Breaking Defense

Pentagon

Project Freedom unlikely to pay off in Strait of Hormuz right away, analysts say

By Ashley Roque and Diana Stancy

Space

NRO awards three new contracts for commercial satellite data

The head of the NRO's commercial programs, Pete Muend, suggested that spysat agency could vet the ability of commercial satellite firms to track airborne targes for the US Space Force.

By Theresa Hitchens

Congress

How Hegseth, Caine, and Hurst defended their budget strategy on the Hill

Valerie Insinna has the highlights from last week's House and Senate hearings on the budget.

By Breaking Defense Video

Global

Welcome to Breaking Defense Europe. Here’s what you need to know.

Breaking Defense Europe is defense news for Europeans, by Europeans.

By Aaron Mehta

Latest News

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AI will make drone threats a nightmare – it could also save us

Drones present a formidable challenge for security forces. AI is uniquely suited to powering next-gen defenses.

By Paul Lemmo - Lockheed Martin

Air Warfare

Northrop Grumman’s partners tout AI software, from AR training to mission planning

The six partners will test their software modules on Northrop’s Model 437 Vanguard jet, which returned to the air Sept. 20 after almost a year of modifications for the company’s “Beacon” program.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

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• A tour of the Sea Air Space 2026 conference from scenic National Harbor, Md.

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Air Warfare

Why Anduril, RTX are pushing new ground-launched munition variants

“Over the past several months, it's been very clear that the priority for” Pentagon and congressional leadership “is fixing our munitions gap,” said Anduril’s Diem Salmon.

By Michael Marrow

Pentagon

Pentagon readies contingency plans for government shutdown

The department’s 'highest priorities' will revolve around operations securing the US Southern border, operations in the Middle East, designing Golden Dome, depot maintenance, shipbuilding and critical munitions, according to the guidance.

By Ashley Roque

Air Warfare

The latest from EDGE Group and an interview with Aselsan’s CEO: Middle East Defense Digest [Video]

Breaking Defense's Agnes Helou runs down the latest from the Middle East after Israel's attack on Qatar. Then she speaks to the CEO of Aselsan.

By Breaking Defense Video

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

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Networks & Digital Warfare

Army plans fast follow-up to AI cyber wargame with industry: Officials

Opinion

Synthesized Command & Control: A new way human choices can guide AI warfighting

Networks & Digital Warfare

Pentagon clears 8 tech firms to deploy their AI on its classified networks

Networks & Digital Warfare

Pentagon workers vibe-code 100,000 AI ‘agents’ to use on unclassified networks

Naval Warfare

Not one-drone-fits-all: Admirals stress unmanned systems tailored to the mission

Air Warfare

Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ testbed hot-swaps AI brains mid-flight

Opinion

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

Networks & Digital Warfare

DIA centralizes AI efforts with Digital Modernization Accelerator

Air Warfare

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

Networks & Digital Warfare

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

Naval Warfare

Pentagon, Sikorsky ink $10 billion deal for 99 CH-53K heavy lift helos

The new multi-year buy is the first of its kind for the program of record, which is slated to purchase 200 helicopters in total.

By Justin Katz

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Data overload threatens decisionmakers as autonomy expands

Reducing cognitive overload on warfighters while improving “time to trust” for autonomous systems is a matter of design.

By Breaking Defense

Global

As Lebanese military prepares to disarm Hezbollah, France supports Saudi conference

A French source told Breaking Defense the meeting is expected take place before the end of 2025 and will gather several countries, including Gulf and Arab states, European states, commonwealth countries and the US.

By Agnes Helou

Networks & Digital Warfare

To ‘harmonize’ better: Air Force developing new defensive cyber campaign plan

The plan will synchronize defensive cyber activities and focus especially on critical infrastructure, an Air Force official said.

By Mark Pomerleau

Air Warfare

What’s in a pin? Trump dons golden F-22 during Erdogan meeting

Fashion aside, the president said he and the Turkish leader would discuss Ankara rejoining the F-35 program, suggesting Erdogan would be "successful" in buying jets he wanted.

By Lee Ferran

Pentagon Buzz News Video

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Pentagon

Key takeaways from Hegseth’s day in front of the House

Pentagon

How the Army is developing its C2 plans

Pentagon

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

Pentagon

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

Pentagon

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

Pentagon

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

Air Warfare

Air Force AI writes battle plans faster than humans can — but some of them are wrong

“While we're getting faster results and we're getting more results, there's still going to have to be a human in the loop for the foreseeable future to make sure they’re all viable,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Claude.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Opinion

From gridlock to greener pastures: How a full-year CR could empower warfighters

A full-year continuing resolution is not necessarily a bad thing for the Pentagon, John Ferrari writes. But the DoD has to be prepared to take advantage of it.

By John Ferrari

Air Warfare

Wilsbach expected to become next Air Force chief of staff: Sources

Former Air Combat Command head Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach had emerged as the frontrunner for the Air Force’s top uniformed job shortly after Gen. Dave Allvin announced his retirement in August.

By Valerie Insinna and Aaron Mehta

Air Warfare

State clears Germany for $1.2 billion worth of AMRAAMs

The sale would cover up to 400 copies of the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile produced by defense giant RTX, which the Defense Security Cooperation Agency says will “provid[e] increased air-to-air capability for the German F-35 program” and other NATO requirements.

By Michael Marrow