Battlefield Tech
US military uses laser to down 3 Mexican cartel drones near border
The U.S. military used a laser in southern Texas’ Rio Grande Valley to shoot down three Mexican drug cartel drones this week near the U.S.-Mexico border.
By Mike Stone, Reuters
Japan approves mass production of 3D-printed interceptor drones
Japan’s defense-procurement agency has signed a mass production procurement agreement for interceptor drones made using 3D printers.
Dutch Navy to equip fleet with Destinus C-UAS interceptor drones
The Royal Netherlands Navy plans to equip its fleet with a new counter-UAS capability from defense firm Destinus.
Patria to join with Ukraine’s General Cherry to make drones in Finland
Finnish defense company Patria is teaming up with Ukrainian drone maker General Cherry to jointly develop drones and start production in Finland.
SPECIAL FEATURES
2026 Tech Disruptors
The Defense News 2026 Tech Disruptors is an annual list of top tech leaders shaping defense technology.
Autonomous Data Fusion on the Modern Battlefield
A look at how data fusion is critical to maintaining information dominance, how the new prime contractors can offer agility, speed, innovation, and more.
DOD’s Cyber Workforce Challenges
This whitepaper explores how the DoD can close the cyber workforce skills gap, how ‘upskilling’ protects national security in the digital age, and more.
Whitepaper: How Modular Systems Help Ensure Defense Readiness
Learn how a Modular Open Systems Approach avoids proprietary lock-in, how ease of sourcing replacement parts helps ensure readiness, and more.
Space
Eight NATO allies launch HALO satellite constellation initiative
The project aims to stitch together spacecraft managed by individual member countries into one mega-constellation, alliance officials said.
Artificial Intelligence
VA inventory report reveals 367 AI systems operating in healthcare, benefits and services
A recently released report catalogs AI uses across the VA, from clinical tools used during patient care to systems that help process benefits.
Unmanned
Japan approves mass production of 3D-printed interceptor drones
Japan’s defense-procurement agency has signed a mass production procurement agreement for interceptor drones made using 3D printers.
Dutch Navy to equip fleet with Destinus C-UAS interceptor drones
The Royal Netherlands Navy plans to equip its fleet with a new counter-UAS capability from defense firm Destinus.
Patria to join with Ukraine’s General Cherry to make drones in Finland
Finnish defense company Patria is teaming up with Ukrainian drone maker General Cherry to jointly develop drones and start production in Finland.
Unmanned
US Army to end experimental drone battalion in Europe
After Exercise Saber Junction in August and September, the battalion will return to its airborne infantry mission.
US Marine Corps turns to AI-powered Bullfrog as drone threats expand
Allen Control Systems announced Monday that the Marine Corps has chosen the Bullfrog autonomous weapon system to integrate into its airborne defenses.
X-Bow out to tackle cost quandary with sub-$100,000 drone interceptor
X-Bow Systems is launching what it hopes will be a remedy to the ongoing conundrum of combating cheap drones with multimillion dollar interceptors.
Cyber
The US military is not organized for cyber war
Too much of this debate treats a new service as a judgment on Cyber Command’s performance. It is not.
Electronic Warfare
Pentagon’s realistic electronic warfare system to move to Navy lab
DARPA says it has built the world’s largest, most realistic electronic warfare test capability.
VIDEOS
Monument in DC honors 41 million service members | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 9.1.26
For the nation’s 250th birthday, USAA erected a monument that displays the name of every service member in the military — ever.
Featured Videos
Trending Now
More Stories
Trump’s Pentagon should expand innovation hub, tech panel says
The Defense Innovation Board says DIU needs a bigger budget and more infrastructure to help guide nontraditional firms to scale technology.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket debuts
New Glenn lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida just after 2 a.m., carrying a payload for the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit.
Stratolaunch readies second carrier plane for Talon-A hypersonic ride
The company is modifying a second carrier aircraft for Talon-A to increase the Pentagon's hypersonic-testing cadence.
The Pentagon’s ‘Replicator’ drone bonanza faces an uncertain future
At stake is the military's ability to adjust to the future of war and compete with China, its main rival.
Kendall floats F-35 successor, casts 2050 vision for Air Force
The Air Force and Space Force "need to go through a transformation" by 2050, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said on the eve of his departure.
Italy eyes Musk’s Starlink for secret government communications
Handing control of Italy’s military satellite communications to the U.S. tech tycoon has prompted sharp criticism in Italy from opposition politicians.
By Tom Kington