Today's Defense Pulse
UK MOD issues new RA 5219 rules for flight‑test instrumentation and data recorders
Regulatory Article 5219 now mandates specific sensors, recorder capacities, data‑retention periods and compliance procedures for UK military air‑system flight trials. The latest Issue 8 revision was released on 29 May 2026, replacing earlier versions dating back to 2014. The rule applies to all future flight‑test programs of air platforms.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Disciplined Growth Acquisition Corp raises $150M in IPO
Former FBI Counterintelligence Agent Jeffrey Parsons Joins GWU Program on Extremism as Senior Research Fellow
Jeffrey Parsons, a former FBI counterintelligence and counterterrorism specialist, has been appointed senior research fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism. He brings more than three decades of experience from the FBI, MITRE’s AI‑focused counterintelligence work, and a naval career that included antiterrorism strategy. In his new academic role, Parsons will contribute research on violent extremism, espionage and emerging security threats. His blend of operational, technological and policy expertise is expected to deepen the program’s analytical capabilities.
Four Companies Form UK Defence Supply Chain Alliance
Amentum, GXO Logistics, Accenture and A.P. Moller‑Maersk have launched Torus Defence Supply Chain, a new alliance aimed at strengthening UK defence supply‑chain resilience. The partnership will deliver integrated logistics, digital transformation and global freight services to support evolving defence requirements....
American Rheinmetall Tests Drone Hunter Vehicle
American Rheinmetall demonstrated its counter‑UAS ultra‑short range air‑defense (U‑SHORAD) system mounted on GM Defense’s ISV‑C vehicle at the Big Sandy Range in Arizona. The live‑fire trial engaged both fixed‑wing and rotary‑wing drone targets, confirming detection, tracking and engagement performance as...
America Doesn’t Understand Iran And It Shows (with Danny Citrinowicz)
In the latest episode of The Long Game, senior researcher Danny Citrinowicz argues that the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could paradoxically push Tehran closer to a nuclear bomb rather than deter it. He notes that Iran’s technical...
U.S. Navy Restarts Railgun Firing Trials in New Mexico
The U.S. Navy resumed electromagnetic railgun testing at White Sands Missile Range in February 2025 after years of budget‑driven pauses. The three‑day trial, conducted by Naval Sea Systems Command and the Dahlgren Division, collected data on high‑velocity projectile launches. The...
Risk of Instability in Iraq Following Strikes on Iran Examined in New Report
A new EdgeTheory report warns that the U.S. strike on Iran‑backed militia Kataʼib Hezbollah on Feb. 28 has heightened instability risks in Iraq. The analysis links rising militia retaliation and amplified narrative activity to Iraq’s already fragile Shi’a‑dominated political system. Researchers...
UK 'Must Link Energy with National Security'
A RenewableUK‑commissioned report urges the UK government to treat energy security as a core component of national security. The study, conducted with Public First and the Royal United Services Institute, warns that reliance on imported fossil fuels leaves the country...
Cisco Patches High-Severity IOS XR Vulnerabilities
Cisco issued its semiannual IOS XR security advisory, addressing four high‑severity vulnerabilities. Two CVEs (CVE‑2026‑20040 and CVE‑2026‑20046) each score 8.8 and enable privilege escalation to root via crafted CLI commands. A third flaw (CVE‑2026‑20074) can cause an IS‑IS process restart,...
Norwegian Jets Shadow Russian Coot-A Spy Plane
Norwegian Air Force F‑35 fighters intercepted a Russian Ilyushin Il‑20M “Coot‑A” reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace off Finnmark on two consecutive days. The missions occurred while NATO conducted its Cold Response 2026 exercise, prompting Quick Reaction Alert sorties from Evenes...
The $11 Billion Cost for One Week of War, and a New ‘Millionaires’ Tax’
Pentagon officials disclosed that the first six days of the Iraq war have already cost more than $11.3 billion, driven largely by high‑priced munitions. The conflict has pushed global oil prices above $100 a barrel, even after a coalition released record...
Israel and the US Are Fighting Iran Together. Are They on the Same Page Though? | Yousef Munayyer
The United States and Israel have entered their first fully coordinated joint war against Iran, now in its third week. While Washington frames the conflict as a response to Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions, Israeli strikes have targeted Iranian oil infrastructure,...
The Limits of Iran’s Proxy Empire
After the United States and Israel assassinated Iran’s supreme leader, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al‑Houthi publicly vowed solidarity and readiness to support Tehran, yet the group has remained largely absent from the ensuing conflict. Iran’s other proxies, including Hezbollah and Iraqi...
U.S. Navy Awards $19.5M Contract for Zumwalt Support
The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works a $19.5 million contract modification to provide engineering and technical support for the Zumwalt‑class destroyers through March 2027. The work, performed mainly at Bath Iron Works in Maine, continues the shipyard’s role as...
US Eliminates 16 Iranian Minelayers Near Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Central Command announced that on March 10 U.S. forces destroyed 16 Iranian vessels identified as minelayers operating near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes were part of Operation Epic Fury, which has targeted more than 60 Iranian naval assets since its launch...
Letter From Munich: Militarism in a Post-American World
The 2026 Munich Security Conference unfolded amid heightened U.S. aggression, including threats to Greenland and a looming war with Iran, while the Trump administration mocked its own foreign policy. Inside the conference, officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged...
Polyfill Supply Chain Attack Impacting 100k Sites Linked to North Korea
Security firm Hudson Rock has linked the 2024 Polyfill supply chain attack, which infected over 100,000 websites, to North Korean threat actors, overturning earlier attributions to China. The attack stemmed from the acquisition of Polyfill.io by Chinese CDN Funnull, which...
Accredited Official Statistics: MOD Trade, Industry and Contracts: 2025
The Ministry of Defence’s Trade, Industry and Contracts bulletin for 2025 presents detailed spending figures, defence‑export data and cross‑departmental comparisons. The edition removes the Major Equipment Projects section after data gaps, signalling a transition from the Defence Equipment Plan to...
Inside the Cold War Program Where the U.S. Tested Psychics Abilities
During the Cold War, U.S. intelligence agencies launched a two‑decade program to test psychic phenomena, chiefly remote viewing, under various code names that later merged into Project Stargate. The CIA initially funded the research, which the Defense Intelligence Agency took...
Government Warns of Risks From Overseas AI Dominance
The UK government warned that the concentration of frontier artificial intelligence development in a handful of overseas jurisdictions creates strategic risks for Britain’s security and freedom of action. Defence Minister Luke Pollard highlighted that most advanced AI capability is currently...
Urgent Meeting in Bucharest. Romania to Assist the United States in the War with Iran?
Romanian President Nicușor Dan convened an emergency Supreme Council of National Defence meeting on 11 March to consider a U.S. request for Romanian airfields to host communications, radar and aerial refuelling assets as part of Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The proposal revives...
Magazine Breadth — Not Just Depth — Is Key to Munitions Industrial Base Resilience
The United States faces renewed munitions shortfalls after intensive use in Iran, Ukraine and other theaters, prompting officials to stress that stockpile depth alone will not ensure resilience. Recent Pentagon initiatives, including the 2025 Munitions Acceleration Council and $25 billion FY‑2026...
UK and Australia Explore Steel Cooperation for AUKUS
The United Kingdom and Australia are assessing how their steel sectors can jointly support the AUKUS submarine programme, following the first UK‑Australia Defence Industry Dialogue since 2018. Defence Minister Luke Pollard highlighted that British firms, notably Sheffield Forgemasters, are already...
US-Israeli War on Iran May Spark Nuclear Arms Race, Carnegie Scholar Says
Carnegie fellow Zhao Tong warns that a US‑Israeli military confrontation with Iran could ignite a regional nuclear arms race. He argues that Tehran may view a direct strike as justification to fast‑track a nuclear weapons program. The escalation would likely...
Testing Denial: The Philippine Alliance in America’s First Island Chain Strategy
The Pentagon’s new National Defense Strategy emphasizes a “strong denial defense” along the First Island Chain, shifting credibility from forward troop presence to the ability of allies like the Philippines to sustain resilient, repairable infrastructure under fire. Manila’s geographic position...
US Forces Urge Civilians in Iran to Avoid Port Facilities Where Iranian Forces Are Operating
On March 11, 2026 U.S. Central Command warned civilians in Iran to stay away from any port facilities where Iranian naval forces are operating. Tehran is reportedly using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz for military activities, which strips...
UK Points to New Powers on Failing Defence Suppliers
The UK government says the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, gives it new powers to curb underperforming defence contractors. The legislation introduces an expanded exclusions regime, discretionary debarment and a transparent, centralized system for...
Honeywell Chosen by U.S. Air Force to Design Prototype Engine System for CCA
Honeywell Aerospace secured a U.S. Air Force prototype contract to design a propulsion system for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) using its new SkyShot 1600 engine. The SkyShot 1600 can operate as a turbojet or turbofan, delivering 800‑2,800 pounds of...
Lacson: Filipinos Should Be Loyal to Philippines, Not Other Nations
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson warned that Filipino officials should prioritize national interests over foreign agendas, targeting Senator Rodante Marcoleta for echoing China’s positions. Lacson highlighted the diplomatic boost a non‑permanent UN Security Council seat would give the...
Frigates Remain Key to UK Atlantic Bastion Plan
The UK’s Atlantic Bastion concept keeps general‑purpose frigates central for maritime presence, escort and reassurance while integrating uncrewed systems. Analysts argue that drones can assume long‑range passive ASW sensing, allowing frigates to avoid the vulnerability of towed arrays. Future frigates...
Leonardo Poised for Strong Growth; Buy on Pullback
Macro: Leonardo targets strong growth—orders €25bn, revenues €21bn, EBITA €2.03bn. Key: state backing, cash generation; Risk: execution, defence budget shifts. Trade: buy on pullback 📈. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Munich 2026: The Turning that Didn’t Start This Year
The 2026 Munich Security Conference served as a diagnostic barometer, revealing that the post‑World War II Western order is not collapsing but facing deep‑seated fragility. Delegates highlighted the cumulative impact of eroding arms‑control regimes, weaponized economic interdependence, great‑power rivalry, and internal...
Perception, Not Power, Determines War’s Endgame
Let me tell you the secret difference between a Navy and merchant ship captain that goes beyond the obvious. It’s 1AM & I feel sick to my stomach over this war and can’t sleep. I’m at a shipowner conference & I had...
Macron Pushes French Nuclear Expansion to Safeguard EU
Macron is proposing that France expand its nuclear deterrent to help shield the entire European Union. This comes at a time when Europe is losing confidence in the United States' security guarantees. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/brXS2oYT9J https://t.co/YPp7v8IkmX
New National Timing Centre to Protect Critical Services
The UK government is allocating £180 million to build a National Timing Centre (NTC) that will safeguard critical services such as mobile networks, banking and emergency response from GNSS disruptions. Led by the National Physical Laboratory, the NTC will employ atomic...
Deterrence Doctrine Outdated in Drone‑dominated Warfare
It’s not impotence; it was a military strategy and doctrine grounded in deterrence. It worked well for decades, but is now a million targets that cannot be protected in an active war in the drone era.
Ukrainian Drones Hit Russian Radars, Ammo Depots
Videos from Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, SSO, and GUR’s Prymary unit of FP-2 and other UAS middle strikes on 64N6E, 48a6-K1 Podlet, Sopka-2, P-18 Terek, RSP-6 M2, and Kasta-2 radar; Geran ground relay; Tor-M2, S-300V, ammunition depots, and other targets....
The Cloud Dies First In A Fight - Distributed Computing's Days At Hand
The article warns that cloud‑based AI systems crumble when communications are contested, as adversaries can jam satellites, cut fiber, or target data centers. It argues that true edge computing—independent, local processing—remains functional without network handshakes, eliminating latency and synchronization gaps....
Ukraine Achieves China-Free Drone Production Milestone
NYT: Ukraine Reaches a Milestone: Making ‘China-Free’ Drones—The country has prioritized self-sufficiency in producing a crucial battlefield weapon, though weaning itself fully off cheaper Chinese components is difficult. https://t.co/1VEbDkSJyw
UNSC Silence Explained: US Veto and Israel Influence
Why hasn't the UNSC condemned the US and Israel attacks on Iran? Oh silly me. The US is a permanent UNSC member with a veto. And Israel pulls its strings.
ISACA to Build a Skilled Cyber Security Workforce in the Age of AI
ISACA has been named the Department of Defense’s official CMMC Assessors and Instructors Certification Organisation, giving it authority to deliver the full suite of CMMC credentials worldwide. The CMMC framework blends NIST standards with a maturity model, becoming a global...
Iran Endures Heavy Hits, Wins Through Resilience
US/Israel vs Iran War in a NUTSHELL Iran is definitely taking the blows, heavy blows…. But Iran is the winner by just resilience and fighting back… https://t.co/fuE7pL2ysb
Iran Ramps up Energy Attacks as Oil Stays Sub‑$100
Overnight Iran reacted to the IEA's oil release intensifying its attacks on regional energy targets, including two small-sized fuel tankers in Iraq. Tehran knows oil is what could force President Trump to end the war early. Still, both Brent and...
Video Shows US Forces Destroying some of Iran's Old American-Made Warplanes
U.S. Central Command released video showing airstrikes that set fire to an Iranian Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a P-3F Orion maritime patrol aircraft, and an Ilyushin Il-76 freighter. The footage, posted on X, confirms the destruction of several legacy American-made planes...
CRINK's Demise Highlights Fragmented Anti‑US Alliance
“One casualty of the strikes on Iran should be the ugly acronym ‘CRINK’…Although the four countries share an opposition to the United States…there is little that unites…beyond the Chinese Communist Party’s solipsistic pursuit of its own interests.” https://t.co/p4n7y6ZuGu
US Intelligence Says Iran Regime Remains Stable
Exclusive: US intelligence says Iran government is not at risk of collapse, say sources https://t.co/HRPmb0prDr
The Autonomous Battlefield
Autonomous warfare is moving from theory to practice, with Ukraine deploying millions of drones and AI‑assisted systems that operate even when communications are jammed. The conflict has demonstrated that autonomous formations can execute coordinated attacks without human pilots, compressing the...
Six Merchant Ships Attacked in Gulf Amid War
Six vessels attacked in Gulf, Strait of Hormuz as war puts merchant ships on front lines https://t.co/pAYt6WBG5O
Trump Feigns Ignorance After US Admits School Strike
'Don't know about it': Trump plays dumb after US military admits it hit Iranian school https://t.co/fCHq47pjQo
US Navy Limits Signal Global Trade’s Fragile Future
We are witnessing the end of globalization If the US military with the massive armada assembled within 500 miles can’t protect ships in this region, we stand little chance of protecting our container shipments from Asia in the event of a...
Erdogan Warns Against Zionist Plot, Urges Regional Safeguards
#TurkeyWatch 🇹🇷: President Erdoğan warns: “We must not fall for the Zionist massacre network’s game of “killing the bird with someone else’s stone”. We are taking the necessary precautions against bloody scenarios that some want to stage in our region.” https://t.co/2JesCmUlN4