Defense News and Headlines

Splash Wrap: The Week in Shipping in 233 Words
NewsFeb 13, 2026

Splash Wrap: The Week in Shipping in 233 Words

The Pentagon intercepted a tanker suspected of moving Venezuelan oil, underscoring Washington’s aggressive stance on illicit exports. Vanuatu warned users about a fake registry website, while Cameroon suspended new shadow‑fleet registrations and began deregistering existing vessels. In the tech arena,...

By Splash 247
Persistent Systems Secures $87.5M MANET Order for NGC2 Prototype
NewsFeb 13, 2026

Persistent Systems Secures $87.5M MANET Order for NGC2 Prototype

Persistent Systems secured an $87.5 million order from the U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, and Network (CPE C3N) for Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) devices that will form the transport layer of the Next‑Generation Command and...

By Unmanned Systems Technology – News
Sunhillo to Provide Surveillance Data Fusion for MICH-AIR BVLOS System
NewsFeb 13, 2026

Sunhillo to Provide Surveillance Data Fusion for MICH-AIR BVLOS System

Sunhillo Corporation has joined ResilienX’s MICH‑AIR BVLOS program as a key team member, providing surveillance data acquisition, distribution, and fusion. The company will deploy its cloud‑based SureLine software with a multi‑track fuser to merge radar, ADS‑B, and Remote ID inputs,...

By Unmanned Systems Technology – News
Teledyne Marine Showcased Advanced Sonar & Autonomous Tech at SeaSEC Harbour Challenge
NewsFeb 13, 2026

Teledyne Marine Showcased Advanced Sonar & Autonomous Tech at SeaSEC Harbour Challenge

Teledyne Marine demonstrated its SeaBat F50 forward‑looking sonar during the SeaSEC Harbour Protection Challenge in Gothenburg, delivering real‑time, 140‑degree imaging of vessel traffic and unmanned underwater vehicles. The trial combined the sonar with a Teledyne FLIR thermal camera to track...

By Unmanned Systems Technology – News
CNO: ‘I Need My Stuff on Time’
NewsFeb 13, 2026

CNO: ‘I Need My Stuff on Time’

At the WEST Conference, Navy CNO Adm. Daryl Caudle and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith warned defense contractors that on‑time delivery is non‑negotiable. Both chiefs highlighted how single‑year appropriations and erratic funding cripple shipyard planning and workforce stability. They...

By Defense One
Pentagon to Restock Massive Ordnance Penetrator Bombs Dropped by B-2s on Iran
NewsFeb 13, 2026

Pentagon to Restock Massive Ordnance Penetrator Bombs Dropped by B-2s on Iran

The Pentagon is finalizing a more than $100 million contract with Boeing to replenish the GBU‑57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs expended during Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites. The acquisition will be the final batch of...

By Air & Space Forces Magazine
When Every Second Counts: Government Tech Helps First Responders’ Lifesaving Missions
NewsFeb 13, 2026

When Every Second Counts: Government Tech Helps First Responders’ Lifesaving Missions

Government labs are accelerating first‑responder capabilities through two NIST‑sponsored challenges. The prize competition pushes drones to generate high‑resolution 3D indoor maps, while the First Responder Smart Tracking (FRST) challenge develops rugged wearables that pinpoint personnel inside structures where GPS fails....

By GovExec
How Russia Turns Gamers Into Fighters
NewsFeb 13, 2026

How Russia Turns Gamers Into Fighters

Russia is actively weaponising video games to recruit foreign fighters and conduct cognitive warfare. Recent Bloomberg reporting details how Russian recruiters used milsim games like Arma 3 and Discord to lure two South African men, who later fought and died in...

By RUSI
SAIC Plans Partial Pivot Away From Enterprise IT
NewsFeb 12, 2026

SAIC Plans Partial Pivot Away From Enterprise IT

Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) is scaling back its pursuit of certain enterprise IT contracts, opting for a more selective approach that emphasizes higher‑margin, fixed‑price work on the civilian side. The CFO highlighted that defense agencies still prefer cost‑plus contracts,...

By Washington Technology
Army Extends Training Support Contract for Third Time
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Army Extends Training Support Contract for Third Time

The U.S. Army has extended its Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) II contract for a third time, adding $90.3 million and pushing the ordering period to August 2027. The original $248 million award to Optimal Solutions and Technologies in 2017 has grown...

By Washington Technology
Navy Secretary Outlines AI, Unmanned Tech to Advance Golden Fleet Initiative
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Navy Secretary Outlines AI, Unmanned Tech to Advance Golden Fleet Initiative

U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan detailed the Golden Fleet initiative, which pairs AI, autonomous systems and distributed shipbuilding to accelerate fleet growth and modernize the maritime industrial base. Central to the plan is ShipOS, an AI‑driven connective platform that integrates...

By GovernmentCIO Media & Research
Vulcan, Ariane 64 Blast Off
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Vulcan, Ariane 64 Blast Off

On Thursday, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket lifted off from Florida carrying the USSF‑87 payload to geosynchronous orbit, marking its second National Security Space Launch mission. The launch suffered a significant performance anomaly in one of its four solid rocket...

By Payload
Men Lie, Strategies Lie—Numbers Don’t
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Men Lie, Strategies Lie—Numbers Don’t

The 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) uses word‑frequency analysis to reveal a dramatic shift in priorities and tone compared with the 2018 and 2022 versions. Allies are mentioned 61 times, over half in a demanding or derogatory context, while President...

By Defense One
FBI Gathered Intelligence on Reporters, Religious Orgs Using ‘Assessment’ Authority, Watchdog Report Says
NewsFeb 12, 2026

FBI Gathered Intelligence on Reporters, Religious Orgs Using ‘Assessment’ Authority, Watchdog Report Says

The Government Accountability Office reported that the FBI used its “assessment” authority to collect intelligence on more than 1,000 journalists, religious groups and public officials between 2018 and 2024. Assessments permit physical surveillance, grand‑jury subpoenas and human sources without a...

By GovExec
Germany’s Helsing, HENSOLDT Team up on Autonomous Systems for Euro CCA
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Germany’s Helsing, HENSOLDT Team up on Autonomous Systems for Euro CCA

Germany’s Helsing and HENSOLDT have announced a joint effort to equip Helsing’s CA‑1 autonomous aircraft with AI‑driven combat capabilities. HENSOLDT will integrate its radar, optronics, self‑protection and electromagnetic warfare sensors through its Multi‑Domain Operations Core software. The AI‑pilot, named Centaur,...

By Breaking Defense
Booz Allen Announces General Availability of Vellox Reverser to Automate Malware Defense
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Booz Allen Announces General Availability of Vellox Reverser to Automate Malware Defense

Booz Allen Hamilton has launched the general availability of Vellox Reverser™, an AI‑driven malware reverse‑engineering platform that automates deep analysis at machine speed. The solution leverages a resilient agentic AI architecture, AWS Lambda, Bedrock and Step Functions to ingest samples,...

By Dark Reading
Space Force, Aiming to Double in Size, Blows Past Recruiting Goal
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Space Force, Aiming to Double in Size, Blows Past Recruiting Goal

The U.S. Space Force announced it plans to double its active‑duty Guardians from roughly 10,000 to 20,000 to meet expanding national‑security missions and counter threats from China and Russia. Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna reported the service is already at...

By Air & Space Forces Magazine
New NPS Challenge Aims to Rewrite How the Military Builds Missiles
NewsFeb 12, 2026

New NPS Challenge Aims to Rewrite How the Military Builds Missiles

The Department of Defense has long struggled with the high cost and long timelines of traditional missile programs, where a single system can exceed millions of dollars. To counter this, the Naval Postgraduate School introduced the Tactical Missile Innovation Challenge,...

By GovernmentCIO Media & Research
US-NATO Exercise Rehearses Taking Out 1,500 Targets a Day to ‘Overwhelm’ an Enemy
NewsFeb 12, 2026

US-NATO Exercise Rehearses Taking Out 1,500 Targets a Day to ‘Overwhelm’ an Enemy

The U.S. Army and NATO allies showcased the Dynamic Front exercise, targeting the ability to intercept 600‑1,200 ballistic missiles and engage 1,500 targets within 24 hours. Brig. Gen. Stephen Carpenter emphasized creating an overwhelming, unrelenting response to any peer aggression...

By Defense One
Watchdog Flags Gaps in Coast Guard’s Handling of Discrimination Complaints
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Watchdog Flags Gaps in Coast Guard’s Handling of Discrimination Complaints

The Government Accountability Office released a report highlighting gaps in the Coast Guard’s handling of discrimination complaints, known as social climate incidents. The GAO identified 112 reported incidents from fiscal 1998‑2024, 79% of which involved race or ethnicity, with more...

By GovExec
Space as a Sanctions Workaround: Financial Engineering & Shadow Procurement Networks
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Space as a Sanctions Workaround: Financial Engineering & Shadow Procurement Networks

Iran’s civil space program is now a conduit for evading UN sanctions, channeling billions through a shadow banking network to acquire dual‑use microelectronics. FinCEN estimates the covert financial system handles over $9 billion annually, laundering oil revenues via Hong Kong, UAE and...

By SatNews
Crowded Field of Robot-Boat Makers Vies for Navy's Attention
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Crowded Field of Robot-Boat Makers Vies for Navy's Attention

Blue Water Autonomy plans to move its 190‑foot Liberty class autonomous patrol ship from prototype to production this year, joining a rapidly expanding market of unmanned surface vessel (USV) suppliers courting the U.S. Navy. The Navy is still defining how...

By Defense One
Calian Group Expands Defence and Space Footprint in Record First Quarter
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Calian Group Expands Defence and Space Footprint in Record First Quarter

Calian Group posted a record Q1 2026 revenue of $208 million, up 12% year‑over‑year, driven by recent acquisitions and organic defence growth. The company secured $171 million of new contracts, including a November 2025 deal to build four Ka/Q/V‑band RF gateway stations for a...

By SpaceQ
Trump Orders Pentagon to Prioritize Coal Power Purchases for Military Facilities
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Trump Orders Pentagon to Prioritize Coal Power Purchases for Military Facilities

President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Pentagon to prioritize coal‑fired electricity for military installations, framing it as a national‑security measure to bolster grid reliability and on‑site fuel security. The order calls for long‑term power purchase agreements with...

By Power Engineering
Florida National Guard Supports D.C. Mission During Winter Weather
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Florida National Guard Supports D.C. Mission During Winter Weather

The Florida National Guard’s Task Force Phantom has been deployed in Washington, D.C., to support the Safe and Beautiful mission amid an unusually heavy winter snowfall. Guard soldiers have been clearing snow from schools, assisting stranded motorists, and maintaining a visible...

By U.S. Army – News
Behind the Flight: Essential Roles at UAS Test Sites
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Behind the Flight: Essential Roles at UAS Test Sites

The FAA’s UAS test site program now includes nine locations across the United States, two of which opened in 2026, to validate critical drone technologies such as detect‑and‑avoid, BVLOS, and UTM. Test sites serve a dual purpose: they provide manufacturers...

By Commercial UAV News (if feed accessible)
Ukraine Strikes 2nd Lukoil Refinery in Russia This Week
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Ukraine Strikes 2nd Lukoil Refinery in Russia This Week

Ukrainian drones struck Lukoil’s Ukhta refinery in the Komi region, igniting a blaze in the primary unit and a visbreaker. The attack follows a high‑precision strike on Lukoil’s larger Volgograd refinery earlier this week. Ukhta processes about 60,000 barrels of...

By Rigzone – News
Indonesian Navy Wants Ex-Italian Aircraft Carrier to Be Delivered Before October 5
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Indonesian Navy Wants Ex-Italian Aircraft Carrier to Be Delivered Before October 5

Indonesia’s navy is pushing to have the former Italian carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi delivered before the TNI’s 81st anniversary on October 5, although a formal purchase contract has not yet been signed. The Ministry of Defence continues negotiations with shipbuilder Fincantieri and the...

By Naval News
Jacobs and PA Consulting to Continue Work on UK Transport Security
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Jacobs and PA Consulting to Continue Work on UK Transport Security

Jacobs and PA Consulting have secured a four‑year extension from the UK Department for Transport to lead the National Security Science and Research (NSSR) programme. The consortium, which also includes QinetiQ, TNO, Iconal Technology, Cambridge University Technical Services and Prometheus...

By Airport Industry-News
China’s New Maritime Combat Drone Poised for Global Success: Analysts
NewsFeb 12, 2026

China’s New Maritime Combat Drone Poised for Global Success: Analysts

China unveiled the Wing‑Loong X maritime combat drone at the Singapore Airshow, marking its first regional display. The UAV, designed for surveillance and strike missions, builds on the proven Wing Loong family and targets buyers unable to afford Western systems....

By Defense News – Unmanned
World Leaks Ransomware Group Adds Stealthy, Custom Malware ‘RustyRocket’ to Attacks
NewsFeb 12, 2026

World Leaks Ransomware Group Adds Stealthy, Custom Malware ‘RustyRocket’ to Attacks

World Leaks, a high‑profile extortion group, has introduced a new Rust‑written malware called RustyRocket, according to Accenture research. The tool provides stealthy persistence on both Windows and Linux systems, using heavily obfuscated, multi‑layered encrypted tunnels to exfiltrate data and proxy...

By Infosecurity Magazine
EXCLUSIVE | Trump Pauses China Tech Curbs Ahead of Xi Summit
NewsFeb 12, 2026

EXCLUSIVE | Trump Pauses China Tech Curbs Ahead of Xi Summit

The Trump administration has temporarily shelved a suite of technology security measures targeting Chinese firms ahead of the April Trump‑Xi summit. The paused actions include a ban on China Telecom’s U.S. operations, restrictions on Chinese equipment in data centres, and...

By BusinessLIVE
SBA Proposes to Terminate 154 Companies From 8(a) Program
NewsFeb 12, 2026

SBA Proposes to Terminate 154 Companies From 8(a) Program

The Small Business Administration announced it will terminate 154 Washington, D.C. firms from the 8(a) Business Development program after a data‑call revealed they exceeded statutory net‑worth, asset and income thresholds. The companies collectively received $1.3 billion in federal contracts, including roughly...

By Federal News Network
The Download: AI-Enhanced Cybercrime, and Secure AI Assistants
NewsFeb 12, 2026

The Download: AI-Enhanced Cybercrime, and Secure AI Assistants

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a tool for cybercriminals, enabling faster, lower‑skill attacks and fueling a surge in deep‑fake‑driven scams. At the same time, AI‑powered personal assistants such as OpenClaw expose massive amounts of user data, raising urgent security concerns....

By MIT Technology Review
Lockheed Martin, Fujitsu Sign Initial Contract for SPY-7 Radar Power Supply Units for Japan’s ASEV
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Lockheed Martin, Fujitsu Sign Initial Contract for SPY-7 Radar Power Supply Units for Japan’s ASEV

Lockheed Martin and Fujitsu signed a contract on Feb. 12 to supply the Power Supply Line Replaceable Unit for the SPY‑7 radar’s Subarray Suite on Japan’s Aegis System Equipped Vessels (ASEV). The PS LRU provides regulated power to the radar modules,...

By Naval News
Taiwan Completes Integration Test of Jointly Developed Mighty Hornet IV Drone
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Taiwan Completes Integration Test of Jointly Developed Mighty Hornet IV Drone

Taiwan announced on February 6 that the National Chung‑shan Institute of Science and Technology and Kratos successfully completed a systems integration test of the Mighty Hornet IV drone, a Taiwan‑specific variant of the US‑made Firejet. The test proved the platform can carry a...

By Overt Defense
These Net-Firing Drone Hunters Will Nab Rogue Drones over FIFA Stadiums
NewsFeb 12, 2026

These Net-Firing Drone Hunters Will Nab Rogue Drones over FIFA Stadiums

Fortem Technologies secured a multimillion‑dollar Department of Homeland Security contract to protect the 2026 FIFA World Cup venues with its net‑based DroneHunter interceptors. The company will deploy TrueView R30 radar, SkyDome command software, and kinetic net‑capture drones, marking its second...

By DroneDJ
Soft Power and the Race to the Moon: Why Cislunar Norms Are the Next Hill to Hold
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Soft Power and the Race to the Moon: Why Cislunar Norms Are the Next Hill to Hold

The United States is positioning cislunar space as the next geopolitical arena, leveraging NASA’s Artemis program and the Artemis Accords to set soft‑power norms. Cislunar real estate near the lunar south pole is scarce, and early standards for communications, navigation,...

By AIAA – Industry News (Aerospace)
Here's How a Shutdown Would Affect DHS Agencies
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Here's How a Shutdown Would Affect DHS Agencies

Congress faces a looming partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security as the two‑week stopgap expires Friday. Without a deal, agencies such as the Coast Guard, CISA, TSA, Secret Service and FEMA would see non‑essential staff furloughed and essential...

By The Hill – Defense
Europe Debates Future Ties with US: Decouple or Double Down?
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Europe Debates Future Ties with US: Decouple or Double Down?

Europe is split on its future relationship with the United States under President Trump. Eastern European NATO members such as Romania and Lithuania argue for tighter security cooperation and participation in the critical‑minerals ministerial, citing Russian aggression. In contrast, France,...

By The Hill – Defense
Alpha Unmanned & Parallel Flight Partnership Targets Long-Endurance Heavy-Lift UAV Operations Using Heavy Fuel
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Alpha Unmanned & Parallel Flight Partnership Targets Long-Endurance Heavy-Lift UAV Operations Using Heavy Fuel

Alpha Unmanned Systems and Parallel Flight Technologies have teamed up to convert Parallel Flight’s Firefly Group 3 UAV to heavy‑fuel operation. The effort leverages Parallel Flight’s Parallel Hybrid Electric Multirotor (PHEM) architecture, aiming for long‑endurance, heavy‑lift missions in naval and expeditionary...

By Unmanned Systems Technology – News
New Zealand and Dyess Fly Together in Arizona [Image 4 of 5]
NewsFeb 12, 2026

New Zealand and Dyess Fly Together in Arizona [Image 4 of 5]

The U.S. Air Force 40th Airlift Squadron and the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No. 40 Squadron flew their C‑130J Hercules aircraft together during a training sortie at the Advanced Tactics Aircrew Course near Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on August 21, 2025. The sortie was part...

By U.S. Marine Corps – News
New Zealand and Dyess Fly Together in Arizona [Image 5 of 5]
NewsFeb 12, 2026

New Zealand and Dyess Fly Together in Arizona [Image 5 of 5]

On August 21, 2025, a U.S. Air Force C‑130J Hercules of the 40th Airlift Squadron and a Royal New Zealand Air Force C‑130J of No. 40 Squadron landed together at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, after completing the Advanced Tactics Aircrew Course. The course, run...

By U.S. Marine Corps – News
Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 3 of 7]
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 3 of 7]

On February 11, 2026, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron and the 35th Logistic Readiness Squadron executed a combined casualty and vehicle‑recovery exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Firefighter Tadakatsu Kumagai demonstrated stretcher‑pull techniques on a simulated wreck, highlighting the drill’s...

By U.S. Marine Corps – News
Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 4 of 7]
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 4 of 7]

U.S. Air Force personnel from the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron executed an inter‑unit casualty and vehicle recovery drill at Misawa Air Base, Japan, on Feb. 11 2026, documented in a photo taken Oct. 2 2026. The exercise simulated a car‑wreck scenario, requiring fire‑protection specialists...

By U.S. Marine Corps – News
Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 2 of 7]
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 2 of 7]

On Feb. 11, 2026, U.S. Air Force personnel at Misawa Air Base conducted an inter‑unit casualty and vehicle recovery exercise. Airman 1st Class Josiah Smith and 35th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters simulated a car wreck to test emergency response protocols....

By U.S. Marine Corps – News
Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 1 of 7]
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 1 of 7]

On Feb 11 2026, the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base staged an inter‑unit casualty and vehicle recovery drill, simulating a car wreck to evaluate rapid response. Multiple units coordinated to extract injured personnel and recover disabled vehicles, sharpening joint operational...

By U.S. Marine Corps – News
Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 5 of 7]
NewsFeb 12, 2026

Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 5 of 7]

On Feb. 11, 2026, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron at Misawa Air Base conducted an inter‑unit casualty and vehicle recovery exercise. Airman 1st Class Josiah Smith and squadron firefighters moved a dummy from a simulated car wreck, demonstrating coordinated stretcher...

By U.S. Marine Corps – News