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
New PhantomRaven NPM Attack Wave Steals Dev Data via 88 Packages
Security researchers have identified a new wave of the PhantomRaven supply‑chain campaign targeting the npm registry. Between November 2025 and February 2026, Endor Labs discovered 88 malicious packages distributed through 50 disposable accounts, many employing slopsquatting and Remote Dynamic Dependencies to pull malware from external URLs. The payload harvests developer credentials, CI/CD tokens, and system information before exfiltrating data via HTTP or WebSocket. Despite minimal code changes, 81 of the packages remain active, highlighting the ongoing threat to JavaScript developers.
Russia-Linked Priests Preaching Azerbaijan War, Armenia Warns EU
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned the EU that Russian‑linked priests are using church platforms to preach war and spread disinformation, aiming to destabilise the US‑brokered 2025 peace accord with Azerbaijan. He accused these clerics of acting as agents of Russia...
Defense Business Brief: 3D-Printing on the Battlefield; Reshoring Drone Dominance; AI on Submarines
The Pentagon is set to purchase 30,000 one‑way attack drones this month and aims for 300,000 by 2027, while simultaneously banning Chinese components to build a domestic supply chain. Firestorm has introduced a containerized, climate‑controlled 3D‑printing lab that can produce...
Latvian Company Develops Battlefield Logistics Vehicle
Latvian Brasa Defence Systems showcased its UNHUMAN unmanned ground vehicle at Finland’s Griffin Tech Days 2026, operating in Arctic temperatures as low as –27 °C. The 110‑kg robot can transport up to 200 kg of supplies, equipment or casualties and run for...
Iranian Terror Cells In US & Trump’s Cabinet Buying Bunkers? What Do They Know? W/ Clayton Llewellyn
In this episode of Man in America, host Seth Holhouse and preparedness expert Clayton Llewellyn discuss the escalating conflict with Iran and the emerging threat of Iranian terror cells operating within the United States. They examine how the war’s infrastructure...
NATO Deploys AI‑Controlled Cockroach Drones for Recon
NATO is testing live cockroaches as AI-powered spy drones. Incredible AI engineering, but also something I kinda wish I hadn't learned about: > Swarm Bio-tactics wired real cockroaches with electronic backpacks containing AI hardware, radios, cameras, and microphones. > Cockroaches are steered by...
Estonia Boosting Defence Industry with Lessons From Ukraine, Says Country’s Economic Minister
Estonia’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo, announced a comprehensive push to expand the nation’s defence industrial base, drawing lessons from Ukraine’s wartime mobilisation. The plan includes directed funding, streamlined company formation, financial support for startups, rapid‑prototyping programmes,...
AMSC’s Superconductor Ship Shield Gains Momentum Amid Iran Mine Threat
I thought these comments were very key on $AMSC – American Superconductor for the mining issues in Iran "way to play marine defense (Strait of Hormuz) for their SPS (ship protection system) business". reports that Iran is placing mines in the Strait...
Oshkosh Defense, Marine Corps Establish Advanced, Digital Manufacturing Partnership
Oshkosh Defense has signed a public‑private agreement with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Depot Maintenance Command to enable advanced, digital manufacturing of vehicle parts. The deal creates a digital manufacturing exchange (DMX) where technical data is transmitted and additively manufactured...
Jihadis Intensify Attacks Against Nigeria’s Military, Killing Officers and Carting Away Weapons
Jihadist groups, including Boko Haram and its ISWAP faction, launched at least six coordinated attacks on Nigerian military bases in Borno and Yobe, killing officers and soldiers while seizing trucks, weapons and motorcycles. Analysts say the raids demonstrate an unprecedented...
Oregon National Guard CERFP Strengthens Interagency Response During Training
The Oregon National Guard’s 102nd CBRN Defense Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) took part in two regional training exercises focused on chemical‑leak emergencies, partnering with local fire departments and the EPA. The February drill simulated an anhydrous ammonia spill, while...
Call for Technical Experts for Standards
AIAA has become the Committee Manager and US Technical Advisory Group for ISO TC20/SC16, which governs standards for uncrewed aircraft systems. The committee is actively recruiting technical experts to shape International Standards for civilian Counter‑UAS equipment and is exploring a new...
Anthropic’s Pentagon Showdown Is Drawing Silicon Valley Into a Larger Fight
Anthropic has sued the Pentagon after the Department of Defense labeled the company a "supply chain risk," effectively blacklisting it from government contracts. A coalition of 37 leading AI researchers, including figures from Google, OpenAI and DeepMind, filed an amicus...
AI-Enabled Watch Towers Set to Proliferate Along the Border
The Department of Homeland Security will retrofit 148 uncrewed camera towers along the U.S. border with AI‑enabled sensors this year and add 50 next‑generation towers. GDIT’s Relocatable Autonomous Surveillance Tower brings longer‑range optics, radar, LIDAR and solar power, allowing edge...
U.S. Negotiators Were Ill-Prepared for Serious Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Iranian officials in Geneva just before the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israel strikes, but Witkoff’s limited technical knowledge led to mischaracterizations of Iran’s nuclear program. He portrayed the Tehran Research Reactor’s fuel stockpile as...
Ukrainian Instructors Will Prepare Europe to Defend Against Russia
Ukrainian military instructors will begin training German Bundeswehr troops on drones, artillery, armored operations, engineering, and command‑and‑control systems. The agreement, signed by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and President Volodymyr Zelensky, reverses the early‑war pattern where Germany trained Ukrainian soldiers. Several...
Iran Attacks Oil Facilities and Dubai Airport as Concerns Mount over Global Energy Supplies
Iran escalated its campaign against Gulf allies by launching drones that struck Dubai International Airport, wounding four people, and by hitting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian military also announced plans to target banks and financial institutions...
Iran Targets Commercial Ships, Dubai Airport and Oil Facilities as Concerns Grow over Global Energy
Iran launched drone and projectile attacks on commercial vessels, Dubai International Airport, and regional oil facilities, expanding its campaign amid escalating Gulf conflict. The strikes wounded four people at the airport, set a Thai cargo ship ablaze, and prompted interceptions...
Life as a Janissary in the Ottoman Empire
Centuries‑old Ottoman devshirme system conscripted Christian boys from the Balkans, converting them to Islam and training them as Janissary soldiers. The levy targeted youths aged eight to sixteen, with families often attempting concealment or deception to protect their children. Once...
Safer Skies Act Creates More Tools for Defending Against Drones
The Safer Skies Act, signed into law as part of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, gives state, local, tribal and federal law‑enforcement agencies the authority to use radio‑frequency detection to identify, track and, if needed, commandeer rogue drones. Previously,...
Hidonix Is Now a Defense Company
Hidonix Industries announced a strategic shift from commercial applications to a primary focus on defense and public safety, leveraging its spatial intelligence, human‑centric AI, and robotics expertise. The company will target defense operators, emergency responders, and mission‑critical missions requiring precise...
Three Lessons From Libya for the War in Iran
The article warns against treating Iran as a replica of Libya, noting that while both interventions involved NATO‑backed air campaigns and regime removal, their political contexts differ. Libya’s failure stemmed from an undefined political end‑state, fragmented coalition goals, and uncontrolled...
Ten Points on the A3C and Shield of the Americas Conference
The A3C and Shield of the Americas conference gathered in Florida to discuss countering Chinese influence in Latin America, featuring former Trump officials and defense contractors. The agenda combined hard‑line anti‑China rhetoric with proposals for a regional security pact resembling...
Tanks Damaged in Omani Port Attack: Sources
Storage tanks at Oman’s Salalah port were heavily damaged by a bomb attack, igniting fires and prompting staff evacuations. The port, a key transshipment hub, recently expanded capacity to 6.5 million TEU across six berths. The strike is part of a...
Trump’s Actions in Iran and Venezuela Show Limits of U.S. Sanctions
The Trump administration abandoned its long‑standing maximum‑pressure sanctions campaigns against Iran and Venezuela, turning to direct military operations to achieve regime change. Repeated sanctions over the past years failed to topple Tehran’s leadership or remove Nicolás Maduro, partly due to...
Hormuz Threat Persists: Vessels Still Hit by Projectiles
🚨HORMUZ UPDATE 11 MARCH🚨 ▶️The story in the Persian Gulf and Strait has changed. ▶️The initial shutdown of shipping was due to insurance. That has largely been resolved through commercial contracts. ▶️The issue now is not fiscal security, by the physical security of...
US Approves Potential $930m HIMARS Sale to Sweden
The U.S. State Department has cleared a potential $930 million foreign military sale of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to Sweden. The package comprises 20 launchers, a suite of guided multiple‑launch rocket system pods, ATMS pods, radios, GPS...
Netherlands Selects French F21 Torpedo for Orka-Class Submarines
The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced that the upcoming Orka‑class diesel‑electric attack submarines will be equipped with France’s F21 MK2 heavyweight torpedo, replacing the US‑made Mk48. The F21, an electric‑propelled, 200 kg warhead torpedo with a 57 km range and speeds up...
Actelis Wins Japanese Govt Contract, Traders Eye Scalp Range
$ASNS - "Actelis Networks Secures Japanese Governmental Order for Cyber-Hardened Networking Solutions for Critical Infrastructure" Will be watching this into market open for scalp opportunities as long as it maintains strength over VWAP/trailing EMAs Plenty of range here ($0.75, $1.00+)
Trump Doubts Iranian Mines, Urges Tankers Through Hormuz
President Donald Trump said he didn’t believe Iran was laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Asked Wednesday whether Iran had laid mines in the strait, Trump told reporters, “We don’t think so. Trump also urged oil companies to send their...
Defense Industrial Base Consortium Issues New Critical Minerals Request for Project Proposals
On February 27, 2026 the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) released a new Request for Project Proposals (RPP) focused on thirteen strategic and critical minerals, with Phase 1 submissions due March 20. The solicitation follows Executive Order 14241 and aims to diversify U.S....
Israeli Strikes Cripple Iran’s Remaining F‑14 Tomcats
Iranian F-14 Tomcats Meet Their Doom In Israeli Airstrikes Iran's Tomcats may have used up the last of their nine lives as the U.S. and Israel seek to neuter the country's air force. https://t.co/JGGYBDqHg4
Mines Stay Deployable via Boats and Trains Despite Port Loss
You can mine the waters using small boats and Iran trains to do exactly that. Even eliminating large ports won't keep them from retaining this capability, although it may make it harder. Hitting where the mines are stored is ideal,...
Mercedes-Benz Zetros Completes Arctic Winter Trials
Mercedes‑Benz’s Zetros 6×6 military truck successfully completed a series of Arctic winter trials in Finland’s Arctic Circle, where temperatures dropped to –20 °C and a cold‑chamber test reached –40 °C. The Special Trucks Team evaluated cold‑start procedures, electronic stability, brake performance, tire‑pressure...
Ukrainian Sees Symbolic Link in UK's Trident Missile
As a Ukrainan, I feel like it's not a coincidence that the British nuclear-carrying missile is called Trident but I can't prove it. https://t.co/y3Kt4e5Kem
Honoring CWO3 Robert Marzan, KIA in Kuwait UAV Attack
Sincere condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, killed in action during an unmanned aircraft system attack on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. https://t.co/0mzqQLEoTu
Navigating Change: US-Turkish Defense Relations in 2026
The Atlantic Council’s Defense Journal outlines how U.S.‑Turkish defense relations are evolving in 2026 amid heightened activity in Syria, Libya, Ukraine, Gaza and Iran. Both Washington and Ankara see strategic openings in Syria and Libya, while the Russian invasion of...
Iran's Navy Resurfaces Like a Starfish After Supposed Elimination
Iran's Navy must be like a Starfish We were told last week it was entirely eliminated, yet reappeared
Iran's Next Move: Underwater High‑speed Missiles to Seal Strait
Missiles, then drones, then mines, now underwater high-speed missiles. For Iran's next trick to keep the Strait closed: https://t.co/98z3siY3mA
Gazprom Thwarts Aerial Attacks on Southern Facilities
MOSCOW, March 11 (Reuters) - Gazprom on Wednesday reported aerial attacks on its facilities in southern Russia, including the Russkaya pumping station that exports natural gas via the TurkStream subsea pipeline to Europe, but added that all the attacks had...
Halting Non‑Iranian Tankers in Gulf Sends Shockwave
yes, managing to stop all non-Iranian oil tanker traffic in the Persian Gulf is a tremendous impact.
Pentagon Bans Photographers After Unflattering Hegseth Photos
Scoop: The Pentagon barred press photographers from briefings on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran after they published photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that his staff deemed "unflattering." https://t.co/4EbXGWkVHt
Russia Confirms Sharing UAV Tactics with Iran
Good thread from Nicole below on reports that Russia is sharing specific tactics with Iran. I agree, this would not be surprising to me at all. The community of learning between Russia, Iran, China, and DPRK is active...
Lawmakers Push to Close Huawei Loopholes in US
ICYMI US lawmakers urged the Trump administration to close the loopholes that have allowed a unit of blacklisted Chinese tech giant Huawei to operate freely in the US https://t.co/OW33O82sVC
Ten Seafarers Dead After 13 Merchant Ship Attacks
Ten seafarers have now been killed in 13 attacks on merchant vessels since the Iran conflict erupted on February 28.
Russia Teaches Iran Ukraine Drone Tactics for Gulf Attacks
"Russia is helping Iran with advanced drone tactics from its war in Ukraine to hit US and Gulf nation targets in the Middle East, according to a Western intelligence official." https://t.co/7hTxSdMNpO
Iran's Strategy Forces Costly US Munitions Depletion
The US is firing limited advanced munitions - TLAMs, PAC-3s, JASSMs - at a breakneck pace, but replenishing them will take years and billions. Iran is waging a cost-imposing battle on the US defense industrial base -- and its working. @business...
South Korea, Japan, Taiwan Should Doubt Trump's Promises
On the plus side, hopefully South Korea, along with Japan., and Taiwan, will know that a commitment from Donald Trump isn't worth shit and plan accordingly
Insurance Secured, Now Focus on Regional Security
According to everyone I have spoken to, the insurance issue has been largely resolved and ships have sufficient war risk coverage. The issue now, is the safety and security of the region, which falls upon @CENTCOM and @US5thFleet and the regional...
China's Submarines and Missiles Already Pose Major Threat
"...China’s existing submarine force as well as its military’s anti-ship and land-attack missiles “already pose such a threat,” said Thomas Shugart, a former U.S. Navy submarine commander." https://t.co/QAKcI3LRKl