Defense

Death to the swivel chair: How the Army, INDOPACOM bridge comms with allies

Army leaders test out new connectivity, and tech, in recent exercises.

Tensions Rise

Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below.***IranIndications of a return to direct hostilities are increasing. The United States is evacuating more troops and diplomatic staff and their families from the region, moving a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, and reportedly preparing strike options. Ahead of Israeli elections on Oct. 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been campaigning on toppling the Iranian regime, after reportedly contemplating another round of major strikes earlier this month.Diplomatic efforts have stalled. The post Tensions Rise appeared first on War on the Rocks.

Army practices digging temporary battlefield graves

The Army is preparing for the grim possibility of burying fallen soldiers on the battlefield, testing how fast it can dig temporary graves while preserving remains for eventual identification and return to families after the end of a conflict.

Pentagon announces first US submarine joining Submarine Rotational Force-West

The Pentagon announced that the USS Colorado will be the first submarine to join Submarine Rotational Force-West in Australia.

Are Critiques of Zelensky a Side Effect of Societal Exhaustion?

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each week, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.Western coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war. The perspectives gathered here are varied, candid, and often surprising, together forming a more complete picture of Ukraine as it really is.Frontline The post Are Critiques of Zelensky a Side Effect of Societal Exhaustion? appeared first on War on the Rocks.

Helsing rolls out Contra air defense design, plus two new inteceptors

The company claims the Contra system can track and engage “hundreds or thousands of drone and missile threats at the same time.”

Cyprus to acquire new offshore patrol vessel with ‘advanced’ naval systems from Israel

The new patrol vessel will be built by Israel Shipyards and “support expanded patrol, surveillance, and search-and-rescue missions,” according to Israel’s Ministry of Defense.

EXCLUSIVE: SOUTHCOM chief seeks unmanned river solution as he embraces autonomy

In an interview with Breaking Defense, Gen. Francis Donovan said autonomous systems are “not just for testing anymore” but “taking the fight to the enemy.”

BCE Consulting outlines the critical elements of layered air defense architecture

What does the future of layered air defense look like? BCE Consulting lays out what it will take to protect American forces.

Helsing unveils interceptor missiles designed to chase Russia’s fast-flying Geran drones

Germany’s Helsing is offering a novel pair of air-defense missiles, plus the requisite AI software to organize intercepts, for downing fast attack drones for under $100,000 per shot.

Is the Pentagon’s demand signal for drones working? It depends on who you ask.

“There’s a lot of positive signaling, but we need to see the whites of the eyes: We need to see sustained, normalized demand,” said James Slider, CEO of Performance Drone Works.

Defense leaders weigh in on expanding production | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 10.27.26

Top leaders from the defense industry share their ideas on how to scale up production and integrate AI in remarks from the show floor at AUSA 2026.

Defense industry leaders weigh in: How to increase production and integrate AI

As military leaders clamor for increased weapons and systems productions, top defense company leaders chart ways they can meet the demand.

How to Fund College Without Hurting Retirement | Money Minute

Can you save for your child’s college without undermining your retirement planning? These tips can help guide you to success.

Semiautomatic grenade launcher and aim-assist for shooting down drones | Highlights from AUSA 2026

Advances in weapons, new drones and personal drone protection were on display at the Army’s premier annual defense conference in Washington, D.C.

Unmanned systems take center stage at Turkish Ateş Serbest military demonstration

The highlight of the exercise may have been the Turkish military showing off a new drone for the first time: Turkish Aerospace Industries’ Ayaz, a turbojet-powered one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle.

The Importance of the Battle of Bailén

Early on the morning of July 16, 1808, Captain-General Francisco Javier Castaños of the Army of Andalusia launched a surprise attack against the divided forces of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s Army of the Gironde. After three grueling days of combat, French Gen. Pierre Dupont requested a truce and opened negotiations outside the village of Bailén. Beginning on July 22, 17,000 French soldiers — encircled, exhausted, and out of supplies — surrendered their arms, their flags, and three imperial eagles to the Spanish — men who had first shouldered a musket scarcely eight weeks earlier. The capitulation at Bailén may not express The post The Importance of the Battle of Bailén appeared first on War on the Rocks.

Funding, force-structure issues could hinder Hegseth’s new autonomous command

The money to start AUTOWARCOM is to come from a reconciliation bill whose passage is in doubt.

GDIT announces Amy Johnson as new president

Johnson replaces longtime president Amy Gilliland, who was let go from the company earlier this month after almost a decade of leading the business unit.

Space Force reveals first 6 ‘operational’ contracts for civil reserve support in space monitoring

Space Systems Command officials said the contracts are an initial step for the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) initiative, and don’t address the thornier issues of US rights to deny other customers service or reimbursement for satellites lost in a conflict.

US military needs ‘urgent revolutionary institutional change’ to prepare for modern war, Petraeus says

Ret. Army Gen. David Petraeus praised the Pentagon’s new Autonomous Warfare Command but said the U.S. must rapidly prepare for modern autonomous war.

Kyiv eyes purchase of planned ICEYE, Nokia ‘sovereign’ communication sats

The letter of intent comes on the heels of the political dust up between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk over a US move to throttle Ukraine’s Starshield access that has all but grounded the countries military drones in its war with Russia.

‘The West can’t stop me’: Space wars heat up as Russia tails a Ukraine-linked US satellite

Washington blamed Moscow for deliberately moving a Russian military satellite with an undisclosed mission close last week to a U.S.-registered satellite.

France, UK carry out joint airborne nuclear-strike exercise for first time

“This is a revolution for the Strategic Air Forces, which have always operated in complete autonomy since their creation in the 1960s,” said one analyst.

HD Hyundai, Kiewit unveil plans for new US shipyard

The companies said they aim to build both US auxiliary and commercial vessels at the shipyard.

US Air Force wants AI to assist aerial refueling

The goal is for AI to automatically analyze refueling operations from cameras mounted on the tankers and provide “hot wash” feedback to the tanker crews.

Leonardo, Rheinmetall secure $4 billion contracts with Italian Army, report says

The defense companies secured two contracts with the Italian Army for $4.16 billion for armored vehicles, an Italian financial newspaper reported.

Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says

More capable missiles could help Saudi Arabia deter Iranian attacks and make its military more self-reliant, but they risk fueling a regional missile race.

China’s first aircraft carrier forms ‘evolving pattern’ of voyages in disputed Asian seas

The carrier group’s passages not far from Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines have raised alerts.

Natilus secures Air Force contract to develop blended wing body aircraft

“We think now’s the right time” for a blended wing body design to make its debut, Natilus Chief Operating Officer Nolan Giblin told Breaking Defense.