Leonardo Funding Development of Earth Observation Constellation
Leonardo is investing roughly €500 million to develop a 20‑satellite Earth observation constellation slated for launch in 2027‑28. The system will combine high‑resolution optical, synthetic‑aperture radar and communications payloads, built by Thales Alenia Space using its NIMBUS modular bus. The project serves two purposes: supplying proprietary data to Leonardo’s e‑GEOS geospatial services and demonstrating an end‑to‑end space capability. It also positions Leonardo as a partner in future European EO programmes such as ESA’s ERS and the EU’s EOGS initiative.
DSK 2026 Set to Showcase AI & Autonomous Defense Systems
The 2026 Drone Show Korea (DSK) opens Feb. 25 in Busan, covering 26,508 m² with 318 companies from 23 nations. The event’s AI‑centric theme showcases autonomous, manned‑unmanned combat systems, with dedicated Army, Navy and Air Force pavilions. Major players such as...
Trump’s New Arms Rules Will Hit Southeast Asia
President Trump issued an executive order establishing an “America First” arms export strategy that rewards allies who invest in self‑defense, occupy critical geography, or contribute to U.S. economic security. The rubric pushes the Philippines, Singapore and Cambodia toward priority status...
Udtara Ventures Announces Rs 250 Cr Growth Fund
Udtara Ventures has launched a Rs 250 crore Udtara Growth Fund aimed at taking sizable ownership stakes in defence, deep‑tech and frontier engineering firms. The fund will back 8‑10 growth‑stage companies with proven product‑market fit and existing order books, using a blend...
![Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 4 of 4]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2602/9523570/250w_q95.jpg)
Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 4 of 4]
The U.S. Air Force has opened a new small‑arms range at Chabelley Airfield in Djibouti, four months ahead of its planned schedule. The facility enables the 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron to conduct handgun qualification, sustainment training, and forward‑deployed mission...
![Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 3 of 4]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2602/9523569/250w_q95.jpg)
Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 3 of 4]
The U.S. Air Force has opened a new small‑arms range at Chabelley Airfield in Djibouti. The $1.6 million facility provides on‑site handgun and rifle training for the 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron and partner forces. By bringing live‑fire capability to the...
![Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 2 of 4]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2602/9523568/250w_q95.jpg)
Chabelley Airfield Adds On-Site Firearms Training Capability [Image 2 of 4]
The U.S. Air Force inaugurated the first on‑site small‑arms range at Chabelley Airfield in Djibouti on Jan. 31 2026, four months ahead of schedule. The facility provides dedicated capability for weapons qualification, sustainment training, and forward‑deployed mission rehearsals. Its rapid completion underscores...
AI Is the Future of Warfare and US Is in the Lead
Artificial intelligence is reshaping modern warfare, with the United States far ahead in funding, infrastructure, and operational deployment. The Pentagon now spends at least $2 billion annually on AI‑enabled weapons and billions more indirectly through procurement, while private investment tops $109 billion....
Expectations Are Low for the Latest US-Brokered Talks Between Russia and Ukraine
Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Geneva for U.S.-brokered talks, but expectations are low that they will produce a breakthrough before the war's fourth anniversary. Both sides remain entrenched on territorial demands, with Russia insisting on broader land claims and...
How Red Teaming Reduces Breach Risk?
Red Teaming, also known as adversary simulation, pits authorized security experts against an organization’s defenses to expose real‑world attack gaps. By mimicking the full cyber kill chain—from OSINT‑driven reconnaissance to covert data exfiltration—teams reveal weaknesses that traditional scans miss. The...
Europe’s Next War
Europe faces heightened risk of a broader NATO‑Russia confrontation as the Ukraine war drags on. Over the past four years, NATO allies have poured hundreds of billions of dollars in military, economic, and humanitarian aid into Ukraine, while European nations...
Ukraine and the New Way of War
Four years after Russia’s full‑scale invasion, the Ukraine war has defied early forecasts by persisting far longer and costing both sides more than anticipated. Kyiv’s ability to adapt, innovate militarily, and marshal extensive U.S., European, and global support has been...
The Dream Palace of the West
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb warns that the West’s last chance to shape a cooperative world order hinges on listening to the global South. He argues that Western sanctions on Russia and confrontational policies toward China alienate billions, eroding the West’s moral...
The PRSC-EO2 Milestone: How Pakistan’s Latest Satellite Completes a High-Res ‘Sensor Triad’
Pakistan's SUPARCO launched its second earth‑observation satellite, PRSC‑EO2, on 12 February aboard China’s Smart Dragon‑3 rocket. Three days later it activated Pak‑SBAS, a satellite‑based augmentation system that leverages China’s BeiDou GNSS for higher‑precision positioning. Together the high‑resolution imaging payload and the...
The Rise of the “Central” Bloc? How Türkiye and Saudi Arabia May Build a New Third Channel for Global Defence...
Turkey and Saudi Arabia concluded a series of defence‑industrial accords in February 2026, covering a fifth‑generation fighter, a utility helicopter, and unmanned naval platforms. The agreements were sealed during President Erdoğan’s Riyadh visit and include a joint KAAN fighter investment...
Lebanon Says Four Months Needed for Second Phase of Hezbollah Disarmament
Lebanon’s government announced that its army will need at least four months to complete the second phase of the five‑stage plan to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenals south of the Litani River. The phase targets the corridor between the Litani and Awali...
Russia-Ukraine War: List of Key Events, Day 1,454
Ukraine reclaimed roughly 201 sq km of territory after a Russian Starlink communications outage, while Russia reported downing 345 Ukrainian drones and launching 62 long‑range strike drones overnight. The Czech Republic supplied 4.4 million rounds of large‑calibre ammunition to bolster Kyiv’s firepower. Diplomatic...
Indonesia Readies 1,000 Soldiers for Potential Deployment to Gaza in April
Indonesia may deploy 1,000 troops to Gaza as early as April, part of a UN‑mandated International Stabilization Force that could expand to 8,000 soldiers by June. The decision rests with President Prabowo Subianto, who is also set to attend President...
Stopgap Funding Measures Cause Delays, Increased Costs, Administrative Burden Across DoD
The GAO report finds that continuing resolutions (CRs) have led to significant delays, cost increases, and administrative burdens across DoD acquisition and maintenance programs. About half of the 74 surveyed programs experienced scheduling or financial impacts, with examples such as...
Time for the eBuy Wall to Come Down, Once and for All
The author urges federal leaders to eliminate the GSA eBuy firewall that limits RFI visibility to schedule contractors. Recent RFIs—2GIT II and TTS’s NEXT program—highlight the need for broader industry input on emerging IT services. Simultaneously, OFPP is revising the FAR...
Washington Hotel in Japan Discloses Ransomware Infection Incident
Washington Hotel, a Japanese hospitality chain with 30 properties and 11,000 rooms, disclosed a ransomware breach on February 13, 2026 that compromised business data on its servers. The hotel immediately isolated the affected systems, formed an internal task force and enlisted police,...
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ISS-DRC-peace-mission.jpg)
CYRIL’S ARMY: Ramaphosa’s Decision to Deploy the SANDF Is Deeply Flawed. Here’s Why
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the withdrawal of roughly 700 South African soldiers from the MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ending a 27‑year peace‑keeping presence. He simultaneously ordered the South African National Defence Force to support the police...
Sovereign AI Is a Geopolitical Reset — and Telcos Need to Deliver It
Telcos are positioned to deliver sovereign AI, a shift from centralized models to on‑prem, edge‑based intelligence that stays within national borders. By leveraging regulated infrastructure and privacy mandates like CPNI, they can host domain‑specific models that keep data local and...
Iran Launches Navy Drills To 'Control' Strait of Hormuz
On February 16, 2026, Iran announced a series of naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, framing them as a move to “control” the strategic waterway. The drills follow the U.S. Navy’s decision to station a second aircraft carrier in...
Is Canada Turning Into a Chinese Proxy?
Canada announced a multi‑billion‑dollar shift to fund domestic defense manufacturing, moving away from traditional purchases from U.S. defense firms. The policy signals a growing rift in the historically close Canada‑U.S. security partnership. Officials framed the move as a boost for...
The West vs the West at Munich
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio received a standing ovation from half the audience at the Munich Security Conference after declaring that Europe’s fate will never be irrelevant to America. The applause signaled European relief amid concerns that the Trump...
U.S. Conducts Strikes on More Than 30 ISIS Targets in Syria
The United States launched air strikes against more than 30 ISIS‑linked targets in Syria on February 16, 2026. The operation employed precision munitions to hit training camps, weapons depots, and command nodes across eastern Syria. It was coordinated with local...
Eurail Says Stolen Traveler Data Now up for Sale on Dark Web
Eurail B.V., the Dutch operator of European rail passes, confirmed that data stolen in a breach earlier this year is now being offered for sale on the dark web. A threat actor also posted a sample of the compromised records...
Russia Rattled by America’s Nuclear Move in Armenia
The United States and Armenia signed a nuclear cooperation agreement on February 9, committing to American modular reactor technology for Armenia's next plant. Moscow responded with a public backlash, accusing the U.S. of untested designs and offering lucrative financial and infrastructure...
SpaceX to Compete in Pentagon Contest for Autonomous Drone Tech
SpaceX and its AI subsidiary xAI have entered a classified Pentagon competition to develop voice‑controlled, autonomous drone‑swarming systems. The contest, part of a broader push for AI‑enabled weapons, pits the two Musk‑owned firms against other defense contractors. Musk announced a...
U.S. Army Tests TRV-150 Heavy-Lift Drone at Fort Stewart
On Feb 12, 2026, the U.S. Army conducted a training test of the Malloy Aeronautics TRV‑150 heavy‑lift eVTOL cargo drone at Fort Stewart, Georgia. The drone can transport up to 68 kg of supplies over a 70 km radius, cruising at 108 km/h with...
Starlink Restrictions Hit Russian Forces as Moscow Seeks Workarounds
Ukraine introduced a national verification system for Starlink terminals, disconnecting any unregistered devices in its territory. The move followed evidence that Russian forces were mounting Starlink‑enabled kamikaze drones, making them harder to jam. Since the crackdown, Ukrainian officials report a...
Infostealer Malware Found Stealing OpenClaw Secrets for First Time
Hudson Rock reported the first in‑the‑wild incident of an infostealer stealing OpenClaw configuration files. The malware, identified as a Vidar variant, exfiltrated files such as openclaw.json, device.json, and soul.md on February 13, 2026, revealing API tokens, private keys, and personal data. These...
Saab, JSC UDI to Collaborate on Aviation and Airborne Surveillance
Swedish defense giant Saab and Ukraine’s Joint Stock Company Ukrainian Defense Industry (JSC UDI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Munich Security Conference 2026 to cooperate on aviation and airborne surveillance. The agreement, while not detailing specific projects, is positioned...
Vigor Marine Wins $73m Contract for USS Emory S. Land Overhaul
Vigor Marine secured a firm‑fixed‑price $73.42 million contract to overhaul the U.S. Navy’s submarine tender USS Emory S. Land, covering a 215‑day dry‑dock period from 1 May to 1 December 2026. The agreement includes five unexercised options that could raise the total value to $74.81 million. Funding combines...
Why a Resurgent Japan Is Good for Asia
Japan’s newly elected prime minister Sanae Takaichi secured a landslide victory, bringing a right‑wing nationalist agenda to the forefront. Beijing responded with a stark warning, urging Tokyo to pursue peaceful development rather than a return to militarism. Takaichi’s stance on...
Rubio Reassures Europe — but Only if They Change Course
Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a high‑profile speech at the Munich Security Conference, reassuring European leaders that the United States remains committed to the transatlantic partnership. He emphasized continuity in security cooperation while simultaneously urging Europe to adjust its...
Autonomy, Anxiety, and the Twilight of Transatlantic Order
The Munich Security Conference underscored a growing crisis in transatlantic relations, with European leaders expressing anxiety over perceived U.S. disengagement. Discussions centered on the EU’s push for strategic autonomy and the broader erosion of the post‑Cold‑War order. Bilateral meetings highlighted...
Munich Security Conference and Europe's Future
Representatives from more than 115 countries convened at the Munich Security Conference this weekend. While the gathering traditionally produces few concrete outcomes, it serves as a snapshot of the issues occupying global leaders. This year, the dialogue centered on Europe’s...
Keir Starmer Urges Faster Defence Spending Push Amid Russia Threat
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged a faster acceleration of defence spending, citing the growing Russian threat. Britain currently spends 2.3% of GDP on defence, above NATO’s 2% guideline, and plans to reach 2.5% by 2027 and 3% by the...
Our Network Can't Be the First Obstacle in the Fight
The Army’s command and control (C2) network has evolved through incremental add‑ons rather than a cohesive design strategy. This patchwork architecture limits real‑time decision making and exposes the force to cyber vulnerabilities. Defense leaders now argue that a purpose‑built, integrated...
Every Marine a Rifleman and Now, a Drone Operator
The U.S. Marine Corps has unveiled a new training initiative that equips hundreds of Marines with small‑drone operating skills. The program builds on the Corps’ long‑standing “every Marine a rifleman” doctrine, adding a second specialty as unmanned‑aircraft operators. Training combines...
USAF Integrates Open-Architecture for Mission Autonomy on CCAs
The U.S. Air Force announced that its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program has incorporated an open‑architecture framework to support mission‑autonomous capabilities. The new architecture allows software modules to be added, updated, or replaced without redesigning the airframe, accelerating the deployment...
Munich Security Conference. What Was Said About Russia?
The Munich Security Conference highlighted growing diplomatic leverage for Russia, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warning that Moscow may gain more at the negotiating table than on the battlefield. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio expressed uncertainty about Russia’s willingness...
Passwords to Passkeys: Staying ISO 27001 Compliant in a Passwordless Era
Organizations are rapidly replacing passwords with passkey authentication to curb the 49% of security incidents tied to compromised credentials. Passkeys, built on FIDO2 and WebAuthn, satisfy AAL2/AAL3 standards and are already deployed in billions of accounts, including Google’s 800 million users....
Blue Water Autonomy Unveils Liberty Class Autonomous Ship for U.S. Navy
Blue Water Autonomy, a Boston‑based tech and shipbuilding firm, announced the Liberty class, a 60‑metre autonomous vessel built on Damen’s Stan Patrol 6009 platform. The ship features the proven Axe Bow hull, can carry over 150 tonnes, and boasts a...
The Space Nuclear Power Bottleneck — and How to Fix It
Nuclear power is poised to transform U.S. deep‑space and lunar missions, with NASA targeting a nuclear propulsion test by 2028 and a surface fission reactor on the Moon by 2030. While reactor designs and fuel supplies are mature, the real...
260K+ Chrome Users Duped by Fake AI Browser Extensions
Researchers at LayerX uncovered 30 malicious Chrome extensions masquerading as AI assistants, collectively amassing over 260,000 downloads. These extensions embed attacker‑controlled iframes that capture user prompts, emails, and webpage data, then relay them to remote servers while returning plausible AI...
US Coast Guard Commissions Sixth Arctic District Fast Response Cutter
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned USCGC Frederick Mann (WPC 1160), its sixth fast response cutter (FRC) assigned to the Arctic District and the 60th FRC overall. The vessel was placed in service at Kodiak on Feb 13, 2026 and will operate around the Aleutian Islands,...
Norway, Germany Deepen Defence Cooperation with Hansa Arrangement
At the Munich Security Conference, Norway and Germany signed the Hansa Arrangement, a bilateral defence pact covering maritime security, space‑based surveillance, combined‑arms land warfare, rapid reinforcement and defence‑industry collaboration. The agreement builds on prior high‑level talks and includes joint development...