Breaking Defense

Global

NHIndustries inks contract for NH90 Block 2 study in support of future tech

By Tim Martin

Naval Warfare

EXCLUSIVE: Hanwha, Magnet Defense partner to build MUSVs, robotic shipyards

The companies are signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work on crafting a 38-meter MUSV.

By Diana Stancy

In contested seas, autonomy has to think ahead, not just steer

As missions stretch farther and comms grow less reliable, predictive software could become the edge that keeps missions afloat.

By Breaking Defense

Land Warfare

Israel’s new automatic Roem howitzer used for first time in combat

The new artillery system is fully automatic and capable of firing at a rate of 6-8 rounds per minute, up to 40km in distance.

By Seth J. Frantzman

Latest News

Land Warfare

Army pushes industry to share costs as GE seeks more funding for ITEP testing

“We don't want to do all the development, we want to do the procurement. We want to buy it for the long term, so that that's where we're going back to the manufacturers and having negotiations about, how do we best position the development so that it's not all on the government," Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, PAE of Maneuver Air, said.

By Carley Welch

Space

Lockheed Martin nabs $105M ground system contract to support next-gen GPS

The upgrade to be performed under then new contract would allow Lockheed Martin's AEP ground system to replace RTX's long-troubled OCX program for future GPS IIIF birds.

By Theresa Hitchens

In this episode:

Details of the $1.5 trillion defense budget request, and a key lawmaker’s take on the F-35

Naval Warfare

Fighting instructions, acquisition reform and Iran: What we expect from Sea Air Space 2026

Aaron Mehta and Diana Stancy preview what's to come at this year's Sea Air Space.

By Breaking Defense Video

Air Warfare

Air Force secretary eyes multi-year deals for satellites, aircraft

Pentagon officials are seeking lawmakers’ authorization to buy weapon systems through multi-year deals “across the board, not only with munitions, but actually with the production of aircraft, with the production of spacecraft,” said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

By Michael Marrow

Air Warfare

9 firms win orbital AMTI deals, Space Force says

The Space Force did not disclose when the contracts were awarded or their individual dollar values.

By Michael Marrow

Land Warfare

Army exploring refueling requirement for Cheyenne II MV-75: Official

“We don’t have those organic to the Army. So I think we need to solve our own problems, and think about how do we do our own, let’s call it logistical resupply in the air, of an MV-75,” Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, PAE of Maneuver Air, said.

By Carley Welch

Opinion

The history of America’s long-term efforts to plan for a war with China [BOOK EXCERPT]

In this excerpt from his new book, 'War Plan Taiwan,' Rowan Allport details the history of US planning for a conflict with China in defense of Taiwan.

By Rowan Allport

Announcement

Breaking Defense announces Breaking Defense Europe, a new, distinct, European edition

Breaking Defense Europe will launch May 4 with Tim Martin and Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo as co-editors.

By Breaking Defense

Air Warfare

Northrop Grumman's test environment called Beacon includes a Scaled Composites-built Model 437 Vanguard aircraft modified for optionally autonomous flight, enabled by Northrop Grumman’s autonomous software and digital ecosystem.

Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ testbed hot-swaps AI brains mid-flight

“While the aircraft was flying, the software was queued up so that we could have different companies’ behaviors take control of the platform and fly [it]," said Dan Salluce, Northrop’s senior director for aerospace systems.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Naval Warfare, Air Warfare

Marines starting early work on sixth-gen fighter jet concepts

Its early, but a top Marine general said he would expect a next-gen fighter to "look something like" the Navy's F/A-XX.

By Diana Stancy

Air Warfare

NATO revamps air surveillance approach for the ‘cost-war’ of low-flying drones, missiles

NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (ACT) Adm. Pierre Vandier told Breaking Defense that lessons from the Ukraine war and the Iran conflict are driving an air surveillance reframe.

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

Land Warfare

Army plans initial contract for HADES ‘ultra long-range’ effects in coming months

The Army is looking for a launched effect capability that can potentially travel up to 1,000 km, with a demo planned later this year.

By Carley Welch

Global

Australia pledges to boost defense spend to 3% of GDP, says US remains key partner

The US ally will add $53B AUD in defense spending from earlier projections over the coming decade

By Mike Yeo

Space

Shifting gears: Space Force moves to embrace space mobility for orbital warfare

The service's new Objective Force plan calls for demonstrating on-orbit refueling and fielding operational "space tugs" by 2030.

By Theresa Hitchens

Land Warfare

Army asks lawmakers to back production halt to Paladin line

“If you look at the [fight] in Ukraine on either side, it's really hard to move out and get fires ready to go…. The Paladin is just incapable of it at speed," Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said today.

By Ashley Roque

Featured:

NHIndustries inks contract for NH90 Block 2 study in support of future tech

EXCLUSIVE: Hanwha, Magnet Defense partner to build MUSVs, robotic shipyards

In contested seas, autonomy has to think ahead, not just steer

Israel’s new automatic Roem howitzer used for first time in combat

Latest News

Army pushes industry to share costs as GE seeks more funding for ITEP testing

Lockheed Martin nabs $105M ground system contract to support next-gen GPS

Details of the $1.5 trillion defense budget request, and a key lawmaker’s take on the F-35

Fighting instructions, acquisition reform and Iran: What we expect from Sea Air Space 2026

Air Force secretary eyes multi-year deals for satellites, aircraft

9 firms win orbital AMTI deals, Space Force says

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ testbed hot-swaps AI brains mid-flight

Inside the rise of Project Maven and AI warfare [Book excerpt]

DIA centralizes AI efforts with Digital Modernization Accelerator

AFCENT awards Kraus Hamdani $270M for solar-powered, long-endurance drones

First set of defensive cyber kits to be delivered to CYBERCOM units

Judge grants Anthropic preliminary injunction but Pentagon CTO says ban still stands

Companies to enter negotiations to build commercial data centers on Army installations

Swiss Destinus, Shield AI wrap European drone autonomy test campaign

Trump admin’s comments could undermine case against Anthropic in court: Experts

Pentagon CTO ‘pretty confident’ about life after Anthropic

Army exploring refueling requirement for Cheyenne II MV-75: Official

The history of America’s long-term efforts to plan for a war with China [BOOK EXCERPT]

Breaking Defense announces Breaking Defense Europe, a new, distinct, European edition

Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ testbed hot-swaps AI brains mid-flight

Marines starting early work on sixth-gen fighter jet concepts

NATO revamps air surveillance approach for the ‘cost-war’ of low-flying drones, missiles

Pentagon Buzz News Video

How the Army is developing its C2 plans

Will the Pentagon have to cut exercises to pay for the Iran war?

Pentagon comptroller says a ‘generational investment’ is coming, but when?

The Pentagon wants to buy 30,000 new drones. Here are the key questions.

Watch Pentagon Buzz, Breaking Defense’s new show on DoD policies, personalities and power

Army plans initial contract for HADES ‘ultra long-range’ effects in coming months

Australia pledges to boost defense spend to 3% of GDP, says US remains key partner

Shifting gears: Space Force moves to embrace space mobility for orbital warfare

Army asks lawmakers to back production halt to Paladin line