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.
Why the Pentagon wants a new drone chief, plus GCAP moves ahead
This week on The Break Out, the US military added a new drone chief while the UK, Italy and Japan advance plans for a new fighter jet.
How Ukraine’s military is adapting after four years of war with Russia
This week on The Break Out, former Pentagon official Mara Karlin shares what she learned during a recent trip to Ukraine.
Behind Hegseth’s European posture review, plus a big CCA program update
This week on The Break Out, we look at why Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is reviewing the American troop posture in Europe before we see what's new in the race to develop a drone wingman for military pilots.
Drones of the Berlin Air Show, plus a window into Europe’s space ambitions
This week on The Break Out, a brief review of small unmanned systems as well as space-launch options showcased at ILA Berlin 2026.
Naval carrier set to deploy with a drone, while Marines say goodbye to the Harrier
This week on The Break Out, a Seahawk drone is set to join aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, and a legendary aircraft took its final flight.