Airports   Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Policy  
asiatimes.com • Gabriel Honrada

US revives WWII Pacific airfields to enable island‑hopping, disperse airpower against China

As the U.S. races to 'island‑hop' its airpower back across the Pacific, the military is restoring WWII‑era airfields to support and protect dispersed air assets in a potential conflict with China. The effort seeks to sustain operations from austere, dispersed sites and stay ahead of China’s sharpening Pacific kill chain.

2026-01-06T11:37:46.234198-08:00
AI   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J Freedberg Jr

Air Force says AI tools outperform human planners in 'battle management' experiment

By Breaking Defense: In a complex multi-service, multi-domain scenario — not typically covered in Air Force training — the best of several AI tools generated tactical “courses of action” not only faster than military professionals but also with fewer errors.

Also: Breaking Defense
2026-01-06T13:54:10.499707-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   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: militarywatchmagazine.com and defensemirror.com
2026-01-06T13:55:10.665852-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   F-16   Supply Chain   Europe   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, defensehere.com, news.defcros.com, stratpost.com, Business Insider, news.ssbcrack.com, insidedefense.com, Stars and Stripes, Defense Daily and 13 more
2026-01-06T09:39:31.164195-08:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
The Aviationist • Stefano D'Urso

Ukrainian Mirage 2000s Are Now Equipped with MICA Missiles

By The Aviationist: A recently emerged photo shows a Ukrainian Mirage 2000 equipped with a MICA air-to-air missile, after being initially showcased only with the older Magic.

2026-01-05T12:41:49.890719-08:00