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

Master Sgt. John Malloy and Staff Sgt. Jacob Puente secure the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2 as it is loaded under the wing of a B-52H Stratofortress at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 6, 2020. (Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)

Nominee for Pentagon’s new S&T post commits to prioritizing hypersonics, quantum tech

Emerging Tech

Firefly Aerospace successfully launches U.S. Space Force VICTUS NOX Responsive Space Mission with 24-hours notice. (Firefly Aerospace photo)

Space Force rapid launch capability requires ‘culture shift’ within service, vice chief says

Space

(Getty Images)

Pentagon updates decades-old classification policy for space programs

Space

Rendering of a L3Harris missile warning satellite (L3Harris image)

Space Development Agency picks 3 vendors to build next layer of missile tracking satellites

Space

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

Raytheon to receive $407M for ‘enhancements’ to Air Force hypersonic missile

Weapons

Commercial operators deploy Saildrone Voyager Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) out to sea in the initial steps of U.S. 4th Fleet’s Operation Windward Stack during a launch from Naval Air Station Key West’s Mole Pier and Truman Harbor, Sept. 13, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Danette Baso Silvers/Released)

Navy’s 4th Fleet sets sights on command center upgrades for drone ops

AI

KITTERY, ME. Nov. 17, 2022, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti meets with leadership at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard during a visit which included briefs on the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program and Naval Sustainment System – Shipyards. (U.S. Navy photo by Jim Cleveland/Released).

New Navy CNO eyes unmanned systems, disruptive tech to augment force

Emerging Tech

(Getty Images)

Rocket Lab to build 18 satellites for SDA’s global satcom constellation

Space

Capt. Drake Williams, I3E program manager, interacts with I3E’s augmented reality space simulation at the SpaceDEN, a Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) facility located in El Segundo, Calif. (U.S. Space Force photo: Capt. Calvin Suratos)

Space Force taps Microsoft to build cloud-based, simulated space environment

Space