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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 —…
An F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 944th Fighter Wing, takes off from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Nov. 15, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Noah D. Coger) We wish to respond to the July 2 piece by Bradley Bowman and Sinan Ciddi here on Breaking Defense that Washington should not sell…
The launch of an Arrow interceptor missile in Israel in June 2025. (Israel Ministry of Defense) JERUSALEM — Israel is racing to replenish its supply of Arrow missile interceptors, which are used in the upper-most part of the nation’s famed multi-layered air defense system. “The Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), Maj….
A Boeing rendering of a next-gen fighter. (Boeing photo) WASHINGTON — The Air Force’s next-gen engine protype effort is facing a two-year delay and will not complete before fiscal 2030, the service confirmed today to Breaking Defense. Under the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program, engine makers GE Aerospace and RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney…
Red and Green Wolf are L3Harris’s new munitions designed to be fired as a swarm from a variety of platforms. (Image courtesy of L3Harris.) WASHINGTON — L3Harris today unveiled a pair of aerial munitions that are designed to be fired as swarms from a variety of platforms and provide kinetic effects, employ electronic warfare capabilities,…
German Air Force’s Patriot air defense missile system deployed to Slovakia. (Bundeswehr/Tom Twardy) WASHINGTON — The United States is reshuffling its Patriot air defense queue as European nations rush to support Ukraine, with Switzerland announcing it will have to wait longer to receive the weapon systems. “The United States Department of Defense has informed the…
Advanced manufacturing machines on Hadrian’s production floor at its headquarters in Torrence, Calif. (Hadrian) WASHINGTON — Manufacturing startup Hadrian is growing its footprint, with the company today announcing a third production site in Mesa, Ariz., as well as the launch of its new maritime division. The California-based company that uses AI and robotics to quickly…
Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. The rendering highlights the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter, the F-47. The NGAD Platform will bring lethal, next-generation technologies to ensure air superiority for the Joint Force in any conflict. (US Air Force graphic) WASHINGTON — Congressional efforts to move the…
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. It was only a matter of time before the war over digital sovereignty shifted from boardrooms in Silicon Valley to federal courtrooms across…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Tensions over how climate change is discussed, and who gets to control that conversation, are escalating across Europe. At the European Parliament’s environment committee this week, the European Commission defended its campaign against “climate disinformation,” facing down strong opposition…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. A widely read Catholic blog has vanished from the internet, stirring concern over the growing influence of Silicon Valley gatekeepers on discourse. On the morning of July 12, those attempting to access messainlatino.it were greeted not with commentary or…
Officers of Headquarters Panzerlehrbrigade 9 of the German Armed Forces in their command post on Exercise CERBERUS 24 (UK MoD) BELFAST — Germany and the UK jointly plan on delivering a Deep Precision Strike weapon, capable of hitting targets at a range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) in the “next decade” as part of a…
GPS III satellite, (Lockheed Martin image) WASHINGTON — The Space Force has taken delivery from RTX of the first two command and control (C2) software blocks newest model GPS satellites — but the long-delayed, multi-billion dollar Next-Generation Operational Control System (OCX) system is not yet out of the woods. OCX is needed to provide full C2…
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. A hastily arranged gathering within the European Union is reigniting fears over a renewed push for sweeping surveillance measures disguised as child protection. Behind closed doors, a controversial “Chat Control” meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, has raised alarms among digital…
A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II flying alongside a United States Air Force RC-135W over northern Australia during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. (Credit: Australian Department of Defence) MELBOURNE — For the first time, sophisticated US Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft have deployed to Australia as part of the large-scale multinational, multidomain Talisman…
A close-up shot of a laboratory technician’s gloved hand holding a test tube with a blue liquid among a rack of other test tubes. (Warut Lakam/Getty Images) WASHINGTON — While the usual hot-button issues like Ukraine aid and the budget deficit dominated Tuesday’s marathon House Armed Services Committee markup of the annual defense policy bill,…
A artist rendering of the future fighter demonstrator. (RAF) BELFAST — Lead industry partners BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and MBDA UK, alongside the UK MoD, have jointly unveiled Britain’s future fighter demonstrator design, in line with a 2027 first flight target. This demonstrator will be the “flagship” aircraft critical to de-risking new technologies set to…
An Offshore Patrol Cutter still under construction sits at Eastern Shipbuilding’s shipyard. (Photo courtesy of Eastern Shipbuilding.) WASHINGTON — In the wake of a major shakeup at the National Security Council, the new White House Office of Shipbuilding, announced by President Donald Trump earlier this year, has been moved and its leader departed, according to…
U.S. Air Force Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, gives remarks during an all-call at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, March 28, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum) WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has tapped two military leaders to serve as the No. 2 officers…
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. (Lockheed Martin) WASHINGTON — A bipartisan duo of senators is ringing alarm bells about a special trade agreement process that allows the Pentagon to negotiate directly with foreign counterparts, saying the deals could be detrimental to the US defense industry. In a letter sent to the…
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) transits the Indian Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Morgan K. Nall/Released) WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Committee laid out the details of its $914 billion draft defense policy bill today, shedding light on the beneficiaries of a $32 billion increase…
Airmen from the 109th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, tune a receiver at the start of Resolute Space 2025 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 8, 2025. (US Space Force photo by Lt. Col. Victoria Hight) WASHINGTON — The US Space Force’s largest exercise to date, called Resolute Space 2025, is focusing…
A military truck carries the long-range “Khalij Fars (Persian Gulf)”, a supersonic, anti-ship ballistic missile during an annual military parade which marks Iran’s eight-year war with Iraq, in the capital Tehran on September 22, 2011. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images) While there currently is a ceasefire between Iran…
