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.
What to expect from the US at the 2026 NATO summit
Here are a few things we're monitoring during this week's alliance summit in Turkey.
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Built for another era, our air-and-missile-defense industrial base needs more builders
New entrants are filling unmet needs in air-and-missile defense.
Why the Pentagon is in a hurry to spend $152 billion
The department has already issued guidance to its program offices on how to spend the money before the deadline hits.
On the ground at Turkey’s EFES 2026 multinational military exercise
Middle East Bureau Chief Agnes Helou reports from the sidelines of a recent large multinational exercise hosted by Turkey.
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.
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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.
Why Trump invoked the Defense Production Act now
“It’s a way for us to communicate and leverage industry,” said Michael Cadenazzi, the assistant secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy.
How Honeywell Aerospace plans to tap into the global CCA market
Honeywell Aerospace executive Matthew Milas lays out Honeywell's view on CCAs as a key platform-agnostic supplier.
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.
Tiny drones making a buzz at the Berlin Air Show
The Breaking Defense team wraps up the last day of the Berlin Air Show.
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Automation vs autonomy: What will shape the future of battlefield drones?
While humans must stay in the loop for kinetic decisions, empowering drones to operate autonomously is a force multiplier.
Talking Italian attack helos and skyrocketing air defense demand at the Berlin Air Show
Breaking Defense's Tim Martin and Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo cover Day 2 of the German aerospace expo.
CCA showdown and FCAS fallout, as Berlin Air Show gets underway
Catch what's new on the first day of the sprawling defense expo outside the German capital.
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.
What to expect at the Berlin Air Show
Aaron Mehta and Tim Martin walk through what they're looking for at the 2026 Berlin Air Show.