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

The application Google Gemini can be seen on the display of an iPhone. (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Lockheed Martin integrating Google’s generative AI tools into workflow ops

AI

The U.S. Capitol, pictured near the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, on December 14, 2024. (Photo by Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images) The U.S. Capitol, pictured near the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, on December 14, 2024. (Photo by Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Nominee for key Pentagon R&E post vows to accelerate prototyping, experimentation

Emerging Tech

Visualization of thruster nozzle flow predicted by the Northrop Grumman–Luminary Physics AI Model, powered by NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo (Credit: Luminary Cloud)

Northrop Grumman inks deal with tech startup for accelerated, AI-enabled spacecraft design

AI

Warfighters operate IT equipment at the lab located at Defense Information Systems Agency Headquarters at Fort Meade Md. (DISA Photo by: David Abizaid)

DISA planning 2026 industry day focused on AI tools

AI

Rendering of X-BAT (Credit: Shield AI)

Shield AI reveals VTOL autonomous fighter jet dubbed X-BAT

Emerging Tech

Artists rendering of the Boeing Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft (Credit: Boeing)

The Army wants its own fleet of loyal wingman drones

Emerging Tech

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