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

Dispatch dock (credit: Valinor)

Startup unveils mobile charging station to transform drone operations

Emerging Tech

1st Space Brigade soldiers observe a U.S. Army Ranger raid during a large-scale combat scenario at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Capabilities Exercise 2024 at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, April 5-12, 2024. The exercise demonstrated how Army space operations integrate with cyber and special operation forces partners to enable the warfighter on the ground. (U.S. Army photo by Brooke Nevins)

Army to prioritize counterspace tech in future budget requests

Space

U.S. Soldiers assigned to Hound Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, conduct a demonstration for the local media with the Skydio X2D Drone during exercise Combined Resolve (CbR) 25-1 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels Training Area, Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 3, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Thomas Dixon)

Army aims to manufacture 10,000 drones per month by 2026

Emerging Tech

YFQ-42A (Photo courtesty of GA-ASI)

Wilsbach: Air Force could stand up independent CCA drone squadrons

Emerging Tech

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman offers a keynote address at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor, Md., Sept 24, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya)

Space Force sets sights on major overhaul of how it buys capabilities

Space

Military service members assigned to the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Bliss, Texas, and 729th Air Control Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, conduct warfare operations at the Tactical Operations Center-Light (TOC-L) on Oct. 14, 2022, during Project Convergence 22 experimentation at March Air Reserve Base, California. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brenda Salgado)

Air Force looks to scale up C2 prototyping, experimentation efforts

Emerging Tech

A work crew prepares a 5G mobile test station for testing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Feb. 25, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by R. Nial Bradshaw)

Pentagon CIO greenlights 5 large-scale spectrum sharing tech demonstrations

Emerging Tech

Rendering of Northrop Grumman’s GAS-T design that will leverage an ESPAStar-D satellite platform to add fuel and extend the life of in-orbit assets. (Northrop Grumman image)

Space Force’s next-gen space domain awareness satellites will require on-orbit refueling capability

Space

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Bomb Squadron and U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron fly in formation above U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships in the Pacific Ocean in support of Valiant Shield 2024, June 7, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Keegan Putman)

Air Force standing up integrated program office for Joint Fires Network on Oct. 1

Emerging Tech