Breaking Defense

New drone czar’s success hinges on personalities, Pentagon politics: Experts

Pentagon seeks to shift $4.3B to pay for increasing operation and personnel costs

In a 47-page omnibus reprogramming notification, the Pentagon outlines an array of weapon and tech programs it wants to strip dollars from to pay for “unforeseen military requirements" which are "determined to be necessary in the national interests."

By Ashley Roque and Valerie Insinna

The solution to the tanker problem the US military keeps finding in Pacific wargames

Simulations consistently point to the vulnerability of larger refuelers concentrated at a handful of airfields.

By Breaking Defense

Land Warfare

Army selects four companies for new autonomous breaching program

The program aims to minimize troops' exposure to danger and ensure safe passage of follow-on forces, according to the Army.

By Carley Welch

Latest News

Air Warfare

Ukraine signs $2.5 billion contract with Sweden for Gripen E deliveries by 2029

The deal is a first step in Kyiv’s planned ambition to purchase up to 150 of the advanced combat jets, noted Swedish Minister of Defense Pål Jonson on social media.

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

Global, Middle East

On the ground at Turkey’s EFES 2026 multinational military exercise

Middle East Bureau Chief Agnes Helou reports from the sidelines of a recent large multinational exercise hosted by Turkey.

By Breaking Defense Video

In this episode:

The US military added a new drone chief while the UK, Italy and Japan advance plans for a new fighter jet.

Networks & Digital Warfare

TechNet Cyber 2026 eBook: Cyber defense in an AI era

How the Pentagon is shaping its next cyber strategy

Drawing on Breaking Defense's TechNet Cyber 2026 coverage, this eBook examines how the Pentagon is advancing AI, cybersecurity, and cyber strategy to strengthen the future force.

By Breaking Defense

Pentagon

House GOP defectors tank procedural vote to bring NDAA to floor

GOP leadership said House members would leave for the Independence Day holiday tonight, leaving the timeline for NDAA passage unclear.

By Valerie Insinna

Land Warfare

Tobyhanna Depot boosts drone component production with new assembly lines

Ahead of the Army's upcoming advanced manufacturing strategy, leaders within the Army's organic industrial base revealed new details on how they are scaling production of drone components as part of the Drone Dominance initiative.

By Carley Welch

Global

Drones, fighters, armored vehicles: Highlights from the UK’s Defence Investment Plan

Beyond top line spending, one of the leading takeaways from the DIP is the clear push to acquire and field autonomous systems, underpinned by a £5 billion investment in the technology, which includes plans for a "hybrid navy."

By Tim Martin

Recent DoD changes risk fielding weapons with hidden problems, watchdog warns

Major workforce reductions at DOT&E have led to "action officers" being assigned more programs, programs in warfare areas for which they lack expertise, or both, GAO said.

By Ashley Roque

Opinion

Russia, Hamas, and China: Three reasons Turkey shouldn’t get the F-35

After President Donald Trump said he would make Turkey's leader "very happy," analysts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warn in this op-ed that including Ankara in the F-35 program is still the wrong move.

By Cameron McMillan, Bradley Bowman and Sinan Ciddi

Global, Naval Warfare

How Ukraine’s military is adapting after four years of war with Russia

This week on The Break Out, former Pentagon official Mara Karlin shares what she learned during a recent trip to Ukraine.

By Breaking Defense Video

Land Warfare

Overland AI nets Marine Corps autonomous ground vehicle contract

The autonomous ground vehicle is not intended to replace the JLTV, according to Overland AI CEO Byron Boots.

By Diana Stancy and Mark Pomerleau

Global

UK prime minister pledges near $105B defense budget by 2029

Courtesy of a £8.6 billion investment in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan, the UK is also "renewing" a commitment to build sixth generation fighter jets, under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), in collaboration with Italy and Japan.

By Tim Martin

Networks & Digital Warfare

Pentagon seeks to hire ‘hundreds’ of software engineers for 2-year tours

Building on the ongoing, government-wide Tech Force hiring initiative, the new War Force effort announced today will emphasize attracting AI talent, a defense official told Breaking Defense.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Air Warfare, Global

In Defence Investment Plan preview, Britain bets big on drones, ‘hybrid’ navy

The Ministry of Defence has said the plan will pursue at least six "hybrid" warships designed to work with unmanned systems in the air and at sea.

By Lee Ferran

Space

Rocket Lab to buy satellite communications firm Iridium

"Vertical integration is at the heart of this combination ― the ability to build, launch, and operate our own spacecraft quickly and cost-effectively," a Rocket Lab spokesperson told Breaking Defense.

By Theresa Hitchens

Air Warfare

Romania buys Spyder air defense system as part of ‘largest deal’ in Rafael history, CEO says

Romania has taken a number of steps to upgrade its defenses amid the war in Ukraine just across its border, including acquiring other Israeli systems.

By Seth J. Frantzman

Breaking Defense

Latest News

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

Pentagon Buzz News Video