Military and defense news covering armed forces, defense contracts, military technology, strategic developments, and national security.
The US Space Force officially confirmed on-orbit space control capabilities during a Pentagon conference, with Air Force Secretary Troy Meink acknowledging defenses against Russia and China. This announcement coincides with the Trump administration's development of the "Golden Dome" missile defense shield featuring space-based interceptors, despite a 1967 treaty banning weapons of mass destruction in orbit.
A Defense Department Inspector General report identifies solid rocket motor production and high-grade explosive availability as key logistical issues stemming from the conflict with Iran. More than 50,000 U.S. service members have been deployed in the Central Command area, with 18 killed and more than 800 wounded since the start of the seven-month conflict.
China and Russia have jointly urged the US to stop weaponizing outer space following confirmation of on-orbit space control weapons. The Pentagon is simultaneously developing the Golden Dome missile defense system with space-based tracking capabilities, intensifying concerns about a potential arms race.
A UK court martial heard testimony that Col Samantha Shepherd and Maj James Hook failed to properly handle a sexual assault allegation made by teenage soldier Jaysley Beck. Beck took her own life in December 2021 after being assaulted by former Battery Sgt Michael Webber, who was jailed last year. Both officers deny charges of conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline.
A US Air Force colonel rescued from Iran described plummeting with a damaged parachute as the most terrifying moment of his survival. The complex operation involved over 90 ground troops and CIA deception, marking the first US ground troop deployment in Iran in 46 years.
A Defense Priorities Foundation report advocates withdrawing US military forces from the western Pacific first island chain to the second, proposing an end to mutual defense alliances with South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. The proposal suggests shifting Taiwan policy to clear non-intervention to avoid war costs, alarming regional partners.
Startup Swarm Aero debuted its Gamera drone prototype at the Air and Space Forces conference in National Harbor, Md. The dual-hull unmanned system features a 72-foot wingspan and aims to replace MQ-9A Reapers via the Pentagon's Massed Modular Aircraft program.
The Trump administration is reprogramming $52 million in foreign military financing from European and Middle Eastern nations to support governments in Central and South America. Funds will be shifted from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia, and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia to combat drug trafficking and counter Chinese influence.
Japan is considering raising its mid-term defense spending target to 3.5% of GDP under US pressure, aligning with NATO standards. Officials are discussing scenarios similar to South Korea's ten-year commitment, though sources indicate a lower target of 3% remains a possibility. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has already accelerated spending to nearly 2% of GDP ahead of schedule.
Russia condemned France's plan to extend its nuclear umbrella to European allies as reckless. Finland became the tenth country to join the initiative, which allows participating nations to temporarily host French nuclear-armed aircraft, expanding the partnership beyond the initial eight members and Norway.