UK Thwarts Suspected Terrorist Plot Against Base Used by US Bombers for Strikes on Iran
An air base in England used by American bombers to strike Iran was the target of a suspected bomb plot, U.K. officials said Sept. 27.
To Secure Arctic, NORTHCOM Builds Closer Ties to Pacific, European Commands
U.S. Northern Command plans to sign an agreement with its European and Pacific counterparts to enhance coordination and close security seams in the Arctic, a strategically vital region that spans all three commands. The agreement comes at an important moment in NORTHCOM's evolution, as its mission grows more complex.
Air Force Injects $87M into IVEWS F-16 Electronic Warfare Upgrades
The Air Force has invested $87.4 million to upgrade the F-16 Fighting Falcon's electronic warfare capabilities, bolstering the fighter's self-protection against increasingly advanced threats. Bringing the total program value to $1.92 billion, the move is expected to jump-start fielding by funding low-rate initial production of the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite, or IVEWS.
Air Force, Pentagon Work to Boost Military Spouse Employment
New Air Force, Pentagon, and White House initiatives aim to chip away at an issue that has long frustrated leaders and families across the military: spouse employment. For years now, the percentage of unemployed military spouses has held steady at around 20 percent, experts say.
Air Force Certifies Anduril Barracuda Cruise Missile for Open System Updates
The Anduril-built Barracuda cruise missile recently received certification as the Air Force’s first large-scale production munition compliant with open systems architecture.
Radar Sweep
PODCAST: Want AF Airpower? Understanding Force Presentation
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
The effectiveness of Air Force airpower ultimately comes down to how the service presents forces to the combatant commanders. Join us as we chat with Brig. Gen. Chris Hammond to learn about the Air Force’s new force presentation concept: Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0—a concept that focuses on the wing-echelon as a unit of action.
South Korea Inducts First Locally Developed Fighter Jet into Air Force
Breaking Defense
South Korea has inducted its first locally developed fighter jet into service, marking a significant milestone for its domestic defense industry. The first Korea Aerospace Industries KF-21 was handed over to the Republic of Korea Air Force on Sept. 22, flying from the manufacturer’s facilities at Saechon to its new base at Yechon, the service announced Sept. 23.
Four Airmen Receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for Kabul Evacuation Actions
Task & Purpose
The crew of a C-17A cargo plane received Distinguished Flying Crosses this month for their actions during the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan in 2021. Four Airmen from the 758th Airlift Squadron, 911th Airlift Wing were presented with the award, given for heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial flight on Sept. 12.
Pentagon Quietly Adds Dozens to Tally of Troops Wounded amid Iran War
The Washington Post
The Pentagon’s public tally of troops wounded during the Iran war was quietly increased by 37 this week without explanation from the Defense Department. The increase includes 29 Navy sailors and eight Marines, according to a review of the Pentagon’s public database of personnel killed and wounded during U.S. conflicts and other military operations overseas.
Ukraine’s Deadly AI Training Platform for Drone Tech Opens to UK Companies
Defense News
The British Ministry of Defence has struck a partnership with Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs, an information-rich platform built to train AI for battlefield drones, marking the first time that Kyiv has opened up its trove of wartime data to an outside government, according to officials in London.
Laser Weapons Will Be Deployed at Cape Canaveral Spaceport to Take Down Drones
The War Zone
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is getting lasers that can zap drones intruding into its airspace. When installed, the new directed energy defense system will be part of a much larger effort to protect the spaceport against drone incursions, a spokesperson for Space Launch Delta 45 told The War Zone.
NORTHCOM’s Next Counter-Drone Demo Will Be Its First in an Urban Area
DefenseScoop
U.S. Northern Command’s next Falcon Peak exercise will focus for the first time on safely integrating and demonstrating counter-drone capabilities in a dense city setting that’s bustling with human activity, Brig. Gen. Jason “Ox” Rueschhoff told DefenseScoop on Sept. 24.
Trump Rejects Iran’s Proposal to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz and Other Mideast News
Associated Press
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sept. 26 rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the U.S. meets certain conditions. ... Iran offered this week to reopen the strait and resume talks on its nuclear program in seven days if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and observes a ceasefire that would include Lebanon.
There Is No Virtue in Affordable Failure: Design the Air Force to Win
Forbes
“An increasingly fashionable argument among military futurists is that the Air Force should be built not around crewed fighters and bombers, but large numbers of inexpensive uninhabited aircraft. Using terms like ‘affordable mass’ and ‘optionally attritable,’ advocates envision high-volume, low-cost aircraft overwhelming adversaries with mass at lower risk than crewed jets. There may be some merit here, especially when the systems are more akin to munitions than combat aircraft. But carried too far, the concept risks optimizing our future Air Force to absorb losses rather than project decisive power,” writes retired Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
US Military Lays Groundwork for Potential Action Around Cuba
CBS News
The U.S. Army Reserve is examining whether it can provide the military's Southern Command with police forces, medical personnel, and other support units within the next four months, according to an internal Army message reviewed by CBS News. Though the message makes no reference to Cuba, the request is for continued military planning aimed at Cuba, according to multiple U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News under condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Anthropic Loses Legal Fight to Shed DOD's Designation as a 'Supply-Chain Risk'
Defense One
Anthropic will remain a Pentagon-designated supply-chain risk, thanks to federal judges who ruled that the Defense Department can prohibit its employees and contractors from using the AI company's products for DOD business.
Air Force Officially Directs Every Airman, Guardian to Update Religious Affiliation to Align with DOD
Military.com
The United States Air Force announced Sept. 25 that the service is updating its personnel data systems to align with the Department of Defense's standardized list of Religious Affiliation Codes. Dozens of Airmen and Guardians have already expressed concerns, Military.com has learned.
North Korea Is Testing Swarm Attacks Mixing Drones and Missiles
The Wall Street Journal
North Korea has started practicing swarm attacks that combine unmanned systems with conventional weapons, adopting tactics already used in Ukraine and the Middle East that could challenge U.S. and allied air defenses. For the first time, North Korea carried out an exercise this month that combined attack drones, nuclear-capable missiles, rockets and long-range artillery to pulverize a target.
‘Cyber Magazine’ Can Run Out ‘Pretty Damn Quick’ in Modern Conflict: Admiral
Breaking Defense
While U.S. officials have warned of munitions shortfalls from the Iran conflict, the Navy’s top cyber official identified another key observation from recent military operations: the “cyber magazine” can be vulnerable to exhaustion as well.
Air Force One Flies over Neyland Stadium Before Trump Attends Texas-Tennessee
USA Today
President Trump got an overhead view of Neyland Stadium. Air Force One did a flyover about 40 minutes before kickoff of No. 1 Texas at No. 13 Tennessee.