Weekly Intelligence Briefing // July 13, 2025

Latest News & Insights

Navy leaders: “Low‑cost, attritable, no regrets” autonomy is the futureSource: U.S. Navy • Date: July 1, 2025At the Combined Naval Event 2025, Navy leaders emphasized rapid fielding of autonomous and “attritable” systems across domains, underscoring partnership with allies and industry. Messaging centered on integrating affordable unmanned capabilities at scale.Why it matters: Signals continued demand for low‑cost autonomous platforms and faster acquisition pathways. #Autonomy #UnmannedSystems #AlliedIntegration #Acquisition >> Read more

AFRL advances human–machine teaming with Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs)Source: Air Force Research Laboratory • Date: July 3, 2025The Air Force flew ACPs alongside crewed F‑16 and F‑15E aircraft during a training event at Eglin AFB, marking a leap in teaming tactics. Officials framed ACPs as a building block for future air dominance concepts.Why it matters: Demonstrates real‑world progress toward operational, mixed manned–unmanned formations. #HumanMachineTeaming #ACPs #AirDominance #Autonomy >> Read more

Pentagon trials drone‑aware air traffic suite at bases worldwideSource: C4ISRNET • Date: July 9, 2025An AFRL‑designed system that integrates drones into base airspace management is being piloted with potential global rollout across Air & Space Force installations.Why it matters: Safer integration of UAS with manned ops is essential as bases adopt more drones. #CounterUAS #AirspaceIntegration #AFRL #BaseOps >> Read more

Navy breaks ground on new autonomous innovation facility (NSWC Panama City)Source: NAVSEA • Date: July 9, 2025NSWC PCD launched construction of a 25k‑sq‑ft subsea/seabed innovation facility to accelerate undersea autonomy and digital‑twin R&D.Why it matters: Expands U.S. capacity for rapid experimentation in contested maritime environments. #Undersea #DigitalTwin #Autonomy #NAVSEA >> Read more

Hegseth directive aims to “unleash U.S. drone dominance”Source: DefenseScoop • Date: July 10, 2025A new SecDef directive targets procurement reforms and a rapid surge of multi‑domain unmanned systems as part of a broader White House push on drones.Why it matters: Could reshape UAS buying cycles and speed fielding of attritable autonomous systems. #UAS #Acquisition #Policy #ReplicatorAdjacent >> Read more

Space Force building a more realistic cloud‑based digital training environmentSource: C4ISRNET • Date: July 11, 2025STARCOM is developing “Swarm,” a cloud environment to let multiple units train together against simulated space threats.Why it matters: Better synthetic training accelerates readiness for contested space operations. #SpaceForce #SyntheticTraining #DigitalTwin #Readiness >> Read more

USTRANSCOM teams with MIT LL on AI for mass‑casualty responseSource: DefenseScoop • Date: July 11, 2025Officials detailed an AI‑enabled Mass Casualty Operations Toolkit co‑developed with MIT Lincoln Laboratory to optimize patient movement during crises.Why it matters: Practical, dual‑use AI that can save lives in both military and civilian disasters. #AI #MedicalLogistics #TRANSCOM #DualUse >> Read more

Senate panel presses DoD on deterring Chinese cyber activitySource: DefenseScoop • Date: July 11, 2025SASC draft NDAA language would require a Pentagon strategy to deter cyber activity targeting critical infrastructure.Why it matters: Elevates offense/defense planning for cyber operations that cross military‑civilian boundaries. #CyberDeterrence #NDAA #CriticalInfrastructure #Policy >> Read more

SASC wants DoD to assess “tactical cyber” employment outside USCYBERCOMSource: DefenseScoop • Date: July 11, 2025Provisions would push DoD to explore how cyber power can be used by components beyond Cyber Command, examining future force employment concepts.Why it matters: Could broaden cyber capabilities down to operational/tactical echelons. #CyberOps #ForceDesign #NDAA #Doctrine >> Read more

Op‑Ed: Fixing munitions shortfalls will require new hardware—and new softwareSource: DefenseScoop • Date: July 8, 2025A former Pentagon official argues commercial tech and software‑driven production can speed missile output to meet pacing‑threat scenarios.Why it matters: Highlights dual‑use pathways to scale precision‑strike inventories. #Munitions #IndustrialBase #Software #DualUse >> Read more

White House drone order: What it could mean for the militarySource: DefenseScoop • Date: July 8, 2025Analysis of the new executive order notes Pentagon‑relevant provisions to procure, integrate, and train with low‑cost U.S.‑made drones.Why it matters: Policy backdrop for rapid UAS adoption across training and operations. #UAS #Policy #EO #Training >> Read more

BDA from Iran strikes may drive Massive Ordnance Penetrator upgradesSource: DefenseScoop • Date: July 10, 2025Officials said recent assessments could inform improvements to the GBU‑57 MOP program.Why it matters: Lessons‑learned loop from real operations to next‑gen precision weapons. #Munitions #Strike #RDTandE #LessonsLearned >> Read more

Sea Breeze 25‑2 wraps with allied mine warfare and UUV opsSource: U.S. Navy • Date: July 11, 2025Fourteen nations concluded two weeks of mine countermeasures operations off the U.K., showcasing interoperability and unmanned capabilities.Why it matters: Reinforces allied proficiency in maritime autonomy for MCM missions. #Allies #MCM #UUV #Interoperability >> Read more

Research & Reports

An AI Revolution in Military Affairs?Source: RAND • Date: July 3, 2025Working paper assesses how AI could shift core competitions (mass vs. quality, centralized vs. decentralized C2, etc.), arguing for investments in mass, deception, mission command, and resilient networks.Why it matters: Offers concrete hypotheses to guide AI‑era force design.Tags: #AI #Concepts #ForceDesign #RANDRead more

Will Trump’s “Big Beautiful” defense spending last?Source: CSET • Date: July 9, 2025Policy analysis examines the sustainability of proposed increases and implications for modernization priorities.Why it matters: Budget outlook informs timelines for fielding emerging tech.Tags: #Budget #Modernization #Policy #CSETRead more

Reality Check (Army AL&T): STE Live Training System & hapticsSource: Army AL&T Magazine • Date: July 1, 2025Deep‑dive on Synthetic Training Environment Live Training System progress, environmental hardening, and evolving haptics to improve resilience and cut costs.Why it matters: Practical roadmap for soldier‑level synthetic training at scale.Tags: #SyntheticTraining #Haptics #STE #PEOSTRIRead more

Sustaining the U.S. Edge in Remote Sensing, Launch & Advanced TechSource: CSET • Date: July 2025Report outlines industrial‑base and policy steps to maintain U.S. advantage in space sensing, launch, and adjacent capabilities.Why it matters: Identifies dual‑use leverage points and gaps relevant to Space Force and industry.Tags: #Space #RemoteSensing #IndustrialBase #CSETRead more

Upcoming Events (Next 90 Days)

SOFWERX Drone‑In‑A‑Box (DIOB) Week — July 15–18, 2025 • Tampa, FLLive experimentation on autonomous “drone‑in‑a‑box” solutions with SOF stakeholders.Why it matters: Direct end‑user feedback for deployable autonomous ISR packages.Tags: #SOF #UAS #Autonomy #ExperimentationDetails/Registration

DIU Virtual Office Hours — July 15, 2025 • VirtualDIU briefs pathways to partner and answer startup questions.Why it matters: On‑ramp for dual‑use companies exploring DoD adoption.Tags: #DIU #DualUse #Startups #CSODetails

DARPA MTO Spark Tank & Pitch Day — July 24–25, 2025 • Arlington, VARapid‑fire pitches and down‑selects in microelectronics/compute tech areas.Why it matters: Insight into near‑term DARPA priorities and transition targets.Tags: #DARPA #Microelectronics #PitchDay #TechTransitionDetails

Small Satellite Conference (SmallSat) — Aug 10–13, 2025 • Salt Lake City, UTPremier smallsat event with government, industry, and academia; new location at the Salt Palace Convention Center.Why it matters: Space ISR, autonomy, and responsive launch cross‑over with defense needs.Tags: #Smallsat #Space #ISR #LaunchAgenda & Info

Fed Supernova (Austin) — Aug 19–21, 2025 • Austin, TXAFWERX & SpaceWERX‑backed national security innovation summit at Capital Factory.Why it matters: High‑density matchmaking among startups, investors, and DoD buyers.Tags: #AFWERX #SpaceWERX #DualUse #AcquisitionEvent Page

NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference & Expo — Aug 27–29, 2025 • Washington, DCNDIA/ETI’s flagship tech conference with gov–industry 1:1s, hackathon, and exhibits.Why it matters: Broad survey of near‑term deployable tech.Tags: #NDIA #ETI #EmergingTech #NetworkingRegistration & Agenda

DSEI 2025 (UK) — Sept 9–12, 2025 • LondonMajor allied defense exhibition spanning land/sea/air/space with extensive unmanned and ISR showcases.Why it matters: Global visibility for export‑ready dual‑use and defense tech.Tags: #Allies #Expo #UAS #ISROverview

Fed Supernova DC — Sept 25, 2025 • Washington, DCOne‑day policy‑and‑acquisition‑focused spin‑off connecting startups with lawmakers and acquisition leaders.Why it matters: Insight to funding and policy levers that speed fielding.Tags: #Policy #Acquisition #Startups #DualUseEvent Page