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breakingdefense.com
Breaking Defense
@breakingdefense.com
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Breaking Defense: The essential source for military, political, & industry leaders seeking in-depth coverage of global defense strategy & technology.
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breakingdefense.com

Lockheed reaches deal to boost production of secretive JATM missile
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/lockheed-reaches-deal-to-boost-production-of-secretive-jatm-missile/

Lockheed reaches deal to boost production of secretive JATM missile
The announcement did not include information about the scale or timeline for the production ramp up, nor the dollar amount associated with the agreement.
breakingdefense.com
September 17, 2026 at 4:01 PM
breakingdefense.com

What the Pentagon is testing along the US-Mexico border
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/what-the-pentagon-is-testing-along-the-us-mexico-border/

What the Pentagon is testing along the US-Mexico border
A brief overview of high-tech plans along the southern border as FY27 funding hangs in the balance.
breakingdefense.com
September 17, 2026 at 3:16 PM
breakingdefense.com

Air Force seeks 737 MAX for VIP airlift
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/air-force-seeks-737-max-for-vip-airlift/

Air Force seeks 737 MAX for VIP airlift
The aircraft would be known as the C-40 when modified for military missions, and would appear to be the first time the 737 MAX would be militarized for a government customer.
breakingdefense.com
September 17, 2026 at 3:16 PM
breakingdefense.com

Nammo CEO warns European rupture with US risks 10-year capability gap
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/nammo-ceo-warns-european-rupture-with-us-risks-10-year-capability-gap/

Nammo CEO warns European rupture with US risks 10-year capability gap
"This industrial base among our allies is already very interconnected, so we cannot break it up," said Morten Brandtzæg.
breakingdefense.com
September 17, 2026 at 12:46 PM
breakingdefense.com

Hanwha, Magnet Defense to start construction on new MUSV this fall, testing next year
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/hanwha-magnet-defense-to-start-construction-on-new-musv-this-fall-testing-next-year/

Hanwha, Magnet Defense to start construction on new MUSV this fall, testing next year
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in April agreeing to craft the MUSV.
breakingdefense.com
September 16, 2026 at 4:01 PM
breakingdefense.com

Spain’s Indra unveils Squall, a new low-cost cruise missile for ‘mass attacks’
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/spains-indra-unveils-squall-a-new-low-cost-cruise-missile-for-mass-attacks/

Spain’s Indra unveils Squall, a new low-cost cruise missile for ‘mass attacks’
Indra's Squall becomes the latest small cruise missile to head to market, as militaries around the globe look to replenish their stocks.
breakingdefense.com
September 16, 2026 at 3:16 PM
breakingdefense.com

SDA misses self-imposed deadline on orbital mesh network
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/sda-misses-self-imposed-deadline-on-orbital-mesh-network/

SDA misses self-imposed deadline on orbital mesh network
“We are behind on that. We should be there already,” Space Development Agency Director G.P. Sandhoo said bluntly.
breakingdefense.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:46 PM
breakingdefense.com

EU chief calls for new hybrid response protocol, increased defense ties to non-members
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/eu-chief-calls-for-new-hybrid-response-protocol-increased-defense-ties-to-non-members/

EU chief calls for new hybrid response protocol, increased defense ties to non-members
The security protocol could offer a solution when a state faces a significant security threat that is not clearly armed aggression, including cyberattacks, the severing of undersea cables, or the protection of critical infrastructure.
breakingdefense.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:46 PM
breakingdefense.com

A surprise engine team up, plus a budget warning from space
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/a-surprise-engine-team-up-plus-a-budget-warning-from-space/

A surprise engine team up, plus a budget warning from space
We recap top news from the second day of AFA 2026.
breakingdefense.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:46 AM
breakingdefense.com

Army awards Lockheed $1.2B contract for PrSM Inc 2 system
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/army-awards-lockheed-1-2b-contract-for-prsm-inc-2-system/

Army awards Lockheed $1.2B contract for PrSM Inc 2 system
Monday’s announcement comes after Lockheed successfully launched its first PrSM Increment 2 missile in February.
breakingdefense.com
September 15, 2026 at 2:16 PM
breakingdefense.com

Italian fighter jets shoot down unidentified drone over Lithuania
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/italian-fighter-jets-shoot-down-unidentified-drone-over-lithuania/

Italian fighter jets shoot down unidentified drone over Lithuania
The incident marks the second time in 30 days that the Italian Air Force has responded to airspace incursions.
breakingdefense.com
September 15, 2026 at 2:01 PM
breakingdefense.com

EXCLUSIVE: Pratt licenses Hermeus to build F100 fighter jet engine
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/exclusive-pratt-licenses-hermeus-to-build-f100-fighter-jet-engine/

EXCLUSIVE: Pratt licenses Hermeus to build F100 fighter jet engine
Hermeus CEO Zach Shore told Breaking Defense the company can now vertically integrate production of its Quarterhorse drone and serve as a second source of engines for Pratt’s F100-PW-229 powerplant.
breakingdefense.com
September 15, 2026 at 11:46 AM
breakingdefense.com

Why the US is talking about space weapons now
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/why-the-us-is-talking-about-space-weapons-now/

Why the US is talking about space weapons now
We recap leading headlines from day one of this year's conference.
breakingdefense.com
September 15, 2026 at 2:16 AM
breakingdefense.com

Space Force has ‘space control weapons’ on orbit, Air Force secretary says
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/space-force-has-space-control-weapons-on-orbit-air-force-secretary-says/

Space Force has ‘space control weapons’ on orbit, Air Force secretary says
Troy Meink didn't elaborate on what "weapons" the US deployed, but revealed new info on other space and unmanned Air Force programs.
breakingdefense.com
September 14, 2026 at 4:01 PM
breakingdefense.com

Textron, Merlin offer unmanned Cessna Skycourier for Pacific island resupply
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/textron-merlin-offer-unmanned-cessna-skycourier-for-pacific-island-resupply/

Textron, Merlin offer unmanned Cessna Skycourier for Pacific island resupply
“We can't devote C-130s and C-17s to do a lot of these little shuttle missions,” said retired Maj. Gen. Kyle Kremer, a Merlin advisor.
breakingdefense.com
September 14, 2026 at 3:31 PM
breakingdefense.com

Swarm Aero debuts Gamera drone in bid to succeed Reaper
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/swarm-aero-debuts-gamera-drone-in-bid-to-succeed-reaper/

Swarm Aero debuts Gamera drone in bid to succeed Reaper
“What we've done cuts against the conventional wisdom,” Swarm co-founder and chief revenue officer Oliver Palmer told Breaking Defense. “And what we've done instead is create a very simple, non-stealthy aircraft that's optimized for extreme range.”
breakingdefense.com
September 14, 2026 at 1:01 PM
breakingdefense.com

Lockheed boosts bet on Skunk Works’ Vectis stealth drone
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/lockheed-boosts-bet-on-skunk-works-vectis-stealth-drone/

Lockheed boosts bet on Skunk Works’ Vectis stealth drone
Lockheed now plans to build five Vectis prototypes, with the first on track to fly in 2027.
breakingdefense.com
September 14, 2026 at 10:01 AM
breakingdefense.com

CEO of Ukraine’s Fire Point: Freyja anti-ballistic missile program seeks ‘best players’
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/ceo-of-ukraines-fire-point-freyja-anti-ballistic-missile-program-seeks-best-players/

CEO of Ukraine’s Fire Point: Freyja anti-ballistic missile program seeks ‘best players’
Iryna Terekh said that when working with European companies, she prefers those that “work and think in Ukrainian speed and [with a] Ukrainian mindset."
breakingdefense.com
September 11, 2026 at 3:16 PM
breakingdefense.com

Now is the wrong time for the Pentagon to pull back from Europe
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/now-is-the-wrong-time-for-the-pentagon-to-pull-back-from-europe/

Now is the wrong time for the Pentagon to pull back from Europe
The Hudson Institute's Daniel Kochis argues in this op-ed that Russia must remain convinced that America’s presence, combined with European NATO members’ firepower, is enough not to risk a direct confrontation.
breakingdefense.com
September 11, 2026 at 3:16 PM
breakingdefense.com

What we’re watching for at AFA 2026
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/what-were-watching-for-at-afa-2026/

What we’re watching for at AFA 2026
Breaking Defense's Aaron Mehta and Michael Marrow preview anticipated developments at this year's AFA conference.
breakingdefense.com
September 11, 2026 at 2:01 PM
breakingdefense.com

Beyond prototypes: Army readies operational NGC2 tech for I Corps
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/beyond-prototypes-army-readies-operational-ngc2-tech-for-i-corps/

Beyond prototypes: Army readies operational NGC2 tech for I Corps
As the Army begins fielding NGC2 to I Corps, software tools will be critical to enable interoperability and getting new capabilities to units faster.
breakingdefense.com
September 11, 2026 at 12:01 PM
breakingdefense.com

Emirati EDGE Group delivers six unmanned helicopters to Angolan navy
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/emirati-edge-group-delivers-six-unmanned-helicopters-to-angolan-navy/

Emirati EDGE Group delivers six unmanned helicopters to Angolan navy
The unmanned helos will be integrated on three corvettes that Angola purchased for over $1 billion in 2023.
breakingdefense.com
September 10, 2026 at 2:16 PM
breakingdefense.com

Ukrainian Armor eyes German industry partnership for newly unveiled land vehicles
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/ukrainian-armor-eyes-german-industry-partnership-for-newly-unveiled-land-vehicles/

Ukrainian Armor eyes German industry partnership for newly unveiled land vehicles
The Saigak APC features an active protection system that the company says can defeat up to 20 First Person View (FPV) drones, amid a proliferation of the aircraft dominating the war in Ukraine.
breakingdefense.com
September 10, 2026 at 1:31 PM
breakingdefense.com

Netherlands to purchase its own GlobalEye aircraft, on top of NATO’s order
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/netherlands-to-purchase-its-own-globaleye-aircraft-on-top-of-natos-order/

Netherlands to purchase its own GlobalEye aircraft, on top of NATO’s order
The plane, which would be delivered in 2031, would be owned directly by the Netherlands.
breakingdefense.com
September 10, 2026 at 1:16 PM
breakingdefense.com

How Japan, South Korea are building up naval capabilities for China threat
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/how-japan-south-korea-are-building-up-naval-capabilities-for-china-threat/

How Japan, South Korea are building up naval capabilities for China threat
Japan and South Korea are stepping up their naval game in the face of China's phenomenal expansion.
breakingdefense.com
September 10, 2026 at 6:31 AM