Analysis & Reports

The Pentagon's 2026 National Defense Strategy prioritizes homeland defense and deterrence against China, mandating allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. Congress has allocated $12.6 billion to enhance surveillance and counter China's military buildup. The strategy emphasizes 'deterrence by denial' along the First Island Chain, while reallocating critical defense assets from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East raises concerns about U.S. commitment to regional allies.

Marcus ChenTue Mar 17 2026Loading...

Joe Kent resigned as the head of the National Counterterrorism Center in the United States on Monday, citing moral objections to the ongoing U.S.-Israel war on Iran. He argued that Iran did not pose an imminent threat and criticized the war as being driven by external pressures. Kent, a veteran and former CIA officer, expressed concerns about the implications of sending future generations to fight in a conflict that he believes serves no American interests.

General Patton's U.S. Seventh Army prioritized the capture of Palermo over a decisive encirclement at Messina during Operation Husky, allowing German forces to escape. In the Lorraine campaign, Patton's aggressive tactics led to high casualties in a challenging terrain, while the battle for Metz revealed his underestimation of fortified positions. Resource shortages during the Saar Offensive further complicated his operations, resulting in exhaustion among American forces before the Battle of the Bulge.

The Pentagon increased its Golden Dome spending plan by $10 billion to enhance space capabilities for homeland defense against aerial threats. U.S. Space Force General Michael Guetlein emphasized the need for scalable and affordable solutions. The initiative, which now totals $185 billion, involves nine companies working on the command and control layer, with recent demonstrations showing comparable effectiveness to legacy systems.

The U.S. Navy has extended the service lives of the USS Ohio and USS Florida to maintain undersea strike capabilities amid delays in the Columbia-class submarine program. The USS Georgia successfully launched over two dozen Tomahawk missiles at Iranian nuclear sites during Operation Midnight Hammer, demonstrating the effectiveness of Ohio-class submarines. This extension aims to prevent a capability gap while the Navy evaluates the future roles of these submarines.

The United States Marine Corps announced that Marines can now complete handgun qualifications using M17 Romeo red dot optics, provided they are issued by their unit. This policy change is part of a broader initiative to enhance marksmanship training and combat effectiveness. Additionally, select Marines may qualify with Glock pistols instead of the standard M17 or M18 handguns.

The U.S. Navy sent the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) to sea trials from Naval Station Norfolk, marking its first time underway since 2014. The trials aim to verify the ship's upgraded systems and combat readiness following a multi-year modernization program. The vessel's certification for operational deployment will depend on the successful completion of these tests.

The U.S. Navy is partnering with Gecko Robotics to implement drones and AI for ship inspections, aiming to enhance fleet readiness to 80 percent by 2024. This $71 million initiative will allow for faster and more accurate identification of repairs, significantly improving maintenance processes across various naval vessels. Gecko Robotics is already engaged in maintenance efforts for aircraft carriers and submarines, addressing the Navy's ongoing repair challenges.

The U.S. Navy is partnering with Gecko Robotics to enhance ship maintenance through the use of AI and drones, aiming for 80% fleet readiness by 2024. This $71 million initiative will allow for faster and more accurate inspections of ships and equipment. Currently, 52 of the Navy's 290 battle-force ships are undergoing repairs, highlighting ongoing maintenance challenges.

The U.S. Navy awarded a five-year IDIQ contract to Gecko Robotics to employ hull-scaling robots for inspecting 18 ships in the Pacific Fleet over the next nine months. This initiative aims to enhance the Navy's combat surge readiness to 80 percent by 2027, utilizing technology that detects repairs significantly faster than traditional methods. The contract is valued at up to $71 million.

The U.S. Navy plans to pursue a sole-source contract with Boeing for software updates to the Harpoon missile support system, announced on March 16. This effort aims to enhance the Common Munitions BIT/Reprogramming Equipment Mission Application Program, ensuring operational readiness. Recent successful tests of the Harpoon Block II Update missile were conducted at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Point Mugu Sea Range, validating its effectiveness against various targets.

The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) issued a Request for Information on March 16, 2026, to develop an automated system for extracting geospatial features from imagery and maps. This initiative aims to enhance intelligence delivery and operational planning by utilizing Automated Feature Extraction (AFE) technologies. The system is expected to achieve high accuracy and support various intelligence functions, including mapping and infrastructure analysis.

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal died in a Dallas hospital after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for alleged fraud and theft. His family stated he was healthy before his detention, raising questions about his treatment in custody. U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson criticized ICE for its handling of Paktyawal's case, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding deaths in custody.

The Chinese 24th Peacekeeping Force assisted Indonesian forces in Lebanon by detecting unexploded ordnance along patrol routes. This operation was completed in two and a half days, ensuring safety in the area amid ongoing tensions. The mission involved clearing a distance of over 4500 meters to establish safe patrol routes for Indonesian peacekeepers.

On March 5, 2026, Dominion Dynamics announced a $50 million investment to develop the Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP), an uncrewed aircraft designed to operate alongside the Royal Canadian Air Force's F-35 and Gripen jets. This initiative aims to enhance surveillance, electronic warfare, and strike capabilities while reducing risks to human pilots. Canada has already committed to purchasing 30 F-35A airframes, with the first deliveries expected soon at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

The Army awarded an $87 million contract to Anduril Industries for its Lattice command-and-control software, aimed at enhancing counter-unmanned systems. This contract is part of a broader agreement potentially worth up to $20 billion over the next decade, allowing federal agencies to purchase Anduril's products. The initiative is designed to streamline military procurement processes and improve operational efficiency.

The U.S. Navy announced that the USS Nimitz will postpone its retirement and remain in service until at least March 2027. This decision follows delays in the commissioning of the USS John F. Kennedy and allows the Navy to maintain its fleet of 11 aircraft carriers. Currently, the Nimitz is deployed in the U.S. Southern Command area, having left Naval Base Kitsap.

The U.S. Army awarded Anduril an $87 million task order for its Lattice software, which will serve as the command and control backbone for counter-drone operations. This award is the first in a potential $20 billion enterprise contract over the next decade, aimed at enhancing the Army's capabilities against UAS threats. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to consolidate contracts and improve procurement efficiency across the Department of Defense.

President Trump framed his call for allies to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz as a loyalty test, following resistance from several nations. Countries like Germany and Italy have declined to assist, emphasizing NATO's defensive role. The Strait remains blocked, impacting global energy supplies, while Iran has signaled its readiness to continue its military actions without negotiation.

AeroVironment announced its acquisition of Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) for about $200 million, enhancing its capabilities in uncrewed systems and loitering munitions. ESAero will continue operations in California as a subsidiary, focusing on advanced prototyping and manufacturing. This acquisition follows AeroVironment's previous purchase of BlueHalo for $4.1 billion, indicating a strategic expansion in the defense technology market.