The year that was and the year that will be, according to our reporters
2025 was a year of change, both for the defense community and for Breaking Defense. Let’s catch you up.
Year in Review 2025
US-European relations will define the next year: 2026 preview
Transatlantic political turbulence could disrupt orders from European customers for US defense equipment over the long term, but if the last year is anything to go by, business is likely to be relatively predictable.
Europe’s time to shine in space? 2026 preview
Germany is sprinting to pump up its military space systems, perhaps changing the balance of power in setting European-wide priorities.
For defense AI, bubble, bubble, toil and … bargains?: 2026 preview
“The bubble is real,” said the founder of the Pentagon’s Joint AI Center, retired Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan. “[But] for the DoD, there could be new opportunities to partner with all kinds of tech companies…if their commercial opportunities start to evapor…
The drone wingman race kicks into high(er) gear: 2026 preview
Sometime in 2026, the Air Force will make a decision about what designs to produce for the first round of its drone wingmen program. The service is also expected to home in on what it wants next.
Middle East fighter jet deals, missile defenses and peace talks: 2026 preview
Next year could see Turkey and Saudi Arabia joining the F-35 club, war in Lebanon and more.
What’s next for Navy icebreakers: 2026 preview
The White House in 2024 and 2025 prioritized rebuilding America’s icebreaker fleet. But how long will that last?
From National Defense Strategy plans to acquisition overhaul findings: 2026 preview
The coming 12 months could shake up where US troops are positioned and new details about the Golden Dome initiative.
NATO allies oppose US peace deal for Ukraine as FCAS falters: 2025 review
From spikes in European military spending to the push for a virtual wall to protect NATO countries from Russian drones, the continent faces a new era in defense.
Artifical intelligence is everywhere: 2025 review
From the skies over Ukraine, to Chinese cyber attacks, to bureaucratic battlefields inside the Pentagon, artificial intelligence has grown from an experiment or niche product to an increasingly routine tool of military organizations.