A Pentagon impeachment showdown, plus defense funding in limbo
Hegseth could face a high-profile impeachment battle as Congress struggles to settle major defense spending decisions before the new year.
The defense show circuit keeps rolling, plus Jimmy Stewart goes to war
The Break Out previews a busy week overseas and takes a closer look at the Hollywood star who became an Air Force general.
What’s haunting the Pentagon this Halloween?
Three special guests, and Mark, share a few frightening mysteries from their beats — from the dangers of war in space to the intricacies of upgrading America's nuclear weapons.
Drones take over AUSA, plus the Army’s plan to bring in new vendors
Drones and counter-drone tech dominated the show as the Army implements new ways to keep industry competing.
Unpacking Boeing’s F/A-XX win, plus a report from wartime Ukraine
Boeing’s victory caps a significant turnaround for its defense business, while Breaking Defense reports from western Ukraine on technology and life in wartime.
Drone-hunting on the border, plus turmoil at an Air Force think tank
NORTHCOM is testing ways to counter drone incursions, while an Air Force institute focused on China faces questions about its future.
The big news out of AFA, plus a guided tour of the show floor
From weapons in space to the search for more affordable drones, here's a look at the highlights from AFA 2026.
Air Force braces for new era of AI-powered hacking, plus unpacking the Mecca pact
The proliferation of AI is forcing the USAF to rethink cyber defense, and a new regional defense pact could shake up arms sales in the Middle East.
An Army leadership shakeup, plus lasers on the border
US soldiers are demonstrating new systems to shoot down drones while the Army starts the search for a new secretary.
How a new Pentagon memo ‘resets’ industry requirements, plus highlights from TechNet
A new DoD memo affecting Pentagon contractors, plus tech news out of Georgia.
Diving into Trump’s unusual shipbuilding plans, plus an SMD expo floor tour
The Breaking Defense team unpacks three new directives from the White House that could influence the future of the Navy.
Farnborough last looks, plus how the Iran war is affecting arms sales
We review a few final insights and observations from this year's Farnborough International Airshow.
AIA chief Eric Fanning on the budget and the health of America’s defense industry
Fanning also gave The Break Out his take on the state of foreign military sales and the room for reform.
Pentagon pursues space-based solar power
Then we talk about what happened at the NATO summit and what's to come at the Farnborough air show.