Breaking Defense

Land Warfare

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

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

Latest News

Congress

Defense reconciliation bill could come after ICE, border patrol effort: Graham

“Defense hawks want defense money in the reconciliation bill. I’m trying to keep it as small and focused as possible,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee.

By Valerie Insinna

Global

Germany’s TKMS, Spain’s Navantia to explore Spanish-based submarine production

The two companies signed an MoU to see if "closer industrial cooperation can help implement projects more efficiently, quickly, and cost-effectively,” according to Spain's Navantia.

By Tim Martin

In this episode:

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

Opinion

The Army is now relevant to the Pacific. Congress should budget accordingly.

The Army has spent years evolving itself for a China fight and now needs Congress to back the systems it requires for a fight in the Pacific.

By Robert Peters

Land Warfare

Army making ‘significant headway’ in ATI aviation overhaul

In the past year, the Army has divested nearly 60 percent of its Apache D models, Col. Tim Jaeger, director of Army aviation at the G3/5/7, said.

By Carley Welch

Pentagon

US can intercept any Iran-linked ship globally, Caine says

“The joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific area of responsibility, under the command of Adm. [Samuel] Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.

By Ashley Roque

Modernizing defense enterprise IT without disrupting the mission

Government can’t stop to update systems, so modernization has to happen without interruptions.

By Breaking Defense

Space

Air Force kicks off AMTI program with competition for first ‘increment’

Awards will be issued “fairly shortly” for the first operational satellites that can track aircraft and from space, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

By Michael Marrow and Theresa Hitchens

Pentagon

Golden Dome czar signals space-based interceptors not guaranteed, as DoD weighs cost

"If boost-phase intercept from space is not affordable and scalable, we will not produce it, because we have other options to get after it," said Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein.

By Ashley Roque

Space

With new portfolios, SDA ‘probably won’t’ exist, acting director says

The rollout of a new acquisition model could reshape entities like the Space Development Agency or Space Rapid Capabilities Office, though their missions will persist, Gurpartap (GP) Sandhoo told reporters.

By Michael Marrow

Space

Space Force 2040: 30,000 satellites, ‘thousands’ more Guardians

The Space Force's projections of its needs for orbital warfare and electronic warfare are only included in the classified version of the new Objective Force plan, but Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman confirmed that the service wants new kit for orbital warfare.

By Theresa Hitchens

Congress

‘Paradigm-shifting’ $1.5T defense budget to enable multiyear contracts: OMB director

OMB Director Russell Vought defended the use of reconciliation to pay for $350 billion in defense, saying the move would ensure that funds “aren’t held hostage” during traditional the appropriations process.

By Valerie Insinna

Naval Warfare

Navy MQ-4C Triton suffers Class A mishap

It's unclear whether enemy fire shot down the aircraft, or if it suffered a mechanical problem.

By Diana Stancy

Networks & Digital Warfare

RTX modifies Growler’s next-gen jammer to work from land or sea

Raytheon Surface Electronic Attack System is meant to "generate non-kinetic effects to prevent adversaries from targeting our high-value assets or [to] protect those high-value assets," Raytheon's Chuck Angus told Breaking Defense.

By Mark Pomerleau

Air Warfare, Opinion

Feinberg should create a DRPM for drones

Amid the recent drone boom, the Pentagon needs to create a single solid framework for all of the relevant programs to be effectively managed under, Rebecca Grant of the Lexington Institute writes.

By Rebecca Grant

Land Warfare

Army introduces MV-75 as Cheyenne II, won’t commit to first flight, production dates

"It's going to happen when it's going to happen," Maj. Gen. Clair Gill told reporters when asked about expected timeline milestones for the new aircraft.

By Carley Welch

Featured:

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

Latest News

Defense reconciliation bill could come after ICE, border patrol effort: Graham

Germany’s TKMS, Spain’s Navantia to explore Spanish-based submarine production

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

The Army is now relevant to the Pacific. Congress should budget accordingly.

Army making ‘significant headway’ in ATI aviation overhaul

US can intercept any Iran-linked ship globally, Caine says

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

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

Baykar unveils K2 Kamikaze drone with AI, swarming capabilities

Modernizing defense enterprise IT without disrupting the mission

Air Force kicks off AMTI program with competition for first ‘increment’

Golden Dome czar signals space-based interceptors not guaranteed, as DoD weighs cost

With new portfolios, SDA ‘probably won’t’ exist, acting director says

Space Force 2040: 30,000 satellites, ‘thousands’ more Guardians

‘Paradigm-shifting’ $1.5T defense budget to enable multiyear contracts: OMB director

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

Navy MQ-4C Triton suffers Class A mishap

RTX modifies Growler’s next-gen jammer to work from land or sea

Feinberg should create a DRPM for drones

Army introduces MV-75 as Cheyenne II, won’t commit to first flight, production dates