Pentagon: More Drones Means Battery Strategy Update
With the use of military drones on the rise, so is the need to power them. The Pentagon is in the process of updating its strategy for how it sources and buys batteries, including the critical minerals the batteries require. Officials expect to have the plan addressing the battery challenges ready next year.
St. Mary’s: ‘Hotbed’ of Aviation Development
Aerospace companies that want to get their operations off the ground should consider Maryland, which is home to more than 9,000 such companies. A recent investment profile points out that St. Mary’s County is “a hotbed of military and civil aviation development” with NAVAIR at Pax River and other facilities in the region.
Tariffs & Trump: Europe Rethinking F-35 Buys
Swiss lawmakers urge their government to reconsider a $6 billion purchase of F-35s after the US slapped punitive 39% trade tariffs on the country. A growing number of European countries are questioning the reliance of the US as a defense and trade partner. Last week, the Spanish government confirmed it was no longer looking at the F-35 for its air force modernization but would spend that money in Europe instead.
Confederate Sculpture Returns to Arlington
DefSec Pete Hegseth announced last week the controversial “Reconciliation Monument” sculpture will return to Arlington National Cemetery in coming weeks, the latest move by administration officials to return symbols honoring the Confederacy to military sites.
NASA Plans Reactor on the Moon
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will announce expedited plans this week to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, the first major action by the former Fox News host as the interim NASA administrator.
SAC: $852B for Defense, $200B for the Rest
Ahead of a late September funding deadline, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced plans for roughly $1trillion in discretionary spending for FY26. In a bipartisan vote the committee proposed $852 billion for defense programs and $200 billion for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
New Air Force Leader Fired from Space Force
Former LT COL Matthew Lohmeier — fired from the Space Force for making unfounded allegations that Marxism was spreading throughout the military — was confirmed as under secretary of the US Air Force in a 52-46 party-line vote.
Talk of Golden Dome Is Heating Up
The Golden Dome is dominating discussions among government contracting professionals. GEN Michael Guetlein, the recently named head of the Pentagon project, said he is focused on quickly building a team, casting a vision for the homeland missile defense system. He’s got two months to submit a blueprint for Golden Dome to DefSec Pete Hegseth.
Dougherty Nominated to Lead NAVAIR
The White House has nominated RADM John Dougherty to lead NAVAIR, currently led by VADM Carl Chebi. Other new nominees are MAJGEN Christian Wortman to lead I Marine Expeditionary Force, RADM Jeffrey Czerewko, to lead Navy personnel, and LTGEN Michael Borgschulte to superintendent of the US Naval Academy.
White House: ‘Higher Priority’ Is F-47, Not Navy’s F/A-XX
The White House supports reevaluating the Navy’s F/A-XX program due to concerns of two sixth generation programs occurring simultaneously. Awarding the contract would likely delay the “higher-priority F-47,” the administration said.
