The US and Asian partners may co-produce drones in the Indo-Pacific region as a response to China's growing technological advancements. This could involve partnerships between companies like Red Cat, Taiwan, and Japan to develop unmanned systems that can operate in contested environments.
The US, UK, and democracies across the Indo-Pacific are rethinking deterrence as China expands its military power. At this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Beijing's actions reveal a lack of respect for neighbors and challenge sovereignty, freedom of navigation, and overflight.
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.
Breaking Defense reports that General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is at the forefront of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) innovation for modern warfare. The company's MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian platforms are being adopted by nations worldwide, while its Mojave STOL platform enables runway independence for expeditionary operations.
Dassault Aviation has released a new book, 'Mission Pégase - Déploiement de l’Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace aux antipodes', which provides a detailed reconstruction of the French Air and Space Force's deployment activities in the Indo-Pacific region. The work was created by Air & Space artist Lapin and published by Éditions Privat.
Breaking Defense reports that China will likely dominate defense and security headlines in 2026, given ongoing tensions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. Expect standoffs and encounters between Chinese ships and Philippine counterparts, as well as increased PLAN presence in Japan's waters.