AI   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J Freedberg Jr

USAF experiment: AI tools produced faster, fewer-error tactical plans than human planners in battle-management trial

In a multi-service, multi-domain battle-management experiment the U.S. Air Force found the top-performing AI tools generated tactical courses of action faster and with fewer errors than military planners. The trial tested several AI systems against human teams in scenarios not typically covered in Air Force training.

Also: Breaking Defense
2026-01-06T13:54:10.499707-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Russia adds anti-aircraft missile capability to Shahed one-way attack drones

By FlightGlobal: Russian forces appear to have modified Shahed-136 one-way attack drones to carry man-portable air defence missiles, marking a tactical evolution aimed at threatening Ukrainian fighter aircraft deployed to intercept the slow-moving UAVs.

Also: defensemirror.com
2026-01-06T13:55:10.665852-08:00
F-16   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Ukrainian F‑16 Pilot Details Operational Challenges, Tactics and Sustainment Issues

By The War Zone: After a protracted campaign to get its hands on F-16s, a Ukrainian pilot details how the jets are now a critical part of the Ukrainian Air Force. After a protracted campaign to get its hands on F-16s, the jets are now a critical part of Ukrainian Air Force capabilities.

Also: defence-blog.com and Aviation Week
2026-01-06T09:54:10.899382-08:00
Supply Chain   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
Wall Street Journal • Connor Hart

Lockheed Martin to Increase Patriot Missile Production Under Pentagon Deal

By Wall Street Journal: The defense contractor committed to surging its Patriot missile output to roughly 2,000 interceptors a year in response to demand from Pentagon officials gearing up for conflicts on multiple fronts.

Also: Reuters, Breaking Defense, Aviation Week, news.ssbcrack.com, insidedefense.com, Stars and Stripes, Defense Daily, defence-blog.com, Bloomberg Law, defencetoday.com, defence-industry.eu, euro-sd.com and 9 more
2026-01-06T09:39:31.164195-08:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
The Aviationist • Stefano D'Urso

Ukrainian Mirage 2000s Are Now Equipped with MICA Missiles

By The Aviationist: A recently emerged photo shows a Ukrainian Mirage 2000 equipped with a MICA air-to-air missile, after being initially showcased only with the older Magic.

2026-01-05T12:41:49.890719-08:00
AI   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J Freedberg Jr

DARPA seeks universal translator between different kinds of quantum computer

By Breaking Defense: With rival tech giants building different kinds of “quantum bits,” from superconductors to photonics to trapped ions, DARPA program manager Justin Cohen worries no one approach will work for every purpose — so he wants to find a way to make them work together.

Also: Breaking Defense
2026-01-06T07:35:28.922837-08:00