The Air Force’s AI Drone Future Is Arriving Faster Than Expected

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Air Force began piloted flights and autonomy tests for modified F-16s that allows AI to fly the aircraft.

Next step toward integrating semiautonomous aircraft into Air Force is building trust with human operators through simulations and training exercises.

Thunderstruck: Anduril unveils autonomous attack rotorcraft. U.S. military will soon field drone wingman that expands well beyond fixed wing platforms of Combat Collaborative Aircraft program.

Lockheed Martin’s Morfius X-Rotor made to fry 50 enemy drones in one flight.

‘Let the AI do it’: Former Air Force secretary pits machine against human operators. As Air Force moves to incorporate AI into operations, the force needs to train human operators effectively to use the tools. But AI might make a better fighter than the human at times.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s the latest defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:

NATIONAL SECURITY

Winning battles, losing strategy: Why military superiority no longer guarantees victory. U.S. battlefield dominance remains unmatched, but Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Iran shows that tactical success increasingly fails when military power is not matched by coherent political strategy and will.

Next 9/11 unlikely to be another similar terrorist attack nor cyber-attack nor even another pandemic. Next global shock may be use of nuclear weapons assisted by more casual attitudes of less responsible world leaders and lack of popular understanding and fear.

HOMELAND SECURITY

Former U.S. soldier toting anti-ICE sign set off incendiary fireworks on fire fueled by liquid accelerant and shot pellet gun outside Manhattan federal office building, injuring three people before being subdued.

Navy instructs key commands to remove leadership portraits and biographies from public-facing websites for security.

DC National Guard got first maritime security vessel, giving the unit waterborne capability to support security at major events and overall homeland defense in nation’s capital.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Trump executive order makes it harder for U.S. defense contractors to obtain waivers allowing them to buy critical minerals and other materials from China and other prohibited foreign suppliers. This, to reduce reliance for weapons production.

Doctors question evidence behind Pentagon’s new testosterone screening plan for active-duty and reserve service members age 30 and older, which intends help to maintain military readiness.

230 troops discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccine have rejoined — fewer than 3% of the thousands eligible under War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s policies to encourage them to return.

Appeals court keeps in place Pentagon’s escort policy for reporters.

Blue Angels won’t be punished. Navy says flight demonstration squadron involved in abnormally low flyover at Pensacola Beach, Florida, will not face consequences.

Hegseth ordered a new study of women in combat. Critics say it’s built to reach one conclusion.

US POWER OVERSEAS

In operational first, Transportation Command planners turned to AI for help when Spain closed its airspace and bases to U.S. aircraft supporting strikes on Iran.

Army’s only sustainment brigade in Europe is rethinking how to keep troops supplied in future conflict, replacing vulnerable logistics hubs with small mobile teams designed to survive drone-heavy battlefields.

Air Force seeking air defense missile system to defend the service’s installations against cruise missiles and drones.

Broken drone, far from home: The case for overseas autonomous system sustainment.

IRAN WAR

Trump eyes Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site 30km northwest of Natanz, Iran. Construction began in 2020 and it is not yet believed to be operational.

Almost 100 troops injured in recent weeks, Pentagon says, as Iran launches reprisals on U.S. allies and attacked tanker in Strait of Hormuz, forcing crew to abandon ship.

U.S. bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states.

U.S. strikes Iran for ninth day; Iran says two oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz exploded and immobilized.

Democrats accused Trump of having “lost control of this war,” urge him to halt Iran war after three more U.S. troop deaths.

CHINA THREAT

U.S. Coast Guard monitors Chinese research vessel as it cuts through U.S. waters to the Arctic to ensure compliance with international law.

RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR

Zelensky sacks Ukraine’s top army commander after days of protests.

Ukrainian drone attacks are continuing their relentless aerial campaign against energy infrastructure and military targets inside Russia.

Rise and fall of Ukraine’s drone warfare mastermind. Popularity of drones, and defense minister who heavily promoted them, helped lead to clash where President Volodymyr Zelensky sided with the military brass.

Could humanoid robots take on dangerous frontline missions? Ukraine testing has revealed a lot about humanoid robots, battlefield logistics, and frontline operations.

EUROPEAN DEFENSE

Sweden’s trio of Saab GlobalEye radar planes ordered by its Air Force are separate from—but vital complement to—NATO’s own order of 10 planes.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

As fighter pilots prepare to command drone wingmen, BAE bets on new helmet tech. Workload of fighter pilots will swell far beyond flying an aircraft to include directing swarms of drones.

Israeli company unveils ‘Hypnosis’ system for confusing enemy drone swarms and jam and spoof the satellite navigation signals that guide aerial threats.

Canada to spend $1.4 billion on 190 armored combat support vehicles built locally.

Southeast Asia has emerged as hub for international crime, fueled by human trafficking, with victims of online scams in Asia, Australia and New Zealand losing up to $114.1 billion last year.

SPACE THREATS

18 Air Force Reservists formally transferred to Space Force, becoming new service’s first part-time Guardians.

Space Force must continue to rebuild civilian personnel staff after cuts. Year after massive civilian personnel layoffs swept through federal government and across military, Space Force still rattled from its loss of third of its personnel.

US MILITARY

Lockheed Martin introduced cheaper Patriot interceptor as U.S. and partner nations grapple with exorbitant costs of shooting down cheap drones and missiles.

Navy’s expensive effort to install hypersonic missiles on three Zumwalt-class destroyers is two years behind schedule.

Number of former service members enrolled in VA system with traumatic brain injuries spiked in last four years.

Military services leaning into handheld blood testing devices to diagnose traumatic brain injuries, technology that will give frontline medical providers quick, objective analysis needed in large-scale conflict.

END of PDB

FOR MORE DETAILED, UNCENSORED, INTELLIGENCE, AND ANALYSIS FROM PAUL CRESPO, SUBSCRIBE TO HIS SUBSTACK.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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