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An aerial view of the QTS data center under construction in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2023. (Credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com)

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

Most New U.S. AI Data Centers Slated for Drought-Stricken Land

Roughly two-thirds, or 517 of 809 planned artificial intelligence (AI) data centers across the United States, are set to be built in areas that have experienced drought conditions over the past year, according to The Guardian’s analysis of federal drought data.

The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has drawn growing scrutiny due to its heavy water use for cooling. Researchers warn that U.S. data centers could consume up to 73 billion gallons of water annually by 2028, up sharply from about 17 billion gallons in 2023. (Read More)

CENTCOM Strikes Iran a Second Night as Trump Warns Tehran Will ‘Pay the Price’

The U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces carried out additional “self-defense” strikes on multiple targets in Iran at President Donald Trump’s direction, describing them as a response to Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”

CENTCOM did not immediately disclose the specific targets or provide details on damage assessments or possible casualties. The strikes came after Trump warned that Iran would “pay the price” for taking too long to reach a deal. (Read More)

Proficiency Over Perfection | Dino Garner

SOFX contributor Dino Garner argues in a new essay that operators succeed by staying proficient in a handful of tools selected for each situation, not by chasing expert-level mastery. He framed the approach as "the operator's epistemology."

Garner, a former 1st Ranger Battalion soldier and biophysics researcher, contended that U.S. institutions reward the credentialed perfectionist over the adaptable operator. He urged SOF to select and train for the wide "hundred-tool box" instead. (Read More)

Reliable IT at the Mission's Edge

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Our platforms support open architecture and edge processing strategies that enable faster deployment, seamless system integration, and reliable performance in extreme conditions. From vehicle platforms to forward deployed command systems, MilDef products deliver the computing power and durability required for today’s modernization priorities.

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QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ Ukrainian forces struck Russia’s VNIIR-Progress plant, which produces guidance modules for Shahed drones as well as Iskander and Kalibr missiles, using FP-5 Flamingo missiles and drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He added that three oil facilities in Russia were also hit using the missiles. (Read More)

➤ Pakistani airstrikes hit three Afghan border provinces late Tuesday. The country said the strikes killed 26 TTP fighters, while the Taliban said 13 civilians, including 11 children, were killed. (Read More)

➤ War Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Cuba that acquiring weapons capable of reaching Guantanamo Bay or the U.S. homeland would invite a confrontation it "could not stand.” (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ CrowdStrike said China-linked hackers are increasingly targeting U.S. tech companies to steal AI technology, making up more than 58% of state-backed cyberattacks on the industry over the past year. (Read More)

➤ Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol agents, under Operation Lone Star, apprehended 10 illegal immigrants near Roma in Starr County on June 7, including a Russian “special interest” individual. Authorities did not release their identities. (Read More)

➤ The Trump administration is weighing a purchase of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius to secure control of the U.S.-U.K. Diego Garcia military base. Previous legislation to transfer the islands to Mauritius was shelved in April after the U.S. withdrew its support for the agreement. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ A German consortium composed of eight defense firms led by Airbus, announced plans to develop a next-generation fighter jet, just days after the Franco-German FCAS program collapsed. The group includes Diehl Defence, Hensoldt, MBDA, MTU Aero Engines, and Rohde & Schwarz. (Read More)

➤ The Pentagon’s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has validated CACI’s SkyValor counter-drone system for operational use following a two-day test at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, where it demonstrated the ability to detect, track, identify, and defeat unmanned aerial threats at extended ranges. (Read More)

➤ The U.S. Special Operations Command is seeking a “self-service” synthetic data generation platform that can produce labeled electro-optical/infrared imagery for training computer vision models used in unmanned systems. (Read More)

Connecting Every Domain. Delivering Every Advantage

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From JADC2 and C5ISR to cyber, space operations, missile defense, and spectrum dominance, we deliver technologies that connect domains and support mission success. By combining operational expertise with advanced engineering and innovation, Parsons ensures warfighters have the speed, insight, and agility to stay ahead of evolving threats.

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SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ Canadian police charged a former Air Canada pilot who allegedly flew more than 900 flights without a valid license, reportedly using fraudulent documents to deceive the airline and regulators. The Toronto Star compared the case to the 2002 Leonardo DiCaprio film “Catch Me If You Can.”

➤ A European Council on Foreign Relations survey of nearly 20,000 people across 15 countries found only 11% now view the United States as an ally, down from 22% in late 2024. A quarter see America as a rival or adversary.

➤ Researchers in the southeastern Indian Ocean discovered the largest, deepest and oldest whale graveyard on record, a 745-mile stretch of seafloor holding 476 fossilized whales. The oldest remains date back 5.3 million years.

On this day in history: On June 11th, 1944, U.S. Navy Task Force 58 launched fighter sweeps against Japanese airfields on Saipan, Tinian and Guam, opening the Marianas campaign. The strikes destroyed scores of Japanese aircraft and cleared the way for the invasion of Saipan.

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Do you use social media as a source of news more than traditional media outlets?

Yes

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Yesterday’s Results:

Would you trust an autonomous drone boat to rescue you in a combat zone?

Yes (87.4%)
Unsure (8.3%)
No (4.3%)

n=618

Have a question you would like polled? Email us at editor@sofx.com

70,000+ daily readers trust The SOFX Report for independent coverage of global conflict and defense technology. Over 11 years of consistent publication has built an engaged audience of defense professionals and decision-makers.

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About SOFX: We are an independent media and communications technology company reporting on the conflicts, security, and technology issues impacting your lives and businesses. SOFX was founded by former special operations & intelligence professionals, not career journalists or Big Tech / Big Media.

Have feedback for us? We want to hear any and all comments you may have. Contact us at editor@sofx.com.

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