10 Breaking Defense op-eds that defined 2025
It's been a whirlwind of a year — and the defense establishment has plenty of thoughts on how it's unfolded and what might come next.
Breaking Defense’s 5 most-clicked stories of 2025
From an Army leader's harsh warning to AFRICOM's worries, here are a few stories that broke out of containment this year.
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Next-generation C2 won’t be next-gen without the network transport
The network transport architecture for NGC2 could be a hybrid approach that combines high assurance communications with 5G, WiFi, and multi-orbit satellites.
Expanded $6.5B Arrow agreement with Germany now largest Israeli defense export deal
“IAI’s pivotal role in Germany’s air defense array and the trust established with the German government were recently demonstrated during the delivery of the Arrow 3 system, just two years from contract signing,” CEO of IAI Boaz Levy said.
Army seeks new MAPS Gen II vendors willing to hand over intellectual property
The second generation Mounted Assured PNT System (MAPS Gen II) program is currently under contract with RTX subsidiary Collins Aerospace which is scheduled to run through September 2027.
US greenlights massive, $11 billion military arms package to Taiwan
Beijing did not take the announcement well, saying the offer of the arms package "grossly violates the one-China principle," undermines stability in the region and "sends a gravely wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatists forces."
Israel’s Elbit expects Greek PULS artillery deal
The move comes amid a wider Greek defense buildup, including discussions of an "Achilles' Shield" air defense system, that could reportedly include other Israeli platforms.
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Keeping sensitive information safe in a new AI era
Why edge and endpoint security can’t be an afterthought.
European defense firm KNDS targets 2026 for dual stock exchange listing
The firm, a joint venture between Germany's Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France's Nexter, amassed an order intake of €11.2 billion ($13.1 billion) in 2024.
Trump taps Lamontagne as next Air Force No. 2
Air Mobility Command chief Gen. John Lamontagne — one of several new military nominees submitted by the White House on Monday — would fill a role left vacant since the firing of Gen. James Slife in February.
Army launches ‘challenge’ to find division-level Gray Eagle replacement
Service leaders are looking to find industry solutions for short/vertical takeoff and landing (S/VOTL) drones, ones that don’t require a runway, in the Group 4 or above category.
Possible cuts loom as Army streamlines ground vehicle autonomy efforts: Official
“If acquisition reform is going to be successful … it will take us exercising our authority to stop things that don't make sense anymore. Even if they're new,” Army Chief Technology Officer Alex Miller told Breaking Defense.
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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.
Hanwha plans to build US facility to manufacture modular 155mm howitzer charges
“By bringing this state-of-the-art manufacturing line to the US, we will be able to provide the US Army with a domestic source of triple-base propellant,” Hanwha ammo plant manager Lee Woo Jin told reporters.
DoD needs to clarify service/agency roles in supporting ‘space superiority’: Mitchell Institute
As the Space Force approaches its sixth birthday, there needs to be an assessment of "gaps and seams" between it and its sister services, said retired USAF Col. Jennifer Reeves, who authored the paper.
Despite Pope visit and new talks, analysts predict Israeli escalation coming in Lebanon
"The bigger picture is that Lebanon is [disarming Hezbollah] in a phased approach, which might take two years or three years, and Israel, possibly backed by the US, wants it done much quicker, right away," one analyst told Breaking Defense.
Compromise NDAA protects Wedgetail, greenlights Black Hawk multiyear buys
Among other provisions in the FY26 NDAA, congressional authorizers would direct the defense secretary to explore possibilities for recapitalizing the military services’ executive airlift fleets.