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Red Cat Receives $2.49 Million US Air Force Order for Black Widow Systems

Thursday, July 30th, 2026

AWARD SUPPORTS TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF BLACK WIDOW AS A POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR TO THE AIR FORCE SECURITY FORCES’ CURRENT TEAL 2 FLEETSALT LAKE CITY, July 30, 2026 — Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat” or the “Company”), a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, today announced that its Teal Drones subsidiary has received a $2.49 million firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Air Force for Black Widow™ small unmanned aircraft systems, training and related support.

The award includes Black Widow systems, train-the-trainer support, batteries, spares and shipping. According to the contract, the equipment will be used to conduct a technical and operational assessment of Black Widow as a potential successor to the Air Force Security Forces’ current Teal 2 fleet.

The customer organization is the U.S. Air Force Security Forces Center (AFSFC), which trains, equips, and managed program execution for the Air Force Security Forces enterprise worldwide. This encompasses active-duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Defenders. This technical and operational assessment positions Black Widow as a potential successor across the total AFSFC’s Teal 2 fleet, building on Red Cat’s momentum as the U.S. Army’s selected Short Range Reconnaissance platform.

“We are proud to support the U.S. Air Force across active-duty, Air National Guard, and reservists, as the AFSFC evaluates Black Widow for missions at the tactical edge,” said Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat. “This assessment of the Black Widow reflects growing recognition across the Department of War that secure, American-made systems are essential for the operations our national defense and security organizations carry out every day.”

Black Widow is Red Cat’s flagship short-range reconnaissance system and the U.S. Army’s selected platform for its Short Range Reconnaissance Program. The system is designed to provide warfighters with rapidly deployable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

The contract calls for delivery by August 24, 2026.

Posted in Air Force, Contracts, Drone, Press Release | Comments Off on Red Cat Receives $2.49 Million US Air Force Order for Black Widow Systems

TacJobs – USAF Seeks Volunteers for Lunar Lander Impact Study

Wednesday, July 29th, 2026

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing is seeking active duty military volunteers for a collaborative study with NASA to evaluate the impact forces astronauts could experience while standing during a lunar landing.

The Wing’s Biodynamics team needs 10 to 12 active duty men and women for impact acceleration testing on the vertical deceleration tower. Testing will occur from August to September 2026, and the data collected could help establish injury risk curves for future lunar landers that will support NASA’s Artemis missions.

Read the full article to learn how Airmen can support NASA’s Artemis missions by volunteering for AFRL’s lunar landing impact study at www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/News/Display/Article/4554414/afrl-nasa-partner-to-test-lunar-landing-safety-active-duty-volunteers-needed.

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Space | 2 Comments »

Global Strike Hosts Acquisitions Summit at Barksdale AFB to Drive Modernization

Saturday, July 25th, 2026

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. —

Air Force Global Strike Command hosted a Technology, Acquisition and Sustainment Review from June 23-25 at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The three-day summit brought together senior leaders from across the enterprise to align strategic capabilities with the warfighter’s evolving needs and ensure the long-range strike mission is postured for the future.

The event was organized by AFGSC/A5/8, Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements Directorate. They worked with AFGSC/A4, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection Directorate, to coordinate briefings and subject matter experts. They also worked closely with the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisitions team, and Air Force Materiel Command. The event carries out vital acquisition programs and staff insight for all three organizations.

The tri-chair summit was presided over by Lt. Gen. Luke Cropsey, military deputy, the Office of the Assistant SAF/AQ, Technology &; Logistics; Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of AFGSC; and Lt. Gen. Linda Hurry, AFMC commander.

“The TASR summit ensures we are directly aligning our resources with our most urgent acquisition needs,” said Cropsey. “We are making the hard decisions today to guarantee our Airmen maintain a decisive advantage tomorrow.”

Historically, TASRs serve as a vital bridge between the operational force and the acquisition enterprise. The meticulously planned agendas allow senior leaders to examine enterprise-level concerns, often resulting in complex issues being solved on the spot.

“Our acquisition strategies must be aligned with and support our Airmen who execute the mission,” said Davis. “By sitting down face-to-face with the acquisition and sustainment experts, we can cut through the red tape and accelerate the fielding and sustainment of Global Strike systems.”

While the AFMC enterprise delivers research, development, testing, and sustainment capabilities to the entire Air Force, each operational command has unique challenges. Summits like TASR offer a strategically tailored opportunity for AFMC and SAF/AQ experts to understand the specific, real-time needs of AFGSC operators.

“AFMC’s priority is to deliver integrated, enterprise-wide solutions that keep our warfighters lethal and ready,” said Hurry. “Working directly with Global Strike leadership at the TASR allows us to hear their exact needs, remove roadblocks on the spot, and accelerate the readiness and modernization efforts that keep our strategic platforms in the fight.”

This year’s broad areas of review focused heavily on major modernization directly impacting Global Strike readiness. Key agenda items included:

Platform Modernization: Advancing legacy weapon sustainment

Maintenance and Sustainment: Tackling maintainer workload, sustainment funding and surge planning, and the modernization of maintenance systems

Cyber Communications: Driving proactive cybersecurity programs and upgrades

Base and Training Infrastructure: advancing Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, modernizing pilot simulators, and planning critical facility upgrades

While the agenda prioritized immediate sustainment and cyber upgrades, broader modernization efforts to include strategic SATCOM, NC3, nuclear certification, future weapons, and various aircraft such as the E-4B and helicopter lifecycle programs remained integrated within this group’s long-term strategic planning.

By bringing the strengths of SAF/AQ, AFGSC, and AFMC to the same table, the 2026 TASR worked to ensure that the Air Force’s most critical research, development, and sustainment efforts are directly answering the toughest challenges faced by Global Strike Airmen.

By Capt Sydney Sedlak

Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

Posted in Acquisition, Air Force, Guest Post | Comments Off on Global Strike Hosts Acquisitions Summit at Barksdale AFB to Drive Modernization

Submissions Open for AFSOC’s Thunder Dome 2027 Innovation Competition

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —

Calling all AFSOC innovators for the fourth annual Thunder Dome. The submissions window for ideas is now open for AFSOC’s innovation competition known as Thunder Dome. All submissions received by Sept. 13, 2026, will be considered.

This competition is open to any member within the command, and ideas can be submitted at gain.il4.afwerx.dso.mil/usaf/afsoc-thunderdome-2027, ?which is a CAC only enabled site.

Finalists will be selected based on multiple factors including impact on readiness/advantage, alignment with AFSOC strategy, and feasibility of execution. Finalists will present their ideas on Nov. 19, 2026, for the chance to receive funding to further develop their innovative solutions and put them into action across the command.

To ensure we maintain our decisive advantage against evolving global threats, events like Thunder Dome empower Air Commandos to lean into our ethos of grassroots innovation by tackling issues impacting readiness and AFSOC’s ability to operate across the spectrum of competition, ensuring we remain relevant through adaptation.

We must invest today in the capabilities we will need tomorrow. We look forward to seeing the great ideas Air Commandos share in this year’s competition.

Posted in Air Force, Press Release, SOF | Comments Off on Submissions Open for AFSOC’s Thunder Dome 2027 Innovation Competition

USAF Seeks Common Ground-Based Launcher

Tuesday, July 21st, 2026

The The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management (C3BM) Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio is has released a Request for Information to industry to identify viable solutions for a Ground-Based Launcher ground-to-air missiles. At this point there’s no formal requirement. Rather, the information provided by industry helps the Air Force paint a picture for itself of what is in the realm of the possible.

They want to be able to engage Group 1 to Group 5 Unmanned Aerial Systems as well as cruise missiles. This new capability will augment technologies like the the Tactical High Power Operational Responder system seen above which uses directed energy to defeat drone swarms.

They’ve listed Eleven Critical Baseline Attributes:
1. Munition Types
2. Integrated Sensor Capability
3. Laser Illuminator
4. Firing Rate (Total of All Magazines)
5. Magazine Depth
6. C2 System Integration – for dissemination of sensor data and weapon cueing
7. Bounding Price Point (Per System Cost)
8. Transportability
9. Manpower
10. Built-In Test (BIT)
11. Weapon System

In addition to the baseline attributes, the Air Force is asking industry how their proposed concepts balance platform integrated sensing capabilities and the operational requirement for the system to be rapidly deployable.

This comes on the heels of an announcement in late June by Air Force leadership that they were now planning to create a new counter-drone careerfield. Until this can be accomplished the June Corona determined that Point Defense Flights will be established at select AF installations.

While grounded in a real need for expertise in this emerging Warfighting skill, Air Defense of airfields had been left to the Army since 1948 due to the Key West Accords which delineated roles and missions to the military branches under the newly created Department of Defense.

However, during the GWOT, the Army allowed its Air Defense branch to atrophy and is just now reacting to the threat of FPV drones. As we saw during Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb in Russia and the Israeli Operation Rising Lion in Iran, air bases as particularly susceptible to drone attacks, even in areas considered safe zones.

US bases and critical infrastructure have been regularly infiltrated by drones in the recent past. Fortunately, none of the CONUS incursions have been kinetic, but that’s not true in the Middle East.

With the Army’s assets stretched thin, this is hopefully the beginning of the Air Force assuming full responsibility for air defense of their activities.

Posted in Air Force, C-UAS, weapons | Comments Off on USAF Seeks Common Ground-Based Launcher

Senior Leaders Chart Course for Future Force

Friday, July 17th, 2026

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —

More than 60 Air Force senior leaders gathered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, June 10-12, for the semiannual Corona summit, a strategic planning forum focused on policy development, force readiness and future force initiatives.

Formalized by Gen. Curtis LeMay in 1961, Coronas serve as a venue for the Air Force’s top echelon to foster collaboration and refine strategic decisions on an array of topics as diverse as training, deterrence and air warfare doctrine. This recent iteration provided a decision-making forum designed to build upon recent policy modifications and address key areas essential for maintaining a ready and capable future force.

“I have traveled to our installations worldwide, meeting face-to-face with the Airmen who execute our mission every day,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach. “They share their real, day-to-day challenges with me, and Corona is where we turn that feedback into strategic action – making decisions to dismantle barriers, modernize our capabilities, and build a better Air Force from the bottom up.”

The three-day summit provided a decision forum to build on recent policy changes and discuss key areas to ensure a ready and capable force for the future.

Joining the traditional cadre of Major Command commanders and Headquarters Air Force senior leaders were their respective Command Chief Master Sergeants, alongside a diverse group of general officers representing various operational and functional directorates.

The group agreed on a host of policies and changes, including those related to basic military training, the use of AI and protecting bases from drones and other threats.

BMT Next (Modernizing Basic Military Training)

To better prepare incoming personnel for the complexities of future conflicts, a comprehensive curriculum update will be implemented for BMT by 2027. Under this revitalized model, training will more closely align Airmen with the broader Air Force mission. The curriculum will heavily emphasize “Airmindedness,” military professionalism and the Air Force Core Values.

Pairing those three skills with the specialty training that follows, Airmen will arrive at their first duty stations equipped with the foundational skillsets essential for modern warriors.

Not only will what they learn change, the physical training environment will undergo a significant transformation, too. There are plans to construct a dedicated Air Force Training Range, which will serve as the centerpiece of the BMT compound. This facility is designed to orient the trainees’ mindset around the Air Force’s primary power projection platform: the air base.

Point Defense of Air Bases

Recognizing the evolving threat environment, the decision was made to establish Point Defense Flights at select Air Force installations. Initially, these specialized units will be composed of personnel drawn from multiple career fields.

Concurrently, a dedicated new Air Force Specialty Code is being developed to formalize and sustain this base defense capability.

Artificial Intelligence

To harness the strategic advantages of emerging technologies, Wilsbach announced forthcoming Headquarters Air Force-level guidance regarding AI integration. This initiative aims to institutionalize proven AI best practices currently utilized across the enterprise.

A primary objective includes developing programs that leverage AI to automate repetitive administrative tasks, thereby freeing up Airmen for mission-critical duties.

Emphasizing a forward-looking approach, the summit also highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force’s task force dedicated to AI innovation.

The Future of Guardian Angel & Tactical Air Control Party Weapon Systems

The Air Force will not combine its Guardian Angel (GA) and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) weapon systems into a single unit. Each will retain its distinct identity and core, specialized competencies.

GA remains focused on personnel recovery, while TACP continues its role in precision strike, distributed command and control and integrating airpower with ground combat. The two may train together periodically to be interoperable in conflict, with MAJCOMs setting the training standards.

Building on TACP’s existing expertise in airpower integration, it was designated as the lead weapon system for One-Way Attack missions for employment by the Joint Forces Air Component Commander.

Leaders also moved to bring greater discipline to how the Air Force uses the term AFSPECWAR (Air Force Special Warfare) for the GA and TACP communities. Over recent years, the term has increasingly been used in an operational context, and the summit reaffirmed that AFSPECWAR is neither a mission nor a weapon system. It remains a term of enduring value for recruiting, accessions, initial skills training and the shared warrior ethos that unites communities of extraordinary Airmen.

To ensure clear command relationships, distinct capabilities, accurate authorities, preserved community identity and specificity in combat employment, the Air Force will use precise terms for specific weapon systems. This decision ensures operational clarity and honors the valor of the Airmen in the GA and TACP weapon systems.

Audit

In compliance with congressional directives, the enterprise-wide comprehensive financial audit continues. To ensure effective execution and accountability, Wilsbach directed all MAJCOM commanders to provide bi-monthly progress updates, emphasizing that audit readiness must remain at the forefront of their daily operational workflows.

In addition to the key decisions listed, other priorities were discussed at the forum to include readiness, both aircraft and personnel, along with streamlining enterprise-wide logistics-informed command and control (C2). Leaders focused on taking care of Airmen with talent management discussions, mission focused assignments and developmental opportunities.

Other operational discussions included a renewed focus on Camouflage, Concealment and Decoys, as well as the speed of information and the ability to make tactical adjustments in dynamic threat environments with a Digital Fires Report.

As the Air Force’s senior leaders gathered in Dayton to tackle the most complex challenges facing the force, the above decisions impact not only the 665,000 Airmen, but also allies, partners, industry and supportive local communities. Some of the initiatives are internal to the Air Force, while others are further reaching.

“This summit was a resounding success because we didn’t just talk about the future – we made concrete decisions to shape it,” Wilsbach said. “Whether we are modernizing our training, fortifying our defenses to guarantee readiness, or leveraging AI to return valuable time to our Airmen and their families, we are building a force postured to win.”

By TSgt William A. O’Brien

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Posted in AFSW, AI / ML, Air Force, C-UAS, Guest Post | Comments Off on Senior Leaders Chart Course for Future Force

DAF Reassigns Advanced Intelligence Formal Training Units to ACC

Wednesday, July 8th, 2026

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) —

The Department of Air Force has initiated the reassignment of combat air forces advanced intelligence formal training units from Air Education and Training Command to Air Combat Command.

This strategic move, overseen by Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of ACC, and Lt. Gen. Clark Quinn, commander of AETC, will be a streamlined process designed to align intelligence Airmen directly with combat-focused missions. The reassignment will enable the Distributed Common Ground System and Targeting IFTUs and the Contingency Intelligence Network Intelligence Initial Qualification Course to deliberately integrate operational training courses with operational units.

Air Force IFTUs specialize in developing operational proficiency for intelligence Airmen. These units provide system and mission-specific training, ensuring a seamless transition from foundational skills to combat-readiness.

Directed by Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, the reassignment leverages ACC’s resources and expertise as the Air Force lead for the Distributed Common Ground System and Combat Air Intelligence Systems. This initiative is expected to enhance readiness, match training with combat requirements and optimize all associated training resources.

“By reassigning our intelligence formal training units to Air Combat Command, we are shrinking the gap between the classroom and the battlespace,” said Brig. Gen. Abraham Jackson, Director of Intelligence for Air Combat Command. “Our Airmen will learn the most current tactics and techniques directly from the operational force, ensuring they graduate highly capable and ready to impact the mission from day one. This reassignment allows us to rapidly inject the latest threat realities into our curriculum to meet the demands of a highly dynamic environment.”

AETC has been instrumental in managing IFTUs and producing combat-ready Airmen. Reassigning these intelligence formal training units to ACC connects the students with the operational experts who are currently executing the mission in real-time.

“AETC is the Air Force’s center of excellence for foundational training, and we are proud of the world-class intelligence professionals our instructors produce,” said Col. Andy Freeman, AETC Director of Intelligence. “This CSAF-directed realignment strengthens the training pipeline by formally linking AETC’s foundational expertise with ACC’s front-line operational focus. This partnership ensures our Airmen are more lethal and ready to confront pacing threats from day one.”

As part of this reassignment, the DCGS IFTU, currently located at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, will relocate to the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. Additionally, the Targeting IFTU, also located at Goodfellow AFB, will relocate to the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Wing at Langley AFB. The 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, will remain assigned to AETC.

An AETC-ACC transition task force will ensure a smooth and seamless transition for affected personnel and their families.

The conditions-based reassignment plan will occur in two phases with the DCGS IFTU and Targeting IFTU transitioning this summer, and the CIN course reassignment occurring in early 2027.

Distributed Common Ground System IFTU, 17th TRW, Goodfellow AFB, Texas, to 480th ISRW, Langley AFB, Virginia.
Targeting IFTU, 17th TRW, Goodfellow AFB, Texas, to 363rd ISRW, Langley AFB, Virginia.
Contingency Intelligence Network Intelligence Initial Qualification Course, 17th TRW, Goodfellow AFB, Texas

By Air Combat Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, ISR | Comments Off on DAF Reassigns Advanced Intelligence Formal Training Units to ACC

New Ammo-Linking Machine to Save Air Force Millions

Thursday, July 2nd, 2026

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —

The 1st Special Operations Wing introduced a new 30 mm ammunition-linking machine at Hurlburt Field on April 21, 2026, an innovation set to save the Air Force millions by repurposing rounds from retiring A-10 Thunderbolt IIs for use on AC-130J Ghostriders.

The initiative stems from the planned future retirement of the A-10, which will leave millions of 30 mm rounds without an assigned platform. The Air Force plans to transfer several hundred thousand of those rounds a year to Air Force Special Operations Command for use on the gunships.

However, this transfer presented a logistical hurdle: the A-10 employs unlinked ammunition, while the AC-130J requires continuous belts for automatic, high-rate feeding. The new machine bridges this gap by connecting up to 15 rounds in seconds, shifting munitions management directly into the hands of Airmen rather than expensive external vendors.

AFSOC has forged a partnership with the 116th Maintenance Squadron at Robins Air Force Base to accelerate operational efficiency. By integrating the specialized manpower and dedicated logistical infrastructure of the 116th MXS, this strategic initiative enhances our operational footprint while securing approximately $4 million in annual cost savings for the Air Force, directly reinvesting resources into warfighter readiness.

“Vendors wanted roughly $9 million to do 200,000 rounds,” said a munitions functional manager assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command. “It’ll just cost the command around $10,000 in shipping charges to move ammo, but it’s a direct-cost savings.”

The increased availability of ammunition will also support more consistent training among aircrews, increasing operational effectiveness.

“Currently, we’ve restricted the air crews on how much ammo they can shoot,” said the munitions functional manager. “Being able to bring on all these extra millions of rounds from the A-10, we can get back up to a higher standard for our air crews to train at a much lower cost.”

On the ground, the transition is expected to be seamless for maintainers.

“It doesn’t change our process too much,” said a conventional maintenance crew chief assigned to the 1st SOW. “It adds one extra step, but it’s really not much different from what we do on a day-to-day basis.”

AFSOC and its partners are targeting October 2026 for full implementation of the new machine, according to the munitions functional manager.

“It’s neat to see something we’re touching could eventually be implemented for future ammo troops,” said the conventional maintenance crew chief. “I feel really privileged to be a part of that, and I think our guys here feel the same way.”

With implementation on the horizon, the effort reflects the 1st SOW’s broader focus on innovation, devised to support the mission now and reflect the ever-changing global landscape.

By Senior Airman Isabel Tanner

1st Special Operations Wing

Posted in Admin, Air Force, Ammo, Guest Post | Comments Off on New Ammo-Linking Machine to Save Air Force Millions