Breaking Defense

Pentagon

Pentagon may ‘sacrifice’ traditional weapons to buy more drones if reconciliation fails: CTO

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Air Warfare

Tiny drones making a buzz at the Berlin Air Show

The Breaking Defense team wraps up the last day of the Berlin Air Show.

By Breaking Defense Video

Naval Warfare

Boeing bows out of Navy’s new trainer jet competition

Boeing said the T-7A Red Hawk training jet they are producing for the Air Force doesn’t fulfill Navy requirements.

By Diana Stancy and Michael Marrow

Air Warfare

Poland intends to buy two more squads of F-35s, minister says

Two extra squadrons of F-35s would double the existing order, from 32 to 64.

By Bartosz Głowacki

Latest News

Air Warfare

Lowental Hybrid to provide Israel’s Elbit with propulsion systems for tactical UAVs

“This achievement reflects how close cooperation between innovative startups and established defense leaders can accelerate meaningful progress in the UAV domain,” CEO of Lowental Hybrid Doron Fridman told Breaking Defense.

By Seth J. Frantzman

Global, Naval Warfare

Qatari companies unveil new USVs as Iran skips 2026 DIMDEX naval expo

New on the Middle East Defense Digest: Drone boats, the Qatari defense industry and foreign ships make their mark in Doha.

By Breaking Defense Video

In this episode:

A Seahawk drone is set to join aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, and a legendary aircraft took its final flight.

How integrated modeling and simulation accelerates Europe’s defensive edge

Lockheed Martin’s ACES platform delivers a shared virtual battlespace that strengthens readiness, interoperability, and faster decision-making through advanced, integrated modeling and simulation capabilities designed for evolving global threats.

By Raashi Quattlebaum - Lockheed Martin

Space

SDA must be ‘more realistic’ about real risks in pricey satellite Tracking Layer effort: GAO

The Space Development Agency told Breaking Defense it "disagreed with the specifics of many of the report’s assertions," but promised to "work through" its recommendations.

By Theresa Hitchens

Pentagon

National Guard deployments to US cities cost almost half a billion dollars, says CBO

The Trump administration has already spent nearly $500 million on domestic National Guard deployments, with monthly costs being further broken down by the CBO.

By Patrick Dawson

Space

SPACECOM chief cites Army, Marines as models for expanding on-orbit warfighting exercises

Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of US Space Command, today revealed his "Apollo Maneuvers" exercise concept involving satellite movements, responsive launch and "spectrum maneuvering."

By Theresa Hitchens

Pentagon

New National Defense Strategy could leave adversaries, and allies, guessing: Analysts

“It’s very ambiguous, and I don't know if they even recognize the contradictions that they're creating,” said Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center.

By Ashley Roque

Space

As Space Force wraps up GPS III launches, lawmakers push for more anti-jam capability

Meanwhile, House and Senate appropriators are foot-stomping the need for improvements to the GPS constellation and new, resilient alternatives.

By Theresa Hitchens

Networks & Digital Warfare

Safeguarding federally funded innovation: navigating the new era of research security

New webinar Safeguarding funded innovation in research security

Join us 6/24 as experts discuss evolving US research security policy and innovation protection. 1 CPE credit eligible.

By Breaking Defense

Naval Warfare

Navy’s new hedge strategy calls for ‘tailored’ unmanned forces to augment carriers

“We love this conveyor belt of the [carrier] strike group generation process,” Adm. Daryl Caudle said. “Submariners, we do not share that vision. Now there's a submariner at the helm here.”

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Air Warfare

Boeing runs up fresh $565M loss on KC-46 tanker

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg emphasized that the latest charge on the beleaguered tanker does not reflect larger issues across its defense business, with executives attributing it to higher production support and supply chain costs.

By Valerie Insinna

Naval Warfare

CNO Caudle: Navy must launch F/A-XX program now to penetrate Iranian airspace in 10 years

“F/A-XX is so vital [because] our ability to fly with impunity with our existing airframes is fleeting,” Adm. Daryl Caudle warned.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Pentagon

Amid Trump’s broadsides, RTX tells investors it’s ‘committed’ to paying dividends

RTX and Northrop are the first major defense companies to declare fourth-quarter 2025 earnings this week, and their approach on dividends could signal how industry at large is interpreting the Jan. 7 executive order.

By Valerie Insinna

Land Warfare