Hegseth’s USAF Plane Makes Emergency Landing

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Trump Administration Authorizes Covert CIA Action in Venezuela

The New York Times

The Trump administration has secretly authorized the CIA to conduct covert action in Venezuela, according to U.S. officials, stepping up a campaign against Nicolás Maduro, the country’s authoritarian leader.

‘Firepower’ Coming for Ukraine, Hegseth Says, but Tomahawks Not on Agenda at NATO Meeting

CNN

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned Moscow Oct. 15 that if its war on Ukraine does not come to an end, the U.S. and NATO allies would “impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression.”

Air Force Shields CCA Drone Wingman Program from Effects of Government Shutdown

Breaking Defense

The Air Force is shielding its nascent drone wingman program from effects of the ongoing government shutdown to ensure the effort can proceed apace, a service official revealed.

B-52 Bombers Just Flew for Hours Off Venezuela’s Coast

The War Zone

A trio of U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers was tracked flying orbits in international airspace off the coast of Venezuela Oct. 15. This is a major show of force that comes amid a larger U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, ostensibly aimed at stemming the flow of illegal drugs north.

AeroVironment To Deploy Counter-Drone Tech at Grand Forks USAF Base

Defense News

AeroVironment announced Oct. 14 it will deploy a counter-drone capability at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, as part of its effort to lay the groundwork for Golden Dome.

Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan in Talks to Provide Troops for Gaza Stabilization Force

POLITICO

Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Pakistan are the top contenders to supply troops for a future stabilization force in the Gaza Strip, according to a U.S. defense official and a former U.S. defense official granted anonymity to discuss sensitive ongoing discussions. Negotiations on the makeup of the force are ongoing, and no country has made a firm commitment.

Mountain Home Residents React to Qatar Emiri Air Force Training Partnership Announcement

KIVI

Residents in Mountain Home are sharing mixed reactions as they learn more details about the plans to partner with crews from the Middle East at the local air base.

How the Pentagon Sidelined Lawyers While Testing the Legal Limits of Military Action

CNN

For weeks earlier this year, the Army’s top uniformed lawyer had been raising legal concerns inside the Pentagon about some of the new policies being rolled out dictating how the military can be used and staffed.

Army to Prioritize Counterspace Tech in Future Budget Requests

DefenseScoop

As the Army continues efforts to strengthen operations in the space domain, the service will begin prioritizing new counterspace capabilities in its budget requests beginning in fiscal 2027, according to a senior official.

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Reporters Leave Pentagon en Masse After Refusing To Sign On to New Rules

The Washington Post

The nation’s military and defense journalists exited the Pentagon in unison Oct. 15, having had their accreditation revoked after refusing to agree to the Defense Department’s new restrictions on their newsgathering activities.

One More Thing

The Army Is Buying 30 Tons of Powdered Sugar to Use in Its Smoke Grenades

Task & Purpose

A recent Army contracting notice looks at first glance more likely to be from a whimsical chocolate factory than a major weapons arsenal that produces battlefield-ready incendiary munitions.

Hegseth’s Air Force Jet Diverts for Emergency Landing

Air Force Dropping Integrated Capabilities Command

New Blue Origin Facility To Boost Space Force Launch Cadence

Air Force Bases to Host AI Data Centers on Unused Land

Space Development Agency Launches 21 Data Transport Satellites

Radar Sweep