Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Jan. 16 lambasted a decades-old contracting program that provides business opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses, calling it a breeding ground for fraud and disparaging it as a “DEI” effort.
But experts and an executive from a firm that uses such contracts say the level of fraud critics like Hegseth alleged has been greatly exaggerated.
Some…
Estonia nears decision on which missile defense system to buy
January 27, 2026
WARSAW, Poland — Estonia is gearing up to acquire a missile defense system, participating in broader efforts by the Baltic States to boost investments in expanding their air-defense network.
The country’s authorities said they plan to select the supplier by the end of…
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Indian Air Force is currently on its fifth attempt to obtain air-to-air refueling aircraft, but it is now closer than ever to procuring these desperately needed force-multiplying assets.
The Defence Acquisition Council cleared a potential…
Taiwan leaders face pushback on massive defense budget mechanics
January 26, 2026
NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan – Taiwan’s government may be facing a fight to find the funding to pay for planned military spending, including announced arms purchases from the United States.
Taipei said last month it would buy a large $11.1 billion arms package from the United States including HIMARS rocket systems. A month earlier Taiwanese President William Lai announced a roughly NT$1.25 trillion…
Ukrainian leaders find lessons in Trump’s daring Venezuela raid
January 26, 2026
KYIV, Ukraine — As U.S. President Donald Trump started the new year by flaunting American military power in Venezuela, the episode has left Ukrainian officials wondering whether Washington would exhibit a similar brand of decisiveness in 2026 to end Russian attacks on…
PARIS — NATO is ready to engage in a potential Arctic mission, but hasn’t started planning one as there has been no political guidance to do so, said Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, after a meeting of the organization’s top military leaders…
Qatar-gifted Air Force One plane delivery expected this summer
January 23, 2026
The Air Force expects to have a Boeing 747 gifted from Qatar ready to serve as an interim Air Force One presidential transport plane by this summer.
In a statement to Defense News, an Air Force spokesperson said the service “remains committed to expediting delivery of the VC-25 bridge aircraft in support of the presidential airlift mission,” and the plane is on track to be delivered no later…
ZHYTOMYR, Ukraine — “These peace talks feel like cognitive dissonance to me,” “Primo” wrote in a message to Military Times while deployed in southern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian…
MILAN — Major defense projects involving the United States, Canada, and Norway remain on track in spite of strained relations with traditional allies following the Trump administration’s push for Greenland.
The cooperative endeavors illustrate how relationships in the…
US lawmakers release $839B compromise defense spending bill
January 22, 2026
The House and Senate’s conferenced version of a fiscal 2026 defense budget would restore funding for the Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX fighter and up the Pentagon’s spending request on the Air Force’s F-47.
In materials released Monday, the House Appropriations Committee said the compromise $839 billion spending bill would provide $3.9 billion for the military’s sixth-generation…
