Tech Bills of the Week: Restricting Biometric Use; Expanding the Quantum Workforce; and More
This week’s technology‑focused legislation spans biometric privacy, quantum workforce planning, robotics oversight, digital‑ID security, AI‑driven telecom protection, biosecurity safeguards, and defense‑technology hubs. A bipartisan bill would bar ICE and Customs from acquiring or using facial‑recognition systems and require deletion of existing data. Separate measures aim to institutionalize biennial quantum workforce reports, create a national robotics commission, fund state digital‑identity upgrades, study AI impacts on telecom networks, tighten gene‑synthesis screening, and establish ten regional defense‑tech hubs.
U.S.-Iran Talks Make Little Headway
U.S. and Iranian officials held indirect nuclear talks in Muscat, Oman, marking the first formal diplomatic engagement since the June 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The United States sent Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, underscoring the military...
U.S.-Iran Indirect Nuclear Talks Fail to Make Significant Progress
Indirect nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran convened in Muscat, Oman, marking the first formal dialogue since President Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. Both sides described the meeting as a "good start," but...
Defense Watch: MQ-25 Taxiing, Harpoon Testing, Machina Raise, TNT Awards
The Defense Watch roundup spotlights several pivotal milestones: HII’s Newport News division completed builder’s sea trials of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN‑79) with delivery now targeted for March 2027; Boeing’s MQ‑25A Stingray unmanned tanker performed its first low‑speed taxi; the Navy concluded...
National Defense Areas Expanded, Established Along Texas Border
The Department of the Air Force is expanding National Defense Area 3 and creating a new NDA 6 along the Texas‑Mexico border. NDA 3 now stretches roughly 250 miles west of the Gulf of America, while NDA 6 covers a 150‑mile segment from Falcon...
How the British Empire Chose Canada Over Guadeloupe
During the Seven Years’ War, Britain faced a heated debate over whether to retain the newly captured Canadian territories or the sugar‑rich island of Guadeloupe. Financial officials highlighted Guadeloupe’s immediate profitability, while strategists argued Canada offered long‑term security for the...
Now Accepting Applications — for Classified Intel
Federal layoffs have left thousands of former U.S. officials vulnerable to foreign recruitment, and Chinese intelligence services have seized the opportunity by creating a network of fake consulting firms and job‑platform outreach. The scheme relies on classic human intelligence tactics—email...
DRMC Airmen Support Certification of Instrument Landing Systems
Air Forces Central’s Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (DRMC) Airmen finalized the commissioning and FAA flight inspection of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s instrument landing system (ILS) glide slope in the U.S. Central Command area on Jan. 29, 2026. The effort involved adjusting...
DRMC Airmen Support Certification of Instrument Landing Systems
U.S. Air Forces Central’s Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (DRMC) Airmen completed the commissioning and flight‑inspection of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s instrument landing systems (ILS). The teams verified glide‑slope antenna heights and overall system performance, confirming compliance with safety standards...
Iran Can Still Normalize Its Economy—But the Path Will Be Painful and Slow
Iran’s inflation, hovering around 20% and spiking above 40% during sanctions, has become a structural feature of its macro‑economy. The country’s fragmented exchange‑rate system, fiscal deficits financed by the central bank, and dominant state‑linked enterprises perpetuate price pressures. Analysts argue...
Shipbuilding Drives HII’s Revenue and Income Gains for 2025
HII reported FY25 revenue of $12.5 bn, an 8.2% rise year‑over‑year, driven by a 14% increase in shipbuilding throughput. Ingalls Shipbuilding and Newport News Shipbuilding posted revenue gains of 11.2% and 9.0% respectively, while Mission Technologies contributed $3.0 bn, up 3.6%. Operating...
Thomas Countryman on New START Expiry and the Value of Arms Control
Thomas Countryman, chair of the Arms Control Association, warned that the New START treaty will soon expire and urged the United States to negotiate a replacement with Russia while opening consultations with China. He highlighted the loss of experienced negotiators...
Air National Guard Base Takes Stage Ahead of Super Bowl LX
Moffett Air National Guard Base will host a joint U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy flyover that will streak across the sky during the national anthem of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8. The championship pits the Seattle Seahawks against the...
Airbus, DSTA Demonstrate HTeaming with Flexrotor and H225M
Airbus and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) completed the first flight demonstration of HTeaming, integrating the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system with an H225M Super Puma helicopter. The trial, conducted in January at a Singapore airbase, showcased real‑time data...
New UK Defence Procurement Plan Due for April Fool’s Release
The UK Ministry of Defence will unveil a new "segmented approach" to defence procurement on April 1, 2026, coinciding with April Fool’s Day. The model splits contracts into three tiers—major platforms within two years, upgrades within one year, and rapid commercial...
Israel’s Blunt Warning To Terrorists & Their Sponsors — “Those Who Play With Fire Will Be Burned”
Israel’s ambassador to India warned that any state tolerating jihadist proxies jeopardizes its own security, emphasizing the need to dismantle Hamas as part of President Trump’s 20‑point Gaza plan. The U.S.‑led "Board of Peace" now includes Pakistan, Turkey and Qatar,...
72 Hours in the Gulf: Inside Chancellor Merz’s Mission to Wean Germany Off US Dependence
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spent three days in Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi to secure Gulf energy, investment and defence deals aimed at reducing Berlin's reliance on the United States and China. After the 2025 loss of Russian pipeline gas, Germany imported...
Slow Launch Tempo Clouds Long-Term Role of Space Launch System
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) has now been in development for 15 years, accumulating more than $30 billion in taxpayer spending. The program’s launch cadence remains painfully slow, with fewer than one flight per year, undermining its intended role in deep‑space...
India’s Defense Budget Jumps 15 Percent
India’s 2026‑27 Union Budget allocates a record ₹7.85 trillion (≈$87 billion) to defence, a 15 percent rise over the previous year. The surge is driven by Operation Sindoor, a series of retaliatory air strikes that heightened focus on modernisation. Capital outlay jumps to ₹2.31 trillion,...
Germany Wants a “Two-Speed EU” On Defence. What About Poland?
Germany is spearheading a “two‑speed” European Union defence initiative by forming an E6 group of the bloc’s six largest economies – Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. The format aims to bypass consensus‑driven decision‑making to accelerate defence investment,...
France Adopts “Indian Model” Of Partnership in East Africa After Setback in West Africa: OPED
France is redirecting its African security policy from the faltering Sahel model to a partnership with Kenya, formalized through the first France‑Kenya Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA). The DCA shifts focus to joint training, maritime security, intelligence sharing, and peace‑support operations,...
Is Europe Prepared for AGI?
RAND Europe hosted a webinar examining how artificial general intelligence could reshape global power dynamics and what steps Europe should take to prepare. Experts highlighted the EU’s current fragmented approach and the need for a unified policy that balances innovation,...
The Real Risks of the Saudi-UAE Feud
A deepening rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is reshaping Gulf politics as Riyadh pursues Vision 2030 and seeks to eclipse Abu Dhabi’s dominance in finance, tourism and logistics. The split, first evident in public accusations of the UAE...
Veterans Fueling Central Ohio’s Tech Boom Through Teaching
Veterans Brian Parks and Bill Pencil are teaching automotive technology and welding at Tolles Career & Technical Center in Plain City, Ohio, bringing military‑honed teamwork, discipline, and technical expertise to high‑school students. Their hands‑on instruction aligns with Central Ohio’s rapidly...
When Economic Warfare Meets Gunboat Diplomacy: What to Know About the US Seizures of Shadow Fleet Tankers
U.S. authorities have seized at least seven tankers linked to Venezuela’s shadow fleet, part of a broader push to disrupt illicit oil flows from Iran, Russia and Venezuela. The seizures rely on civil forfeiture statutes rather than wartime prize law,...
In 2026, a Growing Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
The Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty, long‑standing pillar of global arms control, faces unprecedented strain in 2026 as Iran appears poised to exit or breach its obligations. A retreat by the United States from multilateral leadership and intensifying great‑power competition are eroding...
CISA Orders Agencies to Patch and Replace End-of-Life Devices, Citing Active Exploitation
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a binding operational directive requiring federal agencies to inventory, replace, and continuously monitor end‑of‑support (EOS) edge devices after detecting active exploitation by advanced threat actors, some linked to nation‑states. Agencies have three...
Korean War Veteran to Receive Medal of Honor for Secret Battle with Russians
U.S. Navy Captain Royce Williams, a 100‑year‑old Korean War veteran, will receive the Medal of Honor for a 1952 dogfight in which he downed four Soviet MiG jets while fending off seven attackers. The battle, which lasted 35 minutes and left...
Agencies Lost Around 20,000 Tech Workers Last Year — and Now the Trump Admin Is Hiring
Over 19,500 technology, data and telecommunications employees left the federal government in 2025, resulting in a net loss of 17,228 tech positions after limited hiring. The departures spanned six agencies with the biggest cuts, including Defense, Treasury, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs,...
New DARPA Challenge Zeroes in on Drone Payloads
DARPA has launched the Lift Challenge, a competition that aims to develop vertical‑lift drones capable of carrying at least four times their own weight. The contest offers up to $6.5 million in prize money, with a live flight test scheduled for...
Domestic Surveillance Fears Loom over Congress Debate to Renew Spying Power
Congress is debating the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows warrantless collection of foreign communications but often sweeps up U.S. persons. Recent Trump-era domestic surveillance orders and expanded data‑provider definitions have heightened Democratic concerns...
Shaping the Future of Airpower: Air Force Requirements Transformation Industry Day
The U.S. Air Force held a virtual industry day on Jan. 29, 2026 to launch a sweeping overhaul of its requirements and acquisition process, as mandated by the Secretary of War’s reform memo. About 350 defense‑industry leaders, ranging from large contractors to...
Charai for The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune: Yemen Is Not a Gulf Rivalry—It Is a Test of Whether Extremism Can Be...
Charai argues that the Yemen conflict should be viewed less as a Saudi‑UAE versus Iran Gulf rivalry and more as a litmus test for the international community's ability to contain extremist movements. He highlights that the war’s primary driver is...
Wisconsin Guard Artillery Soldiers Train in Extreme Weather
Around 200 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery Regiment completed an 11‑day cold‑weather training cycle at Fort McCoy from Jan. 21‑31. The exercise emphasized individual tasks, teamwork, and proficiency on M777 and M119 howitzers under sub‑zero...
EU Reached a Breakthrough on a €90 Billion Loan for Ukraine
European Union member states have reached a breakthrough agreement to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion support package for 2026‑2027, of which roughly €60 billion is allocated to military aid and €30 billion to budget stabilization and reforms. The financing will be sourced...
Yevgeniya Gaber Joins Ukrainian State News Agency “Ukrinform” To Discuss the Evolution of Turkey-Ukraine Bilateral Relations
Yevgeniya Gaber, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, has joined Ukraine’s state news agency Ukrinform to provide expert commentary on the evolving Turkey‑Ukraine relationship. She emphasizes how Turkey’s strategic calculus balances its ties to Russia with its growing economic...
Spy in the Polish Ministry of Defence
Poland’s Ministry of National Defence detained a middle‑level employee, Władysław P., on February 3 for suspected espionage on behalf of Russian or Belarusian intelligence. The civil servant worked in the Department of Strategy and Defence Planning, which drafts the nation’s core...
Macron: Europe Must Increase Defence Spending
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a defence budget that will exceed 2% of GDP, allocating €413 bn from 2024 to 2030—up from €295 bn in the previous seven‑year period. The 2026 budget reaches €57.2 bn, reflecting annual increases aimed at modernising the armed...
Operation Praying Mantis: That Time America Decimated Iran's Navy
In April 1988 the United States launched Operation Praying Mantis, a massive naval retaliation that destroyed two Iranian oil platforms, sank the frigate Sahand, and eliminated the missile boat Joshan, effectively wiping out half of Iran's operational fleet in a...
New START Expiry: Implications for Europe
On 5 February 2026 the New START treaty – the last formal US‑Russia strategic arms‑control pact – expired, ending quantitative limits on deployed strategic warheads and launchers. While a tentative “handshake” deal may keep the limits informally in place, the treaty’s collapse...
Sweden’s Role in Countering Hybrid Threats in the Baltic Sea Region
Sweden’s accession to NATO has closed the strategic gap in the Baltic Sea, but Russia continues to exploit sub‑threshold hybrid tactics that target critical undersea infrastructure. The alliance’s conventional superiority does not automatically translate into deterrence against sabotage, GPS jamming,...
PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Completes Builder’s Sea Trials
The Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers announced that Builder’s Sea Trials for the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) were completed at Newport News Shipbuilding on February 4, 2026. The trials marked the first time the Gerald R. Ford‑class carrier left the pier, testing critical...
Andrew Peek Joins Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative as Inaugural Director
Andrew Peek has been appointed the inaugural director of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. In this role he will steer efforts to embed resilience as a core pillar...
Texas Guard’s 36th Infantry Division Prepares for Middle East Deployment
The Texas National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division held a farewell ceremony at Camp Mabry before deploying to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield. The division will complete final readiness training and mission validation ahead of a March...
Exercise Cutlass Express 2026 to Enhance Maritime Security in East Africa
The U.S. 6th Fleet’s Cutlass Express 2026 brings together 19 partner nations to boost maritime law‑enforcement capacity in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The exercise combines shore‑based and at‑sea training, including VBSS, interdiction, and illegal‑fishing scenarios. It also...
Judge Seems Skeptical of Legal Justification for Pentagon's Punishment of Sen. Mark Kelly
A federal judge expressed skepticism that any Supreme Court precedent justifies the Pentagon’s decision to censure Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy pilot, for appearing in a video urging troops to defy unlawful orders. Kelly’s attorneys argue the censure violates...
There Is Only One Sphere of Influence
The article argues that the United States now enjoys a unique, uncontested sphere of influence across the Western Hemisphere, anchored by overwhelming military spending and deep economic integration. By contrast, China and Russia lack the capacity to establish comparable regional...
Memo to the President: Steps to Secure a Prosperous, US-Aligned Venezuela
Following the January 3 capture of Nicolás Maduro, a memo authored by former U.S. officials outlines a roadmap for Washington to steer Venezuela toward a prosperous, U.S.-aligned future. It calls for immediate benchmarks on human‑rights reforms, dismantling of paramilitary groups, and...
Belarusian Cigarette-Smuggling Balloons in the Polish Airspace. How Should NATO Respond?
Belarusian balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes entered Polish airspace for a third consecutive night, prompting temporary civil‑aviation restrictions in the Podlaskie region. The incursions are viewed as low‑cost, low‑escalation tests of Poland’s air‑defence systems and an attempt to sow friction within...
New American Carrier Undergoing Tests
The USS John F. Kennedy, the second Ford‑class carrier, began its first sea trials in February 2026. Repeated delays caused by elevator, electromagnetic catapult, and arresting‑gear problems pushed delivery from an original 2022 target to mid‑2026 and raised the contract...