Breaking Defense

Army making ‘significant headway’ in ATI aviation overhaul

US can intercept any Iran-linked ship globally, Caine says

“The joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific area of responsibility, under the command of Adm. [Samuel] Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.

By Ashley Roque

Pentagon

Golden Dome czar signals space-based interceptors not guaranteed, as DoD weighs cost

"If boost-phase intercept from space is not affordable and scalable, we will not produce it, because we have other options to get after it," said Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein.

By Ashley Roque

Space

Air Force kicks off AMTI program with competition for first ‘increment’

Awards will be issued “fairly shortly” for the first operational satellites that can track aircraft and from space, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

By Michael Marrow and Theresa Hitchens

Latest News

Air Warfare

General Atomics CCA drone wingman prototype crashes in California

The company said a mishap occurred “following takeoff” today.

By Michael Marrow

Land Warfare

Greece inks $750M deal with Israel for Elbit’s PULS Rocket Artillery Systems

Greece and Israel have become increasingly close partners in the Eastern Mediterranean in recent years.

By Seth J. Frantzman

In this episode:

Details of the $1.5 trillion defense budget request, and a key lawmaker’s take on the F-35

Networks & Digital Warfare

Army’s Scarlet Dragon exercise adds commercial data to battlefield data flows

“We've had to iterate and figure out what worked, what didn't work, different pathways, different APIs, different cross domain solutions, to find out okay, this is the best one, this is more reliable one, okay, let's turn the spigot on full blast to see what we get," Chief Warrant Officer 4 Sean Benson told Breaking Defense.

By Mark Pomerleau

Air Warfare

DIU wants ‘moving map’ to help aircrews with situational awareness

A new prototype platform sought by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit could significantly boost situational awareness for users like mobility aircrews, whose decades-old aircraft often lack modern communications equipment.

By Michael Marrow

Opinion

Will private capital and disruption reshape the defense industrial base?

Private capital is pouring into defense firms, but unless the relevant stakeholders align, the surge may fail to produce proper returns, according to two op-ed authors.

By Dan Folliard and Michael Sion

Modernizing defense enterprise IT without disrupting the mission

Government can’t stop to update systems, so modernization has to happen without interruptions.

By Breaking Defense

Pentagon

Golden Dome, out-years and lots of missiles: Details of Trump’s $1.5T defense budget request

Everything you need to know about the record setting fiscal 2027 defense budget request.

By Ashley Roque, Valerie Insinna, Theresa Hitchens, Michael Marrow, Diana Stancy and Carley Welch

Space

EXCLUSIVE: SDA’s Sandhoo likely to lead Space Force Missile Warning & Tracking portfolio

It is unclear whether Gurpartap "GP" Sandhoo will keep his role as SDA acting director under a double-hat, but one industry source said that is the most likely solution at least in the near term.

By Theresa Hitchens

Announcement

Breaking Defense announces Breaking Defense Europe, a new, distinct, European edition

Breaking Defense Europe will launch May 4 with Tim Martin and Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo as co-editors.

By Breaking Defense

Global

Villagers in South Lebanon hang on to hope and their homes as war continues

“My house is my only shelter, and I don’t want to leave it,” one villager told Breaking Defense.

By Agnes Helou

Air Warfare

US F-15E fighter jet downed by Iran

The loss of an American fighter jet over Iran would appear to be the first manned American aircraft downed over Iran during Operation Epic Fury.

By Michael Marrow and Ashley Roque

Opinion

For acquisition reform to succeed, the Pentagon needs civilian agency budget flexibilities

Secretary Pete Hegseth’s push for faster, more commercial defense acquisition will fall short unless Congress also gives the Pentagon the flexible budget authorities already available to civilian agencies, Bill Greenwalt writes.

By Bill Greenwalt

Naval Warfare

Marine Corps awards Textron, General Dynamics second rapid ARV prototype contract

The Marine Corps is seeking an ARV “family of vehicles” for the program, each outfitted with unique capabilities to support mobile reconnaissance.

By Diana Stancy

Congress

Trump proposes $1.5 trillion defense budget, banking on $350 billion from reconciliation

The fiscal 2027 request, to be formally revealed Friday, marks the first time that base budget defense spending has hit the $1 trillion mark, with reconciliation funds on top of that.

By Valerie Insinna

Land Warfare

Hegseth fires Army’s top officer, Gen. Randy George

A Defense Department official confirmed a report that George has been asked to step down by Hegseth.

By Ashley Roque and Carley Welch

Opinion

Iran conflict could open door for new players in Gulf defense market

As Gulf countries reassess defense needs after the Iran conflict, new entrants may find a windfall, writes Alek Jovovic of CSIS.

By Aleksandar Jovovic

Featured:

Army making ‘significant headway’ in ATI aviation overhaul

US can intercept any Iran-linked ship globally, Caine says

Golden Dome czar signals space-based interceptors not guaranteed, as DoD weighs cost

Air Force kicks off AMTI program with competition for first ‘increment’

Latest News

General Atomics CCA drone wingman prototype crashes in California

Greece inks $750M deal with Israel for Elbit’s PULS Rocket Artillery Systems

Details of the $1.5 trillion defense budget request, and a key lawmaker’s take on the F-35

Army’s Scarlet Dragon exercise adds commercial data to battlefield data flows

DIU wants ‘moving map’ to help aircrews with situational awareness

Will private capital and disruption reshape the defense industrial base?

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

Inside the rise of Project Maven and AI warfare [Book excerpt]

DIA centralizes AI efforts with Digital Modernization Accelerator

AFCENT awards Kraus Hamdani $270M for solar-powered, long-endurance drones

First set of defensive cyber kits to be delivered to CYBERCOM units

Judge grants Anthropic preliminary injunction but Pentagon CTO says ban still stands

Companies to enter negotiations to build commercial data centers on Army installations

Swiss Destinus, Shield AI wrap European drone autonomy test campaign

Trump admin’s comments could undermine case against Anthropic in court: Experts

Pentagon CTO ‘pretty confident’ about life after Anthropic

Baykar unveils K2 Kamikaze drone with AI, swarming capabilities

Modernizing defense enterprise IT without disrupting the mission

Golden Dome, out-years and lots of missiles: Details of Trump’s $1.5T defense budget request

EXCLUSIVE: SDA’s Sandhoo likely to lead Space Force Missile Warning & Tracking portfolio

Breaking Defense announces Breaking Defense Europe, a new, distinct, European edition

Villagers in South Lebanon hang on to hope and their homes as war continues

US F-15E fighter jet downed by Iran

For acquisition reform to succeed, the Pentagon needs civilian agency budget flexibilities

Pentagon Buzz News Video

How the Army is developing its C2 plans

Will the Pentagon have to cut exercises to pay for the Iran war?

Pentagon comptroller says a ‘generational investment’ is coming, but when?

The Pentagon wants to buy 30,000 new drones. Here are the key questions.

Watch Pentagon Buzz, Breaking Defense’s new show on DoD policies, personalities and power

Marine Corps awards Textron, General Dynamics second rapid ARV prototype contract

Trump proposes $1.5 trillion defense budget, banking on $350 billion from reconciliation

Hegseth fires Army’s top officer, Gen. Randy George

Iran conflict could open door for new players in Gulf defense market