DefenseScoop

Wilsbach, Trump's pick for Air Force chief, notes retention and training of cyber experts ‘suffering’ Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, President Trump’s nominee for Air Force chief of staff, told senators about the Air Force's cyber challenges.

Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Air Force chief of staff, told senators that the Air Force isn’t having trouble recruiting cyber experts — the main problem is with retention and training. defensescoop.com/2025/10/09/w...

Wilsbach: Air Force could stand up independent CCA drone squadrons The Air Force is considering creating standalone squadrons for its future fleet of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), according to Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, the nominee to become the service’s next chi...

“We’re thinking that they’re not going to be embedded in current fighter squadrons, but rather they’re going to be their own squadrons,” Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said. via @mikaylaeasley.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/10/09/a...

Drone parts recovered from Iranian proxy group attacks trigger latest US blacklist of Chinese companies The U.S. government added 29 entries to its Entity List this week, including 16 located in China.

The U.S. government added 29 entries to its Entity List this week, including 16 located in China that were determined to be sourcing and supplying military drone parts to Iran and its proxies. via @brandivincent.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/10/09/u...

Missile Defense Agency looking to upgrade algorithms to improve object classification MDA recently released a new request for information as it looks to move forward with the next iteration of its Advanced Object Classification (AOC) initiative.

MDA released a new RFI to inform the next iteration of its Advanced Object Classification initiative. defensescoop.com/2025/10/08/m...

Space Force sets sights on major overhaul of how it buys capabilities As the Defense Department continues pushing for major procurement reforms, the Space Force is doing its part to evolve how it develops and delivers new capabilities by focusing on operations-focused a...

“We find ourselves in a generational moment. We have the drive, the political will and the necessity to make lasting changes in how we field combat-credible space capabilities," Gen. Chance Saltzman said. via @mikaylaeasley.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/10/08/s...

Hung Cao tasked with modernizing Navy’s IT, business systems Hung Cao, the new undersecretary of the Navy, has been tasked with spearheading digital modernization efforts across the department.

The new undersecretary of the Navy has been given a wide-ranging portfolio. defensescoop.com/2025/10/07/h...

Navy eyes AI to track adversarial drone swarms, vessels from maritime helicopters The Navy is looking for automatic target recognition and tracking capabilities to deploy in operations involving its maritime helicopters.

Responses to a new request for information about the technology are due to the sea service by the end of October. via @brandivincent.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/10/06/n...

Trump submits nomination for top Pentagon homeland defense policy post President Trump nominated Mark Roosevelt Ditlevson for assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs.

President Donald Trump has nominated Mark Roosevelt Ditlevson for an important policy role at the Pentagon. defensescoop.com/2025/10/06/d...

Air Force looks to scale up C2 prototyping, experimentation efforts As part of its effort to incrementally deploy modernized command-and-control systems, the Air Force is planning to conduct more targeted experimentation with new C2 kits.

"All of the major C2 breakthroughs that we’ve had in the last five years are almost all a direct result of things that happened through either an exercise experimental [or] approach," Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey told DefenseScoop. via @mikaylaeasley.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/10/03/a...

DOD to cut back on mandatory cybersecurity training Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a new edict this week to relax the mandatory frequency for cybersecurity training at DOD.

The changes are to be “implemented expeditiously,” per Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive. defensescoop.com/2025/10/03/d...

Experts react to Hegseth’s Quantico summit: ‘Wrong message, wrong time, wrong audience’ Lawmakers and former service members reacted to speeches delivered at a rare summit in Quantico this week, where President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed an auditorium filled with ...

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made controversial speeches at a rare summit of military leaders in Quantico this week. via @brandivincent.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/10/03/h...

Pentagon CIO greenlights 5 large-scale spectrum sharing tech demonstrations The Pentagon’s chief information officer and the National Spectrum Consortium have awarded five contracts to industry and academia teams to conduct large-scale demonstrations of new spectrum-sharing c...

The contract awards come as the Pentagon continues to advocate for its access to the electromagnetic spectrum to operate the future Golden Dome missile defense architecture. via @mikaylaeasley.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/10/02/d...

Pentagon leadership directs DOD civilian employee supervisors to expedite removal of underperformers In a new directive, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata laid out processes for separating DOD civilian workers who are underperforming.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata issued new directives this week. defensescoop.com/2025/10/02/d...

DOD civilians could soon see more opportunities for cash awards, other performance incentives New guidance issued Tuesday is intended to spur Defense Department components to expand the use of civilian workforce incentives and awards for high performers and personnel with in-demand skill sets.

In a memo to Pentagon leadership, Undersecretary of Defense Anthony Tata issued instructions for retaining and rewarding “top talent.” defensescoop.com/2025/10/01/d...

Thomas tapped to be commander of US Fleet Forces Command Vice Adm. Karl Thomas has been nominated by President Trump to be commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, DefenseScoop has learned.

President Donald Trump nominated Vice Adm. Karl Thomas for promotion to four-star and to lead U.S. Fleet Forces Command, DefenseScoop has learned. defensescoop.com/2025/10/01/k...

YouTube video by FedScoop The federal government shuts down; Takeaways from Hegseth’s meeting with the military’s top brass

For the first time since 2019, also during a Trump administration, federal appropriations have lapsed, resulting in furloughs for hundreds of thousands of federal employees and contractors and the halting of many agency operations. youtu.be/daykUNII04c

Hegseth indicates more personnel changes, acquisition reforms lie ahead at DOD Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump hosted a rare summit with hundreds of generals and admirals summoned from around the world at Quantico on Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a “key leaders all-call” meeting with hundreds of generals and admirals summoned from around the world at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Tuesday. via @brandivincent.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/09/30/h...

Trump nominates Gen. Wilsbach to be next Air Force chief of staff President Trump nominated Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach to be the next chief of staff of the Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

President Donald Trump has tapped Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach to be the next chief of staff of the Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. defensescoop.com/2025/09/30/g...

AFCENT moving to compete in ‘the numbers game’ with low-cost drones As they hustle to accelerate the adoption of next-generation weapons amid real-world conflicts unfolding across the Middle East, the U.S. military’s existing and emerging innovation teams there are fo...

AFCENT moving to compete in ‘the numbers game’ with low-cost drones via @brandivincent.bsky.social
defensescoop.com/2025/09/29/a...

One thing Gen. Rainey says he left unaccomplished as he retires AUSTIN – After 38 years of service in the U.S. Army, and the last three as commanding general of Army Futures Command, Gen. James Rainey will retire next week as AFC merges with Training and Doctrine ...

Rainey will retire next week as Army Futures Command merges with Training and Doctrine Command on Oct. 1. via @billy-mitchell.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/09/26/o...

Pentagon awards more funding to refine drone interceptor technology for Navy Anduril and Zone 5 Technologies recently conducted successful test flights of drone interceptor prototypes and received additional funding to advance the technology for DIU's Counter NEXT program.

Two vendors are working on prototypes for DIU's Counter NEXT program. defensescoop.com/2025/09/29/c...

Space Force leaders in Europe, Africa move to enhance allies’ access to commercial tech Brig. Gen. Jacob Middleton briefed reporters about some of those near-term plans this week at the AFA’s Air, Space and Cyber conference.

Brig. Gen. Jacob Middleton briefed reporters about some of those near-term plans at AFA’s Air, Space and Cyber conference. via @brandivincent.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/09/26/s...

AFSOC embraces training opportunities in Caribbean amid rising tensions AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Michael Conley briefed reporters on his near-term priorities during AFA's Air, Space and Cyber conference.

AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Michael Conley briefed reporters on his near-term priorities. via @brandivincent.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/09/25/a...

Pentagon contemplating eventual sunsetting of Link 16 as enthusiasm grows for optical communications Discussions about the eventual phaseout of Link 16 tactical data links are ongoing as the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency works to build out a network for optical communications, according to a se...

Discussions about the eventual phaseout of Link 16 tactical data links are ongoing as the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency works to build out a network for optical communications, according to a senior official involved in the effort. defensescoop.com/2025/09/25/l...

Air Force standing up integrated program office for Joint Fires Network on Oct. 1 Ongoing efforts under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Joint Fires Network will officially transition into an integrated program office in October, according to a senior Air Force official.

The move comes after the Air Force was named as the executive agent for the Joint Fires Network last year. via @mikaylaeasley.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/09/23/j...

Col. Arlon Smith was tapped to direct the project. defensescoop.com/2025/09/23/m...

Air Force cyber leader warns threats like Volt Typhoon could enable China to wage ‘total war’ against US The Air Force is developing a new defensive cyberspace operations campaign plan as it moves to protect military bases and utility companies against digital threats like Volt Typhoon, according to a to...

Cyber threats against operational technology networks are growing, Lt. Gen. Thomas Hensley said. defensescoop.com/2025/09/23/v...

Air Force considering ‘every option’ for sixth-gen tanker, AMC commander says The Air Force is assessing the full range of possibilities for what it wants its sixth-generation tanker aircraft to look like as it conducts yet another round of market research with industry.

The Air Force recently published another RFI for the Next Generation Air-refueling System program — this time focusing on refining projected costs. via @mikaylaeasley.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/09/23/a...

Space Development Agency pauses plans to provide PNT capabilities The Space Development Agency is reconsidering whether or not it will develop position, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities as part of its mega-constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit.

SDA was looking to build out PNT capabilities in the Tranche 3 transport layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, which the Department of the Air Force is considering canceling. via @mikaylaeasley.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/09/22/s...

New Centcom task force aims to equip deployed forces with drones, other tech in 60 days or less U.S. Central Command is setting up a new team and innovation hub to help strategically fast-track the military’s adoption of drones and other cutting-edge combat capabilities, the organization announc...

The Rapid Employment Joint Task Force will involve experts in information systems, data integration, procurement, logistics, warfighter integration, assessments and other areas. via @brandivincent.bsky.social defensescoop.com/2025/09/23/c...