Today's Defense Pulse
Iran drafts $300B reconstruction MOU with the United States
Iran released a 14‑point draft memorandum of understanding that would require U.S. forces to withdraw from Iranian territory, lift oil sanctions and suspend the naval blockade. The proposal calls for the release of half of Iran’s frozen assets and outlines a reconstruction plan of at least $300 billion, with Tehran pledging to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days.
Cyber Command, NSA Nominee Rudd Advances to Senate Floor
The Senate Intelligence Committee voted 14‑3 to advance Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd’s nomination as head of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency. Rudd, currently deputy chief of U.S. Indo‑Pacific Command, has no prior cyber warfare or intelligence experience but sailed through hearings. The nomination now proceeds to the full Senate, where a voice vote is expected before week’s end. Meanwhile, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock was confirmed as his deputy, filling the second‑star slot.
L3Harris Pitches Cruise Missiles for SOCOM’s Air Tractor
U.S. Special Operations Command and the Air Force are testing L3Harris’s Red Wolf missile on the OA-1K Skyraider II, a modified Air Tractor crop-duster. Red Wolf can loiter or fly up to 200 nautical miles as a precision cruise missile...
ICE Director Refuses to Commit to Pausing Operations for 2026 World Cup
Acting ICE director Todd Lyons told a House Homeland Security committee that ICE will remain fully operational during the 2026 World Cup, refusing to pledge a pause around match venues. The tournament will draw up to 10 million visitors to 11...
Inside Seoul’s Bid for Canada Submarine Contract
Canada is preparing to replace its aging Victoria‑class submarines, launching its largest defence procurement to date. South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, backed by Hyundai Heavy Industries, is vying against Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for the contract. Both governments are pitching comprehensive...
China Targets Taiwan Reunification by 2049, Not Surrender
This idea of the CCP pursuing "paralysis" of Taiwan isn't wrong per se, but I don't see in here anywhere the prospect of Taiwan surrendering so it can enjoy the Hong Kong experience. And Xi has made the PRC's goals...
Palladyne AI Receives U.S. Air Force Contract to Advance Swarming Capabilities for Integrated Cross-Domain Operations
Palladyne AI secured a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract, dubbed HANGTIME, to fuse its patented SwarmOS platform across satellite, aerial, maritime and ground systems. The effort targets the longstanding challenge of making autonomous assets operate as a coordinated team...
US Deploys F‑35A Stealth Fighters Amid Stalled Iran Talks
F-35A Stealth Fighters Moving Closer To Middle East As U.S. Military Buildup Continues Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to stave off war have so far proven inconclusive. Latest update: https://t.co/XTJiEkMBnh
In the Bloody, Urban Combat to Liberate Manila, This Airborne ‘Angel’ Sacrificed All
PFC Manuel Pérez Jr., a 22‑year‑old paratrooper with the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, performed a daring solo assault on a Japanese pillbox during the February 1945 liberation of Manila. His aggressive close‑quarters attack killed 18 enemy combatants and cleared the...
CNAS Podcast | Carney’s Challenge: Can Europe Take the Reins of NATO?
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking at Davos, warned that the international system is experiencing a rupture rather than a gradual transition, urging middle powers to reduce reliance on the United States. He called for diversified partnerships and collective action...
Invitation (2/19/26): Turning OSINT Chaos Into Strategic Clarity | Irregular Warfare Initiative
On February 19, the Irregular Warfare Initiative and CACI DarkBlue will host a half‑day convening in Reston, Virginia titled “Turning OSINT Chaos into Strategic Clarity: Countering Malign Chinese Influence.” The event gathers senior irregular‑warfare practitioners from government, intelligence, and the...
Beer and Wine at Chow Halls of the Future? Commanders Will Decide.
The Army is piloting a campus‑style dining concept at Fort Hood’s 42 Bistro, launching on Feb. 18, with an optional beer and wine service. Senior commanders, including Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan and Fort Hood’s commander, will decide whether alcohol is...
Beyond Blocs
The article argues that the world is moving beyond bloc politics toward issue‑based cooperation, with Europe seeking strategic autonomy while engaging China on a case‑by‑case basis. Recent high‑level visits to Beijing by European and other leaders underscore this shift. Trade...
US General: China Remains Regional Bomber, Not Strategic
China “Just Not There Yet” On H-20 Stealth Bomber: Global Strike Command’s Top General The new head of Air Force Global Strike Command says "China is a regional bomber force at best." Exclusive: https://t.co/DP7iHlPjrI
Pentagon Partners with SEC to Codify Trump Contractor Threats
We break--DoD tells us it will work with SEC: The Pentagon is looking to turn President Donald Trump’s threats on government contractors into enforceable contract provisions and potentially Securities and Exchange Commission regulations https://t.co/KWykJh5z6T
China’s US Treasurys Exit Could Limit Japan’s Military Spending
China is directing state‑owned banks to cut U.S. Treasury holdings to roughly $750 billion by 2025, halving its 2010 peak. The reduction removes a major buyer from the market, shifting the financing burden toward Japan, the world’s largest foreign‑reserve holder. Japan’s...
Is a Dollar Vibe Shift Under Way?
The Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center podcast explores whether a sustained dollar depreciation is emerging. Host Dan McDowell explains how a weaker greenback could reshape U.S. trade balances, investment flows, and national‑security calculations. The discussion highlights potential benefits for exporters alongside higher...
Michigan Facility Designated as DOW National Test Site for Drones
The U.S. Department of Defense has named Michigan’s National All‑Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) a national test site for uncrewed aerial systems. The range offers roughly 200,000 acres of maneuver space and over 17,000 square miles of dedicated airspace, enabling realistic...
Boeing to Modernise USAF C-17A Globemaster III Flight Deck
Boeing has been awarded a contract exceeding $400 million to modernise the flight deck of the USAF C‑17A Globemaster III. The programme will replace legacy avionics with a modular open systems architecture (MOSA), allowing rapid integration of new capabilities. Curtiss‑Wright will supply...
RTX Wins up to $230.56m Deal for F135 Lot 20 Long-Lead Materials
RTX has been awarded a non‑competitive contract worth up to $230.56 million to procure long‑lead‑time materials and components for F135 Lot 20 propulsion systems. The deal supports the production of 138 engines destined for the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, as...
Major Overhaul of NATO’s Force Commands
NATO is undergoing a major command reshuffle as the United States transfers leadership of its Joint Force Commands in Naples and Norfolk to European officers—an Italian and a British general, respectively. The U.S. will assume control of Allied Maritime Command...
GE Aerospace, MEPC Sign RSAF F110 Maintenance Contracts
GE Aerospace has signed three agreements with Saudi‑based Middle East Propulsion Company (MEPC) to supply ENSIP kits, and provide repair and overhaul services for the Royal Saudi Air Force’s F110‑129 engine fleet. The deals, announced at the World Defense Show...
Will Donroe Doctrine Really Cut China’s Western Hemisphere Clout?
The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy introduces the “Donroe Doctrine,” a modernized Monroe Doctrine that seeks to bar non‑hemispheric powers, especially China, from controlling strategic assets in the Western Hemisphere. It pledges to push out foreign infrastructure firms and...
Naval Group, Astrolight to Test POLARIS Laser on Lithuanian Ships
Naval Group and Lithuanian space‑tech firm Astrolight have signed an MoU to trial Astrolight’s POLARIS laser communication terminal on Naval Group’s new offshore patrol vessel for Lithuania. The partnership was announced at the Lithuanian Maritime Defence Industry Days and follows...
A Recent Federal Circuit Case Highlights the Perils of Not Intervening in a Bid Protest and Raises Issues Caused by...
The episode examines the Federal Circuit appeal in Global K9 Protection Group LLC v. United States, highlighting how a contractor (K2 Solutions) lost its award by failing to intervene in a bid protest and by not obtaining a redacted copy...
US Navy and Raytheon Explore Additional Applications for Mk 58 CRAW Torpedo
Raytheon and the U.S. Navy are assessing broader uses for the Mk 58 Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW), a torpedo originally built for Virginia‑class submarines. The system is transitioning from prototype to an operationally ready weapon, praised for its affordability and...
NASA Chief: Artemis Moon Landing Is Litmus Test for ‘American Exceptionalism’
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman warned that the Artemis III moon landing is a litmus test for American exceptionalism, stressing that a U.S. miss before China’s 2030 landing would raise questions about national competence. The White House pushed the Artemis III...
U.S. Unveils “Parasitic” MMAUV That Hitchhikes Onto Ships & Submarines — Changing Rules Of Naval Warfare
Lockheed Martin has unveiled the Lamprey Multi‑Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV), a plug‑and‑play drone that latches onto ships or submarines and recharges via built‑in hydrogenerators. The modular vehicle can arrive at a theater fully charged and launch aerial drones, torpedoes,...
BAE Systems to Supply Allies with US Missile Warning System
BAE Systems secured $137 million in U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales contracts to supply its AN/AAR‑57 Common Missile Warning System to allied customers. The deal expands CMWS coverage to aircraft fleets in over 20 nations, adding to more than 3,000 units...
Sweden Will Build CV90 Prototypes for Its Fleet Renewal
Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration awarded a $37.5 million contract to HB Utveckling AB to build prototypes for updated CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, extending the fleet’s service life to at least 2045. The programme includes the purchase of 50 new CV9035 MkIIIC variants equipped...
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DEFAERO Strategy Series [Feb 10, 26] Steve Grundman on Acquisition Reform and Recent Headlines
Steve Grundman appeared on the DEFAERO Strategy Series to outline the Pentagon’s latest acquisition reform push, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s forthcoming list of underperforming contractors. He highlighted the Trump administration’s new equity stakes in key defense suppliers and the...
UK Faces Rising Undersea Threat, MPs Warned in Stark Evidence Session
The UK Defence Select Committee highlighted a growing under‑sea threat, chiefly from Russia’s deep‑sea capabilities and expanding Chinese activity. Around 120 international cables and extensive subsea infrastructure make the seabed a critical vulnerability for communications, energy and finance. Witnesses warned...
C‑130 Deliveries Stalled Over Faulty New Communication Package
Scoop: Deliveries of new C-130s have been halted due to issues with a new communication package being installed on the Herks. https://t.co/4PBkDEFZ7v
Germany and Sweden Choose PROTECTOR RS4 RWS for CAVS 6×6 Program
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has signed a contract with Patria to supply several hundred PROTECTOR RS4 remote weapon stations for the German and Swedish Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) 6×6 programmes, valued at approximately €140 million. The RS4, a turret‑on‑turret solution...
Behind Putin’s $15 Billion Arms Revenue Claim
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that arms exports generated roughly $15 billion in foreign‑exchange earnings in 2025 and that more than 340 cooperation projects are slated for 2026‑2028. Independent analysts caution that Russia’s defence‑sector data are opaque, making the figure difficult...
World Defense Show 2026: MARSS Displays New Nation Shield Air Defence C2 System
At the World Defense Show 2026, MARSS introduced Nation Shield, the latest version of its NiDAR command‑and‑control platform. The system extends C2 capabilities to dismounted troops and vehicle units, delivering a unified operating picture from the edge to mission command....
Challenges Overshadow Hope in Gaza
Major fighting in Gaza has ceased, yet the cease‑fire remains fragile and humanitarian conditions are only marginally improving. Over 92% of residential structures are destroyed, leaving half a hundred million metric tons of rubble and a crippled health system. The...
Europe Braces as US Returns to Munich Security Conference
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead a delegation to the Munich Security Conference, marking Washington’s most visible re‑engagement with Europe since a year of heightened unilateralism. The Munich Security Index now rates the United States as a greater geopolitical...
US Approves $1.7 Billion AEGIS Combat System Upgrade for Spain
The U.S. State Department approved a $1.7 billion Foreign Military Sale to Spain for a mid‑life upgrade of its five Álvaro de Bazán (F‑100) class Aegis‑equipped frigates. The package provides five new Aegis Weapon System shipsets, upgraded digital signal processors, modern MK‑41...
World Defense Show 2026: Middle East Remains Focused on US Equipment and Local Industry Involvement
The World Defense Show 2026 highlighted a $63.5 billion Middle East vehicle procurement market projected through 2036, with nearly half ($31.7 billion) tied to unawarded programmes. The unawarded segment covers almost 10,000 vehicles, dominated by main battle tank contracts for Bahrain, Turkey...
Developers Become Top Cyber‑attack Targets, Warning CISOs
Software developers: Prime cyber targets and a rising risk vector for CISOs | CSO Online https://t.co/BQaEUbegeO
Russian Casualties Surge, Slowing Ukraine Offensive Pace
Russia’s army in Ukraine has suffered a sharp rise in men killed or missing in action. That will make it harder for Russian forces to sustain gruelling offensive operations, which in some areas have ground to a pace slower than...
UK’s Type 83 Destroyer Stays in the Shadows with Program yet to Move Beyond Concept
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the future Type 83 destroyer remains in the concept stage, with the outline business case expected by June 2026. The program is being evaluated against the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy Strategy and the broader Defence...
Wyoming Guard Partners with Wyoming Hoist Team for Search and Rescue Training
The Wyoming Army National Guard partnered with the volunteer Wyoming Hoist Team to conduct joint hoist training with the Big Horn County Search and Rescue and Wyoming Life Flight in the Greybull Mountains on Jan. 28, 2026. The exercise taught civilian rescuers...
Mining Corridors as Catalysts: Building on the Lobito Model
In December 2025 the United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a strategic partnership that gives Washington preferential access to Congolese mineral deposits. The article argues that the next step is building logistics corridors, using the Lobito Corridor—linking...
World Defense Show 2026: ST Engineering Seeks Edge in Crowded 6x6 Market
Singapore’s ST Engineering unveiled the Vantrex, a new 6×6 infantry fighting vehicle at the World Defense Show 2026. The design merges the lower chassis of the Terrex s5 with a commercial‑truck‑derived upper structure, positioning it between the company’s Rhino 4×4...
Advisor to the Polish General Staff on Cooperation with the USA: We Have a Contingency Plan
Polish Strategic Advisor Lt. Gen. Piotr Błazeusz told TVP World that Poland has both a primary defence plan and contingency “branch” plans in case U.S. support wanes, but he remains confident Washington will not abandon its European allies. He questioned...
ADSB Floats Out Kuwait’s First Al-Dorra-Class Missile Boat
Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has launched AL NOUKHITHA, the first 62‑meter Al‑Dorra‑class missile boat built for Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense. The vessel is the inaugural unit under a subcontracted contract with EDGE Group, representing the largest naval export deal...
Corporate Report: Ministry of Defence Votes A: 2026 to 2027
On 10 February 2026, the UK Ministry of Defence published its Votes A 2026‑2027 paper, seeking parliamentary authority to set the maximum number of personnel for the armed forces for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2027. The document outlines...
Global Foresight 2036
The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center released Global Foresight 2036, its fifth strategic‑foresight report. Drawing on a survey of nearly 450 geostrategists and foresight practitioners, the paper outlines a ten‑year vision across geopolitics, the global economy, technology, and Earth systems. It highlights...
AI and the Future
Three years after ChatGPT's debut, Atlantic Council experts caution that current AI, built on large language models, excels at pattern‑based tasks but lacks true predictive power for complex geopolitical outcomes. They highlight AI's probabilistic nature, limited ability to generate new...