Editor’s Note
The Daily Report will not publish Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. We’ll be back in your inboxes Monday, June 22.
Air Force Selects Both General Atomics and Anduril for CCA Production
The Air Force has selected both General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries to build its first fleet of semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, based on their YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A drones, respectively.
Air Force Identifies Eight Crew Killed in B-52 Crash
The Air Force on June 17 identified the eight crew members who died in a fiery B-52H Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., two days earlier.
Where Things Stand with the Pentagon’s $350 Billion Reconciliation Request
With key members of Congress wavering on the possibility of a $350 billion defense reconciliation bill, defense experts told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the Pentagon is likely drawing up budget backup plans—but such plans would face hard choices between high-end weapons and low-cost drones and other programs in U.S. military’s autonomous arsenal.
Lawmakers Move to Replace MC-130s Destroyed in Iran Without Supplemental
A congressional plan to replace the special operations aircraft destroyed during the rescue of a downed F-15E aviator in Iran would take all the money the Pentagon had planned to spend on another special ops plane, the OA-1K Skyraider II.
Lawmakers Push for More New Sensors to Track Hypersonic and Ballistic Missiles
Lawmakers on a key Senate panel want to put their stamp on the Space Force’s missile warning plans, pushing for more satellite sensors that can detect and track hypersonic and ballistic missiles in real time and attempting to block an effort to cancel satellites that provide Polar coverage.
Radar Sweep
Fair Winds, INDOPACOM: Pentagon Returns Command Name to US Pacific Command
Military Times
Another Pentagon-led name change was unveiled June 16, when it was announced that the military’s U.S. Indo-Pacific Command would be dropping “Indo” from its name and reverting back to the long used U.S. Pacific Command, or USPACOM.
Senior US Officials Dictate Memorandum with Iran to Journalists
The Associated Press
Senior U.S. officials dictated the memorandum of understanding with Iran to journalists June 17 after days of secrecy, and Iran suggested that its deal with the United States to end the war could be signed by Presidents Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian.
Senators Want Answers on USAF Plans to Cut E-11 BACN Combat Communications Jets
The War Zone
he Senate Armed Services Committee is “concerned” about the U.S. Air Force’s current plan to retire its E–11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft in Fiscal Year 2028. Legislators want more details about how the service expects to plug any capability gaps that might result from axing the highly specialized communications planes.
Senate Threatens to Freeze Hegseth’s Travel in Bid for Boat Strike Videos, Iran School Strike Probe
POLITICO
Senate lawmakers are threatening to freeze Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget if the Pentagon doesn’t turn over more details about the deadly bombing of an Iranian girls school in February and full videos of lethal strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the waters off Latin America.
New Law Could Simplify Reserve and Guard Orders That Affect Pay, Benefits
Task & Purpose
A new bill introduced in the Senate aims to clean up the convoluted process that governs what benefits and pay National Guard and Reserve troops are eligible for when they’re called up.
NATO Secretary General Says US Not ‘Pulling Away’ from Allies
Breaking Defense
The U.S. decision to reduce its NATO Force Model contribution is not a “problem” or a sign that Washington is loosening ties with other members of the organization, the alliance’s top official insisted June 17.
Air Force Updates Chaplain, Maternity Uniform Guidance
Military Times
The U.S. Air Force now requires chaplains to wear the chaplain rank insignia and allows pregnant Airmen to sport a maternity wrap dress.
An Air Force Vet Created an App to Geolocate Gravesites and Digitize Cemetery Records
We Are The Mighty
Air Force veteran Jason Knapp was never a stranger to cemeteries, having grown up with a father who was both a funeral home director and a coroner. Knapp also lost more than his share of friends and fellow service members over his 22 years of service. Every Memorial Day, he could be found in cemeteries, placing flags on veteran gravesites, but grew increasingly frustrated trying to find them using old, faded, and handwritten lists.