Six New York Army National Guard Soldiers Receive French Medal for Actions in Iraq
Six New York Army National Guard aviators were honored on Feb. 22, 2026 with the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star for rapid aerial support that rescued 34 French special‑operations troops during an Aug. 28‑29, 2023 firefight near Hawija, Iraq. The crews of two CH‑47F Chinooks loaded 30 French commandos, flew 70 miles, and remained on station to aid the embattled unit. The medals, authorized by French General Thierry Burkhard, were presented by Maj. Gen. Michel Natali in Rochester. The ceremony highlighted the Guard’s role in Operation Inherent Resolve and U.S.–French partnership against ISIS.
Supreme Court Declines COVID Vaccine Mandate Cases
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear two Air Force cases challenging the Department of Defense’s COVID‑19 vaccine mandate, deeming them moot after the Pentagon began reinstating service members who had refused the shot. Plaintiffs, citing the Religious Freedom Restoration...
Airbus Presents Rotorcraft Concepts For NATO Study
Airbus Helicopters, together with Collins Aerospace, Raytheon and MBDA, has submitted two next‑generation rotorcraft concepts to NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities study. The proposals include a conventional helicopter and a high‑speed compound aircraft that share common systems, training and maintenance...
Guard Leaders Gather for Domestic Ops Conference, Sync Emergency Response Plans
The National Guard Domestic Operations Conference convened Feb. 10‑12 at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, uniting senior Army and Air Guard leaders to synchronize homeland‑focused disaster response plans. Attendees examined recent hurricanes, wildfires and cyber‑induced infrastructure failures to develop a unified playbook...
Enigma Cipher Device Still Holds Secrets for Cyber Pros
The Enigma cipher machine, originally built in 1918 and later adapted by the Nazis, saw only a few hundred surviving units out of an estimated 35,000‑40,000 produced. Historian‑turned‑cybersecurity expert Marc Sachs will discuss the device’s historic failures at RSAC 2026, highlighting...
Determinants and Evolution of the Russian Concept of Information Warfare
The article maps the evolution of Russia's information warfare doctrine from Imperial-era morale operations through Soviet psychological warfare to today's hybrid strategies. It highlights how Moscow blends propaganda, cyber attacks, and covert forces to shape narratives and destabilise opponents without...
With Three Contestants, the Globe’s New Great Game Is On
Analysts label today’s geopolitical rivalry a "New Great Game" pitting the United States against a China‑Russia alliance. The contest spans Central Asia, the Middle East, the Arctic and the Indo‑Pacific, driven by competition for fossil fuels, rare‑earth minerals and strategic...
Army Tackling Its ‘Achilles Heel’ of IT Modernization
U.S. Army CIO Leo Garciga announced a rapid purge of legacy business applications, shutting down 100 systems in the past two quarters and cutting the total from roughly 800 to under 300. The consolidation focuses on enterprise‑wide platforms, low‑code/no‑code tools,...
APT28 Targeted European Entities Using Webhook-Based Macro Malware
Russia‑linked APT28 launched Operation MacroMaze, a campaign against Western and Central European entities from September 2025 through January 2026. The attackers delivered spear‑phishing documents containing a macro that calls a webhook.site URL, acting as a tracking‑pixel to verify document opening. The macro drops...
Government Equity Investments Open a New Frontier for Industry
Since the start of President Trump’s second term, the administration has completed ten direct equity investments in private firms, highlighted by a $1 billion stake in L3Harris Technologies' rocket‑motor unit and minority positions in Intel and critical‑mineral suppliers. The moves target...
600+ FortiGate Devices Hacked by AI-Armed Amateur
A financially motivated, Russian‑speaking threat actor used generative AI services to compromise more than 600 Fortinet FortiGate firewalls worldwide between January and February. The campaign avoided exploiting software vulnerabilities, instead leveraging exposed management ports and reused credentials with single‑factor authentication,...
Securing the Future of the Orbital Environment
Industry briefings under the "Securing the Future of Space" campaign stress a sovereign‑commercial nexus to protect an increasingly congested Low Earth Orbit. Experts like Dr. Moriba Jah advocate a shift from space conquest to environmental stewardship, leveraging AI to monitor...
US Pulling Non-Essential Staff From Embassy in Beirut Amid Iran Tensions
The U.S. State Department is withdrawing non‑essential personnel and their families from the embassy in Beirut as tensions with Iran rise. Roughly 50 staff members have been evacuated, though a core diplomatic team remains on site to maintain operations. The...
China's Mysterious Shenlong Space Plane Recently Launched on Its 4th Mission. What Is It Doing up There?
China’s reusable Shenlong space plane lifted off from Jiuquan on Feb 6, 2026, marking its fourth orbital mission. The vehicle’s prior flights ranged from a two‑day test to multi‑year stays, each releasing one or more satellites. Unlike the U.S. X‑37B, Shenlong...
Palantir Deals Are a Threat to Our Data Rights as UK Citizens | Letters
Palantir Technologies, the US data‑fusion and AI firm, has secured contracts with the UK National Health Service and the Ministry of Defence. Critics argue the deals give a surveillance‑focused company access to sensitive citizen data. The firm’s platforms, already employed...
AST SpaceMobile Wins $30 Million Contract for Military Broadband Demo
The Space Development Agency awarded AST SpaceMobile a $30 million firm‑fixed‑price contract to demonstrate its BlueBird satellite constellation can deliver resilient, low‑latency broadband directly to military radios. The "Europa" phase of the HALO program requires AST to complete a series of...
Ad Tech Firm Optimizely Confirms Data Breach After Vishing Attack
Optimizely, a New York‑based ad‑tech firm, disclosed a data breach after a sophisticated voice‑phishing (vishing) attack on February 11. Threat actors accessed the company’s CRM and other internal business systems, extracting only basic contact information and not sensitive customer data. The...
Mobile Networks Face New Cellular UAV Exploitation Risks
Operation Spiderweb in June 2025 demonstrated how Ukrainian forces hijacked Russian mobile networks to control and stream data from drones, disabling about 20 aircraft. The incident exposed a growing vulnerability as 4G/5G standards now embed native drone support, allowing off‑the‑shelf...
Promotional Material: Desider 2026
Desider, the monthly corporate magazine of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), was launched on 26 January 2026. It is aimed at DE&S staff, the wider MOD, armed forces and industry partners. The publication delivers stories on operational...
Axelspace to Supply Imagery Data for Japanese Defence Satellite Effort
Japanese micro‑satellite firm Axelspace secured an exclusive contract to supply optical imagery for the Ministry of Defense’s new satellite constellation. The agreement, part of a broader ¥283.1 bn project led by a consortium of Mitsubishi Electric, SKY Perfect JSAT, Mitsui &...
Sanctions, Seizures, and the Limits of Maritime Visibility
In late 2025 and early 2026 the U.S. Coast Guard and allied forces seized three oil tankers—M/T Skipper, M/T Centuries and Bella 1—after months of multi‑source intelligence proved they were moving sanctioned cargo. The operation underscores a new enforcement paradigm: governments...
US Army Delivers Two AH-64E Apache Helicopters to Australia
Australia has taken delivery of two AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States under a Foreign Military Sales agreement, marking the first arrivals of a 29‑aircraft order. The delivery is part of Project Land 4503, with the remaining helicopters slated for...
Replacement B-52 Test Engine Deliveries Expected in 2027
Rolls Royce confirmed that its upgraded F130 test engines for the B‑52 Stratofortress will be delivered in 2027 following successful altitude and operability testing. The engines, which replace the aging Pratt & Whitney TF33‑PW‑103 powerplants, completed trials at the Air...
Energy Department Patched Flaws Enabling Email Impersonation in Critical Minerals System
The U.S. Energy Department patched an identity‑verification flaw in its critical minerals portal that let outsiders register with email addresses mimicking official energy.gov accounts. Security researcher Ronald Lovelace uncovered the issue using subdomain enumeration and reported it through the department’s...
Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability Pre-Application Consultation
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has launched a statutory pre‑application consultation for its Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) at Cawdor Barracks, with the consultation window closing on 23 March 2026. An extensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been completed and all...
Wieslander Published in Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences
Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe, published an analysis in the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences critiquing the U.S. National Security Strategy released by the Trump administration in November 2025. She argues the strategy leaves Europe squeezed between an...
What Capabilities Are Being Tested Under AUKUS Pillar II?
Under AUKUS Pillar II, Australia, the UK and the US are testing next‑generation autonomous and uncrewed maritime capabilities. The latest Maritime Big Play exercise in Australia featured live‑fire trials of C2 Robotics’ Speartooth large uncrewed underwater vehicle and involved around 30 emerging systems....
Cross-Border Trafficking: From Detection to Interdiction
The article by Cognyte’s Vice President highlights how Fusion Centers and AI‑driven data fusion are strengthening detection and interdiction of cross‑border human trafficking. Recent collaborative operations rescued hundreds of children and resulted in dozens of arrests, showcasing the power of...
US Healthcare Diagnostic Firm Says 140,000 Affected by Data Breach
Healthcare diagnostics firm Vikor Scientific, now operating as Vanta Diagnostics, disclosed a data breach affecting nearly 140,000 individuals. The breach was traced to Catalyst RCM, a revenue-cycle‑management vendor, whose compromised credentials allowed the Everest ransomware group to exfiltrate roughly 12 GB...
Chad Closes Border with Sudan After Clashes Kill Five Soldiers
Chad shut its eastern border with Sudan after weekend clashes killed five Chadian soldiers and three civilians in the border town of Tine. The fighting involved Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces and militia loyal to Khartoum, reflecting the spill‑over of Sudan’s...
Why Japan Must Help Counter China’s Presence in the Pacific
The article argues that Japan must step up its role in Micronesia to help counter China’s expanding footprint across the Western Pacific. The United States relies on COFA agreements that provide billions in aid and unrestricted base access, yet implementation...
Collins and GA-ASI Advance CCA with Sidekick Flight Demonstration
Collins Aerospace successfully demonstrated its Sidekick mission‑autonomy software on a General Atomics YFQ‑42A uncrewed jet, completing a four‑hour autonomous flight controlled from the ground. The test, part of the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, proved seamless integration...
BAE Systems Unveils CV9035 MkIV for Slovak Armed Forces
BAE Systems has rolled out the CV9035 MkIV infantry fighting vehicle for Slovakia, part of a €1.3 billion contract for 152 CV90 variants. The first unit left the production line in the second half of 2025 and is now undergoing tests...
Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Win Innovation Title at Army’s Best Drone Warfighter Competition
A Pennsylvania National Guard team from the 28th Infantry Division captured the innovation prize at the Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition. Their Project R.E.D. uses AI‑driven object recognition and a 3‑D‑printed carbon‑fiber robotic arm to retrieve downed drones for intelligence...
China, ASEAN, and Beyond: The UK Strategy for the Indo-Pacific
The United Kingdom has unveiled a comprehensive Indo‑Pacific strategy that ties Euro‑Atlantic security to a free and open Indo‑Pacific, emphasizing flexible, values‑based partnerships. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent China visit secured visa‑free travel for UK citizens and greater market access for...
GA-ASI and USAF Demonstrate Manned-Unmanned Teaming With F-22 and MQ-20 In Joint Autonomy Exercise
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and the U.S. Air Force completed a joint autonomy exercise at Edwards AFB, pairing an F‑22 Raptor with the MQ‑20 Avenger unmanned jet. The test used government‑reference autonomy software and a tactical data link to let...
Schiebel to Establish a UK Entity to Support Expanding Defense Opportunities
Schiebel announced the formation of a dedicated UK legal entity to capitalize on growing British defence opportunities. The move follows the successful deployment of its Peregrine rotary‑wing UAV with the Royal Navy, delivered in partnership with Thales UK. Schiebel also...
UK Joins European Air Defence Project Despite DIP Hold-Up
The United Kingdom has signed onto the Low‑Cost Effectors & Autonomous Platforms (LEAP) programme, a five‑nation European effort to field an affordable, AI‑driven surface‑to‑air weapon capable of neutralising drones and missiles by 2027. The move comes as the long‑awaited Defence...
The Long Telegram Just Turned 80. Our Times Demand a New One.
The Atlantic Council’s Frederick Kempe marks the 80th anniversary of George Kennan’s Long Telegram, arguing that today’s geopolitical turbulence demands a comparable strategic blueprint. He highlights a simultaneous great‑power contest involving Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s assertiveness around Taiwan, and an...
How Exposed Endpoints Increase Risk Across LLM Infrastructure
Enterprises deploying private Large Language Models are rapidly adding inference APIs, model‑management dashboards, and tool‑calling endpoints. Each new endpoint widens the attack surface, especially when permissions are excessive and credentials remain static. Exposed endpoints let attackers hijack non‑human identities, enabling...
When Iran Took the Internet Hostage, Elon Musk Held the Keys
In early 2026 Iranian protests triggered a sweeping internet shutdown, but smuggled Starlink terminals let activists maintain contact with the outside world. The satellite service enabled images and messages to bypass state jamming, turning a near‑total blackout into a contested...
General Atomics Names YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft ‘Dark Merlin’
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced that its YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft will be called Dark Merlin. The unmanned system is one of two prototypes selected for the U.S. Air Force’s first increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, the other...
Ukraine Says Cyberattacks on Energy Grid Now Used to Guide Missile Strikes
Russian cyber actors targeting Ukraine’s energy grid have shifted from causing immediate outages to gathering intelligence that guides missile strikes. By mapping facilities, tracking repair crews, and monitoring recovery rates, they provide real‑time data that improves strike accuracy. The number...
Why National Unmanned Aircraft System Policy Must Lead with Integration – Not Interception
The United States faces a pivotal shift in unmanned aircraft system (UAS) policy, urging a move from a counter‑UAS‑first narrative to an integration‑first strategy. Lawful drone operations must become visible through Remote ID, Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) and public education,...
Ransomware Gangs Advancing Moscow’s Geopolitical Aims, Romanian Cyber Chief Warns
Romanian officials say recent ransomware attacks on the country’s water agency, oil pipeline operator and coal‑based power producer were part of a coordinated Russian hybrid operation. Groups such as Qilin and Gentlemen, which speak Russian, claimed responsibility, linking the attacks...
Massive US Air Force Warplane Movements in Bulgaria Raise Stakes for Iran Talks
The United States staged a fleet of KC‑135 tankers, C‑17s, C‑130s and transport Boeing 747s at Sofia International Airport, temporarily halting civilian flights on Feb. 23‑24. Bulgaria’s defence ministry said the presence supported NATO‑related training, while officials downplayed any link...
Scaling for Diverse Fleet Needs: How Many CCA Will Be Acquired per Crewed Aircraft?
The defence sector lacks a standard ratio of uncrewed to crewed aircraft, as collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) capabilities and national requirements differ widely. Medium‑altitude long‑endurance (MALE) CCAs are positioned as cost‑effective, low‑risk platforms that can operate in mixed formations with...
Attackers Exploit Ivanti EPMM Zero-Days to Seize Control of MDM Servers
Attackers are actively exploiting two critical Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) zero‑days (CVE‑2026‑1281 and CVE‑2026‑1340) that allow unauthenticated remote code execution. More than 4,400 EPMM instances are exposed on the public internet, giving threat actors full control of enterprise mobile...
NATO Is Not Ready for Drone Warfare in the Arctic
NATO’s Arctic defence plans are outpaced by Russia’s rapid expansion of uncrewed systems, with Moscow now producing over 1.5 million drones a year and fielding Arctic‑adapted platforms. The alliance’s ambition to secure the High North is hampered by a shortage of...
An MQ-20 Drone Just Teamed up with an F-22 for Mock Combat Missions
General Atomics demonstrated its MQ-20 drone operating under direct orders from an F‑22 pilot at Edwards Air Force Base, using Autonodyne’s Bashi pilot‑vehicle interface. The test showed the drone executing tactical maneuvers, waypoint changes, combat patrols and threat‑engagement tasks autonomously....