New Partnership to Bridge Dutch, Ukrainian Defense Ecosystems

INNOVATION

Taiwan unveils cutting-edge tech at defense expo

The largest-ever Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition opens Thursday at Nangang Exhibition Center.

Militaries want to tap startup innovation: Tiberius has built Grail to get them on track

Slow-moving, incumbent primes dominate the procurement landscape today. Now, a wave of new collaboration platforms aims to disrupt that supply chain for the better

A Skeptic’s View of the Hype Machine and Business Model of Neo-Defense Tech

Anduril, the $30 billion defense startup, is on a roll. In May, it partnered with Meta to build virtual reality devices for the U.S. Army. In July, it won a $100 million contract to build the Army’s command-and-control software.

On Aug. 5, 2025, it became the third supplier of rocket motors to the U.S. government. It is a leading contender to help build the “Golden Dome” missile-defense system. It has recently gone global, establishing offices in Seoul and Taipei.

INVESTMENT

DoD envisions prize competition for boost-phase SBI prototypes

The plan faces some skepticism from industry, citing massive investment requirement for potentially relatively little.

AI

How to Keep Generative AI from Crashing in Combat

Failure to constantly evaluate generative AI output is like driving a car, in a thunderstorm, at midnight, with no headlights. Good luck getting to your destination!

But there is good news with a newly released executive order on AI from the White House that calls for an evaluation ecosystem for AI. This can help set the baseline for scaling generative AI across the military, including in the Space Force.

TECHNOLOGY

Airpower in the Caribbean: US Ups Presence with MQ-9s, F-35s

The U.S. military is deploying significant airpower in the Caribbean one week after carrying out an airstrike on what it said was a boat operated by a Venezuelan drug cartel.

Pentagon CIO working on new program to break down disparate IT networks

The so-called "Mission Network-as-a-Service" effort will be a key part of realizing the Pentagon's vision for Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control, according to Katie Arrington.

Jet-Engine Maker Pratt & Whitney Gets $2.9 Billion Contract Modification for Fighter-Jet Work

Jet-engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has been awarded an approximately $2.9 billion contract modification from the U.S. Department of Defense to support continued production of F135 engines for F-35 fighter jets.

Lockheed CEO says firm in 'very active' talks with DoD on 'Ferrari' F-35 with sixth-gen tech

Taiclet first announced what he then called a “Ferrari” version of the F-35 in April, just weeks after Lockheed lost out on the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) contract that went to Boeing’s F-47. At the time, he said that the company could take tech developed for NGAD and incorporate it on the F-35, giving the stealth jet “80 percent of six-gen capability at half the price.”

Pentagon preps for end-of-year, zero trust blitz - Defense One

Defense organizations are readying detailed plans needed to keep hackers at bay by 2027.

POLICY

What could be the Future Scenario of US-Russia Arms Control?

After three years of continuing heightened tensions, the United States (US) and Russia have formally initiated negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. In this context, President Trump and President Putin recently met in Alaska, pledging to resolve the issue through a comprehensive agreement, rather than a temporary ceasefire.

The protracted Ukraine war has not only threatened the global security landscape but also strained US-Russia relations to an unprecedented extent. As it is the only intact bilateral arms control treaty between the US and Russia, New START, has been deferred.

Examining House-Senate Differences in FY2026 Defense Appropriations

This year’s defense appropriations process has been unique on three levels. It is the first year that a reconciliation bill included defense funding, a windfall that brings final appropriations this year to over $1 trillion. FY2025 was also the first year that a defense budget was entirely funded through a continuing resolution (appropriations were left at FY2024 enacted levels).

EUROPE

New partnership to bridge Dutch and Ukrainian defense ecosystems

At the upcoming European Defence Innovation Forum (EDIF), a Dutch and a Ukrainian non-governmental organization (NGO) will sign an agreement to boost defense collaboration. The memorandum of understanding will create a framework to support defense market participants in areas such as certification, partner search, product testing, and feedback integration.

This collaboration aims to combine the strengths of the two nations' defense industries to address European security needs and drive innovation. The two adherent NGOs haven't been disclosed.

STARTUPS

Defense tech manufacturing startup Divergent valued at $2.3 billion

Divergent Technologies notched a $2.3 billion valuation in a new funding round as the startup expands its work for US weapons companies — making it the the latest tech company to attract investor attention while aiming to bolster the country’s military arsenal.