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…
Category: Science and Technology
ASFAT to construct first Turkish air defense destroyer TF2000, inks deal for 4 OPVs
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…
How support for Ukraine survived in the House: The Congressional Roundup [Video]
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…
As part of ABMS, Air Force awards Booz Allen, L3Harris $315M for next phase of TOC-L prototype
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)…
Romania selects Rafael’s Spyder air defense system
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…
Northrop back at work on Sentinel ICBM missile silo design: CEO
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…
At Turkish defense show, Erdogan praises indigenous defense capacity
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)…
Army’s acquisition shops shakeup not ‘finalized,’ decision expected in weeks
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…
Lockheed records $1.6B in losses, mostly linked to continued strife on classified aero program
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,…
A Coast Guard secretary could be coming, but they will need help.
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…
Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan Pushes Sweeping Digital Surveillance
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….
Germany: AfD MP in Court for Posting Video of Protester’s Nazi Salute
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…
Blake Lively Wants Names and IP Addresses
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…
Unmanned systems, radar, and electric vehicles unveiled at first day of IDEF 2025
STM VTOL, fixed wing UAV system displayed at IDEF 2025. (Agnes Helou / Breaking Defense) IDEF 2025 — On the first day of the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), host nation Turkey made its presence known not only through the amount of real estate its firms have taken on the show floor, but also…
The Break Out: What’s going on with the Navy’s next-gen fighter? [Video]
The Navy’s F/A-XX fighter jet seemed poised to be awarded earlier this year — and then things reversed course, to the point that last week the White House issued an official policy statement that moving forward with the Navy’s jet would endanger the Air Force’s F-47. So, what’s going on here? Editors Aaron Mehta and…
UK’s Project ASGARD plots next steps following live trials in Estonia
U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Donahue, the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), speaks with British soldiers during Exercise Hedgehog 25 near Camp Reedo, Estonia, May 15, 2025. (US Army photo by Pfc. Jaidyn Moore) The British Army has been given the go-ahead to proceed with a second phase of Project ASGARD, a…
Italy and L3Harris agree to first EA-37A export deal
An artist rendering of Italy’s EA-37B electronic attack aircraft (L3Harris) BELFAST — The Italian military and US manufacturer L3Harris have signed off on a $300 million contract for delivery of two EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack aircraft, signalling a first international sale of the platform, according to a company statement. Announced on Monday, L3Harris said…
Trump’s Opportunity to Deliver Justice: Resolving the Camp Lejeune Compensation Crisis
For several decades, victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination crisis have been denied the compensation they deserve, despite suffering from cancers, neurological disorders, and other devastating illnesses caused by toxic exposure. From 1953 to 1987, over a million veterans, their families, and civilians were exposed to highly toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like TCE,…
Brazil Court Bans Sharing Bolsonaro Interviews on Social Media
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has broadened restrictions on former president Jair Bolsonaro, now barring the distribution of his interviews across social media platforms. The directive, issued Monday by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, now becoming a household name in the…
Hegseth moves to oust ‘Chinese labor’ from Pentagon cloud services, orders wider review
Keyboard with China flag key (Getty images) WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced an urgent review of the Pentagon’s digital ecosystems, after saying the DoD had been alerted of a “potential vulnerability” in its cloud services architecture. “It turns out that some tech companies have been using cheap Chinese labor to assist with…
Air Force to forgo tanker competition, sole-source more KC-46s from Boeing
A KC-46 Pegasus assigned to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, lands at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 7, 2022, in support of Exercise Keen Sword 23. The U.S.-Japan alliance is built on shared interests, values and a commitment to freedom and human rights; the alliance is strong and focused on…
A Google Docs Alternative That Can’t See a Word You Write
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. For years, Google Docs has been the default workspace for students, teams, nonprofits, and just about anyone with a browser. It’s free, it…
American Airlines Expands Facial Recognition at Airports
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. American Airlines is accelerating its adoption of facial recognition systems. With an eye toward easing congestion and modernizing passenger processing, the airline is bringing its biometric identity verification tools to more airports, positioning the move as a way to…
Credible prompt strike: How hypersonic weapons could transform Pacific deterrence
Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), 2020 captive carry test. (Air Force photo by Kyle Brasier) This is the latest in a series of semi-regular columns by Robbin Laird, where he will tackle current defense issues through the lens of more than 45 years of defense expertise in both the US and abroad. The goal of these…
X Pushes Back as France Targets Algorithm in Criminal Probe
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Elon Musk’s platform X is pushing back forcefully against a French criminal investigation, denouncing it as a politically motivated effort to undermine the company’s operations and restrict freedom of speech. The company has rejected demands from French authorities seeking…
RTX’s HELWS anti-drone laser weapon looking for new use cases
Raytheon’s HEWLS laser weapon. (Raytheon UK) RIAT — Twelve months on from the first successful test firing of its vehicle-mounted high energy laser weapon system (HELWS), Raytheon UK says it is looking for new use cases for the counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) directed energy capability. Speaking to Breaking Defense at the Royal International Air Tattoo…
Ireland’s Dangerous War on Encryption
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The Irish government’s proposed Communications (Interception and Lawful Access) Bill would significantly expand the state’s ability to monitor digital communications, thereby striking at the very foundation of end-to-end encryption. This form of encryption, used by services like WhatsApp, iMessage,…
Passive ground-based sensor networks could bolster air, missile defense resilience: CSIS
The long-range ballistic missile surveillance radar building, part of the Solid State Phased Array Radar Systems, at the 213th Space Warning Squadron, Clear Space Force Station, Alaska, on June 21, 2024. (US Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Colin Simpson) WASHINGTON — Moving away from reliance on large, ground-based radars in favor of a…
Russia Pushes State-Backed Messaging App “Max” as it Moves to Ban WhatsApp
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Russia is intensifying its efforts to shut out foreign digital platforms, with WhatsApp now in the crosshairs of a sweeping state-led crackdown on online communication tools. Officials are promoting domestic apps tied to the government while framing foreign services…
Criticism, questions mount about AUKUS & US relations in Australia
Concept art of a SSN AUKUS (BAE Systems) SYDNEY — As President Donald Trump’s tariffs and demands for higher defense spending roil America’s Pacific allies, there is a growing chorus of foreign policy experts in Australia who are beginning to question if the US can be counted on — and whether the submarine program known…
Meet Vinay Prasad: The Progressive Leftist Saboteur Undermining President Trump’s FDA
In a stunning betrayal of President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” vision, Dr. Vinay Prasad, a self-proclaimed progressive, has infiltrated the FDA’s leadership, securing a pivotal role as Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) after being nominated for the role by HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr. in May of…
TSA Pursues $5.5B Privatized Airport Security Overhaul with Biometric and AI Surveillance Expansion
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The Transportation Security Administration is advancing plans that could place private companies at the center of airport security operations, raising fresh concerns about the privacy implications of deeply integrated biometric and digital ID systems. Through a newly issued Request…
Data Mining Takes Off: Delta Rolls Out AI-Based Personalized Airfare Pricing
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Delta Air Lines is experimenting with a new AI-powered pricing model that adjusts fares based on profiling individual customer data, rather than traditional factors like seat availability or time of booking. This system, developed in partnership with Israeli tech…
Mexico Mandates Biometric Digital ID by 2026
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Mexico has formally mandated the use of a new biometric-based digital ID system, making compulsory a previously voluntary identification mechanism known as the Unique Population Registry Code, or CURP. Under the new law, CURP IDs will now incorporate detailed…
Australia Wants To See Your Papers Before You Press Play
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. It started as a plan to keep kids off Snapchat. Then it crept into TikTok. Now it’s knocking on YouTube’s front door with a clipboard, a demand for identification, and a wet government stamp of approval. In Australia, the…
Non-operators of F-35 interested in hosting local maintenance for jet: Lockheed exec
Airmen assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing complete post-flight inspections on U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft Aug. 13, 2024, during Northern Lightning, an exercise providing realistic combat training for and emphasizing joint asset integration, held annually at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin. The F-35’s adaptability ensures it…
Project Vanaheim: How the US and UK are trying to keep up with the UAS threat
U.S. Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard train with RQ-28 short range reconnaissance quadcopters during a field training exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Oct. 19, 2024. Instructors with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 166th Regiment – Regional Training Institute led the training, where Soldiers gained the most up-to-date knowledge and readiness with these drones. (U.S….
The GENIUS Act: Stablecoins Win Big But Privacy Takes a Hit
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. After years of fumbling around crypto, Congress has finally passed the Genius Act, the first serious federal legislation aimed at the digital currency world. They’ve decided to start with the least controversial piece of the puzzle: stablecoins. These are…
US Imposes Travel Bans on Brazil’s Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Allies Over Censorship Demands
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Washington has stepped up its response to foreign censorship, placing Brazil’s top judicial figures under new travel restrictions. The US State Department has officially barred Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and several of his colleagues, along with their…
The Middle East Defense Digest: A new regional show, coming soon. [Video]
To say the Middle East is a complex region with complex issues would be a historical understatement. Which is why we’re here to help you unravel it all with the launch of the Middle East Defense Digest, a new video show from Breaking Defense. In this new monthly show, Middle Eastern Bureau Chief Agnes Helou…
Army awards ‘Team Anduril’ nearly $100M to lead NGC2 prototype for 4th Infantry Division
A sign for Anduril at the AFA 2022 Air, Space and Cyber Conference. (Justin Katz/Breaking Defense) WASHINGTON — The Army announced today that it is awarding Anduril, along with “several teamed industry partners,” an other transaction authority (OTA) award worth nearly $100 million for the service’s sprawling Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative. The…
Explosive Report Urges Australia to Regulate the Internet at Its Core
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Australia may soon face a sharp increase in government control over digital communication if the proposals outlined by Reset are adopted.Tech Australia are adopted. The group, known for championing stricter regulation of online platforms, has issued a revised report…
‘Top Gun’ for drones: Pentagon plans August exercise with FPV drone units
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (left) and Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering Emil Michael (right) speak in front of a Kratos XQ-58 “Valkyrie” combat drone during a “Drone Day” exhibition at the Pentagon, July 16, 2025. (DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza) WASHINGTON — With President Donald Trump…
Apple’s Browser Blockade Still Standing Despite EU Crackdown
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Apple is facing renewed allegations of stifling competition in the European mobile browser market, with the Open Web Advocacy (OWA) accusing the company of deliberately maintaining roadblocks that prevent meaningful adoption of rival browser engines on iOS. Despite policy…
Facial Recognition Moves In on London’s Biggest Carnival
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The UK is expanding its use of live facial recognition (LFR) scans of the public. Police in London will deploy systems around the perimeter of this year’s Notting Hill Carnival, advancing a surveillance tactic that has previously drawn backlash…
Eyeing international sales, General Atomics moves to build drone wingmen in Europe
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems shows off its design for a Collaborative Combat Aircraft at AFA 2024 (Valerie Insinna/Breaking Defense) WASHINGTON — Drone maker General Atomics has unveiled a plan to manufacture drone wingmen in Germany, amid a global push to bolster airpower through manned-unmanned teaming. The company will tap General Atomics Aerotec Systems GmbH (GA-ATS), an…
Pioneering the future of airborne ISR: ASELSAN’s ASELFLIR 600
Photo courtesy of ASELSAN. In today’s complex and rapidly evolving battlespace, the ability to see farther, process faster and act with precision is not just an advantage; it is a strategic necessity. As unmanned aerial systems take center stage in global defense operations, their onboard intelligence systems must evolve in parallel, demanding longer-range detection, seamless…
UK, NATO accuse Russia’s GRU over malware created to ‘destablise’ Europe
The UK and NATO released statements on July 18, 2025 blaming Russia’s GRU for malware targeting NATO allies. (Graphic by Breaking Defense, original images via Pexels) WASHINGTON — The British government and NATO today publicly accused the Russian military intelligence service GRU of deploying malicious malware targeting NATO allies in what the UK said was…
Navy’s shipyard revamp strategy evolves amid obstacles, years into $20B effort
The Los Angeles improved-class attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) enters Dry Dock 1 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard March 8. (U.S. Navy photo by Branden Bourque) WASHINGTON — When then-Navy Secretary Richard Spencer initially proposed a massive revamp of the service’s public shipyards in 2018, he characterized it as vital to providing the global combatant…
Masiello takes over as new F-35 program lead
An F-35B lands aboard Japan’s Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184) for the first time on Oct. 20, 2024. (Photo by Cmdr. Darin Russell.) WASHINGTON — Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Greg Masiello has taken the reins of the F-35 program from its outgoing leader Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt. Masiello, who formerly led the…
House passes $832B defense appropriations bill
Capt. Mike Aiena, left, commanding officer of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, and U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert, 42nd District of California and chairman of the Defense Subcommittee in the House Appropriations Committee, engage in a tour of the warfare center in Norco, California, Nov. 2, 2022. (US Navy photo by Neil Mabini) WASHINGTON —…