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Global, Middle East

Riyadh gets closer to F-35s, Damascus presses sovereignty and an expert take on Iran

Middle East Bureau Chief Agnes Helou reviews top news from the region before speaking with defense analyst Ryan Bohl.

By Breaking Defense Video

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

Naval Warfare

What Boeing’s F/A-XX win means for the company, and what challenges come next

The selection raises questions, for example, about how Boeing’s workforce will take on another major program.

By Diana Stancy and Michael Marrow

Naval Warfare

Navy to purchase 30 MUSVs following at-sea testing

The contracts come as the Navy expands its marketplace for unmanned systems and moves into the second phase of the MUSV program.

By Diana Stancy

Air Warfare

Boeing wins Navy next-gen fighter F/A-XX competition

Boeing's win gives it a monopoly on American sixth-gen fighters, following its 2025 selection to build the F-47.

By Valerie Insinna and Michael Marrow

Land Warfare

Army awards up to $7B in sprawling counter-drone IDIQ

The Army awarded 10 companies for a variety of counter-drone tech including sensors, effectors and C2 systems, Brent Ingraham, the head of ASA(ALT), told reporters.

By Carley Welch

Air Warfare

Raytheon nets potential $20.7 billion AMRAAM deal

Separately, L3Harris announced it won a $6 billion contract from Lockheed Martin for THAAD interceptor propulsion systems.

By Michael Marrow

Congress

House intel committee could investigate defense firm contributions to White House ballroom

Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, sent a Sept. 28 letter to a defense trade group warning of a "likely" probe into the project.

By Valerie Insinna

Global

Estonia accuses Russia of ordering August arson attack on Milrem

Despite Russia’s ongoing “reckless campaign of hostile actions,” it is “failing to undermine our unity and support for Ukraine,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said today.

By Tim Martin

Air Warfare, Land Warfare

Drone-hunting on the border, plus turmoil at an Air Force think tank

NORTHCOM is testing ways to counter drone incursions, while an Air Force institute focused on China faces questions about its future.

By Breaking Defense Video

Space

DIU, Space Force team up to kick-start buys of commercial sats for monitoring GEO

Both firms are working under earlier Pentagon contracts to demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operators that could also support future orbital warfare.

By Theresa Hitchens