Role of Indo-Pacific air defenders has evolved dramatically, US Army commander says
HONOLULU — Though they once occupied the fringes of operational conversation, one of the U.S. Army’s most in-demand — and increasingly popular — jobs is now that of the Indo-Pacific air defender. Speaking at the 2026 Land Forces of the Pacific Symposium and Exposition in...
Pentagon reaches agreements with defense firms on containerized missiles
The Pentagon is set to announce on Wednesday framework agreements that position it to potentially acquire over 10,000 low-cost, containerized missiles over three years starting in 2027. A statement seen by Reuters ahead of its release said that the Pentagon’s agreements are with Anduril, CoAspire,...
AI tool has ‘saved a lot of aircraft’ in Epic Fury, AFSOC chief says
The head of Air Force Special Operations Command revealed that an AI-powered intelligence collection and transfer system has been in use since the “first day” of Operation Epic Fury to help large attack drones and manned aircraft avoid Iranian threats. Speaking at a hearing before...
US special operations leaders frustrated by inability to modify their own equipment
U.S. special operations leaders expressed frustration Tuesday about manufacturers’ proprietary agreements that block them from making quick upgrades to military equipment. The problem is especially acute for unmanned systems, they said, as technology is evolving far faster than the ability of U.S. Special Operations Command...
Ukraine’s battlefield integration surpasses US military’s, Army secretary says
Ukraine has linked its military drones, sensors and weapons systems into a unified battlefield network, an integration Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told lawmakers Tuesday the U.S. military has yet to achieve. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Driscoll lauded Kyiv’s “Delta” command and control...
In an age of drones, Army Rangers will now stab through a new bayonet course
In the age of drones and artificial intelligence, the Army is reinvigorating how it teaches troops to kill at arm’s length. Soldiers in Georgia hoping to earn the Army’s coveted Ranger tab will now start the monthslong school by stabbing their way through Fort Benning’s...
Trump’s Golden Dome missile shield estimated to cost $1.2 trillion
A national missile defense system, or Golden Dome, proposed by the Trump administration would cost $1.2 trillion to build and maintain over the next 20 years, the Congressional Budget Office estimated in a cost-projection analysis released Tuesday. Acquisition costs would total just over $1 trillion,...
