Editor’s Note
The Daily Report will not run Monday, Oct. 12 in observance of Columbus Day. We'll be back in your inboxes Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile Will Integrate onto B-52
The Air Force’s B-52 bomber may soon be able to carry up to 20 stealthy long-range anti-ship missiles to strike moving targets at sea, a key capability in a potential fight with China.
Florida Air Force Bases Evacuate Planes, Personnel as Hurricane Isaias Bears Down
The Air Force has begun evacuating stealth fighters, gunships, and special operations planes ahead of Hurricane Isaias expected landfall over the Gulf Coast this weekend.
Space Force Completes Personnel Management Act Transfers from Air Force
The Space Force has finished transferring the last of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members covered by the Personnel Management Act that created a hybrid full-time/part-time force.
Counter-Drone Task Force Taps Directed Energy Systems for December Shoot-Off
The Pentagon’s counter-drone task force recently selected four directed energy weapons it will test in a December shoot-off to identify lasers and microwave systems that could defend U.S. military installations from future aerial attacks.
What Will a Growing MQ-9 Presence in Latin America Mean for SOUTHCOM?
A reported surge of MQ-9 Reaper drones to Latin America could widen the scope of intelligence gathering and free up more strike options against cartels in the region, experts tell Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Radar Sweep
After B-1s Leave England, Analysts Point to Limited Options, Importance of Base Defense
Breaking Defense
The rushed withdrawal of U.S. bombers from a British airfield will likely impact the tempo of strikes America can generate against Iran for the time being, and underscores a dearth of defenses at critical installations, experts told Breaking Defense.
How the Groundwork for F-47 Flight Testing Is Being Laid
The War Zone
The testing plan for the U.S. Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47 fighter is continuing to take shape ahead of the type’s expected first flight in 2028. The Air Force Test Center aims to blend developmental and operational test elements, and leverage new tools in the virtual realm, to help accelerate that work. All of this is in support of an aggressive program schedule that aims to see the first production F-47s enter operational service in the early 2030s.
Air Force Develops Australia Assignment Guide as US Presence Ramps Up Down Under
Stars and Stripes
The U.S. Air Force is creating a guide to help American troops from all military branches adjust to assignments in Australia as the Pentagon expands its military presence there.
US Air Force, Army Eye Industry Access on Test Ranges
Air Force Times
Earlier this year, the Army announced it was opening five of its military test ranges—four domestic and one overseas—to approved companies in a move designed to speed innovation and get weapons and tech to the warfighter faster. Now, the Air Force says it’s considering a similar move.
Trump: US Won't Attack Iran Before Midterms
Axios
President Trump said Oct. 8 the U.S. will not attack Iran ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Trump had been considering for several days resuming major combat operations before the midterms. However, his past statements about his intentions in Iran haven't always matched what he ultimately did.
Colby Approves Pentagon Policy for ‘Cyber Operations-Peculiar’ Monetary Awards
DefenseScoop
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby approved a departmentwide instruction that went into effect this week and details how the Pentagon will award action-based financial bonuses to innovative cyber warriors.
Pentagon Recruits Drone Pilots from Across Services for Upcoming Competition
Air Force Times
The Defense Innovation Unit is recruiting service members with first-person-view drone experience to participate in the Defense Department’s Drone Dominance program, according to a recent announcement.
‘They Hit Us Bad’: Newly Obtained Footage, Witness Accounts Detail Iran Attack, and US Retreat, at Major Post in Kuwait
CBS News
New videos obtained exclusively by CBS News show Iranian attacks on a major U.S. military base in Kuwait as the war with Iran kicked off seven months ago. American forces faced ballistic missiles, drones, and what witnesses described as Iranian F-5 fighter jets.
Army Report Cites Systemic Flaws That Led to Fatal DCA Midair Collision
The Washington Post
Multiple systemic failures within the Army converged last year when a Black Hawk helicopter collided with a civilian airliner in Washington, killing 67 people, according to the military’s investigative findings provided to families affected by the disaster.
Navy, Shield AI Pour Big Bucks into X-BAT Drone Development
Breaking Defense
Artificial intelligence startup Shield AI and the Navy are putting another $300 million into the company’s X-BAT vertical takeoff and landing drone, the firm announced Oct. 8. The Navy has signed off on a $150 million modification to an existing Other Transaction agreement for the X-BAT program under the Pentagon’s Defense Exportability Features program, and Shield AI has agreed to match that funding with $150 million of its own capital, according to the firm.
At Least 35 Killed in Russian Attacks on Ukraine, Officials Say
ABC News
At least 35 people were killed and over 30 others were injured across Ukraine in Russian attacks on the country overnight and into the morning of Oct. 8, according to Ukrainian authorities.
China Militia Boat Spotted for First Time off Taiwan's East Coast, Patrol Finds
Reuters
A Chinese militia boat was spotted along with two other vessels off Taiwan's Pacific coast in August, according to a surveillance report reviewed by Reuters, the first known sighting of such a craft in the sensitive area.
France to Start Training Ukrainian Pilots on Rafale Warplanes in November, Minister Says
Defense News
France will begin training Ukrainian pilots on the Rafale fighter jet next month, Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said in a parliamentary hearing on Oct. 8. “We are continuing our discussions regarding the combat aviation component, particularly regarding the Rafale,” Vautrin told French lawmakers in response to questions about aid to Ukraine during a 2027 defense budget hearing.
US Makes F-35 Push as Portugal Weighs F-16 Replacement
The War Zone
The United States is stepping up its campaign to sell Portugal the F-35. Speaking in Lisbon on Oct. 8, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would make Portugal a “very competitive” offer to replace its F-16 fleet. The development adds a high-level political push to an increasingly intense competition over the Portuguese Air Force’s next fighter.
Houthis Escalate Attacks on Saudi Airports, Killing 3 and Wounding Dozens
The Wall Street Journal
Attacks claimed by Houthi militants damaged two airports in Saudi Arabia, including one in its capital, killing three people and wounding 36 others, escalating a conflict between the kingdom and its Iran-backed foe in Yemen.
Ace Combat 8 Might Be the Best Entry in the Arcade Flight Sim Series
We Are The Mighty
Whether your aviation community is fixed-wing or rotary, attack or transport, tailhook or not, there’s likely someone in your unit who played an Ace Combat game as part of their journey into military aviation. The arcade flight simulator series debuted in 1995 and merges face-paced action with semi-realistic gameplay.
