Top 5     DHS contacted Naval Station Great Lakes for ICE support, official says (Military Times) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently contacted an Illinois naval base for assistance with future missions, Navy officials confirmed.       USAF hopeful second B-21 Raider stealth bomber will fly before year end (The War Zone) The U.S. Air Force is hoping to see a second pre-production B-21 Raider stealth bomber take to the skies before the end of the year. The service also says it has conducted four more flight tests of the AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) cruise missile, which will be a key nuclear weapon for the B-21, so far this year.       General Atomics’ collaborative combat aircraft notches first flight (Defense One) General Atomics’ collaborative combat aircraft began flight testing with the Air Force today, the service announced.       Prosecutors fail to indict Air Force vet who threw sandwich at feds (The Associated Press) Federal prosecutors have failed to obtain a felony indictment against a U.S. Air Force veteran who was seen on camera hurling a sandwich at a federal law enforcement official in the nation’s capital, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.       Tricare to end coverage of weight-loss meds for some military retirees (Military Times) Just a few days before coverage for weight-loss drugs is set to end for Tricare for Life beneficiaries, advocates are calling on the Defense Health Agency and lawmakers to halt those plans.   Pentagon     Pentagon CTO says Defense Innovation Unit will remain independent (Defense News) The Defense Department’s chief technology officer told reporters Wednesday he doesn’t intend to maintain permanent oversight of the Defense Innovation Unit, adding that the Pentagon is looking for a full-time replacement following the former director’s resignation earlier this week.       Pentagon to trim list of critical technology areas (DefenseScoop ) The Defense Department’s list of critical technology areas that it wants to prioritize is about to get shorter, according to the Pentagon’s CTO.   Congress & Politics     Handling crime in big cities a strength for Trump, poll shows (The Associated Press) As armed National Guard troops patrol the nation’s capital as part of an unprecedented federal takeover of Washington’s police department, handling crime is now a relative strength for President Donald Trump, according to the latest AP-NORC poll.       GAO report on military criminal investigators (USNI News) The following is the August 22, 2025, Government Accountability Office report, Criminal Investigators: Program-Wide Evaluations and Clear Oversight Responsibilities Could Enhance Training Programs.       The State Department laid them off, then it promoted them (Defense One) Every year, the State Department completes a thorough, multi-layered process to determine who in the Foreign Service will get promoted. This year, news of impending promotion came as a surprise for some employees: just a month ago, State laid them off.   Your Military     All services now issue form DD214-1 to departing reservists (Military.com) The military's reserve components now issue departing reservists a new standard service record that summarizes their periods of active and inactive service as well as their "points" earned toward retirement: Form DD214-1, the Certificate of Uniformed Service, Reserve Component Addendum.   Army     Army bids adieu to ISR Task Force, stands up Strategy and Transformation Directorate (Breaking Defense) The Army is standing up the Directorate for Strategy and Transformation inside its intelligence shop as part of a larger shake up that involves dissolving the ISR Task Force, according to a senior official helping lead the charge.       Washington state ramps up pressure on Army over PFAS contamination near Yakima (The Seattle Times ) Years after a group of substances often described as forever chemicals were found in drinking water near Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Yakima Training Center, families are still waiting for water filtration systems, and state officials are frustrated with the Army’s “pattern of slow or no release of information” about the contamination.       Genetic discovery in study of Special Forces soldiers shows potential for aiding their mental health (Stars & Stripes) A breakthrough gene study by Army researchers could lead to better stress management and faster recovery from psychological trauma for Special Forces soldiers.       Army taps three companies to take ISVs unmanned (Breaking Defense) Three companies have secured prototype contracts with the US Army to test the viability of turning Infantry Support Vehicles (ISVs) into autonomous vehicles, the service announced today.   Navy     No clear cause in Norfolk sailor’s death, examiner finds (Stars & Stripes) The cause and manner of death of a sailor whose body was found this summer in the woods near Naval Station Norfolk remains undetermined, according to her family.       US aircraft with advanced radar intercepted over Black Sea (UK Defence Journal) A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was intercepted by a Russian fighter over the Black Sea on August 27, with footage circulating online showing the aircraft’s AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor.       Evolved Sea Sparrow missile successor sought by Navy (The War Zone) The U.S. Navy, together with 11 of America’s allies, is working to develop a follow-on to the Block 2 version of the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM). The ESSM is an air defense staple on a wide array of American and foreign naval vessels, but concerns about an increasingly complex aerial threat ecosystem are now driving interest in a missile with improved capabilities.       ICE asks for access to Chicago-area Navy base to assist operations (Stars & Stripes) The Trump administration wants to use a Navy base north of Chicago as a launchpad for federal law enforcement activity against undocumented immigration, defense officials said Tuesday, as the White House contemplates also deploying thousands of U.S. troops to the nation’s third-largest city amid rising tension with the Illinois governor.   Marine Corps     Marine general will return to Parris Island 40 years after graduating (Task & Purpose) Marine Lt. Gen. Jerry Carter remembers the exact moment he knew his life had to change. In 1985, Carter was working at McDonald’s when a customer said she had accidentally thrown out her car keys. So, Carter’s manager asked him to look for the keys in the restaurant’s dumpster.       DoT’s Maritime administration celebrates christening of State of Maine vessel at Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard (Seapower) U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) today celebrated the christening of the?State of Maine, the third of five cutting-edge National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV), at Hanwha Philly Shipyard. Built for Maine Maritime Academy, the State of Maine will serve as a next generation training ship, supporting both the academic development of cadets and America’s humanitarian relief.   Air Force     Engine stall led to F-16 crash in Korea last year (Air & Space Forces Magazine) When an F-16 fighter jet crashed into the Yellow Sea off the coast of South Korea on Jan. 31, 2024, it was because of a hardware failure that stalled the engine, which the pilot could not get started again despite multiple attempts, according to an investigation report released Aug. 22.       How Transcom brought elements of tactical surprise and other support to Operation Midnight Hammer (DefenseScoop ) U.S. Transportation Command helped to misdirect enemies during the American military’s strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in late June, according to senior officials familiar with the tactical deception plans behind Operation Midnight Hammer.       New B-52 radar, second B-21 both entering flight testing ‘soon’ (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The B-52‘s new radar will soon enter flight testing and is “turning a corner” after a cost overrun triggered a notification to Congress and program review earlier this year, a top general said Aug. 27.       F-35 pilot was on phone for nearly an hour with engineers before ejection and fiery crash (Military.com) An Air Force F-35 pilot was on the phone midair with Lockheed Martin engineers for nearly an hour attempting to resolve a landing gear issue before ultimately having to eject from the jet, according to a newly released accident investigation report.       Air Force to provide funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt (The Hill) The U.S. Air Force will provide Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt with military funeral honors, reversing a Biden-era decision that denied her family’s request, according to a legal group that has represented her family.   National Guard     What National Guard troops legally can and can’t do in Washington, DC (Task & Purpose) The roughly 2,000 National Guardsmen deployed to Washington, D.C. have been tasked with assisting local law enforcement, but the lines separating where the troops’ mission ends and the police officers’ begins could get blurry.   Veterans     Veteran stole $244K in disability, then faked drowning death in Maine, feds say (The Kansas City Star ) A Maine man accused of stealing more than $244,000 in disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs faked his drowning death after authorities confronted him about the fraud, according to federal officials and court filings.   Pay & Benefits     Military spouse paid fellowship program expanding, with more money (Military Times) Military spouses will soon see the expansion of a paid fellowship pilot program, with higher compensation and the extension to those living overseas, as the Defense Department program becomes permanent on Jan. 1, 2026.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     Dramatic F-35 stray drone striking Estonia highlights dangers of rapidly expanding Long-range war (The War Zone) In the latest instance of the war in Ukraine spilling over into neighboring countries, officials in Estonia say a Ukrainian one-way attack drone exploded inside that Baltic nation about 50 miles west of the border with Russia.       How many drones does it take to replace a destroyer? (Defense One) Could a flotilla of robot boats do the same job as a U.S. Navy destroyer? A task force commander has a theory.       Avio, Isar Aerospace win first European 'Flight Ticket' awards (SpaceNews) The European Space Agency and European Commission have selected Avio and Isar Aerospace to launch the first missions of an initiative to support technology development and Europe’s launch industry.       Salt Typhoon hackers targeted over 80 countries, FBI says (Defense One) A major Chinese espionage group targeted some 80 nations—and likely more than just telecommunications companies—in a sweeping hack discovered last year, U.S. investigators said Wednesday.   Defense Industry     Hanwha to invest $5B to improve infrastructure at Philadelphia shipyard (Breaking Defense) South Korea’s Hanwha Group announced a $5 billion plan to build additional infrastructure at Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia as part of South Korea’s commitment to boost US shipbuilding capability.       New rifles chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor heading to US Special Operations Armories (The War Zone) U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) recently awarded a contract for new rifles chambered to fire the 6.5mm Creedmoor round to Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT). The Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault (MRGG-A) rifles will give special operators greater reach, as well as improved accuracy and terminal performance against targets at those longer ranges.       China may unveil enhanced ‘Guam Killer’ ballistic missile during military parade (Stars & Stripes) China is set to unveil a new variant of its Dong Feng-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile, dubbed the “Guam Killer” for its capacity to reach that strategic American territory, according to defense media reports.       China has modified these trucks as HIMARS lookalikes (The War Zone) Examples of a new Chinese vehicle, designed to mimic the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), have appeared, soon after the first examples of the U.S.-made system were delivered to Taiwan.       New class of Saudi THAAD operators graduates at Fort Bliss amid US push to replenish arsenal (Stars & Stripes) Saudi Arabia is expanding its missile defense capabilities with new training on a U.S.-made system, even as Washington works to replenish its own depleted stockpiles.   Israel-Gaza-Iran     US hosts talks on post-war Gaza as Israel calls Gaza City evacuation ‘inevitable’ (The Associated Press) Israeli and U.S. officials met Wednesday in Washington to discuss post-war Gaza, even as Israel’s military called the evacuation of Gaza City “inevitable” ahead of a new offensive and no sign of a ceasefire was in sight.       Pope demands ‘collective punishment’ end in Gaza as 10 more die of hunger (The Guardian) Ten Palestinians including two children have died from starvation in the last 24 hours, health authorities in Gaza said on Wednesday, as Pope Leo XIV demanded that Israel stop its “collective punishment” of the population in the besieged territory.       Opposition to more military aid to Israel highest since late 2023: Survey (The Hill) American voters’ opposition to additional military aid to Israel is the highest it’s been since late 2023, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.   Ukraine     Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,281 (Al Jazeera) Here are the key events on day 1,281 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.       Ukraine is working to develop its own air defense systems (The War Zone) After three-and-a-half years of defending against constant Russian missile and drone attacks, Ukraine has used up a great deal of its stocks of old Soviet interceptors, as well as donated Western types, which are in increasing demand around the world.       Zelenskyy says aides to meet Trump team in New York on Friday (Al Jazeera) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his officials will meet representatives of United States President Donald Trump in New York as part of intensified mediation efforts to end the war with Russia.       Frustrated Russians grapple with fuel crisis as Ukraine attacks oil refineries (The Guardian) Russia prides itself on being an energy superpower, but some of its citizens are suddenly struggling to fill their fuel tanks after weeks of Ukrainian drone strikes crippled refining capacity across the country.       Russian missiles hit Kyiv in massive attack, at least 8 killed, 45 injured (The Kyiv Independent) Russia launched a large-scale aerial strike on Ukrainian cities late on Aug. 27, attacking Kyiv with missiles and targeting regions far from the front lines.   International     Denmark summons US envoy over report of Greenland influence operations (The Associated Press) Denmark’s foreign minister had the top U.S. diplomat in the country summoned for talks after the main national broadcaster reported Wednesday that at least three people with connections to President Donald Trump have been carrying out covert influence operations in Greenland.       Canada names Hanwha, Thyssenkrupp as ‘qualified suppliers’ for new submarine program (Breaking Defense) The Canadian government has announced that South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems have been named “qualified suppliers” for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.       Australian, Canadian, Philippine warships drill near Scarborough Shoal (USNI News) Australian, Canadian and Philippine warships and fighter jets worked together to defeat simulated air threats on Wednesday near Scarborough Shoal during a first-of-its-kind exercise between the three nations in the South China Sea.       North Korea shuns denuclearization talks following first Trump-Lee summit (Stars & Stripes) North Korea’s official state media on Wednesday denounced as a “naïve dream” a pledge the South Korean president made on his first official visit to Washington, D.C. — to rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons.       A dozen countries drill in Indo-Pacific exercises (USNI News) The U.S.-Indonesia led Super Garuda Shield and Guam’s Pacific Vanguard kicked off this week, drawing thousands of military personnel from a dozen countries to the Indo-Pacific to participate in the two multilateral exercises.       US forces hit Islamic State financier in Syria raid (UK Defence Journal) U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that its forces carried out a raid in northern Syria on August 19, killing what it described as a senior ISIS member and key financier, the command stated.       Germany launches drive to add military recruits without conscription for now (The Associated Press) Germany’s leaders on Wednesday launched a drive to attract more people into voluntary military service as the country scrambles to strengthen its armed forces in the face of growing fears about Russian aggression, a project that some in the governing coalition say doesn’t go far enough.       US fighter jets scrambled to track Russia spy plane off Alaska for 4th time in week (CBS News) The United States military scrambled fighter jets again Tuesday to track another Russian spy plane flying near Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said.       International warships set to visit DSEI 2025 in London (UK Defence Journal) DSEI UK has confirmed that four visiting warships will dock in London this September, with live demonstrations of autonomous and manned craft also scheduled to feature during the biennial defence exhibition.       US envoy cuts Lebanon trip short amid protests, outrage over press comments (Al Jazeera) US envoy Tom Barrack has cut his visit to southern Lebanon short, according to the Lebanese government’s official news agency.       Turkey’s Erdogan unveils ‘Steel Dome’ air defense system (The Associated Press) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday formally inaugurated Turkey’s integrated air defense system known as the “Steel Dome,” which he described as a watershed moment for the country and its defense industry.   Military Culture & History     We have always served: The untold legacy of Black military families (Military.com) I am a proud Black military spouse, raising children in a lineage seven generations deep in service to this country. Our family’s legacy is not just one of uniforms, deployments and sacrifice; it’s one of resilience, patriotism and a fierce belief in the promise of America, even when that promise wasn’t fully extended to us.   Video     Check out the B-1B Lancer at Ørland Air Base in Norway (Military Times) Watch the B-1B Lancer at Ørland Air Base in Norway.       Watch AV-8B Harriers float above the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima during vertical landings (Military Times) Watch AV-8B Harriers float above the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima during vertical landings.   Commentary & Analysis     A skeptic’s view of the hype machine and business model of neo-defense tech (War On The Rocks) Anduril, the $30 billion defense startup, is on a roll. In May, it partnered with Meta to build virtual reality devices for the U.S. Army. In July, it won a $100 million contract to build the Army’s command-and-control software. On Aug. 5, 2025, it became the third supplier of rocket motors to the U.S. government. It is a leading contender to help build the “Golden Dome” missile-defense system. It has recently gone global, establishing offices in Seoul and Taipei.       JCIDS is dead. Thank God. Here’s what comes next. (Breaking Defense) When the secretary of defense signed a new memorandum last week, few outside DoD acquisition circles may have noticed, with the curious exception of Laura Loomer on X. There was not much fanfare, but this memo, which effectively kills the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System — JCIDS to its survivors — could prove as positively disruptive as the Goldwater?Nichols Act (GNA) was in 1986.       Spectacular drone strikes and the future sanctuary of the US homeland (War On The Rocks) How vulnerable is the continental United States to drone attack? Could a wily adversary cause vast destruction of military assets on U.S. soil at a fraction of the cost it would take to replace them? Ukraine and Israel’s stunning drone attacks against high value targets deep within Russia and Iran, respectively, in June 2025 raise serious questions about whether the United States homeland will remain a sanctuary. America has long enjoyed the advantages of favorable geography. Aside from nuclear-armed missiles, the continental United States has largely remained out of reach of conventional kinetic attacks from major adversaries.