Defense News and Headlines
Defense News and Headlines
Defense Pulse
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Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
White House CTO Ethan Klein outlined a federal AI agenda that links government, industry, academia, and philanthropy around three pillars: U.S. leadership in emerging tech, revitalizing the science enterprise, and broad societal benefit. The plan calls for a national AI infrastructure, with autonomous scientific workflows expected to be operational within a year and a longer‑term vision of AI‑driven breakthroughs in health, energy and materials. Defense officials framed AI as a 21st‑century force multiplier for intelligence, weapon design and battlefield modeling, while the Treasury announced a 2026 target for high‑value AI use cases and a new regulator‑industry AI working group.
Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency and the nation’s four major telcos (M1, Simba Telecom, Singtel, StarHub) launched the "Cyber Guardian" operation, expelling the China‑linked threat actor UNC3886 after an 11‑month campaign. The attackers breached critical network segments but did not steal...
Amnesty International reported that a government client of sanctioned spyware firm Intellexa used its Predator tool to compromise the iPhone of Angolan journalist Teixeira Cândido in 2024. The intrusion was delivered through a malicious WhatsApp link, exploiting an outdated iOS...
JFB Construction Holdings will merge with defense‑software firm XTEND in an all‑stock deal, creating a Nasdaq‑listed AI‑driven autonomous defense robotics company named XTEND AI Robotics. XTEND shareholders will own roughly 70% of the new entity while JFB shareholders retain about...
Simera Sense, a Belgian Earth‑observation camera maker, is moving beyond its cubesat‑focused xScape100 and xScape200 lines to develop higher‑resolution optical payloads for larger satellites. The new standardized payloads aim to deliver sub‑one‑metre ground‑sample distance imagery, with first deliveries slated for...
The U.S. Space Force issued a February 13 request for information seeking satellite‑refueling systems that can be operational by 2030. It targets vehicles using the approved Orbit Fab Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface (RAFTI) or Northrop Grumman’s Passive Refueling Module,...
UNIFY.C2 has partnered with Black River Systems to embed the Ninja™ counter‑UAS sensor suite into its real‑time fusion command‑and‑control platform. The integration creates a unified interface that detects, identifies, tracks and optionally mitigates rogue drones across defense, government, public‑safety and...
Ukraine granted its first defense export permits in February 2026, allowing domestic defense‑tech firms to sell abroad as the government prepares ten export centers across Europe. The sector, proven in combat with rapid development cycles, now faces the need to...
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held back‑to‑back talks in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear program and the Russia‑Ukraine war, a move that has puzzled diplomatic circles. The two‑hour Iran session, mediated by Oman, yielded modest progress but no...
Ondas’ subsidiary Sentrycs has delivered its protocol‑based counter‑drone system to a German State Police office, providing non‑disruptive mitigation for unauthorized UAVs. The deployment coincides with the upcoming launch of the man‑carried Sentrycs Scout at the Enforce Tac exhibition, expanding Ondas...
U.S.‑brokered peace talks aim to end the Ukraine war by early summer, but analysts warn that a deal lacking robust security guarantees could free Russian forces to pursue expansion in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Recent recordings and leaked...
U.S. negotiators in Geneva concluded indirect talks with Iran, reaching a general understanding on guiding principles that tie nuclear limits to missile restrictions and sanctions relief. President Trump warned Tehran of possible military action if a broader deal is not...
Thirty‑six human‑rights and peace organizations have publicly opposed a reported $210 million U.S. purchase of cluster munitions from Israeli‑owned Tomer. They argue the weapons violate international humanitarian law, especially given that 93 % of 2023 casualties and 71 % of 2022 injuries from...
Security researchers at Ox Security uncovered critical and high‑severity vulnerabilities in four widely used Visual Studio Code extensions, collectively downloaded over 128 million times. The flaws—affecting Code Runner, Markdown Preview Enhanced, Live Server, and Microsoft Live Preview—allow attackers to execute remote...
The U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors recommends a 10 percent increase in the cadet corps to 4,400 and the construction of a new tri‑complex housing an Air, Space, and Cyber Education Center. The plan includes a dedicated Space...
The U.S. State Department is prioritizing data infrastructure over artificial‑intelligence hype, releasing an Enterprise Data Strategy before its AI plan. A new secure platform, Data.*State*, will centralize diplomatic data and AI tools, while the department aims to double domestic data...
HII and Path Robotics signed an MOU to integrate Path’s physical AI welding system into HII’s shipbuilding operations. The partnership aims to boost HII’s shipyard throughput by an additional 15% in 2026, building on a 14% increase achieved in 2025....
The Government Accountability Office dismissed MAG Aerospace's protest alleging organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) in the Army's $96.5 million NetMod contract, which was awarded to ManTech International. The Army had previously waived OCI rules, rendering the allegations moot, and the GAO...
The Department of National Defence (DND) has launched a $2 million procurement challenge to develop prototypes that protect low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellite communications from hostile radio‑frequency interference. The initiative, run through Innovative Solutions Canada, targets adaptive beamforming technologies capable of withstanding single‑tone...
The Pentagon’s research arm DARPA has officially designated its LongShot air‑launched unmanned combat aircraft as X‑68A after completing key technical milestones. Built by General Atomics, the X‑68A will be launched from a host platform such as an F‑15 and carry...
The Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing (ARM) Institute has issued a member‑only project call to modernize the Department of Defense’s organic industrial base (OIB) supply chain. The call seeks proposals that combine digital operations, AI‑driven robotic process planning, real‑time sensors, in‑situ...
Clarity Innovations announced Brian Hobbs as its new chief executive, tapping a two‑decade veteran of the national‑security market. Hobbs previously led Accenture Federal Services' national‑security portfolio after joining through the Novetta acquisition. The hire follows Capitol Meridian Partners' 2023 purchase...
Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIA) has elevated space to a sovereign capability, creating a Build‑Partner‑Buy procurement model that puts domestic firms first. The plan earmarks $6.6 B from the 2025 budget and billions more through 2035 for space‑based intelligence, satellite communications,...
The U.S. Air Force’s LGM‑35A Sentinel program will complete its restructuring phase and achieve a Milestone B decision by the end of 2026, with an initial operational capability slated for the early 2030s. A newly created Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager consolidates...
The Marine Corps has fielded six Digital Transformation Teams (DXTs) and plans two additional deployments to complete coverage across its three Marine Expeditionary Forces. These teams operationalize the service’s 2024 AI strategy by piloting AI solutions, managing risk, and closing...
On 17‑18 February 1944, the U.S. Navy’s Task Force 58 launched Operation Hailstone, a massive carrier‑based strike that virtually annihilated Japan’s Truk anchorage. Over two days American aircraft destroyed roughly 250 enemy planes, sank about 200,000 tons of shipping and ignited the...
The U.S. Department of Energy has established a Center of Excellence to tackle operational technology (OT) cybersecurity across its labs and agencies. Sponsored by the Office of Science and the National Nuclear Security Administration, the effort unites cyber experts to...
A merchant vessel near Aden, Yemen, encountered armed skiffs that fired warning shots, later identified as a local militia rather than Houthi forces or pirates. The UK Maritime Trade Operations downgraded the event to suspicious activity after confirming no direct...
Global demand for copper, driven by AI, renewable energy and electric vehicles, is spurring a rapid expansion of Zambia’s mining sector. Since 2022, more than $12 billion has been poured into the industry, lifting 2024 output by roughly eight percent to...
Eric Trump is part of an investor consortium backing a $1.5 billion merger that will combine Florida‑based JFB Construction Holdings with Israeli drone manufacturer Xtend, effectively taking the unmanned‑air‑system firm public. The transaction mirrors a SPAC‑style deal, pairing a real‑estate operator...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to discuss adding four Block 70 F‑16 fighter jets, expanding Slovakia’s fleet to 18 aircraft. The contract, expected to be signed this year, builds on the €1.58 billion deal for...
Saudi Arabia’s uncrewed aerial vehicle market is estimated at $13.54 billion, making it the world’s fourth‑largest after the United States, India and Germany. Approximately 32 % ($4.36 billion) has already been spent, while the remaining $9.18 billion is tied up in uncontracted programmes, mirroring...
On December 17, 2026, a new round of Ukraine‑US‑Russia negotiations opened in Geneva, bringing together senior officials from Kyiv, Washington and Moscow. The talks focus on security, humanitarian concerns and, notably, territorial issues raised by the Kremlin. Ukraine’s delegation, led...
India and the United States announced a trade deal that lowers Indian export tariffs from 25% to 18% and removes the extra 25% levy on Russian crude. In return, New Delhi has pledged to buy $500 billion worth of U.S. goods,...
Intruder scanned five million JavaScript bundles and uncovered more than 42,000 exposed secrets, including active GitHub, GitLab, and SaaS API tokens. The research revealed 688 repository tokens that granted full access to private code and CI/CD pipelines. Traditional static and...
Russia’s navy chief warned European powers of retaliation if Russian vessels are seized, underscoring heightened maritime tensions amid over 30,000 sanctions. Rosatom announced it has freed Siemens from the Hungarian Paks II nuclear contract and is scouting replacement equipment. Despite U.S....
Ireland is overhauling its defence forces, committing up to €1.7 billion over five years and aiming for a 11,500‑person cadre by 2028. The plan upgrades the army’s armoured fleet with KNDS SCORPION vehicles, expands the naval service to twelve ships and...
The United Nations Command (UNC) and South Korea are locked in a legal dispute over who can approve access to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). While the 1953 Armistice assigns entry authority to the UNC commander, Seoul’s National Assembly is...
General Dynamics Land Systems UK will keep manufacturing the Ajax medium‑weight armoured fighting vehicle despite ongoing investigations into noise and vibration defects reported in November 2025. To date, 185 of the 589‑vehicle order have been delivered, with each unit requiring...
The Cyprus‑Greece‑Israel triangle is evolving from ad‑hoc energy cooperation into a multidimensional security bloc, highlighted by a $757.84 million PULS artillery purchase and a €3 billion Achilles Shield air‑defence programme. The 2025 Jerusalem summit produced a joint‑exercise pact and reinforced the informal...
Kaspersky has uncovered a sophisticated Android backdoor named Keenadu, embedded in firmware of multiple device brands and distributed through compromised OTA updates, system apps, and even Google Play applications. The malware can infiltrate every installed app, grant attackers unrestricted control,...
API vulnerabilities accounted for 17% of the 60,000+ flaws disclosed in 2025, and 43% of exploited weaknesses were API‑related, underscoring a growing attack surface. Wallarm’s report highlights a dramatic 270% rise in Model Context Protocol (MCP) flaws between Q2 and...
A UK‑based flight test marked the first use of a 3D‑printed structural bracket made from recycled titanium on an A109S helicopter. The bracket, produced by Additive Manufacturing Solutions Ltd using laser powder‑bed fusion, was sourced from titanium recovered from a...
TTTECH North America has been awarded a contract to provide a 10‑Gigabit Time‑Sensitive Networking (TSN) platform for the U.S. Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) ISR program. The solution complies with the IEEE 802.1DP aerospace profile and integrates switches,...
Researchers have uncovered a new SmartLoader campaign that distributes a trojanized Oura Health Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to install the StealC infostealer. The malicious server is hosted in fabricated GitHub repositories and submitted to the MCP Market registry, exploiting...
A GlobalData poll of Naval Technology readers shows 67% of over 250 participants reject President Donald Trump’s current US Navy shipbuilding strategy, citing schedule and direction concerns. The poll highlights a split between those favoring traditional platforms and a growing...
Northrop Grumman unveiled Valen, a multifunction active electronically scanned array that merges radar, electronic warfare and communications into a single lightweight aperture. The array is digitally designed and 3‑D printed, reducing size, weight, power and production lead times. Valen’s open‑architecture...
SatService GmbH, a Calian Group subsidiary, secured a contract from Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence to deliver a Q V‑band satellite ground station to the Bundeswehr University in Munich. The solution features a 4‑metre high‑performance antenna and full‑service integration, enabling geostationary‑orbit...
The third World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh expanded by nearly 60% since its 2022 debut, drawing 1,486 exhibitors from 89 countries and 513 official delegations. Attendance reached 137,000 visitors, and the event facilitated 60 contracts totaling SAR 33 billion (US$ 8.8 billion). Large‑vehicle...
The UK Ministry of Defence’s "White Book"—a directory of Commonwealth defence liaison staff and foreign service attachés—has been moved to a restricted MOD intranet, ending its public availability. Users are now directed to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s London diplomatic...
