Author Archive

Thomas Novelly

Senior Reporter

Thomas Novelly
Thomas Novelly covers air and space warfare as a senior reporter for Defense One. He was previously a reporter for Military.com, where he covered Air Force and Space Force personnel and policy. Before that, he was the military and politics reporter for The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina. He lives in Washington, D.C. Reach him on Signal at tomnovelly.01.
Science & Tech

Space Force Special Operations Command? Congress has questions, too

The service defended its need for a SOCOM component. Defense experts said it’s redundant.

Exclusive Defense

There’s a divide within the Space Force. Congress is forcing the service to address it

The new service was supposed to meld the “tribes” of operators and acquisition specialists. It didn’t happen.

Science & Tech

Congress supports bare minimum on Navy’s F/A-XX, while fully backing Air Force’s F-47

Appropriators and other lawmakers have pushed for the Navy’s next-gen fighter, but the latest NDAA offers only enough to keep the nascent program warm.

Defense

USAF plan to fly C-5, C-17s even longer elicits concern

Service says it needs to hedge against delays to planned Next-Generation Airlift plane.

Defense

Most of the Air Force’s biggest programs will now be overseen by a 4-star under the deputy SecDef

The centralization of the ICBM, B-21, F-47, and Air Force One programs appears at odds with the Pentagon’s professed acquisition approach, one expert said.

Defense

Military aircraft crashes skyrocketed from 2020 to 2024, new data shows

Possible causes include stagnating budgets and increased operations, experts said.

Defense

Air Force wants a $500,000 counter-air missile, despite cheaper options

The service wants ideas by December, and hopes to see a modular, ground-launched prototype in two years.

Science & Tech

Anduril's drone wingman makes first flight, following software delays

The neoprime contractor lagged behind General Atomics for the inaugural CCA flight test.

Defense

Government shutdown has paused discussions on accelerating B-21 bomber production

Northrop Grumman execs remain confident in hitting key milestones amid funding uncertainty.

Defense

Shield AI’s unmanned fighter jet concept pitched as a drone wingman or solo aircraft

The company hopes its new autonomous fighter jet can reach an initial flight test by next year.

Defense

Flood of questions leads Missile Defense Agency to push Golden Dome deadline one week

Pitches for a slice of MDA’s 10-year, up-to-$151 billion contract vehicle are now due Oct. 16.