DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

How the $150 Billion Defense Reconciliation Bill Rebuilds U.S. Military Capability

July 3, 2025

The Senate's narrow vote on July 1 sent a 940-page reconciliation measure - nicknamed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act - back to the House. At stake is a $150 billion defense add-on that aligns with President Donald Trump's "peace through strength"

Missiles / Drones / Directed Energy

$25 Million Set Aside as Army Plans 2026 Tests of Blackbeard Hypersonic Round on Autonomous Launchers

July 3, 2025

The Army is moving fast to fold a new hypersonic strike option into its tactical fires family. Budget lines for fiscal year 2026 outline Project HX3, a pathway that funnels $25 million toward Castelion's Blackbeard Ground Launch missile and an autonomous launcher

Joint Exercises / Special Ops Training

US Navy’s Large Scale Exercise 2025 Welcomes Canadian, Japanese and NATO Liaison Teams

July 3, 2025

The U.S. Navy will run its third Large Scale Exercise (LSE 25) from late July into August. This iteration brings Canadian, Japanese, and NATO representatives into the control architecture for the first time. They will sit beside U.S. commanders to test global

Pentagon’s .01 Trillion 2026 Plan Funds 19 Navy Vessels to Counter China and Middle East Risks

Defense Budgets / Policy

Pentagon’s $1.01 Trillion 2026 Plan Funds 19 Navy Vessels to Counter China and Middle East Risks

July 2, 2025

The Pentagon has filed its fiscal 2026 request with Congress. Defense officials confirm the document sets aside $47.3 billion for 19 new battle-force ships, more than tripling last year's ship total.

Naval Systems

Royal Australian Navy Welcomes HMAS Arafura as New Arafura-Class OPV

July 2, 2025

The Royal Australian Navy has added a new hull to its order of battle. On 28 June the service commissioned HMAS Arafura, first of the Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels, during a ceremony at Fleet Base West near Fremantle. Defense officials confirm the

Latest

How the $150 Billion Defense Reconciliation Bill Rebuilds U.S. Military Capability

$25 Million Set Aside as Army Plans 2026 Tests of Blackbeard Hypersonic Round on Autonomous Launchers

US Navy’s Large Scale Exercise 2025 Welcomes Canadian, Japanese and NATO Liaison Teams

Pentagon’s $1.01 Trillion 2026 Plan Funds 19 Navy Vessels to Counter China and Middle East Risks

Royal Australian Navy Welcomes HMAS Arafura as New Arafura-Class OPV

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer