A CH-47F Chinook of the US Army’s 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade lands at Osan Air Base in South Korea in May 2025. (Mike Yeo / Breaking Defense) MELBOURNE — The US and South Korean militaries have agreed on a plan to overhaul US Army Chinook heavy lift helicopters based in South Korea in-country under a…
Monte Hawkins Led Immigration Vetting While Actively Defying Trump’s Border Agenda—Until Loomer Exposed Him CBP leadership fired Monte Hawkins from his role as Director of the National Vetting Center (NVC) just two days after investigative journalist Laura Loomer exposed his anti-Trump, pro-DEI, and open borders agenda. As the official in charge of immigration vetting systems,…
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia, Sept. 4, 2024. (Photo by Wang Ye/Xinhua via Getty Images) American B-2s just set the Iranian nuclear problem back by years. Syria is no longer a basket case. And the Trump administration has secured a commitment by NATO members to spend…
Nearly four weeks ago I described what I called my horrible two weeks – wherein my gallbladder, which we had thought was okay, unilaterally decided to develop a few gallstones with one thinking crawling up and blocking my pancreatic duct and causing a massively painful case of pancreatitis might be fun. Hint: it wasn’t. Well,…
Welcome to the first edition of the Middle East Defense Digest, a new monthly show hosted by Breaking Defense’s Middle Eastern Bureau Chief Agnes Helou. In this inaugural episode, Agnes explains what to expect from the show, touches on a few recent contract announcements from the region, and then sits down for an interview with…
Leonardo’s AW149 can transport 16 fully equipped troops in accord with standard NATO requirements. (Leonardo photo) The AW149 helicopter is Leonardo’s medium-sized rotary wing solution for the modern battlefield. Designed to meet evolving operational needs driven by the current geopolitical state of affairs and the necessity for interoperability among different military assets and domains, the…
The orbital population of active and inactive satellites continues to grow, especially in low Earth orbit. (Image credit: NASA) WASHINGTON — The fiscal 2026 budget bills approved by appropriators on both sides of Capitol Hill would restore fiscal 2026 funding eliminated by the Trump administration for the Commerce Department’s nascent space safety program — an…
The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, firing a missile. The system, jointly produced by the US and Norway, is a critical part of Ukraine’s air defense. (Photo: Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace) WASHINGTON —The US State Department today approved the potential Foreign Military Sale of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Egypt…
US Army Charlie Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery perform a series of 155mm calibration fires to ensure accuracy in brigade operations. (DVIDS) WASHINGTON — At a time when the US Army is working to ramp up 155mm artillery round production, a venture-backed startup is eyeing a share of that market with the launch of…
Warfighters operate equipment at the lab located at Defense Information Systems Agency Headquarters at Fort Meade, MD. (Photo by David Abizaid, Defense Information Systems Agency). A myriad of challenges facing the Department of Defense network transport include legacy systems, security, bandwidth, and latency. To address these issues and to “future-proof” network transport so it stays…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Ever noticed online price tags that seem suspiciously uncertain, numbers hovering ambiguously between suggestion and reality? That’s surveillance pricing, the newest darling of…
Matthew Lohmeier testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee as President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the undersecretary for the Department of the Air Force on May 1, 2025. (SASC Screengrab) WASHINGTON — The US Senate today confirmed Matthew Lohmeier as the Department of the Air Force’s newest under secretary, filling a vacancy left open…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Brazilian women’s rights advocate Isabela Cêpa, a feminist known online as “Feminisa,” is again facing the possibility of a 25-year prison sentence in what has become one of the most aggressive speech-related prosecutions in modern Brazil. The charges stem…
As part of the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared System (Next-Gen OPIR), two polar satellites will provide coverage over the northern hemisphere. (Graphic: Northrop Grumman) WASHINGTON — The Space Force’s primary acquisition command has created two new subordinate organizations, called “Systems Deltas (SYDs),” to oversee development programs: the first for missile warning and tracking, the…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Microsoft’s Recall tool, which continuously captures screenshots of user activity on Windows machines, is prompting renewed pushback from the privacy-focused tech community. Leading the charge is Brave, a browser built with user privacy at its core, which will soon…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Amazon is moving to acquire Bee, a startup focused on voice-driven wearable technology, signaling a broader push into AI-powered personal devices. Bee manufactures a lightweight bracelet and an Apple Watch app designed to capture and process audio from the…
Adm. Daryl Caudle, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, delivers remarks during a reenlistment and promotion ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial, May 23, during Fleet Week New York 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kalvin Kes.) WASHINGTON — Adm. Daryl Caudle, the White House’s nominee to become the 34th chief of naval…
A Hurjet trainer aircraft on display at IDEF 2025. (Breaking Defense/Agnes Helou) IDEF 2025 — Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Airbus today inked a strategic partnership agreement at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul, formalizing the collaboration on joint production of the Hurjet advanced jet trainer to meet “Spain’s jet trainer procurement needs,”…
Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, departs following a vote at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images) The recently enacted budget reconciliation act is a major, and somewhat unique, Congressional accomplishment that is good for the nation’s security. The defense portion of the reconciliation bill…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. A federal appeals court has struck down a sweeping gag order that prevented X from notifying users when their data was sought by the US government, declaring that the order failed to meet legal standards under federal privacy law….
An artist’s rendering shows Israeli firm infiniDome anti-jamming tech, GPSdome-SunStone, designed for small UAVs. (infiniDome) JERUSALEM — As modern militaries confront increasingly electronic warfare-saturated battlefields, an Israeli defense firm says it sees an opening in providing anti-jam capabilities to increasingly small platforms like drones and, eventually, GPS-guided munitions themselves to “make smart munitions smart again.”…
Australian Army Corporal Patrick Flanagan operates the AIM Defence Counter-UAS Directed Energy Weapons System during a demonstration at the Puckapunyal Military Area, Australia. (Credit: CPL Jacob Joseph/Australian Department of Defence) MELBOURNE — Less than a year after inviting tenders for a program to rapidly acquire a suite of counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (c-UAS) capabilities, Australia has…
U.S. Air Force Capt. Joseph Masson, a navigator assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, inspects AGM-86 air-launched cruise missiles during exercise Prairie Vigilance 25-1 at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, April 12, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kyle Wilson) WASHINGTON — Seeking to bolster its budding…
The Polish government, who selected IBCS to serve as the centerpiece for its medium range air defense modernization program, declared Initial Operational Capability in December 2024. Poland is the first U.S. ally to field the system. (Northrop Grummon) RAF FAIRFORD, England — Northrop Grumman is pitching its Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) to the European…
An 149th Intelligence Squadron airman conducts training in a computer training lab at Mather Field, California Dec. 2, 2023. The December 2023 UTA focus was on the readiness of the airmen by embracing their unit’s stated mission to “Organize, train, and equip Cyber-ISR leaders to provide intelligence in support of federal and state mission priorities….
An Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test Oct. 29, 2020, at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (US Air Force photo by Michael Peterson) WASHINGTON — The Defense Department is considering innovative methods — such as prize contests and industry cooperation — for kick starting development of space-based…
A 1:6 model of the Simsek-2 Space Launch Vehicle unveiled by Turkish firm Roketsan at IDEF 2025. (Agnes Helou/Breaking Defense) IDEF 2025 — Turkish missile firm Roketsan today signed an agreement with Indonesia to transfer the production technology of its Cakir cruise missile to Jakarta, while also using the second day of Turkey’s IDEF event…
Artist rendering of a Danish MQ-9B medium altitude, long endurance drone (Danish Ministry of Defence) BELFAST — Denmark and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) have reached an agreement on the acquisition of four General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9B SkyGuardian medium altitude, long endurance drones to be operated by the Nordic nation…
Mr. Leonel Garciga, the U.S. Army Chief Information Officer, addresses the moderator and members of the panel during the Under Secretary of the Army’s Digital Transformation Panel at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., Sept. 10, 2023. (US Army photo by Henry Villarama) WASHINGTON — Artificial intelligence is a powerful but dangerous…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. California’s robust privacy protections are facing a critical test as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and community advocates press forward with a lawsuit to dismantle what they describe as an illegal and biased surveillance operation run by Sacramento’s public…
Capt. Franca Jones, commander, Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC) presents a brief to scientists and leadership with Notre Dame University. (US Navy Photo by Dr. Jill Phan/Released) While Beijing continues to surge investment into military modernization and dual-use technologies, a quiet policy shift at the Department of Defense could erode a long-standing US advantage: the…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Microsoft has unexpectedly shut down the option to purchase movies and TV shows through its Xbox and Windows storefronts, leaving users with no opportunity to prepare for the change. The removal took effect immediately and was first noticed when…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Canada’s federal government has begun laying the groundwork for a nationwide digital ID system by turning to private consultants, sidestepping both a formal budget disclosure and parliamentary involvement. Documents reveal that the Department of Social Development determined the scope…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Somewhere between your mouse click and a purchase, a private boardroom full of executives quietly decided what you’re allowed to see, support, or sell. They don’t run your favorite website. They’re not elected lawmakers. But if Visa or Mastercard…
U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and Space Operations Command (SpOC), successfully launch a Global Positioning System (GPS) M-code satellite into orbit as part of the GPS III-7 mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, May 30, 2025. (Photo courtesy of SpaceX)…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Proton has introduced Lumo, a new AI assistant crafted with a strong focus on safeguarding user privacy. Unlike most AI tools on the market, Lumo was developed without relying on external partners or harvesting user data for training purposes….
A US Army Paratrooper assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division talks into a radio microphone during rotation 21-05 at the Joint Readiness Training Center on Fort Polk, La., March 7, 2021. (US Army photo by Sgt. Justin Stafford) WASHINGTON — As part of the Army’s ongoing transformation in contact effort, the Army Reprogramming…
UK Defence Secretary John Healey (left) and Turkish Minister of National Defence, Yasar Güler sign the Eurofighter Typhoon MoU at the International Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul (BAE Systems) IDEF 2025 — Turkey and the United Kingdom took what the UK called a “big step” closer to finalizing a contract for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fourth-generation…
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives onstage after winning the general election at the Labor Party election night event in Sydney on May 3, 2025. Left-leaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese triumphed on May 3 in Australia’s general election, according to media projections, prevailing in a vote shaped by inflation woes and Trump tariffs. (Photo by…
A model of the Turkish Air Defense destroyer TF2000 at IDEF 2025. (Agnes Helou/Breaking Defense) IDEF 2025 — Defense contractor ASFAT was selected by the Turkish navy to build Ankara’s first indigenous air defense destroyer, according to a signing ceremony held today at the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) stand at IDEF 2025. The TF2000…
With multiple versions of the Pentagon’s budget moving through both the House and Senate, it can get a bit confusing. Which is why on this inaugural edition of The Congressional Roundup, we asked Valerie Insinna, our congressional reporter, to bring us up to speed on where things are and what the next major movement will…
Military service members assigned to the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Bliss, Texas, and 729th Air Control Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, conduct warfare operations at the Technical Operation Center-Lite (TOC-L) on Oct. 14, 2022, during Project Convergence 22 experimentation at March Air Reserve Base, California. (US Army photo by Spc. Brenda Salgado)…
An “all-in-one” configuration of Rafael’s Spyder system. Romania is procuring a different configuration in a $2.3B deal. (Rafael) JERSUALEM — Romania will procure a configuration of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spyder air defense system, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to Breaking Defense today. On Monday, the Romanian Ministry of National Defense’s General Directorate for Armaments announced…
Artist’s rendition of the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. (Image: Northrop Grumman) WASHINGTON — Northrop Grumman has reached an agreement with the Air Force on how to restructure the troubled LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program and has restarted work on the launch facilities, the company’s CEO said today. Northrop was directed to pause design…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech as he attends the 17th International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 22, 2025. Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler (L) and President of the Presidency of Defense Industries Haluk Gorgun (R) also attended the fair. (Photo by Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Anadolu via Getty Images)…
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy George join “Fox and Friends” to discuss the new Department of Defense memorandum on Army transformation and acquisition reform, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 1, 2025. (DoD/US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza) WASHINGTON — US Army plans…
A sign for Lockheed Martin Corp. stands outside the company’s headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S., on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images) WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin booked $1.6 billion in losses and $169 million for other charges during the second quarter of 2025 due to continued challenges on a classified aircraft program,…
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw breaks ice in Whitefish Bay, Mich., in support of Operation Spring Breakout, March 16, 2009. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class George Degener) At this year’s US Coast Guard Academy commencement, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem unveiled Force Design 2028, offering a vision for the service’s future. Among its proposals…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who has already made headlines for advocating a backdoor to encrypted messaging, is now talking about advancing a broader set of surveillance expansions that signal a growing shift in state powers over digital privacy….
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. A regional lawmaker from the AfD, Ramona Storm, is facing trial over a video she posted showing an elderly man performing a Hitler salute during a protest. The footage, recorded at a demonstration organized by “Rhine-Main stands up,” features…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Blake Lively has decided that the best way to respond to online gossip and criticism is with subpoenas, lots of them. With a move that suggests her legal team spent a weekend watching “Enemy of the State,” Lively is…
