Defense News and Headlines
Defense News and Headlines
Defense Pulse
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Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
The Atlantic Council’s Frederick Kempe marks the 80th anniversary of George Kennan’s Long Telegram, arguing that today’s geopolitical turbulence demands a comparable strategic blueprint. He highlights a simultaneous great‑power contest involving Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s assertiveness around Taiwan, and an AI‑driven technology race. Kempe warns that democratic alliances are fragmenting without a clear, coordinated doctrine, and that the United States must articulate a modern containment strategy that blends military resolve, economic tools, and technological leadership. The piece calls for a new “Kennan‑style” roadmap to preserve global order.
Enterprises deploying private Large Language Models are rapidly adding inference APIs, model‑management dashboards, and tool‑calling endpoints. Each new endpoint widens the attack surface, especially when permissions are excessive and credentials remain static. Exposed endpoints let attackers hijack non‑human identities, enabling...
In early 2026 Iranian protests triggered a sweeping internet shutdown, but smuggled Starlink terminals let activists maintain contact with the outside world. The satellite service enabled images and messages to bypass state jamming, turning a near‑total blackout into a contested...
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced that its YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft will be called Dark Merlin. The unmanned system is one of two prototypes selected for the U.S. Air Force’s first increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, the other...
Russian cyber actors targeting Ukraine’s energy grid have shifted from causing immediate outages to gathering intelligence that guides missile strikes. By mapping facilities, tracking repair crews, and monitoring recovery rates, they provide real‑time data that improves strike accuracy. The number...
The United States faces a pivotal shift in unmanned aircraft system (UAS) policy, urging a move from a counter‑UAS‑first narrative to an integration‑first strategy. Lawful drone operations must become visible through Remote ID, Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) and public education,...
Romanian officials say recent ransomware attacks on the country’s water agency, oil pipeline operator and coal‑based power producer were part of a coordinated Russian hybrid operation. Groups such as Qilin and Gentlemen, which speak Russian, claimed responsibility, linking the attacks...
The United States staged a fleet of KC‑135 tankers, C‑17s, C‑130s and transport Boeing 747s at Sofia International Airport, temporarily halting civilian flights on Feb. 23‑24. Bulgaria’s defence ministry said the presence supported NATO‑related training, while officials downplayed any link...
The defence sector lacks a standard ratio of uncrewed to crewed aircraft, as collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) capabilities and national requirements differ widely. Medium‑altitude long‑endurance (MALE) CCAs are positioned as cost‑effective, low‑risk platforms that can operate in mixed formations with...
Attackers are actively exploiting two critical Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) zero‑days (CVE‑2026‑1281 and CVE‑2026‑1340) that allow unauthenticated remote code execution. More than 4,400 EPMM instances are exposed on the public internet, giving threat actors full control of enterprise mobile...
NATO’s Arctic defence plans are outpaced by Russia’s rapid expansion of uncrewed systems, with Moscow now producing over 1.5 million drones a year and fielding Arctic‑adapted platforms. The alliance’s ambition to secure the High North is hampered by a shortage of...
General Atomics demonstrated its MQ-20 drone operating under direct orders from an F‑22 pilot at Edwards Air Force Base, using Autonodyne’s Bashi pilot‑vehicle interface. The test showed the drone executing tactical maneuvers, waypoint changes, combat patrols and threat‑engagement tasks autonomously....
The U.S. Army issued a Request for Information to explore a commercial modification line for its UH‑60M Black Hawk fleet. The program would upgrade 12 to 24 helicopters each year through component overhauls and integration of existing modernization kits. By...
Robin Radar Systems announced that its IRIS plug‑and‑play radar will be deployed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, state agencies and FEMA for counter‑UAS operations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The system offers 360‑degree, 12‑km detection,...
The U.S. Army issued a Sources Sought Notice to evaluate domestic manufacturers’ ability to produce the firing‑mechanism gun for its M225 and M225A1 60 mm mortar systems. The effort targets an estimated need of 55 units per year over two years...
The U.S. Army announced an Industry Day to launch the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4 rapid‑prototyping effort. The program calls for a HIMARS‑compatible missile with a range exceeding 1,000 km that can strike moving land and maritime targets without GPS. A...
The U.S. Navy’s Virginia‑class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) arrived at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Feb 21, 2026 to begin a major modernization overhaul. The refit is designed to extend the boat’s service life, upgrade its combat systems, and ensure it...
South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries delivered the lead offshore patrol vessel, BRP Rajah Sulayman, to the Philippine Navy five months ahead of schedule. The OPV, the first of six ordered, features an acoustic detection system for anti‑submarine operations...
Iranian APT group MuddyWater has launched Operation Olalampo, targeting organizations across the Middle East and North Africa. The campaign, first seen on Jan 26, 2026, deploys new malware families—GhostFetch, HTTP_VIP, the Rust backdoor CHAR, and the GhostBackDoor implant—delivered via macro‑laden Office...
China’s expanding missile and surveillance capabilities are turning U.S. forward airbases in the Pacific into high‑value targets, prompting the Air Force to abandon its Cold‑War‑era expeditionary model. A Hudson Institute report warns that without a three‑tiered “Edge‑Force, Pulsed‑Force, Core‑Force” redesign,...
Cellula Robotics has been chosen for the Canadian Technology Accelerators Maritime Defence and Security program in the United Kingdom. The initiative, led by the Canadian High Commission and BMNT, connects Canadian ocean‑technology firms with UK defence and industry stakeholders. In...
Exosens reported 2025 results that beat its guidance, posting €468.2 m revenue, a 22% year‑on‑year increase, and net profit that more than doubled to €42.7 m. Growth was powered by a surge in Defense night‑vision sales, highlighted by a €500 m contract with...
The Australian federal government is preparing to contribute up to $500 million as co‑investment alongside venture capital firms into one or more Advanced Capabilities Investment (ACI) funds aimed at defence and dual‑use technologies. A Request for Expressions of Interest on AusTender...
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 6‑3 decision invalidating Trump’s IEEPA‑based tariffs did not dismantle the president’s emerging hierarchy of “model allies.” Trump’s administration continues to press allies to meet three benchmarks: 5% of GDP defense spending, sizable U.S. arms purchases...
Japan is moving to raise defence spending toward 2 % of GDP and to scrap the five‑category export ban, signalling a major policy shift. The government argues that higher budgets must translate into sovereign space capabilities, especially ISR satellite constellations. Recent...
Ukrainian officials reported a deadly attack in Lviv that killed a policewoman and wounded dozens, while overnight Russian strikes hit Kyiv and several regions, targeting energy infrastructure and residential buildings. Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted 307 of 345 Russian...
V2X Inc reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.22 billion, a 5% year‑over‑year increase, and full‑year revenue of $4.48 billion, hitting the top of its guidance. Adjusted EBITDA reached a record $88.7 million for the quarter (7.3% margin) and $323.3 million for the year, while...
BWX Technologies reported $866 million revenue for the quarter, a 29% year‑over‑year increase, propelled by strong performance in both government and commercial segments. The company’s backlog surged to $7.4 billion, up 119% YoY, delivering a book‑to‑bill ratio of 2.6. Commercial operations exploded...
A UK‑led consortium, headed by Core Power, has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Pentagon to build a 300 MW ship‑borne nuclear power plant. The floating reactor would tap the Department of Defense’s existing regulatory framework for naval reactors, enabling rapid...
The U.S. Navy relieved Cmdr. James Koffi of command of the guided‑missile destroyer USS Truxtun after a collision with the replenishment ship USNS Supply on Feb. 11, 2026. Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello cited a loss of confidence in Koffi’s ability to...
The European Commission announced a European Space Shield slated for launch in mid‑2026, aiming to protect EU satellites and space services from emerging threats. The plan couples civilian and military space assets into a coordinated network and tackles the surge...
A CSET report analyzing over 9,000 PLA procurement notices from 2023‑24 shows China actively seeking artificial‑intelligence tools for space domain awareness, under‑sea surveillance, data‑fusion decision support, and synthetic media operations. The RFPs call for algorithms that determine satellite orbits, recognize...
A new POLITICO poll reveals that citizens in the United States, Canada and other key NATO allies overwhelmingly consider cyberattacks on hospitals to be acts of war. Despite this public sentiment, NATO’s official response remains measured, emphasizing diplomatic channels and...
Rheinmetall, Germany's largest defence contractor, is weighing a bid for Munich‑based laser‑communications maker Mynaric, potentially derailing Rocket Lab's announced $150 million acquisition. The move reflects Europe’s push to keep critical aerospace and optical‑link technology under domestic control amid heightened scrutiny of...
BWX Technologies reported steady progress on the Trump‑era executive orders aimed at revitalizing the U.S. nuclear energy sector. The company has begun fabricating TRISO nuclear fuel compacts for Antares Nuclear and remains on track for on‑time delivery to Idaho National...
L3Harris Technologies secured a roughly $400 million contract to supply solid‑rocket boost motors and Liquid Divert and Attitude Control Systems for THAAD interceptors, marking its 1,000th delivery to the Missile Defense Agency in 2024. The work will be produced at facilities...
Citigroup analyst John Godyn reaffirmed a Buy rating on Northrop Grumman, setting a price target of $781 after the company’s strong fourth‑quarter earnings. The defense contractor posted $11.71 billion in revenue, a 10% year‑over‑year rise, and adjusted earnings of $7.23 per...
Analysts project roughly a 20% upside for TransDigm Group (TDG) even after recent price‑target reductions. The aerospace parts maker posted Q1 2026 sales of $2.29 billion, up 14% year‑over‑year, and adjusted EPS of $8.23, beating estimates. Net income slipped 9.7% to...
Channing Capital Management LLC reduced its Boeing position by 13.7%, selling 6,771 shares and ending the quarter with 42,600 shares valued at $9.19 million. Insider executives also trimmed holdings, collectively selling over 19,500 shares worth $4.6 million in February. Meanwhile, Boeing reported...
Satellite imagery released by the OSINT group CiberBoroshno shows a 30 × 24 metre roof breach at Russia’s Votkinsk Machine Building Plant after a Ukrainian strike using FP‑5 “Flamingo” cruise missiles. The plant is a primary producer of strategic missiles such as Yars,...
Israeli robotics firm Macushla unveiled the Shadowfax unmanned ground vehicle equipped with the SAURON remote‑controlled weapon station ahead of the Enforce Tac Nuremberg 2026 exhibition. The platform is lightweight, highly modular and can be re‑configured for combat, engineering or rescue missions. Demonstrations...
The U.S. Army's 17th Field Artillery Brigade fired HIMARS during the Arctic JPMRC 26‑02 exercise in Alaska, proving long‑range precision fires in extreme cold. The live‑fire validated rapid deployment and integration with the 11th Airborne Division while overcoming freezing‑related equipment challenges....
SAB’s annual report warns that Russia now frames relations with the West as an existential conflict, deploying a systematic hybrid toolkit that blends military, informational, cyber, legal and economic levers. The Kremlin’s distorted threat perception fuels a perception spiral, making...
In January 2026 the UK’s National Space Operations Centre kept its warning and protection systems active around the clock to shield licensed satellites from a surge in solar activity and persistent orbital congestion. Geomagnetic storms and solar flares intensified, while...
French President Emmanuel Macron called for expanding Europe’s nuclear umbrella at the Munich Conference, proposing to share France’s deterrent with allied states. He has launched strategic talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other EU leaders to translate French nuclear capability...
The Philippine Senate will convene an all‑senators’ caucus on Feb 23 to set ground rules for talks with the Chinese Embassy over the West Philippine Sea dispute, with Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson emphasizing diplomatic courtesy and the possibility of...
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special envoy who crafted the 2020 Doha Agreement, is signaling a return to Afghan diplomacy under a prospective second Trump administration. The Doha deal, widely blamed for the rapid Taliban takeover and the chaotic U.S....
Legacy aerospace primes are reshaping their business models as the U.S. Space Force pivots to faster, fixed‑price procurement. Northrop Grumman, after an 8% dip in 2025 space revenue, projects $11 billion in 2026 sales and is now the primary builder for...
Slovak journalists allege that the Ministry of Defence awarded Czechoslovak Group (CSG) €60.36 bn in contracts after the 2023 election, potentially to lift investor sentiment ahead of CSG’s January 2026 Amsterdam IPO. The IPO raised a record‑size defence offering, valuing CSG at...
The $1.5 billion NISAR satellite, a joint NASA‑ISRO venture, showcases the deepening U.S.–India space partnership. India’s Make‑in‑India agenda is accelerating indigenous defense‑related space capabilities, from ISR payloads to resilient communications. Meanwhile, China’s anti‑satellite tests and Pakistan’s growing space ties heighten regional...
