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A batch of fiber-optic controlled drones is seen before being handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces (Credit: Drop of Light / Shutterstock.com)

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

Ukraine's AI-Powered 'Terminator' Drones Made First Killings Without Human Control

Fully autonomous quadcopter drones killed Russian soldiers during a battlefield test in Ukraine about two years ago, according to drone developer Alexander Kokhanovskyy. The incident is described as the first confirmed use of fully autonomous weapons in combat.

Kokhanovskyy said the drones flew 1.9 to 3.1 miles to a designated area before switching to an AI “Terminator” mode, where onboard systems independently identified and engaged targets. (Read More)

U.S., Iran Reach Deal To End War And Reopen Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran agreed on Sunday to a peace deal ending the 107-day war between the two countries. President Donald Trump said the agreement clears the way for removal of the U.S. naval blockade and toll-free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said both sides have ended military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. The deal is set to be formally signed on June 19 in Geneva. (Read More)

Google Quietly Rolling Out Default Setting That Feeds User Data Into AI Training

Google is rolling out a new default setting that allows the company to store images, files, video, and audio from user interactions across services including Google Lens, Search, and Gemini Live, according to company updates and user emails.

The company said the data may be used to “provide, develop, and improve its services,” including training and developing artificial intelligence systems. Users can disable the feature through their Google Account data and privacy settings. (Read More)

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As defense operations shift toward distributed, data driven decision making at the tactical edge, technology must process more information, integrate faster, and adapt quickly to changing mission requirements. MilDef develops rugged mission computers, high performance displays, and integrated networking systems designed to meet these evolving demands in real operational environments.

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QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ U.S. forces carried out a military strike that killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as “Niño Guerrero,” the leader of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua prison gang, President Donald Trump announced. (Read More)

➤ Royal Marine Commandos boarded and detained the Smyrtos, a Cameroonian-flagged oil tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet, in the English Channel, the first UK-led operation of its kind. The vessel departed Russia's Baltic port of Ust-Luga carrying sanctioned oil. (Read More)

➤ Haitian gang members abducted James Boyard, cabinet director at the Defense Ministry and inspector general of the national police, along with his wife and six-year-old daughter in Port-au-Prince. He is the highest-ranking official kidnapped in the country in recent years. (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ The Department of War released its third batch of declassified UAP files, totaling over 70 documents, six videos, and three NASA audio recordings. One sighting described a "potato-shaped" object with fish-like scales and a white opalescent color. (Read More)

➤ Anthropic disabled its two most advanced AI models, Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5, worldwide on Friday after a U.S. export control directive restricted access for foreign nationals. (Read More)

➤ An Army recruiter in New Jersey pleaded guilty to stealing the identities of seven recruits to open bank accounts and apply for over $266,000 in fraudulent loans and credit cards. Jane Crosby, 35, faces up to 30 years in prison. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, has delivered a portable DNA sequencing system that allows troops to identify biological threats in the field in under 30 minutes. The Far-Forward Biological Sequencing system is designed for use by military personnel without formal laboratory training. (Read More)

➤ Only one in four F-35s was fully mission capable in fiscal 2025, a Government Accountability Office report found, with readiness dropping from 38% in 2021 to 25%. Software shortcomings, spare parts shortages, and corrosion are the main factors driving the decline. (Read More)

➤ The U.S. Army has fielded a new optic for the Browning M2 .50-caliber machine gun for the first time, marking a major modernization of the century-old heavy weapon. The Michigan Army National Guard’s 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element was the first unit to receive the M155 Mounted Machine Gun Optic. (Read More)

Engineered to Perform Where It Matters Most

What sets MilDef apart is how our products are designed from the ground up for real operational environments. Our rugged computing platforms are purpose built for defense applications, engineered for long term reliability and seamless integration across mission platforms.

From hardware architecture to lifecycle support, MilDef focuses on durability, stability, and operational readiness. The result is technology that performs predictability in extreme conditions and remains sustainable over time, reducing risk and supporting mission success.

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SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ A former Andreessen Horowitz partner, John O’Farrell, has criticized his former firm and the broader AI industry for prioritizing hype and political influence over the public interest. In a New York Times essay, he argued that major AI players are spending hundreds of millions on political action committees to defeat candidates who support stricter AI regulation.

➤ A Small Wars Journal essay argues that U.S. Army Special Forces must overhaul professional military education to prepare Green Berets for cognitive warfare, where competition centers on shaping perception, decision-making, and behavior rather than controlling territory.

➤ A Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet from MCAS Miramar crashed near Mount Rainier during a routine training mission, sparking a wildfire. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered by the local sheriff's department.

On this day in history: On June 15, 1944, U.S. Marines stormed the beaches of Saipan in the Mariana Islands, launching one of the bloodiest campaigns of the Pacific War. The battle ultimately cost more than 3,000 American lives and virtually annihilated the island's 30,000-plus Japanese garrison. Saipan's capture gave the United States a strategic base from which B-29 bombers could strike the Japanese home islands, marking a major turning point in the Pacific campaign.

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

How do you feel about the spread of Flock cameras in cities nationwide?

Approve

Disapprove

Unsure

Saturday’s Results:

Should the Pentagon stand up a dedicated combatant command for drones and unmanned systems?

Yes (70.0%)
No (22.9%)
Unsure (7.1%)

n=667

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

Built for the toughest environments, trusted for mission-critical performance. MilDef delivers rugged, customizable technology solutions that keep defense operations moving—where reliability, speed, and adaptability matter most.

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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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