AI   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J Freedberg Jr

USAF experiment: AI tools produced faster, fewer-error tactical plans than human planners in battle-management trial

In a multi-service, multi-domain battle-management experiment the U.S. Air Force found the top-performing AI tools generated tactical courses of action faster and with fewer errors than military planners. The trial tested several AI systems against human teams in scenarios not typically covered in Air Force training.

Also: Breaking Defense
2026-01-06T13:54:10.499707-08:00
Airports   Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Policy  
asiatimes.com • Gabriel Honrada

As China sharpens Pacific kill chain US revives island airfields

By asiatimes.com: As the US races to "island-hop" its airpower back across the Pacific, the real contest is whether US dispersal can stay ahead of China's.

2026-01-06T11:37:46.234198-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Russia adds anti-aircraft missile capability to Shahed one-way attack drones

By FlightGlobal: Russian forces appear to have modified Shahed-136 one-way attack drones to carry man-portable air defence missiles, marking a tactical evolution aimed at threatening Ukrainian fighter aircraft deployed to intercept the slow-moving UAVs.

Also: defensemirror.com
2026-01-06T13:55:10.665852-08:00
F-16   Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Ukrainian F‑16 Pilot Details Operational Challenges, Tactics and Sustainment Issues

By The War Zone: After a protracted campaign to get its hands on F-16s, a Ukrainian pilot details how the jets are now a critical part of the Ukrainian Air Force. After a protracted campaign to get its hands on F-16s, the jets are now a critical part of Ukrainian Air Force capabilities.

Also: defence-blog.com
2026-01-06T09:54:10.899382-08:00
Supply Chain   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
Wall Street Journal • Connor Hart

Lockheed Martin to Increase Patriot Missile Production Under Pentagon Deal

By Wall Street Journal: The defense contractor committed to surging its Patriot missile output to roughly 2,000 interceptors a year in response to demand from Pentagon officials gearing up for conflicts on multiple fronts.

Also: Reuters, Breaking Defense, Aviation Week, The Aviationist, Business Insider, news.ssbcrack.com, insidedefense.com, Stars and Stripes, Defense Daily, defence-blog.com, Bloomberg Law, defencetoday.com and 10 more
2026-01-06T09:39:31.164195-08:00