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
SpaceX’s Starshield has evolved from a branding concept into an operational U.S. defense space system that combines secure communications, Earth‑observation, and hosted‑payload services. The program leverages the existing Starlink constellation, dedicated low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, and a growing network of ground‑entry terminals. Contracts worth billions of dollars—including a classified $1.8 billion NRO deal and a $149.2 million SDA award—demonstrate deep integration into the Pentagon’s proliferated architecture. Its rapid launch cadence and in‑house software give the government unprecedented tempo and flexibility.
UK defence minister Luke Pollard confirmed the nation largely sources advanced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) from the United States and Japan. CMCs, critical for high‑temperature propulsion and aerospace platforms, remain scarce domestically as the UK’s own production capability matures. The...
BAE Systems secured a contract to provide field service support and implement upgrades to the AN/ALQ-221 electronic warfare system on the U.S. Air Force’s U‑2 reconnaissance fleet. The effort will refresh software libraries, enhance signal‑processing algorithms and add new threat...
On Friday, Israel launched a large‑scale air strike on Tehran, targeting missile‑production sites, while Iran responded with rockets that hit Israeli cities and announced a blanket ban on allied shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, turning back three container vessels....
Iranians living through a month of open conflict with Israel and the United States describe a society under siege, with soaring inflation and halted tourism eroding livelihoods. While electricity, water and fuel remain technically available, daily life feels hollow as...
China has positioned roughly 200 aging J‑6 fighter jets, retrofitted as strike drones, at six airbases in Fujian and Guangdong, directly overlooking the Taiwan Strait. Satellite imagery confirmed the deployments, which Reuters and the Mitchell Institute reported. The unmanned aircraft...
Iran’s foreign minister accused the United States of a “calculated” assault after a U.S. Tomahawk missile struck an elementary school in Minab on Feb 28, killing more than 175 students and teachers. The U.S. military later said the strike resulted from...
The Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) portfolio, launched in late 2016, is delivering new and refurbished accommodation for over 27,000 military personnel across 24 active projects. It also targets the release of surplus Ministry of Defence land sufficient for more than...
The UK’s DragonFire directed‑energy weapon will be installed on a Type 45 destroyer by 2027, moving from demonstration to a minimum deployable capability. The 50‑kilowatt laser, built by a consortium including MBDA, Leonardo, QinetiQ and DSTL, can engage drones and mortar...
Enterprises are confronting AI‑enhanced ransomware, phishing and deep‑fake attacks that push average U.S. breach costs above $10 million. The 2025 IBM report shows AI and automation now shave roughly 80 days off breach detection times, highlighting the urgency of integrated network security...
Senator Ruben Gallego joins The Long Game podcast to discuss the looming Iran conflict and the erosion of congressional war powers. He warns that U.S. involvement can quickly shift from limited strikes to an open‑ended war, a dynamic he likens...
The article warns that rising geopolitical tensions are now mirrored in a surge of state‑sponsored cyber operations targeting Europe’s critical infrastructure, from energy and telecom to defense networks. Hacktivist groups, once fringe protestors, have evolved into actors capable of cyber‑physical...
The UK government announced a 40% reduction in its overseas aid budget, cutting the target from 0.7% to 0.3% of Gross National Income. The savings are being redirected to defence spending, prompting criticism from Green MP Ellie Chowns and development...
Well, would you look at that. Turns out one didn’t have to throw tantrums, hurl arrogant insults, or engage in dick-measuring contests in front of TV cameras. One could just have a thought: Ukraine has something we need, and Ukraine says we...
In the fourth installment of the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s series, experts Hamlet Yousef, Ioannis Koskinas and Tom Johansmeyer dissect how Iran’s conflict is being fought with economic levers such as energy disruption, maritime insecurity and financial resilience. The panel challenges common timelines and...
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocks the Pentagon’s designation of AI startup Anthropic as a national‑security supply‑chain risk. The ruling pauses Trump‑era sanctions and keeps Anthropic’s Claude model usable by federal agencies while the...
“Ukraine risks running out of money to pay for its defense against Russia within two months as a multitude of factors converge to threaten tens of billions of euros in assistance from the country’s key donors. Kyiv currently has only enough...
The OECD’s interim Economic Outlook warns that the Iran‑Israel war has erased a tentative 0.3‑percentage‑point upgrade to global GDP growth and pushed G20 inflation to 4% in 2026. The outlook flags higher energy prices, supply‑chain strain and heightened downside risks...
U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe announced federal indictments against siblings Alen Zheng and Ann Mary Zheng for planting an improvised explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base. The primary suspect fled to China and faces up to 40 years in prison,...
Security researchers say the online leak of the Coruna and DarkSword iPhone hacking toolkits puts hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads at risk. The tools, originally linked to U.S. defense contractor L3Harris and foreign espionage operations, can compromise devices...
The Middle East Media Research Institute released a detailed report exposing Iranian‑inspired terror networks and propaganda operations across the United States. It documents operatives scouting targets, establishing religious and educational venues, and mobilizing student groups to spread Tehran’s revolutionary ideology....
Some facts about NATO. THE “common” funding (infrastructure, common systems etc) is shared calculated on the basis of Gross National Income. So the US does pay more than most, but this is relatively minor. Each country member has an enduring...
President Vladimir Putin convened a closed‑door meeting with Russia’s top oligarchs, urging them to inject private capital into the state budget as the Ukraine war strains public finances. Billionaire Suleyman Kerimov pledged roughly 100 billion rubles, about $1.23 billion, to support the war...
The F‑104 Starfighter, once a record‑breaking supersonic fighter, was used by the Air National Guard as a short‑term interceptor in the early 1960s. In 1963, a South Carolina ANG pilot, Maj Gen Stan Hood, was scrambled to intercept an unidentified high‑altitude aircraft...
A video released on March 26 shows a U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet narrowly avoiding a missile launch, likely an Iranian MANPADS, during a strafing run near Chabahar Port in Operation Epic Fury. The missile detonated behind the aircraft, but the pilot...
The Senate approved a Department of Homeland Security funding bill by voice vote, clearing a path to end the partial government shutdown that has disrupted airport security and pressured the economy. The legislation still requires House approval and President Donald...
Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed a defence cooperation declaration in London on March 17, creating what officials describe as a de‑facto defence alliance. The pact commits Kyiv to share combat‑tested drone, electronic‑warfare and modern warfare expertise, while London will...
Judge blocks Pentagon from labeling Anthropic AI a "supply chain risk" and halts Trump's ban on federal use https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/anthropic-ruling-judge-trump-pentagon-ai/
Ukraine has taken delivery of RapidRanger short‑range air‑defence systems supplied under a £1.7 billion ($2.27 billion) UK aid package and has already fielded them with mobile fire groups. The lightweight launcher, under 500 kg, mounts laser‑guided Starstreak 2 and Lightweight Multirole Missiles, detecting threats...
JFB Construction Holdings and XTEND have formed a strategic partnership with ParaZero Technologies to integrate ParaZero's DefendAir net‑launch system with XTEND's Scorpio 1000 drone platform. The combined solution enables fully autonomous detection, tracking, and physical capture of hostile drones across air,...
The Pentagon announced it will no longer publish the Global Posture Review, an annual report detailing U.S. force deployments worldwide. The decision, justified by the recent release of the National Security Strategy and National Defence Strategy, marks the first omission...
The Dutch National Police disclosed a recent phishing attack that was quickly detected and contained by its Security Operations Center, preventing any citizen data exposure. The breach’s impact remains limited, though investigators are still assessing the scope and whether any...
The Delaware federal court rejected Moderna’s claim that Section 1498 immunity shielded its COVID‑19 vaccine sales, holding that the statute only protects products that directly benefit the government. The ruling coincides with a $2.25 billion settlement between Moderna and Arbutus, including a...
Ports worldwide are shifting from routine vessel inspections to hardened, technology‑driven defenses against maritime grey‑zone threats. Incidents by Russian and Chinese vessels have surged, with Russia’s incursions rising over 30% near NATO waters and China expanding drills around Taiwan. In...
AML3D Limited secured a ~AU$9.9 million (≈$6.5 million) order from Huntington Ingalls Industries for four ARCEMY X large‑scale metal 3D printers to be installed at Newport News Shipbuilding. The machines, based on the company’s Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM) process, will raise the shipyard’s ARCEMY X...
I think your opinion here is shared by the European elite. Now: 1. Consider that US's geopolitical rival is China (which Europa would rather coorporate with and rely on) 2. Then think about what the implications of...
.@Arianespace: 7-8 flights still doable this yr; #Ariane6 block 2 upgrade by mid-year; assessing demand signals for 2029-30 from @defis_eu #Iris2, @bundeswehrInfo #SatComBw4, @Amazonleo.https://t.co/JWo6B0KcJk https://t.co/bMUkosjHQJ
The Center for a New American Security proposes a "Hellscape" defense that layers cheap, autonomous drones and unmanned systems to stop a Chinese amphibious invasion of Taiwan. The concept expands the traditional "porcupine" strategy into four zones—from mid‑Strait saturation attacks...
An #unthinkable scenario, but not impossible: What happens if UK or Europe follow the US and try to ban foreign WiFi routers? https://t.co/63TLrKcnki
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived at the #G7 meeting in Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay, France. Conversations at the meeting are expected to focus largely on the #IranWar, which reaches the one month mark tomorrow. https://t.co/XYVufGPTus
At its March 25 AGM, Maersk shareholders voted down a proposal to stop shipments linked to Israel’s military operations. Activist group Ekõ highlighted alleged transport of dual‑use and weapons components, citing a Palestinian Youth Movement report of roughly 2,110 shipments...
Today in 1794, the US Government established a permanent navy and authorized the building of 6 frigates https://t.co/2xPATGNJdC
And to think, this was only on the table for months. Senate Approves Funding for Most of DHS, Moving to End Airport Crisis https://t.co/YgX0ydrDzs
Viasat and antenna specialist QEST have begun a joint study to create a dual‑band X‑band/Ka‑band airborne terminal that builds on Viasat’s Hybrid SATCOM Approach platform. The project will replace the GAT5530’s Ku‑band aperture with QEST’s TRL‑9 X‑band hardware, enabling aircraft...
Every democratic country needs to have a substantial number of "volunteers" fighting in Ukrainian units, so that they know how to fight a modern war.
NYT: Trump Had His Eye on China, Then Plunged Into a New Mideast War—The Trump administration said the Middle East would “recede” in importance as the China challenge took priority. But the president started the war in Iran. @ewong https://t.co/h6oaJHSvoN
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the No Adversarial AI Act, which would permanently prohibit federal agencies from purchasing or using artificial intelligence developed by China, Russia, Iran or North Korea. The bill tasks the Federal Acquisition Security Council...
Ionic Arm: Enabling a Leap from Appliance Repair to Advanced Reconnaissance #Drones by @EsperBionics #Innovation #EmergingTech #Tech #Technology #TechForGood https://t.co/DNsGb7RCJB
@FortemTech has the combat-proven, all-weather, day/night low-collateral effect #CUAS comprehensive counter-drone technology to solve this problem - now
We'll soon see if very powerful AI models favor the attack or the defense when it comes to cybersecurity...
