly denounced it as a ceasefire violation.
Trump Administration to Cut 5,000 US Troops from Germany
CBS News
The Pentagon is planning to withdraw about 5,000 American forces from Germany, senior defense officials said May 1. The officials characterized the move as a signal of President Trump's discontent with the level of assistance that European allies have offered in the U.S.-Iran war.
Israel Buying More F-35s, F-15IAs Fighter Jets, Netanyahu Announces
Breaking Defense
Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced May 3 that the country will acquire a fourth squadron of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and second squadron of F-15IA fighter jets, a massive expansion of the Israeli Defense Force’s airpower in the wake of the Iran campaign.
Space Force Wraps Decades-Long GPS Upgrade—and the Next One Is on Tap
Defense One
After decades of development, a rocket switch in March, and a last-minute weather delay, the U.S. Space Force finally launched the last satellite of the world’s most modern GPS system into orbit.
Pentagon Freezes Out Anthropic as It Signs Deals with AI Rivals
Defense News
The Department of Defense announced on May 1 that it had struck deals with seven leading artificial intelligence companies to deploy their systems within classified Pentagon networks. Included in the roster of partnerships—intended for “lawful operational use”—are SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Reflection, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services.
AFA Applauds Nomination of Lt. Gen Schiess as Next CSO
AFA
The Air & Space Forces Association welcomed the nomination of Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess as the next Chief of Space Operations. “Doug Schiess is the perfect choice at this crucial time for the Space Force, as it begins a substantial new period of growth,” said AFA President & CEO Lt. Gen. Burt Field.
Marine Corps Charts Path for Future Aviation Ops Led by Drones
DefenseScoop
As the Marine Corps prepares to introduce a robotic wingman drone into its aviation fleet in the next few years, officials are simultaneously parsing out its long-term plans for developing unmanned aerial vehicles for other missions.
China’s Massive Stealth Flying Wings Spotted Together at Secretive Test Base
The War Zone
Satellite imagery has emerged showing China’s two massive stealthy flying-wing high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft at its secretive test base near Malan.
Pentagon Says US Naval Blockade Has Cost Iran $4.8 Billion
The Hill
The Defense Department has estimated that the U.S. naval blockade has cost Iran about $4.8 billion in oil revenue, a Pentagon official familiar with the assessment told The Hill late May 1.
The U.S. Wants to Break China’s Drone Dominance. Here’s Where It Will Struggle.
The Wall Street Journal
With drones revolutionizing the battlefield in Ukraine, Iran and beyond, the U.S. is striving to dominate this latest evolution in military technology the way it has with previous wartime innovations. There is just one problem: China got there first.
Two US Soldiers Missing During Exercises in Morocco
Task & Purpose
U.S. and Moroccan forces are conducting search and rescue operations after two U.S. Army soldiers went missing after taking part in a training exercise in Morocco on May 2.
PODCAST: FY27 Defense Budget, Fighter Support in Congress, Space Update
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
In this episode, our team assesses the FY ’27 defense budget request from an air and space set of perspectives. We also explore fighter developments in Congress via legislation introduced by Senators Budd (R-N.C.) and Shaheen (D-N.H.), as well as a powerful letter submitted by the Adjutants General calling for more F-35s and F-15EXs. When it comes to space power, we explain the importance of the Future Operating Environment and Objective Force 2040, plus the significance of Space Force selecting Reservists to become part-time Guardians. Our team wraps up exploring the conflict with Iran and America’s munitions deficit.
Cold War Operation Used ‘Vampire’ Folklore to Intimidate Philippine Insurgents
Military.com
During the early Cold War, U.S.-backed forces in the Philippines carried out a psychological warfare campaign that exploited local vampire folklore to intimidate communist insurgents. While often referred to as a “CIA vampire operation,” the campaign relied on manipulating belief in the aswang, a vampire-like figure in Filipino folklore, rather than any literal supernatural activity.