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Air Warfare, Space

Chairman Caine talks cislunar ops, plus a window into next-gen airlift

We discuss top news from the final day of AFA 2026.

By Breaking Defense Staff

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

Air Warfare

Space Force’s GMTI program gets a name, with Northrop as prime: General

Separately, the Space Force plans to issue the first operational contracts for space domain awareness to commercial firms “very soon,” according to Space Force Col. Timothy Tremailo.

By Michael Marrow

Space

SPACECOM needs more capabilities to target space adversaries: Whiting

SPACECOM also is focusing on developing the baseline capabilities, such as space domain awareness and satellite communications, to undertake cislunar operations, said Gen. Stephen Whiting.

By Theresa Hitchens

Air Warfare

Rocket engines, helmet displays and ground robots: Last looks from AFA Day 3

Here are some parting sights from across the show floor at this year's conference.

By Breaking Defense Staff

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

Global, Land Warfare

German-Israeli company FTS unveils new light combat vehicle for German Special Forces

Dubbed TAHR, the vehicle can be dropped from the air, with two of them able to fit inside a Chinook helicopter.

By Seth J. Frantzman

Naval Warfare

Hanwha, Magnet Defense to start construction on new MUSV this fall, testing next year

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in April agreeing to craft the MUSV.

By Diana Stancy

Air Warfare

Spain’s Indra unveils Squall, a new low-cost cruise missile for ‘mass attacks’

It's the latest small cruise missile to head to market, as militaries around the globe look to replenish their stocks.

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

Space

SDA misses self-imposed deadline on orbital mesh network

“We are behind on that. We should be there already,” Space Development Agency Director G.P. Sandhoo said bluntly.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Global

EU chief calls for new hybrid response protocol, increased defense ties to non-members

The security protocol could offer a solution when a state faces a significant security threat that is not clearly armed aggression, including cyberattacks, the severing of undersea cables, or the protection of critical infrastructure.

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

Air Warfare, Space

A surprise engine team up, plus a budget warning from space

We recap top news from the second day of AFA 2026.

By Breaking Defense Staff

Space

Shifting market sands: LeoLabs moves to sell new mobile space radar directly to allies

LeoLabs also intends to deploy multiple Scout-S mobile phased array radars to fill gaps in its current network of 12 larger radar facilities around the globe.

By Theresa Hitchens

Breaking Defense

Latest News

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