How the US military could clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz
An arsenal of drones, explosive‑laden robots and helicopters can help reduce risk, though de‑mining crews could still be vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
Iran war exposes weakened state of Britain’s armed forces
Explainer: Here are some details regarding the scale of the decline and the country’s current capabilities.
EU pumps over $1 billion into defense R&D, centered around Ukraine war lessons
The choice of funded projects marks a shift to 21st-century warfare, with loitering munitions and affordable mass drone production high on the agenda.
France readies AI-powered combat data-management similar to US ‘Maven’
The system could be available within a few months, and available for exercises in September 2027, a top general said, declining to provide specifics.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Iran Coverage
Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
2026 Tech Disruptors
The Defense News 2026 Tech Disruptors is an annual list of top tech leaders shaping defense technology.
Whitepaper: The Ongoing Evolution of Ground Vehicles
This whitepaper explores how Army modernizing vehicles are being used to counter emerging threats, how open systems allow fast tech upgrades, 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.
Sponsored Content
Your Future Paycheck: Retirement Savings Explained — Money Minute
Jeanette Mack from Navy Federal Credit Union is back to help you understand how to save now for the retirement that you dream of.
Air
Money starts flowing for new GCAP fighter, as Britain sorts out finances
A source on the program told Defense News the new contract is a “bridge” allowing work to continue until the end of June.
Land
France puts mobile corps command to the test in major war scenario
The small forward command post lets commanders “be in contact with the divisions, to be as close as possible to the engagement zone,” said a top general.
Pentagon
Starlink outage hit drone tests, exposing Pentagon’s growing reliance on SpaceX
Last August, a global outage across Elon Musk’s satellite network left U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessels bobbing off California, halting operations.
White House offers no hint of Iran war cost as it seeks military funding surge
"I don't have a ballpark," White House budget director Russell Vought told lawmakers Wednesday about the cost of the Iran war.
US blockade of Iran will be major military endeavor, experts say
The U.S. military has not offered basic details yet about the blockade, including how many U.S. warships will enforce it.
Pentagon
US Navy to blockade Strait of Hormuz ‘effective immediately,’ Trump says
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” the president wrote on Sunday.
US-Iran peace talks end without deal as delegations leave Pakistan
Each side blamed the other for the failure of the 21-hour negotiations to end fighting that has killed thousands and roiled the global economy.
US military begins clearing Strait of Hormuz, Trump says
Reports emerged Saturday about the presence of U.S. Navy ships in the strait.
Naval
How the US military could clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz
An arsenal of drones, explosive‑laden robots and helicopters can help reduce risk, though de‑mining crews could still be vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
Space
US Space Command provides update on phased headquarters relocation to Alabama
The command plans to break ground on a new headquarters facility on an approximately 60-acre site near the center of Redstone Arsenal in 2027.
VIDEOS
China draws strategic lessons from US war with Iran | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.14.26
Monitoring from afar, one of the world’s top superpowers is watching the United States’ war in Iran from a strategic perspective. What are they learning?
Featured Videos
More Stories
Starlink outage hit drone tests, exposing Pentagon’s growing reliance on SpaceX
Last August, a global outage across Elon Musk’s satellite network left U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessels bobbing off California, halting operations.
By David Jeans, Reuters
How the US military could clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz
An arsenal of drones, explosive‑laden robots and helicopters can help reduce risk, though de‑mining crews could still be vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
By Cassell Bryan-Low, Reuters
Iran war exposes weakened state of Britain’s armed forces
Explainer: Here are some details regarding the scale of the decline and the country’s current capabilities.
By Sarah Young and Andrew MacAskill, Reuters
EU pumps over $1 billion into defense R&D, centered around Ukraine war lessons
The choice of funded projects marks a shift to 21st-century warfare, with loitering munitions and affordable mass drone production high on the agenda.
By Linus Höller
France readies AI-powered combat data-management similar to US ‘Maven’
The system could be available within a few months, and available for exercises in September 2027, a top general said, declining to provide specifics.
Senate Republicans back Trump military sales to Israel
The Senate on Wednesday blocked two resolutions that would have stopped the sale of some $450 million in bombs and bulldozers to Israel.
By Patricia Zengerle, Reuters
White House offers no hint of Iran war cost as it seeks military funding surge
"I don't have a ballpark," White House budget director Russell Vought told lawmakers Wednesday about the cost of the Iran war.
By Nolan D. McCaskill and David Morgan, Reuters
US Navy destroyer intercepts Iranian-flagged vessel trying to skirt blockade
Zero vessels have broken through the U.S. Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since it began Monday, U.S. Central Command stated.
By Riley Ceder
US Air Force debuts operational AI wargame system
WarMatrix is an AI-powered system meant to keep human judgement central to wargaming and was marked operational during an event in late March.
France puts mobile corps command to the test in major war scenario
The small forward command post lets commanders “be in contact with the divisions, to be as close as possible to the engagement zone,” said a top general.
Berlin gets a front-row seat to German weapons’ performance in Ukraine
A new bilateral agreement covers data sharing from engagements of the Panzerhaubitze 2000, RCH-155 artillery and the IRIS-T air-defense weapon.
By Linus Höller
Rattled by Trump, US allies eye Japan’s biggest arms opening since WWII
Japan’s imminent easing of arms export rules has sparked strong interest from Warsaw to Manila.
By John Geddie and Tim Kelly