Israel and Hamas agreed Oct. 8 to pause fighting in Gaza and release at least some hostages and prisoners, accepting a deal put forward by the Trump administration that would represent the biggest breakthrough in months in the devastating two-year-old war.
President Trump said Oct. 8 that a stand-alone bill to pay military service members during a government shutdown “probably will happen,” contradicting comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) earlier in the day.
When Katie Arrington was named to her role performing the duties of the CIO for the Department of Defense, which the Trump administration is now calling the Department of War, she took that charge seriously. As such, she’s not just keeping a seat warm until the Senate approves a new CIO.
The Space Force announced a contract with commercial weather satellite operator Muon Space for three prototype birds to provide data such as cloud forecasting for terrestrial and maritime operations.
Germany’s parliament has given the green light for a set of defense procurements collectively worth more than €7 billion ($8.14 billion), with new combat jets topping the list of new equipment.
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is planning to enhance software for high-tech threat identification, and it’s conducting market research to inform its acquisition strategy. MDA recently released a new sources sought notice as it looks to move forward with the next iteration of its Advanced Object Classification initiative, which will include a software boost for upgraded early warning radars.
The U.S. is falling behind in biotechnology development, Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., said Oct. 8—adding that he and other lawmakers are working to help the country catch up with China’s push to incorporate technologies like gene editing for human performance on the battlefield.
About 100 miles south of Atlanta sits Robins Air Force Base—the home of a platform the newly minted 472nd Electronic Combat Squadron calls its Swiss army knife: the E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node. Affectionately known as BACN—and pronounced ‘bacon’—it is an airborne communications relay and gateway system carried onboard a modified Bombardier BD-700 business jet.
The U.S. Air Force will not add eight-bladed NP2000 propellers to any more of its aging C-130H Hercules transport planes, curtailing a previous upgrade plan as it continues to transition more fully to the newer C-130J variant.
The Air Force touts its True North program as a unique success in getting mental health support directly into some of its most stressful workplaces. Rather than expect Airmen who need mental help support to take time away from their daily jobs to visit professionals in clinics and hospitals, the program embeds mental health and religious support teams directly in units, where Airmen work. But officials at Air Education and Training Command, or AETC, are now looking to cut the program, as part of cost-cutting across its civilian workforce.
Extracurricular activities have resumed at schools for military families after a pause tied to the federal government shutdown halted sports and other school-related pursuits for several days. For students at places like Fort Campbell and Fort Knox high schools, it means touchdowns, soccer goals, and volleyball digs are back, as their schools were untangled from shutdown politics.
