Pentagon Debuts ‘War Force’ Initiative to Attract Tech Talent

INNOVATION

Pentagon launches ‘War Force’ initiative to onboard tech talent

The Office of Personnel Management and the Pentagon jointly announced the launch of a new initiative on Tuesday to bring top software engineering talent into the Department of Defense, part of a broader governmentwide push to hire more skilled technologists.

US clears $250m Super Hornet, Growler aircraft training sale to Australia

The proposed sale will boost Australia’s ability to counter current and future threats and improve interoperability with the US and allies via training.

INVESTMENT

Dominion Dynamics raises $100M at a $400M valuation to build defence tech for arctic environments

Largest Series A in Canada's defence history, closed in four weeks after a heady six months of activity in Canada and in the world

Anduril HQ in Costa Mesa up for sale as California defense tech booms

The property value is likely around $400 million based on a $251 million mortgage that Newport Beach-based Pimco funded in September,

TECHNOLOGY

America's Asian Allies Want Nuclear Submarines. Here's How to Build Them

South Korea and Japan want nuclear-powered submarines, and a stronger allied undersea force would bolster deterrence against China’s expanding navy. But diplomatic friction, labor shortages, and a strained U.S. submarine industrial base put success in doubt.

This analysis lays out a pathway: a three-way “ROKJUS” effort to develop small modular reactors that could power modified Korean and Japanese boats, without straining America’s own submarine production.

Overland AI Snags $20M Marine Corps Contract for AGVs

Ground autonomy startup Overland AI announced that they’ve been awarded a $20M production contract through the APFIT program to deliver autonomous ground vehicles for the Marine Corps Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS). For the uninitiated, that’s the Corps’ new mobile short-range air defense system.

POLICY

The Trump-Shaped Hole in the European Security Strategy | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

There is an elephant in the room when it comes to the EU’s upcoming security strategy: Donald Trump. Unless European leaders acknowledge the depth of the transatlantic crisis, true autonomy will remain out of reach.

Pentagon's quantum strategy ‘a first step’ in preparing for the future, CIO says

Released on Tuesday along with two executive orders, the document sets deadlines for post-quantum cryptography adoption.

ACQUISITION

Booz Allen to acquire Texas defense tech company for $720M

McLean-based Fortune 500 government contractor Booz Allen Hamilton plans to acquire Austin, Texas-based defense technology company Ultra I&C Mission Solutions for $720 million, a move designed to expand its offerings in mission-critical software, encryption and edge-computing products.

Booz Allen announced the proposed acquisition Monday, saying it had entered into a definitive agreement with Cobham Ultra Group, an Advent portfolio company that owns Ultra I&C Mission Solutions.

SPACE

Exclusive: Satellogic Expands AI Apps with SpaceKnow Partnership

Satellogic is building an app store. The EO satellite operator today announced a partnership with SpaceKnow, the AI-powered geospatial intelligence analysis company, to build AI applications on top of Satellogic’s growing stock of satellite imagery.

EUROPE

European Security Strategy: In Search of a New Ambition

The EU is putting together a new security strategy to meet today’s myriad challenges. But for any proposal to be effective, the union needs to grapple with its identity and ambitions.