Breaking Defense

EXCLUSIVE: SNC pulls out of Navy’s trainer jet competition, leaving Textron likely winner

Thales subsidiary lands US Navy contract for remote mine hunting modules

The contract, awarded to Advanced Acoustic Concepts, is worth $53.9 million and also covers engineering support for the modules.

By Diana Stancy

Air Warfare

Air Force divests its few A-29s, explores ‘future options’

A set of three A-29 Super Tucanos are destined for storage after officials at the Air Force Test Pilot School opted against using the turboprops, a spokesperson for Edwards Air Force Base told Breaking Defense.

By Michael Marrow

Naval Warfare

France investing in naval power as military ambition is ‘to be feared’: Armed forces minister

Macron has previously used similar words during his nuclear strategy address in March, when he announced in Brittany an increase in the country’s nuclear warhead stockpile.

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

Latest News

Land Warfare

The US Army’s second rebirth: From post-Vietnam to post-GWOT

In this op-ed, AEI's John Ferrari offers advice for keeping the Army's transformation initiative on track — starting with the budget.

By John Ferrari

Global

Ukraine battalion commander: More air defenses, deep strike permissions opens way to victory

Maj. Oleh Shyriaiev, Commander of Ukraine’s 225th Separate Assault Battalion, told Breaking Defense that Washington opening up deep strikes into Russia gives Ukraine a "chance" at victory.

By Tim Martin

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

Networks & Digital Warfare

Anthropic, Google and xAI win $200M each from Pentagon AI chief for ‘agentic AI’

The three new contracts come on top of last month’s equal award to OpenAI, bringing the Chief Digital & AI Officer’s investment in cutting-edge commercial “frontier AI” to a total of $800 million.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Global

France to raise military spending to $75B in 2027, three years earlier than planned

“To be free in this world, one needs to be feared,” Macron said. “And to be feared one must be powerful.”

By Christina Mackenzie

Global

Trump announces plan to sell NATO countries weapons for Ukraine

“This is, again, Europeans stepping up. ... This is only the first wave, there will be more,” said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

By Ashley Roque

Air Warfare

US clears $100M A-29 Super Tucano sustainment deal for Lebanese Air Force

Years ago, the Lebanese armed forces eyed expanding the A-29 fleet up to as many as 12, but these ambitions never came together

By Agnes Helou

Pentagon

Pentagon pulls speakers from Aspen Security Forum day before event

“Senior Department of Defense officials will no longer be participating at the Aspen Security Forum because their values do not align with the values of the DoD,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

By Valerie Insinna and Ashley Roque

Global

Post success at The Hague summit, the real NATO work remains

Joshua Huminski in this op-ed explores next steps now that NATO allies have signed an agreement to spend 5 percent GDP on defense.

By Joshua Huminski

Global

Japan’s Mogami offer, including IP rights, could be model for Tokyo’s future exports

Sharing MHI's IP with Australia and other measures "goes to show how serious Japan are and how this is a whole of defense (industry & government) effort from Japan," Peter Dean at the US Studies Center said. "They are seeing this as a long-term strategic partnership not just a short-term commercial sale, and that is the best way for them to position themselves to be as competitive as they can be."

By Colin Clark

Air Warfare

US clears Norway to purchase $2.6B worth of HH-60W helicopters

Oslo’s purchase of the HH-60W could help extend the helicopter’s production line after the US Air Force moved to end procurement of the platform in 2022.

By Michael Marrow

Congress