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
U.S. Air Force showcased a week of diverse operations, from F‑35A combat missions in the Middle East supporting Operation Epic Fury to Arctic F‑22 sorties defending North American airspace. Joint exercises highlighted B‑2, Navy F‑35C and F/A‑18E maritime strikes, while missile‑security forces demonstrated rapid response capabilities at Wyoming launch sites. The week also featured humanitarian medical assistance in the Caribbean, fitness competitions in Germany, and a memorial flight honoring a 1981 crash. Senior leadership emphasized readiness and inter‑service interoperability throughout the events.
Daimler Truck Holding AG announced its strategy to capitalize on rising European defense spending, aiming to double its defense segment by 2030. CFO Eva Scherer highlighted the company's capability to quickly scale production, leveraging its experience managing cyclical markets. The...
The Pentagon has concluded that Iran’s missile arsenal, rather than naval mines, represents the chief danger to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts note that Iran’s short‑ and medium‑range ballistic missiles can reach vessels transiting the narrow waterway,...
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed over western Iraq on March 12, 2026, killing all six crew members. The loss occurred during Operation Epic Fury and was confirmed not to be the result of hostile or friendly fire. The...
Rolls‑Royce Power Systems has been appointed general contractor to develop the drive system for the Franco‑German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). The contract pairs its 1,400 kW MTU199 ten‑cylinder engine with ZF’s eLSG5000 electrified powershift steering transmission, creating the world’s first...
In Episode 14, host Jake Kreps walks listeners through OSINT Newsletter issues 97 and 98, focusing on IP address investigations and gathering local-source data. He explains the fundamentals of IP types, the limits of dynamic residential IPs, and how static...
Four years after Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, Moldova has withstood Moscow’s destabilisation campaign and moved forward on its EU accession path. The country secured candidate status in 2022 and opened accession negotiations in 2024, while President Maia Sandu won...
Drone Fight Group, Bat Drones and Ukrainian maker PG Robotics have begun serial production of the Angel Spire interceptor drone, aimed at neutralising Shahed‑type loitering munitions and other hostile UAVs. The platform can cruise between 150 and 290 km/h and reach targets up...
Canada announced a $40 billion Arctic strategy, allocating over $35 billion in federal funds to boost security, infrastructure, and economic development. The plan earmarks $32 billion for forward operating locations in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Iqaluit, plus $2.67 billion for new support hubs and nodes....
Vietnam has tightened restrictions on raw rare‑earth exports to force domestic refining, positioning itself as a niche superpower in critical minerals. Meanwhile, the United States is building a broad coalition of more than 50 partners through initiatives like the Critical...
How the War in Iran Could Help China and Change Asia Sorry but pretty superficial analysis here of the obvious. Not clear that China somehow benefits or that the US is distracted. Taiwan is a much more complex issue than...
Separate messages today from Secretary Hegseth and Gen. Caine about the Strait of Hormuz. Hegseth disputed recent reporting that administration officials had underestimated the war’s likely impact on the strait, saying Iran “always” tries to hold the waterway “hostage.” “As the world...
Remtec announced its high‑density thick‑film multilayer ceramic substrates, targeting military, avionics, space and industrial markets. The product line offers 6‑8 conductor layers on alumina, aluminum nitride or beryllia, with either gold or low‑cost silver interconnects delivering 1‑3 mΩ/sq conductivity. Features include...
Denis Alimov, FSB Alfa veteran and senior operative of Russia's new and "most secretive" assassination unit, walked into El Dorado Airport in Bogotá on Feb 24 looking like a tourist heading to Cartagena. He walked out in handcuffs. He was undone...
Closure of the strait is one of the most obvious possible consequences of conflict with Iran...
Lockheed Martin announced the successful first flight test of the Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 on March 12, 2026, launching from a HIMARS and flying 350 km. The test demonstrated a new multi‑mode seeker capable of locking moving maritime targets, expanding the missile’s mission...
Gulf Ship Attacks Show No Pattern of Western Targeting as Strikes Spread Beyond Hormuz. Any ships attacked bring things to a standstill. https://t.co/h4vsx1OV11
Cyber Focus: Cybersecurity, National Security, and Critical Infrastructure S3E10 - Deterrence and the New Cyber Strategy with White House National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross | McCrary Institute https://t.co/PmPdYTO5Zq
Operation Synergia III, an Interpol‑led crackdown from July 2025 to January 2026, sinkholed roughly 45,000 malicious IP addresses and seized 212 servers across 72 countries. The operation resulted in 94 arrests, with another 110 suspects under investigation, and uncovered over 33,000 phishing and fraudulent...
In presser this morning, @PeteHegseth says that "only 1 percent" of the munitions the U.S. is dropping on Iran today are "standoff munitions," meaning Tomahawk missiles and the like. They've shifted almost exclusively, he says, to munitions launched from aircraft...
Exclusive: New US weapons for Taiwan could be approved after Trump's China trip, sources say https://t.co/cAFv0baooU
China’s state‑linked firm now controls the Beaver Brook Antimony Mine, Canada’s sole source of the critical metal used in aerospace, defense and electronics. The mine in Newfoundland has been idle for years, but its ownership gives Beijing a strategic foothold...
Japan taps oil reserves as Iran war spreads. Could it give China leverage? With Tokyo and Beijing still at loggerheads over Taiwan, analysts warn Japan’s decision exposes its economic vulnerability Yet another "Iran war gives Beijing leverage' piece, short answer....no... https://t.co/nx95uxzmnh
The limits of airpower - what are the lessons from #Ukraine in #Iran ? #avgeek #defence #Iranwar https://t.co/qhtkN3j2VB https://t.co/h0v6Nal4fT
On Friday, NATO’s eastern Mediterranean defense systems shot down a third ballistic missile launched from Iran that was heading toward Turkish airspace, marking the latest interception in just over a week. The alliance emphasized its vigilance in protecting all members,...
President Emmanuel Macron condemned a drone attack in northern Iraq that killed one French soldier and wounded six, calling it "unacceptable" and stressing France's defensive posture in the Middle East. He announced a request for a full military analysis of...
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that an officer outside of U.S. Central Command has been appointed to complete a command investigation into the strike on a girls' school in southern Iran. The investigating officer is a general officer, underscoring...
Rob Jetten leads the Netherlands’ first minority coalition, formed by D66, CDA and VVD, holding only 66 of 150 parliamentary seats. The government’s agenda emphasizes a stronger European pillar within NATO, a 3.5% of GDP defence spending target, and joint...
The Trump administration reportedly conducted a joint airstrike in Ecuador on March 6 against a dissident FARC faction, partnering with Ecuadorian forces. The operation was announced via Southern Command and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s social‑media posts and later classified in a...
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters the United States is not worried about a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, despite recent spikes in oil prices. He emphasized that the Pentagon already has contingency...
A drone strike on 12 March hit the French‑run Mala Kara base near Erbil, killing one French soldier and wounding several others. The attack, claimed by the pro‑Iranian Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq, coincided with a simultaneous drone hit on an...
Damen Shipyards Group and FN Herstal have signed a memorandum of understanding at the BEDEX exhibition to jointly develop next‑generation maritime defence solutions. The partnership will integrate FN’s weapons and sensor technologies into Damen vessels, including unmanned surface vessels, to...
'That looks low to me': Nobel Prize winner issues grim warning on Iran war consequences https://t.co/NYGEg5JWU3
Context matters Iran spent: Ballistic missiles: ~$165–330M Drones: ~$11–27M Total: ~$177–360M UAE spent: Ballistic missile defense: ~$1.2–1.52B Drone defense: ~$253–759M Total: ~$1.45–2.28B "UAE spent 5-10x more defending than Iran spent attacking" https://t.co/36WBaQgePE
A Russian LNG tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, was struck by Ukrainian naval drones and left drifting in the Mediterranean between Italy and Malta. The vessel’s 30 crew were evacuated, and while the hull remains afloat, the amount of LNG on board...
US Defence Secretary Hegseth says there is "not clear evidence" that Iran is laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz
In this episode, host Joel Rubin and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joe Rubin discuss the escalating conflict with Iran, emphasizing the human cost and the need for post‑conflict planning. They critique the influence of partisan actors like Sen....
Mercury Systems announced the acquisition of SolderMask, Inc., securing its dry‑film solder mask technology, intellectual property, and a five‑person team. The deal, closed on March 3, 2026, integrates SolderMask’s capabilities into Mercury’s Huntington Beach site while a parallel line is built in...
EU has a solution for the Hormuz issue Why wasnt this considered before? @realDonaldTrump @WhiteHouse
At presser this morning, @PeteHegseth complained about CNN reporting that the war against Iran is intensifying. Then he and Gen. Caine both said more munitions would be dropped today than at any other time in the conflict.
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior officials on March 2, accusing them of actively supporting the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sanctions have already...
Treasury + @SecScottBessent have intel and are taking action on fake charities that send cash to Islamist terrorists. Hopefully nobody you know has given money to these + others.
Britain has awarded a £53 million contract to ARTEC GmbH for the long‑lead production of 37 Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 weapon systems, the core artillery module for the Boxer‑based Mobile Fires Platform. The deal, administered by OCCAR, also earmarks £30 million for...
Airbus is preparing flight tests of a Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie‑based uncrewed combat aircraft equipped with its European‑developed MARS mission system for the German Air Force. The two Valkyrie prototypes, being readied at Airbus’ Manching facility, are slated for maiden flights...
Rep. Elise Stefanik introduced the Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act of 2026, mandating that every carrier in the Department of Defense freight chain certify it has no ownership or control ties to Chinese military‑linked entities. The bill creates a...
EU leaders including Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Poland’s Donald Tusk have urged the European Commission to tighten visa rules for Russian nationals with combat experience in Ukraine. In a joint letter they warned that demobilised fighters, many recruited from prisons,...
Bloomberg’s opinion piece highlights the growing use of prediction markets like Polymarket for real‑time geopolitical risk assessment, noting that users in the Middle East consult the platform to decide whether to seek shelter. The article underscores how these markets now...
The U.S. Army conducted live‑fire trials of a new 30 mm Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) round on AH‑64 Apache helicopters at Yuma Proving Ground. Over the course of the evaluation, crews fired roughly 1,200 rounds, pitting the APEX munition against the...
South Korea’s M‑SAM II missile, part of the Cheongung II air‑defence suite, was employed by the United Arab Emirates to intercept Iranian projectiles launched after the U.S. Operation Epic Fury. The engagement, beginning on 28 February, marks the first overseas combat use of...
Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social just before midnight EDT on March 12, claiming the United States is "totally destroying" Iran's military, economy and leadership. The message coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of "Operation Roaring...
