DEFENSE

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has released three defense and national security documents outlining prevailing challenges, principals for its military and ways to improve the force. Defence Minister Andrew Little on Aug. 4 presented to lawmakers a 36-page “Defence Policy and Strategy Statement,” a 12-page “Future Force Design Principles” document and an inaugural 44-page […]

OVER THE MARIANA ISLANDS — The airmen have five seconds. Poised next to nearly three tons of cargo — plastic barrels of water — these loadmasters aboard a C-17 airlifter know the stakes. If they airdrop the precious supplies too early, the cargo ends up in the Pacific Ocean. Too late? Same result. When the

The war in Ukraine has certainly underscored the value of allies and partners in major conflicts. So, too, it reminds us about the critical necessity of having a range of options for empowering those countries who enjoy such a relationship. One such tool is the president’s authority to confer Major Non-NATO Ally, or MNNA, status

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is planning a first flight test of some elements that will make up the air and missile defense architecture of Guam in December 2024, the agency’s acting director said Aug. 9 at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium. The test will involve the Navy’s Aegis weapon system

GRAZ, Austria — German sensor specialist Hensoldt has released a standalone package of its Twinvis passive radar, a technology that promises the detection of aircraft optimized for stealth, the company announced. Four customers have placed orders for the system, known as Twinvis Sheltered, company spokesperson Lothar Belz told Defense News. According to an Aug. 4

An unprecedented Senate freeze in confirming more than 300 senior military officers for critical jobs across the joint force demands immediate action to avoid the national security disaster that could arise from not having a full stable of senior leadership. Leaving key vacancies in critical Pentagon leadership posts — including the Army chief of staff

WARSAW, Poland — The Romanian Ministry of National Defence has requested the parliament’s approval for the purchase of 32 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, according to Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr. The planned procurement is estimated to be worth about $6.5 billion. In an interview with local broadcaster Antena 3, Tîlvăr said his ministry is “taking

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand plans to create another intelligence agency to help the government more rapidly react to and better coordinate its response to security threats. The Royal Commission, charged with looking into the March 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, recommended the formation of a new agency in its report presented to Parliament in

PARIS — Denmark will invest about 4 billion Danish kroner (US$615 million) through 2033 in the country’s Navy and Home Guard fleets, aiming to improve surveillance and defense of the country’s home waters, the government said. The plans include the acquisition of four multifunctional environmental-protection and minelaying vessels, a ship with drones and sonar systems

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Spain will rapidly increase its military spending rate this year to reach the 2% of GDP target set for NATO members, the country’s prime minister announced on Tuesday. Spain so far has been among the alliance’s lowest defense spenders, with just 1.3% of the country’s total economic power going to the

U.S. Marines will test one of the service’s newest counter-drone defense systems during this year’s Balikatan military exercise in collaboration with the Philippine military, according to the Marine Corps. Marines with the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion’s Ground-Based Air Defense Battery will conduct live-fire training with the ground-based Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, a

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at Ukraine’s president, saying Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prolonging the “killing field” after pushing back on ceding Crimea to Russia as part of a potential peace plan. Zelenskyy on Tuesday ruled out ceding territory to Russia in any deal before talks set for Wednesday in