Ashley Roque

Senior Reporter

Ashley Roque covers land warfare for Breaking Defense. Over the past two decades, she’s reported on defense, US politics, and foreign policy for publications inside and outside of the United States including Janes, Roll Call, Inside Defense and Shephard Media. Ashley holds a BA in English with a minor in journalism from Florida State University, and a master's degree in conflict transformation from the University of Basel.

Stories by Ashley Roque

Pentagon eyes $1 billion over 2 years for Replicator mass drone fleet concept

Pentagon eyes $1 billion over 2 years for Replicator mass drone fleet concept
Pentagon eyes $1 billion over 2 years for Replicator mass drone fleet concept

“There was a debate which … about so-called ‘reveal, conceal’ [and] how much detail we want to put out,” said Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller Mike McCord. “We’re sort of leaning on the side of not disclosing the details…”

Army’s $186B budget request shuffles artillery, aviation plans

Army’s $186B budget request shuffles artillery, aviation plans
Army’s $186B budget request shuffles artillery, aviation plans

The Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) platform joins the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) on the budget cutting room floor for America’s largest service.

Pentagon emphasizes ‘continuity’ in $849.8B FY25 budget request, amid political deadlock

Pentagon emphasizes ‘continuity’ in $849.8B FY25 budget request, amid political deadlock
Pentagon emphasizes ‘continuity’ in $849.8B FY25 budget request, amid political deadlock

“We kind of depend on having [that] ‘24 bill finish and finish in a way that looks a lot like what we asked for. Otherwise, we’re going to have to go back to the drawing board on a couple of fronts,” said a senior defense official.

Going long: Army to unveil new ‘deep sensing’ cross-functional team

Going long: Army to unveil new ‘deep sensing’ cross-functional team
Going long: Army to unveil new ‘deep sensing’ cross-functional team

In the meantime, the service anticipates the return of delayed Dark Eagle hypersonic testing this summer, acquisition chief Doug Bush said.

Water games: Army observes Marine vessels at Project Convergence experiment

Water games: Army observes Marine vessels at Project Convergence experiment
Water games: Army observes Marine vessels at Project Convergence experiment

“Mechanical issues” sidelined the Army from debuting its new Maneuver Support Vessel-Light at this year’s experiment, while the USMC tested out the Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel and a stern landing vessel concept design.

Exclusive: Army Vice Chief talks network evolution, possible C-UAS shakeup and other priorities

Exclusive: Army Vice Chief talks network evolution, possible C-UAS shakeup and other priorities
Exclusive: Army Vice Chief talks network evolution, possible C-UAS shakeup and other priorities

The Army’s new Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus recently sat down with Breaking Defense to discuss a few of his priorities that include network changes to include transitioning from a ‘C2 Fix’ to ‘C2 Next.’

EXCLUSIVE: Strykers with 50-kilowatt lasers in CENTCOM for experiment, Army No. 2 says

EXCLUSIVE: Strykers with 50-kilowatt lasers in CENTCOM for experiment, Army No. 2 says
EXCLUSIVE: Strykers with 50-kilowatt lasers in CENTCOM for experiment, Army No. 2 says

“Is it 100 percent ready? Is it going to work perfectly? Probably not but we’re going to learn from it,” Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus told Breaking Defense.

Fewer special ops, more tech: Formal force structure cements a trimmer Army

Fewer special ops, more tech: Formal force structure cements a trimmer Army
Fewer special ops, more tech: Formal force structure cements a trimmer Army

“We are transforming our force structure, we are transforming our weapons systems through our modernization programs and what we’ve done, through the force structure changes, is make room for some new formations,” said Army Secretary Christine Wormuth.

Army will have to cancel exercises with NATO, inside CENTCOM, with no budget supplemental

Army will have to cancel exercises with NATO, inside CENTCOM, with no budget supplemental
Army will have to cancel exercises with NATO, inside CENTCOM, with no budget supplemental

“We don’t have a lot of cash under the sofa cushions and if we don’t get a budget, and we don’t get a supplemental, we’re going to probably have to cancel some things,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said today.

Armored vehicles and Patriots sent to Ukraine without solid sustainment plan, says Pentagon IG

Armored vehicles and Patriots sent to Ukraine without solid sustainment plan, says Pentagon IG
Armored vehicles and Patriots sent to Ukraine without solid sustainment plan, says Pentagon IG

“We’re certainly aware that we could be doing more, but we’ve been saying from the beginning that we need to make sure that the Ukrainians have every tool available to them to maintain these systems,” Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said today.

Industry feedback to drive cruise missile interceptor competition timeline, Army says

Industry feedback to drive cruise missile interceptor competition timeline, Army says
Industry feedback to drive cruise missile interceptor competition timeline, Army says

Earlier this year, the service unveiled tentative plans to decide who would participate in a new cruise missile interceptor competition in FY25. Industry feedback over the coming weeks could alter that date and reshape the acquisition timetable.

Army moving towards new Javelin launcher fielding in 2025, software glitch fixed

Army moving towards new Javelin launcher fielding in 2025, software glitch fixed
Army moving towards new Javelin launcher fielding in 2025, software glitch fixed

While launcher fielding remains on track, development of the new G-Model missile is still in limbo after a 2022 test failure.

Decision time: Army nears deadline for long-range precision munition acquisition plan

Decision time: Army nears deadline for long-range precision munition acquisition plan
Decision time: Army nears deadline for long-range precision munition acquisition plan

Despite last week’s aviation upheaval, the Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC) is slated to meet before the end of March to debate the path ahead for a formal program of record.

Defense Secretary Austin no longer Europe bound, will virtually attend meeting on Ukraine

Defense Secretary Austin no longer Europe bound, will virtually attend meeting on Ukraine
Defense Secretary Austin no longer Europe bound, will virtually attend meeting on Ukraine

Austin’s medical emergency comes at a time of a new leader for Ukraine’s military, the inability of Washington to fund new weapons and former president Donald Trump inviting Russia to invade NATO territory.

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