Defense

• Komite Angkatan Bersenjata Senat telah memajukan draf versi National Defense Authorization Act yang mencakup ketentuan untuk memblokir pengurangan gaji militer otomatis yang dipicu oleh gimik anggaran tertentu terkait kerangka kerja sekuestrasi. • Ketentuan tersebut muncul setelah para pejabat Pentagon memperingatkan bahwa pemotongan gaji artifisial dapat memicu masalah perekrutan dan retensi, serta setelah beberapa kelompok advokasi melobi para pembuat undang-undang untuk mencabut batasan sekuestrasi secara permanen. • Senator Adam Smith dan anggota komite lainnya berpendapat bahwa anggota militer tidak boleh menjadi korban sampingan dalam pertarungan anggaran politik.

• Delegasi kongres DC berusia 88 tahun, Eleanor Holmes Norton, merespons dengan tegas terhadap ancaman federal paling serius bagi pemerintah kota dalam 30 tahun terakhir dari Trump. • Norton, yang didukung oleh sekutu Muriel Bowser, menganggap tindakan Trump sebagai kemenangan politik bagi kendali lokal. • Kebuntuan ini menggarisbawahi perebutan kekuasaan yang sedang berlangsung antara tata kelola federal dan DC.

• Sevii mengumumkan peluncuran kemampuan Autonomous Cyber Swarm Defense (CSD) pada 28 April 2026, untuk melawan serangan siber berbasis AI bervolume tinggi dengan kecepatan dan skala mesin. • Platform ADR ini menerapkan agen Agentic AI Cyber Warrior yang mampu mendeteksi, membendung, dan memulihkan ancaman dalam waktu kurang dari 15 menit, mengurangi beban kerja analis sebesar 95% dengan model harga tetap per aset yang menghilangkan biaya token AI. • Mode CSD menampilkan Myrmidon Defense Technology (MDT) untuk mikro-orkestrasi yang efisien, memungkinkan penganggaran yang terprediksi tanpa perlu perekrutan tambahan atau outsourcing, sebagaimana dicatat oleh CEO Synergem Technologies, Frank Holt.

• Google and the U.S. Department of Defense have finalized an agreement allowing the Pentagon to use Google's AI models for classified military and defense purposes, amending an existing contract between the two entities. • The deal grants the DOD access to Google's artificial intelligence capabilities for what the company describes as "any lawful government purpose," expanding the scope of prior defense collaborations. • The partnership marks a significant expansion of Big Tech's involvement in U.S. defense operations, continuing a trend of major tech companies providing AI infrastructure to government agencies.

• The US and Japan signed an upgraded defense agreement Friday expanding joint military operations, technology sharing, and coordinated response protocols to counter Chinese military activities in the Indo-Pacific region. • The agreement authorizes increased US military presence in Japan, including enhanced surveillance capabilities and expedited weapons deployments, representing the most significant defense treaty expansion since 2015. • Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the alliance upgrade as destabilizing and counterproductive to regional peace, while Taiwan and South Korea welcomed the commitment to deterring further territorial aggression.

• Fortra announced the launch of its new Defense and Intelligence Unit (DIU) on April 16, 2026, from Minneapolis to deliver integrated cyber solutions to defense and national security organizations worldwide. • The unit focuses on cross-domain cyber innovation, AI-powered capabilities, and mission expertise for critical infrastructure and allied nations. • This development strengthens US cybersecurity posture amid rising global threats to defense sectors.

Expert said federal law bars officials from taking actions in their jobs that benefit their own financial interestsA high-profile US defense department official who oversees the agency’s artificial intelligence efforts made a profit of up to $24m selling a private investment he held in Elon Musk’s AI company earlier this year, according to government ethics records released this month. The value of his stake totaled a maximum of a million dollars when he joined the department.Emil Michael, who is the Pentagon’s under secretary for research and engineering under the Trump administration, oversees negotiations with AI companies and has been pushing the defense department to rapidly increase the widespread use of AI. Continue reading...

• The Golden State Warriors defeated the Sacramento Kings 110-105 on Tuesday at Chase Center in a defensive battle. • Draymond Green discussed key adjustments the Warriors made with Steph Curry on the floor during postgame interviews. • The victory showcases Golden State's continued competitiveness in the Western Conference standings.

Man working for V2X died in night attack as five sources say they are being placed in harm’s wayA man employed by the US defense contractor V2X has been killed in a drone attack on Erbil airbase, amid concerns from colleagues that they are being placed in harm’s way and pressured to remain in Iraq despite security risks, five sources said.The worker, from Kenya, died in a night attack in his sleeping quarters on the base on 24 March. Another five workers were injured. They are from Kenya and India, and are among a group of about 45 workers employed by V2X who have remained on the base. One of the workers is in a critical condition with severe burns, sources said. Continue reading...

• Presidents Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol signed a defense enhancement pact on April 4, 2026, in Washington, extending US nuclear umbrella to counter North Korea's 70+ missile tests in 2025. • Pact includes $12 billion in US precision munitions sales and joint AI-driven missile defense systems operational by 2028. • Agreement bolsters Indo-Pacific deterrence, with Yoon stating, 'This alliance is ironclad against Pyongyang's provocations.'

Dayton Webber is accused of shooting Bradrick Michael Wells twice in the head during an argumentA quadruple amputee professional cornhole player acted in self-defense when he shot and killed a passenger in his Tesla during a heated argument, his attorney has said.Dayton Webber, 27, appeared in Charles county district court via videoconference for a bail review Wednesday, where judge Patrick Devine noted that he left Maryland after the 22 March shooting of 27-year-old Bradrick Michael Wells. Devine ordered Webber to remain jailed without bail. Continue reading...

Democrats rebuke White House’s ‘bleak and unacceptable’ view of priorities after 10% cuts proposed to other programsUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDefense spending would surge to its highest level in decades under a budget proposal put forward by the Trump administration on Friday, while other government programs would face cuts totaling 10%.The document prepared by the White House office of management and budget (OMB) is a starting point for negotiations that will probably occupy Congress’s appropriators in the coming months, and are unlikely to be enacted in full. Continue reading...

• Japan and South Korea formalized a expanded military cooperation agreement on Thursday, establishing joint command structures and coordinated response protocols to address escalating North Korean weapons development and missile tests. • The two nations agreed to share real-time intelligence on North Korean military activities and established a rapid-response task force designed to coordinate anti-missile defense systems within 48 hours of any provocation. • The agreement represents the strongest formal defense partnership between the two countries in over a decade and signals growing concern about North Korea's advancing intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities.

Ocasio-Cortez says Israel can fund its own defense and she will oppose any new US aid amid human rights concernsUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a US representative, said on Wednesday that she will oppose any future US military aid to Israel, including for defensive systems.In a statement on social media, Ocasio-Cortez said that Israel was fully capable of funding “Iron Dome and other defensive systems”, and that “consistent with my voting record to date, I will not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and US law”. Continue reading...

• Colorado Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar sustained an upper-body injury against the Calgary Flames on Monday and will miss some time. • Makar has recorded 75 points in the season so far, highlighting his critical role on the team's defense. • The injury impacts the Avalanche's playoff push in the NHL's Western Conference standings.

• Boeing announced a $18 billion multiyear contract award from the U.S. Department of Defense for development and production of advanced air-to-air missile systems, representing one of the largest defense contracts awarded in the past year. • The program spans eight years and includes approximately 2,000 advanced missiles, supporting air superiority initiatives for the U.S. Air Force and allied nations. • The contract award marks a significant boost to Boeing's defense and space segment, which has faced revenue headwinds from commercial aircraft production challenges, and provides revenue visibility through 2034.

• Tech companies including Palantir, Anthropic, and Anduril are increasingly partnering with the US Department of Defense, marking a significant shift from decades of strained relations between the tech sector and military. • Anduril announced a 10-year, US$20 billion contract with the US military, while Palantir's Maven data analytics platform and Anthropic's AI have been used extensively in operations against Iran, including defense against Shahed drones. • The collaboration represents what investors view as a lucrative opportunity, with traditional military contractors like Lockheed Martin and Boeing now joined by rising tech giants in supplying cloud computing, AI-powered drones, and advanced defense systems.

• The U.S. government has designated Anthropic's Claude AI model as a potential supply-chain risk amid evaluations for military applications. • This follows Department of Defense introductions of new guardrail policies for military AI use, with xAI’s Grok also entering classified systems. • The move highlights growing scrutiny on AI models' security and reliability for national defense.

• Anduril demonstrated its AI-powered Lattice OS at the Hill and Valley Forum on March 24, 2026, for asset tracking and kill chain analysis. • The system supports autonomous defense in multi-domain environments, aiding U.S. military re-industrialization. • Used in drones and submarines, it addresses AI sorting challenges in high-stakes operations.

Investigation concludes actor will not face criminal charges, with Ritchson also declining to pursue a potential charge against his neighborThe Reacher star Alan Ritchson will not face criminal charges in relation to a widely publicised violent confrontation with a neighbor, after Tennessee police found he was acting in self-defense.In a video obtained by TMZ on Sunday, the 43-year-old actor appeared to strike Ronnie Taylor several times as Taylor kneeled on the ground in a suburban neighborhood in Tennessee. Ritchson’s two children could be seen nearby sitting on motorbikes and watching the incident unfold. Continue reading...

• The Pentagon transitioned from pilot projects to long-term enterprise contracts with venture-backed defense tech firms, exemplified by deals with Anduril and Palantir totaling billions. • Anduril's contract covers AI-powered drones, autonomous systems, and counter-UAS hardware tied to live missions, setting new benchmarks for manufacturing and delivery. • Steven Simoni of Allen Control Systems called it a 'meaningful signal' that startups must prove operational reliability over prototypes.

• The US Army announced a major enterprise agreement with Anduril, consolidating 120-130 prior orders into a 5-10 year contract worth up to $20 billion for AI drones and detection systems. • The deal shifts Pentagon strategy from pilot programs to long-term fixed-price contracts with select defense tech startups, with an initial $87 million task order issued. • This establishes a benchmark for venture-funded firms, amid tensions with AI companies like Anthropic restricting military use of their models.

• The United Arab Emirates reported heavy explosions in Dubai early Friday as its air defenses intercepted incoming Iranian fire over the city. • Kuwait reported two oil refineries on fire and Saudi Arabia disclosed that its Samre refinery came under attack, indicating Iran's widening campaign against Gulf energy infrastructure. • The attacks represent Iran's strategic effort to target regional economic assets and disrupt global energy supplies as the conflict escalates beyond direct military engagements.

• On March 20, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the Pentagon's request for $200 billion in extra funding, stating 'it takes money to kill bad guys'. • The request supports ongoing U.S. offensives, including jet patrols and helicopter strikes against Iranian forces in key waterways. • Funding comes amid surging oil prices from Iranian attacks on facilities, prompting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to propose lifting sanctions on Iranian oil.

Report shows how minerals critical to defense readiness have seen a ‘near total’ disruption in seaborne tradeSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe closure of the strait of Hormuz is causing a “paralyzing, real-time problem” for any prospective manufacturing surge in the US defense industrial base, and even for the repair of defense equipment damaged by Iranian attacks, according to analysis published by West Point’s Modern War Institute.In particular sulphur, a vital upstream input in the extraction of critical minerals including copper and cobalt, has seen a “near total” disruption of seaborne trade in the straits, which makes up half the world’s total shipments, and prices have spiked nearly 25% since the war began, and seen a 165% rise year on year, the report said. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Department of Defense designated Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID) as one of six critical technology areas in November 2025, with the Quantum Applications Program receiving $59.5 million in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. • Quantum computing, sensing, and networking have advanced at the research level, but substantial gaps remain between laboratory demonstrations and industrial deployment, particularly in miniaturization, durability, and production cost reduction for quantum sensors. • The United States maintains classical computing leadership but faces gaps in quantum-supercomputer deployment compared to international competitors, with Europe and Japan reaching operational quantum-supercomputer deployment stages that U.S. initiatives have not yet achieved.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Friday that Iran is exercising 'sheer desperation' in counterattacks against the US and Israel, following the crash of a refueling plane in western Iraq that killed six airmen. The incident raises the total US troop deaths in the operation to 13, with officials confirming no hostile fire involvement. Hegseth's remarks precede reports of 2,500 Marines and a warship deploying to the region, signaling escalation. Analysts warn of prolonged conflict risks amid rising casualties and regional instability.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda vetoed legislation on March 14, 2026, blocking access to nearly €44 billion in EU defense loans, escalating tensions with his government. The move comes amid broader EU-US friction over Ukraine support and Middle East conflicts. Critics argue it weakens collective defense as Russia benefits from lifted sanctions. Warsaw anticipates legal challenges and potential EU funding cuts.