China

To counter China, America’s next CCA needs a different mission

The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments' Greg Malandrino argues in this op-ed that a fight with China will require CCAs for defense as well as offense.

Estonian lawmaker calls US questionnaire to NATO ‘unnecessary stress test’

“It is critically important for us in this time, a time of not living in peace time ... that both in words and deeds to not make any steps to create an image that would indicate to Moscow or Beijing that NATO is not united or focused on deterring threats growing on our borders,” Marko Mihkelson told Breaking Defense.

What China’s PLA says it is learning from the Iran war

From AI integration to the economics of air and missile defense, Chinese military commentators are paying especially close attention to the US-Israel war in Iran.

Pentagon wants ‘expanding options’ for nuclear weapons, officials say

“There's, you know, a review or sort of relook at the employment guidance, which is more about the commander of STRATCOM and his responsibilities and [the defense] secretary's authorities, etcetera,” said Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby.

GCAP timeline could shrink ‘by a couple of years,’ Leonardo CEO says

Lorenzo Mariani said the sixth-gen fighter could enter service two years ahead of its 2035 target date, but only if some requirements for the "initial version" were altered.

The devil was in the waivers: How new minerals procurement rules will change the game

Establishing durable domestic mineral supply chains will likely require closer coordination between US defense primes as well as small businesses and new entrants, says Abigail Hunter.

America’s fighter force is running out of margin: Rep. Biggs

The current demand signal for US air power abroad is not sustainable without significantly growing the force, argues Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C.

Pentagon willing to work with industry over critical mineral EO concerns

A new executive order essentially gives companies until the start of 2027 to alter their supply of critical materials and minerals. Industry is worried that could be a difficult lift.

China dumping more rocket bodies in space, endangering low Earth orbit satellites: Report

Three Chinese rocket bodies have exploded over the last four years, creating dangerous debris that "will linger for decades to centuries, potentially colliding with other space objects," LeoLabs study author Darren McKnight told Breaking Defense.

Macron’s nuclear pact expands across Scandinavia as global forces surges

Norway is just the latest ally to open discussions with Paris about France’s extended nuclear deterrence initiative.

Reintroduce nuclear weapons to the Pacific to reduce the chances of war with China

By reintroducing US theater nuclear forces first in South Korea, and then more gradually in Japan, Washington can reassure its anxious allies and bolster its own national security interests, argue Kyle Balzer and Robert Peters.

Boots on the moon needed to beat ‘belligerent’ China: Mitchell Institute

"[F]uture American space security is at risk. China's military-led human space flight progression is positioning the People's Liberation Army to achieve strategic advantage in lunar access, infrastructure, and resources," Kyle Puma, Mitchell Institute senior resident fellow for space studies, said today.

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

After exploring a Pacific-war scenario with cybersecurity executives from 14 tech firms, the Army wants to fast-track new AI tools — and thrash out new policy to allow more autonomy for AI “agents.”

Buoyed by European rearmament boost, global military spending jumps to $2.89 trillion

While Europe saw a 14 percent increase in defense spending, US expenditure declined by 7.5 percent.