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Stars and Stripes • Gary Warner

USAF conducts scheduled Minuteman III test flight with multiple reentry vehicles

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command conducted a scheduled operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile carrying multiple reentry vehicles to collect telemetry on accuracy and reliability. The launch was planned years in advance and was not in response to current world events.

2026-03-05T14:12:11.230714-08:00

CNBC

Trump says defense CEOs agreed to quadruple production of 'Exquisite Class' weaponry

2026-03-06T13:14:13.611070-08:00

Associated Press

U.S. precision strike likely hit Iranian girls' school, investigators say

2026-03-06T11:20:36.512110-08:00

Reuters

Pentagon and FAA to test high‑energy laser counter‑UAS at White Sands, March 7–8

2026-03-06T11:39:28.229154-08:00

News Timeline

CNBC

Trump says defense CEOs agreed to quadruple production of 'Exquisite Class' weaponry President Trump said he met with CEOs of major defense contractors and that they agreed to quadruple production of 'Exquisite Class' weaponry. Attendees included BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Corp., Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace and L3Harris Missile Solutions, representing major U.S. and allied primes.

2026-03-06T13:14:13.611070-08:00

Trump says defense CEOs agreed to quadruple production of 'Exquisite Class' weaponry

Reuters

Pentagon and FAA to test high‑energy laser counter‑UAS at White Sands, March 7–8 The Pentagon's Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Federal Aviation Administration will conduct a high‑energy laser counter‑UAS test at White Sands, New Mexico, March 7–8. The weekend trials are intended to assess airspace safety and address FAA concerns about military laser counter‑drone operations.

2026-03-06T11:39:28.229154-08:00

Pentagon and FAA to test high‑energy laser counter‑UAS at White Sands, March 7–8

Associated Press

U.S. precision strike likely hit Iranian girls' school, investigators say Satellite imagery and eyewitness footage show a precision aerial strike struck an Iranian girls' school at the outset of the U.S.-Israeli campaign; U.S. military investigators say a U.S. precision strike likely caused the blast and are reviewing whether AI-assisted targeting and human error played a role.

2026-03-06T11:20:36.512110-08:00

U.S. precision strike likely hit Iranian girls' school, investigators say

Washington Post

U.S. Cancels 82nd Airborne Training; Sparks Speculation of Mideast Deployments The U.S. abruptly canceled a planned training event for the 82nd Airborne Division, drawing attention to the division's rapid-response, ground-combat role and fueling speculation that units may be re-tasked for operations in the Middle East. The cancellation pauses scheduled readiness activity while authorities assess force posture.

2026-03-06T09:22:22.652807-08:00

U.S. Cancels 82nd Airborne Training; Sparks Speculation of Mideast Deployments

Reuters

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Switzerland trims F-35 buy to about 30 jets amid rising costs, seeks European air‑defence fallback Switzerland will purchase roughly 30 Lockheed Martin F‑35A fighters, down from an initial 36, after unit‑cost increases pushed the programme over budget. The government declined to add funds to preserve procurement limits and is pursuing a complementary European air‑defence option amid Patriot production delays.

2026-03-06T06:54:51.375903-08:00

Switzerland trims F-35 buy to about 30 jets amid rising costs, seeks European air‑defence fallback

AeroTime

UK says RAF strikes on Iranian missile sites could be lawful under self‑defence as it expands regional air‑defence posture David Lammy said RAF jets could lawfully strike Iranian missile sites in self‑defence, as the UK broadens its regional air‑defence posture. The comment signals a willingness to consider offensive options amid heightened Iran‑linked missile and drone activity affecting UK forces in the region.

2026-03-06T04:33:48.589132-08:00

UK says RAF strikes on Iranian missile sites could be lawful under self‑defence as it expands regional air‑defence posture

SpaceWatch Global

EU debates a Space Act as officials map space’s defence role at Amsterdam Space Symposium At the inaugural Amsterdam Space Symposium, EU Space Envoy Marjolijn van Deelen and space‑law expert Prof. Tanja Masson‑Zwaan set out the legal and policy questions around preparing European space for defence use and whether a consolidated EU Space Act is needed to govern dual‑use activities.

2026-03-06T04:01:04.555847-08:00

EU debates a Space Act as officials map space’s defence role at Amsterdam Space Symposium

AeroTime

Russia warns Finland’s move to lift ban on hosting nuclear weapons will raise tensions Russia warned Finland’s proposal to lift its ban on hosting nuclear weapons would stoke tensions across Europe. Moscow said the change would prompt a response from Russia, escalating rhetoric over Nordic security and complicating NATO and regional defence planning.

2026-03-06T02:52:45.507034-08:00

Russia warns Finland’s move to lift ban on hosting nuclear weapons will raise tensions

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Defense Policy News

USAF conducts scheduled Minuteman III test flight with multiple reentry vehicles

Trump says defense CEOs agreed to quadruple production of 'Exquisite Class' weaponry

U.S. precision strike likely hit Iranian girls' school, investigators say

Pentagon and FAA to test high‑energy laser counter‑UAS at White Sands, March 7–8

News Timeline