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
Trump Says Agreement To End Iran War Is ‘Largely Negotiated’
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the U.S.–Iran war has been largely negotiated and will be unveiled soon, though final details remain under discussion. The draft would likely extend the current cease‑fire by about 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and set a framework for subsequent talks on Iran’s nuclear program after the Eid holiday. Trump emphasized that any agreement must prevent Iran from retaining enriched uranium, while senior Republicans warned that a premature deal could destabilize the Gulf region.
Ukrainian Drone Operators Are Using GTA 5 to Train
Ukrainian drone training center WeTrueGun has repurposed Grand Theft Auto V, using a custom FiveM multiplayer server, to teach pilots how to detect, track and intercept Iranian Shahed drones. The mod adds aerial‑target detection, pursuit logic and realistic FPV impact simulations...
Navy SEALs Escort FBI Director Kash Patel for VIP Snorkel at USS Arizona, Sparking Defense Outcry
U.S. Navy SEALs transported FBI Director Kash Patel and his party for a "VIP snorkel" near the sunken USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor last summer. The episode, revealed through a Defense Department email, has provoked sharp criticism of the Navy's...
Rocket Lab Wins $90 Million U.S. Space Force Contract to Build First GEO Satellites
Rocket Lab Corp. has been awarded a $90 million contract by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to design, manufacture, integrate and operate two geostationary satellites carrying the Heimdall space‑domain‑awareness payload. The deal launches Rocket Lab’s first GEO satellite production...
How Ukraine Found the Cards To Win, Without Help From the U.S.
Ukraine has turned its domestically produced drones into a strategic weapon, striking deep‑inside Russian territory and crippling energy and logistics hubs. The campaign, backed by U.S.‑sourced Silvus communications and billions of dollars in American investment, has forced Russia to divert...
US Senators Introduce TRA Resolution
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a resolution reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the United States' non‑negotiable commitment to provide defensive arms to Taiwan. The measure comes as the White House appears to have paused a $14 billion arms...
US Military Stages Rapid Response Drill at Embassy in Venezuela's Capital
The U.S. military staged a rapid‑response drill at the newly reopened U.S. embassy in Caracas, deploying two Marine Corps Osprey aircraft that landed in the embassy parking lot. Venezuelan officials framed the exercise as preparation for medical or catastrophic emergencies,...
First Sea Lord Visits Babcock Devonport Site to View Work
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, the First Sea Lord, toured Babcock International’s Devonport facility to assess work supporting Royal Navy submarine readiness. The visit highlighted Babcock’s £750 million (~$950 million) infrastructure upgrade and a £200 million (~$254 million) 9 Dock refurbishment aimed at enhancing Astute‑class and...
U.S. Coast Guard Commissions 62nd Fast Response Cutter Honoring 9/11 Hero
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned its 62nd Sentinel‑class Fast Response Cutter, USCGC Vincent Danz (WPC 1162), in a ceremony in New York City. The cutter, named for 9/11 hero and Coast Guard reservist Vincent Danz, will be home‑ported in Guam and tasked...
Azov’s Drones Return to Mariupol as Ukraine Expands Its Kill Zone
On May 8, Ukraine’s 1st Azov Corps released footage of reconnaissance and strike drones patrolling the Russian‑occupied city of Mariupol, the first aerial operation by the famed Azov unit since its 2022 stand at Azovstal. The flights, described as a “patrol,”...
SBQuantum Wins CAD 3 Million Canadian Defence Contract for Quantum Magnetometers
SBQuantum has been awarded two contracts worth CAD 3 million ($2.2 million USD) to deploy its nitrogen‑vacancy diamond magnetometers for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. The deal moves the company’s quantum‑sensing hardware from research labs into operational military...
A U.S. Navy Supercarrier Is Now Operating In The Indo-Pacific
The U.S. Navy’s forward‑deployed USS George Washington (CVN‑73) departed Yokosuka, Japan, beginning a 2026 Indo‑Pacific patrol, marking the only carrier slated for the region this year. Carrier Air Wing 5 wrapped up field carrier landing practice on Iwo Jima on May 17, preparing...
British Army Mounts Massive Gun on Tiny Truck for a Speedy Punch
The British Army has ordered 72 RCH 155 remote‑controlled howitzers to be mounted on compact Boxer 8×8 armored vehicles, filling the artillery gap left after sending its entire AS90 fleet to Ukraine. The modular system separates the chassis from the gun,...
US Says Its Blockade Against Iran Has Redirected 100 Vessels
The U.S. Central Command reported that its six‑week maritime blockade of Iran has forced the redirection of 100 commercial vessels. The operation, launched on April 13, targets any ship entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of...
US Iran Policy Shifts Examined with Chokepoints Author
🎙️ NEW PODCAST 🎧 On the latest ep of Oil Ground Up, I spoke with @edwardfishman, author of one of my favourite books I read last year, Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare, about the evolution of US...
Parsons Corp. Slides 40% After Losing $12.5 B FAA Contract, Raising Growth Concerns
Parsons Corp. saw its shares tumble almost 40% after the company lost a $12.5 billion Federal Aviation Administration contract bid. The setback, combined with the end of a confidential State Department deal, has put pressure on the firm’s federal‑solutions revenue while...
U.S. F-16s Hold the Line in the Gulf After Iran Campaign Ends
U.S. Air Force F‑16s continued combat patrols over CENTCOM after Operation Epic Fury ended on May 5, 2026. Photos from May 14 show the jets carrying a mixed loadout of air‑to‑air missiles, laser‑guided bombs and APKWS II 70 mm rockets designed for low‑cost drone interception....
U.S. Army Tests Low-Cost IonStrike Drone Interceptor
The U.S. Army’s 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade is testing DZYNE Technologies’ low‑cost IonStrike kinetic interceptor in Europe this spring to address the mid‑range gap against cheap one‑way attack drones. Demonstrations showed the system integrates with existing radar and command‑and‑control...
New Zealand to Invest Almost US$1 Billion in Drones, Ships to Protect Maritime Security
New Zealand will spend about NZ$1.6 billion (≈US$936 million) on new drones, ship maintenance and naval upgrades to strengthen maritime security. The plan includes long‑duration ISR drones for the Southwest Pacific and polar‑capable drones that can launch from vessels in the Southern Ocean....
Pentagon Finally Releases Footage Of Unidentified Object Shot Down By F-16 Over Lake Huron
The Pentagon has declassified and released infrared video of the February 12, 2023 encounter in which a Minnesota Air National Guard F‑16 shot down an unidentified aerial phenomenon over Lake Huron. Analysts say the object behaved like a balloon, showing tangled wires...
Cyber-Star Wars: Securing Satellites and Critical Infrastructure
Space systems are now classified as critical infrastructure, making them prime targets for cyber‑attacks amid heightened geopolitical tensions such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Iran conflict. Attack vectors include DDoS, spoofing, supply‑chain malware, and command hijacking, with a...
‘Underminr’ Vulnerability Lets Attackers Hide Malicious Connections Behind Trusted Domains
Security researcher ADAMnetworks has identified a new CDN‑based vulnerability called Underminr, a variant of domain fronting that lets attackers present a trusted SNI and Host while the request is routed to a different tenant’s IP. The technique exploits mismatches between...
USS Gerald R. Ford Returns to Norfolk After 334‑Day Deployment, Setting New Navy Record
The Navy’s flagship, USS Gerald R. Ford, sailed back to Naval Station Norfolk after a 334‑day deployment—the longest carrier tour since the Vietnam era. The homecoming, attended by thousands of families, underscores mounting pressure to shorten future deployments and highlights the human toll...
Why the Largest-Ever US-Philippine Drill, and Japan’s Role in It, Is Making China Uneasy
Balikatan 2026, the largest U.S.–Philippine joint exercise ever, ran from April 20 to May 8 and mobilized about 17,000 personnel from seven countries across the western Philippines. The drill featured unprecedented naval and missile activities, including Japan’s first combat‑troop deployment and the...
FN Herstal Modernizes the Iconic MAG Machine Gun
FN Herstal unveiled the FN MAG Tactical with Long Rail, an upgrade kit that adds an 11‑inch Picatinny rail and ergonomic enhancements to the long‑standing 7.62 mm general‑purpose machine gun. The kit can be fitted in the field by armorers using basic...
Ghostwriter Is Back, Using a Ukrainian Learning Platform as Bait to Hit Government Targets
Ghostwriter, the Belarus‑linked APT group, has revived a phishing campaign against Ukrainian government agencies by masquerading as the domestic e‑learning platform Prometheus. The emails, sent from compromised accounts, contain PDF attachments that lead to a ZIP file with a JavaScript...
X-Bow Delivers 600th Rocket Motor for Disruptor Strike Drone
X‑Bow Systems delivered its 600th rocket‑assisted take‑off (RATO) motor to AEVEX Aerospace under a $12.2 million contract, marking the first high‑volume use of additive‑manufactured solid propellant on a Group 3 drone. The motors power the U.S. Army’s Disruptor strike drone, giving it...
6-0 Rafale, 9-0 Eurofighter: How China Is Aggressively Marketing Its J-10C Jet on Mock Drills & Unverified Claims
Chinese state media reiterated that the J-10CE fighter achieved a 9‑0 victory over Eurofighter Typhoons during the Zilzal‑II joint exercise with Pakistan and Qatar in early 2024. The claim, first reported by EurAsian Times, emphasizes four beyond‑visual‑range wins and five...
Ukraine’s Drone Intercept School Goes Public with Merops Footage
Ukraine’s 190th Training Center released the first public footage of Merops AS‑3 Surveyor interceptor drone operator training, showing a formalized pipeline for scaling drone‑intercept capabilities. The system, developed by Perennial Autonomy, has already destroyed more than 4,000 Russian drones at an...
Japan’s Frigate Diplomacy — and What It Could Mean for Taiwan
Japan is quietly expanding its defence‑export framework, allowing the transfer of the Mogami‑class frigate design to allies. After liberalising export rules in 2023‑2026 and ending its coalition with the pacifist Komeito party, Tokyo signed a A$10 billion (≈$6.6 billion) contract with Mitsubishi...
The Royal Thai Air Force Orders Two Airbus C295 Tactical Transport Aircraft
The Royal Thai Air Force has placed an order for two Airbus C295 tactical transport aircraft, with first delivery expected in the first half of 2029. The aircraft will be assembled in Seville, Spain, and operated by the 46th Wing...
Why There's More Talk of an AUKUS 'Plan B'
Australia faces a potential submarine capability gap as the AUKUS timeline stretches into the 2040s. The government plans an $11 billion life‑extension for the aging Collins‑class fleet while awaiting three U.S.‑built Virginia‑class subs in the early 2030s and domestically built nuclear...
Russia’s UAC Flies Su‑57D Two‑Seat Fighter Prototype, Expanding Fifth‑Gen Capabilities
Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) successfully completed the maiden flight of the Su‑57D two‑seat fighter on May 19, 2026. The 40‑minute test, piloted by chief test pilot Sergei Bogdan, validates a platform intended for combat, advanced training, and airborne command...
Is It Time for the U.S. to Reassess Its Iran Strategy?
The PBS NewsHour panel examines whether Washington should overhaul its approach to Iran as diplomatic talks remain deadlocked and Tehran continues to dominate the Strait of Hormuz. Recent U.S. strikes have failed to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions or military capabilities,...
Space Force Awards Viasat, SES $437 Million for Military Satellite Network
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Viasat and SES a combined $437.6 million contract to build communications satellites for the Protected Tactical Satcom‑Global (PTS‑G) program. The first “Swarm 1” batch will consist of four smaller geostationary satellites—two per contractor—targeted for delivery by...
Army Awards First Fast-Tracked UGV Contract to UK Startup
Windsor‑based XRC Robotics has secured a Ministry of Defence contract for its RHINO uncrewed ground vehicle, marking the first time the UK MoD has fast‑tracked a robotic platform into frontline experimentation. The February 2026 award covers the modular RHINO, built for...
Tech Bills of the Week: Mitigating Risks to Critical Infrastructure; Incentivizing Domestic High-Tech Manufacturing; and More
Congress introduced a suite of bills aimed at bolstering U.S. cyber resilience, domestic high‑tech manufacturing, and digital inclusion. Senator Rick Scott proposes a joint inter‑agency task force and a maritime cybersecurity act to counter Chinese‑linked threats, while Senators Gallego and...
White House Approves $9 Billion for Spy Agencies to Catch Up on A.I.
The White House has approved a secret $9 billion request to acquire cutting‑edge AI chips for U.S. spy agencies, targeting Nvidia’s Grace Blackwell superchip and the specialized data‑center infrastructure it requires. An additional $800 million is being reprogrammed to accelerate computing capacity acquisition....
The War in Ukraine Has Become the World’s Largest Live Test of Autonomous Drone Warfare — and What Both Sides...
The Ukraine‑Russia war has become the largest live test of autonomous drone warfare, with Ukraine producing over 4.5 million UAVs in 2025—more than the entire NATO alliance—and Russia churning out 50,000 fiber‑optic‑guided drones each month. Both sides have rapidly iterated tactics,...
NATO Monitors Russian Surveillance Ship Loitering Near NATO Exercise
Dynamic Mongoose 2026, NATO’s most demanding maritime exercise, began on May 18 off Norway and runs through May 26, involving warships, submarines and aircraft from nine allies. NATO spotted the Russian intelligence‑collection vessel Yuri Ivanov, a 4,000‑ton, 95‑meter ship, loitering near the fleet. The...
Ukraine Says It Targeted Yaroslavl Oil Refinery Again
Ukraine launched another long‑range drone strike on the 300,000‑barrel‑per‑day Yaroslavl oil refinery in central Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced. Satellite data showed a fresh heat anomaly, suggesting a blaze, though Russian officials did not confirm damage. The refinery has already endured...
The Iran Problem Won’t Be Solved without a Counter-Drone Coalition
After a 40‑day bombing campaign by the United States and Israel, Iran shifted to an asymmetric strategy, using cheap drones and missile attacks on Gulf energy facilities and the Strait of Hormuz to impose economic pressure. The Iranian drone swarm...
Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet Announces Quadruple THAAD Production at New Alabama Munitions Center
Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet, alongside Under Secretary of War Michael Duffey, broke ground on Munitions Production Center Building 47 in Troy, Alabama, pledging to quadruple THAAD interceptor output and triple PAC‑3 missile production. The move reflects a new demand‑signal model...
Ukrainian Drones Hit Russia's Syzran Refinery, Sparking Massive Fire
Ukrainian drones struck the Rosneft‑owned Syzran refinery more than 500 miles inside Russia, igniting a large blaze and killing two people. President Zelenskyy said the attack is part of a broader May long‑range campaign targeting Russian oil infrastructure, highlighting Kyiv's...
Pentagon Looks To Expand Supersonic Aircraft Industrial Base
The Pentagon has issued a SAM.gov notice seeking innovative manufacturing solutions for next‑generation supersonic military aircraft. The solicitation targets additive manufacturing, advanced materials, robotics, automation, digital engineering, reverse‑engineering of legacy parts and advanced repair techniques. The aim is to lower...
AETC Preps Next-Gen Simulators for Future Pilots
Air Education & Training Command’s Detachment 24 is rolling out next‑generation immersive training devices (eLTDs) that combine real T‑38 cockpit controls with 35‑inch monitors or mixed‑reality headsets. Over 30 eLTDs have been ordered, and a new advanced visual pod delivers...
Behemoth: Ukraine’s New Strategic Strike Drone
Ukrainian firms Culver Aerospace and GLEFA unveiled the Behemoth, a medium‑range strike drone already deployed in combat. The system can hit targets up to 300 km away, carry a 75 kg payload, and features a tandem penetrator‑thermobaric warhead while using Starlink for...
Even as AI Gets Better at Finding Digital Weak Spots, It Doesn’t Eliminate the Human Role in Cyber Conflict
Anthropic’s new AI model Mythos highlights how generative tools can scan code for zero‑day flaws faster than human analysts. Justin Miller, a cyber‑security professor at the University of Tulsa, argues that AI is a capability multiplier that speeds both attack...
The Pentagon’s $54 Billion Bet on Autonomous Warfare
The Pentagon’s Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) is slated to receive a $54.6 billion FY27 budget request, dwarfing the $225.9 million it managed in FY26. The massive increase follows the dissolution of the Replicator Initiative, which faltered due to technical glitches, software...
Accelerating Space Defence: RCAF Generals Call for Sovereign Manoeuvre and Rapid Procurement
At the Space Canada Horizons conference, senior Royal Canadian Air Force leaders warned that space is now a contested domain and Canada can no longer rely on passive orbital assets. Brigadier‑General Christopher Horner called for "sovereign manoeuvre" – the ability...