Know What's Happening in Defense
Know What's Happening in Defense
U.S. IDFC boosts reinsurance guarantees for Hormuz shipping to $40 billion
The U.S. International Development Finance Corp has doubled its reinsurance guarantees for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to $40 billion, adding major insurers such as AIG and Berkshire Hathaway. The step is intended to reinforce maritime security amid escalating regional tensions.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Kraken Robotics acquires Colvya Group for $615M
DeltaQuad, a pioneer in long‑range electric VTOL drones, is hiring a Design / Creative Engineer for its Resilience Department. The role focuses on designing, prototyping, and validating mechanical components that improve UAV reliability and field reparability, using advanced materials and additive manufacturing. Engineers will translate field feedback into rapid design updates and collaborate with integration, flight test, and software teams. The position offers a 38‑hour workweek, generous vacation, and a culture that values innovation and teamwork.
On the fourth anniversary of its invasion, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russia will continue its "special military operation" in Ukraine. He said Moscow’s objectives remain unmet and that Western support has turned the conflict into a broader confrontation...
Cyber Security Intelligence reports a surge in DDoS attacks in 2025, with assaults escalating from gigabyte to terabyte volumes. The article outlines proactive protection steps, starting with comprehensive risk assessments that inventory public‑facing assets and establish traffic baselines. It then...
The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Global Military Products a $4.9 million firm‑fixed‑price contract to deliver its Scorpion Light mobile mortar system for live‑fire testing. The platform mounts a mortar on a Polaris MRZR Alpha 6×6 vehicle, offering rapid “shoot‑and‑scoot” capability for dispersed infantry....
“Are tanks in urban warfare a burden or benefit? - Israel's experience” https://t.co/HdURRIxWhW After‑action reports from the IDF’s Ground Forces Command noted that armored units reduced infantry fatalities by more than 60% compared with operations where tanks were absent or delayed. Since...
Denmark’s Royal Danish Air Force activated 729 Squadron on 16 February to operate four General Atomics MQ‑9B SeaGuardian UAVs. Ordered in 2025 with deliveries beginning in 2028, the drones will be based at Aalborg Air Base and tasked with high‑endurance surveillance...
The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) released a new white paper titled “Perfecting Public‑Private Partnerships: The Future of Government Space Contracts.” Authored by Rational Futures, the report offers a playbook for government buyers to maximize outcomes on space PPPs, stressing that...
The Alliance of Canadian Defence Companies (ACDC) launched today as a coalition of emerging defence technology firms seeking a unified voice in Ottawa. Co‑chairs Eliot Pence and Paul Ziadé argue that Canada’s ambitious procurement targets require clear representation from Canadian‑owned...
Lawfare’s new article argues that judicial review of executive national‑security claims enhances democratic legitimacy and strengthens defense outcomes. The authors contend courts can competently assess sensitive security matters without compromising classified information, preventing abuse and improving decision‑making. They link judicial...
Ukrainian officials are urging tighter regulation of Telegram after Russian intelligence allegedly used the app to recruit saboteurs for attacks, including a deadly Lviv strike that killed a police officer. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and SBU deputy head Ivan Rudnytskyi...
The article argues that the United States must seize early leadership in space mining to secure economic, energy and geopolitical advantages as extraction technologies become viable. It highlights the trillion‑dollar profit potential of asteroid resources and the strategic value of...
Spanish shipbuilder C.N.P. Freire has secured a contract with Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to build four 47‑meter naval support vessels. The ships are designed for harsh weather and ice, carrying 16 crew, reaching 12 knots and sustaining up to...
European investigators warn that Russia’s recruitment of African migrants and students for the Ukraine war amounts to a new form of modern slavery, exploiting tourism visas, student exchanges and fake job offers. At least 171 African fighters, many aged 18‑25,...
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used a Colorado stop at True Anomaly and Sierra Space to denounce the Pentagon’s acquisition bureaucracy as a "giant swamp" that favors entrenched prime contractors. He framed commercially driven space firms as essential antidotes that...
BAE Systems secured a $204.1 million contract from the U.S. Navy to perform maintenance and system upgrades on the Wasp‑class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD‑7). The selected restricted availability work, slated to start in August at BAE’s Norfolk shipyard, will modify...
The Indian Navy will commission the ASW‑SWC corvette Anjadip on 27 February 2026, the third vessel of an eight‑ship anti‑submarine warfare shallow‑water craft program. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata, the 77‑metre ship was delivered in December 2025 and...
The Philippine Navy commissioned the offshore patrol vessel BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS‑20) and the fast‑attack interdiction craft BRP Audrey Bañares (PG‑910) at Subic on February 24. The OPV, built by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries, arrived five months ahead of...
The U.S. administration did not send a single representative to the official commemoration events marking the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nor did it issue a single word through its embassy in Kyiv -- not even a standard...
Four years ago: Russian personnel fumbles then and it’s only grown worse over time. The violence they commit against their own will ricochet through the Russian military for another generation to come, as it did from their wars in...
European governments are stepping up to shield Ukraine from a U.S. push for a rapid peace settlement that would require territorial concessions. While Washington seeks a quick ceasefire, the EU has increased military aid by 67 percent in 2025 and approved...
“We can not rebuild our industrial base without the US Merchant Marine. They are critically important,” @PeteHegseth in a news conference yesterday.
"Wait and sea" - genius headline for this report on Leonardo Proteus UAV from @fg_domperry - but only 15 mins flight time so far? #avgeek https://t.co/fuWDNu7sFH https://t.co/SoGUaRJTZX
Security firm Orca disclosed a critical vulnerability in GitHub Codespaces that lets attackers exfiltrate the automatically generated GITHUB_TOKEN and seize full control of a repository. The exploit, dubbed RoguePilot, leverages malicious content hidden in a GitHub issue, symbolic links, and...
Cyber supply chain security is no longer optional—it’s essential for resilience, innovation, and national security. Read the full piece: The Cybersecurity Challenges of the Supply Chain by @ChuckDBrooks https://t.co/THnR3VKAJx #cybersecurity #technology #supplychain
The UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) programme has opened Phase 3, Cycle 7, inviting proposals that can be manufactured, cost‑competitive and reach Technology Readiness Level 6 within twelve months. Submissions must not exceed £350,000 in funding (with a ceiling of £1 million per project) and...
TeamT5, a Taiwan‑based cybersecurity firm, confirmed that CVE‑2024‑7694 – a privilege‑escalation flaw allowing malicious file uploads and arbitrary command execution – was likely weaponized by Chinese advanced persistent threat groups Slime57 and Slime62. The vulnerability, patched in August 2024, was exploited...
Retired Vice Admiral William Hilarides has taken a senior role at Ventus Industrial, a private‑equity‑backed firm targeting the defense industrial base. He says his mission is to accelerate shipbuilding capacity and help portfolio companies produce at the pace the Navy...
Ireland is preparing to replace its aging RG‑32M 4×4 armoured patrol vehicles and Piranha III 8×8 personnel carriers with platforms from France’s Scorpion programme. French media suggest the deal could also bundle CAESAR 155 mm self‑propelled artillery, even though Ireland has not...
Identity programs still rank remediation like IT tickets, ignoring context. The article argues that true prioritization must treat identity risk as a function of controls posture, hygiene, business impact, and user intent, not just checklist completion. When these factors align,...
Japan has identified a large rare earth deposit of its own, but it's not going to change global supply dynamics. Here's the situation... #rareearths #japan #geopolitics https://t.co/2WX7oeO6Jm
EU lawmakers are advancing the Defence Readiness Omnibus, a legislative package that would replace traditional export licences with General Transfer Licences, allowing unlimited, multi‑year transfers of military goods. The proposal also expands exemptions for intra‑EU and cross‑border partnerships, potentially covering...
Global defence spending reached $2.63 trillion in 2025, a 2.5% year‑on‑year increase driven by heightened great‑power rivalry. The United States shifted its strategy toward homeland defence and burden‑sharing, proposing a multi‑layered “Golden Dome” missile shield while scaling back direct aid to...
On February 12, the National Nuclear Security Administration, Sandia National Laboratories, and the Kansas City National Security Campus inaugurated the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation (CAMINO) at the Science and Technology Park near Kirtland Air Force Base. The new...
The U.S. Navy’s next‑generation carrier USS Kennedy completed its inaugural sea trials, showcasing a suite of computer‑driven automation tools. Integrated flight‑deck, propulsion, and logistics software reduced manual inputs and accelerated mission‑ready timelines. Early data indicates a 15‑percent drop in crew workload...
Ukrainian startup Qirim Technology has begun production of segmented airless wheels for military ground drones and vehicles. The modular design replaces traditional pneumatic tires with interchangeable rubber segments mounted on a steel frame, eliminating punctures. Wheels are supplied free to...
Russia, facing mounting casualties in its fourth year of the Ukraine war, has turned to African recruits to replenish its ranks, with Ukrainian intelligence estimating more than 1,400 individuals from 36 African nations have been enlisted. Kenya reports roughly 200...
Taiwan’s integrated, multi‑layered air‑defence system is designed to detect, track, and engage ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and aircraft across the Taiwan Strait. The architecture combines early‑warning radars such as Pave Paws, airborne E‑2K Hawkeyes, and a network of fixed and...
North Korean state‑backed Lazarus group has been linked to recent Medusa ransomware attacks targeting U.S. healthcare providers. Symantec’s report identifies a Lazarus sub‑unit, possibly Andariel/Stonefly, using the Medusa RaaS platform, which has affected more than 380 organizations since its 2021...
If you are a @RUSI_org member and in London on 19 March, I will be discussing my forthcoming book 'Statecraft' with David Hogan-Hern on Whitehall, 1730-1830: https://t.co/xgrWvqlY5x
HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer, spent seven days training with the French nuclear‑powered carrier Charles de Gaulle during Operation Orion, a phase of the French Carrier Strike Group Lafayette 2026. The exercise involved 12,500 personnel, 25 ships and 140 aircraft, covering anti‑air, surface...
U.S. Army Chief Scientist Dr. David Gorsich toured MSI Defense Solutions in Mooresville, North Carolina to assess the company’s ground‑vehicle integration and its EAGLS modular counter‑UAS platform. The demonstration highlighted MSI’s ability to fuse sensors, command‑and‑control software, and kinetic or...
Four years have passed since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia was supposed to win in three days. Instead, Ukraine reinvented modern warfare, built a drone industry, and can destroy a thousand Russian soldiers in a day. Ukraine can...
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Space Force will test a new digital atomic clock aboard the tenth GPS III satellite, slated for launch in early 2026. The digital clock is intended to replace legacy rubidium timepieces, offering higher precision while consuming...
Infobip has teamed up with the European Space Agency to deliver asteroid impact alerts through its Voice API, replacing email notifications with instant phone calls. The integration enables ESA’s Meerkat Asteroid Guard to issue real‑time alerts 24/7, cutting response times...
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has seen its workforce shrink from roughly 3,400 to under 2,400, with fewer than 1,000 staff actively working amid the current DHS shutdown. Political turmoil—most notably the firing of director Chris Krebs and...
Russia has opened an investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov for “abetting terrorist activities”, in the latest sign that his uneasy relationship with the Kremlin has broken down. https://t.co/HYthGGeVJG
Cross Water Production introduces a modular aluminium RIB that combines a long‑life hull with interchangeable deck modules, enabling current crewed missions and a stepwise path to unmanned capability. The hull is built for 25‑plus years of service with 1.5× buoyancy,...
Leonardo UK announced optimism about securing additional funding for its Proteus autonomous‑system demonstrator ahead of the UK Defence Investment Plan. The programme, backed by a £60 million MoD contract awarded in 2022, completed its maiden flight in January 2026, proving key...
"Israeli intelligence has concluded that even with the imminent arrival of the USS Gerald R Ford later this week, the US has military capacity to sustain just a four to five day intense aerial assault on Iran, or a week...
The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command announced a €15 million purchase of Parrot ANAFI UKR micro‑UAV systems, with deliveries slated for early 2026. The contract builds on years of Finnish experience with Parrot’s ANAFI Thermal SE and ANAFI USA platforms, extending the force’s ISR...
