HII, GMR Explore Use of AI in Shipbuilding; TEKEVER, Skeleton Join Forces on Europe’s Next-Gen Defense Tech

INNOVATION

US Air Force awards first CCA production contracts to General Atomics, Anduril

The U.S. Air Force has cleared its first Collaborative Combat Aircraft to enter production, awarding contracts to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries. Six companies will compete on the autonomous software that will fly them.

Anduril Tapped to Lead NGC2 Common Data Baseline

Yesterday, the US Army announced that it’s selected everyone’s favorite neoprime to lead the common data baseline for its Next-Generation Command and Control (NGC2) effort, tasking the company with making sure all of the service’s software, hardware, and everything in between talks to each other.

INVESTMENT

Northrop Grumman wins five-year US Army deal for M1147 AMP tank rounds

The M1147 AMP round merges the functions of four previous rounds into a single munition.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The Biggest Mistake the Pentagon Made in Early AI Adoption

The Pentagon’s early push into artificial intelligence stumbled not because the technology failed, but because the data systems behind it were not ready. As the Defense Department recalibrates its approach, the lesson is clear: AI only works when the foun

HII, GMR to explore use of AI in shipbuilding

HII and GrayMatter Robotics plan to integrate Physical AI for autonomous surface preparation, coating, and inspection in shipbuilding.

TECHNOLOGY

'High risk' sustainment: How Boeing and the Air Force battled over T-7 data rights

The Air Force is "going to struggle mightily" to sustain the T-7 Red Hawk, one source told Breaking Defense.

Australia clinches $1.75bn Canada radar deal in largest defence export

JORN provides 1,000–3,000 km wide-area surveillance, supporting ADF air/maritime ops, border security, disaster relief and SAR.

Leidos develops real-time SATCOM dashboard for US Department of War

The JMT dashboard is expected to cut command-level reporting and analysis time by up to 85%.

POLICY

Executive orders seek to hasten quantum computing—and guard against its use

One directs a "national effort" toward a useful quantum computer; the other sets deadlines for quantum-resistant encryption.

The Lawmakers Fighting to Modernize the Pentagon

Congress rarely moves fast, but Reps. Rob Wittman and Pat Ryan are trying to change that. The two lawmakers founded the bipartisan House Defense Modernization Caucus in 2024 and have driven reforms through two consecutive defense authorization acts, targeting acquisitions and other bottlenecks.

Jonathan sits down with both congressmen to discuss their initiatives, how a caucus without markup power actually moves legislation, and whether bipartisan cooperation on defense can last.

SPACE

Russia is jamming GPS from space

'We have seen GPS disrupted so much over the past four years': How satellites launched for other uses are used in the grey zone

EUROPE

Frankenburg takes aim at a €100M Series B funding round

Frankenburg Technologies, the missile startup that aims to build lower-cost guided interceptor systems in Europe, has taken aim at something else, a fresh €100 million in funding. News of the new fundraise was first reported by Bloomberg on Monday. Resilience Media has now confirmed the details with a source at the company.

TEKEVER, Skeleton Join Forces on Europe’s Next-Gen Defense Tech

Portuguese drone maker TEKEVER and Estonian energy storage specialist Skeleton Technologies have signed an agreement to explore joint projects aimed at strengthening Europe’s defense and aerospace capabilities.

Under the deal, the companies will assess potential cooperation in areas including power systems for autonomous platforms, sensing technologies, space-related applications, edge computing, and AI-enabled defense systems.

EU Defense Commissioner Hails Ukraine’s “Most Innovative” Arms Industry Following 50-Fold Output Surge

Ukraine possesses the most innovative defense industry in the world and must be fully integrated into the European Union’s long-term security architecture, according to EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius during a summit address reported by Radio Svoboda on June 23.