Military and defense news covering armed forces, defense contracts, military technology, strategic developments, and national security.
A former PLA Navy officer highlighted a key gap in China's carrier strike groups: limited stealth fighters. Japan has bolstered its defense with long-range anti-ship missiles and deployments near Taiwan, prompting calls for faster fleet modernization.
A cross-party group of UK MPs on the Public Accounts Committee said the government should apologize for delaying the Defence Investment Plan, which has damaged Britain's safety and emboldened its enemies. The UK has promised a 'generational increase' in defence spending with an extra £270bn, while the MoD develops a submarine maintenance recovery plan amid reports all five Astute-class submarines are out of service.
The House Armed Services Committee's draft 2027 defense policy bill requires the Navy to develop plans to speed up procurement of small unmanned surface vessels (sUSVs) and identify obstacles to buying commercially available models. It also mandates certification for operations in denied communications environments and pushes for faster deployment of extra-large underwater drones.
This commentary argues that the family of a deceased Navy SEAL commander is frustrated with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump Jr. over the handling of the death investigation. It contends that irregularities in the case have raised suspicions, suggesting a lack of transparency and accountability from officials.
Algeria and Morocco spent a combined $31.7 billion on defense in 2025, escalating an arms race backed by Russia and the US. Algeria's budget rose 11% to $25.4 billion, the highest in Africa, and it received its first Russian Su-34M strike fighters. Morocco increased spending by 6.6% to $6.3 billion.
A community memorial service was held at All Saints Church in Okehampton, Devon, for three Royal Navy crew members who died in a helicopter crash. A book of condolence will open on Monday. Additional services were held at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church in Yeovilton and three Devon churches.
France will begin trialling its AI-powered battlefield command system Arcadia during a NATO exercise starting Monday. Developed with French firms including Mistral AI, Safran, Thales, and Airbus, Arcadia is a European alternative to Palantir's Maven system.
The US Air Force plans to purchase unused MQ-9 Reaper drones from General Atomics to replenish its fleet, which has shrunk from 165 to about 135 aircraft since Fiscal Year 2026 due to combat losses against Iran and Iranian-backed groups. The service has secured funding for the short-term effort and is salvaging parts from retired MQ-1 Predators to keep remaining Reapers operational.
Mainland China has equipped frontline troops facing Taiwan with the new HQ-16F missile, which has comparable qualities to the US Patriot PAC2 and 3 systems. State broadcaster CCTV aired footage of the 73rd Group Army's first operational test in the Gobi Desert, where a missile successfully hit an incoming target 50km away.
US military boat strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific have killed over 200 people in nine months. Service members have sought legal advice about the orders, which legal experts broadly consider illegal. The Trump administration has released no evidence the boats carried drugs or that occupants were cartel members.