EXCLUSIVE: Amid US drug war, Colombia’s defense minister wants to make cocaine less potent
“If you make the invention, I’ll give you $1 million,” Colombia's Minister of Defense Pedro Sánchez told Breaking Defense.
Trump’s heavy hand in Latin America may erode US power
President Donald Trump’s tactics in Venezuela and other Latin American countries will ultimately have the opposite effect of what he’s trying to achieve, writes Daniel DePetris of Defense Priorities.
How technology, strategy and industry are shaping the next fleet
Discover how unmanned systems and emerging technologies are shaping the future of U.S. naval power in Breaking Defense’s new eBook.
Colombia signs $3.6B deal for Gripen fighters
The deal covers 15 Gripen E one-seater aircraft, along with two Gripen F two-seaters and a host of equipment and weapons, the Swedish company announced. Delivery of the jets will take place between 2026 and 2032.
If the US cuts Colombian military aid, Bogota’s Black Hawks likely first to feel it
“If the mil-to-mil relationship can be salvaged and can be kept, that's worthwhile and that's meritorious,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart told Breaking Defense.
Colombia picks Saab Gripen for next fighter jet
Key specifics remain under wraps regarding a potential deal between Saab and Colombia, including the number of aircraft involved, delivery timelines, and the total cost of the agreement.
South American nations add ‘upgrading air forces’ to 2025 resolutions
As several countries pursue new fighter jets, experts told Breaking Defense it’s more about avoiding obsolescence than a southern arms race.
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Why enterprise IT modernization matters now – and how to “delight by design”
Do more with less: streamline workflows, reduce duplication, invest upfront to save long-term.
Spain signs $500M-plus deal for SIRTAP drones from Airbus
The Spanish Ministry of Defence said the aircraft will enter service in 2026 — an aggressive timeline considering Airbus only plans to have a prototype in the air by 2025.
Unmanned ground vehicles face a rare market challenge in South America: Horses
To be clear, interest in developing UGVs in South America does exist, albeit in the early stages and in the face of daunting natural landscape.
DSCA Looking At ‘Creative Financing’ For Future Foreign Military Sales
DSCA also is looking at ways to better advertise options like third-party transfers to potential foreign buyers, says Air Force FMS specialist Col. Anthony Walker.
Army’s SFAB Trainers Go Head To Head With Chinese in Asia, Africa
Brig. Gen. Curtis Taylor acknowledged that in the Indo-Pacific, “it’s clear that we are in competition with China in every country that we’re going to.”
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Multi-channel data link reshapes Navy’s communications capabilities
The Network Tactical Common Data Link system enables secure comms and ISR for carrier strike groups and their air and naval assets.
‘Thousands’ More Troops To US Border, But Colombia Deployment Unclear: Shanahan
Shanahan spent much of his first formal (albeit off-camera) Pentagon pressroom briefing as SecDef emphasizing continuity with his ousted predecessor, Gen. Jim Mattis. He made a point of praising Mattis’s National Defense Strategy, America’s allies, and even the press – not exactly favorites of President Donald Trump.
Rafael, Lockheed Pitch Spike Missile For Army Helicopters
Three weeks ago, US Army experts traveled to the Negev Desert to watch a test of the latest, longest-range version of Rafael’s Spike missile. Fired from an Israeli AH-64 Apache, the same gunship used by US attack helicopter squadrons, the Spike NLOS struck a target 20 miles away — four times the range of the […]
Trump’s Generals, Part 4: John Kelly vs. The Narco-Terrorists
Who are Trump’s generals? This week, James Kitfield has already told us about James Mattis and Michael Flynn, both men shaped by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now we come to John Kelly, whose time in Latin America, ironically, led him to similar conclusions about America’s enemies. As chief of US Southern Command, General […]
Reps. Mac Thornberry, Adam Smith Lead House Push For More Foreign Military Training; Leahy Amendment Targeted
CAPITOL HILL: Sequestration, Continuing Resolution, and snow be damned; the House Armed Services Committee met this morning to wrestle with long-term strategy. In a hearing not only overshadowed but outright interrupted by the House’s desperate effort to band-aid the budget crisis, top HASC leaders from both parties argued for expanding the military’s authorities to work […]