Today's Defense Pulse
U.S. Treasury expands sanctions on Iran-linked shipping network
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced a new sanctions round targeting a global network of shipping firms, tanker operators and intermediaries tied to Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical trades. Entities in Hong Kong, the UAE, India, Qatar, Singapore, China, Liberia and the Marshall Islands were added to the Specially Designated Nationals list.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Disciplined Growth Acquisition Corp raises $150M in IPO
Two Americas on Display in Munich
The Munich Security Conference, long‑standing forum for transatlantic dialogue, revealed stark contrasts between U.S. policy strands this year. While European officials pressed for a unified stance against Russian aggression, American participants displayed divergent messages reflecting domestic political divides. The conference agenda also expanded to include China’s growing influence and climate‑related security risks. These dynamics underscore a shifting balance within the alliance, testing the durability of the post‑World‑War II security order.
Why GPS III, and What Comes After It, Still Falls Short in Modern War
The United States is completing its GPS III constellation, the most extensive PNT upgrade in a decade, delivering higher accuracy, stronger signals and improved anti‑jam features. Analysts argue that while GPS III and the upcoming GPS IIIF add incremental resilience, they do not...
From Commitment to Action: The Next Steps in Holding Russia’s Leaders Accountable for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine
The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (STCA) was formalised on 25 June 2025 by Ukraine and the Council of Europe, creating a dedicated venue to prosecute Russian leaders for the war of aggression. The ICC lacks jurisdiction because...
Dispersed Troops Derailed Ukraine’s Plan to Cut Crimea Supply
From an interview with Valerii Zaluzhnyi regarding the 2023 offensive: “The original plan was to concentrate enough forces into a “single fist” to retake the partially occupied region of Zaporizhzhia — home to a vital nuclear power plant — and then...
How Ukraine and Russia Adapted Their Wartime Strategies
Excellent episode of the @CSIS Russian Roulette podcast on Ukrainian and Russian wartime adaptations with @maxbergmann, @MSnegovaya, @MassDara, and Kateryna Bondar 🎧 https://t.co/AEjQc49Rt1
Secret Talks to Promote Regime Change in Cuba; Open Attempts to Prevent Regime Change in Peru
The episode examines covert U.S. diplomatic efforts to engineer regime change in Cuba, highlighted by secret talks between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Raul Castro’s grandson, alongside open U.S. moves to block regime change in Peru. It questions the viability...
Leonardo DRS Joins SHIELD Missile Defense Program
Leonardo DRS announced it has secured multiple awards under the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD IDIQ contract, which carries a shared ceiling of $151 billion. The contracts position the company to compete for future task orders aimed at accelerating the development and...
Anchors Away: The Perils of Our Shipbuilding Imbalance
The article warns that the United States Navy faces a growing shipbuilding imbalance, with production capacity falling short of strategic demand. Historical lessons from World War II and Mahanian doctrine underscore the risk of a weakened fleet. Current procurement pipelines are...
Army Leaders Say Future European Fight Could Mean 1,500 Targets Daily
U.S. Army leaders warn that a future large‑scale conflict in Europe could involve engaging roughly 1,500 targets in a single day. The figure reflects the anticipated intensity of combined‑arms operations against a near‑peer adversary. To meet this demand, the Army...
Apache Helicopters Downed Drones With 30mm Proximity Ammo
The U.S. Army’s AH‑64 Apache attack helicopter successfully employed 30 mm proximity‑fuzed ammunition to engage and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles during a December training exercise at Yuma Proving Ground. This marks the first documented air‑to‑air kill by an Apache using purpose‑built...
U.S. Contract Sends Revolutionary Naval Drones to Japan
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Liquid Robotics a $25 million sole‑source contract to deliver 20 unmanned surface vehicles to Japan under a Foreign Military Sales program. The award covers control software, mission‑specific payloads, and launch‑recovery equipment, with work slated for...
BAE Systems Completes Successful Trials of ATLAS UGV
BAE Systems announced that its Autonomous Tactical Light Armour System (ATLAS) uncrewed ground vehicle has successfully completed a series of trials covering remote teleoperation, waypoint navigation and full sense‑and‑avoid autonomy. The eight‑wheel, 10‑tonne prototype demonstrated integration of the VANTAGE medium‑calibre...
C3BM Launches Software Developer Student Pipeline
The Department of the Air Force’s Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (C3BM) has launched the first iteration of a software developer student pipeline. The program targets Airmen from Kessel Run, the Operational Response Team, and the Conjure branch of...
Vantor Partners with Google AI to Automate Intelligence Reports for Government Agencies
Vantor, a commercial Earth‑observation satellite operator, announced a partnership with Google to run Google Earth AI models inside classified, air‑gapped government networks. The AI will automatically generate text‑based intelligence reports from Vantor’s own, third‑party, or sovereign imagery, cutting analysis time...
U.S. Army Signs $73.5M Deal for Merkava Propulsion Systems
The U.S. Army awarded Rolls‑Royce Solutions America a $73.5 million Foreign Military Sales contract to deliver Merkava tank power‑pack kits and engineering services for Israel, part of a larger $462.9 million sustainment agreement. The work, slated for completion by December 2032, will be...
AI and Quantum Forces Redefine Cybersecurity Strategies
Why Cybersecurity Strategies and Frameworks Must Be Recalibrated in the Age of AI and Quantum Threats by @ChuckDBrooks https://t.co/KGZ9x9TO0T #CyberSecurity #ai #Quantum
China Gives Lithuania Punishing Silent Treatment over Taiwan
In 2021 Lithuania permitted a Taiwanese representative office to use the name "Taiwan" rather than "Taipei," directly challenging Beijing's One‑China policy. China answered not with public sanctions but with a silent diplomatic freeze, withdrawing embassy staff and removing Lithuania from...
Washington National Guard Strengthens Readiness Ahead of World Cup 2026
Washington’s National Guard is boosting its counter‑drone readiness ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, holding a Field‑Ready Range Day at Joint Base Lewis‑McChord that united military, law‑enforcement, and interagency partners. The exercise focused on detecting, tracking, and neutralizing hostile...
SpaceX Unveils Space Traffic Management System
SpaceX announced Stargaze, a space‑situational awareness platform that leverages star‑tracker cameras on its nearly 10,000 Starlink satellites to collect about 30 million observations per day. The system generates near‑real‑time conjunction data messages and will be offered free to all satellite operators...
2024 Forecast Missed: Iran Tensions Now Escalate
Some of my armchair geopolitical analysis from 2024 where I expected a cooling of tensions and no conflict with Iran. Circumstances are very different today.
Air Traffic Controller Pay Raise Stalled by DHS Shutdown
The ongoing Homeland Security Department shutdown has frozen the $140 million earmarked for a 3.8% pay raise for air traffic controllers. While the House passed a minibus appropriations package, Senate Democrats withdrew support, leaving the raise in limbo until after the...
UK Caps Launch Liability in Timely Boost for Nascent Domestic Market
On February 18, the UK enacted a €60 million liability cap for launch operators under the Space Industry (Indemnities) Act 2025, replacing the previous unlimited exposure. The cap, which must be included in launch licences, is intended to make the nascent UK...
US Plans Submarine Deployment to Australia Amid China Tensions
The U.S. is turning to the Aussies for some help with stationing four American submarines at Stirling in a hedge against potential future conflicts with China. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/u8WjtcAb9t #militarystrategy #usnavy #geopolitics https://t.co/kzBYp1cwAq
S. Korea Seeks to Reinstate No-Fly Zone Under Suspended 2018 Inter-Korean Military Pact
South Korea announced it will seek to reinstate the no‑fly zone over the Demilitarized Zone that was established under the 2018 inter‑Korean military agreement. Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young disclosed the plan after earlier apologising for civilian‑operated drones that entered North...
Second and Third Prototypes of Turkey’s Kaan Fighter Have Emerged
Turkey’s Kaan fifth‑generation fighter has advanced to its second and third prototypes, designated P1 and P2, with static testing slated for 2026. The airframes show notable design tweaks, including a rearward‑shifted engine intake, wider nose, and a Tulgar helmet‑mounted display....
British Army’s Project Stokes 120mm Mortar Bids Due in March 2026
The British Army’s Project Stokes aims to field a new 120 mm Light Mounted Mortar Variant‑Hinge, with bids due by the end of March 2026 following a late‑2025 request for information. The programme revives the historic Stokes name and seeks a domestically...
AFGSC at Barksdale Air Force Base Secures $86.1m in Federal Funding
The U.S. government has allocated $86.1 million in new funding to the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base. The money will support innovation, technology, and modernization for the bomber fleet and nuclear command systems. Since 2020, total...
The F-117 Test Pilot Who Successfully Landed His Nighthawk After Its Nose Wheel Fell Off upon Take Off
In January 1982, Lockheed test pilot Tom Morgenfeld experienced a nose‑wheel loss moments after taking off the third YF‑117A prototype from Area 51. Rather than eject, he continued the flight, burned off fuel, and used the aircraft’s drag chute to execute...
Optimizing Reactor Plant Maintenance: The Case for Shipboard SLMs
LT P.J. Greenbaum and LT Vince Freschi discuss how shipboard Small Language Models (SLMs) combined with Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) can overhaul nuclear propulsion plant maintenance by turning static manuals and logs into a live, searchable knowledge base. They explain that...
Will Russia (and Iran) Be Forced to ‘Restore Order’ in the Caucasus? Part 2: The March to Central Asia
The article examines how Azerbaijan’s new rail, gas and power corridor through Armenia is reshaping the Caucasus‑Central Asia nexus, while the United States seeks a 74% stake in the infrastructure for five decades. Moscow and Tehran face pressure to intervene...
Tata Advanced Systems Inaugurates Airbus H125 Helicopter Production Line to Boost India’s Vertical-Lift Capabilities
Tata Advanced Systems has opened India’s first private‑sector final assembly line for the Airbus H125 helicopter at Vemagal, Karnataka, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The facility will produce both civil H125 and its military...
UK Firm to Begin Work on US Air Force Wedgetail Aircraft
A UK‑based aviation firm, STS Aviation, has been awarded a contract by Boeing to perform the initial conversion of the first two US Air Force E‑7 Wedgetail aircraft, marking the first UK‑built military aircraft for the United States in more...
3 Ways to Start Your Intelligent Workflow Program
Security, IT and engineering teams face pressure to accelerate outcomes while extracting AI value, yet 88% of AI proofs‑of‑concept never reach production despite 70% of workers seeking time‑saving automation. The Hacker News article outlines three pre‑built intelligent‑workflow use cases—automated phishing response,...
Polish Navy’s Lublin-Class Minelayer-Landing Ship to Undergo Major Overhaul
Polish Navy’s Lublin‑class minelayer‑landing ship ORP Poznań has entered a scheduled 200‑day overhaul at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna. The refit includes dock repairs, hull maintenance, propulsion servicing, and refurbishment of the bow ramp and mine‑laying equipment, alongside non‑destructive structural testing. At 96 metres...
Chinese AVIC Reveals U.S.-made V-BAT Copy Drone
China’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group unveiled the Yunying‑25V, a tail‑sitter VTOL UAV that closely resembles the U.S. Shield AI V‑BAT. Demonstrated at the 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, the drone can launch from a 3‑by‑3‑meter footprint and transition to forward...
Polling Shows Britons Feel Less Safe than Five Years Ago
A new Adam Smith Insights poll of 2,052 British adults shows 52% feel less safe than in 2021, with over 60% reporting heightened anxiety about global security. The war in Ukraine and Middle‑East tensions appear to drive this shift, especially among...
Thermal Intelligence Company Raises £30m in NATO-Backed Round
SatVu, a London‑based defence‑tech firm, raised £30 million in a round backed by the NATO Innovation Fund, the British Business Bank and other investors. The funding brings total capital to £60 million and will enable the company to expand from a single‑satellite...
Sweden Ranks Third in Global Military Aid to Ukraine
Sweden emerged as the world’s third‑largest donor of military aid to Ukraine in 2025, delivering roughly $4.4 billion. European nations collectively contributed $21.5 billion, a $1.5 billion increase over the previous year, with Germany and the United Kingdom ahead of Sweden. The Nordic...
Defunding the Taliban without Starving the Afghan People
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the bipartisan No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act, aiming to prevent American taxpayer money from funding the Taliban or affiliated terrorist groups. The legislation follows a SIGAR report indicating that roughly $3.83 billion of...
Bulgaria Receives First Stryker Armored Vehicles
On Feb. 14, 2026, Bulgaria received its first batch of U.S. and Canadian Stryker armored vehicles, marking the launch of a multi‑year ground‑force modernization program. Five combat‑ready Strykers were delivered to the port of Burgas and will be assembled at...
China Now Finds Itself in Al-Qaeda’s Crosshairs
In this episode Colin Clarke and Lucas Webber examine al‑Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s recent propaganda that explicitly threatens China over its treatment of Uyghur Muslims, marking a shift from peripheral to central antagonism. They trace the evolution of jihadist...
L3Harris Begins Work on South Korean AEW&C Aircraft, Eyes Further International Opportunities
L3Harris has begun modifying Bombardier Global 6500 jets for South Korea’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program, deploying its AERIS X system. The contract, valued at roughly US $2.26 billion, was awarded in October 2025 and involves partners Bombardier, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elta...
Managing Systemic Supply Chain Risk to the U.S. Economy From Trade Concentration and Geopolitical Conflict
The RAND report examines systemic supply‑chain risks facing the U.S. economy stemming from trade concentration and geopolitical conflict. It highlights how reliance on a narrow set of foreign suppliers can magnify disruption impacts. The analysis calls for coordinated public‑private strategies...
BAE Systems Reports Record Sales and GBP 83.6bn Order Backlog
BAE Systems posted record full‑year 2025 sales of £30.7 billion, a 10% rise on a constant‑currency basis, and lifted its order backlog to a historic £83.6 billion. Underlying EBIT grew 12% to £3.32 billion, while free cash flow dipped to £2.16 billion as the...
New Power Rules for States Facing Reshaping Adversaries
Statecraft: The New Rules of Power in a Divided World To be published 19 March 2026 My new book on how states can pursue strategies when adversaries are powerful enough to reshape the assumptions on which they are premised. https://t.co/vmWAPrLGun
UAV Navigation & Ekolot Aerospace and Defense Partner on ZEUS VTOL Platform
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía and Ekolot Aerospace & Defense have forged a strategic partnership to embed high‑precision flight‑control and navigation systems into the ZEUS VTOL platform. The ZEUS family, with a maximum take‑off weight of 100‑250 kg and payload capacity of 30‑150 kg,...
AFP Backs Increased US Missile Deployments to Manila for Enhanced Regional Defense Posture
The Armed Forces of the Philippines publicly endorsed the United States’ plan to expand missile and unmanned system deployments following the 12th Philippines‑U.S. Bilateral Strategic Dialogue. The agreement includes the Typhon mid‑range missile launcher and the Navy‑Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction...
MOD Confirms Palantir Contract Was Direct Award
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that its Palantir Technologies contract for defence data analytics was awarded through a direct award under the Procurement Act 2023. The decision relied on Paragraph 6, citing a lack of viable alternatives, and Paragraph 7, highlighting...
The Defense Industrial Base Is a Prime Target for Cyber Disruption
Cyber adversaries are moving beyond classic espionage to disrupt the defense industrial base (DIB), aiming to cripple production capacity and supply chains. Attackers now target everything from large primes to niche startups, especially firms with dual‑use technologies, using ransomware and...
How Japan Should Respond to Trump’s Project Vault
The Trump administration’s Project Vault earmarks about $12 billion to create a U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve, a public‑private partnership that purchases, stores and manages a diversified portfolio of essential raw materials. Japan’s current METI‑JOGMEC approach evaluates projects individually, which could...