Air Force U-2 Spy Planes Flying Along Southern Border
The U.S. Air Force has been flying U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes along the southern border, Air Force and defense officials disclosed.
USAF, Japan Look to Share Maintenance on Common Aircraft Closer to the Fight
The U.S. Air Force is working on a test program with Japan to establish a joint maintenance center that will perform repairs on aircraft operated by both nations—creating a “deterrent effect that will make adversaries think twice,” a top general said.
US Strikes Houthis as USAF Fighters Help Defend Navy Warships from Retaliation
The U.S. military conducted strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen for the second day in a row March 16, hours after U.S. Air Force fighters helped fend off a drone attack by the Houthis in retaliation for an earlier round of U.S. strikes.
Watchdog: Hurricane Hunters Short On People and Planes, But Needs Data to Quantify It
Hurricane Hunters with the Air Force and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are struggling to keep up with a rising number of storms, but a government watchdog says both agencies need to refine their data-tracking efforts and improve interagency communication between its most senior leaders to develop a cohesive plan forward.
Radar Sweep
Trump Signs a Bill Funding the Government for 6 Months, Avoiding a Shutdown
The Associated Press
President Donald Trump has signed into law legislation funding the government through the end of September, ending the threat of a partial government shutdown. ... The bill largely keeps government funding at levels set during Joe Biden’s presidency, though with changes. It trims non-defense spending by about $13 billion from the previous year and increases defense spending by about $6 billion, which are marginal changes when talking about a topline spending level of nearly $1.7 trillion.
Drone Swarms Inside the US Could Be Spying—and the Ability to Detect, Track Them Is Lagging
CBS News
Officials in Washington have underestimated the threat posed by drones in U.S. airspace, despite several cases of mysterious drone swarms over sensitive military sites, warned Glen VanHerck, the former joint commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command.
Russia Overpowers Bold Ukrainian Military Venture in Kursk
The Wall Street Journal
Ukraine’s audacious military gambit inside Russia drew toward a close this week much as it started last summer: quickly. A rapid Russian advance in recent days left remaining Ukrainian forces increasingly isolated under withering assaults, and they had pulled out from all but a sliver of Kursk province by the weekend.
The Pentagon’s Next Major Cloud Contract Is in the Works
Defense One
The Pentagon is developing a follow-on to the $9 billion Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability contract vehicle it awarded in 2022 to cloud-service providers Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft and Oracle.
Our Best Look at North Korea’s New Early-Warning Radar Plane
The War Zone
New imagery shows the progress made on North Korea’s shadowy airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, based on an Ilyushin Il-76 Candid airlifter. ... Since the start of this year the aircraft now had its rotodome fitted, putting to bed any suggestion that it’s intended for a role other than AEW&C.
Canada Reconsidering F-35 Purchase amid Tensions with Washington, Says Minister
CBC News
Canada is actively looking at potential alternatives to the U.S.-built F-35 stealth fighter and will hold conversations with rival aircraft makers, Defense Minister Bill Blair said late March 14, just hours after being reappointed to the post as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's new cabinet.
DIU Picks Four Companies, Including Two Ukrainian Teammates, for One-Way Drone Prototypes
Breaking Defense
Heeding a congressional directive, the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has selected four companies to proceed with development of long-range, one-way drones capable of reaching their targets amid stiff electronic warfare interference, the office announced.
Senate Confirms Trump’s Pick for Deputy Secretary of Defense
Defense News
The Senate voted March 14 to confirm Stephen Feinberg, a billionaire investor, as the deputy secretary of defense, instilling the top two civilian leaders in the Pentagon as the administration prepares drastic changes to the military.
NATO to Ask Allies for 30% Capability Boost, Top Commander Says
Defense News
NATO will ask alliance members to raise their military capability targets by 30 percent as the organization seeks to boost its force posture, according to the commander in charge of defense planning at the 32-nation alliance.
Intelligence and Dual-Use Commercial Satellites Launch on Transporter-13
SpaceNews
SpaceX’s Transporter-13 rideshare mission on March 15 carried dozens of small satellites into orbit, including several funded by U.S. military and intelligence agencies. ... Among the 74 payloads was a technology demonstrator from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the agency responsible for designing, building, and operating U.S. spy satellites. The payload consists of two cubesats designed and operated by NRO’s Advanced Systems & Technology Directorate for an unspecified research mission. Transporter-13 also carried small satellites from commercial startups that have received military funding to explore defense applications.
PODCAST: Modern Combat Power: It Takes a Weather Advantage
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Heather “Lucky” Penney and Col. Patrick Williams explores one of the most important make-or-break factors in warfare: weather. Environmental conditions control when and how we employ military power … and what enemies can do to us.
What Are US Air Force Pilot ‘Dollar Rides’?
Simple Flying
The phrase “Dollar Ride” can be traced back to the turn of the 20th century in the legacy of the barnstormer pilots who flew in remote corners of the United States at the dawn of America’s foray into flight. These early aviation pioneers would offer rides in their planes to anyone who paid a “buck a ride” and briefly let them take the controls when they were in the air.