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NatSecPulse Daily — Thursday, October 22, 2026 · NatSecPulse Daily

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  This is NatSecPulse Daily, your defense technology briefing for Thursday, October 22, 2026.
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  Here's what you need to know.
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  The US Air Force has announced plans to grow its fighter force to 1,509 combat-coded jets by 2035, with the F-35 becoming its most numerous fighter.
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  This is according to a revised force structure plan submitted to Congress on October 16.
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  The F-35A could account for roughly 40% of the Air Force's fighter fleet by 2035, up from about 30% today.
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  This matters because it shows the Air Force's commitment to the F-35 program and its plans to rely heavily on this aircraft for its future fighter capabilities.
• 0:43
  The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, has tested a prototype camera system designed to detect if a Navy ship crewmember falls overboard.
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  The test involved throwing a rescue dummy over the side of the command's Self Defense Test Ship to see if the cameras would catch it.
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  This technology is important for improving safety on Navy ships and could potentially save lives by quickly detecting and responding to crewmembers who have fallen overboard.
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  Ukraine will be able to purchase military supplies through a NATO agency, according to a report by the Financial Times.
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  This deal comes as US-Ukraine relations have worsened since US President Trump announced a diesel export deal with Russia to lower US prices.
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  This matters because it gives Ukraine a new avenue for acquiring military supplies, which could help the country in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
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  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, is providing this support to Ukraine, which could potentially improve Ukraine's military capabilities.
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  Ukraine's military intelligence agency has published a detailed breakdown of Filin, a new Russian ground-launched cruise missile that Moscow began firing at Ukraine in late summer 2026.
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  The missile combines a composite airframe and a Russian jet engine with onboard electronics built largely from American and Chinese parts.
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  This is significant because it shows Russia's ability to develop and deploy new missile systems, which could pose a threat to Ukraine and other countries.
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  The fact that the missile uses parts from American and Chinese companies also raises concerns about the global supply chain and the potential for sensitive technologies to be diverted for military use.
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  The US Air Force has tested a rocket cargo system for rapid global military deliveries, assessing cargo protection during launch and reentry.
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  The Air Force Research Laboratory flew its own cargo pods inside a SpaceX Starfall capsule on a commercial rideshare launch from Cape Canaveral, exploring the potential for rocket-based transport to deliver supplies to troops anywhere on Earth within hours.
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  This technology has the potential to revolutionize military logistics, allowing for rapid and flexible delivery of supplies to remote or hard-to-reach areas.
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  Ukraine has asked Lockheed Martin to help expand F-16 maintenance capabilities and provide more PAC-3 interceptors for Patriot air defense systems.
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  The talks came as a batch of Patriot missiles that allies have already paid for awaits a Pentagon signature, Ukrainian officials say.
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  Lockheed Martin is also promoting the idea of a special version of the F-16 fighter built around Ukraine’s needs, with longer range, a new Active Electronically Scanned Array, or AESA, radar and stronger air defense capabilities.
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  This matters because it shows Ukraine's interest in acquiring advanced military capabilities, including fighter jets and air defense systems, to help it counter Russian aggression.
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  Huntington Ingalls Industries, or HII, has received a US Navy contract for the sea trials of the future USS Lyndon B Johnson, designated as DDG 1002.
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  The ship is currently undergoing work at Ingalls Shipyard, including the installation, activation, and testing of its combat systems.
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  This is significant because it marks an important milestone in the development of the USS Lyndon B Johnson, which is a key part of the US Navy's fleet modernization efforts.
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  A US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet was spotted carrying the AIM-174B and AIM-260A Joint Air Tactical Missile, or JATM, marking the first documented dual-loadout of these secretive weapons.
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  The image of the VX-31 Super Hornet gives us a glimpse of what's soon to appear in the fleet, and the two missiles will also be joined by the AIM-424 Malice.
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  This matters because it shows the US Navy's ongoing efforts to develop and deploy advanced missile systems, which could potentially give it an edge in future conflicts.
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  The AIM-174B and AIM-260A are part of a new generation of air-to-air missiles that are designed to be more effective against advanced threats.
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  That's NatSecPulse Daily for Thursday, October 22, 2026.
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  For the full stories and their sources, visit natsecpulse dot com.
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  Thanks for listening.