TALLINN, Estonia — The last time Russia and Belarus held major joint military drills in 2022, Moscow sent its troops into Ukraine just days later. Now the two close allies are conducting war games again, raising tensions anew in the region The war games, dubbed “Zapad 2025,” or “West 2025,” take place in Belarus starting…
The Air Force may be forced to keep operating its already half-century-old Minuteman III nuclear missiles until 2050, as the replacement Sentinel program continues to run into delays, government auditors said Wednesday. The service had previously expected the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile to reach the end of its service in 2036, the Government Accountability…
The Air Force may be forced to keep operating its already half-century-old Minuteman III nuclear missiles until 2050, as the replacement Sentinel program continues to run into delays, government auditors said Wednesday. The service had previously expected the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile to reach the end of its service in 2036, the Government Accountability…
The Space Development Agency launched its initial batch of operational satellites on Wednesday, kicking off a 10-month campaign to deliver more than 150 satellites to low Earth orbit. The 21 satellites, all built by York Space Systems, flew on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The spacecraft are part…
The Navy has awarded contracts to develop Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones to major defense contractors Anduril, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Boeing and Northrop Grumman. The CCAs are uncrewed systems that would be launched from carriers to augment the Navy’s power to deliver airstrikes in a maritime setting, and also complement manned fighter aircraft launched…
LONDON — The Royal Navy will switch to an operational mantra of fielding uncrewed vessels over crewed options whenever possible, according to Gen. Gwyn Jenkins, the chief of the U.K. Royal Navy. “For 35 years, we have operated under the assumption of a peace dividend. My mission is to move Royal Navy to war-fighting readiness…
ROME — Poland is set to utilize almost one-third of a European Union €150 billion ($176 billion) debt fund for defense spending, reflecting the country’s concerns about Russian aggression. Warsaw has been allocated €43.7bn in loans by Brussels for arms purchases under the EU SAFE program, the bloc’s Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said. Set up…
BERLIN — Europe’s defense and autonomy were front and center in Wednesday’s State of the European Union address by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In a combative speech that was interspersed with applause and some jeers from the far right, she characterized the present time as “Europe’s independence moment” and unveiled a series of…
ROME — Italy’s Leonardo is on a shopping spree to beef up Europe’s cyber-defense capability and is targeting Nordic firms to get the job done, CEO Roberto Cingolani has told Defense News. Cingolani laid out the Italian defense giant’s strategy after announcing a series of new investments during the summer. In July, Leonardo took a…
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Australia, as its interminable wait for nuclear-powered submarines continues, has lodged an order with Anduril Australia for a number of state-of-the-art unmanned submarines to be delivered over the coming five years. The Royal Australian Navy deal — announced on Sep. 10 after it was signed on Aug. 26 — encompasses a…
