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

U.S. Air Force Maj. Oliver Ngayan, 2 Squadron E-7A Wedgetail air battle manager, performs a system check at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Australia, July 18, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jimmie D. Pike)

DAF fuels up for ‘Ringleader’ exercises to test all-domain sensor fusion capabilities, tactics

Emerging Tech

A YFQ-44A, part of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, undergoes an undated captive carry test at a California test location. This test phase uses inert munitions to methodically validate weapons integration, structural performance and safety, ensuring the platform can safely carry external stores. (Courtesy Air Force photo)

Air Force begins adding weapons to CCA drone flight tests

Emerging Tech

AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird (AST SpaceMobile image)

SDA taps commercial firm for on-orbit tactical SATCOM demonstration

Space

U.S. Space Force Guardians assigned to Space Delta 5 monitor computer workstations Dec. 18, 2025, at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. Space Delta 5 supports and presents combat-ready forces to command and control the Combined Space Operations Center, which closes blue kill chains by delivering space-enabled effects—including GPS, missile warning and electromagnetic interference detection—to the Joint Force. (Photo by David Dozoretz)

EXCLUSIVE: Space Force’s role in Iran, Venezuela raids fueling push for more resources

Space

Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Strang)

Air Force launches program to modernize Air Operations Centers

Emerging Tech

Black Arrow missile launching from an AC-130J. (Screenshot from Leidos video)

SOCOM looking for vendors to boost cruise missile capabilities

Weapons

YFQ-42 aircraft sit on the flightline at a California test location as part of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft flight test campaign. (Courtesy Air Force photo)

Air Force begins testing mission autonomy package for CCA prototypes

Emerging Tech

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

Pentagon taps 6 vendors for accelerated hypersonics R&D

Weapons

Rendering of imaging satellites (Credit: HEO)

NRO awards first 3 vendors to new commercial imagery contract vehicle

Space