Breaking Defense

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

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

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

Latest News

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

In this episode:

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

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

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

Global

Raytheon secures $3.7B deal with Ukraine for German-funded Patriot interceptors

A missile quantity and a timeline for the PAC-2 contract was not disclosed but the move comes as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushes partner nations to agree on new air defense weapon system commitments.

By Tim Martin

Land Warfare

AeroVironment introduces new line of launched effects modeled after Switchblade

The first product in the MAYHEM line is dubbed MAYHEM 10, a launched effect system with a 10lb payload.

By Carley Welch

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

Land Warfare

GE warns ITEP engine program needs ‘little bit more money’ for testing in FY27 budget

After the president’s FY27 budget request zeroed out funding for the new engine, GE said more money is needed to finish qualification testing.

By Carley Welch

Space

Space Force to finalize acquisition portfolio structure over next two months

Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant said SSC is working to hire "several hundreds" of personnel to rebuild its decimated acquisition corps.

By Theresa Hitchens

Space

White House wants Pentagon to demo nuclear space power by 2031

The Trump administration’s National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power unveiled today says the Pentagon and NASA will run “design competitions” that are “parallel and mutually reinforcing” to achieve space-based nuclear power.

By Michael Marrow

Land Warfare, Global

Australia gets new military leaders, including first female army chief

Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will take up her new appointment in July

By Mike Yeo

Air Warfare

1:5 kill ratio: Ukraine inflicts heavy Russian losses using drones, says Finnish president

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said during his visit to Washington that Ukraine is in a much better place than it has been at any stage of the war thus far.

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

Air Warfare, Pentagon

A peek into munitions spending, and a chat with Sweden’s DefMin

This week on The Break Out, we're talking billions for missiles and priorities in Stockholm.

By Breaking Defense Video

Featured:

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

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

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

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

Latest News

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

Navy MQ-4C Triton suffers Class A mishap

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

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

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

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

Raytheon secures $3.7B deal with Ukraine for German-funded Patriot interceptors

AeroVironment introduces new line of launched effects modeled after Switchblade

Modernizing defense enterprise IT without disrupting the mission

GE warns ITEP engine program needs ‘little bit more money’ for testing in FY27 budget

Space Force to finalize acquisition portfolio structure over next two months

White House wants Pentagon to demo nuclear space power by 2031

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

Australia gets new military leaders, including first female army chief

1:5 kill ratio: Ukraine inflicts heavy Russian losses using drones, says Finnish president

A peek into munitions spending, and a chat with Sweden’s DefMin