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

Under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), two F-15s assigned to the Massachusetts Air National Guard and two CF-18 assigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force fly in formation behind a KC-135 assigned to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard during air-defense Operation NOBLE DEFENDER, Oct. 27, 2022. (U.S. Air National Guard Photos by Tech. Sgt. Bryan Hoover)

Air Force primed to deliver initial cloud-based C2 capability to Northcom, NORAD

Emerging Tech

(Getty Images)

Space Force awards $25M contract to deliver in-orbit satellite refueling prototype

Space

Edward Ramey, space domain characterization common operating picture segment (SDCCS) lead integration and training support for the Joint Task Force-Space Defense, looks at a computer screen at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, Dec. 19, 2022. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tiana Williams)

Unclassified space strategy outlines how DOD will defend satellites in orbit

Space

CCA concept art (Boeing image)

Air Force, Navy collaborating on 4 ‘fundamentals’ of CCA drones

Weapons

Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, participates in the META-13 Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2) and Space Mission Integration panel discussion, at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics ASCEND Summit, from the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Nov. 18, 2020. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Eucom, Africom will get Space Force component in December

Space

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall delivers a keynote address at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept 11, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya)

Secretary Kendall initiates review of Department of the Air Force to ‘re-optimize’ for future conflict

Emerging Tech

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket with the SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and United States Space Force rolls from the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. (United Launch Alliance photo)

Silentbarker ‘watchdog’ satellites successfully launched for Space Force-NRO spy missions

Space

U.S. Space Force Col. Brett Swigert, Space Delta 7 – Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance commander, hands the ceremonial guidon to Lt. Col. Travis Anderson, 75th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron commander, during the 75th ISRS activation ceremony Aug. 11, 2023, at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. The passing of the ceremonial guidon represented the first assignment of authority from the delta commander to the squadron commander. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cody Friend)

How the Space Force’s new targeting squadron will scope out adversary space and counterspace capabilities

Space

Next-generation air dominance and CCA drone concept art (Lockheed Martin image)

Air Force contemplating mission adaptability for future robotic wingmen

Weapons