Defense News

Trump encourages Latin American leaders to use military action to help US fight cartels The gathering came just two months after Trump ordered an audacious U.S. military operation to capture Venezuela’s then-president, Nicolás Maduro.

The gathering came just two months after Trump ordered an audacious U.S. military operation to capture Venezuela’s then-president, Nicolás Maduro.

US to send anti-drone system to Mideast after successful use in Ukraine, officials say The system that is being sent, known as Merops, flies drones against drones. It is small enough to fit in the back of a midsize pickup truck.

The system that is being sent, known as Merops, flies drones against drones. It is small enough to fit in the back of a midsize pickup truck.

Pentagon task force to conduct laser test against drones The Pentagon’s counter-drone task force is set to test a high-energy laser system against drones at White Sands Missile Range over the weekend.

The Pentagon’s counter-drone task force is set to test a high-energy laser system against drones at White Sands Missile Range over the weekend.

Pentagon acknowledges tough quest to counter Iranian drones Pete Hegseth and other military leaders warned lawmakers that gaps in counter-drone technology could leave U.S. forces and assets increasingly vulnerable.

Pete Hegseth and other military leaders warned lawmakers that gaps in counter-drone technology could leave U.S. forces and assets increasingly vulnerable.

Russia provided Iran with information that can help Tehran strike US military, sources say The information could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region.

The information could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region.

Air Force test launches Minuteman III with multiple reentry vehicles The launch was scheduled years in advance and was not in response to current world events, according to Air Force Global Strike Command.

The launch was scheduled years in advance and was not in response to current world events, according to Air Force Global Strike Command.

Aircraft launching from the USS Abraham Lincoln during Operation Epic Fury.

No deal with Iran except ‘unconditional surrender,’ Trump says In a post on Truth Social, President Trump wrote that “IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE” should the Islamic Republic decide to put down its arms.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump wrote that “IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE” should the Islamic Republic decide to put down its arms.

Patriot production delays prompt Switzerland to seek European air-defense fallback The country will also buy fewer Lockheed Martin F-35 jets than initially planned after unit costs of the fighter increased.

The country will also buy fewer Lockheed Martin F-35 jets than initially planned after unit costs of the fighter increased.

Gulf allies complain US did not provide notice of Iran attacks and ignored warnings, sources say Officials in Gulf countries complained the U.S. ignored their warnings that the war would have devastating consequences for the entire region.

Officials in Gulf countries complained the U.S. ignored their warnings that the war would have devastating consequences for the entire region.

Iran can still fire drones and missiles — experts weigh the implications on the war “Each interception carries a financial and logistical cost," one analyst said.

“Each interception carries a financial and logistical cost," one analyst said.

Pentagon says it is labeling Anthropic a supply chain risk ‘effective immediately’ The Trump administration is following through with its threat to designate the AI company as a supply chain risk.

The Trump administration is following through with its threat to designate the AI company as a supply chain risk.

‘Race of attrition’: US military’s finite interceptor stockpile is being tested Iran's barrage of ballistic missiles and suicide drones threaten to deplete the U.S. military's finite number of interceptor missiles, experts warn.

Iran's barrage of ballistic missiles and suicide drones threaten to deplete the U.S. military's finite number of interceptor missiles, experts warn.

NORAD intercepts 2 Russian maritime patrol aircraft near Alaska, Canada NORAD detected and tracked two Russian Tu-142s operating within the Alaskan and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones on Wednesday.

NORAD detected and tracked two Russian Tu-142s operating within the Alaskan and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones on Wednesday.

March 5, 2026 - U.S. forces conduct precision strikes in Iran, targeting Iranian command and control facilities, air defense capabilities, missile + drone launch sites, and military airfields.

US and Mideast countries seek Kyiv’s drone expertise as Russia-Ukraine talks put on ice Ukraine announced earlier this year that it would begin exporting low-cost interceptor drones specifically designed to hunt and destroy Iranian Shaheds.

Ukraine announced earlier this year that it would begin exporting low-cost interceptor drones specifically designed to hunt and destroy Iranian Shaheds.

Italy, allies send warships to protect Europe’s southeastern edge from Iran strikes “With Spain, France and Holland, we will send naval assets to protect Cyprus in the next few days,” Guido Crosetto told Italy’s parliament in a statement.

“With Spain, France and Holland, we will send naval assets to protect Cyprus in the next few days,” Guido Crosetto told Italy’s parliament in a statement.

France, Germany create panel to advance shared nuclear deterrence plans The Franco-German initiative appears to carry the tacit backing of the Trump administration, according to comments by a top Pentagon official.

The Franco-German initiative appears to carry the tacit backing of the Trump administration, according to comments by a top Pentagon official.

Novel interceptor drones bend air-defense economics in Ukraine’s favor Artificial intelligence plays no role yet in interception missions — today it is still manual ramming or close-in detonation.

Artificial intelligence plays no role yet in interception missions — today it is still manual ramming or close-in detonation.

Trump to meet arms executives Friday in push to boost weapon supplies The meeting will focus on rapidly replenishing the U.S. stockpile of munitions and weapons expended in the Iran war.

The meeting will focus on rapidly replenishing the U.S. stockpile of munitions and weapons expended in the Iran war.

Despite air dominance, US ‘can’t stop everything’ Iran fires, Hegseth says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged on Wednesday that some Iranian air attacks may still hit their targets despite U.S. air superiority over Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged on Wednesday that some Iranian air attacks may still hit their targets despite U.S. air superiority over Iran.

Bombs headed for Iran in Operation Epic Fury don names of US sailors Photos released by U.S. Central Command shows that U.S. sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln marked ordnances headed for Iran with their names.

Photos released by U.S. Central Command shows that U.S. sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln marked ordnances headed for Iran with their names.

US launches Precision Strike Missiles in Iran war in first combat use Video shows the Precision Strike Missile being launched in open desert terrain from M142 HIMARS as part of Operation Epic Fury.

Video shows the Precision Strike Missile being launched in open desert terrain from M142 HIMARS as part of Operation Epic Fury.

UK says F-35 fighter has shot down an in Iranian drone in first for RAF

French-German fighter program on life support as Dassault blames Airbus “If Airbus maintains its position of not wanting to work with Dassault, the matter is dead,” said Dassault boss Eric Trappier.

“If Airbus maintains its position of not wanting to work with Dassault, the matter is dead,” said Dassault boss Eric Trappier.

“I just could not be prouder of our men and women in uniform leveraging innovation to create dilemmas for the enemy.” – Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander

US and Ecuador launch military operation against organized crime groups Military forces from Ecuador and the United States have begun joint military operations against organized crime groups in the South American country.

Military forces from Ecuador and the United States have begun joint military operations against organized crime groups in the South American country.

Mastermind of Iranian plot to assassinate Trump is dead, Hegseth claims “Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.

“Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.

The US Air Force just used its oldest bomber to attack Iran U.S. Central Command confirmed that a fleet of B-52s was used to target ballistic missile and commander control posts in Iran.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that a fleet of B-52s was used to target ballistic missile and commander control posts in Iran.

Israeli F-35 notches first kill of a manned fighter in downing of Iranian Yak-130 In another first, the U.K. reported that its Royal Air Force’s F-35B jets had intercepted Iranian drones above Jordan.

In another first, the U.K. reported that its Royal Air Force’s F-35B jets had intercepted Iranian drones above Jordan.