The U.S. military has awarded AeroVironment an $80.5 million contract to expand deployment of its Titan-MS counter-drone system at Air Force installations. The purchase was made by Joint Interagency T
CQ Brown: The Military and the Republic
news
foreignaffairs.com
IrregularChat: Modern Warfare
3d ago
The article argues that America’s founding and democratic health cannot be understood without civil-military relations at the center. It recalls that the Declaration of Independence condemned King Geo
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has created a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for autonomy and unmanned systems, called DRPM-UxS, to consolidate much of the Pentagon’s drone-related work under o
A U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific killed three people on June 18, 2026, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The military said intelligence showed the
nytimes.com
news
nytimes.com
IrregularChat: Modern Warfare
2w ago
A major flu outbreak has sickened nearly 160 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the requirement for U.S. troops to
The Space Force is shaping the future of its GPS enterprise as it confronts growing threats to the system’s satellites, ground infrastructure, and user equipment. Officials say GPS remains the foundat
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks announced the second tranche of the Pentagon’s Replicator initiative, called Replicator 1.2, expanding efforts to rapidly field all-domain attritable autonom
A senior Defense Innovation Unit official said the Pentagon is applying lessons from the first phase of its Replicator initiative as it moves into a second phase focused on counter-drone capabilities.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks unveiled the Pentagon’s new “Replicator” initiative, designed to counter China’s rapid military buildup by rapidly fielding thousands of autonomous systems a
link.defensenews.com
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link.defensenews.com
IrregularChat: Counter UxV
Jun 4
Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated its GRIZZLY containerized counter-drone system by shooting down a Group 3 one-way attack drone with a Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) during a live-fire te
Air and Space Power Journal Vol 36, No 1, 2026
news
airuniversity.af.edu
IRREGULARCHAT: Space
Jun 3
The document argues that 21st-century airpower, spacepower, and nuclear deterrence are being reshaped by a more complex, heterogeneous strategic environment—one in which low-cost drones, proliferating
Space Force leaders have identified the need for significant investments in electronic warfare (EW) capabilities following the loss of capabilities during Operation Epic Fury in Iran. Brig. Gen. Chris
link.defensenews.com
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link.defensenews.com
IrregularChat: Counter UxV
May 28
U.S. Special Operations Command is planning a new drone testing and training site in Mississippi as the Pentagon races to adapt to rapidly advancing autonomous warfare. The proposed “Autonomous Warfar
USAJOBS - Job Announcement
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usajobs.gov
IrregularChat: Central Texas
May 21
This USAJOBS announcement is for a permanent, full-time GS-7 Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant position at Lackland AFB, Texas, with a salary range of $51,201 to $66,563. The position is open from May
link.defensenews.com
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link.defensenews.com
IrregularChat: Counter UxV
May 20
President Donald Trump on Tuesday disclosed new details about a planned White House ballroom, describing it as a bunker-like, heavily fortified structure with a six-story underground complex. He said
The first public image of the U.S. military’s AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) has emerged, marking a notable step for a long-secret air-to-air weapon in development for years. Photograp
The New Era of Air and Missile Defense
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link.defensenews.com
IrregularChat: Counter UxV
May 15
The article argues that modern air and missile defense is nearing a structural limit because current systems were designed for a narrower threat environment than today’s mix of ballistic missiles, cru
L3Harris has unveiled a new electronic warfare capability called **Wraith Shield** for its **Falcon IV handheld radios**, designed to help soldiers counter small drone threats without adding new hardw
L3Harris has announced a new electronic warfare capability, called **Wraith Shield**, for its **Falcon IV handheld radios** that could give soldiers a personal counter-drone defense bubble. The system
The article reports that an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper successfully downed aerial targets using a relatively inexpensive air-to-air missile, marking a step toward more cost-effective counter-drone defense.
A 2024 simulation by a research team led by China’s Northwestern Polytechnical University compared the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter with the U.S. F-22 Raptor in a scenario north of Taiwan. The key twi
NASA’s X-43A remains a landmark in hypersonic flight. In 2004, the unmanned experimental aircraft reached Mach 9.6, or about 7,346 mph, making it the fastest air-breathing aircraft ever flown. Using a
Defining Cognitive Warfare: A NDAA Mandate Response
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smallwarsjournal.com
IrregularChat: IWAR
May 5
The article responds to a 2026 NDAA mandate requiring the Department of War to define “cognitive warfare” and distinguish it from related information-domain activities such as information operations,
link.defensenews.com
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link.defensenews.com
IrregularChat: Counter UxV
May 1
Romania has been added to the U.S. counter-drone marketplace, allowing it to acquire counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) technology through a Pentagon-managed procurement platform. The Army announc
The U.S. Air Force has selected Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) as a potential site for a small nuclear microreactor, part of an initiative to have an advanced reactor operating at an Air Force installa
U.S. service members stationed in the Middle East received threatening text messages on Monday from a hacker group linked to Iranian cyber operations, according to Stars and Stripes. The messages, sen
GigEagle is an AI-powered Department of War (DoW) platform designed to uncover and match talent across all service branches, as well as Guard and Reserve components. It connects skilled personnel with
The Pentagon is planning a major expansion of drone and autonomy spending in fiscal 2027, seeking nearly $55 billion for its new Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG), the successor to the Biden-era
The air bridge sustaining US operations in the Middle East
news
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
IrregularChat: Modern Warfare
Apr 21
A UK Defence Journal article describes an open-source map, titled “Operation EPIC FURY,” that appears to show the main airlift routes supporting U.S. military operations in the Middle East. Built from
DARPA’s X-61A “Gremlins” program reached a major milestone with the first flight of its reusable, air-launched drone. The test involved a C-130 from International Air Response launching the jet-powere
Development Program
news
pathfinderdevelopmentprogram.com
💬 pathfinder community
Apr 16
The Pathfinder Development Program is designed to build a network of Airmen with specialized expertise who can generate innovative solutions to complex challenges and strengthen the Air Force’s compet
BAE Systems recently conducted a test firing of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets from a Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon, marking a significant advancement in the air
Laila VTOL drone gets SAMURAI boost to intercept enemy drones
news
interestingengineering.com
IrregularChat: Counter UxV
Apr 8
Honeywell has collaborated with Odys Aviation to create an airborne counter-drone system, enhancing defense capabilities beyond traditional ground-based methods to protect critical infrastructure. Thi
The A-10 Warthog, despite nearing the end of its service life, is undergoing significant testing to enhance its capabilities, particularly in aerial refueling. Recently, a modified A-10 equipped with
The U.S. military launched a significant air operation to rescue the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle that was downed in Iran. Over the weekend, the operation involved approximately 176 aircraft and hund
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afwerx.com
Irregular Chat: Business
Apr 6
The "Air Force Innovation Handbook" outlines a comprehensive framework for fostering innovation within the Air Force. It details a four-phase approach to identify problems, develop strategic solutions
A U.S. Air Force pilot was successfully rescued after being shot down deep inside Iran during a high-risk special operations mission. The F-15E Strike Eagle was downed over Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad
Retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Blaine Holt reported on 77 WABC Radio that both crew members involved in a recent F-15 crash are safe, citing information from two high-level sources. While th
Reports indicate that a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle pilot may have been captured after the aircraft was shot down over central Iran on April 3, 2026. Iranian media and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp
In a significant development in Ukraine's defense strategy, private air defense units successfully intercepted and shot down enemy drones for the first time in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine's Defense Mi
Shanghai-based MizarVision, a Chinese geospatial intelligence company, has been actively tracking and publicly posting satellite imagery of U.S. military assets during Operation Epic Fury, which comme
Shanghai-based MizarVision, a Chinese geospatial intelligence company, has been actively tracking and publicly posting satellite imagery of U.S. military assets during Operation Epic Fury, which comme
Shanghai-based MizarVision, a Chinese geospatial intelligence company, has been actively tracking and publicly posting satellite imagery of U.S. military assets during Operation Epic Fury, which comme
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is set to enhance its B-1B Lancer bombers by adding new external pylons, significantly increasing their missile carriage capacity, particularly for hypersonic weapons. This i
The "Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and Defense Authorization Act 2025" authorizes appropriations for military activities, construction, and defense activities for the fiscal year 2025. It
The U.S. military is testing a new drone defense initiative called "Curtain Call" aimed at protecting troops in Africa from unmanned aerial threats. This initiative, developed by U.S. Africa Command (
On March 23, 2026, the Air Force issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking partners for the production of lightweight, one-way attack drones intended for special operations forces, as part of a b