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The Army is leading on unmanned aviation. Who will follow?

The Army is cutting a fifth of its aviation branch as it shifts toward unmanned systems. And the rest of the services should follow, writes John Ferrari.

By John Ferrari

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

Global

Chinese fighters intercepted Japanese surveillance planes during carrier exercise: Official

JMSDF Capt. Naoto Tabata told Breaking Defense that one time the Chinese jets came as close as 45 meters (147 feet) from the surveillance birds.

By Mike Yeo

Air Warfare

With a European next-gen fighter program in doubt, what would an FCAS collapse look like?

A key meeting on the future fighter has been "postponed," a German official told Breaking Defense, as analysts weigh what's next.

By Tim Martin

Land Warfare

US Army eyeing new sensors and shooters for Eastern Flank Deterrence Line

In November, the service will host Project Flytrap 4.5 in Germany, to experiment with new sensors and shooters suitable for the emerging concept.

By Ashley Roque

Land Warfare

How to host a defense conference during a shutdown: AUSA 2025 preview

Breaking Defense's Aaron Mehta and Carley Welch preview what could be a very unique AUSA this year.

By Breaking Defense Video

Congress

Senate passes $914B defense policy bill after resolving gridlock on amendments

Senators voted 77-20 to approve the National Defense Authorization Act, moving the bill forward on a largely bipartisan basis.

By Valerie Insinna

Land Warfare

GDLS to roll out drone-killer robot, tank-launched switchblades, more at AUSA

"We’re locked in step with the Army, we’re fired up about the future, and I think what you’re going to see at AUSA really supports where the Army is headed," Geoff Norman, director of US strategy and growth at GDLS, told Breaking Defense.

By Carley Welch

Space

Australian Space Command considers ‘space control’ options: Senior officer

"The ADF will seek space advantage to enable freedom of action by temporally assuring access and disrupting or denying an adversary use of the space domain, as required," states Australia's Concept SELENE outlining military space operations.

By Theresa Hitchens

Congress

What is SBIR? Four things to know about industry funding now frozen in Congress [VIDEO]

The Small Business Innovation Research program is in trouble, and Valerie Insinna is here to walk you through what you need to know.

By Breaking Defense Video

Air Warfare

Wilsbach declines to commit to congressional ‘intent’ for reconciliation money

Air Force Chief of Staff nominee Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach also left the fate of the Air Force's wide-ranging "reoptimization" overhaul in the air.

By Michael Marrow and Valerie Insinna

Networks & Digital Warfare

Qunnect announces Air Force contract for quantum networking over conventional fiber

The Air Force Research Lab’s award to the NYC-based startup is also a vote of confidence in the idea of using quantum particles for secure communications — an idea of which the NSA has long been skeptical.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Networks & Digital Warfare