Federal Drawdown of Election Support ‘Destroyed’ Ongoing Relationships, Experts Say
Federal efforts under President Trump to scale back the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have stripped election‑security staff, halted disinformation teams and eliminated the agency’s election program in the FY 2027 budget proposal. State officials in Michigan and Georgia testified that the drawdown destroyed long‑standing relationships, leaving local jurisdictions without on‑site assessments or reliable federal contacts. A Justice Department demand for Michigan ballots and an FBI raid on a Fulton County elections office have heightened concerns about chain‑of‑custody and voter‑privacy. Cyber Command officials remain unsure whether the Election Security Group, the joint task force that counters foreign meddling, has been reconstituted.
Senate Rejects Curb on Trump Military Action in Cuba
The Senate voted 51-47 to block a resolution that would have required congressional approval before any U.S. military action against Cuba. The measure failed despite bipartisan support from Republicans Susan Collins and Rand Paul, with only Democrat John Fetterman opposing...
Always-On Defence Becomes Critical as AI Accelerates Cyber Threats: Infotrust
Cybersecurity leaders warn that AI‑driven automation is accelerating attack speed, forcing organisations to shift from periodic checks to an always‑on defence model. Infotrust CEO Simon McKay notes attackers now have access to the same AI tools used by defenders, enabling larger‑scale...
Commentary: Beijing Intensifies Diplomatic Isolation of Taiwan’s President
Taiwan President Lai Ching‑te cancelled a planned visit to Eswatini after Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles denied his plane airspace at Beijing's request, marking the first time China successfully blocked a Taiwanese diplomatic trip. The move isolates Taiwan's last African ally...
Exclusive: OpenAI, Anthropic Meet with House Homeland Security Behind Closed Doors on Cyber Threats
OpenAI and Anthropic briefed the House Homeland Security Committee staff in classified sessions about their new cyber‑capable AI models—OpenAI’s tiered‑release GPT‑5.4‑Cyber and Anthropic’s Mythos Preview, which remains unreleased due to exploit risks. Both firms are granting federal agencies direct access...
How the 2027 Budget Will Change the Air Force Tanker Fleet
The Air Force’s FY2027 budget plans to retire 20 KC‑135 Stratotankers while receiving 20 new KC‑46 Pegasus aircraft, a shift that will let the service grow its tanker fleet rather than replace one for one. Congress has mandated a minimum...
Pentagon AI Chief Confirms DOD's Expanded Use of Google, Says Reliance on One Model 'Never a Good Thing'
The Pentagon’s chief digital and AI officer, Cameron Stanley, confirmed that the Department of Defense is expanding its use of Google’s Gemini model for classified projects, following the recent removal of Anthropic from DOD contracts. The move reflects a broader...
Broken VECT 2.0 Ransomware Acts as a Data Wiper for Large Files
Researchers have identified a critical flaw in the VECT 2.0 ransomware that causes it to act as a data wiper for files larger than 128 KB. The ransomware, promoted on BreachForums and linked to the TeamPCP threat group, targets victims of recent...
China Pulls the Plug on Meta’s AI Acquisition
Meta’s $2.5 billion acquisition of Singapore‑based AI startup Manus was approved by Chinese regulators in December but was abruptly blocked in April. The reversal reflects a rapid shift in Beijing’s national‑security calculus over artificial intelligence. Meta now faces a likely loss...
Hackers Are Exploiting a Critical LiteLLM Pre-Auth SQLi Flaw
Researchers have identified a critical pre‑authentication SQL injection flaw (CVE‑2026‑42208) in the open‑source LiteLLM gateway, which routes LLM API calls. The vulnerability lets attackers send a crafted Authorization header to read or modify the proxy’s database, exposing stored API keys,...
Why Doesn't The World's Most Produced Fighter Jet Have A Thrust Vectoring Nozzle?
Lockheed Martin’s F‑16 Fighting Falcon remains the world’s most‑produced fighter, with over 4,600 units representing roughly 20 % of global fighter fleets. Despite continuous upgrades, the jet still lacks thrust‑vectoring nozzles, a decision rooted in its original design philosophy that values...
North Korea’s Nuclear Program Reaches Tipping Point for the US
North Korea’s nuclear and missile program is accelerating, with multiple tests in April 2026 that showcase new warhead designs and increased production capacity. The regime appears to be moving toward miniaturized warheads capable of fitting on intercontinental ballistic missiles, raising...
NSA Chief During Snowden Affair Shares Regrets, Reflections 13 Years Later
Former NSA Deputy Director Chris Inglis reflects on the 2013 Snowden disclosures, emphasizing that investigations found no illegal abuse of authority but that the fallout still damaged public trust. He argues Snowden bypassed internal reporting channels, highlighting systemic contractor‑management flaws...
Japanese Lease Dooms SupplyCore’s Protest of Logistics Contract
The U.S. General Services Administration awarded a $77.8 million logistics support contract for more than 100 U.S. installations in Japan to Amentum, beating incumbent SupplyCore’s $81.4 million bid. Both firms earned identical technical and live‑test scores, but Amentum outperformed SupplyCore on operational...
DAF Launches Plan to Bolster AI Workforce
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) unveiled a five‑year AI workforce plan, allocating $1.2 billion to close the talent gap across the Air Force and Space Force. The initiative creates a dedicated AI Academy, expands data‑science training, and offers scholarships...
DAF Launches Plan to Bolster AI Workforce
The Department of the Air Force approved a Total Force AI Talent Development plan to recruit, retain, and train artificial‑intelligence professionals. The strategy streamlines hiring, introduces a dual‑track career model, and mandates AI literacy for all personnel. It aligns with...
Bridging Civil and Military Innovation: New Funding for Autonomous Aviation
Innovate UK announced up to £10 million (≈$12.8 million) grant competition to accelerate dual‑use aviation technologies, including uncrewed aircraft systems, eVTOL, eCTOL, and autonomous swarming platforms. The program targets projects at technology readiness level 5 or higher that can be commercialised for both...
Google Signed the Pentagon’s Classified AI Deal and Walked Away From Its Drone Swarm Contest on the Same Day.
Google confirmed a classified contract that gives the Pentagon API access to its Gemini AI models for any lawful government purpose, despite a petition signed by more than 580 employees urging the company to refuse. The agreement includes advisory guardrails...
God Save the US-UK Relationship
King Charles addressed a joint session of Congress, warning that the United States‑United Kingdom partnership is at risk after recent U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran. He emphasized Britain’s biggest defense‑spending increase since the Cold War as a concrete sign of renewed...
Federal CIO Cautious on Anthropic’s Mythos Despite Planned Rollout
Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia said the government will proceed with a measured rollout of Anthropic’s Mythos AI model, noting its promise for bolstering cyber defenses while emphasizing lingering uncertainties about real‑world performance. He has only seen lab‑based evaluations and no...
Elsight’s Halo, Its BLOS (Beyond Line-of-Sight) Connectivity Platform, Is Now Certified on the U.S. DCMA Blue UAS List, Enabling Faster...
Elsight's Halo beyond‑line‑of‑sight (BLOS) connectivity platform has been certified on the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Blue UAS List, confirming it meets the department’s rigorous supply‑chain and cybersecurity standards. The certification lets U.S. military units procure Halo directly through...
Estimating Wartime Damage to US Military Bases in the Middle East as Part of Operation Epic Fury
Iranian forces damaged eleven U.S. bases across seven Middle Eastern nations during the early phase of Operation Epic Fury, injuring roughly 70 structures. The analyst‑derived cost estimate reaches about $5 billion, factoring direct repairs, engineering overhead, debris clearance and a 30 percent...
Ukraine Participates in Exercise Aurora 26 as Part of an Enhanced Partnership with the Joint Expeditionary Force
Sweden’s Armed Forces have invited Ukrainian troops to join exercise Aurora 26, part of the newly‑signed Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)‑Ukraine Enhanced Partnership. The drill will involve Ukrainian drone operators working alongside more than 16,000 Swedish personnel and roughly 1,500 allied troops...
Preparing for Major Events: NUSTL Field Guidance for C-UAS Planning
The Department of Homeland Security’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) released new field guidance to help agencies place counter‑unmanned aircraft systems (C‑UAS) sensors for upcoming large‑scale events such as the FIFA World Cup and America250. The guidance was field‑tested...
Third Ukrainian Strike Damages Russian Oil Terminal at Tuapse
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces carried out three long‑range drone strikes on the Russian oil terminal at Tuapse in April, hitting a refinery that processes roughly 12 million tonnes of crude annually—about 4‑5% of Russia’s total capacity. The attacks destroyed multiple storage...
CSAF Immersion at JBSA Highlights Training Modernization, Force Readiness
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach led a multi‑day immersion at Joint Base San Antonio‑Lackland, visiting Basic Military Training, the Special Warfare Training Wing and the T‑7A Red Hawk program. The visit highlighted Air Education and Training...
CSAF Immersion at JBSA Highlights Training Modernization, Force Readiness
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach visited Joint Base San Antonio, overseeing the graduation of 787 Airmen and inspecting the Air Force’s newest trainer, the T‑7A Red Hawk, including its high‑fidelity Ground‑Based Training System. The two‑day immersion spanned...
Marines Will Update Land Warfare Doctrine as They Prep for Near-Peer, Drone-Driven Fight
The Marine Corps is finalizing its Ground Combat Element 2040 doctrine, slated for release in the coming weeks, as part of the broader Force Design 2030 transformation. The new framework preserves core offensive, defensive and expeditionary capabilities while integrating rapid‑fielded...
Three Ways South Korea Can Buy Alliance Insurance
South Korea is weighing three "alliance‑insurance" moves to reduce reliance on an increasingly unpredictable United States. The options include fast‑tracking membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans‑Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), lifting its long‑standing ban on lethal arms sales to...
DHS Funding Bill Stalls as House GOP Seeks Changes to Senate Deal
House Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to bring a Senate‑passed Department of Homeland Security funding bill to a vote, demanding unspecified technical changes. The delay threatens to halt paychecks for TSA and FEMA employees, echoing the March shutdown that forced...
Army Sets Industry Day for High-Performance Computing Recompete
The Army Corps of Engineers announced an industry day on June 24‑25 to launch the High Performance Modernization Computing Program‑Unrestricted III (HITS‑UIII), the next iteration of its high‑performance computing support contract. BAE Systems, the incumbent from the HITS‑UII award, has already had...
Vidar Rises to Top of Chaotic Infostealer Market
Credential‑stealing malware Vidar has surged to become the most used infostealer on the Russian Market, overtaking Lumma and Rhadamanthys after law‑enforcement takedowns in 2025. Intrinsec’s report attributes the rise to a major upgrade and expanded distribution network, including phishing, fake...
How The C-17 Globemaster's Radar Warning System Protects Crews During Combat Zone Approaches
The Boeing C‑17 Globemaster III’s survivability in contested airspace relies on an integrated defensive suite that combines radar warning, missile approach detection, expendable countermeasures, and directed‑energy jamming. Core components include the AN/ALR‑69A radar warning receiver, AN/AAR‑47 infrared missile warning system, ALE‑47...
True Anomaly Raised $1 Billion to Build Weapons for a Programme the Pentagon Has Not Committed to Building
True Anomaly, a Colorado startup focused on autonomous spacecraft for orbital combat, closed a $650 million Series D round, bringing total capital raised to $1 billion and valuing the company at $2.2 billion. The funding arrived days after the U.S. Space Force named the...
Cyber Insurance Data Gives CISOs New Ammo for Budget Talks
Resilience’s new cyber‑insurance analysis translates technical threats into monetary loss, giving CISOs a data‑driven script for board budget discussions. The study of manufacturing claims from March 2021‑February 2026 shows ransomware responsible for 90% of incurred loss while representing only 12% of claims....
Google Signs Deal to Allow AI in Classified Military Work
Google has signed a contract with the U.S. Defense Department permitting its artificial‑intelligence systems to be used on classified military projects. The agreement was finalized at 4 p.m. on Monday, despite vocal opposition from Google researchers who objected to weaponizing the...
Beyond Connectivity: How Submarine Cable Resilience Dictates Digital Sovereignty in the Age of Fragmented Governance
Submarine cables, spanning more than 1.4 million km, carry over 99 % of intercontinental data traffic, making them the hidden backbone of the digital economy. Ownership is consolidating among a few hyperscalers—Google, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon—shifting digital sovereignty from nation‑state contests to...
Geoforce Lands Railcar Telematics Contract From U.S. Army
Geoforce, through its AssetLink Global subsidiary, secured a multi‑year U.S. Army Transportation Command contract to provide railcar in‑transit visibility. The agreement, which began deployment in December 2025, equips Department of War‑owned railcars with advanced sensors for load, impact, temperature, and...
Google Expands Pentagon’s Access to Its AI After Anthropic’s Refusal
Google has signed a deal giving the U.S. Department of Defense access to its generative AI for classified networks, permitting all lawful uses. The agreement follows Anthropic’s refusal to provide unrestricted AI, which led the Pentagon to label Anthropic a...
U.S. Troops Search Containership Suspected of Violating Iran Blockade
U.S. Central Command confirmed that Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit fast‑roped onto the 4,259‑dwt containership Blue Star 3 in the Arabian Sea, suspecting it of breaching the U.S.‑ordered blockade of Iranian ports. The vessel, listed as stateless after multiple...
Pentagon’s FY27 Budget Seeks 85 F-35s, but Most Ride on Reconciliation
The Pentagon’s FY 2027 budget request calls for 85 F‑35 Lightning II fighters, up from 47 in FY 2026, marking the largest single‑year buy since 2022. Only 32 of those jets are funded through the base discretionary budget; the remaining 53 depend on...
DMDC Improves Access for Millions Via Okta Identity Management
The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) has replaced its two‑decade‑old DS Logon system with Okta’s cloud‑based Identity‑as‑a‑Service platform, branded MyAuth. The migration covers roughly 60 million active‑duty personnel, civilians, contractors, veterans and dependents, delivering faster, mobile‑friendly login and biometric options. Help‑desk contacts...
Cyber Command, NSA Chief Warns Foreign Adversaries Likely to Target Midterms
U.S. Cyber Command head Gen. Joshua Rudd told the Senate that foreign adversaries are likely to attempt interference in the 2024 midterm elections. He noted uncertainty about whether the Election Security Group, the joint task force used since 2018, has...
Japan and China Are Edging Dangerously Close to Conflict
Japan’s Maritime Self‑Defense Force destroyer Ikazuchi transited the Taiwan Strait on April 17, prompting a sharply worded rebuke from Beijing. The reaction is amplified by the anniversary of the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki and lingering anger over a recent embassy intrusion...
EraDrive and Northrop Grumman Collaborate on AI-Enabled Autonomy
Silicon Valley startup EraDrive has signed a teaming agreement with Northrop Grumman to embed artificial‑intelligence into the autonomy stack of the defense contractor’s spacecraft. The partnership will demonstrate AI‑enabled rendezvous, proximity operations and onboard decision‑making, targeting pose estimation, GNC integration...
Rheinmetall Secures $1.2bn Soldier Systems Order From Bundeswehr
Rheinmetall Electronics has secured a €1.04 bn ($1.2 bn) contract from the German Bundeswehr to supply and modernise 237 platoon‑level Infantry Soldier of the Future – Enhanced System (IdZ‑ES) kits. The order will equip an additional 8,600 soldiers, bringing the total to...
Italy Backs Aircraft Carrier Donation to Indonesia
Italy’s parliament approved a plan to donate the ageing aircraft carrier *Garibaldi*—a 1985‑built vessel valued at roughly $63 million—to Indonesia. The transfer avoids an estimated $22 million dismantling bill and saves about $5.9 million in annual maintenance costs. Indonesia views the carrier as...
Adolescent British Army Ajax to Restart at an Infant ‘Crawl’
The British Army’s Ajax armored‑vehicle programme, halted in 2021 after crew injuries, is set to restart at an early‑stage “crawl” testing phase. The Ministry of Defence is allocating roughly £250 million (about $320 million) to redesign suspension and ergonomics. Initial trials will...
How Identity, Geopolitics and Data Integrity Define Cyber Resilience
The article argues that cyber resilience now hinges on three intertwined forces—identity, geopolitics, and data integrity. Identity weaknesses trigger roughly 90% of breaches, while fragmented global regulations leave 69% of firms scrambling. Data poisoning and unmanaged "shadow AI" expose 63%...
The EU Needs New Security Partners
European security thinking has long hinged on NATO and the EU, but recent wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have exposed critical gaps. The article argues that traditional alliances are fracturing, prompting the rise of ad‑hoc coalitions and bilateral...