Pentagon continues to ‘struggle’ with key weapons development timelines: GAO
The watchdog's annual weapons systems assessment revealed new details about high-profile programs, from Air Force One to Army missiles.
Recent DoD changes risk fielding weapons with hidden problems, watchdog warns
Major workforce reductions at DOT&E have led to "action officers" being assigned more programs, programs in warfare areas for which they lack expertise, or both, GAO said.
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Europe rearms: Battle management, counter-UAS, and real AI at the edge
Mapping Europe’s modernization from the Eastern drone wall to actual artificial intelligence resident in tanks.
EXCLUSIVE: Inside the secret struggles of the Air Force’s T-7 Red Hawk
From a weather restriction to a "serious" airworthiness risk, the Air Force's newest training jet faces far more issues than previously reported, an investigation by Breaking Defense found.
As F-35 readiness lags, Pentagon seeks $13.7 billion boost: GAO
The F-35’s full mission capable rate fell to to 25 percent in FY25, the government watchdog found.
EXCLUSIVE: Air Force to approve T-7 trainer production within days
"We're confident in the design of the aircraft that we have," Air Force Program Executive Officer for Training Rodney Stevens told Breaking Defense. “We're ready to start proving that we can produce the aircraft at rate.”
SDA must be ‘more realistic’ about real risks in pricey satellite Tracking Layer effort: GAO
The Space Development Agency told Breaking Defense it "disagreed with the specifics of many of the report’s assertions," but promised to "work through" its recommendations.
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In contested seas, autonomy must anticipate, not just navigate
As missions stretch farther and comms grow less reliable, predictive software could become the edge that keeps missions afloat.
GAO finds V-22 ‘serious accident’ rate shot up in 2023, 2024
The GAO's report was published the same day that the Navy released its own report on the V-22, saying it was committed to the program.
To field weapons quicker, Pentagon should improve testing and evaluation process: GAO
The office outlines 13 recommendations for the DoD and services that primarily revolve around revising weapon systems' test and evaluation policies to reflect “leading practices” for product development.
Forge ahead with the Sentinel ICBM, but consider making it mobile
Nuclear experts from three different think tanks argue that it's time to take the idea of mobile launchers for America's ICBMs seriously.
Air Force can extend Minuteman ICBMs to 2050, but with risks: GAO
“Today's GAO report confirms that we desperately need an independent review to hold Pentagon officials accountable for wasting and mismanaging billions of taxpayer dollars,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren told Breaking Defense.
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Speed, AI, and the platform that makes it operational
These are the five root causes that account for most of the delay in cognitive operations staffing.
F-35 Block 4 upgrade delayed until at least 2031: GAO
The long awaited F-35 modernization effort is delayed at least another two years since the congressional watchdog's last estimate, and a total of at least five years from its original timeline.
Northrop Grumman says first DARC test validates radar tracking capability
DARC has been plagued with delays almost since its inception, according to a series of annual studies by the Government Accountability Office.
Space Force begins testing of first OCX software blocks for GPS sats
A spokesperson for Space Operations Command (SpOC) explained that government-led testing now will commence, but that an updated operational acceptance date "is not yet available."
Sentinel ICBM first flight date now in flux, Air Force says
The troubled ICBM program was supposed to fly for the first time in 2026, but now the Air Force says that the date is unknown.