Breaking Defense

Army doubles down on autonomy, stakes out Indo-Pacific role: AUSA Day 2

Avio, Lockheed sign agreement for solid rocket motor production

The deal will pave a path for Avio USA to become a new provider of motors on Lockheed Martin’s Extended Range GMLRS and the Precision Strike Missile.

By Valerie Insinna

Networks & Digital Warfare

Army’s Project Gatekeeper aims to cut software approval times from months to ‘minutes’

The service’s new cybersecurity testing sandbox will stand up on Oct. 23, said acting Army CIO Gabe Chiulli, streamlining the current cumbersome, ad hoc arrangements for clearing commercial software for Army networks.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Global

Democratic midterm gains could speed US military aid to Ukraine, lawmaker says

Polling and prediction markets suggest the midterms could deliver "a fairly massive repudiation of the president," said Rep. Jim Himes, ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

By Tim Martin

Latest News

Air Warfare

Saudi Arabia in talks to buy as many as 200 MQ-9 drones, General Atomics says

“We have been in discussions with the government of Saudi Arabia and the White House for quite some time about a package that could include as many as 200 General Atomics aircraft,” a company spokesperson said.

By Agnes Helou

Naval Warfare

Adm. Kevin Lunday to be tapped for job as Coast Guard’s commandant, DHS’s Noem says

The admiral's nomination immediately received push back from a top Democratic senator overseeing the Coast Guard.

By Justin Katz

In this episode:

Boeing’s victory caps a significant turnaround for its defense business
A report from western Ukraine on technology and life in wartime

Air Warfare

Pentagon accepts 747 from Qatar as Democrats try to block Air Force One plan

President Donald Trump’s embrace of a luxurious jet offered as a gift by the Qatari royal family has drawn bipartisan concerns about converting the aircraft to serve as a new executive airlifter.

By Valerie Insinna and Michael Marrow

Networks & Digital Warfare

NGA, Space Force ink accord on responsibilities for buying commercial ISR

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman stressed that the commercial imagery the Space Force gathers will not be used directly for targeting, rather to allow commanders to rapidly understand evolving situations.

By Theresa Hitchens

Air Warfare

Boeing on track to deliver fifth, sixth KC-46As to Japan this year: Exec

The Boeing executives also touched on Japan’s ongoing effort to upgrade its fleet of F-15 Eagle interceptors, with Suding telling reporters that systems integration work is ongoing at Boeing’s facilities in St. Louis.

By Mike Yeo

Land Warfare

DIU shakes up Blue UAS process, enlisting third-party vendors for compliance checks

“We anticipate that hundreds of companies will apply for verification,” a DIU spokesperson told Breaking Defense.

By Ashley Roque and Carley Welch

Air Warfare

What air defense lessons can be learned from the India-Pakistan conflict?

Harsh Pant, an Indian defense analyst said, "I do think that India feels that what it has destroyed in Pakistan and the signaling that it has done by reaching out to key targets in Pakistan should create a new level of deterrence."

By Colin Clark

Air Warfare

‘Behind glide slope’: Navy Reserve chief calls for Congress to step up its KC-130J buy

Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore said only about 40 percent of the C/KC-130J fleet are mission capable on average, numbers she described as "not great."

By Valerie Insinna

Land Warfare

Army eyes cancellation of new logistics boat, halting TOW missile buys

Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said the transformation push is expected to free up $48 billion over the next five years.

By Ashley Roque

Air Warfare

Trump: Golden Dome to cost $175 billion, will be led by Space Force’s Guetlein

President Donald Trump said the project to develop a missile defense shield should be "fully operational" before the end of his term, and claimed Canada has asked to join the project.

By Michael Marrow

Space

Building on DoD demos, NOVI plans dual-use imagery constellation

Both the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Missile Defense Agency are now testing NOVI's satellite sensor data processing computer and AI-powered software on orbit.

By Theresa Hitchens

Global

Turkey’s STM debuts multi-role support ship model in Malaysia

STM said the vessel is designed to “support amphibious operations” through armored unit transportation, to deliver logistical support and can be used for search and rescue operations.

By Agnes Helou

Air Warfare