Defense News and Headlines

NSA Issues Guidelines on Zero Trust Architecture
NewsFeb 19, 2026

NSA Issues Guidelines on Zero Trust Architecture

The National Security Agency has issued a two‑phase Zero Trust Implementation Guidelines to help organizations adopt zero‑trust architecture in line with Department of Defense standards. The guidance details specific activities and requirements, acknowledging that implementation can be resource‑intensive and costly....

By AHA News – American Hospital Association
Supply Chain Attack Secretly Installs OpenClaw for Cline Users
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Supply Chain Attack Secretly Installs OpenClaw for Cline Users

Dark Reading reported that the npm package for Cline version 2.3.0 was compromised, causing it to silently download the OpenClaw tool during an eight‑hour window. The breach stemmed from a prompt‑injection flaw that allowed an attacker to steal release tokens and...

By Dark Reading
Northrop, Brazil’s Embraer Partner on KC-390 to Pitch US, Others
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Northrop, Brazil’s Embraer Partner on KC-390 to Pitch US, Others

Northrop Grumman and Brazil’s Embraer have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly market the KC‑390 Millennium with an autonomous boom refueling system for the U.S. Air Force and allied forces. Northrop will study integrating a retrofittable boom and other...

By Breaking Defense
BPS: A New Beat for Sam Matheny
NewsFeb 19, 2026

BPS: A New Beat for Sam Matheny

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is championing the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS) as a resilient alternative to GPS, citing growing concerns over satellite signal vulnerability. Sam Matheny joined the effort as BPS Executive Vice President at the start of...

By Radio & TV Business Report (RBR+TVBR)
Geopolitical Analysis: China Challenges SpaceX Dominance with Massive LEO Governance Strategy
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Geopolitical Analysis: China Challenges SpaceX Dominance with Massive LEO Governance Strategy

China has submitted ITU filings for roughly 203,000 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, marking a strategic shift from technical catch‑up to regulatory flooding. By exploiting Equivalent Power Flux Density limits, Beijing aims to reserve large portions of the interference budget, forcing rivals such...

By SatNews
MDA Space Launches New Subsidiary for Defense Contracting, 49North
NewsFeb 19, 2026

MDA Space Launches New Subsidiary for Defense Contracting, 49North

MDA Space announced the launch of 49North, a new subsidiary dedicated to defense services such as C4ISR integration, radar, autonomous systems, and secure mission software. Joe Armstrong, a former CAE vice‑president, was named the first president. The unit builds on...

By Via Satellite
Federal CIO Tapped for Dual-Hatted Role at GSA
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Federal CIO Tapped for Dual-Hatted Role at GSA

Federal Chief Information Officer Greg Barbaccia was appointed acting director of the General Services Administration’s Technology Transformation Services (TTS) and senior advisor to the GSA administrator. Barbaccia retains his titles as federal CIO, chief AI officer, and service‑delivery lead, consolidating...

By GovExec
Kessel Run Launches Program for ‘Next-Gen’ Air Operations Center
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Kessel Run Launches Program for ‘Next-Gen’ Air Operations Center

The Air Force’s Kessel Run software factory announced a program to develop a next‑generation Air Operations Center (AOC) that leverages AI, machine learning, data fusion, and cloud‑native architecture. The effort builds on the existing Block 20 upgrades and KRADOS suite, aiming...

By Air & Space Forces Magazine
What We Learned at the African Union Summit and Munich Security Conference
NewsFeb 19, 2026

What We Learned at the African Union Summit and Munich Security Conference

The latest Devex podcast recapped the African Union Summit and the Munich Security Conference, highlighting the African Continental Free Trade Area’s ongoing tariff reductions to boost intra‑African trade. Discussions emphasized the creation of strategic mineral corridors, with U.S. officials promising...

By Devex – News
Leidos Seeks to Be the Government's 'Beta Tester' For Artificial Intelligence
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Leidos Seeks to Be the Government's 'Beta Tester' For Artificial Intelligence

Leidos CEO Tom Bell said the firm will act as the government’s beta tester for artificial intelligence, embedding AI across its NorthStar 2030 strategy and digital modernization unit. The company plans to prototype AI tools internally before delivering them to...

By Washington Technology
Five Companies Protest Exclusion From NASA’s $60B SEWP VI Competition
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Five Companies Protest Exclusion From NASA’s $60B SEWP VI Competition

NASA’s $60 billion SEWP VI IT contract excluded five vendors, prompting protests filed with the Government Accountability Office. The GAO must issue rulings by May 27, a timeline that could push award announcements past the current SEWP V deadline of April 30. Delays may force...

By Washington Technology
Defence Sets Lithium Batteries Ablaze to Fast-Charge Sovereign Cell Development
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Defence Sets Lithium Batteries Ablaze to Fast-Charge Sovereign Cell Development

Australian Defence Science and Technology Group is deliberately igniting prototype lithium‑ion cells to understand failure modes and accelerate development of sovereign, fast‑charging batteries. The research targets military‑grade power solutions for radios, drones, armoured vehicles, future aircraft and Attack‑class submarines. By...

By The Mandarin (Australia)
Code Metal Raises $125 Million to Rewrite the Defense Industry’s Code With AI
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Code Metal Raises $125 Million to Rewrite the Defense Industry’s Code With AI

Code Metal, a Boston AI startup, closed a $125 million Series B round, lifting its valuation to $1.25 billion. The company’s platform translates legacy defense software from languages such as Python and C++ into modern, hardware‑specific code while generating test harnesses to catch...

By WIRED — Business
CIA Discussed Nord Stream Sabotage Plans with Ukraine
NewsFeb 19, 2026

CIA Discussed Nord Stream Sabotage Plans with Ukraine

In spring 2022 Ukrainian sabotage specialists met CIA officers to discuss a plan to damage the Nord Stream gas pipelines, an idea that originated from Kyiv. Initial American enthusiasm gave way to a warning in summer, as U.S. officials reportedly warned...

By Defence24 (Poland)
Cyber Responses Will Be ‘Linked to Adversary Actions,’ Involve Industry: White House
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Cyber Responses Will Be ‘Linked to Adversary Actions,’ Involve Industry: White House

The White House announced that future U.S. cyber responses will be directly linked to specific adversary actions and will involve close coordination with state and local governments as well as private‑sector operators of critical infrastructure. The approach will be codified...

By Defense One
SpaceX and Blue Origin Abruptly Shift Priorities Amid US Golden Dome Push
NewsFeb 19, 2026

SpaceX and Blue Origin Abruptly Shift Priorities Amid US Golden Dome Push

SpaceX and Blue Origin have abruptly redirected their long‑term goals from Mars and sub‑orbital tourism to lunar development. SpaceX announced it will swap its planned Martian city for a moon settlement, while Blue Origin paused New Shepard flights to concentrate...

By Military Times
SpaceX and Blue Origin Abruptly Shift Priorities Amid US Golden Dome Push
NewsFeb 19, 2026

SpaceX and Blue Origin Abruptly Shift Priorities Amid US Golden Dome Push

SpaceX and Blue Origin have abruptly shifted focus from Mars and sub‑orbital tourism to lunar development, aligning with the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile‑shield program. SpaceX announced plans for a moon city and is eyeing a potential $2 billion contract to launch...

By Defense News - Space
BAE Systems Signs Framework Deal for Logistics Drone Expansion
NewsFeb 19, 2026

BAE Systems Signs Framework Deal for Logistics Drone Expansion

BAE Systems FalconWorks and SURVICE Engineering have signed a framework agreement to co‑develop uncrewed air system technologies, extending the partnership that began with the T‑150 logistics drone (fielded as the TRV‑150). The deal broadens collaboration into small and tactical UAS...

By Defence Blog
Feds Announce $6.5-million Investment in Alberta Defence Manufacturing
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Feds Announce $6.5-million Investment in Alberta Defence Manufacturing

The Canadian government announced a $6.5 million investment in Edmonton’s defence manufacturing sector through Prairies Economic Development Canada. The funding, part of the $357 million Regional Defence Investment Initiative, is split between Zero Point Cryogenics ($5 million) to commercialise quantum‑grade dilution refrigerators and...

By BetaKit (Canada)
US Military Assets Flock to Middle East Amid Iran Standoff
NewsFeb 19, 2026

US Military Assets Flock to Middle East Amid Iran Standoff

President Donald Trump ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest carrier, to join roughly a dozen warships already positioned in the U.S. Central Command area as pressure mounts on Iran over its nuclear program. The move is accompanied...

By Military Times
HHS Burrows Into Identifying Risks to Health Sector From Third-Party Vendors
NewsFeb 19, 2026

HHS Burrows Into Identifying Risks to Health Sector From Third-Party Vendors

HHS is intensifying its focus on third‑party vendor security after the 2024 Change Healthcare ransomware attack, which exploited a remote‑access portal lacking multifactor authentication and exposed the data of about 190 million individuals. The breach threatened the liquidity of the entire...

By CyberScoop
ONCD Official Says Trump Administration Aims to Bolster AI Use for Defense without Increasing Risk
NewsFeb 19, 2026

ONCD Official Says Trump Administration Aims to Bolster AI Use for Defense without Increasing Risk

The Office of the National Cyber Director announced that the Trump administration will accelerate the deployment of AI-driven cyber defensive tools while safeguarding against expanded attack surfaces. Principal Deputy Assistant Cyber Director Alexandra Seymour said the effort will be coordinated...

By CyberScoop
INTERPOL Operation Red Card 2.0 Arrests 651 in African Cybercrime Crackdown
NewsFeb 19, 2026

INTERPOL Operation Red Card 2.0 Arrests 651 in African Cybercrime Crackdown

INTERPOL’s Operation Red Card 2.0, conducted from Dec 8 2025 to Jan 30 2026, resulted in 651 arrests across 16 African nations and the seizure of more than $4.3 million. The eight‑week crackdown exposed scams responsible for roughly $45 million in losses and identified 1,247 victims worldwide....

By The Hacker News
Magdrive’s Plasma Thruster Proves Its Mettle in First Orbital Test
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Magdrive’s Plasma Thruster Proves Its Mettle in First Orbital Test

Magdrive’s Rogue plasma thruster completed its first orbital firing test, demonstrating that a sliver of copper or aluminum can serve as propellant. The 3‑kg unit stores up to 10 kJ in commercial supercapacitors and discharges up to 200 W to create plasma...

By Aerospace America (AIAA)
Flaw in Grandstream VoIP Phones Allows Stealthy Eavesdropping
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Flaw in Grandstream VoIP Phones Allows Stealthy Eavesdropping

A critical stack‑buffer overflow (CVE‑2026‑2329) was discovered in six Grandstream GXP1600 series VoIP phones, receiving a CVSS score of 9.3. The flaw resides in an unauthenticated web API endpoint that lets attackers overflow a 64‑byte buffer, gain root privileges, and...

By BleepingComputer
The Congressman Who Accidentally Told Japan How to Sink American Submarines During WWII
NewsFeb 19, 2026

The Congressman Who Accidentally Told Japan How to Sink American Submarines During WWII

In 1943 Congressman Andrew J. May unintentionally revealed that Japanese depth charges were set too shallow for U.S. submarines, which could dive well beyond 200 feet. The disclosure prompted the Imperial Japanese Navy to deepen charge settings to around 250 feet, exposing...

By Military.com (Navy News)
Britain’s Labour Government Feels the Heat over Palantir Contracts
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Britain’s Labour Government Feels the Heat over Palantir Contracts

Britain’s Labour government is under growing pressure over its contracts with U.S. data‑analytics firm Palantir, which include a £330 million NHS platform and a £240 million defence deal awarded without competition. Critics cite the company’s founder Peter Thiel, its work with ICE, and...

By Politico Europe – Technology
Google Blocked over 1.75 Million Play Store App Submissions in 2025
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Google Blocked over 1.75 Million Play Store App Submissions in 2025

Google reported that in 2025 it blocked more than 1.75 million app submissions and denied 255,000 apps access to sensitive user data on the Play Store. The company also banned over 80,000 developer accounts and added 10,000 new safety checks powered...

By BleepingComputer
Chinese Telecom Hackers Likely Holding Stolen Data ‘in Perpetuity’ for Later Attempts, FBI Official Says
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Chinese Telecom Hackers Likely Holding Stolen Data ‘in Perpetuity’ for Later Attempts, FBI Official Says

The FBI disclosed that the Chinese state‑backed group Salt Typhoon infiltrated dozens of telecom operators worldwide, exfiltrating data from over a million Americans. The hackers accessed U.S. lawful‑intercept systems, targeting communications of senior officials in a campaign that began at least...

By FCW (GovExec Technology)
Kratos Secures Contract to Support Hypersonic Materials Evaluation
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Kratos Secures Contract to Support Hypersonic Materials Evaluation

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has secured a U.S. Department of Defense contract from the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office to support testing and evaluation of thermal‑protection systems for hypersonic vehicles. The agreement tasks Kratos with analyzing mission scenarios, creating standard...

By Army Technology
Thousands Kenyans Are Fighting on Russia's Side
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Thousands Kenyans Are Fighting on Russia's Side

Kenyan intelligence disclosed that more than 1,000 Kenyan nationals have been recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, far exceeding the December estimate of 200. Of those, 89 are currently on the front lines, 39 have been hospitalized, and 30...

By Defence24 (Poland)
Elbit Systems Secures $277m Contract for 30mm Turrets and Munitions
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Elbit Systems Secures $277m Contract for 30mm Turrets and Munitions

Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems has secured a $277 million contract to deliver its UT30 MK2 30 mm turret systems and associated munitions to an unnamed international customer. The three‑year deal includes both crewed and uncrewed turret configurations, featuring a low‑profile, overhead installation...

By Army Technology
Castelion
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Castelion

Castelion, founded in 2025, aims to restore America’s capacity to field advanced weapons quickly and at scale. The company leverages rapid iteration, vertical integration, and scalable manufacturing to deliver affordable, high‑performance defense systems. In 2024 it closed a Series A round...

By Lightspeed » Ideas
Indra Group and ELT Group Sign Multi-Domain Defence Framework
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Indra Group and ELT Group Sign Multi-Domain Defence Framework

Indra Group and Italy’s ELT Group have signed a strategic framework agreement to cooperate across land systems, space technologies and uncrewed aerial vehicles. The partnership merges Indra’s multi‑domain integration, radar, space and cyber expertise with ELT’s electromagnetic spectrum operations capabilities....

By Airforce Technology
Archer Chooses Bristol as Its UK Engineering Hub
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Archer Chooses Bristol as Its UK Engineering Hub

Archer announced that Bristol will host its new UK Engineering Hub, a centre designed to accelerate both commercial eVTOL and defence programmes. The company has already received hundreds of applications and begun hiring engineers to tap the city’s deep aerospace...

By Urban Air Mobility News
Costly Upkeep of Axed Ship HMS Albion One Year On
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Costly Upkeep of Axed Ship HMS Albion One Year On

The UK Ministry of Defence continues to maintain the decommissioned amphibious assault ship HMS Albion at a cost of about £2 million per year, despite its removal from the surface fleet in November 2024. Defence Minister Luke Pollard says the expense is...

By Naval Technology
The Space Company in the Grey Zone: How TEC’s Network Blurs Europe’s Sanctions Lines
NewsFeb 19, 2026

The Space Company in the Grey Zone: How TEC’s Network Blurs Europe’s Sanctions Lines

The Exploration Company (TEC) is building the reusable Nyx capsule while its CEO Hélène Huby chairs the Karman Project, a Berlin‑based fellowship that brings together European space actors and Russian‑linked researchers. The network includes participants from sanctioned entities such as...

By Orbital Today
STOXX and DWS Collaborate on U.S. Launch of DWS Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF
NewsFeb 19, 2026

STOXX and DWS Collaborate on U.S. Launch of DWS Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF

STOXX and DWS have launched the Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF on Nasdaq, tracking the STOXX Europe Total Market Defence Space and Cybersecurity Innovation 50-25 index. The index, which captures companies with revenue and patent exposure to defense, space and...

By STOXX – News
Lockheed Martin Rapidly Developed Lamprey Drone, New Variants on the Way
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Lockheed Martin Rapidly Developed Lamprey Drone, New Variants on the Way

Lockheed Martin unveiled the Lamprey multi‑mission autonomous undersea vehicle, a UUV developed in just 14 months and showcased at WEST 2026. The drone can attach to submarines, ships, or the seabed using suction cups, allowing it to hitch rides and...

By Naval News
Navy Seeks New Anti-Radar Missile Compatible with F-18, F-35 Aircraft
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Navy Seeks New Anti-Radar Missile Compatible with F-18, F-35 Aircraft

The U.S. Navy issued a Sources‑Sought notice for the Advanced Emission Suppression Missile (AESM), a next‑generation anti‑radiation weapon with longer range than the AGM‑88 HARM. The missile must be compatible with existing F‑18, EA‑18G and F‑35 platforms and be fielded...

By Defense News
Ovzon Reports Record 2025 Results Driven by NATO and Defense Breakthroughs
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Ovzon Reports Record 2025 Results Driven by NATO and Defense Breakthroughs

Ovzon AB posted record 2025 results, with EBITDA climbing to over 290 MSEK and a 42% margin in Q4, driven by the full‑scale launch of its Ovzon 3 satellite. The company secured a 240 MSEK NATO contract and a 58 MSEK supplemental order from...

By SatNews
Connected and Compromised: When IoT Devices Turn Into Threats
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Connected and Compromised: When IoT Devices Turn Into Threats

The proliferation of consumer and enterprise IoT devices continues unchecked, yet most lack basic security controls such as passwords and encryption. Research presented by Mattia Epifani at RSAC 2026 shows that devices—from Amazon Echo to smart refrigerators—store unprotected audio, credentials, and personal...

By Dark Reading
India Approves a $1.1 Billion Deal with Russia for 288 S-400 Missiles
NewsFeb 19, 2026

India Approves a $1.1 Billion Deal with Russia for 288 S-400 Missiles

India’s Defence Acquisition Council has approved a $1.1 billion purchase of 288 Russian S‑400 missiles, comprising 120 short‑range and 168 long‑range interceptors. The order fast‑tracks replenishment after heavy missile expenditure during the 2025 air clash with Pakistan. The missiles will augment...

By Overt Defense
AFSOC Strategizes on Adapting Special Air Warfare for an Evolving World
NewsFeb 19, 2026

AFSOC Strategizes on Adapting Special Air Warfare for an Evolving World

The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) opened its 2026 Special Air Warfare Symposium in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, with senior leaders highlighting a renewed focus on people and rapid adaptability. The keynote underscored the command’s commitment to evolving tactics,...

By U.S. Space Force – News (All Entries)
High North Workshop Report Released
NewsFeb 19, 2026

High North Workshop Report Released

On December 10, 2025, the Northern Europe Office and Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a High North workshop to assess the Arctic’s evolving security landscape. Participants from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Greenland examined great‑power rivalry, Nordic defence cooperation,...

By Atlantic Council – All Content
BAE Systems Shares Are Up 23% in 2026. Is This FTSE 100 Defense Stock a Buy?
NewsFeb 19, 2026

BAE Systems Shares Are Up 23% in 2026. Is This FTSE 100 Defense Stock a Buy?

BAE Systems posted an 8% revenue rise and a 9% jump in operating profit for 2025, expanding its order book by £2.7 bn versus 2024. The company lifted its dividend 10% to 36p per share, while its stock surged 23% year‑to‑date,...

By Morningstar UK – News
Is Trump Jeopardizing Nonproliferation Efforts to Get A Nuclear Cooperation Deal with Saudi Arabia? A Report To Congress Suggests He...
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Is Trump Jeopardizing Nonproliferation Efforts to Get A Nuclear Cooperation Deal with Saudi Arabia? A Report To Congress Suggests He...

The Trump administration announced a U.S.–Saudi nuclear cooperation framework in November 2025, but a newly obtained report to Congress reveals the draft 123 agreement omits key non‑proliferation safeguards. The proposal would permit Saudi Arabia to pursue a limited uranium enrichment...

By Arms Control Association
India-France to Set up National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Kanpur
NewsFeb 19, 2026

India-France to Set up National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Kanpur

India and France announced a joint National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Kanpur to deliver advanced aeronautics and defence skill training. The centre will operate under the PM‑SETU scheme, which earmarks Rs 60,000 crore to modernise 1,000 ITIs across India. It will...

By The Economic Times (India) – Economy
Trump Says Iran Has ‘Probably 10 Days’ to Reach Nuclear Deal
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Trump Says Iran Has ‘Probably 10 Days’ to Reach Nuclear Deal

President Donald Trump warned Iran it has roughly ten days to reach a "meaningful" nuclear agreement, hinting that "bad things" could follow. He said negotiations were progressing but insisted Tehran must abandon enrichment and missile programs. The warning coincides with...

By BusinessLIVE