What Happened
Four Decades of Defense Coverage and Industry Evolution
Defense News is celebrating 40 years of coverage, marking a significant milestone in the publication’s history. Since its founding in 1986, Defense News has been the authoritative voice for the world’s defense decision-makers, tracking every major war, every weapon, and every watershed moment that has shaped the force we have today. The publication’s timeline highlights key events and technologies, from the Goldwater-Nichols Act to the establishment of the US Space Force, and was first reported by Defense News.