Lucas Meyer, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

Army to lead Joint Interagency Task Force 401, consolidating Replicator 2 and DoD counter-drone programs

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Army to establish a new joint interagency task force to speed delivery of counter-drone systems across the U.S. military. The entity, designated Joint Interagency Task Force 401, will sit under the Deputy Secretary of Defense

September 12, 2025

Aircraft

First Flight for General Atomics Collaborative Combat Aircraft Starts Edwards and Nellis Test Campaigns

General Atomics' YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft completed its first flight on August 27, 2025, with the U.S. Air Force announcing the milestone the same day.

September 12, 2025

Cybersecurity & Electronic Warfare

Defense memo orders JIATF 401 under Army leadership to fast-track acquisition and fielding of counter-small UAS

The Pentagon has ordered the Army to stand up Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and shut down the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office once the new team is in place.

September 5, 2025

Aircraft

AeroVironment Delivers Initial P550 Group-2 eVTOL Systems to U.S. Army for Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR)

AeroVironment completed the first delivery of P550 autonomous Group 2 eVTOL systems to the U.S. Army under the Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR) program, with gear already handed to units earmarked for Transformation in Contact (TiC) brigades.

August 29, 2025

Joint Exercises / Special Ops Training

August 2025 Joint Military Drills Test U.S.-South Korea Readiness Across All Domains

The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise began on August 18, spreading across dozens of military sites in South Korea. It runs for 11 days, led by command post simulations that pull in real-world data and stress tests.

August 18, 2025

Contracts & Deals

Turkey’s Navy Orders 149 m TF2000 Destroyer and Four Offshore Patrol Vessels from ASFAT

Türkiye has concluded two linked naval contracts with the state-owned shipbuilder ASFAT: one for a TF-2000 air-defense destroyer and another for four offshore patrol vessels. The agreements were signed at IDEF 2025 in Istanbul by ASFAT CEO Mustafa İlbaş and Admiral Ercüment

August 6, 2025

Cybersecurity & Electronic Warfare

Experts Warn of Serious Escalation After Salt Typhoon Hacks Army National Guard Systems

A Chinese state-sponsored intrusion set off alarms in Washington this week after investigators confirmed that the hacking unit known as Salt Typhoon burrowed into a U.S. Army National Guard network for nine months and quietly siphoned off the keys to many other

July 17, 2025

Russia-Ukraine War

Dutch and Norwegian F-35s Deploy to Poland to Secure Ukraine Supply Lines

The Netherlands and Norway will send their F-35 fighter jets to Poland from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 under NATO command. The mission's single goal is to keep the air route open for trucks, trains, and aircraft carrying weapons and spare parts

July 8, 2025

Aircraft

F-35 Bulkhead Overhaul Lets Fighter Hide Heavier Arms

Lockheed Martin reshaped a small yet vital slice of the F-35 frame. The fresh FS425 bulkhead now backs bigger bombs inside the jet. Crews hope the tweak keeps radar print low while packing harder punch. Work moved quick during late-2023 and spread

July 24, 2024

Land Systems

Romanias M1A2 Abrams Tank Buy to Cost 1.07 billion — Defense Ministry

Romania locked in a $1.07 billion plan to buy M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks. Officials call it a clean break from its aging Soviet stock. They argue the move lines up with NATO goals and lifts combat readyness fast. Parliament agreed after a

November 10, 2023

Lucas Meyer

Army to lead Joint Interagency Task Force 401, consolidating Replicator 2 and DoD counter-drone programs

First Flight for General Atomics Collaborative Combat Aircraft Starts Edwards and Nellis Test Campaigns

Defense memo orders JIATF 401 under Army leadership to fast-track acquisition and fielding of counter-small UAS

AeroVironment Delivers Initial P550 Group-2 eVTOL Systems to U.S. Army for Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR)

August 2025 Joint Military Drills Test U.S.-South Korea Readiness Across All Domains

Turkey’s Navy Orders 149 m TF2000 Destroyer and Four Offshore Patrol Vessels from ASFAT

Experts Warn of Serious Escalation After Salt Typhoon Hacks Army National Guard Systems

Dutch and Norwegian F-35s Deploy to Poland to Secure Ukraine Supply Lines

F-35 Bulkhead Overhaul Lets Fighter Hide Heavier Arms

Romanias M1A2 Abrams Tank Buy to Cost 1.07 billion — Defense Ministry

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer