Breaking Defense

Naval Warfare

Navy Secretary Phelan leaving post immediately, Pentagon says

By Diana Stancy

Naval Warfare

OMB director launches broadside at shipbuilders to close Sea Air Space 2026

Aaron Mehta and Diana Stancy wrap up this year's conference.

By Breaking Defense Video

Congress

FY27 budget request negates need for INDOPACOM spending wishlist: Commander

INDOPACOM Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo's comments come as the department begins detailing plans to spend $12 billion next year for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative.

By Ashley Roque

Space

Space Force shifts from SDA transport layer to new Space Data Network ‘backbone’

A project previously called MILNET will now be funded in a budget line labeled “proliferated LEO SATCOM,” which the Space Force is seeking $1.6 billion in reconciliation funding to kick off.

By Michael Marrow

Latest News

Naval Warfare

The sights of Sea Air Space Day 3

A selection of photos from day three of Sea Air Space.

By Breaking Defense Staff

Space

Trump taps defense firm execs to lead space acquisition, NRO

Erich Hernandez-Baquero has been selected to serve as the Space Force’s next acquisition czar, while Roger Mason has been nominated as the next director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

By Michael Marrow

In this episode:

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

Air Warfare

Italy lists Ukraine among top buyers for arms, while eyeing drone deal

In 2025, Kyiv rose to become the 4th largest importer of Italian military equipment, up from outside the top 10 the year prior, with exports reaching €349 million ($409 million).

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

Pentagon

OMB director rebukes shipbuilders over production delays

OMB Director Russ Vought pointed to large shipbuilding backlogs as one way defense contractors are benefiting from program delays.

By Valerie Insinna

Land Warfare, Networks & Digital Warfare

Army unveils sweeping XM30 push, $4B bet on NGC2 in newly released budget materials

“The Army is in the midst of its most significant modernization in over 40 years,” Maj. Gen. Rebecca McElwain, director of the Army budget, told reporters during the Pentagon’s budget rollout Tuesday. “This involves developing and fielding new capabilities while adapting formations, training and concepts to the character of modern warfare.”

By Carley Welch and Mark Pomerleau

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

Naval Warfare

Not one-drone-fits-all: Admirals stress unmanned systems tailored to the mission

“As we start fleshing out these concepts, what we start to understand is that … something that is a really great capability over in EUCOM or CENTCOM right now may not translate over to the Pacific, where the distances are way, way greater,” Rear Adm. Douglas Sasse told the Sea-Air-Space conference.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Air Warfare

Rheinmetall lands multibillion dollar FV-014 loitering munitions framework contract

The framework contract signing comes after Rheinmetall announced in February a FV-014 demonstration in collaboration with a potential undisclosed NATO customer.

By Tim Martin

Global

Turkish firms boost defense ties with Malaysia in missiles, comms and AI

“Malaysia chose Turkish suppliers because they offered a rare combination of combat-proven capability, affordability, speed of delivery, and eagerness to build long-term industrial partnerships rather than simply sell end products systems,” one expert said.

By Agnes Helou

Networks & Digital Warfare

Northrop slated to deliver surface EW system to carriers in 2028

Northrop Grumman's Montá Harrell told Breaking Defense the company has a SEWIP configuration for destroyers and one for aricraft carriers.

By Mark Pomerleau

Naval Warfare

Battleship costs and sub timelines at Sea Air Space

Aaron Mehta and Diana Stancy share highlights from the second day of the Navy League's annual conference.

By Breaking Defense Video

Naval Warfare

Navy expects construction on first Trump-class battleship to start in FY28

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan said the service is in talks with two vendors for the battleship.

By Diana Stancy

Air Warfare

Air Force eyes massive boost for F-15EX fleet

The service’s fiscal 2027 budget shows boosts for other aircraft like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, while slowing retirements of platforms like the A-10 Warthog.

By Michael Marrow

Naval Warfare

The sights of Sea Air Space Day 2

Check out a selection of photos from the show floor.

By Breaking Defense Staff

Featured:

Navy Secretary Phelan leaving post immediately, Pentagon says

OMB director launches broadside at shipbuilders to close Sea Air Space 2026

FY27 budget request negates need for INDOPACOM spending wishlist: Commander

Space Force shifts from SDA transport layer to new Space Data Network ‘backbone’

Latest News

The sights of Sea Air Space Day 3

Trump taps defense firm execs to lead space acquisition, NRO

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

Italy lists Ukraine among top buyers for arms, while eyeing drone deal

OMB director rebukes shipbuilders over production delays

Army unveils sweeping XM30 push, $4B bet on NGC2 in newly released budget materials

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

Not one-drone-fits-all: Admirals stress unmanned systems tailored to the mission

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

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

Not one-drone-fits-all: Admirals stress unmanned systems tailored to the mission

Rheinmetall lands multibillion dollar FV-014 loitering munitions framework contract

Turkish firms boost defense ties with Malaysia in missiles, comms and AI

Northrop slated to deliver surface EW system to carriers in 2028

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

Battleship costs and sub timelines at Sea Air Space

Navy expects construction on first Trump-class battleship to start in FY28

Air Force eyes massive boost for F-15EX fleet

The sights of Sea Air Space Day 2