June 30, 1975

Air Force to Take Back on Looking Glass Mission for Nuclear C3

Dec. 11, 2025

More than a quarter-century after handing over the mission to the Navy, the Air Force is taking the first steps towards taking back over a critical nuclear command, control, and communications function.

USSF to Keep Implementing Space-Focused Elements of Re-Optimization

Dec. 11, 2025

Weeks after senior Air Force leaders revealed the service would shed a number of the re-optimization initiatives pursued by their predecessors, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman confirmed the Space Force is retaining all of the space-specific elements of the strategy.

Air Force Leaders, Lawmakers Move to Increase Training in the Pacific

Dec. 10, 2025

The Air Force plans to conduct more intensive training—and Congress is set to help by boosting funding for exercises and so-called “campaigning” by hundreds of millions of dollars, particularly in the Pacific.

Pentagon Orders Thousands of Laser-Guided Rockets for $322 Million

Dec. 10, 2025

BAE Systems has received a contract worth $1.7 billion to produce laser-guidance kits for the 2.75-inch rockets the Air Force relies on for a wide range of combat missions.

Lawmakers Push Funding Boost for Space Force Data Transport and Polar Missile Warning

Dec. 10, 2025

The final version of the fiscal 2026 defense policy bill calls for adding $1.2 billion to the Space Force’s research and development accounts, an increase that’s mostly split between two efforts: expanding the service’s low-Earth orbit data transport network and boosting its space-based missile warning and tracking capabilities.

Australian MQ-28 CCA Downs Drone in Milestone Air-to-Air Test

Dec. 9, 2025

A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.

Former CYBERCOM Commanders Urge Caution on Push for New Military Cyber Service

Dec. 9, 2025

Creating a new military service to wage war in the cyber domain would take too long, risk creating a top-heavy bureaucracy, and create confusion about the defense of other services’ IT networks, two former leaders of U.S. Cyber Command told a congressionally chartered research committee looking into the question.

USSF Eyes More Space-Based Interceptors to Take Missiles Out Midcourse

Dec. 9, 2025

The Space Force is requesting prototype proposals for space-based interceptors that can destroy a missile during the midcourse phase of flight, on top of its previous efforts to develop interceptors that take down missiles in their boost phase.

Congress Poised to Save E-7 Wedgetail in New NDAA

Dec. 9, 2025

Congress is getting closer to saving the E-7 Wedgetail from the Pentagon chopping block, with the House of Representatives preparing to pass the presumptive final version of the National Defense Authorization bill this week.

Related