Israeli Firm Develops Shadowfax Drone with SAURON Turret
Israeli robotics firm Macushla unveiled the Shadowfax unmanned ground vehicle equipped with the SAURON remote‑controlled weapon station ahead of the Enforce Tac Nuremberg 2026 exhibition. The platform is lightweight, highly modular and can be re‑configured for combat, engineering or rescue missions. Demonstrations show the vehicle mounting assault‑rifle‑type RCWS, allowing operators to fire from a protected position while maintaining agility on uneven terrain. Macushla will showcase the system to global defence leaders as part of its autonomous‑ground portfolio.
U.S. Army Conducts HIMARS Live Fire During Arctic Exercise
The U.S. Army's 17th Field Artillery Brigade fired HIMARS during the Arctic JPMRC 26‑02 exercise in Alaska, proving long‑range precision fires in extreme cold. The live‑fire validated rapid deployment and integration with the 11th Airborne Division while overcoming freezing‑related equipment challenges....
Europe in the Shadow of Hybrid War. What Does Russian Systemic Pressure Look Like?
SAB’s annual report warns that Russia now frames relations with the West as an existential conflict, deploying a systematic hybrid toolkit that blends military, informational, cyber, legal and economic levers. The Kremlin’s distorted threat perception fuels a perception spiral, making...
Solar Storms and 2,600 Near-Misses: The Alarming January That Tested Britain’s Space Defences
In January 2026 the UK’s National Space Operations Centre kept its warning and protection systems active around the clock to shield licensed satellites from a surge in solar activity and persistent orbital congestion. Geomagnetic storms and solar flares intensified, while...
French Nuclear Sharing. Will Poland Receive Nuclear Weapons?
French President Emmanuel Macron called for expanding Europe’s nuclear umbrella at the Munich Conference, proposing to share France’s deterrent with allied states. He has launched strategic talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other EU leaders to translate French nuclear capability...
Lacson: Senate to Discuss Rules on Dialogue with Chinese Embassy
The Philippine Senate will convene an all‑senators’ caucus on Feb 23 to set ground rules for talks with the Chinese Embassy over the West Philippine Sea dispute, with Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson emphasizing diplomatic courtesy and the possibility of...
Architect of Botched Doha Agreement Angling for a Comeback
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special envoy who crafted the 2020 Doha Agreement, is signaling a return to Afghan diplomacy under a prospective second Trump administration. The Doha deal, widely blamed for the rapid Taliban takeover and the chaotic U.S....
The State of the “Legacy Primes” And a Few Billionaires
Legacy aerospace primes are reshaping their business models as the U.S. Space Force pivots to faster, fixed‑price procurement. Northrop Grumman, after an 8% dip in 2025 space revenue, projects $11 billion in 2026 sales and is now the primary builder for...
Slovak Government Could Have Boosted Czechoslovak Group with Defence Contracts Ahead of IPO, Anti-Graft Watchdog Says
Slovak journalists allege that the Ministry of Defence awarded Czechoslovak Group (CSG) €60.36 bn in contracts after the 2023 election, potentially to lift investor sentiment ahead of CSG’s January 2026 Amsterdam IPO. The IPO raised a record‑size defence offering, valuing CSG at...
Defence at the Final Frontier: Space and U.S.-India Prospects
The $1.5 billion NISAR satellite, a joint NASA‑ISRO venture, showcases the deepening U.S.–India space partnership. India’s Make‑in‑India agenda is accelerating indigenous defense‑related space capabilities, from ISR payloads to resilient communications. Meanwhile, China’s anti‑satellite tests and Pakistan’s growing space ties heighten regional...
Predator Spyware Hooks iOS SpringBoard to Hide Mic, Camera Activity
Intellexa’s Predator spyware can silently record iPhone camera and microphone feeds by hijacking iOS 14’s SpringBoard UI layer. Using a kernel‑level hook called HiddenDot::setupHook, the malware nullifies the SBSensorActivityDataProvider, preventing the green and orange privacy dots from ever lighting up. Jamf’s...
Myanmar Passenger Plane Struck in Alleged FPV Drone Attack at Myitkyina Airport
On 20 February 2026 an ATR‑72‑600 operated by Myanmar National Airlines was struck by an alleged first‑person‑view (FPV) drone while preparing for take‑off at Myitkyina Airport. The impact caused minor damage to the nose, mid‑body and tail, but no passengers or crew...
Pezeshkian Says Iran Will Not Bow to Pressure Amid US Nuclear Talks
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Tehran will not submit to external pressure as nuclear talks with the United States continue. He framed the stance as a defense of national sovereignty despite what he described as problems created by world...
Mobility, the Combat Power Multiplier
The Modern War Institute paper argues that mobility is the decisive combat multiplier for the U.S. Army, linking historical setbacks to inadequate maneuverability and emphasizing lessons from past conflicts. It outlines how rapid movement expands firepower, accelerates decision cycles, and...
U.S. F-16s and Chinese Jets Engage in Rare Mid-Air Standoff
U.S. Forces Korea deployed F‑16 fighter jets for a rare training sortie over the Yellow Sea, prompting a rapid response from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Chinese pilots scrambled their own jets, resulting in a brief mid‑air standoff that...
Visual Drone Detection Moves Into Critical Infrastructure Playbooks
Unauthorized drone activity around critical infrastructure is surging, prompting agencies like CISA to issue updated guidance for operators. Incidents have risen dramatically—over 217% across facilities and up to 300% at European airports—driving demand for specialized visual detection systems. The global...
Amazon: AI-Assisted Hacker Breached 600 Fortinet Firewalls in 5 Weeks
Amazon’s Integrated Security team warned that a Russian‑speaking threat actor leveraged generative AI services to automate a campaign that compromised more than 600 FortiGate firewalls in 55 countries between Jan 11 and Feb 18, 2026. The attackers scanned for internet‑exposed management ports,...
DIU Eyes First Launch for Its Commercial Hypersonic Testbed
The Defense Innovation Unit’s Hypersonic High‑Cadence Advanced Testing (HyCAT) program is preparing its second flight, slated for late February, to launch the Australian‑built DART AE scramjet testbed aboard Rocket Lab’s HASTE sub‑orbital launcher. The mission will fly from Wallops Island...
U.S. Army Deletes Newly Released Dark Eagle Photos
The U.S. Army posted, then swiftly removed, official photographs of its Dark Eagle Long‑Range Hypersonic Weapon, allowing the images to circulate online before any explanation was offered. Dark Eagle is a mobile boost‑glide system capable of Mach 5+ speeds, designed to...
Orange Plans to Withdraw From Russia
Orange is weighing a full exit from the Russian market after nearly four years of limited operations following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The telecom giant’s Russian revenue now represents less than 1% of its total earnings, and it continues...
ANALYSIS | Trump Pushes US Towards War with Iran as Advisers Urge Focus on Economy
President Donald Trump has ordered a massive military buildup in the Middle East and is preparing for a possible multi‑week air strike against Iran, despite no clear strategic justification. Senior White House officials say the administration lacks unified support for...
Kalashnikov Showcases Electric Military Motorcycles
Kalashnikov Concern unveiled its electric Izh‑Enduro military motorcycles at a Rostec exhibition, highlighting low‑noise, high‑mobility platforms for frontline logistics. The bikes can haul up to 200 kg, travel up to 100 km on a single charge, and reach speeds of 100‑150 km/h. Designed...
U.S. Marine Corps Awards New ROGUE-Fires Missile Carrier Deal
The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Oshkosh Defense a $16.8 million contract modification to procure ROGUE‑Fires autonomous missile carriers. The JLTV‑based, crew‑less launchers can fire Naval Strike Missiles or Tomahawk cruise missiles, supporting the Navy and Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. Fielding...
U.S. Army Funds PAC-3 Launcher Recapitalization Program
The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $43.5 million contract modification on Feb 20 2026 to recapitalize Patriot PAC‑3 launchers, raising the program’s cumulative value to $223 million. The award funds product‑assurance activities, testing, and lifecycle upgrades aimed at extending launcher service life. Work will...
USS Truman’s “Costly Errors”: A Reminder for USS Gerald R. Ford — Is The World’s Most Powerful Carrier Ready For...
The U.S. Navy’s newest carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, moved through the Strait of Gibraltar on Feb. 20, adding to a fleet of 13 U.S. warships already operating in the Middle East amid rising Iran tensions. The ship’s deployment, originally slated...
Russia Weakened but Still Dangerous After the Ukraine War
The Ukraine war has exposed Russia’s structural vulnerabilities, including demographic decline, waning energy leverage over Europe, and growing reliance on China. Simultaneously, Moscow has adapted its military doctrine, emphasizing drones, electronic warfare, and attritional tactics, while sanctions have not collapsed...
Russia Wanted the Nuclear Treaty because It Is Facing Difficulties, Expert Says
The New START arms‑control treaty between the United States and Russia expired on 5 February 2026, ending a 15‑year limit on deployed strategic warheads. According to Polish Institute of International Affairs expert Artur Kacprzyk, Russia favours maintaining the caps because expanding its...
EC-Council Expands AI Certification Portfolio to Strengthen U.S. AI Workforce Readiness and Security
EC‑Council announced its Enterprise AI Credential Suite, adding four role‑based AI certifications and an updated Certified CISO v4 program. The launch targets the estimated $5.5 trillion global AI risk exposure and a U.S. reskilling gap of 700,000 workers. It aligns with recent...
New Army Office Aims to Quickly Develop and Scale Soldier Ideas
The U.S. Army has launched the Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT), a new office that fuses soldier‑driven ideas with rapid‑acquisition mechanisms. PIT sits alongside the FUZE program, Joint Innovation Outpost and Global Tactical Edge Directorate, giving innovators a direct...
Bruno Says He Joined Blue Origin to Work on ‘Urgent’ National Security Projects
Tory Bruno, former ULA chief, left the company to become president of Blue Origin’s new national‑security group, citing an urgent need for dynamic space operations and missile‑defense capabilities. He believes ULA’s Vulcan rocket is now mature, allowing him to focus...
National Guard Team Clinches Award for Clawed Drone at Army Competition
The Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Infantry Division won the Best Innovation award at the Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition for Project RED, a system that locates, identifies, and retrieves downed drones using AI and a robotic claw. The solution employs...
National Guard Team Clinches Award for Clawed Drone at Army Competition
Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Infantry Division won the Best Innovation award at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition in Huntsville, Alabama. Their Project RED system employs AI and a 3D‑printed carbon‑fiber claw to locate, retrieve,...
The White House Scrapped SBOMs in Favor of Agency-Managed Cyber Risk. Flexibility, Meet Accountability.
The Office of Management and Budget has withdrawn the mandatory software bill of materials (SBOM) requirement, replacing it with a risk‑based menu of options for federal agencies. This shift moves compliance from a prescriptive checklist to agency‑driven risk assessment, granting...
DoD Wants Space-Based Commercial Imagery Solutions For Domain Awareness In GEO
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has issued a solicitation for commercial space‑to‑space imaging solutions to monitor satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO). The contract calls for a minimum viable product delivering high‑resolution electro‑optical images within two years, enabling object identification and...
Statement on the Threat of Possible U.S. Strikes on Iran
On February 20, 2026, a leading arms‑control organization issued a statement condemning recent U.S. rhetoric about possible military strikes on Iran. The statement argues that such actions would lack justification under international non‑proliferation norms and could destabilize the fragile Middle‑East...
STATEMENT: Renewed U.S. Military Attacks on Iran Not Justified on Nonproliferation Grounds, Say Nuclear Experts
Nuclear experts from the Arms Control Association warned that a renewed U.S. aerial strike on Iran would not impede Tehran’s potential path to a nuclear weapon and would instead sabotage ongoing diplomatic efforts. They note that the June 2025 attack disrupted...
Defense Watch: F-47 Engine, Army News, Leidos Realigns, New SRM Facility
On Feb. 18 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toured Boeing’s St. Louis site as RTX’s Pratt & Whitney announced it will fast‑track the XA103 engine for the upcoming F‑47 sixth‑generation stealth fighter, with detailed design review completed and a prototype slated for...
State Department Clears Last Protest, Finalizes Awards for $10B Evolve IT Vehicle
The State Department has cleared the last protest against its $10 billion Evolve IT services vehicle and announced the final round of 48 contract awards across five functional categories. Evolve consolidates eleven existing contracts into a single multiple‑award vehicle with a...
Denmark Seizes Blacklisted Container Ship Tied to Iran's Shadow Fleet
The Danish Maritime Authority seized the container vessel Nora, a ship blacklisted by the United States for violating Iran sanctions. Authorities say the vessel was sailing under an unauthorized Comoros flag and abruptly raised the Iranian flag when questioned, indicating...
Des Moines ANGB to Gain ANG Cyber Operations Squadrons
The Department of the Air Force has chosen Des Moines Air National Guard Base in Iowa as the preferred site to convert reassigned manpower into Air National Guard cyber operations. The 2025 defense budget eliminated half of the ANG Tactical...
Fort Gordon to Gain ANG Cyber Operations Squadrons
The Department of the Air Force has chosen Fort Gordon, Georgia, as the preferred site for two new Air National Guard cyber operations squadrons. The 117th Air Control Squadron will be inactivated at Hunter Army Airfield, releasing manpower that will...
Iran’s Regime Is Suffering From Strategic Vertigo. Its Next Misstep May Be Its Last.
Iran’s leadership has repeatedly misread regional dynamics, turning potential strategic gains into costly setbacks. After hesitating to mobilize Hezbollah during the October 7 Hamas offensive, Tehran launched a large‑scale missile and drone barrage against Israel in April 2024, prompting a robust Israeli‑U.S....
Axelspace and Synspective Lock In Imagery Contracts for Japanese Constellation
Japanese Ministry of Defense awarded imagery contracts to Axelspace and Synspective as part of its privately‑run satellite constellation. Axelspace will supply optical data under a 48 billion‑yen ($310 million) deal, while Synspective will provide SAR imagery for 105.6 billion yen ($681 million). The contracts,...
Navy Eyes BAH Increases, Barracks Updates to House More Sailors Ashore
The Navy has relocated 4,500 sailors from shipboard berths to shore‑based housing as part of its "No Sailor Lives Afloat" initiative. Officials say the effort includes upgrading existing barracks, reopening rooms, and exploring public‑private housing ventures while advocating for higher...
Massachusetts Guardsman Advances AI Innovation Through Fellowship
Massachusetts National Guard Senior Airman Matthew Wright completed a five‑month MIT AI fellowship, part of the Department of the Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator. Selected from fewer than 3% of applicants, he was the first junior enlisted Airman to join...
Rheinmetall Secures Major Order for Bundeswehr Reconnaissance Vehicle
Rheinmetall has inked a mid‑three‑digit‑million‑euro contract with General Dynamics European Land Systems to supply its CT‑025 unmanned turret, main armament and simulation technology for the Bundeswehr’s new Luchs 2 reconnaissance vehicle. The deal calls for 274 turrets to be delivered between...
Lithuania Completes JLTV Procurement, Reaches 500-Vehicle Fleet
Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence has completed its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) acquisition, receiving the final two Oshkosh‑built units in February. The fleet now totals 500 JLTVs, the largest non‑U.S. operator of the platform. The procurement, launched in 2019,...
Four Years of War in Europe
Four years after Russia’s invasion, Europe has become the primary financier and arms supplier for Ukraine, while the United States under President Trump has largely stepped back from direct involvement. The conflict has spurred unprecedented battlefield innovation, notably Ukraine’s mass‑produced...
What Is Trump’s China Policy?
Former President Donald Trump’s China policy is defined by contradictory impulses—pursuing short‑term commercial deals while simultaneously signaling a tougher stance on strategic issues like Taiwan and critical minerals. The administration’s “big‑tent” approach pits pro‑business officials against hard‑line hawks, creating strategic...
Guam National Guard Trains with Partners at Simulated Drug Lab
The Guam National Guard’s 94th Civil Support Team conducted a full‑scale, multi‑agency exercise on Feb. 18 at a simulated clandestine drug laboratory in Barrigada. Participants included the New Mexico Guard’s 64th CST, Andersen Air Force Base’s CBRNE Response Team, and Guam’s fire,...