# US Defense News — Daily Digest **URL:** \ **Category:** US Defense News\ **Created:** [May 26, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65 "2026-05-26T14:47:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/1 "2026-05-26T14:47:00Z")
# US Defense News Consolidated daily digest from top US defense publications. New articles posted as replies below, grouped by source. **Sources:** Defense News, Breaking Defense, DefenseScoop, Defense One, War on the Rocks, The War Zone, C4ISRNET * * * _This thread updates automatically every morning at 6am ET._ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/2 "2026-05-26T14:47:57Z")
## Daily Digest — May 26, 2026 ### Defense News **[Report: US to cut strategic bombers and warships available to NATO in a crisis](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/26/report-us-to-cut-strategic-bombers-and-warships-available-to-nato-in-a-crisis/)** > The number of U.S. fighter jets is set to fall by a third, Spiegel cited U.S. envoy Alexander Velez-Green as saying during the closed-door meeting. **[Australia starts ‘high-risk’ life extension of its submarine fleet](https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/05/26/australia-starts-high-risk-life-extension-of-its-submarine-fleet/)** > The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has issued a damning verdict on Department of Defence planning for the life-extension program. **[India boosts drone warfare capability with compact missile](https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/05/26/india-boosts-drone-warfare-capability-with-compact-missile/)** > Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh called the successful development trials a “strategic milestone” toward self-reliance in defense. **[Peacekeeping troop numbers fall to lowest in at least 25 years, SIPRI says](https://www.defensenews.com/global/2026/05/24/peacekeeping-troop-numbers-fall-to-lowest-in-at-least-25-years-sipri-says/)** > The U.S. took “significant action” in 2025 to withdraw from, defund or challenge various UN bodies, think tank analysts wrote in the report. **[All-female Senate delegation sets off for High North amid growing military tensions](https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/22/all-female-senate-delegation-sets-off-for-high-north-amid-growing-military-tensions/)** > The itinerary is set to include briefings at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Arctic defense and strategic competition in the region. * * * ### Breaking Defense **[Amid FPV threat, Aussie company to offer Ukraine armored roofs for ATVs](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/amid-fpv-threat-aussie-company-to-offer-ukraine-armored-roofs-for-atvs/)** > Ballistic protection from overhead dangers come as modern militaries learn to cope with FPV killers. **[Beyond satellites: Why FOG inertial navigation is the new imperative for land warfare](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/beyond-satellites-why-fog-inertial-navigation-is-the-new-imperative-for-land-warfare/)** > [Sponsored] The era of uncontested GPS dominance is over. As counterspace threats and electronic warfare redefine the battlefield, learn how Exail’s Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) technology provides the high-end stability and autonomous “source of truth” re… **[Syria joins Turkey’s Efes 2026, one of nine nations participating for first time](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/syria-joins-turkeys-efes-2026-one-of-nine-nations-participating-for-first-time/)** > Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Egypt, Poland, Vietnam, Portugal and Syria were first-time participants. **[Despite ‘peak hype,’ orbital data centers for AI not yet ready for NatSec prime time](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/despite-peak-hype-orbital-data-centers-for-ai-not-yet-ready-for-natsec-prime-time/)** > One expert summed up the defense market viewpoint of AI data centers in space as: “If they build it, we might come.” **[Navy green lights seven MUSV marketplace submissions to advance to prototype phase](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/navy-green-lights-seven-musv-marketplace-submissions-to-advance-to-prototype-phase/)** > The Navy did not reveal which companies’ designs were selected to advance. * * * ### DefenseScoop **[Space Force accelerating work to operationalize on-orbit logistics tech](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/22/space-force-accelerating-work-to-operationalize-on-orbit-logistics-tech/)** > The Space Force is planning to host two on-orbit demonstrations in 2027 to advance the technology and inform future plans to create a space-based logistics enterprise. > The post Space Force accelerating work to operationalize on-orbit logistics tech a… **[DOD wants nearly $30 billion to modernize its AI supercomputing arsenal in fiscal 2027](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/22/dod-wants-nearly-30-billion-to-modernize-its-ai-supercomputing-arsenal-in-fiscal-2027/)** > “The White House’s AI Action Plan, released last year, outlines the importance of establishing robust AI infrastructure,” an official said. > The post DOD wants nearly $30 billion to modernize its AI supercomputing arsenal in fiscal 2027 appeared first… **[Army plans to launch marketplace to streamline US weapons exports to allies](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/21/army-plans-to-launch-foreign-military-sales-marketplace/)** > Unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone technologies will be the first capabilities available on the forthcoming FMS Marketplace. > The post Army plans to launch marketplace to streamline US weapons exports to allies appeared first on DefenseScoop. **[Facing growing threats, Army hosts Defense Critical Infrastructure summit to boost installation crisis response](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/21/facing-growing-threats-army-hosts-defense-critical-infrastructure-summit-to-boost-installation-crisis-response/)** > “This is a no-fail mission and a national security imperative, but the threat is real, persistent and growing,” Brandon Pugh, principal cyber advisor to the secretary of the Army, told reporters Thursday. > The post Facing growing threats, Army hosts D… **[Lack of counter-drone tech to cover troops patrolling the southern border a ‘concern’ for NORTHCOM commander](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/20/lack-of-counter-drone-tech-to-cover-troops-patrolling-the-southern-border-a-concern-for-northcom-commander/)** > “It presents us a different challenge. We have a lot of fixed and movable counter-UAS capabilities, but not really anything that would follow a patrolling soldier, and that’s a concern of mine,” Gen. Gregory Guillot said. > The post Lack of counter-dro… * * * ### War on the Rocks **[An Inconvenient Reality: Climate-Preparedness Cuts Are Lethality Cuts](https://warontherocks.com/an-inconvenient-reality-climate-preparedness-cuts-are-lethality-cuts/)** > In 2019, the Missouri River flooded at historically high levels and damaged 137 facilities, destroyed 1.2 million square feet of workspace, and flooded 3,000 feet of runway at Offutt Air Force Base. Repairing the installation cost $1.2 billion. The T… **[The U.S. Military Lacks an Ethics Doctrine. Combat Effectiveness Suffers](https://warontherocks.com/the-u-s-military-lacks-an-ethics-doctrine-combat-effectiveness-suffers/)** > In 2004, I was a boot (translation: brand new) first lieutenant in 1st Battalion, 7th Marines at a retransmission site in the middle of nowhere, al-Qa’im, Iraq. I heard a sudden explosion and small-arms fire two kilometers away. The battalion r… **[Rebuilding American Manufacturing: A Keystone for Economic Statecraft](https://warontherocks.com/rebuilding-american-manufacturing-a-keystone-for-economic-statecraft/)** > Editor’s note: This is the ninth article in an 11-part series examining how the United States should organize, lead, and integrate economic statecraft into strategy, defense practice, and the broader national security ecosystem. The special ser… **[The Lessons of Sacrifice](https://warontherocks.com/the-lessons-of-sacrifice/)** > On this Memorial Day, American servicemembers remain deployed across the world. Many are in harm’s way. This simple fact makes the day less abstract, more real. Memorial Day is not only about wars filed away in history, but also about lives los… **[Inside Ukraine’s Battlefield Innovation Loop](https://warontherocks.com/cogs-of-war/inside-ukraines-battlefield-innovation-loop/)** > This exclusive Cogs of War interview is with Catarina Buchatskiy, the co-founder and director of analytics at the Snake Island Institute, a Kyiv-based defense analytics center, and Viktoriia Honcharuk, the institute’s director of defense techno… * * * ### The War Zone **[Another Battle Damaged KC-135 Tanker Seen Passing Through RAF Mildenhall](https://www.twz.com/news-features/another-battle-damaged-kc-135-tanker-seen-passing-through-raf-mildenhall)** > The images of the shrapnel-peppered KC-135 are another example of the damage inflicted by Iran during the now-paused war. > The post Another Battle Damaged KC-135 Tanker Seen Passing Through RAF Mildenhall appeared first on The War Zone. **[China’s “Bohai Sea Monster” Reappears With Apparent Weapons Hardpoints](https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-bohai-sea-monster-reappears-with-apparent-weapons-hardpoints)** > New details add weight to the idea that the “Bohai Sea Monster” has a kinetic role to play, although the general concept could be supersized for other missions. > The post China’s “Bohai Sea Monster” Reappears With Apparent Weapons Hardpoints appeared… **[USAF’s New Turbocharged ULTRA Surveillance Drones Are Heading To The Middle East](https://www.twz.com/news-features/usafs-new-turbocharged-ultra-surveillance-drones-are-heading-to-the-middle-east)** > The persistent surveillance capabilities the glider-like ULTRA offers are in high demand, especially amid MQ-9 losses in fighting with Iran. > The post USAF’s New Turbocharged ULTRA Surveillance Drones Are Heading To The Middle East appeared firs… **[Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford To Act As Floating Nuclear Power Plant For Facilities On Land](https://www.twz.com/nuclear/supercarrier-uss-gerald-r-ford-to-act-as-floating-nuclear-power-plant-for-facilities-on-land)** > The Pentagon is exploring ways to keep the power on at critical bases after attacks or natural disasters, and there’s a history of ships acting in this role. > The post Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford To Act As Floating Nuclear Power Plant For Faciliti… **[The Tiny Chipmunk Trainer Was The Cold War’s Most Unlikely Spyplane](https://www.twz.com/air/the-tiny-chipmunk-trainer-was-the-cold-wars-most-unlikely-spyplane)** > The humble Chipmunk propeller trainer spent decades spying on Soviet forces in and around divided Berlin. > The post The Tiny Chipmunk Trainer Was The Cold War’s Most Unlikely Spyplane appeared first on The War Zone. * * * ### C4ISRNET **[India boosts drone warfare capability with compact missile](https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/05/26/india-boosts-drone-warfare-capability-with-compact-missile/)** > Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh called the successful development trials a “strategic milestone” toward self-reliance in defense. **[US Marine Corps tests using helicopter as mobile drone command center](https://www.c4isrnet.com/news/your-marine-corps/2026/05/22/us-marine-corps-tests-using-helicopter-as-mobile-drone-command-center/)** > During the test, troops launched a Neros Archer FPV drone from the ground before transferring control to operators aboard a helicopter orbiting miles away. **[SOCOM begins fielding new battlefield biometrics system](https://www.c4isrnet.com/industry/techwatch/2026/05/22/socom-begins-fielding-new-battlefield-biometrics-system/)** > Reveal Technology’s Identifi platform allows operators to collect fingerprints, facial scans, iris data and voice recognition in the field. **[The US Navy is full speed ahead on building a laser fleet](https://www.c4isrnet.com/industry/techwatch/2026/05/21/the-us-navy-is-full-speed-ahead-on-building-a-laser-fleet/)** > Operation Epic Fury may have strengthened the case for laser weapons, but the U.S. Navy’s dream of putting one on every ship may take longer than expected. **[Turkey to buy 100 one-way explosive naval drones for swarm attacks](https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/europe/2026/05/21/turkey-to-buy-100-one-way-explosive-naval-drones-for-swarm-attacks/)** > Turkey eyes an arsenal capable of taking out enemy ships with unmanned systems. * * * _60 new articles across 6 sources_ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/3 "2026-05-26T14:48:52Z")
## Daily Digest — May 26, 2026 ### Defense News **[Rubio ratchets up pressure on NATO at key summit](https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/22/rubio-ratchets-up-pressure-on-nato-at-key-summit/)** > Secretary of State Marco Rubio is casting new doubt on NATO’s relevance after key allies recoiled from backing Washington’s “Operation Epic Fury.” **[US Marine Corps tests using helicopter as mobile drone command center](https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-marine-corps/2026/05/22/us-marine-corps-tests-using-helicopter-as-mobile-drone-command-center/)** > During the test, troops launched a Neros Archer FPV drone from the ground before transferring control to operators aboard a helicopter orbiting miles away. **[Congressional report tallies 42 US aircraft lost or damaged in Operation Epic Fury](https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/22/congressional-report-tallies-42-us-aircraft-lost-or-damaged-in-operation-epic-fury/)** > Drones took the heaviest hit, accounting for 25 of the 42 aircraft losses listed in the report. **[Libya and Syria join Turkey’s flagship military exercise in historic firsts](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/22/libya-and-syria-join-turkeys-flagship-military-exercise-in-historic-firsts/)** > Ankara framed both nations’ attendance as part of its broader military-restructuring and advisory programs in each country. **[Taiwan says it has not been told by US of arms sales delays](https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/05/22/taiwan-says-it-has-not-been-told-by-us-of-arms-sales-delays/)** > U.S. President Donald Trump said following a summit with China’s Xi Jinping in Beijing last week that he was undecided on whether to approve it. * * * ### Breaking Defense **[Loitering munitions, launched effects had strong presence at SOF Week 2026](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/loitering-munitions-launched-effects-had-strong-presence-at-sof-week-2026/)** > “The [Rogue 1] Block 2 upgrade leverages user feedback to greatly enhance performance, resilience, and operational capability, all while maintaining existing form-factor,” a Teledyne FLIR statement read. **[IAI’s new Diamond naval offering envisions flexible drones, missiles for small vessels](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/iais-new-diamond-naval-offering-envisions-flexible-drones-missiles-for-small-vessels/)** > The plan involves different defensive systems dispersed across small satellite ships, which can be connected to a mother ship in a disaggregated model. **[Helos need upgrades to perform special ops ‘quieter, with fewer aircraft’: PEO Rotary Wing](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/helos-need-upgrades-to-perform-special-ops-quieter-with-fewer-aircraft-peo-rotary-wing/)** > Special Operations Command’s fleet of MH-60Ms and MH-47Gs — operated by the 160th Nightstalkers Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) — could benefit from technology injections coming from the MV-75 Cheyenne, said PEO Rotary Wing Steve Smith. **[Lockheed breaks ground on new THAAD interceptor plant](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/lockheed-breaks-ground-on-new-thaad-interceptor-plant-as-pentagon-pushes-for-more-weapons-production/)** > “These aren’t just ideas or papers going back and forth,” Lockheed CEO Jim Taiclet said of the Pentagon’s munitions ramp. “We know it’s going to be good, and we know it’s going to happen.” **[Inside Sen. Ted Budd’s plan to boost airpower, pilot retention](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/inside-sen-ted-budds-plan-to-boost-airpower-pilot-retention/)** > North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd explains why he recently introduced three bills intended to boost US fighter inventory and improve pilot retention. * * * ### DefenseScoop **[Pentagon selects Shield AI to plug swarm software into LUCAS drone, company says](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/20/pentagon-selects-shield-ai-to-plug-swarm-software-into-lucas-drone-company-says/)** > Shield AI said its Hivemind software will “serve as the AI pilot for the LUCAS program, enabling groups of drones to coordinate, maneuver, and adapt together to changing conditions in real time, based on warfighter input." > The post Pentagon selects S… **[Pentagon awards $500 million contract to Perennial Autonomy for counter-drone systems](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/19/pentagon-awards-500-million-contract-to-perennial-autonomy-for-counter-drone-systems/)** > Joint Interagency Task Force 401 noted in its press release that these systems “are currently being employed by forces operating in U.S. Central Command.” > The post Pentagon awards $500 million contract to Perennial Autonomy for counter-drone systems … **[Sandhoo named Space Development Agency director, PAE for missile warning and tracking](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/19/sandhoo-named-space-development-agency-director-pae-for-missile-warning-and-tracking/)** > Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo’s new dual-hatted roles come as the Space Force shakes up its acquisition structure in line with broader Pentagon efforts. > The post Sandhoo named Space Development Agency director, PAE for missile warning and tracking appeared … **[Navy comes ‘full circle’ on nuclear power for next-generation battleship](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/19/battleship-nuclear-power-navy-bbgx-bbgn-program/)** > “I’m thrilled that we finally landed on the fact it’s going to be nuclear," Adm. Daryl Caudle said. > The post Navy comes ‘full circle’ on nuclear power for next-generation battleship appeared first on DefenseScoop. **[‘Collaborative autonomy’ development not moving fast enough for SOCOM](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/18/collaborative-autonomy-development-socom-acquisition/)** > “The ability to quickly integrate autonomous behaviors on multiple different platforms in multiple different domains, without it having to be specifically built for that platform, is something that I’d like to see move faster than we are right now,” … * * * ### War on the Rocks **[The Pentagon Still Cannot Manage Cyber Talent at Scale. Here’s the Fix.](https://warontherocks.com/the-pentagon-still-cannot-manage-cyber-talent-at-scale-heres-the-fix/)** > The Department of Defense does not primarily have a cyber recruiting problem — it has a cyber talent management problem. The military already possesses serious qualification frameworks, scholarship programs, credentialing systems, and selection… **[The Kid Rock Flyby Controversy and the Erosion of Military Professionalism](https://warontherocks.com/the-kid-rock-flyby-controversy-and-the-erosion-of-military-professionalism/)** > During Congressional testimony from Department of Defense leadership last week, Representative George Whitesides asked Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, “How does canceling a command-initiated review support a culture of accountability?”… **[China’s AI Governance Offensive Threatens U.S. Tech Leadership](https://warontherocks.com/cogs-of-war/chinas-ai-governance-offensive-threatens-u-s-tech-leadership/)** > China’s diplomats are on an “AI governance” offensive. At a May 5 United Nations meeting, China’s vice minister of science and technology championed China’s role in shaping U.N.-led frameworks that determine how the tech… **[The Operational Case Against Israel’s Gaza Campaign](https://warontherocks.com/the-operational-case-against-israels-gaza-campaign/)** > Gaza did not have to look the way it looks. That is not a moral claim. It is an operational one.Claims of necessity are invoked to explain the scale of civilian harm, but they founder in the face of operational logic. Supporters of Israeli methods ar… **[Europe’s Dangerous Hunger Games for American Troops](https://warontherocks.com/europes-dangerous-hunger-games-for-american-troops/)** > Every time reports emerge about a potential reduction of U.S. forces or capabilities in Europe, the old continent falls into the same cycle of anxiety and panic. The same applies to announcements about delayed or suspended deployments, planned rotati… * * * ### The War Zone **[Bunker Talk: Memorial Day Weekend Edition](https://www.twz.com/news-features/bunker-talk-memorial-day-weekend-edition-3)** > This weekend, we remember those who gave their lives so we could live our’s. > The post Bunker Talk: Memorial Day Weekend Edition appeared first on The War Zone. **[Iran Now Trying To Cement Long-Term Control Over Strait Via Fees](https://www.twz.com/news-features/iran-now-trying-to-cement-long-term-control-over-strait-via-fees)** > Iran’s move to impose service fees on ships transiting the Strait comes as Pakistani and Qatari negotiators are in Tehran trying to get a deal to officially end the war. > The post Iran Now Trying To Cement Long-Term Control Over Strait Via Fees appear… **[We Finally See The Mysterious Object Shot Down By F-16s Over Lake Huron](https://www.twz.com/air/we-finally-see-the-mysterious-object-shot-down-by-f-16s-over-lake-huron)** > This is one of a trio of objects fighters shot down over the U.S. and Canada in a three-day period following the Chinese spy balloon flap. > The post We Finally See The Mysterious Object Shot Down By F-16s Over Lake Huron appeared first on The War Zone… **[A-10 Warthog’s New Aerial Refueling Probe Is Now Operational In The Middle East](https://www.twz.com/air/a-10-warthogs-new-aerial-refueling-probe-is-now-operational-in-the-middle-east)** > In just six weeks, the probe went from its first flight to being deployed to a place where fighting could erupt again at any moment. > The post A-10 Warthog’s New Aerial Refueling Probe Is Now Operational In The Middle East appeared first on The… **[Inside SOCOM’s Search For New Machine Guns, Rifles And Ammo](https://www.twz.com/land/inside-socoms-search-for-new-machine-guns-rifles-and-ammo)** > Lt. Col. Alan Wood, SOCOM’s Program Manager for Lethality, offers some exclusive insights into the future of SOCOM small arms. > The post Inside SOCOM’s Search For New Machine Guns, Rifles And Ammo appeared first on The War Zone. * * * ### C4ISRNET **[Germany touts pan-German space command amid European push to supplant US tech](https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/europe/2026/05/20/germany-touts-pan-german-space-command-amid-european-push-to-supplant-us-tech/)** > Austria’s Defense Minister Claudia Tanner reaffirmed that Austria plans to put three operationally designated military satellites into orbit next year. **[NATO eastern deterrence strategy takes shape around ‘autonomous zone’](https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/europe/2026/05/20/nato-eastern-deterrence-strategy-takes-shape-around-autonomous-zone/)** > “What we see in Ukraine, no vehicle movements are in the gray zone at all,” one Latvian commander said. “Any movement is destroyed.” **[War in pieces: Air Force wants special ops plane that can be built on the fly](https://www.c4isrnet.com/news/your-military/2026/05/19/war-in-pieces-air-force-wants-special-ops-plane-that-can-be-built-on-the-fly/)** > The Skyraider II, a militarized version of the AT-802 crop duster, is built to give isolated special ops teams eyes overhead and firepower on call. **[Pentagon inks $500 million deal with Perennial Autonomy for counter-drone tech](https://www.c4isrnet.com/industry/techwatch/2026/05/19/pentagon-inks-500-million-deal-with-perennial-autonomy-for-counter-drone-tech/)** > The Pentagon awarded Perennial Autonomy a $500 million contract to accelerate procurement of counter-drone technology. **[No sound of silence: US soldiers train eyes — and ears — for drone swarms](https://www.c4isrnet.com/news/your-military/2026/05/15/no-sound-of-silence-us-soldiers-train-eyes-and-ears-for-drone-swarms/)** > The U.S. Army is moving beyond battling individual drone threats as it experiments with tactics to combat throngs of unmanned aircraft in saturated skies. * * * _30 new articles across 6 sources_ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/4 "2026-05-27T10:04:47Z")
## Defense News — May 27, 2026 ### [Latvia sends mobile intercept units to Russian border in wake of drone incursions](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/27/latvia-sends-mobile-intercept-units-to-russian-border-in-wake-of-drone-incursions/) “The force teams we plan to deploy to the border in the coming days will be equipped with local interceptor drones,” a Latvian military official said. ### [Canadian fighter pilot school to get M-346 trainer jets from Leonardo](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/27/canadian-fighter-pilot-school-to-get-m-346-trainer-jets-from-leonardo/) The ITPS currently trains pilots on the Aero Vodochody L-39 and is working with over ten air forces to provide advanced jet training, the school CEO said. ### [DARPA launches search for robot medics to treat battlefield casualties](https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2026/05/26/darpa-launches-search-for-robot-medics-to-treat-battlefield-casualties/) DARPA envisions a future where “medicbots” link up to drag wounded personnel to safety, inject lifesaving drugs and form splits around broken limbs. ### [US lawmakers weigh aviation fuel cost increase from Iran war in fiscal 2027 defense hearing](https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/26/us-lawmakers-weigh-aviation-fuel-cost-increase-from-iran-war-in-fiscal-2027-defense-hearing/) Ahead of drafting fiscal year 2027’s NDAA, U.S. lawmakers are grappling with the rise in fuel prices and what it means for the military’s aviation costs. ### [Pentagon spars with SpaceX over Starlink price hike during Iran war](https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/26/pentagon-spars-with-spacex-over-starlink-price-hike-during-iran-war/) The Pentagon should be paying more for access to their satellite Wi-Fi network, SpaceX officials argues. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/5 "2026-05-27T10:04:53Z")
## Breaking Defense — May 27, 2026 ### [SpaceX wins $2.29B to speed Space Force’s LEO communications ‘backbone’](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/spacex-wins-2-29b-to-speed-space-forces-leo-communications-backbone/) The SpaceX “backbone” constellation will support the broader Space Data Network, which will include the Space Development Agency’s Transport layer satellites. ### [House pushes Navy to nail down battleship design details](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/house-pushes-navy-to-nail-down-battleship-design-details/) Multiple lawmakers have questioned the value of the battleship in recent weeks, often citing the expected cost of the vessel. ### [HASC $1.15T defense policy bill takes aim at industrial base challenges](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/hasc-1-15t-defense-policy-bill-takes-aim-at-industrial-base-challenges/) The bill authorizes multiyear procurement of critical munitions, the F-35 and the Arleigh Burke destroyer. ### [Raytheon, Lockheed deliver first next-gen Javelin launchers to Army](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/raytheon-lockheed-deliver-first-next-gen-javelin-launchers-to-army/) The new launcher incorporates modern infrared camera technology that allows for easier and faster target detection and is smaller and lighter than the legacy unit. ### [Navy splits major information warfare post across three new directorates](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/navy-splits-major-information-warfare-post-across-three-new-directorates/) The move follows a similar one by the Air Force nearly two years ago. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/6 "2026-05-27T10:04:59Z")
## DefenseScoop — May 27, 2026 ### [Why DARPA just renamed and reshaped 2 key technology offices](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/26/darpa-renamed-and-reshaped-2-key-technology-offices/) Officials from the defense research-and-development hub shed light on a recent realignment to better reflect modern national security demands. The post Why DARPA just renamed and reshaped 2 key technology offices appeared first on DefenseScoop . ### [Air Force looks to accelerate F-15 EW upgrades at new ‘Speedline’](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/26/air-force-accelerate-f-15-epawss-electronic-warfare-upgrades-speedline/) The new Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) Speedline will be located at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in Georgia. The post Air Force looks to accelerate F-15 EW upgrades at new ‘Speedline’ appeared first on DefenseScoop . ### [Space Force accelerating work to operationalize on-orbit logistics tech](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/22/space-force-accelerating-work-to-operationalize-on-orbit-logistics-tech/) The Space Force is planning to host two on-orbit demonstrations in 2027 to advance the technology and inform future plans to create a space-based logistics enterprise. The post Space Force accelerating work to operationalize on-orbit logistics tech appeared first on DefenseScoop . ### [DOD wants nearly $30 billion to modernize its AI supercomputing arsenal in fiscal 2027](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/22/dod-wants-nearly-30-billion-to-modernize-its-ai-supercomputing-arsenal-in-fiscal-2027/) “The White House’s AI Action Plan, released last year, outlines the importance of establishing robust AI infrastructure,” an official said. The post DOD wants nearly $30 billion to modernize its AI supercomputing arsenal in fiscal 2027 appeared first on DefenseScoop . ### [Army plans to launch marketplace to streamline US weapons exports to allies](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/21/army-plans-to-launch-foreign-military-sales-marketplace/) Unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone technologies will be the first capabilities available on the forthcoming FMS Marketplace. The post Army plans to launch marketplace to streamline US weapons exports to allies appeared first on DefenseScoop . ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:05am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/7 "2026-05-27T10:05:10Z")
## War on the Rocks — May 27, 2026 ### [Synthetic Biology, Drones, and AI: The Risks of Dual-Use Technologies](https://warontherocks.com/cogs-of-war/synthetic-biology-drones-and-ai-the-risks-of-dual-use-technologies/) Is it too late to stop criminals and American adversaries from exploiting AI to conduct cyberattacks or design novel pathogens? Has regulation kept pace with the threat civilian drones pose to critical infrastructure? AI researcher Lennart Heim, Army drone strategist Paul Lushenko, and CEO of Sentinel Bio Claire Qureshi join Jonathan to discuss the trade-offs between protecting the public and l… ### [The Road to Space Runs through the Poles](https://warontherocks.com/the-road-to-space-runs-through-the-poles/) Why are there more antennas on Svalbard than anywhere else on Earth? Svalbard of all places, where cats and childbirth are banned and there are more polar bears than people? This cluster of islands in the Arctic, one thousand kilometers from Norway, is key to everything from your weather forecast to your car’s navigation. At 78 degrees north, Svalbard is the highest-latitude satellite ground st… ### [Leading in the Dark: How Submarine Commanders Think Under Uncertainty](https://warontherocks.com/leading-in-the-dark-how-submarine-commanders-think-under-uncertainty/) We had been tracking the contact for six hours.The acoustic signature was ambiguous. The geometry was incomplete. The tactical picture had shifted twice in the preceding hour.I ordered battle stations anyway. Not because I was certain, I was not. I ordered it because the decision window was closing. Waiting for certainty was no longer a strategy, it was a risk. That moment — the space between i… ### [Understanding the Value of Ukrainian Railways](https://warontherocks.com/understanding-the-value-of-ukrainian-railways/) Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces … ### [An Inconvenient Reality: Climate-Preparedness Cuts Are Lethality Cuts](https://warontherocks.com/an-inconvenient-reality-climate-preparedness-cuts-are-lethality-cuts/) In 2019, the Missouri River flooded at historically high levels and damaged 137 facilities, destroyed 1.2 million square feet of workspace, and flooded 3,000 feet of runway at Offutt Air Force Base. Repairing the installation cost $1.2 billion. The Trump administration and Department of Defense justified $1.2 billion in budget reductions to the U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmos… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:05am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/8 "2026-05-27T10:05:20Z")
## The War Zone — May 27, 2026 ### [Israeli Troops Turn To Fishing Nets For Protection Against Hezbollah FPV Drones](https://www.twz.com/news-features/israeli-troops-turn-to-fishing-nets-for-protection-against-hezbollah-fpv-drones) Fishing nets, a staple of the Sea of Galilee going back to biblical times, are now providing protection on the modern battlefield. The post Israeli Troops Turn To Fishing Nets For Protection Against Hezbollah FPV Drones appeared first on The War Zone . ### [Cost To Link LUCAS Kamikaze Drones To Starlink Highlights Pentagon’s Ever-Growing Dependence On SpaceX](https://www.twz.com/news-features/cost-to-link-lucas-kamikaze-drones-to-starlink-highlights-pentagons-ever-growing-dependence-on-spacex) The Pentagon has pushed back on reports of a massive upcharge in fees, but SpaceX’s products have become largely essential to U.S. operations. The post Cost To Link LUCAS Kamikaze Drones To Starlink Highlights Pentagon’s Ever-Growing Dependence On SpaceX appeared first on The War Zone . ### [Where Are The Carriers As Of May 26, 2026: Nimitz Arrives In The Caribbean](https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the-carriers-as-of-may-26-2026-nimitz-arrives-in-the-caribbean) Meanwhile, USS George Washington departed Yokosuka, Japan, amid heightened Chinese naval activity in the Western Pacific. The post Where Are The Carriers As Of May 26, 2026: Nimitz Arrives In The Caribbean appeared first on The War Zone . ### [Another Day Of Uncertainty In The Strait After U.S. Claims Strikes On Iranian Minelayers](https://www.twz.com/news-features/another-day-of-uncertainty-in-the-strait-after-u-s-claims-strikes-on-iranian-minelayers) Negotiations to end the war drag on as the crisis in the Strait continues to evolve. The post Another Day Of Uncertainty In The Strait After U.S. Claims Strikes On Iranian Minelayers appeared first on The War Zone . ### [South Korea Getting Nuclear Submarines Is A Huge Deal](https://www.twz.com/sea/south-korea-getting-nuclear-submarines-is-a-huge-deal) Nuclear propulsion will give South Korea more capable subs, but it will also lay the groundwork for a future sea-based nuclear deterrent option. The post South Korea Getting Nuclear Submarines Is A Huge Deal appeared first on The War Zone . ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:05am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/9 "2026-05-27T10:05:27Z")
## C4ISRNET — May 27, 2026 ### [Latvia sends mobile intercept units to Russian border in wake of drone incursions](https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/europe/2026/05/27/latvia-sends-mobile-intercept-units-to-russian-border-in-wake-of-drone-incursions/) “The force teams we plan to deploy to the border in the coming days will be equipped with local interceptor drones,” a Latvian military official said. ### [Pentagon spars with SpaceX over Starlink price hike during Iran war](https://www.c4isrnet.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/26/pentagon-spars-with-spacex-over-starlink-price-hike-during-iran-war/) The Pentagon should be paying more for access to their satellite Wi-Fi network, SpaceX officials argues. ### [India boosts drone warfare capability with compact missile](https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/05/26/india-boosts-drone-warfare-capability-with-compact-missile/) Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh called the successful development trials a “strategic milestone” toward self-reliance in defense. ### [US Marine Corps tests using helicopter as mobile drone command center](https://www.c4isrnet.com/news/your-marine-corps/2026/05/22/us-marine-corps-tests-using-helicopter-as-mobile-drone-command-center/) During the test, troops launched a Neros Archer FPV drone from the ground before transferring control to operators aboard a helicopter orbiting miles away. ### [SOCOM begins fielding new battlefield biometrics system](https://www.c4isrnet.com/industry/techwatch/2026/05/22/socom-begins-fielding-new-battlefield-biometrics-system/) Reveal Technology’s Identifi platform allows operators to collect fingerprints, facial scans, iris data and voice recognition in the field. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/10 "2026-05-28T10:04:03Z")
## Defense News — May 28, 2026 ### [Canada wants Saab early-warning aircraft under push to retool defense suppliers](https://www.defensenews.com/air/2026/05/28/canada-wants-saab-early-warning-aircraft-under-push-to-retool-defense-suppliers/) Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to diversify and localize defense production following continued threats by U.S. President Trump. ### [Pentagon eyes drone testing ground in Mississippi](https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/27/pentagon-eyes-drone-testing-ground-in-mississippi/) U.S. Special Operations Command is looking to build a new testing ground for drones in Mississippi. ### [US munitions depleted by Iran war will take years to restore, analysis finds](https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/27/us-munitions-depleted-by-iran-war-will-take-years-to-restore-analysis-finds/) Replenishing stockpiles of critical weapons systems could take until 2030 or 2031, creating a “window of vulnerability,” a new analysis found. ### [How US Army combat medics are preparing for an Indo-Pacific fight](https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/05/27/how-us-army-combat-medics-are-preparing-for-an-indo-pacific-fight/) Distance, contested air, communication disruptions, weather and limited evacuation platforms could greatly impact timely access to medical care. ### [US Army integrates veterinarians into human combat care](https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/05/27/us-army-integrates-veterinarians-into-human-combat-care/) The Army wants to better utilize veterinarians in combat medicine to prepare for the possibility of large-scale operations in the Indo-Pacific. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/11 "2026-05-28T10:04:16Z")
## Breaking Defense — May 28, 2026 ### [Pentagon awards Dell $9.7 billion contract to consolidate software licenses](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/pentagon-awards-dell-9-7-billion-contract-to-consolidate-software-licenses/) The five-year blanket purchase agreement consolidates Microsoft 365 licenses into a single contract vehicle. ### [Dept. of Air Force ‘still working’ to sort space programs into acquisition portfolios: Ainsworth](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/dept-of-air-force-still-working-to-sort-space-programs-into-acquisition-portfolios-ainsworth/) The Department of the Air Force in “the coming days” will announce the finalized PAE structure along with the names of each office leader, Thomas Ainsworth, acting space acquisition chief, said. ### [After Iran attacks, Turkish industry seeing increased Gulf interest in air defense platforms](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/after-iran-attacks-turkish-industry-seeing-increased-gulf-interest-in-air-defense-platforms/) Both companies expressed their readiness to transfer technology in line with mandates in Gulf states to localize defense production. ### [How the US, allies and adversaries see the future of drone wingmen](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/how-the-us-allies-and-adversaries-see-the-future-of-drone-wingmen/) In the third video focused on manned-unmanned teaming, we trace how the concept has evolved inside the US defense industry and among other militaries across the globe. ### [Canada enters talks with Saab for GlobalEye purchase](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/canada-enters-talks-with-saab-for-globaleye-purchase/) While no deal is finalized, Sweden’s Prime Minister stated that he looks forward to “welcoming Canada into the GlobalEye family.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/12 "2026-05-28T10:04:29Z")
## DefenseScoop — May 28, 2026 ### [MITRE moves to comply with lawmaker’s request for UAP records and assets dating back to 1930](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/27/rep-eric-burlison-request-for-uap-records-mitre/) DefenseScoop obtained Rep. Eric Burlison’s 10-page legislative correspondence, which includes dozens of production requests. The post MITRE moves to comply with lawmaker’s request for UAP records and assets dating back to 1930 appeared first on DefenseScoop . ### [SOCOM seeks autonomous warfare proving ground](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/27/socom-seeks-autonomous-warfare-proving-ground/) NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi was chosen as the host site for the initiative. The post SOCOM seeks autonomous warfare proving ground appeared first on DefenseScoop . ### [Space Force awards $2.29B deal to SpaceX to accelerate ‘backbone’ SATCOM network](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/27/space-force-awards-spacex-contract-backbone-satcom-network/) Formerly known as MILNET, the Space Data Network Backbone constellation will provide backhaul communications to facilitate data transfer for the Pentagon. The post Space Force awards $2.29B deal to SpaceX to accelerate ‘backbone’ SATCOM network appeared first on DefenseScoop . ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/13 "2026-05-28T10:04:53Z")
## War on the Rocks — May 28, 2026 ### [Control Without Ownership: How China’s Party-Business Networks Dominate Indonesia’s Mineral Supply Chains](https://warontherocks.com/cogs-of-war/control-without-ownership-how-chinas-party-business-networks-dominate-indonesias-mineral-supply-chains/) In 2024, when Jiangsu Delong, the world’s second-largest stainless-steel producer, filed for bankruptcy, several Chinese firms and state-owned enterprises quietly absorbed its Indonesian assets. Among them was China First Heavy Industries, a state-owned enterprise founded in 1954 as one of China’s early Soviet-backed industrial projects. Today, China First Heavy Industries supplies military-gra… ### [A Sea Control Revolution?](https://warontherocks.com/a-sea-control-revolution/) Sea control has changed. In recent years, there has been a quiet revolution in maritime strategy that has seen navies increasingly expected to exert greater levels of control over more of the world’s oceans, more of the time. Whether it is NATO forces protecting critical maritime infrastructure in the Baltic, Pacific Island nations requiring maritime domain awareness to protect against illegal … ### [What Everyone is Missing About North Korea’s Reunification Strategy](https://warontherocks.com/what-everyone-is-missing-about-north-koreas-reunification-strategy/) When news broke that North Korea had revised its constitution, analysts in the West and across the Korean Peninsula rushed to declare it the formal death of Korean reunification as a policy objective. The changes were hard to ignore. Pyongyang stripped all references to a unified Korean nation, codified a territorial clause treating the Republic of Korea as a separate foreign state, vested dire… ### [What Did the NPT Review Conference Achieve?](https://warontherocks.com/what-did-the-npt-review-conference-achieve/) The 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) concluded on May 22. Held every five years, the conference offers an opportunity to evaluate the treaty’s implementation, respond to technological and geopolitical developments, and reinforce states’ commitment to the treaty. For the third time in a row, the conference failed to reach consensus on a final document.We asked… ### [Washington Shouldn’t Fly Solo on Building Space Superiority](https://warontherocks.com/washington-shouldnt-fly-solo-on-building-space-superiority/) In 2025, Nazmelis Zengin wrote, “The Fragility of U.S. Space Power in a Multipolar World,” where she argued Washington’s space superiority could be challenged if the United States doesn’t rethink its course, taking lessons from mid-tier space powers. A year later, we asked Nazmelis to revisit her arguments.Image: NASA Kennedy Space Center/NASA/Chris Swanson via Wikimedia CommonsIn your 2025 art… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 10:05am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/14 "2026-05-28T10:05:11Z")
## The War Zone — May 28, 2026 ### [Inside The Effort To Build Ukraine’s Ground Robot Arsenal](https://www.twz.com/news-features/inside-the-effort-to-build-ukraines-ground-robot-arsenal) Ukraine has a voracious demand for ground drones as they increasingly perform logistics, rescue and combat operations. The post Inside The Effort To Build Ukraine’s Ground Robot Arsenal appeared first on The War Zone . ### [Airbus Looks To Sweden’s Saab As Europe’s Sixth-Gen Fighter Plans Unravel](https://www.twz.com/air/airbus-looks-to-swedens-saab-as-europes-sixth-gen-fighter-plans-unravel) As FCAS tensions deepen, Airbus is exploring alternatives with Saab, raising the prospect of a shakeup in Europe’s future air combat plans. The post Airbus Looks To Sweden’s Saab As Europe’s Sixth-Gen Fighter Plans Unravel appeared first on The War Zone . ### [Congress Moves To Block Trump Class Battleship Work Until Its Key Weapons Are Mature](https://www.twz.com/sea/congress-moves-to-block-trump-class-battleship-work-until-its-key-weapons-are-mature) Such a delay could end the battleship program before it really starts, and the House Armed Services Committee is also demanding answers on the new frigate. The post Congress Moves To Block Trump Class Battleship Work Until Its Key Weapons Are Mature appeared first on The War Zone . ### [F/A-18 Super Hornets Eyed To Replace Navy’s Remaining F-5 Adversaries](https://www.twz.com/air/f-a-18-super-hornets-eyed-to-replace-navys-remaining-f-5-adversaries) Swapping dated F-5s for F/A-18E/Fs would give the Navy a more threat representative adversary fleet to emulate advanced enemies, like China. The post F/A-18 Super Hornets Eyed To Replace Navy’s Remaining F-5 Adversaries appeared first on The War Zone . ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/15 "2026-05-29T10:00:03Z")
## Defense News — May 29, 2026 ### [At French Army FPV competition, NATO soldiers race drones and swap tips](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/29/at-french-army-fpv-competition-nato-soldiers-race-drones-and-swap-tips/) “When I put on the mask, I no longer exist in this reality,” Chief Cpl. Clément said after completing the course. ### [US Army turns resupply drone into rocket launcher in new test](https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/05/28/army-turns-resupply-drone-into-rocket-launcher-in-new-test/) Though the drone was designed to haul supplies across the battlefield, the Army recently tried turning it into a rocket launcher. ### [Lithuania to buy Patria armored vehicles, eyes local industry share](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/28/lithuania-to-buy-patria-armored-vehicles-eyes-local-industry-share/) A contract is expected to be signed with the Finnish producer in 2027. ### [Ukraine to buy 20 new Gripen jets, Sweden to donate older jets sooner](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/28/ukraine-to-buy-20-new-gripen-jets-sweden-to-donate-older-jets-sooner/) “We need these jets, and for us this is really a new page for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. ### [Germany’s defense minister makes rare personal pitch for submarine deal in Ottawa](https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2026/05/28/germanys-defense-minister-makes-rare-personal-pitch-for-submarine-deal-in-ottawa/) “Canada opting for the 212CD would mean to consistently and sustainably pursue the transatlantic path towards closer integration of our economies.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/16 "2026-05-29T10:00:06Z")
## Breaking Defense — May 29, 2026 ### [Epic Fury highlighted Space Force needs for distributed ops, EW sites](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/epic-fury-highlighted-space-force-needs-for-distributed-ops-ew-sites/) “We’ve seen in Operation Epic Fury, for the first time, that our space capabilities have been targeted and destroyed. We expect that to happen more,” Brig. Gen. Christopher Fernengel said today. ### [BAE Systems wins Army’s Soft Kill APS award, with first phase valued at $20 million](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/bae-systems-wins-armys-soft-kill-aps-award-with-first-phase-valued-at-20-million/) The system uses BAE’s Rapid Optical Observation and Kill (ROOK) program, which takes down threats by “confusing,” or jamming missile systems or drones. ### [Turkey’s defense industry is leaning into autonomy and targeting Gulf markets](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/turkeys-defense-industry-is-leaning-into-autonomy-and-targeting-gulf-markets/) Middle East Bureau Chief Agnes Helou shares what she learned at Turkey’s SAHA defense expo. ### [In cyber race against China, CYBERCOM bets on ‘quality over quantity’](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/in-cyber-race-against-china-cybercom-bets-on-quality-over-quantity/) Rep. Don Bacon sounded the alarm to Breaking Defense about China’s purported 10:1 workforce advantage when it comes to “offensive” cyber operations. ### [Austal USA names new president](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/austal-usa-names-new-president/) Austal USA announced in February that Gene Miller was serving as interim president. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/17 "2026-05-29T10:00:09Z")
## DefenseScoop — May 29, 2026 ### [DOD wants more than $2B in fiscal 2027 to move beyond ‘fragmented’ CJADC2 deployments](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/28/dod-fy27-budget-cjadc2-maven-smart-system-palantir/) Budget documents indicate that the department aims to swiftly consolidate “software-centric C2 onto a single pane of glass” in the next year. The post DOD wants more than $2B in fiscal 2027 to move beyond ‘fragmented’ CJADC2 deployments appeared first on DefenseScoop . ### [Draft NDAA would dissolve Space Development Agency, Rapid Capabilities Office](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/28/draft-ndaa-would-dissolve-space-development-agency-rapid-capabilities-office/) The proposal comes as the Pentagon looks to replicate the acquisition processes practiced by both SDA and the Space RCO department-wide. The post Draft NDAA would dissolve Space Development Agency, Rapid Capabilities Office appeared first on DefenseScoop . ### [Army’s new data operations center may stay ‘lean’ on people, expecting automation to help pick up growing workload](https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/28/army-data-operations-center-workforce-automation/) Since its launch, the 25-person task force has received 68 requests, or “tickets” for data help from Army units across the world, including at least one supporting the Iran war. The post Army’s new data operations center may stay ‘lean’ on people, expecting automation to help pick up growing workload appeared first on DefenseScoop . ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/18 "2026-05-29T10:00:13Z")
## War on the Rocks — May 29, 2026 ### [How America Lost Its Most Important Defense Tech Habit](https://warontherocks.com/cogs-of-war/how-america-lost-its-most-important-defense-tech-habit/) On April 15, technology podcaster Dwarkesh Patel published a two-hour interview with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. For roughly forty minutes, Patel asked one question six different ways. The question was this: If American-made compute trains AI models with the serious cyber-offensive capabilities Anthropic’s Mythos Preview demonstrated — and that compute is sold to a strategic adversary — what respo… ### [Contriving Imaginary Gaps in Nuclear Deterrence](https://warontherocks.com/contriving-imaginary-gaps-in-nuclear-deterrence/) Among some nuclear strategists, military officers, and lawmakers, a belief bordering on the canonical has taken root that the United States is on the short end of a “deterrence gap” with Russia and China. Both countries, and especially Russia, possess theater-range nuclear weapons, whose comparatively small yield is thought to lower the threshold for their use. The relative dearth of these capa… ### [Glass Jaw? The New Economic Fragility Recasting American Power](https://warontherocks.com/glass-jaw-the-new-economic-fragility-recasting-american-power/) A pair of children’s shoes is an odd place to look for the changing dynamics of American power. But stick with me because, after the past year, it is one of the clearest places to see them.Long before those shoes reach a store shelf, tariffs have raised the cost of materials, components, and importation. Oil touches nearly everything else: synthetic fabrics, foam, adhesives, packaging, and frei… ### [Hollow Deals, Tricky Negotiations, and State Visits](https://warontherocks.com/hollow-deals-tricky-negotiations-and-state-visits/) Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below.\*\*\*IranThere has been increasing chatter that Washington and Tehran are nearing an agreement that might wind down the war launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28. The truce that took effect seven week… ### [What Would Relations with Post-War Russia Look Like?](https://warontherocks.com/what-would-relations-with-post-war-russia-look-like/) Rose Gottemoeller joined Ryan in Washington. They discussed how the West might think about relations with Russia once the war with Ukraine ends, as well as nuclear diplomacy and other critical issues. Gottemoeller was the deputy secretary general of NATO and, before that, served as a senior State Department official. She is currently at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at … ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/19 "2026-05-29T10:00:17Z")
## The War Zone — May 29, 2026 ### [MQ-28 Ghost Bat Now Flying Over The Pacific From U.S. Navy Base](https://www.twz.com/air/mq-28-ghost-bat-now-flying-over-the-pacific-from-u-s-navy-base) Boeing says tests off California are about showing the Australian-born MQ-28’s maturity and promoting sales, which could include ones to the Pentagon. The post MQ-28 Ghost Bat Now Flying Over The Pacific From U.S. Navy Base appeared first on The War Zone . ### [New Counter-Drone Optimized Pantsir Air Defense System Being Deployed Atop Skyscrapers In Moscow](https://www.twz.com/air/new-counter-drone-optimized-pantsir-air-defense-system-being-deployed-atop-skyscrapers-in-moscow) A video showing a Pantsir-SMD-E being airlifted onto a skyscraper underscores Russian attempts to shield Moscow from increasing Ukrainian drone attacks. The post New Counter-Drone Optimized Pantsir Air Defense System Being Deployed Atop Skyscrapers In Moscow appeared first on The War Zone . ### [Army Wants More Sensor-Laden Surveillance Balloons Over The Pacific](https://www.twz.com/air/army-wants-more-sensor-laden-surveillance-balloons-over-the-pacific) High-altitude balloons are an increasingly critical part of the Army’s future combat strategy, from providing networking to sensing to delivering kinetic effects. The post Army Wants More Sensor-Laden Surveillance Balloons Over The Pacific appeared first on The War Zone . ### [Severity Of America’s Depleted Advanced Weapons Stockpiles Detailed In New Report](https://www.twz.com/news-features/severity-of-americas-depleted-advanced-weapons-stockpiles-detailed-in-new-report) America’s stockpile of critical standoff and air and missile defense weapons is now a strategic vulnerability foes could take advantage of. The post Severity Of America’s Depleted Advanced Weapons Stockpiles Detailed In New Report appeared first on The War Zone . ### [Ukrainian Gripen Fighters To Arrive In 2027, Long-Range Meteor Missiles Claimed To Be Included](https://www.twz.com/air/ukrainian-gripen-fighters-to-arrive-in-2027-long-range-meteor-missiles-claimed-to-be-included) Sweden’s transfer of Gripens will give Ukraine more than a new fighter, pairing its trademark dispersed operations with Meteor missiles and radar planes. The post Ukrainian Gripen Fighters To Arrive In 2027, Long-Range Meteor Missiles Claimed To Be Included appeared first on The War Zone . ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.landoffset.com/uploads/default/original/1X/461c3fb699fff9afe9dbc43189d999b5fa0580cb.png) [@system](https://forum.landoffset.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65/20 "2026-05-29T10:00:20Z")
## C4ISRNET — May 29, 2026 ### [At French Army FPV competition, NATO soldiers race drones and swap tips](https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/europe/2026/05/29/at-french-army-fpv-competition-nato-soldiers-race-drones-and-swap-tips/) “When I put on the mask, I no longer exist in this reality,” Chief Cpl. Clément said after completing the course. ### [US troops are reportedly being targeted using location data, Pentagon says](https://www.c4isrnet.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/28/us-troops-are-reportedly-being-targeted-using-location-data-pentagon-says/) U.S. forces deployed to war zones have been targeted using commercially available location data, according to reports fielded by military officials. [Next page](https://forum.landoffset.com/t/us-defense-news-daily-digest/65.md?page=2)