The Air & Space Brief: F-15s, F-16s hit Syria, UFO taskers, Microsoft’s space play; And more...

Hello and welcome to Defense One’s Air Force and Space Force newsletter, a weekly look at the events and headlines shaping military aviation and aerospace policy. 

U.S. F-15s and F-16s struck Iranian-backed militia sites in Syria on Sunday, attempting to neutralize bases that the Biden administration said had launched UAV attacks on U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq. DOD released video of the airstrikes along the Iraq/Syria border, here. 

Spy chief: more info needed on UAPs. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence released its report late Friday on scores of close encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs. The conclusion: We don’t understand how some of the objects maneuvered in ways that seemed to defy known aerodynamics. One reason: military aviators said that they were disparaged when they reported and tried to discuss the encounters. Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks has ordered the Pentagon’s intelligence and security deputy undersecretary to create a process to collect information on future such encounters. 

Microsoft enters space security: The tech giant joined the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center as a founding member, joining a growing network of private firms seeking to ensure the security of U.S. space infrastructure. 

Boeing’s top lobbyist departs: Tim Keating, Boeing’s longtime top lobbyist in Washington, has left the company. Marc Allen, Boeing’s chief strategy officer, will serve as the interim head of government relations while the company looks for a permanent replacement. 

Keep up pandemic-era early payments, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet said in an interview, urging the federal government to make permanent a policy meant to shore up small suppliers and the defense supply chain.

Sign up to get The Air & Space Brief every Monday from Tara Copp, Defense One’s Senior Pentagon Reporter. On June 27, 1995 Space Shuttle Atlantis launched for its historic mission to the Russian space station Mir.

From Defense One

Boeing’s Top Lobbyist Leaves Company // Marcus Weisgerber: Tim Keating was close to CEO fired in 2019.

Lockheed CEO Urges Pentagon to Enshrine COVID-Era’s Bigger Upfront Payments // Marcus Weisgerber: The policy was created to shore up pandemic-weakened supply chains.