The US Army has expanded its Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) effort through a series of experiments designed to test new technologies before a culminating exercise. In 2026, smaller-scale experiments for one prototype and testing with an entire division will take place.
The US Air Force has released unprecedented operational details about an F-35A deployment that escorted B-2 Spirit bombers deep into Iranian airspace during June 2025's Operation Midnight Hammer. The 34th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, composed of active-duty and Reserve pilots from Hill Air Force Base, penetrated enemy defenses to suppress air-defense systems before bomber strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The US military is quietly reviving airfields first carved out of jungle and coral during World War 2 to counter potential threats from China. The effort, driven by the Agile Combat Employment doctrine, aims to create a network of smaller, far-flung locations where US aircraft can operate from, reducing vulnerability in a war defined by long-range precision weapons.
The US Army has selected Bell, Boeing, and Sikorsky to compete for a new rotary-wing training program worth up to $500 million. Training will cover 1,200 pilots annually starting in 2027, representing a significant expansion of Army aviation training capacity.
The US Army has selected three major defense contractors to compete for a new rotary-wing training program worth up to $500 million. Bell, Boeing, and Sikorsky will advance to the next phase of competition, Breaking Defense reports.
The Indo-Pacific theater is rapidly evolving into the world's most technologically advanced military battleground. As peer competitors advance their capabilities, US forces face critical readiness gaps.
The U.S. Space Force is ramping up development of its Space Warfighter Operational Readiness Domain (SWORD) program, aiming to finalize requirements in 2026 for enterprise-wide deployment.
Sikorsky has proposed converting aging Black Hawks into pilotless S-70 UHawks, leveraging its Matrix autonomy kit and fly-by-wire software. The company aims to work with local industry in the Gulf region for these conversions, which could extend aircraft life and reduce costs.
The Senate has passed the fiscal 2026 defense authorization bill, which authorizes $900.6 billion in defense funds and includes major acquisition reform provisions. The bill was passed on a bipartisan basis and is expected to be signed by President Trump.
Saab is developing AR3, an AI-assisted after-action review platform designed to provide real-time performance feedback to warfighters during training exercises. The minimum viable product will launch in Q2 2026, leveraging artificial intelligence to analyze vast amounts of training data from exercise control systems, sensors, and GPS devices.
Rep. Ken Calvert proposes an initiative to maximize American manufacturing capacity in the US, as part of the upcoming fiscal year 2026 Defense Appropriations bill and FY26 National Defense Authorization Act.
The US Pentagon is overhauling its acquisition, production and procurement processes to rebuild the industrial base. This comes after COVID revealed weaknesses in the supply chain and highlighted the need for greater capacity and resilience.
Congress has unveiled a $839 billion bipartisan defense spending package for fiscal 2026, Breaking Defense reports. The proposal includes funding for Army helicopter training programs and satellite upgrades, as well as other initiatives.
The U.S. Navy is hosting an industry day on December 9-10 in Washington, D.
The Missile Defense Agency has selected over 1,000 companies as qualifying offerors for the Golden Dome contracting vehicle, a $151 billion initiative designed to rapidly develop innovative homeland air defense capabilities. Under the SHIELD (Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense) framework, selected contractors will compete for staggered awards across 19+ work areas including prototyping, weapon design, cybersecurity, and AI-enabled applications.
The US Missile Defense Agency has selected 1,014 companies for the SHIELD contract vehicle, a $151 billion procurement channel supporting the Golden Dome missile defense initiative. Selected from 2,463 proposals, these firms will compete for task orders spanning research, development, production, and sustainment through 2035.
The Department of Defense Inspector General has concluded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created operational security risks by sharing sensitive military information over an unsecured Signal messaging app during Houthi strike operations earlier this year. The report found that Hegseth sent nonpublic DoD information identifying aircraft quantities and strike times to hostile territory approximately 2-4 hours before execution.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh criticized the EU's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandates as failing to address the root causes of delays and sustainability challenges. The industry is facing significant hurdles in meeting ambitious climate targets due to supply scarcity and rising prices.
The Pentagon is accelerating work on the Golden Dome nationwide missile-defense architecture, with industry bracing for an initiative reminiscent of the Manhattan Project. Honeywell Aerospace has positioned itself as a strategic supplier across all four tiers of the emerging architecture, bringing decades of experience in guidance, navigation, and space-flight controls to support the primes now shaping the program.
French Army Aviation leadership argues that the war in Ukraine is pushing armed forces to adjust helicopter tactics rather than abandon crewed rotorcraft. General David Cruzille and his deputy, General Hubert Doutaud, spoke to French weekly Le Point about the lessons learned from Ukraine.
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed new rules requiring US aircraft operators to replace or upgrade radio altimeters due to potential interference with wireless carriers' services in the Upper C-band. The estimated cost is about $4.
F-35A fighters have successfully completed pivotal ground integration tests with the European Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile at Edwards Air Force Base. The validation of hardware responses, fit checks, and vibration testing marks a critical milestone before airborne trials commence.
The US Army has selected Bell, Boeing, and Sikorsky for a new rotary-wing training program worth up to $500 million. Training will cover 1,200 pilots annually starting in 2027, representing a significant expansion of Army aviation training capacity.
The US Coast Guard has announced plans to invest $25 billion in new assets as part of its 'supercharge' program. The initiative aims to strengthen America's industrial base and modernize its fleet amid Arctic expansion.
Breaking Defense reports on China's military parade showcasing its nuclear triad and new missiles, including the HQ-29 anti-satellite interceptor. This event highlights China's growing belligerent behavior in the Indo-Pacific region, with implications for regional security.
Australia's first AH-64E Apache attack helicopters have commenced flying operations with the Australian Army in Townsville, marking a significant milestone in the nation's battlefield aviation modernization. The advanced platform, delivered starting September 2025, represents a generational upgrade to Australia's helicopter capability and strengthens defense partnerships with the United States and United Kingdom.
The US Army is undergoing significant changes to its acquisition process, including a new reporting structure and a focus on commercialization. The Army plans to buy commercial engines for the M1E3 tank and set up a marketplace for drones and counter-drone capabilities.
The US Army has selected three major defense contractors to compete for a new rotary-wing training program worth up to $500 million. Bell, Boeing, and Sikorsky will advance to the next phase of competition, Breaking Defense reports.
The US Army has selected three major defense contractors to compete for a new rotary-wing training program worth up to $500 million. Bell, Boeing, and Sikorsky will advance to the next phase of competition, Breaking Defense reports.
The U.S. Army is actively seeking industry components for a potential small drone interceptor program, issuing a request for information to identify counter-UAS technologies.
The US Army has announced significant changes to its acquisition process, aiming to boost funding for network modernization and software acquisition. The service plans to invest $750 million per year in emerging technologies through the FUZE program.