Michael Adler, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Jacob Stephens

The USAF’s 10-year fighter plan defines a 1,558 low-risk fleet

The Air Force submitted a 10-year fighter force structure plan to Congress that pins the “low-risk” requirement at 1,558 manned, combat-coded fighters. The document places today’s combat-coded inventory at about 1,271 jets for fiscal 2026. It also lays out the threshold for

November 11, 2025

Europe & NATO

Vilnius Closes Border With Belarus After Mass Balloon Incursions

Lithuania authorized the use of force against balloons entering from Belarus after radar tracked 66 objects overnight, temporarily closed its crossings with Belarus, and signaled possible NATO Article 4 consultations. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė called the incursions a hybrid attack and said

October 30, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson

Air & Missile Defense Systems

Air Force Cancels Integrated Capabilities Command, Reassigns Duties to Air Force Futures

The Air Force will not proceed with a stand-alone Integrated Capabilities Command. Leadership will fold the planned command’s functions into Air Force Futures, the A5/7 organization at the Pentagon, and establish a new Chief Modernization Officer to steer the work. The department

October 15, 2025

Cybersecurity & Electronic Warfare

Space Force to Fund Low-Power Radar Warning Receivers for GEO Satellites

Two Direct to Phase II SBIR awards, each worth $3 million over 24 months, will fly radar-warning receiver payloads on Space Force spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit. Program staff plan to select two vendors before year’s end. Defense officials confirm coordination to raise

October 13, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis

Contracts & Deals

Lockheed and Pentagon Finalize $24.3 Billion Agreement for 296 F-35s in Lots 18 and 19

The Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin closed a $24.3 billion agreement for 296 F-35s covering production Lots 18 and 19. The package locks in 148 aircraft per lot and ends a two-year negotiation cycle that started after an undefinitized award used

October 7, 2025

Russia-Ukraine War

Russian Tu-95 Bombers and Su-35 Fighters Tracked in Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone

Two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters operated inside Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone on September 24. U.S. aircraft launched to identify and intercept in the zone. The activity took place in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian

September 25, 2025

Cybersecurity & Electronic Warfare

Extending ICAM into field units as the Army readies automated account provisioning and myAuth evaluation

The Army will extend identity, credential and access management across the enterprise and into field units this year. Officials expect wider use of automated account provisioning and privileged access tools by the end of 2025, with more systems added as connectors mature.

September 16, 2025

Aircraft

Lockheed and WZL-2 to Oversee In-Country F-16V Upgrades with L3Harris, RTX and Elbit Systems

Poland has locked in the electronics lineup for its F-16 Viper upgrade, a $3.8 billion program that will refit all 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ jets and keep the fleet viable through the 2030s.

September 6, 2025

Air & Missile Defense Systems

Aselsan’s Ogulbey hub expands Steel Dome capacity and assembles Europe’s largest integrated air-defense complex

ANKARA - Turkey has launched a $1.5 billion expansion centered on Aselsan's new Oğulbey Technology Base, an integrated campus officials describe as the largest single defense industry investment in the country and Europe's biggest air-defense complex. The project is tied directly to

September 6, 2025

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jackson Ricker

Joint Exercises / Special Ops Training

Japan Deploys F-15J Fighters and Support Aircraft to NATO Bases in North America and Europe

Four F-15J fighters from Japan’s 2nd Air Wing completed a transatlantic deployment between Sept. 14 and Oct. 1 under the mission name Atlantic Eagles. The route linked Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay, RAF Coningsby and RAF

September 3, 2025

Michael Adler

The USAF’s 10-year fighter plan defines a 1,558 low-risk fleet

Vilnius Closes Border With Belarus After Mass Balloon Incursions

Air Force Cancels Integrated Capabilities Command, Reassigns Duties to Air Force Futures

Space Force to Fund Low-Power Radar Warning Receivers for GEO Satellites

Lockheed and Pentagon Finalize $24.3 Billion Agreement for 296 F-35s in Lots 18 and 19

Russian Tu-95 Bombers and Su-35 Fighters Tracked in Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone

Extending ICAM into field units as the Army readies automated account provisioning and myAuth evaluation

Lockheed and WZL-2 to Oversee In-Country F-16V Upgrades with L3Harris, RTX and Elbit Systems

Aselsan’s Ogulbey hub expands Steel Dome capacity and assembles Europe’s largest integrated air-defense complex

Japan Deploys F-15J Fighters and Support Aircraft to NATO Bases in North America and Europe

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer