Super carriers, smaller carriers rise across the Indo-Pacific
Amid debate over aircraft carriers' vulnerability, analysts told Breaking Defense global interest is strong.
USV maker Seasats says drone came within meters of Chinese warship during Pacific transit
“It’s pretty common to pass within five or 10 miles of a tanker — in the middle of ocean, there’s really not much traffic going on,” said CEO Mike Flanigan. But “for 20 minutes, we basically were shadowed by a Chinese destroyer very closely.”
Plans for Singapore F-15 training detachment in Guam cancelled
The decision was mutually agreed upon by Singapore and the US, according to a statement from Singapore's defense ministry.
Anduril increases Indo-Pacific footprint with Taiwan, South Korea partnerships
The American firm is setting up a new office in Taipei, as it delivers loitering munitions to the island.
Japanese defense minister welcomes Australian frigate decision, but analysts warn risks remain
“Japan and Australia are special strategic partners, and this was a major step toward further enhancing security cooperation with Australia,” said Gen Nakatani, Japanese defense minister.
Why it matters that DoD quit on a defense forum in Australia
The “cancellation of this dialogue is disappointing and counterproductive for alliance interests,” Rory Medcalf, head of the Australian National University’s National Security College, said. “It is in the interests of both countries that such dialogues resume as soon as possible.”
Australia selects Japan’s Mogami frigate in $6.5B deal
The deal, for 11 frigates, represents the first major arms sale for Japan since World War II.
Four reasons to accelerate F-35 acquisition now
The US Air Force is falling behind China's in both age and readiness, JV Venable writes, which is why procuring more F-35s is imperative.
PACAF Chief: A more contested Indo-Pacific needs a new kind of exercise
In this op-ed, Kevin Schneider explains how REFORPAC, an exercise in the Indo-Pacific, can improve readiness for the US.
First Japanese F-35Bs to arrive in-country within days
The US ally currently has the largest number of F-35s on order outside of the United States, with plans for 157 jets split into 105 F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft and 42 F-35Bs.
South Korea to perform engine overhauls for US Army Chinooks
It was not announced which South Korean defense company would be carrying out the depot-level maintenance of the Chinook’s T55 turboshaft engines, but a Hanwha Aerospace spokesperson reportedly said that the company is the only one in-country with the facilities and expertise capable of doing the work.
We are China hawks. Don’t pivot to Asia!
The US should not pivot to Asia, but instead focus on the Eurasian continent as a whole, write Shay Khatiri and Michael Mazza in this op-ed.
‘Threat detectors’: Australia issues first batch of counter-UAS system contracts
The move comes amid a global drone and counter-drone spending spree, including in the US where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently signed a memo that in part directed every US Army squad to be armed with small, one-way attack drones by the end of fiscal 2026.
Australia pays US another $525 million to bolster AUKUS industrial base
“There's a schedule of payments to be made. We have an agreement with the United States as well as with the United Kingdom, it is about increasing their capacity, their industrial capacity,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.