A-10 to Retire Early | China's Surge in B-2 "Interest" | Threat: Iran's Fattah 1

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🎯 Alabama Air National Guard Helps with A-10 Thunderbolt II Replacement at Moody | Two F-35As from the 187th Fighter Wing recently conducted infrastructure compatibility testing at Moody Air Force Base, marking a key milestone in the base's transformation into a fifth-generation fighter hub. The F-35A's multirole capabilities and survivability in contested airspace make it a natural successor to the A-10 for both close air support and precision strike missions. The data collected during this event will directly inform decisions regarding Air Traffic Control tower upgrades and resource allocations necessary for the platform’s successful integration at Moody. (more)

🎯 U.S. Air Force to Retire All A-10s and Cancel E-7 Program under 2026 Budget Plan | The U.S. Air Force plans to retire its remaining 162 A-10 Warthog attack jets (moving the timeline up from 2028) and cancel the E-7 Wedgetail program due to significant delays and cost increases, as part of its 2026 budget plan. This would be the largest aircraft retirement in years, with additional retirements including 62 F-16Cs and Ds, 21 F-15Es, 13 F-15Cs and Ds, and others. If the budget reconciliation bill passes, the Department of the Air Force would receive $249.5 billion in total funding, a 17.2% increase over 2025 spending. However, if the bill does not pass, the Space Force would see an 8.7% cut in spending from 2025, while the Air Force’s spending would remain virtually flat. The budget plan also includes increased spending on the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. (more)

🎯 Surge in B-2 Raids Sparks Increased Chinese Military Intelligence Collection | According to a recent report, there has been a significant increase in Chinese military intelligence collection efforts, triggered by a surge in B-2 raids. The B-2 Spirit, a stealth bomber developed by Northrop Grumman, has been increasingly utilized, leading to heightened surveillance and intelligence gathering by the Chinese military. The strategic impact of this development is yet to be fully understood, but it marks a noticeable uptick in international tensions and defense posturing. (more)

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🎯 Near-Miss Incident Over Atlantic Involving Two 777s | A United 777-200 and a FedEx 777-200 freighter narrowly avoided a mid-air collision over the Atlantic Ocean, triggering a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) advisory. The United flight was traveling from London Heathrow to Houston at 34,000 feet when it was incorrectly cleared to climb to 36,000 feet, directly into the path of the eastbound FedEx flight. Despite immediate corrective instructions from air traffic control, the United flight began climbing, reducing the required 1,000-foot vertical separation to only 500 feet. The safety system quickly re-established the separation and both flights continued without further incident. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada classified the occurrence as a Class 5 incident for potential future safety analysis and statistical reporting. (more)

🎯 Iran's Supreme Leader Claims Victory Despite Significant Damage to Nuclear Program | Following a ceasefire with Israel, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory over the U.S. and Israel, despite evidence of significant damage to Iran's nuclear program. Khamenei's claim of victory contrasts with the reported 1,054 Iranian casualties, including 318 military personnel, and the destruction of the country's nuclear program by U.S. and Israeli strikes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessed that the strikes caused considerable damage to three major Iranian nuclear sites. Amidst these developments, Iran has passed legislation to halt cooperation with the IAEA, raising international concerns. Despite the ceasefire, anxiety remains high in Tehran, with many businesses still shut down. (more)

🎯 Iran Executes and Arrests Hundreds Suspected of Israeli Espionage Amid Recent Conflict | In response to the recent conflict with Israel, Iranian authorities have executed and arrested a large number of individuals suspected of having links with Israeli intelligence agencies. The crackdown came after what officials describe as an unprecedented infiltration of Iranian security services by Israeli agents. The suspects are believed to have played a part in the assassinations of senior commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and nuclear scientists, which Iran attributes to operatives of Israel's Mossad working within the country. Human rights groups have expressed concern over the arrests, citing Iran's history of forced confessions and unfair trials. The Iranian government has also increased pressure on journalists working for Persian-language media outlets abroad, including BBC Persian and Iran International. (more)

🎯 Defense Secretary Orders Immediate Changes to Troop's Household Goods Program | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered immediate changes to the Global Household Goods Contract, the system that moves troops’ household goods, due to recent performance deficiencies. The changes include increasing the reimbursement rate for troops and families who decide to move their household goods themselves to 130% of what the government would have paid under the contract. The new contract, potentially worth up to $17.9 billion over nine years, is managed by a single contractor, HomeSafe Alliance. Hegseth has directed the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) to hold both the new and legacy moving programs accountable and provide weekly updates. He's also ordered the formation of a PCS task force to improve the system. The civilian head of the program, Andy Dawson, has been replaced with Army Maj. Gen. Lance G. Curtis. (more)

THREAT OF THE DAY (TOD)…via Wikipedia

Threat: Fattah-1
Country of Origin: Iran
Initial Operational Capability: 2023

Primary Role: Medium Range Ballistic Missile

• Claimed speed of Mach 13–15 with maneuverable reentry vehicle

• Designed to evade modern BMD systems (e.g., THAAD, Patriot)

• Currently unverified in combat, but Iran claims “no system can intercept it”

🟠 Fun Fact: Iran unveiled the missile in June 2023 with IRGC commanders in attendance, calling it a “game-changer” in regional deterrence. Iran claims to have used it in October of 2024 and again in June of 2025.