Defense Tech Newsletter

AI

AI Error Nearly Sent US Forces to Intercept Chinese Ship

A US military intelligence report produced with the help of artificial intelligence mistakenly identified cargo aboard a Chinese ship as components linked to a nuclear weapons program, nearly triggering a military operation.

TECHNOLOGY

Hanwha and Magnet Set to Kick Off MUSV Production This Fall

After formally teaming up in April, Hanwha Defense USA, the US subsidiary of Korean defense giant Hanwha, and super sneaky autonomous maritime company Magnet Defense are set to kick off production of a new medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) this fall, execs from both companies told Tectonic and other reporters during a tour of Magnet’s test vessel last week.

Defense Tech Relies on Germanium. The Pentagon Wants LightPath to Find an Alternative

We talk about drones, laser weapons, and all sorts of next-gen sensing tech day in and day out. ICYMI: All of that relies on a handful of precious, rare critical minerals—especially germanium, used in thermal-imaging systems, night-vision and ISR sensors, missile seekers, and targeting systems.

POLICY

Why the 'right to repair' matters to the Pentagon

The US military wants authorization to repair its systems without contractor support, which at the moment is easier said than done.

SPACE

Space Force to prototype new software to fuse commercial, military space tracking data

Our number one priority right now is: How do we improve support to space control operations?" Col. Barry Crocker, head of Space Force Mission Delta 2 responsible for keeping tabs on on-orbit threats, told Breaking Defense

EUROPE

Europe’s competitiveness gap is turning into a security gap

Two years after Mario Draghi’s report on Europe’s competitiveness crisis, only 15.7% of its recommendations have been implemented, hindering the EU’s economic and defense capabilities. The lack of progress on crucial reforms, such as removing barriers within the single market and cutting strategic dependencies, exacerbates the security gap, especially in the face of geopolitical tensions.

The EU must take immediate action to implement Draghi’s reforms, particularly in defense procurement and AI development, to bolster its strategic autonomy and competitiveness

Germany has Europe’s biggest defence budget. Startups don’t get much of it

A new report from Keen Venture Partners lays out where startups get stuck in German defence procurement, and how they might get through.

Ajax Armored Vehicles Get Robot Backup in UK’s Hybrid Battlefield Push

The Ajax-Hector integration uses a common digital architecture to coordinate crewed vehicles and uncrewed ground systems.

SECURITY

Cyber secure systems critical to naval procurement

With navigation, automation and bridge systems becoming more connected, cybersecurity is moving from an afterthought to a core design requirement for naval fleets, shipyards and commercial operators alike.

CHINA

Beijing Pushes International Guardrails for Military AI

China is pushing for greater international coordination on military AI as tensions with the US deepen over technology, security, and governance.

MARITIME

From subsea cables to underwater drones: The race to secure the ocean floor

Companies and governments are increasingly waking up to the fact that the future of warfare isn’t just in the skies, but also on the ocean floor.

Nations and corporations alike are devoting attention as well as piles of cash to new technologies designed for underwater use, as concerns grow about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure like connectivity cables and energy pipelines traversing the seabed.

It comes amid growing concerns of so-called hybrid warfare, a broad term which can include cyberattacks, energy sabotage, disinformation, and economic pressure, with or without being accompanied by conventional military methods.

ARMY

BAE Systems OneArc wins US Army contract for embedded vehicle training

Army crews will use the embedded training during the FDIA event to complete precision gunnery tasks for platform qualification.

AIR FORCE

Air Force Eyes New-Build F-16s to Boost Fighter Force

The Air Force will consider acquiring new F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to help fill capacity shortfalls in its aging fighter fleet, multiple people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine. These discussions are happening as the Air Force is building its proposed fiscal 2028 budget and the five-year spending plan that goes with it.