Breaking Defense

Latest News

Pentagon rebrands principal AI shop as ‘Super Intelligence Office’

The redesignation follows President Donald Trump’s push to replace references to artificial intelligence with “super intelligence” across the federal government.

By Mikayla Easley

Air Warfare

The Hermeus Mk 2.1 Quarterhorse. (Hermeus photo)

Hermeus recruits Northrop Grumman to Quarterhorse drone program

The defense giant will supply mission systems for Hermeus’ Quarterhorse unmanned aircraft, adding a new partner among a team of industry heavyweights.

By Michael Marrow

In this episode:

Another busy week for the defense industry, with Euronaval underway in Paris and the International Fighter Conference convening in Germany
A closer look at the Hollywood star who became an Air Force general

Pentagon

From directed energy to AI and hardening, JIATF-401 is widening counter-UAS options

There is no single answer to the drone threat, pushing the Pentagon toward a broader mix of defenses.

By Barry Rosenberg and Casey Laughman

Naval Warfare

UK to buy three new mine-hunting drone motherships under Norway agreement

The decision, for which £90 million ($119.1 million) has been allocated, was formalized on Thursday by British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting and his Norwegian counterpart, Tore O. Sandvik, at the Atlantic Future Forum in Oslo.

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

Pentagon

Hegseth seeks to elevate top SOF civilian to service-secretary equivalent

Congress will need to approve the change, but there are internal, bureaucratic steps Hegseth is directing that should increase the SOF community's power inside the department.

By Aaron Mehta

Naval Warfare

Delivering first Columbia-class sub in 2028 is ‘absolutely achievable’, sub czar says

Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, the direct reporting portfolio manager for Submarines, said that delivering the first Columbia-class submarine in 2028 is still a 'heavy lift.'

By Diana Stancy

Naval Warfare

AUKUS review was ‘best thing’ for trilateral pact: Colby

“At the end of the day, this is a practical arrangement that involves the eventual sale of our crown jewels, our military capabilities,” said Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby

By Ashley Roque

Space

SDA explores integration of SpaceX laser communication terminals with missile tracking sats

An SDA spokesperson told Breaking Defense that the new study is a first step, and thus there are a number of potential hardware and software integration pathways for consideration.

By Theresa Hitchens

Air Warfare

Air Force unveils T-19A, a new aerobatic plane to train future pilots

Built by Game Aerospace Composites, the GB1 Gamebird — designated the T-19A by the Air Force — was funded through corporate and civilian donations and will form the foundation of a new aerobatic flying team.

By Michael Marrow

Naval Warfare

AUKUS on track, even ‘ahead of schedule’ for some parts, admiral says

The USS Colorado will serve as the first submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West in support of AUKUS Pillar I.

By Diana Stancy

Pentagon

Instead of stockpiling small attack drones, Army looking to simply buy new ones

“It's literally fly it as close as you can between those two fence posts because you might have to hit a high value target that way. And, if you crash 10 of them until you can get [number] 11 through, do it,” Army Material Command’s Jon Strzelec told Breaking Defense.

By Ashley Roque

Air Warfare, Opinion

Cry ‘drone,’ and let slip the fruit flies of war

The US military should focus on building drones that evolve so quickly an adversary's defenses become obsolete before they can be deployed, two Air Force officers argue.

By Col. Dustin Thomas and Maj. Aubry J. Eaton

Air Warfare, Land Warfare

NATO nations have a missile crisis. How did it happen, and can it be fixed?

Breaking Defense kicks off a new video roundtable series about the future of missiles and missile defense.

By Breaking Defense Video

Space

DoD pushes out 3 loans totaling $450M to bolster US space companies

One industry source told Breaking Defense that the reason for the spate of new loan announcements is that the Pentagon "needed to finalize loans by the end of the fiscal year."

By Theresa Hitchens

Breaking Defense

Latest News

Another busy week for the defense industry, with Euronaval underway in Paris and the International Fighter Conference convening in Germany

A closer look at the Hollywood star who became an Air Force general

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

Pentagon Buzz News Video