Chairman Caine talks cislunar ops, plus a window into next-gen airlift
We discuss top news from the final day of AFA 2026.
Hegseth offers $37.5B price tag for ‘certain aspects’ of Iran war
In an at times contentious hearing, the defense secretary said the administration urgently needed nearly $90 billion in supplemental funding in part to cover Iran conflict-related costs.
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Biodefense is force protection: Ready today, prepared for tomorrow
A decorated combat aviator and biotech CEO advocates preparing for novel viral threats before the next crisis.
Price tag for Iran war ticks up to $29B, not including base damage
"We're not making an estimate for MILCON [military construction] at this time. We don't know what our future posture is going to be," said Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst.
Reconciliation ‘floodgates’ about to open after slow start for contracts, Hegseth says
“Why do we suddenly have a two part budget where this committee and the Congress generally has oversight and input, to a process where a corner of the budget is essentially a slush fund?” asked Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, during a SASC hearing.
Key takeaways from Hegseth’s day in front of the House
What to know about Pete Hegseth's appearance in front of the House Armed Services Committee.
Pentagon leaders place $25 billion price tag on Operation Epic Fury
Members of the House Armed Services Committee also pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the recent firing of Army and Navy leaders.
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Why Bigger Fences Aren’t Enough in the Age of Drones
Traditional thinking about how to protect facilities must adapt to new threats such as drones or downstream attacks.
US can intercept any Iran-linked ship globally, Caine says
“The joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific area of responsibility, under the command of Adm. [Samuel] Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.
As 2-week ceasefire takes hold, Pentagon touts ‘decisive military victory’
“We've destroyed Iran's defense industrial base, their ability to reconstitute those capabilities for years to come,” said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.
Hegseth confirms potential $200 billion request for Iran operations, but figure ‘could move’
“Obviously it takes … money to kill bad guys so we're going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future,” said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Defense execs invited to White House to talk munition production amid Iran strikes
While Gen. Dan Caine said the US has "sufficient precision munitions for the task at hand," lawmakers are considering a high-dollar supplemental infusion to backfill missile supplies.
The Army’s Digital Transformation
AI is reshaping the Army’s approach to cyber, electronic warfare and command and control. At TechNet Augusta 2026, leaders outlined how they’re turning emerging technology into capabilities for the battlefield.
Caine: US objective is to keep Iran from projecting power outside own borders
“We're not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters.
Joint Staff director returning to Navy after only months on job
Vice Adm. Fred Kacher was removed from the role by Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to a source.
‘Overwatch’ from space, cyber ops foundational to Maduro mission
Gen. Dan Caine, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, on Jan. 3 gave a shout-out to the roles played by US Space Command and US Cyber Command in Operation Absolute Resolve.
150 aircraft, cyber effects and ‘overwhelming force:’ How the Venezuela operation unfolded
"Failure of one component of this well-oiled machine would have endangered the entire mission," Gen. Dan Caine said of Operation Absolute Resolve.