Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary

Trump-class battleships are ‘exactly’ what the Navy needs, SWO boss says

Global

‘Under destruction’? US tensions with NATO allies to take center stage at Munich conference

Besides transatlantic tension, other topics on the agenda at the Munich Security Conference include AI, climate change, hybrid warfare, nuclear security and space.

By Tim Martin

Global

Saudi Arabia’s SAMI launches ‘transformation’ into strategic group, unveils new vehicles

“We are at a unique and important position in SAMI’s journey ...,” the organization’s chief communication and support services officer Wael Alsarhan told Breaking Defense.

By Agnes Helou

Naval Warfare

Navy advances plans to reshuffle traditional carrier strike group model

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle’s tailored force initiative is embedded in his new “Fighting Instructions” guidance released on Monday that outlines how the Navy plans to organize, train, equip, and fight.

By Diana Stancy

Latest News

Networks & Digital Warfare

DISA unveils new cloud environment to speed delivery of services to forces

The new cloud environment consists of three on ramps: classic, private and commercial.

By Mark Pomerleau

Space

HEO, SatVu, Sierra Nevada nab first of NRO’s new commercial imagery contracts

"Budget permitting, NRO anticipates issuing additional awards later this year to expand these multi-phenomenology capabilities," the spy-sat agency said in a press release today.

By Theresa Hitchens

In this episode:

How Trump wants to change American weapon sales abroad.
A preview of the upcoming Munich Security Conference.

Global

World Defense Show Day 3: Saudis eye AI, and a local defense giant transforms

Catch what's new on the third day of the sprawling defense expo outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

By Breaking Defense Video

Air Warfare

C-130J deliveries paused due to technical issues, Air Force says

Despite continued expansion of C-130J usage worldwide, deliveries to the US Air Force have been temporarily paused due to an issue with the aircraft’s communications package.

By Patrick Dawson

Networks & Digital Warfare

ChatGPT will be available to 3 million military users on GenAI.mil

OpenAI’s ChatGPT joins xAI’s Grok and Google Gemini on the two-month-old website, which now claims 1.1 million unique users and rising across the Department of Defense.

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Air Warfare, Pentagon

How Trump wants to change American weapon sales abroad

New on The Weekly Break Out: FMS changes and the Munich Security Conference.

By Breaking Defense Video

Global

NATO shake-up sees US ousted from 2 warfighting-level commands

The US will hand over charge of Joint Force Command Norfolk to the United Kingdom and relinquish leadership of Joint Force Command Naples to Italy.

By Tim Martin

Land Warfare

Lockheed and Saudi Arabia’s ERAF to explore development of unmanned turret

It's an early first step, but Lockheed exec Tim Cahill told Breaking Defense that he's seen interest in capabilities the turret can provide from the Saudi armed forces.

By Agnes Helou

Sponsored Post, Land Warfare, Networks & Digital Warfare

Not just selling into the kingdom, but building partnership with Saudi Arabia’s defense industry

Partnerships with outside industry are a cornerstone of the kingdom’s ambitious growth strategy.

By Breaking Defense

Space

New UN forum seeks busting space traffic cooperation barriers

US officials say they hope the talks spur greater transparency from China in particular about satellite operations.

By Theresa Hitchens

Air Warfare

PHOTOS: the sights of World Defense Show on Day 3

A selection of photos from the third day of WDS 2026 outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

By Breaking Defense Staff

Networks & Digital Warfare

Future of military AI in Saudi Arabia: AI-enhanced, or AI-native?

A Saudi official raised the key question during a panel at the World Defense Show outside Riyadh.

By Lee Ferran

Air Warfare

Saudi firm Intra unveils counter-EW platform, eyes full production of Shalfa munition

The first Nathir X prototype was developed four months ago and is being field-tested now.

By Agnes Helou

Featured:

Trump-class battleships are ‘exactly’ what the Navy needs, SWO boss says

‘Under destruction’? US tensions with NATO allies to take center stage at Munich conference

Saudi Arabia’s SAMI launches ‘transformation’ into strategic group, unveils new vehicles

Navy advances plans to reshuffle traditional carrier strike group model

Latest News

DISA unveils new cloud environment to speed delivery of services to forces

HEO, SatVu, Sierra Nevada nab first of NRO’s new commercial imagery contracts

World Defense Show Day 3: Saudis eye AI, and a local defense giant transforms

C-130J deliveries paused due to technical issues, Air Force says

ChatGPT will be available to 3 million military users on GenAI.mil

Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A New Era in Defense

ChatGPT will be available to 3 million military users on GenAI.mil

AI ‘fundamentally changing’ adversary behavior, leading to force generation reforms: Official

DoD expects AI-powered database of patents ready for industry by year’s end

To overcome Golden Dome ‘affordability’ hurdle, DoD needs acquisition reform, AI: Official

Pentagon picks 25 vendors to show off one-way attack drones in the Gauntlet competition

Picogrid wins $9M Air Force contract for counter-drone software written by AI

Pentagon CTO picks six defense tech vets to lead Critical Technology Areas

Navy’s new hedge strategy calls for ‘tailored’ unmanned forces to augment carriers

Brits shortlist seven firms in search for helicopter drone ‘wingmen’ for Apaches

In first, Army tests Lockheed’s NGC2 data layer prototype

How Trump wants to change American weapon sales abroad

NATO shake-up sees US ousted from 2 warfighting-level commands

Lockheed and Saudi Arabia’s ERAF to explore development of unmanned turret

Not just selling into the kingdom, but building partnership with Saudi Arabia’s defense industry

New UN forum seeks busting space traffic cooperation barriers

Golden Dome: The Path Forward

Inside Honeywell’s business strategy for Golden Dome

Golden Dome faces challenges of size, scope and scale from every angle

Can space-based interceptors really work? What to know about Trump’s plan [VIDEO]

China and Russia won’t like Golden Dome. Here’s how they might respond. [VIDEO]

Golden Dome: Tackling the myths and rumors around America’s new missile shield [VIDEO]

PHOTOS: the sights of World Defense Show on Day 3

Future of military AI in Saudi Arabia: AI-enhanced, or AI-native?

Saudi firm Intra unveils counter-EW platform, eyes full production of Shalfa munition