DEFENSE PULSE
Friday, February 20, 2026
Market Intelligence for Defense Professionals
🎯 Today's Defense PulseUpdated 3h ago
What's happening: MaXon Systems lands funding to build autonomous air‑defence against mass drone attacks
Ukrainian startup MaXon Systems announced a new funding round led by Greenflag Ventures, BRAVE1, Freedom Fund VC and Big Defence. The capital will accelerate development of its autonomous, end‑to‑end counter‑UAS platform designed to protect large perimeters from high‑volume Shahed‑type drone swarms.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Anthropic raises $30B in funding, valuing the AI firm at $380B
🚀 Top Defense Headlines
AI-Empowered Cybersecurity: Key Events and Emerging Trends in 2025
In September 2025, Anthropic disclosed a groundbreaking incident—the world’s first autonomous AI-driven cyberattack. This event, documented as the first large-scale cyber offensive primarily executed by AI with minimal human intervention, underscored the immense threat posed by AI agents in malicious applications. The attackers posed as representatives of a legitimate cybersecurity firm conducting a defense assessment. They […] The post AI-Empowered Cybersecurity: Key Events and Emerging Trends in 2025 appeared first on NSFOCUS, Inc., a global network and cyber security leader, protects enterprises and carriers from advanced cyber attacks.. The post AI-Empowered Cybersecurity: Key Events and Emerging Trends in 2025 appeared first on Security Boulevard.
Security Boulevard
US Army Lets Soldiers Flaunt Their Drone Skills in First-Ever Competition
The event is in line with service plans to incorporate unmanned technology at every echelon of the force.
Defense News – Unmanned
Iran Tells UN Chief It Will Respond 'Decisively' If Subjected to Military Aggression
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Iran told U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday that Tehran will consider bases, facilities and assets of the "hostile force" in the region as legitimate targets if it faces military aggression. U.S. President Donald Trump's rhetoric towards Iran "signals a real risk of military aggression," Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said in the letter, adding Iran did not want a war. Iran will respond "decisively" if subjected to military aggression, the letter said.
Al-Monitor – All
Some US Navy Ships Have Massive White Domes: Here's What They're Used For
You've probably noticed the strange white domes on Navy ships. They look simple, but what they hide inside plays a crucial role in modern warfare.
SlashGear
US Removing Guardrails From Proposed Saudi Nuclear Deal, Document Says
By Timothy Gardner and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump has told Congress he is pursuing a civil nuclear pact with Saudi Arabia that does not include non-proliferation safeguards the U.S. has long said would ensure the kingdom does not develop nuclear weapons, according to a copy of the document sent to Congress and reviewed by Reuters. Trump, a Republican, and former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, have worked with Saudi Arabia on paths to building the first civil nuclear power plants for the kingdom.
Al-Monitor – All
💬 Top Defense Social Posts
Tweet by @Aviation_Intel
Hunt For Anti-Radiation Missile That Can Down Enemy Radar Planes Kicked-Off By Navy The 'AWACS killer' Advanced Emission Suppression Missile will also be able to strike air defenses on land and sea. https://t.co/BNrywXdNe7
by Tyler Rogoway•