Russian Warplanes Flying Near US and Canada More Frequently: NORAD Boss
Russian warplanes are entering the U.S. and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones at a rate above historical norms, according to NORAD commander Gen. Gregory Guillot. In 2025 NORAD intercepted 16 long‑range Russian aircraft, with four more already this year, including a notable March 4 Tu‑142 incursion that triggered a six‑fighter scramble. Guillot also warned that China is increasing routine out‑of‑area deployments, adding pressure on North American air defenses. NATO’s Arctic Sentry and heightened vigilance in the GIUKN Gap underscore a broader escalation of great‑power activity in the Arctic corridor.
US Air Force Special Operations Seeks Kamikaze Drones
The U.S. Air Force is issuing a Request for Information to acquire small, one‑way attack drones for its Special Operations Command. The desired system must fly 10‑20 km, carry a 1.5‑3 kg fragmentation warhead, and be operable by one or two soldiers...
Who Is Running the UK Ministry of Defence?
The UK Ministry of Defence appointed Jeremy Pocklington, a career Treasury civil servant, as its new Permanent Secretary. During his first appearance before the parliamentary Defence Committee, he announced a Treasury‑backed multilateral defence financing mechanism and a joint procurement partnership...
Five IT Security Priorities Shaping Federal Procurement in 2026
Federal agencies are converging on five security priorities—AI security, post‑quantum cryptography, zero‑trust architecture, edge security, and data‑security posture management—to shape 2026 procurement. New NIST, CISA, NSA, GSA and DoD directives turn these topics from research into contract requirements. Vendors must...
The Collapse of Predictive Security in the Age of Machine-Speed Attacks
Rapid7’s 2026 analysis warns that the predictive security window has collapsed as attackers exploit disclosed vulnerabilities within days, outpacing patch cycles. The industrialization of cybercrime, driven by efficient internet access brokers and silent‑entry data grabs, accelerates this speed. Predictive defenses...
Blackwater Founder Backs Ukrainian Drone Tech Sales to US
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, has joined the board of Ukrainian drone‑software firm Swarmer and is championing its sale to the U.S. military. Swarmer raised $15 million in a Nasdaq offering, saw its shares jump roughly 500 % and claims its platform...
U.S. Intelligence Saw No Change in Iran’s Missile Capabilities Before War
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA chief John Ratcliffe testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee that Iran remains years away from fielding intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States, directly contradicting a key Trump‑administration justification for...
DHS Nominee Mullin Pressed on Restoring CISA Staffing
U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin, President Trump’s nominee for DHS secretary, faced Senate questions about restoring the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) workforce after Kristi Noem cut roughly one‑third of its staff and slashed its budget. Mullin declined to promise...
Defense Unicorns Demonstrates Rapid Software Delivery to F-22 Raptor
Defense Unicorns and the US Air Force Sustainment Center demonstrated rapid software installation on the F‑22 Raptor using the Unicorn Delivery Service (UDS), marking the first minute‑scale deployment directly onto the aircraft. The UDS enables approved software to be loaded...
Bell Textron Completes First SPINE-Upgraded AH-1Z, UH-1Y Aircraft
Bell Textron has finished the first Structural and Power Improvements for Next‑Gen Effects (SPINE) upgrades on an AH‑1Z and a UH‑1Y helicopter. The upgraded aircraft left the Amarillo Assembly Center and are now undergoing flight testing at Naval Air Station...
US Intelligence Chief Grilled on Absence of Election Threats in Security Assessment
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard defended leaving foreign election‑interference threats out of the annual global‑threat assessment, prompting sharp questioning from Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner. The omission raises alarms that the intelligence community may be constrained from reporting...
Architects of the Exercise: Bringing the Space Domain to Life for Freedom Shield 26
Freedom Shield 26, the annual joint drill between South Korea, the United States and the United Nations Command, has incorporated a dedicated space‑domain component. The U.S. Space Force’s Korea S7 directorate is spearheading the development of space‑focused scenarios and training...
US Assesses China Not Planning to Invade Taiwan in 2027
U.S. intelligence agencies report that China does not currently plan to invade Taiwan in 2027, preferring a non‑military path to unification. The assessment tempers earlier Pentagon warnings that the People’s Liberation Army aims to be capable of a forceful takeover...
BRICS Is Divided on Iran. So Are NATO and the G-7.
BRICS members remain divided over the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, with China and Brazil condemning the attacks while India stays neutral and South Africa hesitates. The bloc’s recent expansion to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE has...
ConnectWise Patches New Flaw Allowing ScreenConnect Hijacking
ConnectWise has issued a critical patch for ScreenConnect after uncovering CVE‑2026‑3564, a cryptographic signature verification flaw affecting versions prior to 26.1. The vulnerability enables attackers to extract ASP.NET machine keys and forge authenticated sessions, potentially leading to unauthorized access and...
TEKEVER and EPE Announce Strategic Partnership to Support Advanced Autonomous Systems Capability in New Zealand
TEKEVER, a pan‑European AI‑centric defence tech firm, has entered a strategic partnership with New Zealand‑based EPE to deliver advanced autonomous systems to the NZ market. The deal combines TEKEVER’s AR5, AR3 EVO and ATLAS platforms with EPE’s local customer relationships and support...
Cyprus Looks to EU Joint-Defence, Amid Nato Split on Iran
Iran fired drones and missiles at Cyprus after the island hosted a British base, prompting an immediate EU defence response. President Nikos Christodoulides said Greece, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands deployed forces, effectively testing the EU’s Article 42(7) mutual‑assistance clause....
UK Defence Industry Steps up Support for Gulf Partners Facing Iranian Attacks
Britain escalated defence support for Gulf states amid Iran's indiscriminate attacks, convening senior officials and representatives from 13 UK defence firms with regional ambassadors. The UK government confirmed plans to acquire additional Lightweight Multirole Missiles from Thales to equip British...
What to Read This Week: Katrina Manson's Terrifying Project Maven
Katrina Manson’s new book, *Project Maven*, chronicles the U.S. military’s decade‑long push to embed artificial intelligence in drone surveillance, beginning with the 2017 initiative that automated video analysis. Drawing on more than 200 interviews, the work reveals a hidden ecosystem...
Coexpair to Fabricate, Demonstrate and Test Lockheed F-35 Composite Parts Using SQRTM 4.0
Coexpair and Lockheed Martin have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop, demonstrate, and test composite parts for the F‑35 using Coexpair’s SQRTM 4.0 technology. The partnership will follow a phased approach, with Lockheed providing process‑qualification support while Coexpair builds and...
Boeing Vs Lockheed: Who Has The Best-Selling Military Aircraft Of All Time?
Boeing’s B‑17 Flying Fortress remains the all‑time best‑selling combat aircraft with 12,731 units built, a record set during World War II’s massive production surge. Lockheed Martin, while never eclipsing the B‑17’s single‑model total, boasts several high‑volume platforms—including the C‑130 Hercules (2,700+), F‑16...
BAE Systems Test ‘BATS’ C-UAS Software Next Month
BAE Systems will conduct its first test of the Anti‑Threat System (BATS) in April 2026, followed by live‑fire trials in the summer. Developed in just six months starting October 2025, the AI‑driven command‑and‑control software integrates diverse sensors and effectors through...
Ransomware Gang Exploits Cisco Flaw in Zero-Day Attacks Since January
The Interlock ransomware gang has been leveraging a maximum‑severity remote code execution flaw (CVE‑2026‑20131) in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center since late January, giving them a 36‑day zero‑day window before Cisco’s public advisory on March 4, 2026. The exploit permits unauthenticated attackers...
U.S. Green Berets Field Futuristic MFMD Rifle System
U.S. Army Special Forces were observed fielding a sniper rifle equipped with a Multi‑Function Muzzle Device (MFMD) during a March 2026 validation exercise at Indiana's Muscatatuck Urban Training Center. The MFMD, developed by Strategic Sciences, integrates flash suppression, recoil control,...
Fortinet’s AI-Driven Defense for a Machine-Speed Era
At Fortinet Accelerate 2026, the company unveiled FortiOS 8.0 and previewed FortiSOC, its cloud‑delivered Security Operations Platform. The new OS adds AI‑aware controls, deep OCR‑based DLP, expanded SASE capabilities and built‑in post‑quantum cryptography to protect the growing shadow‑AI surface. FortiSOC consolidates...
Palantir Integrates AI Into Stratospheric ISR Systems
Palantir Technologies has partnered with Ondas and World View Enterprises to build an AI‑driven, multi‑domain intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system that spans stratospheric balloons, autonomous drones and ground assets. The collaboration leverages Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform, World View’s high‑altitude...
Bell Completes Critical Design Review on DARPA SPRINT X-Plane Program
Bell Textron announced the successful completion of the Critical Design Review for DARPA’s SPRINT X‑plane program on March 9, clearing the path to build the X‑76 demonstrator. The milestone follows Bell’s Phase 2 down‑selection and integrates Swift Engineering’s composite‑fuselage expertise. The X‑76...
MOD Approach to Safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array
From September to December 2024 the Ministry of Defence (MOD) consulted on a new approach to safeguard the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array against cumulative seismic ground vibration (SGV) from windfarm projects. Following the consultation, the MOD will implement the revised safeguarding...
France’s Next-Generation Aircraft Carrier Officially Named ‘France Libre’
French President Emmanuel Macron officially named the next‑generation nuclear‑powered carrier France Libre, linking the vessel to the World War II Free France legacy. The 80,000‑ton, 310‑metre ship will replace the 42,000‑ton Charles de Gaulle and features U.S.‑origin EMALS catapults, Advanced Arresting...
Drone Wars: Countries Are Looking for Answers but Do Companies Have the Solutions?
Manufacturers are accelerating counter‑drone (CUAS) development as nations rush to buy systems for battlefield and homeland protection. Recent Middle‑East flare‑ups, including the US‑Israeli strike on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks, have underscored the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems highlighted...
Tusk Comes up with a Plan B, After Polish President Vetoes Historic Defence Spending Law
Poland secured the EU's largest SAFE allocation – €44 billion for 139 defence projects – but President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the financing law on 12 March. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s cabinet responded with a “Plan B”, suggesting the use of returns from the nation’s gold...
U.S. Army Fields AH-64E Apaches at Fort Bliss
On February 12, 2026, the U.S. Army delivered its first AH‑64E Apache helicopters to the 1st Armored Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Bliss. The aircraft mark the unit’s shift toward a Heavy Combat Aviation Brigade, featuring upgraded sensors, networked...
US Navy’s First MOD 2 DDG Makes Combat Debut in Epic Fury Strikes
The U.S. Navy’s first MOD 2‑upgraded Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer, USS Pinckney (DDG‑91), made its combat debut by launching Tomahawk missiles against Iranian targets in Operation Epic Fury. The ship carries the SEWIP Block III electronic‑warfare suite, new SPY‑6 radars and an Aegis weapons...
ALL.SPACE Achieves Industry-First Multi-Orbit Certification for SES O3b mPOWER
ALL.SPACE announced on March 18, 2026 that its electronically scanned antenna terminal received the industry’s first certification for simultaneous multi‑orbit connectivity on SES’s O3b mPOWER MEO constellation. The ESA can track GEO, MEO and LEO satellites concurrently without mechanical parts, offering...
Arizona National Guard Sharpens Lethality, Boosts Joint Readiness
The Arizona National Guard held its 2026 Adjutant General’s Match at the Florence Training Site, bringing together more than 20 Army and Air Guard teams and civilian partners. The three‑day competition tested individual and team marksmanship across multiple weapons, sharpening...
'Claudy Day’ Trio of Flaws Exposes Claude Users to Data Theft
Researchers at Oasis Security uncovered a trio of vulnerabilities in Anthropic's Claude AI that can be chained into a full‑scale attack dubbed “Claudy Day.” The chain combines an invisible prompt‑injection via URL parameters, an open‑redirect flaw, and a data‑exfiltration route through...
DroneShield and Robin Radar Systems Partner to Expand Counter-UAS Sensor Marketplace
DroneShield announced a partnership with Robin Radar Systems to integrate the IRIS 3D radar into its open sensor marketplace. The 360‑degree radar enhances DroneShield’s layered counter‑UAS (CUAS) deployments for defense, critical infrastructure, and public safety. By adding radar‑based detection to its...
Defense Suppliers Settle $10.5M False Claims Case Tied to Navy Shipbuilding Supply Chain
The U.S. Justice Department announced a $10.5 million settlement with four defendants—including two fabrication firms and their chief executive—over alleged false claims for welding equipment supplied to the Air Force and Navy. Prosecutors said the overcharges stemmed from weld tables used...
Guidance: Nordic Synthesis: Implications From Global Strategic Trends 7
Nordic Synthesis: Implications from Global Strategic Trends 7, released on 1 October 2024, gathers defence and policy officials from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to examine long‑term strategic trends shaping the region. The paper interprets the UK’s Global Strategic Trends 7 outlook and...
MQ-20 Avenger Demonstrates Advanced Autonomy in U.S. Air Force Exercise
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and the U.S. Air Force completed a landmark autonomy flight test using the MQ‑20 Avenger. The exercise demonstrated that the unmanned jet can coordinate complex combat maneuvers without human input, showcasing the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)...
Federal Cyber Experts Called Microsoft's Cloud "A Pile of Shit", Yet Approved It
Federal reviewers harshly criticized Microsoft’s Government Community Cloud High (GCC High), calling it a “pile of shit” due to missing security documentation and unclear encryption practices. Despite these concerns, the FedRAMP program granted the cloud suite an authorization, effectively giving it...
Second iOS Exploit Kit Now in Use by Suspected Russian Hackers
Researchers have identified a second mass‑scale iOS exploit kit, DarkSword, linked to suspected Russian actors. The kit targets devices running iOS 18 or earlier, potentially affecting up to 270 million iPhones, and can steal passwords, crypto wallets, and messages. It exploits Apple’s...
Texas National Guard Drone Teams Support Border Partners, Strengthen Guard Readiness
The Texas National Guard’s 640th Technology Integration Cell deployed small unmanned aircraft systems to support Operation Lone Star, delivering real‑time thermal imaging and aerial overwatch for Border Patrol agents. The drones accelerated terrain assessment, enabling faster decision‑making and contributing to...
Russia Is Changing Its Drone Strike Tactics
Ukraine’s armed forces say Russia has altered its Shahed drone strike tactics, flying them at altitudes below 100 metres and deploying larger swarms. The low‑level approach hampers radar detection, while some drones are now equipped with jet engines, increasing speed....
Anschütz Clears CDR for Hunter-Class Frigate Integrated Navigation Systems
Anschütz has completed the Critical Design Review for its Warship Integrated Navigation and Bridge System (WINBS) destined for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter‑class frigates. The CDR confirms the design meets technical and operational requirements and clears the way for production...
UK, Netherlands, Finland Explore New Defence Financing, Procurement Plan
Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom announced plans to create a joint defence‑financing and procurement mechanism by 2027. The framework will pool demand, enable shared purchasing and accelerate investment in critical capabilities such as munitions. It is designed to...
Why Did McDonnell Douglas Build The C-17 Globemaster With A T-Tail?
McDonnell Douglas equipped the C‑17 Globemaster with a T‑tail to maximize rear‑cargo clearance and preserve elevator effectiveness during airdrop operations. The high‑mounted horizontal stabilizer, inherited from the YC‑15 prototype, also improves stall recovery and overall pitch stability. Combined with a...
UK E-7 Wedgetail Delay Down to a “Technology Issue”, As MoD Grapples with Slipping Timelines
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the first E‑7 Wedgetail airborne early‑warning aircraft, ordered in 2019, will now be delivered in 2026 after a series of setbacks. Officials traced the delay to a technology issue within Boeing’s certification process,...
Another Patriot System Deployed in Turkey
NATO is deploying an additional US‑made Patriot air‑defence system to Turkey’s Adana Province, joining a Spanish‑operated Patriot already stationed there. The move follows a recent decision to position a Patriot in Malatya near a NATO radar site. It comes amid...
Italy Looks to Acquire a Containerized Naval Mine Laying System
Italy’s Ministry of Defense has issued a market consultation for a containerized naval mine‑laying system, valued at roughly €8 million. The system, built to ISO‑20 standards, will be mounted on the navy’s newest vessels—including CNG‑C MCMVs, coastal multipurpose ships, and the...