Mikayla Easley

Mikayla Easley reports on the Pentagon’s acquisition and use of emerging technologies. Prior to joining DefenseScoop, she covered national security and the defense industry for National Defense Magazine. She received a BA in Russian language and literature from the University of Michigan and a MA in journalism from the University of Missouri. You can follow her on Twitter @MikaylaEasley

Articles by Author

A static test of a sub-scale SRM design for X-Bow’s MDA interceptor. (Image credit: X-Bow Systems)

MDA awards X-Bow to develop low-cost interceptor

Weapons

Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

Navy approves Block II upgrades for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye fleet

Tech

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mahan (DDG 72), left, and USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) sail in formation as an F/A-18 Super Hornet, assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight embarked aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), descends on final approach to land on the aircraft carrier, Nov. 13, 2025. (Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Triniti Lersch)

Navy officially taps Barry Tanner as CIO

IT

Members of the Air Force and Ohio Air National Guard look at laptops during field prototype testing evaluation for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Portable Command and Control Enclave (C2E). (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Shane Hughes).

Air Force conducts tests of CCA ground control system prototypes

Emerging Tech

(Getty Images)

Space Force taps 5 companies for Space Data Network connectivity demos

Space

Director of Golden Dome for America (GDA) Gen. Mike Guetlein receives a briefing on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system at a THAAD site in Dededo, Guam, July 16, 2026. Task Force Talon, composed of Soldiers from the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and the Guam National Guard, operates the THAAD missile defense system to protect the U.S. territory in the Western Pacific. The site assessment directly supports the rapid development of GDA as a next-generation, layered defense capability designed to protect and shield the Homeland against advanced ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile threats. (U.S. Navy photo by William J. Busby III)

Guetlein: Golden Dome in jeopardy due to 2027 funding uncertainty

Space

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft tail 0194, assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing, sits on the flightline prior to taking off at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 30, 2026. Tail 0194 sustained extensive damage last year but was repaired by the 445th Maintenance Group in collaboration with the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office and University of Dayton Research Institute to fabricate a nose panel using robotics technology to form sheet metal into a functional replacement part, the first of its kind produced, tested, and flown on an Air Force airframe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Peterson)

Air Force explores AI tools to predict aircraft failures, strengthen sustainment

AI

Concept art for the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM). (Image courtesy of Raytheon Technologies)

DARPA looking to develop ‘foundation’ of next-generation hypersonic missile work

Weapons

Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess faces a Senate Armed Services Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill, July 16, 2026. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Congress confirms Schiess as third-ever chief of space operations

Space