According to Sawyer Merritt, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has integrated Starlink and Starshield AI-enabled communication terminals into AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, as reported by DefenseScoop. This deployment leverages advanced machine learning to optimize real-time battlefield connectivity and data sharing, representing a pivotal step in military AI communications. The move enables improved targeting, situational awareness, and autonomous system coordination, highlighting significant business opportunities for AI-driven defense technologies and secure satellite networks. The adoption of AI-powered communication systems by AFSOC signals a growing trend toward AI integration in defense operations, creating market potential for AI vendors specializing in secure, high-bandwidth military communications (source: defensescoop.com, Sawyer Merritt).