🔎 Defense Tech Signal — Monday

• The Air Force’s Rapid Dragon program has transitioned to a Program of Record, formalizing palletized cruise missile launch from cargo aircraft as an operational long-range strike capability by 2027.
• L3Harris is advancing the Air Force’s ABMS digital infrastructure with new data processing and networking architecture, reinforcing the service’s shift toward cloud-enabled, software-defined battle management.
• A drone incursion in Latvia that triggered a defense minister’s resignation exposed gaps in detection systems and warning networks, underscoring the operational risks of spoofing, airspace sensing, and C2 latency in contested environments.

Sources:

1) RealClearDefense — https://www.realcleardefense.com/2026/05/11/us_air_force_to_deploy_cruise_missiles_from_cargo_aircraft_by_2027_1181861.html
2) RealClearDefense — https://www.realcleardefense.com/2026/05/11/l3harris_to_advance_abms_digital_infrastructure_for_us_air_force_1181863.html
3) Breaking Defense — https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/latvian-defense-minister-resigns-following-lagging-response-to-drone-incursions/

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