Defense news

• Air Force test pilots used tactical AI to evade a missile

  24-02-2026 22:29 via defenseone.com
  AURORA, Colorado—Air Force test pilots used artificial intelligence aboard an experimental fighter jet to successfully evade a simulated incoming missile, showcasing how the service’s aviators may rely on AI in a future fight. Lockheed’s secretive Skunk Works research arm acknowledged the experiment Monday during the Air and Space Forces Association’s conference here. Late last year, test pilots at Edwards Air Force Base, California, received a simulated warning for
  
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• The D Brief: Competing views on Iran; $151B spending plan; 44th boat strike; B-21 production deal; And a bit more.

  24-02-2026 17:17 via defenseone.com
  A war against Iran could be a prolonged and damaging conflict with  numerous U.S. casualties, Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Dan Caine has told President Trump and his National Security Council in recent days, according to Monday reports by Axios and the New York Times.Trump had a different story, posting on Monday afternoon that “if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is [Caine’s] opinion that it will be something easily won.” The presid
  
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• Pentagon’s spending plan doubles down on land, air, sea robots

  24-02-2026 08:33 via defenseone.com
  The Pentagon will nearly double its innovation arm, expand the industrial base for cheap maritime and aerial drones, and develop new ways to ensure supplies of critical minerals, according to an unclassified spending strategy for the $151 billion in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.That money is $8.3 billion more than the $144 billion the Defense Department requested. But unlike normal discretionary funds, the spending is mandatory. The allocation plan obtained by Defense One shows a
  
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• An Air Force drone wingman has started flying with weapons

  24-02-2026 04:14 via defenseone.com
  AURORA, Colorado—Anduril’s drone wingman started armed flight testing this month, marking the next major milestone for the Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft program. The Air Force began captive carry evaluations in February, strapping inert munitions to Anduril’s prototype drone wingman. The weapons have not yet been fired, the service said in a statement, stressing that “a human retains authority over weapons-release decisions.”. Gen. Kennet
  
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• Air Force’s drone wingmen have started flying with weapons

  24-02-2026 04:14 via defenseone.com
  AURORA, Colorado—Anduril’s drone wingman started armed flight testing this month, marking the next major milestone for the Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft program. The Air Force began captive carry evaluations in February, strapping inert munitions to Anduril’s prototype drone wingman. The weapons have not yet been fired, the service said in a statement, stressing that “a human retains authority over weapons-release decisions.”. Gen. Kennet
  
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• Air Force reaches deal with Northrop to expand B-21 production

  24-02-2026 01:21 via defenseone.com
  AURORA, Colorado—Air Force officials and Northrop Grumman have reached a deal to accelerate B-21 bomber production by 25 percent following months of negotiations, the service and company announced Monday.Tucked into the $151 billion reconciliation legislation last summer was $4.5 billion to increase the number of next-generation bombers. While those funds can be spent over five years, the Defense Department plans to execute all of it by this October “if that can be done without sacri
  
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