Middle East missiles, large contracts and space ambitions: 2025 review
There was no shortage of news in the Middle East in 2025.
Air Force buying two Lufthansa 747s for delayed Air Force One program
The service is spending $400 million on the pair of jumbo jets for training and spares.
Air Force cyber resilience in focus
Cyber resilience has become a frontline mission for the US military. Breaking Defense’s new eBook rounds up key reporting from the 2025 Alamo ACE conference with the latest developments in cyber offense and defense.
Air Force expects first delivery of delayed Boeing Air Force One jets in ‘mid-2028’
The new date marks some progress for the beleaguered Air Force One program, whose challenges have cost Boeing billions of dollars.
Why Qatar wants an air force facility inside the United States
Breaking Defense's Agnes Helou walks you through the latest headlines from the region in this month's edition of the Middle East Defense Digest.
Qatar’s new training facility is a ‘strategic move’ for both nations: Analysts
“The establishment of the new air base in the US is a strategic move that enhances Qatar's influence in the United States while simultaneously keeping potential political tensions with the US administration at bay, and strengthening personal ties with Trump,” one expert told Breaking Defense.
US had ‘no indications’ of surprise Israeli strike on Qatar: Official
Lt. Gen. Derek France said that the US was caught off guard by an Israeli strike on Qatar in part because sensing capabilities were focused on other targets like Iran, adding the Israeli attack “wasn’t something that we expected.”
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Powering the future: Securing America with domestically made microelectronics
Onshoring and investment in military-specific semiconductors anchor a cornerstone of the defense industrial base.
Gulf states pledge increased missile defense cooperation after Israeli strike in Qatar
"The recent attacks have intensified debates on collective Gulf security, exposing critical air and missile defense gaps,” retired Kuwaiti air force Col. Zafer Al Ajami told Breaking Defense, adding that "political divisions may hinder a formal Arab-NATO."
Israeli strike in Qatar jeopardizes normalization in the region: Experts
“I think that in terms of major achievements in the Abraham Accords, this will further throw dirt on the grave of Saudi-Israeli normalization," analyst Ryan Bohl told Breaking Defense.
Inside Turkey’s ASFAT and its push to become regional hub for military aircraft MRO
“Turkey is a very good choice for MRO, so we’re talking to them, and we are introducing our capability,” ASFAT CEO Mustafa Ilbas told Breaking Defense.
Turning Qatari jet into Air Force One would cost ‘less than $400 million,’ Air Force secretary says
Troy Meink also said he “couldn’t guarantee” that a proposal to accelerate a separate and long-delayed Boeing program for two new Air Force Ones could achieve a delivery date of 2027.
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Data overload threatens decisionmakers as autonomy expands
Reducing cognitive overload on warfighters while improving “time to trust” for autonomous systems is a matter of design.
Pentagon accepts 747 from Qatar as Democrats try to block Air Force One plan
President Donald Trump’s embrace of a luxurious jet offered as a gift by the Qatari royal family has drawn bipartisan concerns about converting the aircraft to serve as a new executive airlifter.
Trump says Qatar to buy THAAD defenses, Pegasus refuelers among $42B investment
The American president also said that “Qatar will also be investing $10 billion to support this massive base [Al Udeid] in the coming years. There is no place like it they say.”
Trump, Qatar sign agreements to go ahead with $2B MQ-9B, $1B counter-drone orders
Both deals had previously been approved, but the White House said today's signings "mark President Trump's intent to accelerate Qatar's defense investment in the U.S.-Qatar security partnership — enhancing regional deterrence and benefitting the US industrial base."
At nearly $142 billion, White House claims largest defense deal ‘in history’ with Saudi Arabia
Details about purported deals are scarce, but one analysts told Breaking Defense, "When the Trump factor is involved, we should not dismiss any possibilities."