U.S 

South China Sea — The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) spent four days without electrical power in the South China Sea last month after an engineering casualty involving its generators, according to the U.S. 7th Fleet. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was conducting routine operations in the Indo-Pacific on July 24, 2026, when an “engineering casualty involving its generators” occurred, according to Navy Cmdr. Matthew Comer, spokesperson for the 7th Fleet. A U.S. Navy photograph shows Benfold conducting routine operations while underway in the South China Sea on July 23, 2026. The photograph was taken by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Andrew Novak. The generator failure caused a complete loss of electrical power, leaving the nearly 10,000-ton warship unable to maneuver on its own. The Benfold is often part of the strike group accompanying the USS George Washington (CVN-73). The carrier is currently heading toward the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, although Benfold appears to have remained in Asia.   Four Days Without Power The power failure affected several basic services aboard Benfold, including galley services, toilets, air conditioning and potable water. The crew, numbering roughly 329 to 359 sailors depending on the ship's configuration, remained aboard the destroyer while the engineering problem was addressed. Daytime temperatures in the South China Sea during late July averaged between 89°F and 98°F (32°C to 37°C), according to weather records. No injuries were reported among the crew. Cmdr. Matthew Comer said the sailors demonstrated “resilience, grit, professionalism, and unwavering steadiness” in their response to the incident. The Navy said the cause of the power outage is under investigation.   Other Ships Provided Assistance Benfold received assistance from other ships in the Japan-based USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group during the four-day outage. The guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls provided cooked meals to the Benfold crew. Other ships in the strike group also provided assistance. The destroyer was later towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs. The Navy said the repairs were completed by August 8, and the ship returned to duty. Ship spotters in Japan subsequently reported that Benfold had arrived there, according to USNI News. The Navy has not said whether Benfold was sent along with the George Washington Carrier Strike Group toward the waters off Iran.   What a Prolonged Power Loss Means for a Destroyer Former U.S. Navy captain Carl Schuster, who said he once spent about four hours aboard a destroyer without power near Puerto Rico, described the challenges of such an incident. He said operations officers would be concerned about crew morale and operational issues, while engineers would focus on resolving the failure. The navigator would have to monitor the ship's direction of drift and approaching weather, while the crew would be concerned about weather, food and what would happen next. The commanding officer and executive officer would have to manage those concerns while also determining when assistance would arrive. Schuster said that four hours without power near Puerto Rico was not nearly as stressful as four days in the South China Sea.   Wider Pressure on the U.S. Navy The Benfold incident comes as the U.S. Navy faces increasing scrutiny over the demands placed on its forces by the Iran war and global commitments. Reports have also raised concerns about low morale and mental health aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East after the carrier spent more than 200 days without a port call during operations against Iran. Analysts and Democratic lawmakers have said the Navy is being stretched by the demands of the Iran war and its worldwide commitments. The George Washington Carrier Strike Group is now heading toward the Middle East to relieve the Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group, according to a Navy official. The Navy has not said whether Benfold is accompanying the group.   Second Power-Related Incident Involving a U.S. Destroyer The Benfold incident is the second reported loss of power involving a U.S. Navy destroyer in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility this year. The area covers waters from off the U.S. West Coast to the western border of India, and from the North Pole to Antarctica. In May, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) lost power and propulsion for several hours in the Indo-Pacific region after suffering what the Navy described as an “engineering casualty” involving its electrical system. The Navy did not specify where the Higgins incident occurred. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers such as Benfold and Higgins form a major part of the U.S. Navy's surface fleet, with more than 70 ships in service. The ships are approximately 500 feet long and have a displacement of nearly 10,000 tons. Depending on configuration, they carry crews of approximately 329 to 359 sailors. The Navy has not publicly identified the specific cause of Benfold's generator failure, and the investigation remains ongoing. Source : CNN

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-17 15:04:06

 U.S 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon, an RTX business, a $22.9 billion seven-year contract to increase production of Tomahawk cruise missiles and associated support. The contract is intended to raise annual Tomahawk production to more than 1,000 missiles, significantly above previous production levels of about 60 missiles per year for U.S. forces. RTX said it delivered three times more Tomahawks in the first half of 2026 than during the same period in 2025. The Tomahawk is a long-range precision strike missile used by the Navy’s surface ships and submarines against land targets. The new award formalizes an earlier framework agreement between the U.S. military and Raytheon covering increased production of several critical munitions. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said the investment will expand the U.S. munitions industrial base and support current operational requirements. Raytheon President Phil Jasper said the company is investing in its workforce, technology, supply chain and facilities to increase production capacity. RTX also plans to work with hundreds of small and mid-sized suppliers across the United States. The contract is part of the Department of War’s Arsenal of Freedom initiative and a broader effort to expand domestic munitions production and rebuild U.S. weapons inventories. The Navy has also been pursuing increased production of other missile systems, including AMRAAM, SM-3 and SM-6, while recent agreements have targeted components for Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-17 13:32:33

 U.S 

PHOENIX, Arizona — Honeywell Aerospace has demonstrated its latest counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) during the U.S. military’s Experimentation: Transforming in Contact (EXTiC) 26-2 event, testing the technology against simulated drone threats in an operationally relevant environment. The event, organized by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in coordination with the Defense Innovation Unit, was held from July 27-29, 2026, at the Playas Training and Research Center in New Mexico. Twenty-one companies were selected from 149 industry submissions. The scenarios included electronic warfare, GPS-denied conditions, autonomous systems and coordinated drone swarms. Honeywell served as the lead systems integrator, combining sensors and effectors with its AI-driven C-UAS software to detect, track and mitigate simulated drones while defending a simulated airfield. The system was demonstrated in both stationary and mobile configurations. “As a lead systems integrator, we combined best-in-class sensors and effectors with our AI-driven C-UAS software to detect, track, and mitigate simulated drone threats while defending an airfield,” said Shannon Bowman, senior customer marketing specialist for defense and space at Honeywell Aerospace. “Our system proved effective across both static and on-the-move operations, highlighting an open, adaptable and layered approach to countering rapidly evolving UAS threats.”   SAMURAI Counter-UAS System At the center of Honeywell’s demonstration was its Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept system, known as SAMURAI. It uses a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture, allowing operators to combine customer-selected detectors and effectors from multiple defense manufacturers. Honeywell has integrated components from BlueHalo, Leonardo DRS, Silent Sentinel, Pierce Aerospace, Walaris, Rocky Research and Versatol. SAMURAI serves as a battle-management layer that fuses information from radio-frequency sensors, electro-optical and infrared trackers and other detectors. Its AI-based software helps distinguish threats and supports kinetic and non-kinetic effectors, including interceptor drones. The system is designed to counter Group 1 through 3 drone swarms, including low-signature “dark” drones that can be difficult to detect. It can operate from a vehicle traveling at up to 70 mph (113 km/h), from a fixed position, or through sensors installed on an aerostat flying more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the ground.   Airborne SAMURAI Development Since March 2026, Honeywell has worked with Odys Aviation to adapt an airborne version of SAMURAI for the company’s long-range Laila unmanned aircraft. Laila is a hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft with a flight time of up to eight hours and a range of approximately 450 miles. The aircraft does not require a traditional runway and is intended to carry SAMURAI as an airborne counter-drone layer. The configuration is being developed to help protect infrastructure such as pipelines, refineries and offshore energy platforms by providing counter-UAS coverage farther from high-value assets. Matt Milas, president of Defense and Space at Honeywell Aerospace, said SAMURAI provides counter-UAS capabilities with scalability and integration with existing defense architectures.   Other Counter-Drone Technology at EXTiC EagleNXT’s joint venture, ThirdEye USA, was separately selected in July 2026 to demonstrate its MeduzaX passive electro-optical counter-drone sensor at EXTiC 26-2. MeduzaX uses AI and passive electro-optical technology to detect, track and classify hostile drones. It is designed to provide 360-degree coverage, can be set up in less than 10 minutes and operates without emitting radiation. The EXTiC event allowed multiple technologies to be tested in scenarios involving contested conditions and drone threats, with Honeywell focusing on an integrated architecture that connects sensors, AI-based software and effectors. Bowman summarized Honeywell’s approach: “One integrated system. Built to stay ahead of the drone threat.”

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-17 13:13:20

 U.S 

NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia — Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has successfully completed the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Production-Ready, Inexpensive, Maritime Expeditionary (PRIME) prototype project for its Watcher small unmanned surface vessel (sUSV), moving the system closer to a potential transition to production. The PRIME initiative was launched to identify commercially available, production-ready autonomous surface vessels for maritime expeditionary operations. HII was selected after a full and open competition that received 116 solution briefs to design, build and demonstrate its solution. The Watcher is based on HII’s ROMULUS-25 unmanned surface vessel and was developed with MetalCraft Marine. Two Watcher ROMULUS-25 vessels were delivered in December 2025 under a DIU contract supporting smaller-form-factor autonomous surface vessels for the U.S. Marine Corps. The two vessels underwent extensive government-led testing covering autonomy, seakeeping, performance and operations in degraded environments. They also demonstrated autonomous mission behaviors during at-sea testing that included contractor demonstrations and government autonomy evaluations. In a memorandum to HII, DIU said the Watcher demonstrated the ability to autonomously travel hundreds of miles through contested waters, loiter in an assigned operating area while monitoring maritime surface threats, and sprint to intercept a noncooperative maneuvering vessel. DIU confirmed that HII achieved the prototype’s key technical objectives and success metrics, supporting a potential transition to production under Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype agreements. The 27-foot ROMULUS-25 is a high-speed unmanned surface interceptor capable of carrying payloads of up to 1,000 pounds and operating at ranges of up to 1,000 nautical miles. Its navigation and mission execution are managed by HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System. Odyssey uses a modular open systems architecture for navigation, mission planning, collaborative behaviors and autonomous operations across different vehicle types. HII said the system can also support AI-enabled contact recognition, identification and edge-based decision-making. Its service-based software architecture allows additional mission technologies to be integrated as requirements change. HII said Odyssey has previously accumulated more than 2,200 hours of autonomous operations in government-led tests and exercises over five years. It has also been deployed on more than 30 platforms, recording more than 12,000 hours of successful at-sea operations. Duane Fotheringham, president of HII’s Unmanned Systems group within its Mission Technologies division, said the milestone reflects the company’s strategy of moving autonomous technologies from concept toward operational capability and providing greater flexibility for naval operations. Mike Reed, general manager of MetalCraft Marine, said the Watcher was engineered for the speed, seakeeping, strength and reliability required by the mission. He added that completing the government-led assessments confirmed the quality of the aluminum platform and its construction. HII plans to position the Watcher and ROMULUS platforms alongside its REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles and Odyssey autonomy software as part of an integrated maritime systems portfolio. The company said these platforms can operate independently or collaboratively to extend fleet reach, improve maritime awareness and support naval operations across surface and undersea domains. The completion of the PRIME prototype provides a potential path toward follow-on production while confirming the Watcher’s performance against the stated operational requirements for autonomous small surface interceptors.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-17 12:22:34

 U.S 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. —  MDA Space has successfully deployed the first eight of 17 replenishment satellites being built for Globalstar’s low Earth orbit (LEO) communications constellation. The eight satellites were launched on August 15 at 9:12 p.m. Eastern Time aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following deployment, contact was established with all eight spacecraft. The satellites are generating power, operating as expected in orbit and entering the commissioning phase, where they will undergo in-orbit testing. The launch marks MDA Space’s first satellite delivery as prime contractor for a commercial communications constellation. MDA Space was selected by Globalstar in 2022 to provide 17 replacement satellites intended to replenish and extend the company’s existing LEO constellation.   MDA Space Leads Satellite Program Under the program, MDA Space is responsible for the overall satellite program, including design, manufacturing, assembly, testing and integration. The spacecraft were fully integrated and tested at MDA Space’s facilities in Montréal, Canada, before being transported to Florida for launch. MDA Space originally announced the 17-satellite contract in February 2022. The contract was valued at $327 million and included the design, manufacture, assembly and testing of the satellites. The satellites are intended to integrate with Globalstar’s existing constellation and help maintain continuity of service. The Globalstar replenishment program has also been an important part of MDA Space’s expansion of its satellite production capabilities. The company has been developing higher-volume manufacturing processes to support constellation-class spacecraft. MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley previously said the Globalstar program was helping transform the company’s satellite design and high-volume production process. The company has also brought its new high-volume satellite manufacturing facility in Montréal into operation.   Rocket Lab Provides Satellite Platforms Rocket Lab is supplying the satellite platforms for the 17 spacecraft under its agreement with MDA Space. The platforms are based on a customized version of Rocket Lab’s Lightning satellite design. Each spacecraft weighs approximately 500 kilograms. Rocket Lab has supplied components including solar arrays, reaction wheels, avionics, flight and ground software, and command and telemetry radios. The platforms were manufactured at Rocket Lab’s facility in Long Beach, California, before being sent to MDA Space in Montréal for integration and testing. Rocket Lab reported that it established contact with all eight spacecraft after launch and confirmed that they were generating power and operating nominally. MDA Space and Rocket Lab’s roles were established when the satellite contract was announced in 2022. MDA Space was named prime contractor, while Rocket Lab was selected to lead development of the spacecraft bus.   Satellites Will Replenish Globalstar’s LEO Network Globalstar’s existing LEO constellation supports mobile satellite services and Internet of Things applications. The company has also used its satellite network to provide direct-to-device services for selected mobile devices. Globalstar previously said the 17 replacement satellites would replenish its existing constellation and provide continuity of satellite services. The company signed launch agreements with SpaceX for two Falcon 9 missions to deploy the replacement satellites. The first launch carries eight of the 17 satellites. The remaining nine satellites are in the final stages of integration at MDA Space’s facilities. Globalstar signed a separate agreement with SpaceX in July 2025 for the launch of the remaining nine replacement satellites. The company said at the time that the second launch was expected in 2026. A specific launch date for the remaining nine satellites has not been announced in the information provided.   Next Steps The eight newly deployed spacecraft will continue through their commissioning process before being incorporated into Globalstar’s operational constellation. The remaining nine satellites will complete the 17-satellite replenishment program once they are integrated, tested and launched. The program gives MDA Space a commercial reference for its role as a prime contractor responsible for delivering satellites for a LEO communications constellation. It also builds on the company’s broader work with Globalstar. In February 2025, MDA Space announced a separate contract worth approximately $1.1 billion to serve as prime contractor for Globalstar’s next-generation LEO constellation, which is planned to include more than 50 MDA AURORA software-defined satellites.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-17 11:44:18

 U.S 

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama — The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is seeking industry prototypes for a new highly mobile radar system designed to detect, track and discriminate ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles and other advanced airborne threats. The Forward-Based Mode (FBM) Radar Next program is being led by the MDA’s Mobile Land-Based Sensors Project Office. The agency issued a presolicitation notice on August 10, 2026, through SAM.gov under its Nimble Options for Buying Layered Effects (NOBLE) Multiple Authority Announcement.   Rapid Prototyping and Production The MDA plans to use Other Transaction Authority (OTA) to speed up the prototyping process. The prototype must demonstrate a clear path to rapid, high-volume production at an affordable unit cost, allowing systems to be produced and replaced cost-effectively in forward locations. Only companies that successfully complete the prototype project will be eligible for a potential sole-source follow-on production award. The MDA will first screen out speculative or immature technologies. Vendors must demonstrate hardware maturity and provide empirical measurement data before entering the prototyping pipeline. The planned stages include concept development; technology and manufacturing readiness and extensibility; subscale prototyping with modeling and simulation; and full-scale prototype development and demonstration. Proposals will be evaluated on technical merit, operational feasibility, schedule viability, producibility, affordability and cost realism.   Mobile and Survivable Design The FBM Radar Next is intended to address limitations of current static or semi-mobile radars, which the MDA says can be vulnerable to counterattacks and lack the rapid relocation capability needed for distributed operations. The system must be transportable by C-17 aircraft and tactical ground vehicles, while supporting rapid setup and teardown. It must provide high-sensitivity detection, persistent tracking and precise discrimination in high-clutter and contested electromagnetic environments. The radar must also support remote operation and automated health monitoring, reducing the need for personnel at the radar site. It must remain interoperable with existing Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) networks and use a flexible aperture configuration and modular open-systems architecture. Its physical, thermal and electromagnetic signatures must also be designed to improve survivability.   Driven by Changing Missile Threats The MDA said the requirement for agile and survivable forward-based sensors has increased as adversaries develop more sophisticated missile capabilities. The notice comes amid reports of Iranian targeting of U.S. air-and-missile defense radars in the Middle East, Russian use of hypersonic and ballistic missiles in Ukraine, and China's continued expansion of missile arsenals in the Pacific. FBM Radar Next is positioned as a more mobile successor concept to systems such as the AN/TPY-2, which has been used in forward-based roles but is not optimized for rapid relocation. The MDA’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request includes funding for two next-generation radar prototypes to mature technologies for a future fleet. The formal solicitation has not yet been released, and the government is not currently accepting inquiries or feedback on the presolicitation. The listed place of performance is Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. The notice carries public-release marking 26-MDA-12385, dated August 10, 2026. Offerors must hold or obtain a facility security clearance through the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) before beginning the first cycle. The MDA also encourages teaming arrangements involving non-traditional defense contractors and small businesses, including shared resource alignment or co-investment.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-16 15:19:53

 U.S 

CHEYENNE, Wyoming — The U.S. Air Force is purchasing Chinese-made DJI drones for counter-drone training at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. The aircraft will be used as realistic stand-ins to train security personnel to detect, track and defeat small unmanned aircraft systems. The purchase is intended to allow the 90th Missile Security Operations Squadron (90 MSOS), under Air Force Global Strike Command, to test radar, electronic warfare, jamming and other counter-drone systems against the actual radio-frequency signals produced by DJI aircraft rather than relying only on computer simulations. On August 14, 2026, the 90th Contracting Squadron posted a combined synopsis and solicitation, identified as FA461326Q1042, seeking a small business vendor to provide the aircraft. Vendor quotes are due August 24.   DJI drones requested The procurement document identifies the requested equipment as the “Red Fleet.” The order includes: Two refurbished DJI Mavic 2 Pro quadcopters with Fly More kits Two DJI Mini 3 Pro drones with remote controllers Two DJI Avata 2 Fly More combos Six airdrop payload release devices Shipping The Air Force plans to award a firm fixed-price contract to the lowest-priced offer that meets the technical requirements. Contracting officials designated the purchase as a brand-name requirement, meaning the Air Force specifically requires DJI products rather than accepting equivalent drones from other manufacturers. A justification document signed July 29 by Contracting Officer Technical Sergeant Chad A. Evans said DJI controls an estimated 80 to 85 percent of the global commercial drone market. The document also states that DJI's proprietary electronic protocols, radio-frequency signatures and flight capabilities are not accurately replicated by American-made drones or other manufacturers. According to the justification, using the actual DJI aircraft is necessary to test counter-drone systems against the equipment that adversaries are statistically most likely to use. The document says relying only on domestic drones or simulated data would leave security personnel without training against DJI's actual radio signatures and communication protocols.   Training for nuclear missile field security F.E. Warren Air Force Base is one of three U.S. Air Force bases that operate Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. Its security personnel are responsible for protecting the missile fields against ground and airborne threats. The 90 MSOS requires the DJI aircraft for counter-small unmanned aircraft systems training as part of its nuclear security mission. The drones will provide live targets and signals for personnel testing detection and defeat capabilities. The justification also notes that Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, another Air Force Global Strike Command missile base, is already using or pursuing similar DJI platforms for counter-drone training. The F.E. Warren procurement is intended to support more consistent threat replication across Global Strike Command's missile fields.   Air Force plans cybersecurity safeguards Although the aircraft are manufactured in China, the Air Force plans to modify the drones before they are used for training. The justification states that every DJI aircraft will be loaded with U.S.-made software called RIZER. According to the document, the software overrides the drones' native firmware and creates an air-gapped system that prevents the aircraft from transferring or downloading telemetry or imagery to foreign entities or Department of War networks. The justification says similar RIZER-equipped DJI drones have previously been procured by other Air Force units for counter-small unmanned aircraft systems testing and training.   Legal authority for the purchase The procurement document cites a July 2025 memorandum from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, titled “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance,” as the authority for acquiring small quantities of foreign drone equipment for electronic warfare testing, training and counter-UAS development. The memo allows officers at the O-6 (colonel) level or equivalent to use the authority provided under 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) to procure foreign drone equipment under specified circumstances without full and open competition. The requirement is still being conducted as a 100 percent small business set-aside because the contracting squadron identified multiple authorized DJI distributors capable of supplying the requested equipment. It is therefore not a single-source award to DJI itself. The purchase is part of F.E. Warren's broader efforts to improve security against small unmanned aircraft. Recent activities have included multi-command counter-small unmanned aircraft systems qualification training at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center in Wyoming involving personnel from Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, U.S. Strategic Command and the Air National Guard. F.E. Warren is also transitioning helicopter support from the UH-1N Huey to the MH-139A Grey Wolf as part of broader upgrades to its nuclear security mission.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-16 14:59:43

 U.S 

WASHINGTON — Publicly available workout data from fitness-tracking app Strava is raising renewed security concerns after an investigation found that military personnel have continued to publish exercise routes from sensitive installations and deployment areas. A Sky News investigation published on August 12 found more than 1,300 Strava users sharing workouts from or near U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Many of the accounts used real names, while the publicly visible routes could reveal where personnel were exercising, their routines and changes in activity around military facilities. Security experts cited by Sky News said such information could potentially be combined with other intelligence to track U.S. personnel and movements. Strava Data Linked to U.S. Bases in Middle East The investigation examined activity around several U.S. military facilities during the conflict with Iran. At the main U.S. naval base in Manama, Bahrain, Sky News identified a Strava account linked to a U.S. Navy contractor who had regularly recorded runs around the base. The activity stopped for two days after personnel began leaving the facility. The account then showed runs around the courtyard of the Crowne Plaza hotel, where some personnel had reportedly relocated. Six days later, Iran attacked the hotel. Two U.S. Department of Defense employees were reportedly wounded, according to the Sky News investigation. However, the investigation did not establish that Strava data was specifically used by Iran to select the hotel as a target. A similar pattern was identified at Jordan's Muwaffaq Al Salti Air Base. Before the conflict, U.S. personnel had regularly published runs across the installation. Activity resumed in April after a pause in March, but Sky News found that the routes had become concentrated in one area. According to the investigation, 76% of the later activities began or ended near barracks on the eastern side of the base. Iran attacked those barracks on July 17, killing three U.S. soldiers. Sky News also found publicly accessible Strava activity at the base on July 16, one day before the attack. Sky News reported that the data can provide what intelligence analysts describe as a "pattern of life" by combining large numbers of individual activities. Such information can reveal regular movements, concentrations of personnel and changes in deployment patterns. British and Israeli Locations Also Exposed The investigation found that the problem extends beyond U.S. forces. Sky News identified about 12,000 workouts recorded inside RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus since January 2026. The investigation also identified British personnel sharing activities from the base and tracked some profiles across deployments in the Middle East. Separate reporting in April found that 519 British military personnel, contractors and family members had publicly recorded Strava activities at sensitive UK military sites. The locations included Faslane, home to Britain's nuclear deterrent, and Northwood, the headquarters of the UK's military command. Sky News also identified three Strava users recording runs inside Israel's Dimona nuclear research facility. The facility is considered highly sensitive and has previously been a target of Iranian attacks. French Military Has Faced Similar Problems French military operations have also been affected by publicly shared fitness data. In March 2026, a French Navy officer using Strava publicly uploaded a workout recorded during the deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The data allowed the ship's location in the Mediterranean, northwest of Cyprus, to be identified. Le Monde matched the Strava activity with satellite imagery and located the carrier and its escort group. The French military acknowledged that publishing the workout did not comply with existing operational security instructions and said appropriate measures would be taken. Earlier investigations also identified Strava activity connected to France's Île Longue naval base, where the country's nuclear-armed ballistic-missile submarines are based. Analysis of activity gaps was reported to have provided indications of submarine patrol periods. Pentagon Has Warned About Fitness Tracker Risks Since 2018 The security problem is not new. In 2018, a Strava global activity map exposed patterns around military facilities, including a previously undisclosed U.S. installation in Niger. The Pentagon subsequently prohibited Department of Defense personnel from using geolocation features on government and personal devices, applications and services in designated operational areas, unless authorized under specified conditions. The Defense Department had already warned in January 2018 that fitness trackers could reveal the locations and routines of military personnel. Officials advised personnel to use the strictest privacy settings and warned that publicly available fitness data could expose military locations and potentially assist targeting. Despite those restrictions and repeated warnings, publicly accessible fitness activity has continued to appear at sensitive military locations. Public Data Can Reveal More Than a Single Location The main security concern is not limited to identifying where one person is exercising. When multiple users repeatedly publish GPS-based workouts, the information can show where personnel are concentrated, their regular routines and changes in activity over time. It can also provide indications of movements between military facilities and changes in the number of people present at particular locations. Sky News said its investigation did not establish that Iran specifically used Strava information to select the targets described in its report. The available data nevertheless demonstrates how publicly shared commercial location information can potentially be combined with other intelligence sources. Strava said it takes user safety and privacy seriously and provides privacy controls. The company also said it expects people working in sensitive professions to use those controls and appropriately limit what they publish. The continued appearance of military activity on public fitness platforms therefore remains an operational-security concern, particularly when individual workout records can be combined to reveal movements and patterns around military facilities.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-16 14:49:13

 U.S 

PHILADELPHIA, PA — U.S. defense technology company Attalon has introduced the Valaris family of directed-energy laser systems, a new product lineup designed to provide defense contractors and military system integrators with multiple laser architectures and power levels for air, land and maritime applications. Attalon says the Valaris family combines its coherent, spectral and dichroic beam-combining technologies with lightweight adaptive optics for beam control. The company has structured the lineup around three variants, allowing customers to select a laser architecture and power level according to their specific mission requirements.   Three Valaris Laser Variants The Valaris X is the highest-powered system in the family. It uses a coherently beam-combined (CBC) architecture and provides 50-kilowatt-class performance. Attalon says the system can scale beyond 300 kilowatts for long-range directed-energy missions and incorporates advanced adaptive optics. The Valaris S uses a spectrally beam-combined (SBC) architecture and provides 30-kilowatt-class output. It is designed to scale to 50-kilowatt-class levels, while focusing on beam quality, manufacturing scalability and cost. The Valaris D uses a dichroically beam-combined (DBC) architecture and provides 10-kilowatt-class performance. Attalon positions it for lower-power missions and as a more cost-effective option for operational applications. According to Attalon, bringing the three architectures together under one product family is intended to give defense primes, system integrators and government customers greater flexibility when selecting a laser system. The company says the modular approach also focuses on manufacturability, maintainability and operational readiness as directed-energy technologies move from demonstrations toward production programs.   Focus on Field Maintainability The Valaris announcement follows Attalon's recent work on improving the maintainability of high-energy laser systems. On July 23, Attalon announced the first production shipment of its Kilowatt Interconnect (kWIC) Disconnect subsystem. The component is designed to allow field replacement of laser amplifiers without fiber splicing or specialized maintenance personnel. Attalon says the system provides a precision-aligned fiber-optic connection and includes verification checks for proper alignment before laser operation. Attalon's focus on field serviceability is part of its broader effort to develop directed-energy components that can be maintained outside specialized facilities.   Recent U.S. Navy Directed-Energy Work Attalon also received a $17.1 million contract modification from the Office of Naval Research under the U.S. Navy's SONGBOW program in July. The work includes continued development of pulsed fiber lasers for remote sensing and illumination and further development of a 400-kilowatt-class directed-energy subsystem through the integration of a 50-kilowatt laser with a beam-control assembly. The work is being led by Attalon's Directed Energy & Advanced Lasers team in Beavercreek, Ohio. The SONGBOW award adds to Attalon's ongoing work in high-power laser systems and beam-control technologies.   Attalon's Directed-Energy Business Attalon is an independent U.S. defense technology company headquartered in Philadelphia. The company works in directed energy, precision optics and coatings for aerospace and defense applications. Attalon says its vertically integrated approach covers technologies from materials through finished laser and beam-control assemblies. The company's Directed Energy & Advanced Lasers business is led by Matt Straup, vice president and general manager. With Valaris, Attalon is bringing its three beam-combining approaches into a single product family, with systems ranging from 10-kilowatt-class to 50-kilowatt-class output and higher scaling options for the Valaris X. The company says the lineup is intended to give defense customers more options when selecting directed-energy systems for different mission and integration requirements.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-16 13:40:35

 U.S 

HAWTHORNE, Calif. — California-based defense startup Thermopylae Aerospace has announced SPART, a tube-launched interceptor designed to counter Group 2 and 3 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and turbojet-powered attack drones. SPART is a foldable, ultra-light electric-powered quadcopter launched from a conventional, mortar-like pneumatic tube. It uses thermal guidance to track and intercept targets and can reach speeds of up to 350 km/h (217 mph), with a targeted flight endurance of up to 20 minutes. The interceptor is designed to address high-volume, low-cost aerial threats, including Shahed-type attack drones. Thermopylae Aerospace is targeting a unit cost of about $10,000 or less per launch. SPART also has a partial-reuse design, allowing an interceptor that misses its target to potentially be recovered and used again. The system can be deployed from UAVs, ground vehicles, maritime vessels and manned vehicles. Rather than depending on a centralized protection system, the company intends SPART to provide a mobile, distributed defensive layer. Thermopylae Aerospace is developing a complete system combining the interceptor with its launcher, RF communications and command-and-control system, which can integrate with available radar systems. Its software has also been designed to work with widely used Ukrainian situational-awareness and command-and-control systems. In mid-July 2026, the company completed a successful end-to-end demonstration at Edwards Air Force Base during the “Game of Drones 26-2” event organized by the U.S. Air Force’s 412th Test Wing. Founder and CEO Yehor Balytskyi briefed senior Air Force Test Center leadership, including Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro and Chief Master Sgt. Sevin Balkuvvar. Thermopylae Aerospace was founded in June 2025 by Ukrainian aerospace and mechanical engineers and is headquartered in Hawthorne, California. Balytskyi left Ukraine at age 17 after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The company has grown from a two-person team to about five employees. In November 2025, Thermopylae Aerospace raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding from investors including Naval Ravikant, UA1, Norgard Capital and Cyrus Venture Fund. The company said the funding would support production expansion, further testing in Ukraine and deployment with defense units. Thermopylae Aerospace says its goal is to develop a low-cost interceptor that can be produced and deployed in high volumes, helping address the economic challenge of defending against large numbers of relatively inexpensive drones.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-16 13:20:34

 U.S 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The U.S. Army has issued a Sources Sought notice for companies capable of producing the T901-GE-900 turboshaft engine, as the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) moves toward its production phase. The notice was posted August 14, 2026, by the Army’s Aviation Turbine Engines Project Office, with responses due by August 29. It is being used for market research and planning and will not directly result in a contract award. The program is advancing under the Middle Tier Acquisition pathway. The T901 is a 3,000-shaft-horsepower engine developed by GE Aerospace. It is designed as a form, fit and function replacement for the T700-GE-701D engines used by the Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64E Apache fleets. The engine fits within the existing engine nacelles, avoiding major structural modifications to the aircraft. The Army selected the T901 in 2019 under ITEP to provide greater power and improved fuel efficiency. The engine is intended to provide about 50 percent more power and 25 percent better specific fuel consumption compared with the T700 while maintaining the same installation envelope. The T901 was also originally planned for the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) before that program was canceled. T901 flight testing on the Black Hawk began in May 2025, following ground testing. As of mid-August 2026, the engine had accumulated about 2,600 hours of test-stand operation and more than 90 hours of aircraft testing, including flights reaching 17,000 feet and 160 knots. The Army has recently granted the engine a preliminary flight rating, with additional airworthiness testing planned.   Technical Data and Production Requirements The Army’s notice states that the government does not currently have a complete Technical Data Package (TDP) for the T901. The missing information includes system and subsystem drawings, tooling drawings and software source code and models. For the future production contract, the Army wants all delivered hardware and software to carry at least Government Purpose Rights. This would allow the government to share technical information with other contractors for maintenance, sustainment and future competitive requirements. The anticipated production contract would have a 60-month period of performance, with production work expected primarily in Lynn, Massachusetts. The contract would cover engines along with: Spare parts and special tooling Support equipment and shipping containers Interim contractor logistics support Depot maintenance work requirements Contractor field service representatives Associated training programs Maintenance support is expected to involve the engine’s original equipment manufacturer as well as the manufacturers of the Black Hawk and Apache.   Production Timeline and Industry Information The Army expects production deliveries to begin no later than 2031 and be completed by 2033. The deliveries will support the Army’s First Unit Equipped and First Unit Issued fielding milestones. The procurement falls under NAICS code 336412, Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing, and is designated as a partial Small Business Set-Aside. Interested companies must provide information on their size, ownership structure and small-business status, along with technical data showing that their manufacturing approach meets Airworthiness Release criteria. The Army also requests engine dimensions and weight specifications, previous airworthiness qualification test reports and pricing estimates. Companies are also being asked whether they maintain a technical, logistics and contracting presence in the Huntsville, Alabama, area, near the Army contracting office at Redstone Arsenal. The Sources Sought notice is part of the Army’s market research as it prepares for T901 production and the planned replacement of T700 engines across the Black Hawk and Apache fleets.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-16 11:55:38

 U.S 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is reviewing major design changes to its Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers to make them more closely resemble earlier U.S. warships, according to current and former U.S. officials cited by The Washington Post. One proposal would move the multi-level command island from its current aft position toward the middle of the ship. President Donald Trump has expressed a preference for the appearance of World War II-era warships. The current aft island arrangement was selected for operational reasons. It provides more deck space around the catapults, helps position aircraft for launch, and reduces turbulence around the angled landing area. A similar review during Trump's first administration concluded that moving the island would require a major structural redesign, potentially affecting the carrier's buoyancy and weight distribution and causing significant costs and delays. The Navy has not made a final decision, and the island review remains in its early stages.   Steam Catapults Planned for Future Carrier The review follows Trump's August 13, 2026 national security memorandum, which directs the Pentagon to develop a plan within 60 days to replace EMALS and advanced weapons elevators with conventional steam catapults and hydraulic systems, beginning with the future USS Doris Miller (CVN-81). The first three Ford-class carriers — USS Gerald R. Ford, USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise — will retain their electromagnetic systems. The Doris Miller, the fourth ship of the class, is being built by Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding. The Navy selected EMALS in 2009, and the USS Gerald R. Ford had completed more than 36,000 EMALS launches by March 2026. The proposed change has raised cost, schedule and integration concerns because the Doris Miller is already under construction and EMALS production is reportedly nearly 50 percent complete. General Atomics, EMALS' manufacturer, has warned of additional integration and schedule risks.   Ford-Class and $275 Billion Battleship Program The lead USS Gerald R. Ford took about 17 years to construct, while future Ford-class carriers have been estimated at roughly $22 billion each. Meanwhile, the administration is pursuing the proposed Trump-class, or BBG(X), nuclear-powered guided-missile battleships as part of the proposed "Golden Fleet." Trump announced the concept in December 2025, with the first ship planned as USS Defiant. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that building 15 ships between 2028 and 2056 would cost about $275 billion. The lead ship is projected at $23.4 billion, with subsequent ships averaging about $18 billion. Earlier congressional material describes the proposed battleships as 840 to 880 feet long and more than 35,000 tons at full load. Planned weapons include long-range missiles, hypersonic weapons, nuclear-armed cruise missiles, high-powered lasers and a railgun. The Navy describes the BBG(X) as a large surface combatant intended for long-range offensive fires, integrated air and missile defense, and command-and-control capabilities. The programs come as the Navy faces continuing shipbuilding capacity, labor, cost and schedule challenges. Adding a new battleship class while continuing other major warship programs would place additional demands on the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base, while any Ford-class redesign would have to be integrated into an already established carrier construction program.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-16 11:43:21

 U.S 

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on August 15, 2026, that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has completed acceptance sea trials for the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the U.S. Navy’s second Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The approximately 100,000-ton carrier departed Newport News on August 12 and returned to the shipyard on August 15 after a series of at-sea tests and evaluations. The completion of acceptance trials moves the ship toward preliminary acceptance and the next phase of Navy testing before delivery. During the trials, Newport News Shipbuilding shipbuilders, sailors assigned to John F. Kennedy and other Navy personnel worked together to evaluate the carrier while underway. Testing examined the operation and performance of major systems and components, including propulsion, navigation, combat systems and aviation infrastructure. “It is an honor to take Kennedy to sea to demonstrate the quality work and commitment by our shipbuilders,” said Derek Murphy, Newport News Shipbuilding vice president of new construction aircraft carrier programs. “This critical set of sea trials is a testament to the entire nuclear shipbuilding enterprise and the work of thousands across our country to prepare CVN 79 to join the fleet.” The acceptance trials follow the carrier’s successful builder’s sea trials earlier this year. John F. Kennedy departed Newport News on January 28 and returned on February 4 after its initial at-sea testing of propulsion, navigation, combat systems and other equipment. After those trials, the carrier returned to Newport News for additional construction work, correction of discrepancies and system integration ahead of the latest acceptance testing.   Ford-Class Systems As the second ship of the Gerald R. Ford class, John F. Kennedy incorporates design and technology changes compared with the older Nimitz-class carriers. The ship includes the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) and next-generation aircraft launch and recovery systems intended to support a higher volume of flight operations. CVN 79 is also being completed under a congressional requirement for a “single-phase delivery approach.” Under this approach, the carrier is intended to be capable of operating and deploying F-35C Lightning II fighter aircraft upon delivery rather than requiring post-delivery modifications for that capability. With acceptance sea trials complete, the next step is preliminary acceptance of the carrier. This will allow the Navy to begin underway testing and evaluation of systems unique to John F. Kennedy. The carrier remains a pre-commissioning unit until formal acceptance and commissioning. Its delivery to the U.S. Navy is currently projected for March 2027, while work continues on remaining systems ahead of delivery.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-16 11:27:09

 U.S 

Huntsville, Alabama / Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, has been awarded a U.S. Army contract worth up to $472 million to provide engineering services for the modernization and sustainment of the Army’s CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter fleet. The contract focuses on avionics work intended to integrate new capabilities, manage component obsolescence and support continued modernization of the aircraft. Work will be carried out in Huntsville, Alabama, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.   Focus on Avionics Modernization The Army is using progressive upgrades to keep the Chinook’s avionics current rather than relying on a single major redesign. The effort includes work involving the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) and the Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS). Collins Aerospace supplies CAAS for the CH-47F Chinook. The system integrates communications, navigation and mission subsystems through Collins’ Flight2 open-systems architecture and is designed to support future upgrades using open standards. The Army’s Chinook modernization program also includes ongoing engineering and obsolescence-management activities. U.S. Army budget documents identify updates to CAAS and DAFCS software as part of the CH-47F Block II program.   Open Architecture for Future Upgrades A major element of the effort is the use of open and reusable avionics architectures. This approach is intended to make it easier to introduce new technologies and replace obsolete components without requiring extensive changes across the aircraft’s entire avionics system. Collins says its open-architecture avionics are designed to provide flexibility for future upgrades while supporting integration of communications, navigation and other aircraft systems. The Army has also identified commonality and future growth as important elements of the Chinook program. The CH-47F already uses an upgraded digital cockpit featuring CAAS and the Digital Automatic Flight Control System.   Supporting the CH-47F Block II The contract comes as the Army continues the transition toward the CH-47F Block II configuration. The Block II program introduces additional improvements to the Chinook, including updates to avionics as well as changes to other aircraft systems. Army program documents describe the CH-47F as the service’s heavy-lift cargo helicopter and identify missions including troop and equipment transport, aerial sustainment, medical evacuation, search and rescue, parachute operations, disaster relief and aircraft recovery. The Block II configuration is intended to provide increased payload and operational reach compared with the existing CH-47F, while also providing additional potential for future growth.   Collins Aerospace's Chinook Role Jenny Miller, vice president and general manager of Vision and Sensing Systems at Collins Aerospace, said the company’s avionics integrate communication, navigation and mission subsystems into a flexible cockpit architecture. “Our longstanding avionics partnership with the US Army ensures the fleet continuously evolves to support the warfighter and meet future operational demands,” Miller said. Collins has supported Chinook avionics through CAAS, which uses an open-systems architecture and integrates multiple communications, navigation and mission systems. The company says the system is designed to support continued modernization and enhancements.   Long-Term Fleet Sustainment The latest contract provides the Army with a framework for continued engineering and avionics sustainment as the Chinook fleet is modernized. It also supports the Army’s broader effort to maintain existing aviation capabilities while introducing new technologies and transitioning to newer configurations. The $472 million value represents the maximum potential value of the engineering services contract rather than a single hardware purchase. The work therefore provides a mechanism for the Army to order engineering and sustainment activities as required. The contract extends Collins Aerospace’s established role in Chinook avionics and supports the continued modernization of the CH-47 fleet as the Army moves forward with the CH-47F Block II program.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-15 14:17:35

 U.S 

MISSISSIPPI — Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Rolls-Royce have successfully demonstrated the operation of a modern aero gas turbine engine on 100% gaseous hydrogen through a fully simulated flight cycle. The ground test covered key phases including start-up, take-off, cruise and landing. The test was conducted at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where a modified Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engine reached full take-off power while operating on hydrogen.   Pearl 15 Completes Simulated Flight Cycle The Pearl 15 is a business aviation engine used to power the Bombardier Global 5500 and Global 6500. Rolls-Royce lists the engine with a maximum certified thrust of 15,250 lb (67.8 kN). According to TCS and Rolls-Royce, the latest test represents the first time a modern aero engine of this class has completed a full simulated flight cycle on 100% hydrogen under the demonstrated conditions. Engineers tested the engine through different operating conditions, including start-up, take-off, cruise and landing phases. The campaign also included fault scenarios to examine the behaviour of the engine and its systems under different conditions. The testing focused on key technologies required for hydrogen propulsion, including hydrogen combustion, fuel systems and engine controls. Rolls-Royce has previously said that its hydrogen programme is intended to develop technology that could eventually support aircraft in the small- to mid-size range, with the longer-term ambition of moving toward flight testing.   Four-Year Hydrogen Programme The latest test is part of a hydrogen propulsion programme launched by Rolls-Royce and easyJet in 2022. The companies began the programme with the objective of developing hydrogen combustion technology capable of powering different types of aircraft, including aircraft in the narrow-body segment. An earlier milestone came in 2022, when Rolls-Royce and easyJet successfully tested a Rolls-Royce AE2100 engine on 100% green hydrogen at Boscombe Down in the UK. Further work included hydrogen combustion testing and component and system-level testing. In 2023, Rolls-Royce and its partners also demonstrated 100% hydrogen combustion in a full annular combustor of a Pearl engine at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Cologne under conditions representing maximum take-off thrust. In 2024, Rolls-Royce announced the development of a full-scale outdoor hydrogen engine test site at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The facility was intended to support testing of a modified Pearl 15 engine and the integration of technologies required for 100% hydrogen operation, with TCS providing engineering expertise.   TCS Engineering Support TCS joined the hydrogen programme as an engineering and technology partner and supported Rolls-Royce in several areas of the programme. Its work included fuel system and engine controls integration, hydrogen combustion analysis, test preparation, validation, data analytics, risk management and detailed design. TCS had previously announced that its engineering support for Rolls-Royce would focus on three major challenges for hydrogen aviation: fuel combustion, fuel delivery and fuel-system integration with the engine. The Stennis test campaign brought together Rolls-Royce, TCS, easyJet, NASA, the UK Health and Safety Executive and other industry partners. Adam Newman, Chief Engineer of the Hydrogen Demonstrator Programme at Rolls-Royce, said the programme provided valuable insights into how 100% hydrogen behaves in a modern aero gas turbine across a full flight cycle. He said the testing also helped validate combustion, fuel and control-system technologies, with the findings expected to support future propulsion developments, including UltraFan. Anupam Singhal, President – Manufacturing at TCS, said the milestone demonstrated the potential of combining advanced engineering, digital capabilities and collaboration across the aerospace ecosystem. He added that TCS would continue supporting Rolls-Royce in hydrogen-powered aviation technologies.   Hydrogen and Future Aviation Hydrogen is being investigated as a potential aviation fuel because its use in suitable propulsion systems can avoid in-flight CO₂ emissions. However, hydrogen-powered aviation requires development across areas including combustion, fuel delivery, storage and aircraft integration. Rolls-Royce says its hydrogen programme is aimed at developing technologies that could help lower aviation emissions and support future propulsion systems. The company is also continuing research into sustainable aviation fuels, gas-turbine efficiency and electrification. The successful Pearl 15 ground campaign provides additional test data on the operation of a modern gas turbine using 100% hydrogen. The results are expected to contribute to the development and assessment of future hydrogen propulsion technologies as the aviation industry works toward lower-carbon air travel.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-15 13:34:27