Policy
Pentagon to become rare-earth mining company's largest stockholder
The Defense Department will buy a 15% stake in MP Materials and fund the construction of a magnet-making facility, all to reduce its reliance on China.
Ideas
How China’s new rare-earth export controls target the Pentagon—and the world
The licensing system replaces a cruder, less flexible means of economic leverage.
Science & Tech
Maxar launching AI-powered ‘predictive intelligence’ to spot crises before they happen
New software for fusing satellite data from multiple constellations could spot big events before they pop off.
Science & Tech
The Army’s not sure what its new ‘Executive Innovation Corps’ will actually do
Silicon Valley tech leaders will go direct commission course, take a PT test, and presumably help make the Army more efficient.
Business
Established defense contractors lend tech startups a helping hand
Oracle launched a new defense ecosystem to support companies that lack the funds or infrastructure to jump right into a Pentagon contract.
Business
As CCAs make international debut, companies pitch European co-production
General Atomics said their robot wingman offering will be “far less than $20 million” a pop.
Threats
Defense One Radio, Ep. 184: Former Ukrainian defense chief Oleksii Reznikov
Kyiv's former defense minister discusses the prospects for a ceasefire, the evolving nature of drone warfare, China’s role in global supply chains, and a lot more.
Business
F-35 engine upgrade hits delay, casting doubt on timeline
Critical design review has been pushed back a year, according to Pratt & Whitney.
Business
Spat over Europe’s next-gen fighter program spills over at Paris Air Show
Public bickering between France and Germany doesn’t bode well for the continent’s efforts to build up military capability.
Ideas
China's burgeoning drone arsenal shows power of civil-military fusion
Trump's recent executive orders are just one step in a race against a competitor with a very long lead.
Defense Systems
The Navy’s dynamic sub-hunting duo
Future operations will lean on manned-unmanned platforms—MQ-4C Triton and Boeing’s P-8A—and a single digital dashboard.
Business
Boeing says they can build F/A-XX *and* F-47, rejecting SecNav's concerns
Defense chief adds that Qatari-747 conversion won’t affect its Air Force One contract.
Business
Lockheed says new upgrade package for F-35 is ready
The TR-3 upgrade is more than two years late and has been plagued by software-development problems.
Business
Weapons, wariness, and war: Paris Air Show opens amid uncertainty
U.S. defense companies, at least, hope to assuage European fears about Washington’s reliability.
Policy
Meet DOGE's team inside the Defense Department
ProPublica has identified four men installed by defense contractor Elon Musk at the Pentagon—and 100 more across the federal government.
Policy
