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

Air Warfare

Hegseth: ‘No one’s under there able to assess’ efficacy of US strike on Iranian facility

The defense secretary aggressively pushed back on reporting about an initial, "low confidence" DIA assessment that the strikes on Iran likely did not destroy key components.

By Lee Ferran

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

Air Warfare

Thales, KNDS expand protection system RAPIDFire for bases on land

On the stand during the Paris Air Show, a KNDS staffer explained that this round explodes before it hits anything, releasing dozens of tungsten sub-projectiles over a wide area,

By Christina Mackenzie

Naval Warfare

Who’s Who in Defense: Rick Scott, Chairman, Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Seapower

The Subcommittee on Seapower has jurisdiction over: Navy planning and operations policy and programs (less, space, cyber, nuclear weapons, and special operations); and Marine Corps planning and operations policy and programs (less cyber, space, and special operations).

By Catherine Macaulay

Global

As NATO considers defense shopping list, US officers plan to help direct

"My goal would be to work very hard with our allies and partners in the region to bring all of that together in a coherent fashion, to increase the strength of the Alliance," SACEUR nominee Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich said.

By Ashley Roque

Air Warfare

‘We’re with them all the way’: Amid worry, Trump renews American defense of NATO

On his way to the NATO summit, the US president suggested the mutual defense clause was unclear, drawing polite rebuke from other heads of state.

By Tim Martin and Michael Marrow

Air Warfare

Boeing hires former Northrop exec to lead Air Force One program

Steve Sullivan, formerly vice president and general manager of Northrop’s strike division, has been tapped to lead Boeing’s VC-25B program, according to an internal email reviewed by Breaking Defense.

By Valerie Insinna

Air Warfare

Europe is pouring money into defense. Can US firms reap the reward amid trans-Atlantic tension?

At Paris Air Show, US executives said they see multiple paths for enlarging their share of the European defense market, including coproduction deals, mergers and acquisitions, and the creation of European-based subsidiaries.

By Aaron Mehta and Valerie Insinna

Space

New NATO commercial space strategy seeks to prompt more investment

The new strategy strongly echoes the US Space Force's Commercial Space Strategy published in April 2024, and copies some of the implementation tools the service has put into place.

By Theresa Hitchens

Air Warfare

In Singapore, UK Carrier Strike Group commanders talk upcoming exercises, with key F-35 role

Among the missions being planned by the carrier strike group is to launch eight F-35s at a time from the ship along with what was described as other high-end training.

By Mike Yeo

Air Warfare

NATO orders additional A330 MRTT aircraft, onboards Denmark, Sweden

Denmark and Sweden's participation in the the Multinational MRTT Fleet comes a month after the two nations, alongside their Nordic counterparts of Finland and Norway, signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to join.

By Tim Martin

Air Warfare

UK to buy ‘at least’ a dozen F-35As, ‘join NATO’s nuclear mission’

"The purchase represents the biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation," the UK's Foreign Office said in the announcement.

By Lee Ferran

Global

Lithuania warns Europe against making ‘big mistake’ of breaking off from US defense industry

“There is enough space for [the] US, South Korea, Turkey, these countries which are out from the European Union as well,” Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna said.

By Tim Martin

Space

Missile Defense Agency’s long-range radar tracks ICBM test target for first time

The test, dubbed Flight Test Other-26 (FTX-26), was originally planned for fiscal 2022, and again in 2023.

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