Space Force Eyes Cislunar Satellite Constellation
Nov. 3, 2026
Edited by Greg Hadley with Courtney Albon and Stephen Losey
An Air Force Research Laboratory Oracle spacecraft, shown in a conceptual illustration, would observe the region near the Moon and potentially beyond. AFRLSpace Force Weighs Proliferated Cislunar Satellite Constellation
By Courtney Albon
The Space Force is considering launching up to five satellites to cislunar space as soon as 2029 to help lay the foundation for a future proliferated constellation between Earth and the moon.
Key Midterm Election Races to Watch for the Air Force and Space Force
By Greg Hadley
Dozens of former Airmen are running for Congress in the 2026 midterms, with Election Day fast approaching on Nov. 3. But the potential impact of the election for the Air Force and Space Force goes beyond just the number of former service members on Capitol Hill—the results will also decide the people who advocate for local installations, conduct oversight, and set policy through legislation.
NORAD F-16s Test Homeland Defense Mission at Remote Alaskan Island
By Stephen Losey
The Air Force in October carried out a homeland defense mission, with jets including F-16 Fighting Falcons, in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands to show a base there could safeguard the northern regions.
T-38 Crash That Briefly Paused Flights Caused by ‘Under-Torqued’ Pin
By Greg Hadley
The crash of a T-38 trainer jet this May—which caused a weekslong pause in flights across the fleet—was caused by an improperly installed pin for one of the jet’s horizontal stabilizers, according to a new accident report released Oct. 30. When the pin disengaged midflight, it created the slightest amount of “play” in the system, which in turn caused aerodynamic flutter that shook the aircraft until both stabilizers were ripped off.
Radar Sweep
One Shot, Killed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Person of Interest in Custody
One person is dead and a person of interest is in custody following a firearm discharge at Malmstrom Air Force Base on Nov. 1. According to the 341st Missile Wing, the incident involved a firearm being discharged inside a dormitory on the base.
Special Operations Guardians Must ‘Maneuver with Their SOF Counterparts,’ Commander Says
The Space Force is looking for a new crop of Guardians who can keep up physically with troops in highly specialized units like Navy SEALs and Army Green Berets, while bringing technical space expertise to those missions, the head of its new specialized command told Task & Purpose.
$74 Million per Base: How the US Military Plans to Stop Enemy Drones
In the U.S. military's ever-changing quest to be warfare-ready and protective of America's national security, countering hostile drones both domestically and abroad is a critical frontier. Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly Inc., a company that plans, builds, and supplies drones to governments in hotspots around the world, tells Military.com, the U.S. needs a lineup of specialized, adaptable, high-tech counter-drones to fight autonomously in the skies.
Iran Targeted US Air Defenses Then Hit Aircraft and Buildings on Mideast Bases, AP Analysis Finds
Iran’s strikes on more than two dozen U.S. bases in the Middle East focused on early-warning systems before hitting aircraft and buildings, causing billions of dollars in equipment damage, according to an Associated Press analysis.
Pacific Command Bolsters Network Defense with Cyber Defense Forces Pacific
The Pentagon has shipped some cyber operators from Maryland to sunny Hawaii in an effort to reinforce U.S. Pacific Command’s technical defenses there under a concept called Cyber Defense Forces Pacific, according to a senior PACOM official.
The Pentagon’s IT Agency Wants to Bridge Network Gaps in the Pacific
Lags in communication could undermine even the most advanced technology available, the deputy chief of Indo-Pacific Command warned Oct. 29. “If we field cutting-edge compute and advanced software applications, but retain rigid, multi-layered bureaucracies requiring hours to authorize time-sensitive engagements, then we've negated our technological overmatch,” Lt. Gen. George Rowell, deputy commander of INDOPACOM, told attendees at TechNet Indo-Pacific.
US Strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Trump Talks Down War Risks
The Wall Street Journal (Gift Link)
The U.S. attacked Iran’s Qeshm Island on Nov. 2, U.S. officials said, in the latest of a series of limited strikes Washington has secretly carried out against the country in recent weeks as President Trump touted the possibility of a diplomatic deal.
Oshkosh Steps into Larger UAS Space with New Grid Aero Partnership
Oshkosh Defense is teaming up with autonomous aircraft firm Grid Aero, in a partnership aimed at scaling up production on the latter’s Lifter drone, the companies announced Nov. 2. The partnership comes as the Pentagon is pushing for affordable Group 4 and 5 unmanned autonomous systems—like Grid Aero’s Lifter, the design of which was unveiled last August—that are produced at scale and that it can purchase in bulk.
Government Watchdog Backs Air Force Decision to Limit Contract Bids to Cleared Companies
The Department of the Air Force can move ahead with its purchase of advisory and support services after the Government Accountability Office denied a contractor’s protest over security clearance requirements the company said were overly restrictive.
The US Once Dominated the World’s Oceans. China’s Xi Is Changing That.
The Wall Street Journal (Gift Link)
Today, China has three aircraft carriers, with a fourth on its way that Western experts believe will be nuclear-powered. They’re part of the world’s largest navy, which now has a battle force of more than 400 ships and submarines, according to official U.S. numbers seen by The Wall Street Journal. That means China’s fleet is around 35 percent larger than the American Navy by hull count. It is one of the largest peacetime naval buildups in modern history.
Russia Is Giving Its Drones Bigger Antennas to Beat Ukrainian Jamming
Russia is fitting drones with larger jam-resistant antennas, making it harder for Ukrainian forces to use electronic countermeasures to scramble their navigation signals, Ukrainian officials said.
Tiny Ukrainian Receiver Intercepts Russian Drone Feeds in Real Time
A new pocket-sized receiver can co-opt video from Russian unmanned systems, allowing Ukrainian drone operators to intercept enemy live feeds in real time, the device’s makers said this month, while adding only a little extra weight to operators’ kits.
One More Thing
When the ‘Spruce Goose’ Took Flight
Nov. 2, 2026, marked the 79th anniversary of the one and only flight of the Hughes Flying Boat, the so-called Spruce Goose. The massive machine is the crown jewel of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Ore. The one-of-a-kind aircraft is the centerpiece of the museum in a building that was—quite literally—designed around it.
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