Poland spends $16.5 billion in EU-backed loans on heavy army weapons
Amid political infighting over the funding mechanism, the government has tapped local companies to make fighting vehicles, howitzers and ammunition.
Norway becomes ninth country to sign up for French nuclear deterrence as trust in US falters
Meanwhile, Germany will participate in French nuclear exercises as soon as September, joining them in an observer role.
How Russia is turning Ukraine’s drones against NATO
A Russian drone wounded two civilians in Romania on Friday, days after Lithuania detailed how Moscow is also steering Ukraine's drones onto allied soil.
Nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine, top UK intel chief says
The figure hardens a growing consensus among Western officials: Russia is on its heels for the first time since the Kremlin launched its invasion in 2022.
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Jeanette Mack from Navy Federal Credit Union is here with tips on how you can save for that dream vacation
Air
Ukraine would gain advantage over Russian glide bombs with Gripen-Meteor combo
Moscow has been launching record numbers of glide bombs in 2026, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, grinding down frontline positions.
Land
Not ‘just a gun’: New SOCOM rifle allows barrel swapping and cartridge changes
At SOCOM’s request, the rifle features a swappable barrel, allowing operators to change between legacy cartridges and the newer 6.5mm Creedmoor.
Pentagon
US general holds rare meeting with Cuban military officials near Guantanamo Bay
The meeting is the first in recent memory by a head of U.S. Southern Command and comes amid growing concerns in Cuba of a possible U.S. military attack.
How far is there to go until the US and Iran end the war?
A tentative deal has been reached to end the war and restart transit in the Strait of Hormuz, and then negotiations on more difficult issues would begin.
Pentagon looks to reinvent the bunker-buster bomb
The goal is to go beyond the traditional brute-force approach of giant bombs and instead manipulate shock waves to destroy targets.
Asia Pacific
Quad nations step up Indo-Pacific push with new initiatives
The announcement to build port infrastructure in Fiji comes amid China’s deepening ties with the South Pacific island, which straddles vital sea lanes.
US troops are reportedly being targeted using location data, Pentagon says
U.S. forces deployed to war zones have been targeted using commercially available location data, according to reports fielded by military officials.
Pentagon eyes drone testing ground in Mississippi
U.S. Special Operations Command is looking to build a new testing ground for drones in Mississippi.
Naval
US Navy to explore powering shore installations with aircraft carriers
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao revealed that Naval Station Norfolk will be “powered from an aircraft carrier" sometime this summer.
Space
Germany touts pan-German space command amid European push to supplant US tech
Austria’s Defense Minister Claudia Tanner reaffirmed that Austria plans to put three operationally designated military satellites into orbit next year.
VIDEOS
Game-changing new tech emerges for troops and commands | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 6.2.26
A box that makes drinkable water out of the air and hydrofoil drone tech have emerged at defense shows. Plus, an interview with a top executive at Lockheed.
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Ukrainian troops training with US electronic jamming kit
The comments Wednesday come roughly two weeks after the Department of Defense announced it would send electronic warfare gear to Eastern Europe as part of a $150 million security assistance package.
Navy says it will lose millions by not committing to 10 destroyers in upcoming contract
The U.S. Navy doesn’t want to over-commit to buying too many ships in the next five years, in case it can’t follow through due to fiscal or supply chain issues. That will cost the service millions of dollars.
Senate confirms defense official tasked with overseeing Ukraine aid logistics
The Senate has confirmed a Defense Department official who will be tasked with overseeing the logistics of the sprawling, multifaceted effort to deliver military equipment to Ukraine in the war against Russia.
Swedish, Finnish NATO bids raise the prospect of a beefier Baltic Sea posture
With Sweden and Finland in NATO, the alliance would be able to recalibrate its force posture in the Baltic Sea to a level capable of evening out the regional deterrence balance with Russia, according to Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist.
Army acquisition chief would welcome tank ramp-up if Congress funds it
Army acquisition chief, Doug Bush, said Abrams tanks could be produced at a faster rate should Congress decide to support a ramp-up and that the Pentagon and the Army were looking at options to possibly field Abrams tanks more quickly to Poland.
By Jen Judson
Pentagon CIO stands ground on December timeline for JEDI follow-up
“It’s just going to take us a little bit longer than we thought,” John Sherman, the Pentagon's chief information officer, said in a March briefing.
Spec ops optics: US forces seek new sights and ways to defeat fog
Having eyes on the battlefield can mean the difference between hitting the right or wrong target, or even hitting the target at all, which is why U.S. special operators are looking to upgrade a host of optics items.
By Todd South
Defense Innovation Unit picks designs for space nuclear propulsion demo
DIU plans to launch a demonstration mission in 2027, showcasing the advantages of nuclear-powered spacecraft for maneuver operations in cislunar space.
Special ops force calls for ‘untethered’ tool for recon and resupply
For the past two decades, radio frequencies were open, and it was uncommon for those deployed to encounter extensive jamming or interception. That’s not the case when facing more advanced adversaries like Russia or China, as opposed to terrorist organizations.
By Todd South
Special operators need counter-drone, counter-IED tech in a smaller package
The command expects to pick a device in less than two years.
By Todd South