Source: United States Airforce
Operation Christmas Drop 2025 marks the 74th iteration, bringing together service members from the U.S., Canada, Japan, and South Korea for the Department of War’s longest-running humanitarian airlift mission.
Defense News in Brief: Marine Corps announces updated physical fitness standards
Source: United States Marines
The Marine Corps is implementing changes to its Physical Fitness Test and body composition standards in accordance with the Secretary of War’s Military Fitness Standards memorandum issued on Sept. 30, 2025.
Defense News in Brief: Capstone 2025: Advancing AI for C2, dynamic targeting, coalition integration
Source: United States Airforce
The Shadow Operations Center-Nellis concluded its 2025 Experimentation Series with Capstone 2025, a pivotal event designed to enhance joint and coalition interoperability and accelerate progress in command-and-control modernization.
Defense News in Brief: Pathfinders drive TOC-L innovation
Source: United States Airforce
Pathfinder units are playing a crucial role in the Air Force’s modernization of command and control, with the 752nd Operations Support Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base guiding the effort for the Tactical Operations Center-Light.
Defense News in Brief: U.S. Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS Lucy Stone
Source: United States Navy
SAN DIEGO – John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209) was delivered to the Navy, Dec. 16. The delivery marks the official transfer of the ship from shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO to the Navy.
Defense News in Brief: U.S. Navy, ASEAN members conclude AUMX 20
Source: United States Navy
BATAM, Indonesia — U.S. Navy Sailors from Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) and Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, rejoined service members from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ashore in Batam, after concluding the ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX) sea phase in the Singapore Strait, Dec. 13.
Defense News in Brief: DAF updates medical shaving profile guidance to align with Secretary of War grooming policy
Source: United States Airforce
The Department of the Air Force updated its medical guidance for shaving profiles to align with the Secretary of War’s grooming standards.
Defense News in Brief: NPS Launches New Master’s in Artificial Intelligence Focused on Warfighter Needs
Source: United States Navy
The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has launched a brand new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) degree that will confer the advanced knowledge, skills, and practices necessary to develop, assess, and deploy AI for the U.S. Navy, joint forces and allied militaries. Graduates through the new program will be prepared to lead AI integration within their communities and across the U.S. Department of War (DOW).
Defense News in Brief: Rapidly Developed Counter-Drone Prototype Succeeds at NATO’s Bold Machina
Source: United States Navy
A new, innovative detection system for countering uncrewed aerial systems (c-UAS) conducted its first field tests at sea during the Bold Machina (BOMA) exercise in the Netherlands this September. Rapidly developed by a small team led by officer-scholars from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), the c-UAS system deployed aboard a Dutch Navy fast raiding, interception, and special forces craft (FRISC).
Defense News in Brief: Future USS Idaho Delivered to U.S. Navy
Source: United States Navy
GROTON, Conn. – The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the Submarine Force’s newest fast attack submarine, the future USS Idaho (SSN 799), from General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) Dec. 15, marking the second delivery of a Virginia-class fast attack submarine this year.