🎯Today's Defense Pulse
Updated 21m agoWhat's happening: U.S. Navy issues Sources Sought for next‑gen anti‑radiation missile
NAVAIR has released a Sources Sought notice for an Advanced Emission Suppression Missile (AESM) that would surpass the range of the current AGM‑88G and add capability to engage both air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground targets. The missile must be compatible with the F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet, EA‑18G Growler and F‑35C, featuring a broadband seeker, GPS/INS guidance and robust ECCM.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Anthropic secures $30B funding round at $380B valuation
News•Feb 16, 2026
World Defense Show 2026: Airbus Details A400M Upgrade as Second Indonesia Aircraft Delivery Looms
Airbus announced a major A400M upgrade at the World Defense Show 2026, targeting a payload increase from 37 tonnes to 40 tonnes through software and trim‑flight‑control enhancements. The company highlighted that 137 aircraft have already been delivered to ten customers, with 41 more on order, and emphasized Saudi Arabia’s interest in the upgraded capabilities for both cargo and VIP transport. Executives also noted that a second A400M is poised for delivery to Indonesia, underscoring the model’s growing global footprint. The upgrade aims to broaden market appeal and meet evolving military logistics demands.
By Shephard Media
News•Feb 16, 2026
Google Patches First Chrome Zero-Day Exploited in Attacks This Year
Google has issued emergency updates to patch CVE‑2026‑2441, a high‑severity use‑after‑free flaw in Chrome’s CSSFontFeatureValuesMap implementation. The vulnerability, confirmed to be exploited in the wild, can cause crashes, rendering issues, or data corruption. Google back‑ported the fix to stable desktop...
By BleepingComputer
News•Feb 16, 2026
Terra Now Valued at over $100 Million, as It Extends Funding to $34 Million
Terra Industries, an African defence‑technology startup, extended its Series A round to $34 million after adding $22 million in fresh capital, pushing its valuation past the $100 million mark. The round was led by Lux Capital and attracted new angel investors such as actor...
By Techpoint Africa
News•Feb 16, 2026
Lotus Blossom Hackers Breach Official Notepad++ Hosting Infrastructure
Between June and December 2025, the state‑sponsored Lotus Blossom group compromised the shared hosting provider that delivered Notepad++ updates, turning the popular text editor into a covert espionage conduit. By exploiting weaknesses in the older WinGUp updater, attackers redirected update...
By GBHackers On Security
News•Feb 16, 2026
Canada Goose Investigating as Hackers Leak 600K Customer Records
Canada Goose disclosed that a 1.67 GB dataset containing over 600,000 customer records was posted by the ShinyHunters extortion group. The leak includes personal identifiers, shipping details, IP addresses and partial payment‑card information, but the company says it found no evidence...
By BleepingComputer
News•Feb 15, 2026
Windows 11 KB5077181 Fixes Boot Failures Linked to Failed Updates
Microsoft has released Windows 11 update KB5077181, fully fixing the UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME boot failure that struck some enterprise machines after recent security patches. The bug, linked to a failed December 2025 update and exacerbated by the January 13, 2026 KB5074109 rollout, affected devices running 25H2...
By BleepingComputer
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Space’s Role Crucial as Europe Boosts Defense
Great weekend at @MunSecConf. The world is in transition, and it’s clear Space is incredibly relevant. I met with leaders incl @NATO_SACT and @DavidMcGuinty, and was inspired by remarks from @ZelenskyyUa, @vonderleyen, @Keir_Starmer and others on the critical need for...
By Will Marshall
Blog•Feb 15, 2026
Dutch Defence Secretary Boldly Claims F-35 Software Could Be ‘Jailbroken’
Dutch Defence Secretary Gijs Tuinman told Dutch radio that the F‑35’s software could potentially be “jailbroken,” hinting at a future where the Netherlands might operate the jet without U.S. approval. He stopped short of confirming any concrete plan, noting the...
By The Aviationist
News•Feb 15, 2026
Simulation Shows That Nuking Earth-Bound Asteroids Might Be Safe
Researchers from the University of Oxford and deflection startup OuSoCo used the HiRadMat particle accelerator to expose a Campo del Cielo iron meteorite sample to intense radiation, mimicking a nuclear blast. The sample first softened, then flexed and ultimately restrengthened,...
By Orbital Today
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Modern Bluetooth Pacemakers Continuously Broadcast When Disconnected
Regarding this, there was a couple questions on does the pacemaker continue to advertise - most BLE implantable devices go into a sleep type mode. In this case, we are lucky - it does not. We know based on law enforcement...
By Dave Kennedy
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Micro Reactors on C‑17 Promise Off‑grid Power
This Is A Nuclear Reactor Packed Into A C-17 Globemaster III Micro nuclear reactors are being seen as a way to get critical bases off the grid, but they could also have a major impact on civilian energy production. Story: https://t.co/KrommLR43d
By Tyler Rogoway
News•Feb 15, 2026
CTM360: Lumma Stealer and Ninja Browser Malware Campaign Abusing Google Groups
CTM360 uncovered an active campaign that hijacks more than 4,000 Google Groups and 3,500 Google‑hosted URLs to distribute credential‑stealing malware. The threat actors deliver Lumma Info‑Stealer to Windows devices and a trojanized “Ninja Browser” to Linux systems, embedding organization‑specific keywords to boost...
By BleepingComputer
News•Feb 15, 2026
Trump's Greenland Grab Is Part of a New Space Race – and the Stakes Are Getting Higher
President Trump’s push to expand U.S. presence in Greenland highlights the island’s emerging role as a strategic gateway for space operations. High‑latitude launch sites in Greenland enable efficient polar and sun‑synchronous orbits, making the territory attractive to private launch firms...
By Space.com
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Stockpile Buffers Risk, Not Replaces Chinese Supply
A $12B rare earth stockpile is a step in the right direction, but buying from China on the open market isn’t independence; it’s a piggy bank with a very fragile supply chain. Until we build domestic processing, this is a...
By Peter Zeihan
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Russia Likely to Sustain Ukraine War Until 2026
“Western officials believe that it’s probable that Russia can sustain its combat operations in Ukraine throughout 2026 as a result of its recruitment campaigns, industrial production and support from other nations like China.” https://t.co/bEORSYEWB0 https://t.co/ZjQFz8rmm1
By Rob Lee
News•Feb 15, 2026
Trump, Netanyahu Back Plan for US Pressure on Iran to Cut Oil Sales to China, Agree to Go ‘Full Force’...
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to intensify economic pressure on Iran by targeting its oil exports to China, which account for more than 80% of Tehran’s sales. The coordinated effort is intended to force...
By Mint (India) – Economy
News•Feb 15, 2026
China Expanding Aid for Russia’s War, Western Officials Say
China has stepped up its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, expanding exports of dual‑use components and critical minerals that fuel Russian drone production. Western officials say Beijing’s assistance is now essential for Moscow to sustain its military effort, describing...
By Fortune – All Content
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Cognitive Warfare Already Undermining Western Alliances and Institutions
Cognitive warfare isn’t coming—it’s here. Some Western political leaders are being used to weaken alliances, disrupt decision-making, and fragment institutions. Swipe to see the key predictions, and visit davidmurrin.co.uk for the full analysis. #Geopolitics #NationalSecurity #Russia #China #Strategy
By David Murrin
Blog•Feb 14, 2026
Recommended Weekend Reads
This weekend’s reads dissect the shifting geopolitics of NATO under Trump’s “quiet‑quit” strategy, the erosion of U.S. reliability among European allies, and Germany’s push to become Europe’s new defense hegemon. They also examine the economic fallout of Trump’s expansive tariff...
By Perspectives
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Iran Deploys Phone Tracking, Threatens Starlink Users
Iran Turns to Digital Surveillance Tools to Track Down Protesters @nytimes https://t.co/7JUt5gcTW3 Iran's government most likely tracked the protesters through location data emitting from their phones, researchers later concluded. The move was part of a new phase by the authorities to...
By John Spencer
News•Feb 14, 2026
Snail Mail Letters Target Trezor and Ledger Users in Crypto-Theft Attacks
Physical letters masquerading as official communications from Trezor and Ledger are being used to lure hardware‑wallet owners into scanning QR codes that lead to counterfeit setup sites. The sites prompt victims to enter their 12‑, 20‑, or 24‑word recovery phrases...
By BleepingComputer
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Pentagon Deploys Anthropic’s Claude in Maduro Capture
“Anthropic’s artificial-intelligence tool Claude was used in the U.S. military’s operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, highlighting how AI models are gaining traction in the Pentagon, according to people familiar with the matter… The deployment of Claude occurred through...
By Rob Lee
Social•Feb 14, 2026
GE Aerospace Unveils Sustainable Fan Tech and Fighter
At the GE Aerospace booth during the Singapore Airshow 2026, it was more than just engines on display. From the CFM RISE Program’s open fan concept pointing to the future of sustainable propulsion, to the F110 engine that powers fighter fleets...
By Bilqis Bahari
News•Feb 13, 2026
US Army to Debut FPV Bumblebee V2 Drone Interceptor Next Month
The U.S. Army’s Global Response Force will start evaluating the Bumblebee V2 drone interceptor in March after a $5.2 million contract with Perennial Autonomy. The FPV quadcopter uses AI to autonomously detect and physically collide with hostile UAVs, delivering a kinetic...
By Defense News – Unmanned
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Valentine's Day Nukesletter Warns of Compute Collapse in War
New Nukesletter out this Valentine's Day: on the cheery topic of compute discontinuities that might emerge from intense great power war (including nuclear war). https://t.co/0NS7f79VRz
By Ankit Panda
Social•Feb 14, 2026
UAVs Take Down Russian Pantsir‑S1 Air Defenses, 2025
Video from SBU Alpha showing UAV strikes on Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems from 2025. https://t.co/JJ7SBvXmqz https://t.co/ml6Dr2qQlQ
By Rob Lee
News•Feb 13, 2026
‘My Dream Job Has Turned Into a Nightmare’: Ex-Feds and Public Service Experts Testify to Congress on How to Rebuild...
House Democrats held a hearing on the Trump administration’s Schedule P/C, a rebranded version of Schedule F that removes civil‑service protections for thousands of policy‑related federal workers. Former officials and experts warned that politicizing the workforce erodes merit‑based hiring and could deter...
By GovExec
News•Feb 13, 2026
Milan-26: India’s Maritime Diplomacy Comes of Age
India’s 13th Milan naval exercise, Milan‑26, will run Feb 18‑25 in Visakhapatnam, coinciding with the International Fleet Review and the IONS summit, forming the “Vizag trifecta.” The biennial drill has grown from four regional navies in 1995 to 70 confirmed participants...
By The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific
News•Feb 13, 2026
Trump Unveils White House Maritime Action Plan to Restore U.S. Seapower
President Trump released the White House Maritime Action Plan (MAP), the most ambitious U.S. shipbuilding strategy since the 1936 Merchant Marine Act. The 35‑page document proposes a fee on foreign‑built vessels, a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund, Maritime Prosperity Zones,...
By gCaptain
Social•Feb 13, 2026
US Should Avoid Iran Strike During Ramadan, Preserve Allies
This is the last weekend before Ramadan (2/17 - 3/26) and it happens to be a 3 day US holiday. Not that someone with Trump's risk appetite couldn't strike Iran during the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, it certainly...
By Quinn Thompson
News•Feb 13, 2026
Trump Tells Troops 'Fear' Is Powerful Motivator in Difficult Iran Talks
President Donald Trump addressed troops at Fort Bragg, warning that fear may be necessary to compel Iran in stalled nuclear negotiations. He highlighted the recent deployment of a second U.S. aircraft carrier to the Middle East as a contingency if...
By Al-Monitor – All
News•Feb 13, 2026
A Renovation Job at Fort Meade Turned Into a Dispute
The Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals denied Meltech’s $1.7 million claim over Fort Meade security changes, invoking the sovereign‑acts doctrine. The board also found that Meltech’s own procedural errors, including incomplete security packages, caused the delays. The government had provided...
By Federal News Network
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Cross‑platform Tool Scans Bluetooth, Resolves Private Addresses
Just released a new tool that scans for Bluetooth devices including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices. It will scan for all, filtered by MAC, or if you have the Identity Resolving Keys (IRK), can be used to determine the Resolvable...
By Dave Kennedy
Social•Feb 13, 2026
USAF Considers Mini‑Missiles to Defend Tankers
Mini Missiles Used To Shoot Down Incoming Missiles Eyed For USAF Tanker Fleet Tankers are increasingly vulnerable as enemy long-range missiles evolve, leading the USAF to explore 'hard kill' solutions. Story: https://t.co/B429nwNjht
By Tyler Rogoway
News•Feb 13, 2026
Rubio Holds Joint Talks with Syria's FM and SDF Commander in Munich
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al‑Shibani and Kurdish‑led Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Kobane on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The talks came two weeks after a Jan. 30 cease‑fire that promises to...
By Al-Monitor – All
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Admiral Warns Extending Ford Deployment Risks Maintenance, Crew Strain
Navy’s Top Admiral Previously Said He Would “Push Back” Against Extending USS Gerald R. Ford’s Deployment The admiral said keeping the carrier, which was just sent to the Middle East, at sea could result in big maintenance repercussions & crew strain. https://t.co/ae4GE8qeU3
By Tyler Rogoway
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Rabois Predicts Trump May Block China's Nvidia Chip Access
Here's @rabois saying he thinks the Trump administration may ultimately reverse course on letting China get access to Nvidia's best chips https://t.co/XImO09oRyf
By Eric Newcomer
News•Feb 13, 2026
Lithuania Could Break EU Ranks Over Critical Minerals Deal
Lithuania warned it may negotiate a stand‑alone critical minerals agreement with the United States if the European Union fails to deliver a bloc‑wide pact promptly. The move aims to secure rare‑earths, battery metals and other strategic inputs for its defense...
By OilPrice.com – Main
Social•Feb 13, 2026
China's Expedition Cloud Trains Hackers on Replica Critical Networks
Leaked files detail a training platform called "Expedition Cloud" that is designed to allow China's hackers to practice hacking critical infrastructure of China’s opponents in South China Sea and Indochina region using replicas of those networks https://t.co/jbJhbj9JRi
By Kim Zetter
News•Feb 13, 2026
What You Need to Know About GSA's New CUI Security Framework
In early 2026 the General Services Administration issued CIO‑IT Security‑21‑112 Revision 1, a procedural guide that shifts CUI contractor verification to a NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) model rather than the DoD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). The guidance mandates case‑by‑case...
By Washington Technology
News•Feb 13, 2026
Lawmakers Seek to Penalize DoD if It Fails to Pass a Clean Audit
Lawmakers introduced the RECEIPTS Act, which would penalize the Department of Defense by transferring its Defense Finance and Accounting Service functions if a clean full audit is not achieved by December 2028, while rewarding success with up to $10 billion in...
By Federal News Network
Blog•Feb 13, 2026
World’s Largest Drone Fleet Deployed to Deter Russia
NATO has moved to operationalize its Task Force X Baltic, signing a letter of intent with eight member states to launch the second phase of the programme. The initiative demonstrated the rapid fielding of a fleet of over 50 commercially‑available...
By UK Defence Journal
News•Feb 13, 2026
Operations, Tech and Talent Leadership Moves Across the Market
A wave of senior appointments swept the aerospace, defense and technology services sector this week, with AAR Corp. naming former Boeing and Deutsche Bank veteran Dylan Wolin as CFO and BAE Systems hiring ex‑Collins Aerospace chief digital officer Mona Bates...
By Washington Technology
News•Feb 13, 2026
Hanwha Aerospace, Frankenburg to Develop Counter-Drone Systems for Future Armored Vehicles
South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace and Estonia's Frankenburg Technologies signed an MoU to co‑develop counter‑unmanned aerial systems (C‑UAS) for next‑generation armored platforms. The collaboration will integrate Frankenburg's interceptor missiles, launchers and fire‑control software into Hanwha's upcoming armored command vehicle. Hanwha will...
By Overt Defense
News•Feb 13, 2026
Space Force Surpasses Its Fiscal 2026 Recruiting Goal
The U.S. Space Force has already exceeded its fiscal 2026 recruiting goal by 25% just five months into the year, moving more recruits into basic training and the delayed entry program. Despite this early success, senior leaders warn the service’s...
By Federal News Network
Blog•Feb 13, 2026
Labour MP Calls for NATO ‘Neighbourhood’ Model for Decisions
Labour MP Graeme Downie argues NATO’s consensus‑based decision‑making is too slow for modern crises. He proposes a “neighbourhood” model that empowers regional allies, especially those closest to a theatre, to act quickly. Downie cites the UK’s anti‑submarine capabilities in the...
By UK Defence Journal
News•Feb 13, 2026
NAVWAR Cyber Directorate’s Mission to Secure, Survive, Comply
The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) created a new cyber directorate last August to centralize its cybersecurity efforts. The directorate targets three pillars—zero‑trust adoption, secure software development, and cutting‑edge defensive technologies—while automating risk‑management framework (RMF) compliance. By feeding feedback...
By Federal News Network
News•Feb 13, 2026
Zelenskiy Meets Iranian Opposition Figure Pahlavi
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met exiled Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The two discussed the need to tighten sanctions on Iran and other authoritarian regimes, and jointly condemned the growing military cooperation between...
By Al-Monitor – All
Social•Feb 13, 2026
DoD China List Document Removed From Federal Register
Just in on DoD China List: (Bloomberg) -- Document that previously listed Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, Huawei, Nio, TP-Link among companies connected to the Chinese military is no longer available in the Federal Register.
By Tony Capaccio
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Ford CSG Shift Highlights Readiness Tradeoffs in Carrier Strategy
Before news broke that the Ford CSG was moving from the Caribbean to the Middle East, we were already talking carrier chess on @BloombergTV. I laid out for @JMathieuReports & @kaileyleinz what this deployment really means for readiness and the...
By Becca Wasser