PHOTOS: F-15EX Flies with CCA Drone in the Pacific
The Air Force got a glimpse of its potential future this week, when an F-15EX fighter flew alongside a Collaborative Combat Aircraft during a major Pacific exercise.
Flu Outbreak Sickens Hundreds at Air Force Basic Military Training
A flu outbreak at Air Force Basic Military Training has killed one recruit and sickened more than 280 others at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, according to the congressman who represents the base.
Guardians, Airmen Use AI in Experiment to Supercharge Battle Management
For the first time, members of the Space Force joined with the Air Force in using advanced artificial intelligence in a complex command-and-control experiment to speed up combat decision-making.
Air Force Taps Industry to Study Active Defenses for Tanker Fleet
The Air Force is quietly wrapping up a round of market research on arming its tanker fleet with weapons capable of shooting down incoming enemy threats. The service awarded contracts to four firms beginning in February to study options for equipping refuelers such as the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus with active self-defense technology.
Radar Sweep
In Strike After Strike, Ukraine Is Bringing the War to Crimea
The New York Times
Celebrating his seizure of Crimea in 2014, President Vladimir V. Putin later called the peninsula an “unsinkable aircraft carrier,” hailing Russia’s return there as a symbol of revanchist ambition. Now the Ukrainian military is hammering Crimea with swarming drone attacks, seeking to transform it from a Russian-occupied fortress into a nightmare for the Kremlin to manage.
Europeans to Fill Almost All Gaps Left by US in NATO Defense Plans, Source Says
Defense News
European NATO allies have largely filled the gaps left by the United States in the alliance’s defense plans, NATO’s top commander said on July 2, adding the bloc was looking at workarounds to address the remaining shortfalls in a few areas.
Navy Seeks New Radar-Killer Missiles
DefenseScoop
The Navy is conducting market research for an “Advanced Emission Suppression Missile” with extended range that could knock out enemy air defense systems, according to a request for information released July 1.
PODCAST: Marking America 250—The Air and Space Power Journey
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
As America celebrates its 250th Anniversary, it’s crucial to remember that air and space power have manifested some of our nation’s most important achievements. Whether talking about winning wars or exploring the globe and outer space, Airmen, Guardians, astronauts, teams of engineers, support personnel, and top national leaders have repeatedly harnessed the domains of air and space to do what many previously thought was impossible. We gather to discuss the top accomplishments, innovations, and examples of personal sacrifice that our team thinks best exemplify air and space power.
Khamenei’s Other Sons Appear at His Funeral in Iran as New Supreme Leader Remains in Hiding
The Associated Press
Iran’s top officials and brothers of the new supreme leader emerged into public view July 5 to attend funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. ... Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make an appearance in the funeral ceremonies, which are unfolding over several days. He is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being wounded in the airstrike that killed his father.
Multibillion-Dollar Contract Secures ‘Major Step Forward’ for GCAP Fighter Jet
Defense News
Japan, Italy, and the U.K. have handed a £4.6 billion ($6.1 billion) development contract to their national champions building the GCAP jet, days after the U.K. freed up crucial cash to make it happen following a monthslong hold-up.
Navy’s New ‘Doomsday Plane’ Delayed as Watchdog Says Developmental Concerns Are Now Realities
The War Zone
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) says concerns it raised last year about the U.S. Navy’s E-130J Phoenix II program “have morphed into realities.” The timeline for moving from the development of the aircraft to putting it into actual production has already slipped by approximately one year.
These Light-Weight Power Cells Run on Nuclear Waste and Could Power Next-Gen Drones
Defense One
By Lauren C. Williams Business Editor July 3, 2026 Technology Nuclear How many missions could a drone or satellite fly with a battery pack that can last decades? And what if that battery could be fueled by nuclear waste? That’s the future scientists are working toward in DARPA’s “Rads to Watts” program, which aims to create lightweight batteries with a high energy density.
US Withdraws Combat Troops from Nigeria After Counterterrorism Mission
Task & Purpose
The United States has withdrawn most of the troops sent to Nigeria earlier this year, after wrapping up a combat operation against Islamic State fighters in the country. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, head of U.S. Africa Command, confirmed the drawdown of “much of our forces that were just there for that operation.”
Pentagon Continues to ‘Struggle’ with Key Weapons Development Timelines: GAO
Breaking Defense
Pentagon leaders are still struggling to meet weapons delivery timelines despite their frequent pledges to get new equipment into troops’ hands more quickly, according to a new government watchdog report.
Trump Wants a New Air Force One in His Presidential Library. It’s Not a Done Deal.
The Wall Street Journal
President Trump on July 1 achieved his long-awaited ambition of flying on a new Air Force One, thanks to the Qatari government. But his plans for the aircraft’s future might prove much more difficult to get off the ground.
Military Aircraft Roared Through DC Skies for Hours for America’s 250th
The Washington Post
Military aircraft roared through the skies above the nation’s capital for much of the afternoon on Independence Day for what organizers called “the most ambitious aviation spectacle in American history.”