DefenseNews

US Navy wants helicopter sonar that can detect subs – and mines

As the Iran war has shown, detecting and sweeping mines is one of the biggest challenges for the U.S. Navy. Meanwhile, the sea service also has to worry about detecting submarines operated by China, Russia and other nations. But rather than separate sonars and helicopters for spotting mines and subs, the Navy is exploring the convenience of having one sonar that allows a single helicopter to…
Read more
DefenseNews

Australia refines its defense strategy and investment plan

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Australia issued updates for two pivotal planning documents this week – its National Defence Strategy 2026 and Integrated Investment Program 2026 – while simultaneously promising a boost in defense spending. Defence Minister Richard Marles pledged defense accounts would receive an additional A$14 billion (US$10 billion) over the next four years, and an extra A$53…
Read more
DefenseNews

How the US military could clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz

As the United States embarks on clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, it could draw on an arsenal of drones, explosive‑laden robots and helicopters to reduce risks, though de‑mining crews could still be vulnerable to Iranian attacks. The U.S. is trying to secure the strait from mines as part of efforts to end Iran’s disruption of shipping, which has severely curbed global energy supplies…
Read more
DefenseNews

Iran war exposes weakened state of Britain’s armed forces

LONDON — The Iran war has left Britain’s armed forces exposed, heaping pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to act on his promises to invest in defense, after years of warnings from military bosses about the U.K.’s shrinking capabilities. When a British military…
DefenseNews

Berlin gets a front-row seat to German weapons’ performance in Ukraine

VIENNA — Germany is formalizing a system under which its defense industry will receive unprecedented access to combat performance data from its own weapons fighting in Ukraine, as part of a sweeping €4 billion ($4.72 billion) defense package signed in Berlin on Tuesday. The battlefield data memorandum, described by Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as the first agreement of its kind…
Read more