The California-based Coast Guard cutter Munro announced the news after returning Sunday from a 119-day deployment that began in November of last year.

Sailing in the Eastern Pacific, the Munro spotted a go-fast smuggling boat and took up what became an intense pursuit.

A Scan Eagle surveillance drone participated in the pursuit alongside an MH-65 helicopter of the Coast Guard’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron. The Scan Eagle, which has a low-stealth profile and a relatively small size, operates autonomously and with extreme endurance.

After firing warning shots, the helicopter disabled the vessel’s engine with gunfire, ending the pursuit. Six suspected drug smugglers were arrested.

A record haul of 22,052 pounds of cocaine was recovered from the vessel, with an estimated street value of over $250 million.

“The service, our nation and our families can be extremely proud of Munro,” Capt. Jim O’Mara, the cutter’s commanding officer, said in a statement.

“This crew rose to every new challenge thrown at them with professionalism and persistence, and they achieved historic results. This was a one-of-a-kind deployment for us, but it is also just one part of a much broader campaign and U.S. national strategy.”

O’Mara said the long deployment had been hard on crew members’ families, but he expressed gratitude for the support from home and pride in the crew’s unprecedented accomplishments.

“Our families had to adapt to each new twist, just like all military families do across the Armed Forces. It is tough on them,” he said. “But when they hold strong at home that keeps us motivated and focused on our mission.”

Video released Wednesday shows the next-gen munitions being launched in open desert terrain from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems as part of Operation Epic Fury. The operation against Iran has seen a variety of precision munitions launched from land, sea and air, according to CENTCOM.

“I just could not be prouder of our men and women in uniform leveraging innovation to create dilemmas for the enemy,” Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a release.

The PrSM is enhanced with GPS capabilities to navigate in flight and can accurately strike targets from around 250 miles away. Its warhead is designed to deliver a fragmentation effect when it explodes, increasing power on impact. The missile, meanwhile, is reportedly built to withstand turbulent in-flight conditions.

The PrSM is among a wide array of advanced technological assets the U.S. military has deployed during its ongoing operations in Iran.

Other notable weapon deployments in the ongoing conflict include Patriot Interceptor Missile Systems and THAAD Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems. LUCAS one-way attack drones were also used for the first time in combat by the U.S. Special Operations Command-led Task Force Scorpion Strike.

Specific details about the targets engaged by the PrSMs have not been provided as of publication.

Prior to its combat debut, the U.S. Army was working with Lockheed Martin to ramp up production capacity for the munition, Defense News reported last October.

The Army tested its short-range and long-range capabilities on White Sands Missile Range in April and September of last year. Tests saw the munitions fired from HIMARS systems as well as the M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System, or MLRS.

Operation Epic Fury has seen over 2,000 military targets across Iran destroyed, the Pentagon said, including a naval frigate that was sunk in the first torpedo kill by a U.S. Navy submarine since World War II.

Ursa Major, a Colorado-based defense manufacturer, debuted the HAVOC missile system on Tuesday.

The medium-range hypersonic system is powered by a liquid rocket engine, is able to alter its speed in flight and can be adapted for use with a wide variety of rocket motor systems from warplanes to vertical launch systems.

Additionally, the system can be deployed outside of Earth’s atmosphere, according to the company.

“Keeping pace with our adversaries requires more than exquisite systems. It requires speed to delivery, affordability, and the ability to build at scale,” Chris Spagnoletti, CEO of Ursa Major, said in a statement.

“The Ursa Major HAVOC Missile System delivers a highly capable hypersonic weapon designed from the start to be produced rapidly and in quantity, giving the warfighter a credible and adaptable capability.”

The system has a core module that makes it suitable for striking hypersonic targets as well, the company adds.

Hypersonic missiles, which fly at roughly five times the speed of sound, have become a priority across all U.S. military branches.

The Army, Air Force and Navy are all developing hypersonic missile programs, including: the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon; the Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile; and the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike programs.

While the services have aimed for hypersonic weapons since the early 2000s, development has lagged while Russia and China have gained advantages in this arena.

In a notable divergence, Russian and Chinese hypersonic missiles are designed to field nuclear warheads, while U.S. hypersonics are not.

“Most U.S. hypersonic weapons, in contrast to those in Russia and China, are not being designed for use with a nuclear warhead,” according to a Congressional Research Service report published last August.

The report predicted that U.S. hypersonics would “likely require greater accuracy and will be more technically challenging to develop than nuclear-armed Chinese and Russian systems,” while also noting that Russian and Chinese systems would have a potential advantage since nuclear weapons can inflict devastating damage without need for accuracy.

China has a robust hypersonic program and has conducted up to 20 times as many hypersonic missile tests than the U.S., and is also investing in underground facilities, per the report.

“Analysts disagree about the strategic implications of hypersonic weapons,” the report notes, adding that Congress has previously restricted funding due to concerns of nuclear escalation.

“Differences in threat perception and escalation ladders could thus result in unintended escalation,” the report concluded.

Honeywell will adapt its design for its existing SkyShot 1600 engine to fit unmanned aircraft in the Air Force’s Collaborate Combat Aircraft program as well as other uncrewed systems, according to a company statement.

The SkyShot is a compact engine designed for use in autonomous aircraft. It delivers powerful thrust capability with either turbofan or turbojet propulsion. Turbofan distributes airflow more evenly and quietly, while turbojet is typically used for supersonic military jet engines and missiles.

“We’ve combined decades of proven technologies with the latest advancements to create an engine that can keep pace with cost, speed and performance demands of next-generation platforms,” Dave Marinick, president of Engines and Power Systems at Honeywell, said in the statement.

“We look forward to supporting the U.S. Air Force in the next phase of collaborative combat aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems propulsion efforts.”

The CCA aircraft are unmanned systems powered by jet engines that are designed to maneuver and fly alongside human pilots performing a variety of mission sets, including reconnaissance, air-to-ground and air-to-air combat.

Last July, the Air Force carried out an exercise in which fighter pilots maneuvered two Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie drones in cohesion with an F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-15 Strike Eagle.

The U.S. Navy is also exploring CCA technology, awarding contracts to Anduril, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Boeing and Northrop Grumman to develop drone aircraft capable of being launched from aircraft carriers.

The initiative, dubbed the Point Defense Battle Lab, will focus on developing and maintaining air supremacy over small unmanned aircraft systems, to include first person view drones, according to a Jan. 8 release.

The 184th Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard will provide support to the project, bringing expertise in aerial tracking, surveillance and reconnaissance. In addition to countering drone threats, the effort will focus on developing tactics and evaluating new technology that can be used to maintain air superiority against small drones, according to the service.

“The 319th Reconnaissance Wing is honored to lead the Point Defense Battle Lab alongside our Air National Guard partners,” Col. Alfred Rosales, 319th RW commander, said in a statement earlier this month. “The men and women of the 319th RW have extensive knowledge with unmanned, remotely piloted technology and will ensure our force is poised to secure our installations and defend the homeland.”

Priorities for the battle lab include changing the Air Force’s current posture in guarding U.S. bases from purely defensive to offensive, as well as to leverage existing counter-drone technology and maintained awareness of new unmanned aerial threats as they continue to evolve, according to the lab’s website.

Drone intrusions are becoming a primary focus of U.S. military installation commanders due to mounting threats posed by surveillance and the potential of kinetic strikes. The Pentagon recently released guidance classifying all unauthorized drone flights in proximity to U.S. military installations as threats.

Signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, the guidance aims to create a clear framework for responding to unmanned aerial systems intruding near U.S. military bases.

The guidance allows military installation commanders to have greater authority and flexibility in neutralizing drones flying within sight of protected military areas, according to the release. The new policy also removes previous “fence-line” limitations around the bases, expanding the scope of what was previously considered base perimeters.

“Countering drones does not start and stop at the fence line,“ Brigadier General Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401, said in a release. ”With this new guidance installation commanders are empowered to address threats as they develop, and the guidance makes clear that unauthorized drone flights are a surveillance threat even before they breach an installation perimeter.”

Installation commanders are required to submit counter-drone defense plans for their bases within 60 days, with additional mandates for regular counter-drone drills and assessments of potential weak spots in base security that adversarial drone operators may exploit.

The guidance also allows installation commanders to share drone tracking information with federal law enforcement agencies. Additionally, it allows commanders to employ contractors to operate counter-drone systems.

The announcement comes amid rising surveillance concerns and drone intrusions near U.S. military bases, with a drone shot down near barracks housing American troops in Estonia last October.

Earlier this month, JIATF-401 made a contract award for two of the DroneHunter 4700 system, which pursues and captures other drones in midair using artificial intelligence and nets.

Montgomery, who helped create the foundations of NATO and was then serving as its Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), gave a speech entitled, “A Look Through A Window at World War III,” which stirred up much controversy at the time.

Many of the thoughts Montgomery expressed regarding Western defense and the evolution of war are still highly relevant in discussions of defense policy today.

Here is a look at some of Montgomery’s thoughts on NATO and how technology would change future battles.

Airpower

Montgomery predicted that airpower would become the dominant factor in war, that large surface vessels would become obsolete and that unmanned aerial systems — known to us as drones — would become ubiquitous.

“Later on…the East may have developed means of delivering their weapons with accuracy, both short-range and long-range, which do not rely on piloted aircraft,” Montgomery said. “Our ability to counter that threat by both offensive and defensive measures will be much reduced, because the targets will be far less vulnerable — whether they are launching sites, or the weapons themselves actually in the air.”

He presciently remarked that technology would eventually enable aircraft to “remain in the skies for prolonged periods and in all weathers,” adding, “That time is not yet, but it will come.”

Montgomery noted that he believed that there would always be some tactical need for piloted aircraft to perform specific support tasks, although the role of human pilots would be reduced.

He said that air dominance was of critical importance for NATO, as he believed that the West would struggle to maintain air superiority as new weapons developed.

Montgomery said that in case of a surprise assault, it was vital to “be able to hold such an attack long enough to enable nations to… mobilize their collective strength,” and that a response from NATO needed to consist of “an immediate air offensive on the largest possible scale, directed at the enemy’s air forces and at his homeland.”

Above all, Montgomery stressed that NATO countries needed to guard against a surprise aerial attack. This reflection was based on his observations of how airpower evolved during and after World War II, and the rising industrial strength of Communist nations. He stated emphatically that a future war would not see NATO allies have from the outset the same advantages in air superiority that the Allies had from 1943 onwards.

“Absolute defense against air attack will be impossible in the future. A deterrent, the means with which to hit back instantly and to give more than you receive, is the surest way to make an aggressor think twice before he attacks,” he said.

“We must develop an effective, and global, early warning system in order to have some chance of being able to take the offensive in the air should we be attacked,” he said.

He stated that he believed that “vertical lift aircraft” would be essential to achieve air dominance as this airpower could be dispersed and not an easy target for enemy forces. An astute analyst of military technology, Montgomery did not specify helicopters, but his remarks indicate that he believed vertical aircraft could develop in different forms.

“There is clearly a tremendous future of vertical lift aircraft and it must be exploited for the benefit of land forces,” Montgomery said.

A Hybrid Third World War

Montgomery believed that a potential third world war would consist of distinct phases: a battle for control of the air and seas, followed by hybrid attacks that could involve nuclear weapons — rather than the popular concept of a single nuclear strike.

“Those who are inclined to believe that future wars will be confined to push-button activities would do well to stop deluding themselves,” Montgomery argued.

He said that new technology would necessitate shrinking of naval forces, with the seas predominantly being controlled from the air and greater reliance overall on undersea vessels and smaller craft. Remarkably, he said he believed the aircraft carrier — which had risen to the peak of prominence in World War II — would eventually become obsolete.

He regarded it as vital for Western navies to still maintain control of the seas but be able and willing to adapt to new capabilities. As with airpower, Montgomery regarded force projection at sea as of critical importance.

“The first task of the Western naval forces is to make certain that they can deal with any challenge to our control of the seas, and that we do not lose that control,” he said.

Rapid Integration

Montgomery also stressed that the West needed to phase out weapons that become obsolete over time as technology progresses, noting that “the solution should be on the side of the long-term new weapons.” He also called for Western allied nations to create more flexible forces with an unprecedented degree of cohesion and interoperability between the services. Bureaucracy and duplication of effort, he said, were impeding the ability of military forces to be able to work effectively and be prepared to respond rapidly to threats.

“We seem to have lost the art of command, other than by paper,” said Montgomery. “No ordinary man can read half the paper that is in circulation; I doubt if the other half is worth reading.”

Raising the specter of nuclear war, Montgomery said he believed that governments needed to have measures in place to prevent and mitigate the damage of potential nuclear strikes, and above all, build up viable deterrents.

“As time passes and the offensive capability between East and West levels out, the advantage will go to that side which has the greater defensive strength, which can protect itself against attack, and can survive to strike back,” he said.

Southwest has agreed to provide up to 10 days of short-term military leave and to pay $18.5 million in compensation to nearly 2,800 former and current employees who alleged that their rights as service members under the Uniformed Services and Reemployment Rights Act were being violated. The agreement requires court approval.

“This agreement with Southwest Airlines marks a major inflection point in terms of how employers think about paid military leave,” Michael Scimone, a partner at Outten and Golden and co-lead counsel for the class, said in a statement. “We hope it sends a powerful message to the rest of the airline industry that paid short-term military leave is in everyone’s best interest.”

The lead plaintiff, Jayson Huntsman, has been pursuing the case against Southwest since 2019. He stayed in the fight despite difficult moments because of the benefits that a victory would bring for other service members, he told Military Times in an interview.

“What kept me going was knowing that if we succeeded, thousands of my peers would benefit. There were definitely tough moments,” Huntsman said. “The case took years, and at times it was difficult to stay silent while hearing comments about the lawsuit, personal attacks for bringing the case, and remarks about service members in general. I kept my composure because I knew what was at stake. Having support from many of my peers kept my head above water.”

Short-term military leave would benefit Reserve and National Guard members struggling to financially stay afloat while serving, Huntsman said.

“The idea of ‘one weekend a month and two weeks a year’ hasn’t reflected Reserve or Guard time requirements for many years,” he said. “This settlement means service members won’t have to face as much financial stress when called to serve.”

He believes it will pave the way for other airlines to begin providing benefits to meet the needs of military service members.

“It’s the largest USERRA class settlement to date and includes a groundbreaking paid-leave policy,” Huntsman said. “Beyond airlines, I think this case will help civilian employers across the country understand that service members are often required to receive the same benefits as other employees.”

Not many service members realize to what extent USERRA offers them legal protections at work, Huntsman told Military Times. He hopes that, although the agreement is pending finalization from a court, the broader military community will become aware of what resources are available to them and get more familiar with their rights.

“No one should ever feel guilty about serving their country. For those facing challenges at work, there are resources available. Start with your military leadership,” he said. “Personally, I’m proud that this case will make life a little easier for those who come after us.

“This was never about recognition. It was about fairness, respect, and making sure every service member has one less thing to worry about when they put on the uniform.”

The Nov. 5 rehearsals, part of the Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Summit, were hosted by Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, Washington’s adjutant general and homeland security adviser.

The summit’s key event was a tabletop exercise that simulated an array of drone attacks: one against Lumen Field during a World Cup match and two more against critical infrastructure.

The simulations explored possible drone launch sites and tactics attackers could use, and tested interagency cooperation in response to evolving threats.

“If you think about where the world was on Sept. 10, we are at a very similar place,” Welsh said in a release, adding that the troubling findings of the 9/11 Commission Report served as motivation for organizing the summit.

“[That] report talked about red flags that popped up prior to 9/11, and now we have seen what is happening across the globe with drones and need to be ready,” Welsh said.

In the end, the exercise exposed responders to numerous “obstacles” to accomplishing a unified response, including “limited authorities across various levels of government, gaps in resources and barriers embedded in current policy and legal frameworks.”

The exercises made clear that actionable solutions to drone threats are needed across the board, the release stated.

“We have a lot of people talking about the problem, from different angles, but we are talking past each other,” Welsh said. “I am glad we finally got everyone together and can walk through the problem.”

National Guard units across different states regularly hold tabletop exercises to prepare for emergencies and disasters, such as floods and hurricanes.

The simulations are used to establish clear lines of communication between the Guard and interagency partners, streamline command and control and establish areas of responsibility to ensure efficient responses to disaster situations.

Next year’s FIFA World Cup will see soccer matches held in 11 major metropolitan stadiums across the United States, which will host games along with Canada and Mexico.

“The test was conducted by industry and was a proof-of-concept demo of crewed and uncrewed teaming operations,” a U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command spokesperson told Defense News. “Teaming unmanned aircraft with crewed fighters will greatly enhance a broad spectrum of capabilities to achieve air superiority.”

The MQ-20, designed for stealth, can transport smaller drones in addition to weapons using its internal storage, and it has unique engine features that make it hard detect with radar or infrared sensors. Its capabilities allow it to penetrate enemy air defense systems and drop 3,000 pounds of precision munitions, according to the manufacturer.

“General Atomics is in a pretty unique situation here, given that we already have operational uncrewed jets to use for experimentation,” C. Mark Brinkley, a company spokesman, told Defense News.

“The MQ-20 Avenger, tricked out with mature mission autonomy software, is a perfect CCA surrogate and allows us to move fast and move first,” he added, using the acronym for collaborative combat aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works led and organized the flight test with General Atomics and L3Harris. The test also demonstrated Lockheed Skunk Works’ flexible and hardware-agnostic pilot vehicle interface.

“This effort represents Skunk Works bringing its diverse and unique expertise to the table to lead the way demonstrating the future of air combat, where single-seat aircraft command and control drones with simple and intuitive interfaces in the cockpit,” OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, told Defense News.

As an unmanned partner, the MQ-20 is designed to lend additional covert strike capacity to the already clandestine F-22 Raptor – a supersonic, multipurpose stealth fighter that, according to the U.S. Air Force, “cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft.”

“We don’t want to wait for the CCA fleet to be fielded to begin leaning in on F-22 teaming,” Brinkley said. “We already know the F-22 will play a critical role in crewed-uncrewed teaming operations, and General Atomics is in a unique position to get started now.”

During the test flight, the F-22 pilot controlled the Avenger drone from the cockpit using a tablet and platforms created by L3Harris, including two L3Harris Software‑Defined Radios and its BANSHEE Advanced Tactical Datalinks.

The BANSHEE system is designed for drone swarming operations and can control multiple unmanned aerial vehicles in a larger formation. It can also be used to control cruise missiles.

“We’ve been putting our own money into uncrewed jets for 17 years. This is just one more milestone in a long history of leaning forward,” Brinkley said.