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MADRID, SPAIN – JUNE 23: Sculpture of Din Grogu from the TV series “The Mandalorian” seen at Comic Fan at the amusement park at Casa de Campo on June 23, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Benito/Getty Images) | Getty Images Hey all, here’s your open thread for Monday. MMA ADJACENT Fencing is a combat sport. The banzuke is out! TOTALLY OFF TOPIC Anyone like The Mandalorian? The Copyright holders of Reboot are getting in on the YouTube looping craze. GAME TIME Here’s an interesting one. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT The drawing board: Adam talks about what’s next…

When a problem exists within one federal agency, it’s a safe bet it exists elsewhere — maybe everywhere. But how would any agency leader know that? Only by bringing key executives together will you discern a pattern, identify the scale and scope of the problem, and be able to develop and implement potential solutions.A forum exists today to focus on cross-government management issues and solve big problems — in theory. In practice, the Federal Executive Councils are vastly underutilized, underfunded and ultimately without ‘power’ to solve real cross-agency issues. Today’s chaotic environment challenges us to rethink and repurpose the councils…

The U.S. Navy practiced at-sea refueling of an unmanned surface vessel (USV) during a recent demonstration ahead of the service’s planned deployment of the sea drones with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group later this year.  Occurring off Southern California, the oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) recently conducted an astern replenishment-at-sea of the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel Seahawk during a capability demonstration that Military Sealift Command’s claimed was “critical” for deployed USV operations in support of American carriers.  “It’s refuel at-sea capable. We’re moving in the right direction. We had to move it from an experimentation piece to operational, so…

Senior officials in the Department of War claim that the Golden Dome missile defence shield is ahead of schedule and within budget.

Thales Australia today welcomed a new Australian Government commitment of AU$750 million to deliver 268 additional next generation Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) to be built at its Bendigo, Victoria facility. This investment will support the evolution of this trusted troop carrier into a next-generation agile vehicle capable of carrying troops, sensing and striking at range, while efficiently defending against battlespace threats. This investment expands the production of the Bushmaster, supports jobs, boosts sovereign capacity and enhances Australian manufacturing capabilities, standing ready to efficiently meet international demand. Thales Australia has welcomed an investment of AU$750 million from the Australian Government…

When people talk about elite air defense, one name usually dominates the conversation: Patriot. But here’s the twist, there’s another system, arguably just as sophisticated in some areas, quietly shaping the future of missile defense while flying under the mainstream radar. It’s called SAMP-T.And if you’ve only heard it mentioned in connection with Ukraine or NATO deployments, you’ve only seen a sliver of the picture.The SAMP-T air defense system, sometimes called MAMBA, isn’t just another surface-to-air missile battery. It’s Europe’s answer to layered missile defense, built not merely to shoot down aircraft, but to deal with cruise missiles, ballistic threats,…

MANILA, Philippines — Australia has moved to reverse a decline in the number of warships, as its surface combatant fleet stands to fall to its smallest size since World War II.Under Project Sea 3000, Australia and Japan inked a deal to buy three upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The contract was signed by the two countries’ defense ministers aboard JS Kumano in Melbourne earlier this month.This represents Japan’s largest-ever defense export, a major boost to its shipbuilding industry, and it advances greater strategic alignment between the two countries.Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will construct three 4,800-ton frigates…

Rheinmetall has received another Billion-euro-contract from the Bundeswehr in the field of soldier-systems. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has placed a call-off order with Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH for additional ‘Infantry Soldier of the Future – Enhanced System’ (IdZ-ES) soldier-systems under a framework agreement. The contract covers the modernisation of existing systems and the delivery of additional 237 platoon systems. It is worth €1.04bn gross. The systems have are to be delivered between November 2027 and December 2029. Additional 8,600 soldiers will receive the IdZ-ES system. In total, the Bundeswehr will then be equipped…

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii (April 21, 2026) – With instrumental support from industry partners, the 25th Infantry Division accelerated its digital kill chain in just three months using advanced AI-driven technologies. As part of the Army’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) “commercial first” effort, the division joins the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) to prototype modern technologies that make data more usable and accessible to commanders across all the warfighting function technologies. NGC2 provides a “full stack” capability ecosystem, comprised from the top-down of Apps, Data/AI, Infrastructure, and Transport capabilities. Integrating AI into the NGC2 stack will enhance the Army’s competitive…

The military modernization and technological ambitions of the People’s Republic of China dominate headlines in Washington. Hypersonic missiles, AI breakthroughs, and an expanding navy are the visible symbols of competition with the Chinese Communist Party. But if the United States is serious about long-term competition, it should prioritize — or at least pay equal attention to — the Chinese Communist Party’s other weapon: united front.  Understandably, military power and advanced technology feel urgent and concrete. The united front — a system of political influence, co-optation, and mobilization — sounds abstract.Yet the Chinese Communist Party’s objective has always been political. Its military…