BREAKING: General Atomics’ collaborative combat aircraft notches first flight | Competitor Anduril says their version will fly “soon.”

The Army is equipping its Black Hawks to launch drones | But how long will the venerable rotorcraft keep its central role as the service transforms?

Pentagon reductions set back critical AI-data platform | After users flocked to Advana, DOD’s AI office laid out a plan to keep it growing. Then came DOGE.

ODNI to shrink further under new reorganization plan | Tulsi Gabbard said her office will cut more staff as part of a restructuring aimed in part at “ending the weaponization of intelligence.”

How the Marines’ attack drone team is defining UAV warfare | A competition to find the Corps’ best operators begins this fall.

COMMENTARY: What National Guardsmen in the nation’s capital need to hear | You have every right to expect a clear mission, an unambiguous chain of command, and appropriate training.

Navy to cut at least a third of its civilian public-affairs staff | The service is also centralizing all PAO hiring and contracting.

In surprise, USAF chief announces upcoming retirement | Gen. Allvin will leave about halfway through his expected term, but will stay on until a replacement is found.

COMMENTARY: AI is about to reshape command structures that haven’t changed much since Napoleon | I explored the possibilities with a team of researchers at CSIS' Futures Lab. Here's what we found.

Trump’s national defense strategy is focused on the homeland. So far, that has included troops in the streets. | by @meghannmyers_

COMMENTARY: How big will China’s nuclear arsenal get? | No one knows, but we can game out potential endpoints of Beijing’s buildup.

COMMENTARY: How the National Guard’s domestic missions build deterrence | The Guard’s citizen-soldiers and -airmen boost American resiliency, complicating any adversary’s calculations.

Commentary by retired Gen. Charles Flynn: The Army’s role in the Pacific | Deterrence can’t be achieved with maritime or air systems alone.

Pentagon confirms it’s holding up weapons promised to Ukraine | Spokesman declined to say which weapons affected, when munitions review began, or who recommended the pause.

Commentary by Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Mike Rogers: Defense reconciliation bill begins rebuild and transformation of our military | The cost of deterring war will always be dwarfed by the cost of fighting one.

The future of homeland missile defense, from NORAD to the private sector. Join Maj. Gen. Mark Piper, Doug Loverro, and Masao Dahlgren at the Defense One Tech Summit, tomorrow in Pentagon City. Register → buff.ly/XPVGCVh

US strike set back Iran's nuclear effort a few months: early intel assessment | A preliminary report by the Defense Intelligence Agency contradicts White House, SecDef on the results of Saturday's bunker-busting mission.

Leslie Beavers, DOD Principal Deputy CIO, will deliver the keynote on digital transformation at the Defense One Tech Summit, tomorrow in Pentagon City. Don’t miss it → buff.ly/XPVGCVh

NATO chief to Europe: ‘Stop worrying’ about US, just increase spending | European officials hope the 5% defense-spending pledge will placate Trump. Audrey Decker reports from the NATO summit:

TOMORROW: DIU's David Payne, NGA's Trey Treadwell, and Shield AI's Brandon Tseng on a can’t-miss panel: Autonomy at War. Secure your spot for Defense One's Tech Summit now → buff.ly/XPVGCVh

The future of military tech is being built now. Join us Thursday in Pentagon City for the Defense One Tech Summit. Featuring Chris Brose (Anduril), Katrina Mulligan (OpenAI), Brandon Tseng (Shield AI) & more. Register now → buff.ly/XPVGCVh

Is an Iranian bomb now more or less likely? It depends on these factors: buff.ly/OLLONHG

COMMENTARY: For 250 years, it’s been ‘change or lose’ for our military. Here’s what needs changing now | A former commandant and a futurist take stock of Spider’s Web, Rising Lion, and more.

Americans more concerned about nuclear Iran than illegal immigration, survey finds | Public support continues to rise for U.S. leadership abroad in Reagan Institute poll.

US joins Iran-Israel war | Trump, who ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, threatens more action. buff.ly/0r02Qg9

As CCAs make international debut, companies pitch European co-production | General Atomics said their robot wingman offering will be “far less than $20 million” a pop.

US strikes on Iran not a step toward ‘open-ended war,’ SecDef says | Operation Midnight Hammer saw the first use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator. buff.ly/BDxip5F

Is an Iranian bomb now more or less likely? It depends on these factors | Strikes alone won’t end Iran’s nuclear ambitions, say experts. But Tehran’s options now are “pretty bad.” buff.ly/OLLONHG

Defense One Radio, Ep. 182: Defense innovation with Shield AI’s Brandon Tseng | The Navy SEAL-turned-tech entrepreneur explores industry trends and challenges ahead of this year's GLOBSEC Forum.

Air Force says Qatar jet retrofit will cost less than $400M | Other defense officials have estimated it could be over $1 billion.

Air Force brings ARRW hypersonic missile program back from the dead | “Diversity imposes costs on the adversary,” one expert explained.

INDOPACOM brings AI to wargaming exercise | After nearly half a year of focusing on new tech, commanders get to pit decision-making tools against operational plans.

What will DOD civilians do at the border? The Pentagon won’t say. | The Defense Department declined to provide any details on Monday’s order to provide support to DHS. buff.ly/fM77V5o

Despite Golden Dome, Space Force budget would shrink again under 2026 spending plan | The White House appears to be pinning its hopes on the one-time reconciliation bill. buff.ly/dhXa8WW

Pentagon pushes US dronemakers to innovate as quickly as Ukraine does | DIU’s Project GI initiative aims to embed frontline insights into a perpetual loop of design, testing, and deployment. buff.ly/CvjkgvW

Missile Defense Agency preps $151B contract vehicle for Golden Dome | MDA previewed a draft solicitation for work on the ambitious missile-defense system.

COMMENTARY: Don’t limit defense innovation by capping small-biz awards | A proposed change to the Small Business Innovation Research program would deprive the military of some of its best problem-solvers.

Land forces tool up for potential Pacific conflict

Bill aims to lock in DIU’s dual-use reservist corps | The soldier of the future might have a day job at a start-up.

‘Silk Typhoon’ hackers breached US corporate-cloud provider, person familiar says | The revelation adds detail to a CISA advisory on Thursday that did not say that China or its related hacking units were involved in the attack.

Killing drones softly | Why the military is looking beyond munitions to fight the drone threat.

Pentagon orders civilian employees to submit money-saving ideas | It’s the last step in the "5 bullet points" weekly email exercise. buff.ly/vfTyq2Y

Land forces tool up for potential Pacific conflict | Army, Marines pursue transformation, while exercises with partner nations grow more sophisticated. buff.ly/2jqbm5X

Bill aims to lock in DIU’s dual-use reservist corps | The soldier of the future might have a day job at a start-up.

3rd ID experiments with new tank formations at Germany training rotation | The Army’s first armored Transformation-in-Contact unit is integrating 3D-printed drones for greater “massing of effects.”

US Army medics prepare for war with China | Service is focused on overcoming logistical hurdles and other obstacles now so that medical professionals will be ready if they’re needed.

Hegseth to Air Force: Figure out how to modify Qatari jet | Converting the luxury plane into Air Force One could cost more than $1 billion, one senator said.

Trump: Golden Dome to cost $175B, be ready in three years | Defense officials have said it would take at least five to seven to develop its space-based weapons.

TOMORROW: Join Defense One for Genius Machines: The future of human-machine dominance. Details and registration:

REGISTER NOW: Join Defense One for conversations with Scale AI's Dan Tadross, EUCOM's David Wiltse, and OpenAI's Sasha Baker. Details: buff.ly/qtxjuUA