U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. James Brooks, an infantry rifleman, with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, patrols the southern border in Tecate, California, Aug. 25, 2026. Patrols help deter illegal crossing of the southern border. U.S. Northern Command is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection within narrowly defined authorities to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border. (Dept. of Defense photo by Sgt. Nathan Hislop)
Spc. Brandon Mack, a small unmanned aircraft system operator assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Combat Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, looks through his SMASH 2000L optic, a counter-sUAS tracking scope developed by SMARTSHOOTER, during rotation 26-02 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, Nov. 2, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Julian A. Winston)
Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, participates in a small unmanned aircraft system demonstration with U.S. soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, at Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany, Sept. 1, 2026. As the pace of innovation accelerates and tactics continue to evolve, sAUS integration is becoming increasingly critical to adaptation on the modern battlefield by improving how units coordinate detection, tracking and response capabilities against emerging aerial threats. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Tucceri, AFRICOM public affairs)
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Wirth, a joint fire support specialist, and 1st Lt. Aaron Anderson, a fire support officer, both with 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment (2-32 FAR), 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, discuss the observation post during a patrolling operation, near Yuma, Arizona, Aug. 21, 2026. (Dept. of Defense photo by Sgt. Nathan Hislop)
James Mazol, deputy undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, speaks at DefenseTalks, Sept. 22, 2026. (Photo credit: Stephanie Boyles/EPNAC)
Participants discuss how emerging tech can drive breakthroughs in lethality at GDIT’s ‘Battlespace of the Future’ summit. Panelists include, from left: DefenseScoop Editor-in-Chief Jon Harper, General Dynamics Ordnance & Tactical Systems’ Chris Haynes, Army Lt. Col. William Taylor, Army’s Bhavanjot Singh, Marine Corps Col. Matthew Ritchie, and Rep. Patrick Harrigan (NC-10). (Scoop News Group photo)
Participants discuss the need to prioritize the development of operating systems that more easily integrate with common command-and-control networks at GDIT’s ‘Battlespace of the Future’ summit. Panelists include, from left: Scoop News Group’s Billy Mitchell, Army Brig. Gen. Anthony Gibbs, Marine Corps Col. Jeremy “Hank” Hester, Navy Capt. JJ Murawski, and General Dynamics Land Systems’ Bill Tecos. (Scoop News Group photo)
U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, salutes Kenyan servicemembers during a pass and review after visiting Kenyan Naval Base Manda Bay, Kenya, July 29, 2026. Anderson and his staff visited several East African countries, meeting with state and military leaders, exploring ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination in support of shared goals for regional stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Ross)
Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve, U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff, delivers a presentation on strategic focus during the first day of the annual Maneuver Warfighter Conference, Sept. 15, 2026, in Marshall Auditorium at Fort Benning, Georgia. (U.S. Army photo by Joey Rhodes II)
A U.S. Air Force pilot enters data in a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in the Central Command area of responsibility, March 3, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine visits Joint Task Force Southern Border in Sierra Vista, Az. April 19, 2025. DOD photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist James Mullen)
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Allen Steele III, a light armored reconnaissance master gunner with LAR Company F, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, conduct a kinetic strike rehearsal during the Marine Corps Attack Drone Competition at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Aug. 13, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Barker)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander presides over a Silver Star ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 3, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow)
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches the Space Development Agency T1TL-C mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Oct. 15., 2025. Beginning in 2027, T1 will provide initial warfighting capability to deliver regional persistence for tactical military data channels, along with advanced missile tracking and missile warning, and beyond-line-of-sight targeting plus demonstration of UHF and S-band tactical satellite communications. (U.S. Space Force photo by 2nd Lt. Andrew Taller)
The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) fired from a U.S. Army M270A2 and HIMARS at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. (Official U.S. Army photo by Christopher Bohn)
A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing departs from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, June 25, 2026. Members assigned to both the 20th and 96th Bomb Squadrons performed a flyover in Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Preston Crawford)
U.S. Space Force Guardians assigned to Space Delta 5 monitor computer workstations Dec. 18, 2025, at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. (Photo by David Dozoretz)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — SEPTEMBER 04, 2026: 06 — Vantor satellite image shows the Pentagon military headquarters and surrounding infrastructure in Arlington, Virginia. (Getty Images / Satellite image (c) 2026 Vantor)