Just like old times.


Speculation about a resumption of military activity in the region comes as Iran has ramped up attacks on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz in recent days.
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A new task force led by Jay Clayton, the director of national intelligence, will have 120 days to analyze and report on AI’s risks and opportunities, amid growing global calls for AI safety measures.
Former U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting, is set to face execution Dec. 3.
Democrats eyeing control of Congress are considering resurrecting the subcommittee that was previously eliminated during President Trump's first term.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would consider Lithuania’s request for a permanent base: "They are friends of mine, they are great people, so we will certainly look at it."
The selected vendors are AeroVironment, with its Palletized HEL system; Epirus, with its Leonidas HPM system; Kord, with its Firefly HEL system; and Boeing, with its Compact Laser Weapon System.
The intensifying rivalry between the US and China has deepened concerns about the national security risks that come with over-dependence on Chinese systems and supply chains, especially for defense suppliers.


The commander of the Air Force Test Center said the Air Force has had discussions with leaders from Army Test and Evaluation Command to "understand where they have gone with their access to ranges … to open up opportunities for contractors."
The office is concerned the situation "expos[es] installations to unauthorized financial commitments, carrier disputes, and a high risk of fraud, waste and abuse."
The clusters will serve as regional hubs connecting entrepreneurs with resources and opportunities to help them access funding, pursue procurement opportunities, and strengthen domestic supply chains.


The memo framed the Pentagon's use of AI as a way to shed "dysfunction" caused by outdated classification and declassification procedures, which it describes as "endangering" to the department's mission.
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As the government employs more and more AI and autonomy, CEO of Xage Security Duncan Greatwood argues controls should anchor agencies' approaches to ensuring boundaries for what AI can do. Read more from FedScoop.
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FeatureD Opinions
A soldier argues that Pentagon drone, acquisition, and AI reforms—including the 2025 procurement changes and 2026 AI Strategy—fail to reach the brigade level, where kill chains measured in seconds still depend on bureaucratic processes taking weeks or months.
Critics argue that Pentagon efforts to use AI analysis of speech patterns, vocal stress, and facial expressions for polygraph and trustworthiness assessments lack scientific backing and risk compounding errors in security screening processes.
The newly established AUTOWARCOM faces the significant challenge of integrating autonomous systems across the military, but can draw on historical lessons from past joint commands and recent advances in unmanned systems to accelerate its mission.
In the weeds
The watchdog audited the process agency IT officials use to assess the risk of technology investments — though the IT dashboard where the information is posted is sunsetting.
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The Air Force is fielding 1,000 semi-autonomous fighter and ISR drones under its Collaborative Combat Aircraft and Massed Modular Aircraft programs, while approximately six firms are separately pitching autonomous cargo drones to address persistent logistics challenges for the service.
SBA mentor-protégé program joint ventures carry compliance risks that can jeopardize contract awards, including improper affiliation determinations, failure to meet performance of work requirements, and inadequate joint venture agreements that expose firms to size or eligibility protests.


Acting Army Chief Gen. Christopher LaNeve stressed that autonomous systems can enable destruction and disruption but cannot replace human judgment, leadership, and physical presence required to control terrain and consolidate gains.
Organizers of a cyber exercise say Washington needs to prepare for attacks that both disrupt civilian services and pressure Taipei without triggering outright military conflict.
Evangelista, a longtime federal contracting professional, previously co-founded the Defense Department's Tradewinds Marketplace for commercial AI and data products.

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