Defense Systems
Pentagon bets $480m on AI-fueled intel platform
Starting June 1, a Palantir system will bring enhanced intelligence data to the Joint Staff and combatant commands.
Threats
F-35 crash shrinks a tiny test fleet under stress
Congress and GAO were already worried about having enough test jets to handle planned upgrades.
Policy
How the Space Force plans to surge a commercial fleet during wartime
New program is based on the concept of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet.
Defense Systems
Navy looks to Army for more data analytics capability
The sea service is also planning to release a new information strategy in July.
Science & Tech
SpaceX launches first batch of new spy satellites for NRO
The agency wants to quadruple the number of its satellites in orbit.
Defense Systems
Army taps some of its biggest programs for new digital engineering push
Long-awaited guidance aims to make computerized design the standard across the service.
Threats
DOD: Russia’s use of Starlink will be a ‘continuous problem’ in Ukraine
The Pentagon and SpaceX have been working together to shut off Russia’s use of Starlink.
Defense Systems
Made in the USA: Defense companies tense as Congress pressures them to buy domestic
A draft version of the 2025 defense authorization act has several provisions targeting China-made critical materials.
Policy
Defense One Radio, Ep. 152: Behind the rise in global defense spending, Part 1: Russia
Russia is spending as much on its military as it did in the 1980s. How sustainable is that?
Business
F-35s are piling up on Lockheed tarmacs, presenting ‘unique’ risks to the Pentagon
The program is trying to quash bugs that force pilots to reboot in midair, GAO says.
Business
'ChatGPT, plan my top-secret mission'
Microsoft adds an air-gapped generative AI tool to its cloud services for classified workloads.
Science & Tech
Navy slow to adopt modern ship-designing tools, GAO finds
The service is getting in the way of shipbuilders who want to go digital, the watchdog said.
Policy
Air Force declares major cost breach for new helicopter program
The service wants to halve its buy of the helicopter, which is driving up per-unit costs.
Defense Systems
Air Force picks the builder of its next Doomsday planes
Sierra Nevada gets a $13 billion contract to replace the E-4B Nighthawk by 2036.
Business
Pentagon canceled Northrop’s classified satellite program due to ‘budgetary concerns’
Its CEO also said the company won’t compete to build cheap, non-survivable drones.
Business
Anduril, General Atomics win more USAF money to develop robot wingmen
But the giants they beat out are welcome to pitch self-developed drones for production contracts.
Business
RTX moves away from competing as a prime for space contracts
COO: “We've got some other strengths in some of the key components that go in the prime satellites and buses.”
Science & Tech
