Satellite   Middle East   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)  
Associated Press

Hackers Hijack Iran's Badr Satellite Feed to Air Exiled Crown Prince's Message

Hackers briefly seized Iranian state television channels carried on the Badr satellite, airing footage of exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi and calls for security forces to 'not point your weapons at the people.' The unauthorised feed ran for several minutes and was later circulated online.

Also: Stars and Stripes, The Independent, Times of India, Jerusalem Post and 4 more
2026-01-18T23:47:52.406868-08:00
F-16   Middle East   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
defencetoday.com

Spears of Victory 2026: 15-nation air exercise including US and UK begins at Saudi Air Warfare Centre (18 Jan–5 Feb)

By defencetoday.com: The multinational air force exercise Spears of Victory 2026 is currently underway at the Air Warfare Centre in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, having commenced on 18 January and is scheduled to continue until 5 February.

2026-01-18T11:45:41.740855-08:00
North America   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Washington Post • Dan Lamothe

Pentagon readies 1,500 soldiers, including Alaska’s 11th Airborne, for possible Minnesota deployment after Insurrection Act threat

By Washington Post: Troops with the Army’s 11th Airborne Division in Alaska are preparing after President Donald Trump’s Insurrection Act threat, according to defense officials.

Also: Fortune and ANI News Agency
2026-01-17T21:15:40.222601-08:00
Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J Freedberg Jr

Air Force Demonstrates Cyber‑Equipped EC‑130 for In‑Flight Wireless Hacking and Electronic Warfare

By Breaking Defense: NATIONAL HARBOR: Matthew Broderick in his basement, playing Wargames over a landline, is still the pop culture archetype of a hacker. But as wireless networks became the norm, new-age cyber warfare and traditional electronic warfare are starting to merge.

2026-01-17T16:05:38.708045-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Army Hypersonic Weapon Program Misses Fielding Deadline, Signaling Continued Schedule Slippage

By Bloomberg: The Army has once again missed its own deadline for fielding the first US hypersonic weapon, in a sign that one of the Pentagon’s top priorities is still behind schedule.

Also: Bloomberg Law, defence-blog.com, swarajyamag.com, South China Morning Post and Stars and Stripes
2026-01-17T07:57:27.128869-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Helicopter   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Reuters

Royal Navy’s first full-size autonomous ASW helicopter completes maiden flight

By Reuters: Britain’s Royal Navy said on Friday its first full-sized autonomous helicopter, designed to track submarines and carry out other high-risk missions amid rising North Atlantic tensions, had completed its maiden flight.

Also: FlightGlobal, Janes, Aviation Week, Aerospace Testing Intnl, The Aviationist, Business Insider, CNN, defence-industry.eu, Sky News, Economic Times, navylookout.com, Naval News and 11 more
2026-01-16T04:11:05.120839-08:00