Europe should “absolutely” expect additional United States troop withdrawals in the future as European NATO allies strengthen their capability to provide more of their own conventional defense, according to the U.S. general who is the alliance’s top military commander for the region.
Shield AI has secured a Pentagon contract to integrate its Hivemind autonomy software onto the new Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System as part of a pilot program to field drone swarms, the company announced May 19.
In this episode of TWZ: Special Access, Jamie Hunter talks with Lt. Col. “Evil” Marcus, a B-1B Lancer test pilot assigned to Air Force Reserve Command at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., about how the B-1B’s armament is morphing to meet the challenges of facing off against a peer threat.
For special operators, having expertise in new and emerging technologies is just as important as physical fitness and other aspects of fighting, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, said on May 19.
The Defense Department’s inspector general said May 18 that it’s investigating U.S. Southern Command over its targeting of alleged drug-smuggling boats in the military’s campaign against drug cartels.
U.S. Northern Command is standing up a partnership dubbed Nordic Bridge to enhance collaboration between multiple U.S. commands while confronting Arctic security concerns, Gen. Gregory Guillot said May 19.
The Pentagon’s counter-drone task force announced a $500 million contract award May 18 to Perennial Autonomy, a defense company known for developing an interceptor that has downed thousands of Russian one-way attack drones over the last two years in Ukraine.
More money to counter drones and attack underground targets is necessary for future fights, the head of U.S. Central Command said, as lawmakers praised and grilled the four-star admiral about the war in Iran.
The U.S. Navy’s unmanned tanker has officially entered the low-rate production phase, the service announced May 19. The carrier-based MQ-25A Stingray reached the milestone C authorization that the Pentagon requires for a program to enter the low-rate initial production stage of acquisition.
Rocket maker Exquadrum isn’t particularly old in the business of defense contracting. But the 24-year-old company has still been around a year longer than Ethan Thornton, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology dropout who is taking it over in an acquisition by his drone startup, Mach Industries.
A NATO fighter jet shot down a Ukrainian drone over southern Estonia on May 19, authorities said. It was the latest in a string of similar incidents in recent months, in which Ukrainian drones aimed at Russia have crossed or come down in NATO territory. Western officials previously blamed what they say is likely Russian electronic jamming of the drones.
The U.S. Air Force Academy announced on May 19 that Vice President JD Vance will be the guest speaker for this year's commencement ceremony.
