Meta’s new partnership with defense contractor Anduril Industries to create AI-powered military tech, including a futuristic augmented reality helmet, marks what it calls a cultural shift—but critics say it’s just a continuation of Silicon Valley’s deepening ties to the military. Despite worker protests and a lack of transparency about military revenues, big tech firms like Meta, Google, and Amazon are increasingly integral to U.S. defense operations, supplying advanced AI and infrastructure while quietly expanding their influence. The growing reliance raises concerns about accountability and the balance of power between governments and tech giants. Click here to read more.

Two U.S. Air Force F-16 pilots received a heartwarming reception from the residents of remote St. Paul Island, Alaska, after one of their jets made an emergency landing on May 19 due to low oil levels. As maintenance crews worked over 10 days to repair the aircraft, the small community of about 344 people welcomed the airmen with local delicacies like reindeer and king crab, and even extended a wedding invitation. The pilots, from South Korea’s Kunsan Air Base, had been en route to Eielson Air Force Base for a routine exercise. Click here to read more.

Top Army officials faced tough questions from House lawmakers over their new cost-cutting Army Transformation Initiative (ATI), which proposes slashing outdated equipment, shrinking headquarters staffs, and consolidating major commands to boost combat readiness for future conflicts, particularly with China. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. Randy George defended the initiative as a necessary evolution rather than a mere budget-trimming exercise, but lawmakers from both parties criticized the lack of detailed plans and budget clarity, warning of troop anxiety and past failures from similar overhauls. The Army is also seeking greater funding flexibility to fast-track commercial weapons procurement and explore cheaper alternatives like off-the-shelf drones and low-cost missiles, as demonstrated in Ukraine. Click here to read more.

The Space Force awarded BAE Systems a $1.2 billion contract to build 10 satellites for the second phase of its Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Missile Warning and Tracking program, part of a broader effort to bolster U.S. defenses against Chinese and Russian missile threats. Scheduled for first delivery in 2029, these satellites add resilience to an expanding space-based architecture that also includes Epoch 1 satellites from Millennium Space Systems and low Earth orbit systems from the Space Development Agency. The initiative aligns with President Trump’s $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile shield vision, which anticipates operational capability within three years and is expected to receive a significant funding boost through a GOP-backed defense package. Click here to read more.

Ukraine’s covert drone attacks on multiple Russian air bases using 117 kamikaze drones have renewed calls for the U.S. to invest in hardened aircraft shelters and robust counter-drone defenses, as military leaders and lawmakers warn about growing vulnerabilities to low-cost, high-impact aerial threats. The strikes, which reportedly damaged or destroyed dozens of aircraft, including strategic bombers, highlight the danger of leaving aircraft exposed and echo warnings issued for years about drone warfare’s disruptive potential. As drone technology advances and threats become more autonomous and geographically unbound, experts argue that the U.S. must bolster passive defenses, disaggregate forces, and modernize protective infrastructure to keep pace. Click here to read more.

The U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagle has emerged in the Middle East with a striking new air-to-air loadout, including six seven-shot 70mm rocket pods equipped with APKWS II laser-guided rockets, along with AIM-9X and AIM-120 missiles. This development transforms the jet into a formidable counter-drone and cruise missile platform with up to 50 engagement opportunities, significantly enhancing its magazine depth. While not officially announced, the APKWS II’s integration on the F-15E appears to be a rapid response to real-world challenges faced in defending Israel from Iranian drone and missile attacks. The relatively low-cost rockets offer a persistent, efficient solution for low-performance aerial threats, with potential expansion to more aircraft and upgraded dual-mode guidance systems underway. Click here to read more.

Meta has partnered with defense tech firm Anduril to bring augmented reality and AI capabilities to U.S. soldiers, marking a significant pivot from social networking to national defense. The collaboration aims to develop technologies like the EagleEye helmet, which will integrate AI assistants and advanced sensors to boost battlefield awareness, lethality, and mobility. Reuniting Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg with Anduril founder Palmer Luckey—who previously launched Meta’s VR efforts via Oculus—the venture also signals Meta’s broader political realignment under Trump’s second term. This move reflects Silicon Valley’s growing comfort with military contracts and the Pentagon’s increasing reliance on tech giants for next-gen warfare tools. Click here to read more.

Leidos has acquired Kudu Dynamics for $300 million to enhance its offensive cyber capabilities and accelerate its strategic “NorthStar” growth plan focused on cyber warfare. Kudu, a Virginia-based firm with ties to the Defense Department and intelligence community, specializes in AI-enabled cyber tools capable of identifying and exploiting system vulnerabilities. Leidos leadership emphasized the importance of this acquisition in bolstering national security by expanding its cyber warfighting domain, aligning with recent multimillion-dollar contracts supporting the NSA, Air Force, and Space Force. Click here to read more.

Two young Messianic Jewish embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., in a targeted antisemitic attack that has shocked the nation. The alleged gunman, Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, reportedly shouted “free Palestine” during the attack and claimed he acted “for Gaza.” The victims, a couple planning to get engaged, were mourned by the Israeli embassy and U.S. leaders, including President Trump, who condemned the violence. Authorities are treating the act as terrorism and vow full prosecution. Click here to read more.

The 3rd Infantry Division is spearheading a cutting-edge transformation in how the U.S. Army fights by integrating drones and electronic warfare into its core formations under the “Transforming in Contact” initiative. This shift, driven by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, involves embedding drone and EW specialists across units like the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team to test new tactics in real-world scenarios, including exercises in Germany. The goal is to equip every platoon with drone capabilities and develop new multi-effects companies focused on drones, counter-UAS, EW, and loitering munitions. With armor units adapting to operate faster and more independently, leaders say this evolution enables deeper sensing and earlier, more decisive engagements against enemies. Click here to read more.