Breaking Defense

Naval Warfare

UK Navy buys 20 USVs to act as unmanned ‘proving ground’

By Andrew White

Global

UAE fights off outsized share of Iranian attacks, pulls back on sharing interception rates

One expert said the UAE may have shifted its public messaging strategy for "operational security" reasons.

By Agnes Helou

Pentagon

CENTCOM confirms six dead in tanker crash in Iraq, as Iran conflict approaches third week

“The incident occurred over friendly territory in Western Iraq while the crew was on a combat mission, and, again, was not the result … of hostile or friendly fire,” Gen. Dan Caine said today.

By Ashley Roque and Michael Marrow

Air Warfare

Following congressional rebuke, Air Force awards E-7 contracts

The new awards procure an undisclosed number of developmental aircraft and address diminishing manufacturing sources for the plane’s radar.

By Michael Marrow

Latest News

Opinion

After Epic Fury, a munitions supplemental becomes imperative

The conflict with Iran has incurred a staggering expenditure of ordnance that jeopardizes long-term deterrence and defense goals.

By Tom Karako

Global

Inside the IDF’s newest military division securing the Jordan Valley

Breaking Defense visited the 96th Division, which was created in June 2025 and brings a new command structure to the border between Israel and Jordan.

By Seth J. Frantzman

In this episode:

We talk Iran developments and the latest in the back-and-forth between Anthropic and the Pentagon.

Air Warfare

A file photo shows an U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker with the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 108th Wing and F-16 Fighting Falcons with the 177th Fighter Wing simulate a mid-air refueling. (New Jersey National Guard photo by Mark C. Olsen)

KC-135 tanker involved in Epic Fury goes down in Iraq: CENTCOM

According to CENTCOM, the incident was “not due to hostile or friendly fire" and occurred during Operation Epic Fury.

By Michael Marrow

Space

EXCLUSIVE: Freeman out as head of Amazon Leo Government

Ricky Freeman joined the company in 2023 as part of an increased focus in the defense market.

By Theresa Hitchens

Global

Europe can lead its conventional defense ‘by 2035’, EUCOM commander says

The date could signal a turning point in America’s relationship with the NATO alliance.

By Michael Marrow

Pentagon

Iran supplemental to fund mix of ‘new things’ and legacy systems: Pentagon comptroller

Jules Hurst did not say when lawmakers could expect to receive the funding request, which is said to be over $50 billion.

By Valerie Insinna and Ashley Roque

Networks & Digital Warfare

New Army Data Operation Center will be ‘9-1-1’ for moving info around the globe

The new center, to be established in coming weeks, is the latest in the Army's war against inefficient sharing and poor "data management."

By Mark Pomerleau

Opinion

How the shutdown endangers America’s ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ behind the scenes

When the Pentagon stops buying, it doesn’t reflect “demand signal,” but “execution volatility” for smaller suppliers, Rachel Gorken, president of GMS Industrial Supply, writes in this op-ed.

By Rachel Gorken

Global

Leonardo to launch Michelangelo air defense dome test in Ukraine

Leonardo expects its air defense system to draw €21 billion in new business opportunities by 2035, an executive said.

By Tim Martin

Global, Pentagon

Army eyeing four categories for new FMS weapons catalog

Head of Army acquisition Brent Ingraham said the service will initially focus on the sale of integrated air and missile defense, long-range fires, UAS and counter-UAS weapons.

By Ashley Roque

Naval Warfare

DIU, Navy tap Anduril to prototype Dive-XL autonomous submarine

The Dive-XL prototype Anduril will be demonstrating is similar to the Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (XL-AUVs) being delivered to the Royal Australian Navy.

By Diana Stancy

Pentagon

The Pentagon wants to buy 30,000 new drones. Here are the key questions.

In the inaugural Pentagon Buzz, Ashley Roque shares details on the Pentagon's Drone Dominance program.

By Breaking Defense Video

Air Warfare

Air denial is not air control, and the Air Force should not pretend it is

A doctrine of air denial leads to stalemates and drawn out conflicts, while air superiority can lead to decisive victory, Lt. Col. Grant "SWAT" Georgulis writes.

By Lt. Col. Grant “SWAT” Georgulis

Space

Anduril to buy space/missile tracking firm ExoAnalytic

Anduril intends to "fully absorb" ExoAnalytic's team of some 130 people rather than create a separate subsidiary, a senior Anduril exec said.

By Theresa Hitchens

Featured:

UK Navy buys 20 USVs to act as unmanned ‘proving ground’

UAE fights off outsized share of Iranian attacks, pulls back on sharing interception rates

CENTCOM confirms six dead in tanker crash in Iraq, as Iran conflict approaches third week

Following congressional rebuke, Air Force awards E-7 contracts

Latest News

After Epic Fury, a munitions supplemental becomes imperative

Inside the IDF’s newest military division securing the Jordan Valley

KC-135 tanker involved in Epic Fury goes down in Iraq: CENTCOM

EXCLUSIVE: Freeman out as head of Amazon Leo Government

Europe can lead its conventional defense ‘by 2035’, EUCOM commander says

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

Anthropic CEO says Pentagon ban less harsh than Hegseth had threatened

Pentagon’s new chief data officer to push ‘AI capabilities to warfighters’

AI giant Anthropic says it ‘cannot in good conscience’ agree to Pentagon demands

Pentagon CTO says it’s ‘not democratic’ for Anthropic to limit military use of Claude AI

Kodiak AI lands Marine Corps deal to add driverless tech to ROGUE Fires platform

ChatGPT will be available to 3 million military users on GenAI.mil

AI ‘fundamentally changing’ adversary behavior, leading to force generation reforms: Official

DoD expects AI-powered database of patents ready for industry by year’s end

To overcome Golden Dome ‘affordability’ hurdle, DoD needs acquisition reform, AI: Official

Pentagon picks 25 vendors to show off one-way attack drones in the Gauntlet competition

Iran supplemental to fund mix of ‘new things’ and legacy systems: Pentagon comptroller

New Army Data Operation Center will be ‘9-1-1’ for moving info around the globe

How the shutdown endangers America’s ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ behind the scenes

Leonardo to launch Michelangelo air defense dome test in Ukraine

Army eyeing four categories for new FMS weapons catalog

In Focus: Speed at the Tactical Edge

Powering up: Air Force eyes ‘broad reaching’ battery, energy storage research

‘Simple plans, violently executed’: One Army unit’s old-school counter to high-tech chaos

‘California jammin’: Wargames show Army’s electronic weakness — and a human fix

Marines aim to be CJACD2 ‘fast follower’ with Dynamis Series of C2 experiments

DIU, Navy tap Anduril to prototype Dive-XL autonomous submarine

The Pentagon wants to buy 30,000 new drones. Here are the key questions.

Air denial is not air control, and the Air Force should not pretend it is

Anduril to buy space/missile tracking firm ExoAnalytic