DefenseNews

China maps ocean floor as it prepares for submarine warfare with US

SYDNEY — China is conducting a vast undersea mapping and monitoring operation across the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans, building detailed knowledge of marine conditions that naval experts say would be crucial for waging submarine warfare against the United States and its allies. In one example, the Dong Fang Hong 3, a research vessel operated by Ocean University of China, spent 2024 and 2025…
Read more
DefenseNews

US Army to demo first crew-free Black Hawk

The Army has taken a step toward pilot-optional flight, receiving its first Black Hawk helicopter equipped with autonomy systems that allow it to fly without a human crew. The service received the aircraft, designated H-60Mx, and said the Black Hawk variant will begin…
DefenseNews

The US Army is already ditching its most powerful laser weapon yet

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on Laser Wars, a newsletter about military laser weapons and other futuristic defense technology. Subscribe here. The U.S. Army hasn’t even officially taken delivery of its most powerful high-energy laser weapon yet, but the service is already walking away from it in pursuit of a newer model. In a new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report…
Read more
DefenseNews

Dutch armed forces to add drone operators to combat brigades

PARIS — The Netherlands will add specialized drone operators and counter-drone units to its combat brigades starting in April, according to Dutch Chief of Defence Gen. Onno Eichelsheim, who said the country is the first to take that step. The Dutch armed forces already…
DefenseNews

Marines test ‘cruise control’ swim feature on amphibious vehicle prototype

The vehicles vying to replace the Marine Corps’ aging light armored vehicle fleet hit the water for the first time earlier this year, completing a series of tests to demonstrate safety and performance across a spectrum of sea conditions and highlighting some new features in the process. The testing, which involved the variant of the future advanced reconnaissance vehicle, or ARV, equipped with…
Read more
DefenseNews

Israel forges ahead on ground incursion against Hezbollah in Lebanon

Israel is forging ahead with its incursion into Lebanon, in what it claims is a vital fight against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group. The operation, which began on Monday, is separate from the joint U.S.-Israel war on Iran, but the dynamics of each conflict zone will inevitably intersect with each other. The Israeli deployment is expected to last several weeks and is part of a broader…
Read more