Threats

Trump’s Golden Dome excuse for Greenland grab is ‘detached from reality,’ experts say

Longstanding diplomatic agreements and an existing U.S. base already enable military expansion.

Business

Pentagon to invest $1B in L3Harris rocket-motor spinoff

The apparently unprecedented deal raises questions of fairness, effectiveness, and conflicts of interest.

Ideas

Roundup: US hypersonic-missile efforts

Defense Systems

Air Force wants a $500,000 counter-air missile, despite cheaper options

The service wants ideas by December, and hopes to see a modular, ground-launched prototype in two years.

Threats

Today’s ICBMs may operate until 2050, GAO says

That would be some 15 years longer than the Air Force was planning.

Defense Systems

Second B-21 will fly by year’s end, USAF says

Also: official won't confirm US nukes are back in UK but says B61 is “deployed throughout the continent.”

Science & Tech

New Golden Dome details emerge from industry day

Participants, and a Pentagon briefing deck, describe roles for AI, ideas for defensive satellites.

Threats

Trump’s national defense strategy is focused on the homeland. So far, that has included troops in the streets.

While calling out the National Guard makes a political statement, they’re not the best means of fighting crime, CSIS’s Mark Cancian says.

Science & Tech

Drone defenses will need to act first, ask later, commander says

“We will push the boundaries on that, because we have to,” Lt. Gen. Gainey said.

Science & Tech

Lockheed Martin aims to test a missile-killing satellite by 2028

The company’s Golden Dome strategy mixes established missile defense tech with new concepts.

Business

With USAF approval, Northrop resumes work on new ICBM silos

Company is also ground-testing Golden Dome interceptors and looking to speed B-21 production.