Breaking Defense

Northrop not seeking direct DoD investment for solid rocket motors, but suppliers might: CEO

‘SCAF is dead’: Sixth-gen Franco-German fighter is all but over, officials and analysts say

Comments from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz may represent the unofficial pulling of the plug on the effort to produce a sixth-gen fighter for France, Germany and Spain

By Tim Martin

Pentagon

Canada is still interested in Golden Dome. What can it bring – and how could it fall apart?

“Those [Golden Dome] conversations are ongoing, and we will only participate if it is right for both parties,” a spokesperson with Canada’s Minister of Defense told Breaking Defense.

By Ashley Roque

Air Warfare

EXCLUSIVE: Sentinel ICBM to clear key milestone this year, go operational ‘early 2030s’

“We certainly have not lowered the bar, and we certainly have not taken on any risk by doing this,” Air Force Gen. Dale White told Breaking Defense.

By Michael Marrow

Latest News

Naval Warfare

Navy weighs creating robotic autonomous systems commander amid unmanned push

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said a robotic autonomous systems commander would coordinate across domains.

By Diana Stancy

Space

DIU wants commercially developed imagery satellites for on-orbit spying

Under the new GHOST-R effort, the Defense Innovation Unit hopes to have a high-resolution bird operating on orbit within 24 months.

By Theresa Hitchens

In this episode:

How Trump wants to change American weapon sales abroad.
A preview of the upcoming Munich Security Conference.

Networks & Digital Warfare

Marines aim to be CJACD2 ‘fast follower’ with Dynamis Series of C2 experiments

"What we don't want to do is what we've always done in the past: siloed programs, by silo services," Col. Arlon Smith, director of Project Dynamis, told Breaking Defense.

By Mark Pomerleau

Global

Saudi Arabia expands naval capabilities with four C-27J maritime patrol aircraft

Delivery of the first batch of C-27 J MPAs to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces is expected to commence in 2029.

By Agnes Helou

Land Warfare

Estonia pushes for local CV90 fighting vehicle production, defense minister says

"We are ready to step into the supply line … to fill some of the gaps that Hägglunds has," Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's defense minister, told Breaking Defense.

By Tim Martin

Global, Opinion

How Takaichi’s supermajority in Japan rewrites the strategic map of Southeast Asia

A unified force in Japan's House of Representatives opens the door for widespread military reform under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, writes analyst Ronny Sasmita.

By Ronny P. Sasmita

Global

SCOPA exec details Saudi firm’s relaunch, reveals ambitious aims

"A company cannot work with East and West. You have to make strategic decisions. And the decision has been made within SCOPA. We're working with NATO countries," company executive Walid Abu Khaled told Breaking Defense.

By Agnes Helou

Naval Warfare

Trump admin pushes Maritime Prosperity Zones in new action proposal

Maritime Prosperity Zones would encourage investment in new waterfront communities separate from the traditional coastal shipyards.

By Diana Stancy

Air Warfare

LongShot program eyes new target for early flight tests

The first flight test for the X-68A was originally set to begin in December of 2023, Breaking Defense previously reported.

By Patrick Dawson

Air Warfare, Pentagon

Takeaways from Saudi Arabia’s biggest defense show, and a small arms tour

This week on The Break Out, head to the World Defense Show outside Riyadh.

By Breaking Defense Video

Global, Naval Warfare

Australia invests $2.75 billion in AUKUS submarine yard

"South Australia is at the centre of one of the most significant defence undertakings in our history," Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas said in a press release.

By Mike Yeo

Networks & Digital Warfare

Venezuela operation relied on little-known cyber center, official says

A Joint Integration Fire Center to better integrate cyber and non-kinetic effects was proved out during operations in Venezuela last month.

By Mark Pomerleau

Opinion

The Army is mispricing readiness, and additive manufacturing exposes the problem

Current policy strongly prohibits the Army from ordering small quantities of spare parts with short notice. That currently acts as an Achilles heel for their Abrams tank fleets.

By Col. Michael R. Mai

Global

Rubio tries to reassure Europe that US is not about to sever transatlantic ties

America’s chief diplomat took aim at what he framed postwar “delusion” in the West and a mass migration “crisis” in Europe, echoing terms found in the National Security Strategy released last year.

By Tim Martin

Featured:

Northrop not seeking direct DoD investment for solid rocket motors, but suppliers might: CEO

‘SCAF is dead’: Sixth-gen Franco-German fighter is all but over, officials and analysts say

Canada is still interested in Golden Dome. What can it bring – and how could it fall apart?

EXCLUSIVE: Sentinel ICBM to clear key milestone this year, go operational ‘early 2030s’

Latest News

Navy weighs creating robotic autonomous systems commander amid unmanned push

DIU wants commercially developed imagery satellites for on-orbit spying

Marines aim to be CJACD2 ‘fast follower’ with Dynamis Series of C2 experiments

Saudi Arabia expands naval capabilities with four C-27J maritime patrol aircraft

Estonia pushes for local CV90 fighting vehicle production, defense minister says

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

Kodiak AI lands Marine Corps deal to add driverless tech to ROGUE Fires platform

ChatGPT will be available to 3 million military users on GenAI.mil

AI ‘fundamentally changing’ adversary behavior, leading to force generation reforms: Official

DoD expects AI-powered database of patents ready for industry by year’s end

To overcome Golden Dome ‘affordability’ hurdle, DoD needs acquisition reform, AI: Official

Pentagon picks 25 vendors to show off one-way attack drones in the Gauntlet competition

Picogrid wins $9M Air Force contract for counter-drone software written by AI

Pentagon CTO picks six defense tech vets to lead Critical Technology Areas

Navy’s new hedge strategy calls for ‘tailored’ unmanned forces to augment carriers

Brits shortlist seven firms in search for helicopter drone ‘wingmen’ for Apaches

How Takaichi’s supermajority in Japan rewrites the strategic map of Southeast Asia

SCOPA exec details Saudi firm’s relaunch, reveals ambitious aims

Trump admin pushes Maritime Prosperity Zones in new action proposal

LongShot program eyes new target for early flight tests

Takeaways from Saudi Arabia’s biggest defense show, and a small arms tour

Golden Dome: The Path Forward

Inside Honeywell’s business strategy for Golden Dome

Golden Dome faces challenges of size, scope and scale from every angle

Can space-based interceptors really work? What to know about Trump’s plan [VIDEO]

China and Russia won’t like Golden Dome. Here’s how they might respond. [VIDEO]

Golden Dome: Tackling the myths and rumors around America’s new missile shield [VIDEO]

Australia invests $2.75 billion in AUKUS submarine yard

Venezuela operation relied on little-known cyber center, official says

The Army is mispricing readiness, and additive manufacturing exposes the problem

Rubio tries to reassure Europe that US is not about to sever transatlantic ties