News•Feb 18, 2026
U.S. Firms Test Venom Autonomous Strike Aircraft
Divergent Technologies and Mach Industries unveiled Venom, an autonomous strike aircraft prototype that reached flight readiness in just 71 days. The rapid development leveraged Mach's modular open‑systems architecture and Divergent's Adaptive Production System, which uses additive manufacturing to produce monolithic airframe components. The effort showcases a software‑driven, parallel engineering approach that compresses traditional aerospace timelines. While Venom is a demonstration platform, the partners aim to scale production to thousands of units per year.
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 18, 2026
Poland Bans Chinese-Made Cars From Entering Military Sites
Poland’s senior army commanders have issued a directive barring Chinese‑manufactured cars from entering protected military facilities. The move targets vehicles whose sensors, software or connectivity modules could transmit location and other sensitive data. It aligns Poland with recent U.S. and...
By The Record by Recorded Future
News•Feb 18, 2026
Notice: Countering Illegal Use of UAS Around Prisons and Sensitive Sites
The UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) competition, backed by the Ministry of Justice, MOD and other security agencies, seeks low‑collateral technologies to neutralise hostile drones near prisons, critical infrastructure and other sensitive sites. Up to £1.85 million in funding will support two...
By UK Ministry of Defence (GOV.UK)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Defence Giant BAE Hails Record Sales as Workers Remain on Strike
BAE Systems announced record 2025 results, with sales rising 10% to £30.7 billion and pre‑tax profit climbing to £2.6 billion. The company highlighted a historic order backlog as global defence budgets surge amid geopolitical tension. Meanwhile, Unite union members at the Lancashire...
By BBC News – Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
Two Americas on Display in Munich
The Munich Security Conference, long‑standing forum for transatlantic dialogue, revealed stark contrasts between U.S. policy strands this year. While European officials pressed for a unified stance against Russian aggression, American participants displayed divergent messages reflecting domestic political divides. The conference...
By RealClearWorld – Security/Defense (alt aggregation)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Why GPS III, and What Comes After It, Still Falls Short in Modern War
The United States is completing its GPS III constellation, the most extensive PNT upgrade in a decade, delivering higher accuracy, stronger signals and improved anti‑jam features. Analysts argue that while GPS III and the upcoming GPS IIIF add incremental resilience, they do not...
By SpaceNews
News•Feb 18, 2026
Leonardo DRS Joins SHIELD Missile Defense Program
Leonardo DRS announced it has secured multiple awards under the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD IDIQ contract, which carries a shared ceiling of $151 billion. The contracts position the company to compete for future task orders aimed at accelerating the development and...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 18, 2026
Anchors Away: The Perils of Our Shipbuilding Imbalance
The article warns that the United States Navy faces a growing shipbuilding imbalance, with production capacity falling short of strategic demand. Historical lessons from World War II and Mahanian doctrine underscore the risk of a weakened fleet. Current procurement pipelines are...
By RealClearDefense
News•Feb 18, 2026
Army Leaders Say Future European Fight Could Mean 1,500 Targets Daily
U.S. Army leaders warn that a future large‑scale conflict in Europe could involve engaging roughly 1,500 targets in a single day. The figure reflects the anticipated intensity of combined‑arms operations against a near‑peer adversary. To meet this demand, the Army...
By RealClearDefense
News•Feb 18, 2026
Apache Helicopters Downed Drones With 30mm Proximity Ammo
The U.S. Army’s AH‑64 Apache attack helicopter successfully employed 30 mm proximity‑fuzed ammunition to engage and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles during a December training exercise at Yuma Proving Ground. This marks the first documented air‑to‑air kill by an Apache using purpose‑built...
By RealClearDefense
News•Feb 18, 2026
U.S. Contract Sends Revolutionary Naval Drones to Japan
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Liquid Robotics a $25 million sole‑source contract to deliver 20 unmanned surface vehicles to Japan under a Foreign Military Sales program. The award covers control software, mission‑specific payloads, and launch‑recovery equipment, with work slated for...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 18, 2026
C3BM Launches Software Developer Student Pipeline
The Department of the Air Force’s Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (C3BM) has launched the first iteration of a software developer student pipeline. The program targets Airmen from Kessel Run, the Operational Response Team, and the Conjure branch of...
By U.S. Space Force – News (All Entries)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Vantor Partners with Google AI to Automate Intelligence Reports for Government Agencies
Vantor, a commercial Earth‑observation satellite operator, announced a partnership with Google to run Google Earth AI models inside classified, air‑gapped government networks. The AI will automatically generate text‑based intelligence reports from Vantor’s own, third‑party, or sovereign imagery, cutting analysis time...
By SpaceNews
News•Feb 18, 2026
U.S. Army Signs $73.5M Deal for Merkava Propulsion Systems
The U.S. Army awarded Rolls‑Royce Solutions America a $73.5 million Foreign Military Sales contract to deliver Merkava tank power‑pack kits and engineering services for Israel, part of a larger $462.9 million sustainment agreement. The work, slated for completion by December 2032, will be...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 18, 2026
China Gives Lithuania Punishing Silent Treatment over Taiwan
In 2021 Lithuania permitted a Taiwanese representative office to use the name "Taiwan" rather than "Taipei," directly challenging Beijing's One‑China policy. China answered not with public sanctions but with a silent diplomatic freeze, withdrawing embassy staff and removing Lithuania from...
By Asia Times – Defense
News•Feb 18, 2026
Washington National Guard Strengthens Readiness Ahead of World Cup 2026
Washington’s National Guard is boosting its counter‑drone readiness ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, holding a Field‑Ready Range Day at Joint Base Lewis‑McChord that united military, law‑enforcement, and interagency partners. The exercise focused on detecting, tracking, and neutralizing hostile...
By U.S. Army – News
News•Feb 18, 2026
SpaceX Unveils Space Traffic Management System
SpaceX announced Stargaze, a space‑situational awareness platform that leverages star‑tracker cameras on its nearly 10,000 Starlink satellites to collect about 30 million observations per day. The system generates near‑real‑time conjunction data messages and will be offered free to all satellite operators...
By SpaceNews
News•Feb 18, 2026
UK Caps Launch Liability in Timely Boost for Nascent Domestic Market
On February 18, the UK enacted a €60 million liability cap for launch operators under the Space Industry (Indemnities) Act 2025, replacing the previous unlimited exposure. The cap, which must be included in launch licences, is intended to make the nascent UK...
By SpaceNews
News•Feb 18, 2026
British Army’s Project Stokes 120mm Mortar Bids Due in March 2026
The British Army’s Project Stokes aims to field a new 120 mm Light Mounted Mortar Variant‑Hinge, with bids due by the end of March 2026 following a late‑2025 request for information. The programme revives the historic Stokes name and seeks a domestically...
By Shephard Media
News•Feb 18, 2026
AFGSC at Barksdale Air Force Base Secures $86.1m in Federal Funding
The U.S. government has allocated $86.1 million in new funding to the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base. The money will support innovation, technology, and modernization for the bomber fleet and nuclear command systems. Since 2020, total...
By Airforce Technology
News•Feb 18, 2026
Tata Advanced Systems Inaugurates Airbus H125 Helicopter Production Line to Boost India’s Vertical-Lift Capabilities
Tata Advanced Systems has opened India’s first private‑sector final assembly line for the Airbus H125 helicopter at Vemagal, Karnataka, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The facility will produce both civil H125 and its military...
By Airbus – Newsroom
News•Feb 18, 2026
3 Ways to Start Your Intelligent Workflow Program
Security, IT and engineering teams face pressure to accelerate outcomes while extracting AI value, yet 88% of AI proofs‑of‑concept never reach production despite 70% of workers seeking time‑saving automation. The Hacker News article outlines three pre‑built intelligent‑workflow use cases—automated phishing response,...
By The Hacker News
News•Feb 18, 2026
Thermal Intelligence Company Raises £30m in NATO-Backed Round
SatVu, a London‑based defence‑tech firm, raised £30 million in a round backed by the NATO Innovation Fund, the British Business Bank and other investors. The funding brings total capital to £60 million and will enable the company to expand from a single‑satellite...
By UKTN (UK Tech News)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Defunding the Taliban without Starving the Afghan People
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the bipartisan No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act, aiming to prevent American taxpayer money from funding the Taliban or affiliated terrorist groups. The legislation follows a SIGAR report indicating that roughly $3.83 billion of...
By Asia Times – Defense
News•Feb 18, 2026
L3Harris Begins Work on South Korean AEW&C Aircraft, Eyes Further International Opportunities
L3Harris has begun modifying Bombardier Global 6500 jets for South Korea’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program, deploying its AERIS X system. The contract, valued at roughly US $2.26 billion, was awarded in October 2025 and involves partners Bombardier, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elta...
By Shephard Media
News•Feb 18, 2026
Managing Systemic Supply Chain Risk to the U.S. Economy From Trade Concentration and Geopolitical Conflict
The RAND report examines systemic supply‑chain risks facing the U.S. economy stemming from trade concentration and geopolitical conflict. It highlights how reliance on a narrow set of foreign suppliers can magnify disruption impacts. The analysis calls for coordinated public‑private strategies...
By RAND Blog/Analysis
News•Feb 18, 2026
UAV Navigation & Ekolot Aerospace and Defense Partner on ZEUS VTOL Platform
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía and Ekolot Aerospace & Defense have forged a strategic partnership to embed high‑precision flight‑control and navigation systems into the ZEUS VTOL platform. The ZEUS family, with a maximum take‑off weight of 100‑250 kg and payload capacity of 30‑150 kg,...
By Unmanned Systems Technology – News
News•Feb 18, 2026
AFP Backs Increased US Missile Deployments to Manila for Enhanced Regional Defense Posture
The Armed Forces of the Philippines publicly endorsed the United States’ plan to expand missile and unmanned system deployments following the 12th Philippines‑U.S. Bilateral Strategic Dialogue. The agreement includes the Typhon mid‑range missile launcher and the Navy‑Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction...
By Manila Bulletin – Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
The Defense Industrial Base Is a Prime Target for Cyber Disruption
Cyber adversaries are moving beyond classic espionage to disrupt the defense industrial base (DIB), aiming to cripple production capacity and supply chains. Attackers now target everything from large primes to niche startups, especially firms with dual‑use technologies, using ransomware and...
By Help Net Security
News•Feb 18, 2026
Demonstrators Are No Longer Optional — They’re How Programs Stay on Track
Aerospace and defense programs are abandoning the old end‑stage validation model in favor of early demonstrators—physical or digital mockups that test designs throughout development. The Department of Defense now mandates rapid prototyping and competitive demonstration to curb cost overruns, schedule...
By Payload
News•Feb 18, 2026
DOD Eyes Commercial Satellites that Can Spy on Other Satellites
The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has issued a solicitation for low‑cost commercial satellites capable of high‑resolution space‑to‑space imaging to monitor objects in geosynchronous orbit (GEO). The program, dubbed Ghost Recon, requires launch within two years, government ownership after three,...
By Defense News - Space
News•Feb 17, 2026
Ukrainian Defense Tech Companies Must Prepare for Export Opportunities
Ukraine granted its first defense export permits in February 2026, allowing domestic defense‑tech firms to sell abroad as the government prepares ten export centers across Europe. The sector, proven in combat with rapid development cycles, now faces the need to...
By Atlantic Council – All Content
News•Feb 17, 2026
Analysis-US Envoys Juggle Two Crisis Talks, Raising Questions About Prospects for Success
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held back‑to‑back talks in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear program and the Russia‑Ukraine war, a move that has puzzled diplomatic circles. The two‑hour Iran session, mediated by Oman, yielded modest progress but no...
By Al-Monitor – All
News•Feb 17, 2026
A Bad Ukraine Peace Could Ignite New Wars in Russia’s Former Empire
U.S.‑brokered peace talks aim to end the Ukraine war by early summer, but analysts warn that a deal lacking robust security guarantees could free Russian forces to pursue expansion in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Recent recordings and leaked...
By Atlantic Council – All Content
News•Feb 17, 2026
HII Teams with Path Robotics to Integrate Physical AI Into Manned and Unmanned Shipbuilding
HII and Path Robotics signed an MOU to integrate Path’s physical AI welding system into HII’s shipbuilding operations. The partnership aims to boost HII’s shipyard throughput by an additional 15% in 2026, building on a 14% increase achieved in 2025....
By The Manila Times Business
News•Feb 17, 2026
MAG Aerospace Loses OCI Protest in $96M Army Contract
The Government Accountability Office dismissed MAG Aerospace's protest alleging organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) in the Army's $96.5 million NetMod contract, which was awarded to ManTech International. The Army had previously waived OCI rules, rendering the allegations moot, and the GAO...
By Washington Technology
News•Feb 17, 2026
Energy Department ‘Center of Excellence’ Delves Into OT Cybersecurity
The U.S. Department of Energy has established a Center of Excellence to tackle operational technology (OT) cybersecurity across its labs and agencies. Sponsored by the Office of Science and the National Nuclear Security Administration, the effort unites cyber experts to...
By Federal News Network
News•Feb 17, 2026
Warning Shots Off Yemen Underscore Ongoing Gulf of Aden Security Risks
A merchant vessel near Aden, Yemen, encountered armed skiffs that fired warning shots, later identified as a local militia rather than Houthi forces or pirates. The UK Maritime Trade Operations downgraded the event to suspicious activity after confirming no direct...
By gCaptain
News•Feb 17, 2026
World Briefs | Putin Ally Warns European Powers over Seizure of Russian Vessels
Russia’s navy chief warned European powers of retaliation if Russian vessels are seized, underscoring heightened maritime tensions amid over 30,000 sanctions. Rosatom announced it has freed Siemens from the Hungarian Paks II nuclear contract and is scouting replacement equipment. Despite U.S....
By BusinessLIVE (South Africa) – RSS hub
News•Feb 17, 2026
Two Battalions “Destroyed”? The Truth About NATO’s Exercise
The NATO‑led Hedgehog‑2025 exercise in Estonia involved over 16,000 troops from 12 nations and integrated Ukrainian drone operators using the Delta battlefield‑management system. In a simulated scenario, a ten‑person Ukrainian team “destroyed” 17 armored vehicles and rendered two battalions combat‑ineffective...
By Defence24 (Poland)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Ukraine Denies Reports of Secret Multinational F-16 Squadron
Ukraine’s Air Force publicly refuted a report that a secret multinational F‑16 squadron, comprising Ukrainian, American and Dutch pilots, is operating over its territory. The claim, published by French outlet Intelligence Online, was labeled unsupported and inaccurate. Ukrainian officials highlighted...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 17, 2026
Denmark Establishes MQ-9B Drone Squadron for Arctic Surveillance
Denmark’s Air Force formally created Squadron 729 to operate four MQ‑9B long‑range drones, with deliveries slated to start in 2028. The unit, based at Aalborg Air Base, will focus on surveillance across the Arctic, North Atlantic and Baltic regions. Training and...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 17, 2026
SNC Buys Global 6500 Jet to Support HADES Surveillance Fleet
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has purchased a Bombardier Global 6500 jet using private capital to support the U.S. Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) ISR program. The aircraft is the first non‑prototype platform earmarked for the Army’s future...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 17, 2026
Pentagon Expands THAAD Interceptor Production with L3Harris Deal
The Pentagon awarded L3Harris Technologies a nearly $400 million contract to produce solid‑rocket boost motors and Liquid Divert and Attitude Control Systems for the THAAD missile‑defense system. The deal expands interceptor production after heavy operational use, including the 150 launches recorded...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 17, 2026
Guidance: Allied Joint Doctrine for Air and Space Operations (AJP-3.3)
Allied Joint Publication AJP‑3.3, the NATO doctrine for air and space operations, was refreshed on 17 February 2026 as Edition C Version 1. The document outlines fundamental principles, the air‑operations planning cycle, and how space capabilities support joint forces. It targets NATO commanders, staff,...
By UK Ministry of Defence (GOV.UK)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Ceasefire Would Be only the Beginning. Ukraine’s Energy Problem
A ceasefire would only mark the start of Ukraine’s energy crisis, as the war has left the power grid in ruins. Experts estimate at least three years of scheduled blackouts, with a 6‑hour on/4‑hour off cycle becoming the norm. Damage...
By Defence24 (Poland)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Bangladesh Receives New Batch of Chinese VT-5 Light Tanks
Bangladesh has taken delivery of a new batch of Chinese VT‑5 light tanks, adding to the 44‑vehicle regiment already in service. The VT‑5’s 105 mm gun and modern fire‑control suite give the army a mobile, fire‑support platform suited to the country’s...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 17, 2026
Guidance: Defence Maritime Regulations: Regulatory Notices
The Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR) has refreshed its regulatory notice suite, adding a 2026 Regulation Source Record, ATAMS and ISM Code guidance, and updated IMO registration requirements. Recent 2025 amendments address diving safety verification and wreck management, while a 2025...
By UK Ministry of Defence (GOV.UK)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Elbit Reports Record Demand for Laser Targeting Systems
Elbit Systems announced record global demand in 2025 for its NATO‑standard laser target designator (LTD) systems across land and airborne platforms. The surge reflects heightened reliance on precision strikes, rapid sensor‑to‑shooter cycles, and the expanding role of drones on modern...
By Defence Blog
News•Feb 17, 2026
Israeli Defense Giant Lands Undisclosed $435M Defense Agreement
Elbit Systems announced a roughly $435 million agreement with an undisclosed international customer to supply advanced land systems and co‑develop a new defense solution over a six‑year horizon. The contracts blend delivery of proven battlefield hardware with a research‑and‑development program aimed...
By Defence Blog