Space Force picks Firefly to launch Victus Sol rapid response mission
The Space Force would not confirm a target launch date for the mission, but its fiscal 2025 budget set late 2025 or 2026 as its notional timeline.
Unmanned
Ukrainian defense planners envision a drones-only front line
Ukrainian drone makers are showcasing equipment at the IDEX defense show that could help establish a front line devoid of human operators.
Pentagon expands list of commercial drones certified for military use
Following a November demo, DOD chose 23 systems and 14 drone components to add to its Blue UAS and Framework lists, pending cybersecurity validation.
Survival of the quickest: Military leaders aim to unleash, control AI
At a Paris summit on artificial intelligence, defense officials from around the world ponder what's in store for artificial intelligence in warfare.
Space Force acquisition office ‘aggressively’ pushing reform efforts
The focus on tracking program performance comes as Elon Musk’s DOGE is expected to set its sights on the Defense Department in the coming weeks.
L3Harris unveils Amorphous autonomy software to manage drone swarms
To date, the company has demonstrated the ability to connect multiple systems, but it envisions Amorphous eventually managing thousands of payloads.
Pentagon acquisition office orders review of Space Development Agency
The review is meant to ensure that SDA is on a path to deliver a proliferated satellite constellation that meets Defense Department requirements.
DARPA continues quest to validate quantum computing utility
Through the program, DARPA wants to understand whether it’s possible to develop a utility-scale quantum computing system by 2033.
Applied Intuition acquires AI software firm EpiSci
The move positions Applied Intuition to expand its portfolio into the air, sea and space domains.
Opinion
Preventing China’s DeepSeek in Space
The government should ensure that U.S. tech firms eying national security contracts can keep American technology secrets from China and Russia.
In 12 years, almost no takers for Marines’ career intermission program
After a dozen years, fewer than half of the spots available from the program's first year alone have been claimed.
Pentagon says small business programs not part of grant funding pause
The department does not believe SBIR and STTR programs fall within the scope of an Office of Management and Budget order to halt federal grant funding.
Can fresh icebreakers break the ice between the US and Canada?
The Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, between the United States, Canada and Finland is meant to pool new ship construction.
Pentagon prepares to expand in-theater data processing pilot
The Joint Operational Edge, or JOE, cloud initiative aims to provide commanders with the compute capabilities they need.
Power generation challenges could overshadow Stargate AI initiative
Pentagon officials said the U.S. lacks the energy resources and computing power to support the new infrastructure — and solving that problem won’t be easy.
Why the US Navy wants to build a fully autonomous satellite
The system, called Autosat, can task, calibrate its signals and send and receive information on its own without the need for a human operator.
German defense officials craft a digital über-model for the Bundeswehr
The insights are meant to generate a blueprint for a new way of doing business, streamlined flows of standardized data and all.
