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
A new POLITICO poll reveals that citizens in the United States, Canada and other key NATO allies overwhelmingly consider cyberattacks on hospitals to be acts of war. Despite this public sentiment, NATO’s official response remains measured, emphasizing diplomatic channels and defensive measures rather than outright retaliation. The alliance is grappling with the legal, technical and strategic complexities of attributing and countering such hybrid attacks. Experts warn that the gap between public expectations and NATO’s restrained posture could erode confidence in collective security.
Rheinmetall, Germany's largest defence contractor, is weighing a bid for Munich‑based laser‑communications maker Mynaric, potentially derailing Rocket Lab's announced $150 million acquisition. The move reflects Europe’s push to keep critical aerospace and optical‑link technology under domestic control amid heightened scrutiny of...
BWX Technologies reported steady progress on the Trump‑era executive orders aimed at revitalizing the U.S. nuclear energy sector. The company has begun fabricating TRISO nuclear fuel compacts for Antares Nuclear and remains on track for on‑time delivery to Idaho National...
L3Harris Technologies secured a roughly $400 million contract to supply solid‑rocket boost motors and Liquid Divert and Attitude Control Systems for THAAD interceptors, marking its 1,000th delivery to the Missile Defense Agency in 2024. The work will be produced at facilities...
Citigroup analyst John Godyn reaffirmed a Buy rating on Northrop Grumman, setting a price target of $781 after the company’s strong fourth‑quarter earnings. The defense contractor posted $11.71 billion in revenue, a 10% year‑over‑year rise, and adjusted earnings of $7.23 per...
Analysts project roughly a 20% upside for TransDigm Group (TDG) even after recent price‑target reductions. The aerospace parts maker posted Q1 2026 sales of $2.29 billion, up 14% year‑over‑year, and adjusted EPS of $8.23, beating estimates. Net income slipped 9.7% to...
Channing Capital Management LLC reduced its Boeing position by 13.7%, selling 6,771 shares and ending the quarter with 42,600 shares valued at $9.19 million. Insider executives also trimmed holdings, collectively selling over 19,500 shares worth $4.6 million in February. Meanwhile, Boeing reported...
Satellite imagery released by the OSINT group CiberBoroshno shows a 30 × 24 metre roof breach at Russia’s Votkinsk Machine Building Plant after a Ukrainian strike using FP‑5 “Flamingo” cruise missiles. The plant is a primary producer of strategic missiles such as Yars,...
Israeli robotics firm Macushla unveiled the Shadowfax unmanned ground vehicle equipped with the SAURON remote‑controlled weapon station ahead of the Enforce Tac Nuremberg 2026 exhibition. The platform is lightweight, highly modular and can be re‑configured for combat, engineering or rescue missions. Demonstrations...
The U.S. Army's 17th Field Artillery Brigade fired HIMARS during the Arctic JPMRC 26‑02 exercise in Alaska, proving long‑range precision fires in extreme cold. The live‑fire validated rapid deployment and integration with the 11th Airborne Division while overcoming freezing‑related equipment challenges....
HMS Anson sailed from Gibraltar on 23 January and completed an 8,200‑nautical‑mile nonstop transit to Western Australia, where it began the first-ever maintenance period for a Royal Navy nuclear‑powered attack submarine outside the United Kingdom. The Submarine Maintenance Period involves about...
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SAB’s annual report warns that Russia now frames relations with the West as an existential conflict, deploying a systematic hybrid toolkit that blends military, informational, cyber, legal and economic levers. The Kremlin’s distorted threat perception fuels a perception spiral, making...
In January 2026 the UK’s National Space Operations Centre kept its warning and protection systems active around the clock to shield licensed satellites from a surge in solar activity and persistent orbital congestion. Geomagnetic storms and solar flares intensified, while...
French President Emmanuel Macron called for expanding Europe’s nuclear umbrella at the Munich Conference, proposing to share France’s deterrent with allied states. He has launched strategic talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other EU leaders to translate French nuclear capability...
The Philippine Senate will convene an all‑senators’ caucus on Feb 23 to set ground rules for talks with the Chinese Embassy over the West Philippine Sea dispute, with Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson emphasizing diplomatic courtesy and the possibility of...
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special envoy who crafted the 2020 Doha Agreement, is signaling a return to Afghan diplomacy under a prospective second Trump administration. The Doha deal, widely blamed for the rapid Taliban takeover and the chaotic U.S....
Ukraine's Drone Bombers - The Feared "Baba Yaga" https://t.co/BW3oTdMqsy Reportedly, a trophy "Baba Yaga" drone can be purchased at the market in occupied Donetsk for approximately 600,000 rubles ($7,860 USD). Some drones are cheaper. Sellers are reportedly willing to arrange a "test drive"...
Exactly the right position. Zero enrichment. Zero nuclear program. Only an intrusive inspection and dismantling of the entire program ensures compliance and keeping the program destroyed.
Legacy aerospace primes are reshaping their business models as the U.S. Space Force pivots to faster, fixed‑price procurement. Northrop Grumman, after an 8% dip in 2025 space revenue, projects $11 billion in 2026 sales and is now the primary builder for...
The commander of Ukraine's 1st Assault Regiment characterizes Ukraine's offensive operation in the Huliaipole area as improving the tactical situation and designed to exhaust Russian resources. He says it isn't a counteroffensive with penetration at operational depths.
Yes Europe has supply chain leverage over US; but US has escalation dominance over Europe on security policy. 👉 Security leverage trumps economic leverage https://t.co/OaW6h9iYDf https://t.co/yclXueiGNc
Slovak journalists allege that the Ministry of Defence awarded Czechoslovak Group (CSG) €60.36 bn in contracts after the 2023 election, potentially to lift investor sentiment ahead of CSG’s January 2026 Amsterdam IPO. The IPO raised a record‑size defence offering, valuing CSG at...
The timeline predictions for a major air campaign from major outlets have not matched the reality of the plus up. Nor did the original strikes “that were cancelled”claim. Unnamed sources vs actually understanding the realities of the force posture and...
War with Iran & energy dominance are unrelated IMO @AsimRiaz1978 Trump knows an Iran strike risks an oil spike & voter blowback at the pump. That's why I think the buildup & a strike are coercive leverage, not a plan...
The Ukrainian Ground Forces have named Colonel Oleksii Chuzykov as the new commander of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, known as the Edelweiss Brigade. The change follows the loss of Siversk and the dismissal of the previous commander, Colonel Volodymyr...
Japan’s deep-sea rare earth find at Minamitorishima sounds like a game-changer. And on paper, it is. The 50-50 mix of light and heavy rare earths is impressive, especially since heavy elements are the truly scarce ones. The bad news is it’s...
New tariffs levied - twice in less than 24 hours. Now Section 122 used to levy 15% across the board instead of 10%. That gets the effective tariff rate closer to what it was before the ruling by the Supreme...
Cheryl Yu’s report maps more than 2,000 organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany that are linked to the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department. The dataset classifies 2,294 groups into eight functional types, with...
An FAA report predicts someone will die roughly every 2 years due to incoming space debris. This research could save lives by forecasting danger zones.
The $1.5 billion NISAR satellite, a joint NASA‑ISRO venture, showcases the deepening U.S.–India space partnership. India’s Make‑in‑India agenda is accelerating indigenous defense‑related space capabilities, from ISR payloads to resilient communications. Meanwhile, China’s anti‑satellite tests and Pakistan’s growing space ties heighten regional...
"U.S. Intelligence Says at Least 15,000 at Large After ISIS Detention Camp Collapses in Syria" @WSJ https://t.co/a96xFMH9Yd U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that 15,000 to 20,000 people, including Islamic State affiliates are now at large in Syria, after an exodus from...
Intellexa’s Predator spyware can silently record iPhone camera and microphone feeds by hijacking iOS 14’s SpringBoard UI layer. Using a kernel‑level hook called HiddenDot::setupHook, the malware nullifies the SBSensorActivityDataProvider, preventing the green and orange privacy dots from ever lighting up. Jamf’s...
On 20 February 2026 an ATR‑72‑600 operated by Myanmar National Airlines was struck by an alleged first‑person‑view (FPV) drone while preparing for take‑off at Myitkyina Airport. The impact caused minor damage to the nose, mid‑body and tail, but no passengers or crew...
Weather still has a very significant effect. Ukrainian fighter aircraft , helicopters, and UAV interceptors were all less effective countering Shaheds over the winter because of the weather. The fiber optic cables on FPVs often fail because of the cold....
Politics aside, Venezuela has been an enormous geopolitical victory for the US that is probably understated and not well understood by most.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Tehran will not submit to external pressure as nuclear talks with the United States continue. He framed the stance as a defense of national sovereignty despite what he described as problems created by world...
The Ford Carrier Strike Group is now in the Med. What does that signal about US strike options on Iran and why might Trump's preference for limited strikes not go according to plan? I discussed the escalation risks with @JMathieuReports...
“To set the conditions for regime change…” General (ret) Keane No ground operation but extensive air campaign for offense and defense goals
The Modern War Institute paper argues that mobility is the decisive combat multiplier for the U.S. Army, linking historical setbacks to inadequate maneuverability and emphasizing lessons from past conflicts. It outlines how rapid movement expands firepower, accelerates decision cycles, and...
AI Polymorphic Threats Are Forcing A Rethink Of Cybersecurity by @ChuckDBrooks https://t.co/bLFH7errME #cybersecurity #ai #tech @Forbes
As Russia and Japan arm wrestle over the Kuril Islands, Russia’s economy outpaces Japan. https://t.co/Y7wv29WjpH
U.S. Forces Korea deployed F‑16 fighter jets for a rare training sortie over the Yellow Sea, prompting a rapid response from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Chinese pilots scrambled their own jets, resulting in a brief mid‑air standoff that...
NEW with @JStein_WaPo: Trump administration officials are struggling to determine how to increase defense spending $500 billion in their forthcoming budget, after Pete Hegseth secured the increase despite internal criticism from Russ Vought and other officials.
According to Serhii Flash, Russia has installed mesh modems on Molniya similar to the ones used on Geran and Gerbera. https://t.co/0MrbFEDbvA https://t.co/NYuN8bvpH6
Unauthorized drone activity around critical infrastructure is surging, prompting agencies like CISA to issue updated guidance for operators. Incidents have risen dramatically—over 217% across facilities and up to 300% at European airports—driving demand for specialized visual detection systems. The global...
Amazon’s Integrated Security team warned that a Russian‑speaking threat actor leveraged generative AI services to automate a campaign that compromised more than 600 FortiGate firewalls in 55 countries between Jan 11 and Feb 18, 2026. The attackers scanned for internet‑exposed management ports,...
David Maxwell’s latest commentary offers a sweeping roundup of current national security and Korean Peninsula developments. Highlights include the U.S. deploying MQ‑9 drones to track China’s Pacific maneuvers, a looming Trump decision on Iran that could define his legacy, and...
I think this is an additional argument for purchasing Ukrainian FPVs and other UAVs. Ukrainian companies update their UAVs regularly to meet the changing requirements on the battlefield and Russian adaptations. Makes sense for NATO members to benefit from these...
The episode examines Ukraine’s covert ‘Flamingo’ drone operations that penetrated over 1,300 km into Russian territory to strike a major missile production facility linked to President Putin. It outlines the technical capabilities of the drones, the strategic impact of disrupting...
