An MQ-20 Drone Just Teamed up with an F-22 for Mock Combat Missions
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 flight builds on a November demo that used tablet‑based control and highlights the Air Force’s push toward collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). General Atomics, Anduril and Northrop Grumman are now racing to field the first operational wingman platform.
New Army Office Aims to Quickly Develop and Scale Soldier Ideas
The U.S. Army has launched the Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT), a new office that fuses soldier‑driven ideas with rapid‑acquisition mechanisms. PIT sits alongside the FUZE program, Joint Innovation Outpost and Global Tactical Edge Directorate, giving innovators a direct...
Cyber Responses Will Be ‘Linked to Adversary Actions,’ Involve Industry: White House
The White House announced that future U.S. cyber responses will be directly linked to specific adversary actions and will involve close coordination with state and local governments as well as private‑sector operators of critical infrastructure. The approach will be codified...
Boeing Moves Its Defense HQ Back to St. Louis
Boeing announced it will move the headquarters of its Defense, Space & Security division from Arlington, Virginia back to St. Louis, Missouri, ending a nine‑year stint on the East Coast. The relocation positions senior leaders alongside roughly 18,000 employees at...
The D Brief: Sentinel’s Progress; Buildup Near Iran; Canada’s Decoupling Plan; Russia Targets Ukrainian Energy; And a Bit More.
The Air Force announced that the Sentinel ICBM program will enter engineering and manufacturing development this year, targeting an initial deployment in early 2030 after a recent schedule acceleration. Meanwhile, the Pentagon opened a competition for voice‑controlled drone swarms, drawing...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Russia Still Sees US as Its Top Adversary, Estonian Intelligence Report Says
Estonia’s foreign‑intelligence agency warns that, despite recent U.S.–Russia talks, Moscow continues to regard Washington as its chief global adversary. The report argues the dialogue is a Russian tactic to exploit the new U.S. administration for espionage, influence operations and the...