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26 Jun 25. Senior Officials Outline President’s Proposed FY26 Defense Budget. A group composed of senior Defense Department and military leaders outlined President Donald J. Trump’s proposed $1.01trn national defense budget request for fiscal year 2026 during a media briefing today at the Pentagon. The request, which represents a 13.4% increase from fiscal year 2025, includes $848.3bn for the discretionary budget and $113.3bn in mandatory funding through congressional reconciliation.
“This historic defense budget prioritizes strengthening homeland security, deterring Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, revitalizing the defense industrial base and maintaining our commitment to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” a senior defense official told reporters.
The official added that the $113bn in mandatory reconciliation funding would address the president’s priorities, including shipbuilding, missile defense, munitions production and quality-of-life initiatives for the nation’s warfighters. Divided across the department, the proposed budget breaks down to $197.4bn for the Army, $292.2bn for the Navy, $301.1bn for the Air Force and $170.9bn defensewide, according to the senior defense official. Included in the Air Force’s proposed budget is $40bn toward the Space Force, which represents a 30% increase in funding from fiscal year 2025, a senior military official said.
Some of the allocations in the proposed budget include:
- $25bn toward an initial investment in the proposed Golden Dome for America comprehensive missile defense initiative;
- $60bn toward nuclear enterprise modernization, including all three legs of the nation’s nuclear triad;
- $3.1bn for continued F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet production;
- $3.5bn in funding for the Air Force’s planned F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance fighter jet platform;
- Funding for 19 new Navy battle force ships while maintaining 287 ships across key platforms;
- $2.5m for nuclear shipyard productivity enhancements;
- $6.5bn invested in conventional and non-hypersonic munitions and $3.9bn in hypersonic weapons;
- $15.1bn invested in cybersecurity to ensure joint, all-domain maneuvering while protecting U.S. interests in cyberspace;
- $1.3bn for industrial base supply chain improvements;
- $2.5bn for missile and munitions production expansion; and
- $1.2bn for the Office of Strategic Capital’s loan program, meant to attract private investment in national security projects.
In addition to materiel, the president’s budget also addresses military readiness and training, as well as quality-of-life improvements for service members and their families.
“At nearly $160bn, the FY26 budget request funds DOD readiness to a historic high to meet the planned employment of forces,” the senior military official said, adding that the budget also includes a 3.8% pay raise and a $5bn investment in unaccompanied housing for service members. The proposal also recommends some notable reductions, including DOD’s cancellation of its E-7 Wedgetail early warning and control aircraft program due to what the official described as “survivability concerns in a contested environment.”
The military official also stated the budget recommendations include reducing procurement of the F-35 Lightning II stealth strike fighter from 74 to 47 aircraft. At the same time, increased funding would go toward modernization of the jet’s capabilities, as well as roughly $1bn allocated for investment in spare parts to address the F-35’s sustainment and readiness challenges, the military official said. Additionally, the senior defense official noted that the proposed budget reflects Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Feb. 20, 2025, order to refocus the budget.
” identified nearly $30bn in FY25 efficiencies and reductions,” the defense official said, adding that those reductions — along with contract caps and grant savings identified by the Department of Government Efficiency — have allowed for a fiscal realignment into “high priority programs — increasing lethality and readiness.”
The budget also requests $5bn for border security.
“The $5bn we’re requesting is our troops to actually be, as well as for detention support,” the senior defense official said, noting the initial portion of the FY26 budget justification books — commonly referred to as J-books — were released yesterday. More will continue to be released daily. (Source: U.S. DoD)
26 Jun 25. ‘Historically Successful’ Strike on Iranian Nuclear Site Was 15 Years in the Making. This weekend’s strike on Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant used 30,000-pound GBU-57 “massive ordnance penetrator” bombs. The design of those weapons and plans for attacking the site had been in the works for some 15 years, and resulted in the destruction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“President Trump directed the most complex and secretive military operation in history, and it was a resounding success, resulting in a cease-fire agreement and the end of the 12-day war [between Iran and Israel],” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a briefing today at the Pentagon. “Because of decisive military action, President Trump created the conditions to end the war, [while also] decimating — choose your word — obliterating, destroying, Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”
Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said two officers at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency had studied the site in Iran — which was built to enrich uranium for use in nuclear weapons. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Caine said, is the world’s leading expert on underground targets — such as the Fordow site, which is about 60 miles south of Tehran.
“In 2009, a [DTRA] officer was brought into a vault at an undisclosed location and briefed on something going on in Iran,” Caine said. “He was shown some photos and some highly classified intelligence of what looked like a major construction project in the mountains of Iran. He was tasked to study this facility, work with the intelligence community to understand it, and he was soon joined by an additional teammate.”
The two worked for 15 years to gain understating of the site, but came to realize, after studying the location, that the United States didn’t have a weapon which could penetrate into its depths to destroy what was contained inside.
“They began a journey to work with industry and other tacticians to develop the GBU-57,” Caine said. “They tested it over and over again, tried different options, tried more after that — they accomplished hundreds of test shots and dropped many full-scale weapons against extremely realistic targets, for a single purpose: kill this target at the time and place of our nation’s choosing.”
As part of Operation Midnight Hammer, directed by the president, on Saturday, June 21, at 6:45 p.m. EDT, which is Sunday, June 22, at 2:15 a.m. in Iran, U.S. B-2 Spirit bombers out of Whitman Air Force Base in Missouri dropped a dozen of those GBU-57 bombs onto the uranium enrichment site, destroying the facility and setting back Iranian nuclear efforts by years. While Caine said that the joint force doesn’t do battle damage assessment — the intelligence community does that — he was able to relay what’s known so far. The weapons were built, tested and delivered properly; they were released on-speed and on-parameter; they were all guided to their intended targets; and the weapons all functioned as designed.
“We know that the trailing jets saw the first weapons function, and the pilot stated, ‘this was the brightest explosion that I’ve ever seen. It literally looked like daylight,'” Caine said.
It wasn’t just hardware and experts at DTRA who made Midnight Hammer hit as hard as it did. The crews who flew non-stop for 36 hours and more than 13,000 miles round trip, also played a huge role, Caine said.
The B-2 teams included both active duty and Missouri National Guard pilots, Caine said.
“When the crews went to work on Friday, they kissed their loved ones goodbye — not knowing when or if they’d be home,” Caine said. “Late on Saturday night, their families became aware of what was happening, and on Sunday, when those jets returned [to] Whiteman, their families were there — flags flying and tears flowing. I have chills literally talking about this.”
Operation Midnight Hammer was a success, Caine said, because of the bomber crews, experts at DTRA and thousands of scientists, airmen and maintainers working together.
“[This] … is what America’s Joint Force does,” Caine said. “We think, we develop, we train, we rehearse, we test, we evaluate, every single day. And when the call comes to deliver, we do so. I could not be more proud standing up here today of our Joint Force.”
At the conclusion of Operation Midnight Hammer, Caine said, the Joint Force did not stand down. Instead, it continues to defend the United States. Following the destruction of the Iranian uranium enrichment site, Caine said, Iranians attacked American forces at nearby Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. And there, the joint force defended as it was trained to do. On Monday morning, Caine said, the Joint Force saw indications that Iran meant to attack U.S. bases in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. At Al Udeid, he said, most forces were moved off base to extend the security perimeter, but two Patriot missile batteries remained behind to defend the installation.
“[That’s] roughly 44 American soldiers responsible for defending the entire base, to include Centcom’s forward headquarters in the Middle East, an entire air base, and all the U.S. forces there,” Caine said. “The oldest soldier was a 28 year old captain. The youngest was a 21 year old private who’d been in the military for less than two years.”
Around 12:30pm on Monday, EDT, or 7:30pm in Qatar, Caine said, Iran attacked.
“As the targets were detected, round after round of Patriot missiles are ejected from their canisters by an initial launch charge,” he said. “Then the main solid rocket motor ignites — you can feel this in your body if you’ve ever been around a Patriot taking a shot. And round after round goes out and guides against those missiles coming inbound. We believe that this is the largest single Patriot engagement in U.S. military history.”
Caine said the U.S. military was joined in protecting the installation by Qatari Patriot crews as well. While Caine wouldn’t say how many Patriot missiles were launched, he did say there was “a lot of metal flying around.”
“Between attacking missiles being hit by Patriots, boosters from attacking missiles being hit by Patriots, the Patriots themselves flying around, and the debris from those Patriots hitting the ground, there was a lot of metal flying around,” he said. “Our U.S. air defenders had only seconds to make complex decisions with strategic impact. These awesome humans, along with their Qatari brothers and sisters in arms, stood between a salvo of Iranian missiles and the safety of Al Udeid. They are the unsung heroes of the 21st century United States Army.”
Following execution of Operation Midnight Hammer, and its follow-on effects, Hegseth said the effects are worth remembering.
“This was an historically successful attack, and we should celebrate it as Americans,” the secretary said. “It gives us a chance to have peace, a chance to have a deal, an opportunity to prevent a nuclear Iran — which is something President Trump talked about for 20 years, and no other president had the courage to actually do so.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
26 Jun 25. Air Force Leaders Testify on Expanding Air, Space Dominance. During a hearing in Washington today, Air Force senior leaders told a Senate defense subcommittee that the department’s fiscal year 2026 budget request prioritizes defending the homeland and bolstering defenses in the Indo-Pacific region, where China is the pacing threat. Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink said that to defend the homeland, the department is modernizing its nuclear forces and nuclear command, control and communications. Nuclear forces are being upgraded with the development of the LG-35A Sentinel, an intercontinental ballistic missile system, which will replace the LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBMs. The other leg of the triad being developed is the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is capable of delivering conventional and nuclear munitions. Regarding the pacing threat, Meink said, “We will deter China through investments in our people, our readiness and our posture within the Indo-Pacific region.” He noted that readiness in the region includes conducting high-level exercises that will test the department’s ability to deploy and operate in harsh environments. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said that in addition to the importance of the nuclear triad modernization, other efforts include the development of the F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance fighter jet — designed to replace the F-22 Raptor — revitalizing the B-52 Stratofortress bomber fleet and upgrading the F-35 Lightning II and F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft.
“These systems will anchor our strategic deterrent for decades,” he said.
Equally important to the department is the investment in service members, Allvin said, noting that the ongoing continuing resolution has negatively impacted personnel funding and recruiting.
The general said a more lethal Air Force means prioritizing the right capabilities and projects while divesting aging systems and unused infrastructure. The space domain is critical to U.S. economic prosperity and national security, said Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, noting that space assets include GPS and satellites, which facilitate communications, as well as battlefield awareness and targeting.
“In the past three years, the Space Force has been asked to take on critical new missions like ground and air moving target indications, adding new space control capabilities, advanced training requirements and a threefold increase in launch tempo at our national spaceports,” Saltzman said.
The newest mission set is the space-based technology development associated with the “Golden Dome” program.
“These are not modernization efforts or shifts from legacy missions. They represent new requirements for missions that have never been accomplished by military space organizations,” Saltzman said, adding that acquisition professionals understand the needs of the warfighter and have driven efficiencies across all mission areas, saving hundreds of millions of dollars on launch services and shaving months off contracting timelines.
(Source: U.S. DoD)
26 Jun 25. Trump wants more drones and missiles, fewer F-35s in $893 bn budget request.
- Summary
- Trump’s budget focuses on high-tech missiles, drones, and troop pay raise
- Navy jobs cut, fewer ships and jets to save money
- Debate on Capitol Hill over F-35 jet procurement
U.S. President Donald Trump wants a pay raise for troops, more high-tech missiles and drones in next year’s defense budget, while cutting Navy jobs, and buying fewer ships and fighter jets to save money, according to budget materials posted Wednesday. At $892.6bn, the defense and national security budget request is flat compared with this year. The budget, which also includes nuclear weapons-related activities carried out by the Department of Energy and increases funding for homeland security, puts Trump’s mark on the military by pulling funds away from weaponry and services to fund his priorities. The White House said the funding will be used to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, and revitalize the defense industrial base. Most of the funding for Trump’s marquee Golden Dome missile defense shield was included in a separate budget request and is not part of the latest proposal sent to Congress. In the 2026 budget Trump requested fewer F-35 jets made by Lockheed Martin and only three warships. Procurement of a Virginia-class made by General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries and 15 other ships are expected to be included in a separate appropriation bill, the Navy said. (Source: Reuters)
24 Jun 25. Nominees for Central, European Commands Testify on Growing Adversarial Threats. U.S. forces in the Middle East are laser-focused on warfighting, lethality and readiness, and they are performing superbly, said Navy Vice Adm. Charles B. Cooper II, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, while testifying today at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing for his nomination to admiral and Centcom commander.
“The Middle East is incredibly dynamic today. There are challenges, for sure, but also real strategic opportunities,” he said, noting that although Iran has been tactically degraded, it remains the leading source of instability in the region and the top sponsor of terror throughout the world.
Cooper also cited the continued threat posed by ISIS in Iraq, Syria and the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and said he hopes the new government in Syria can help suppress the militant organization.
“Everything we do in Syria will be diplomatically led, and I think we’re heading in a good direction in that regard,” he said, adding, “From a military perspective, our No. 1 priority is the safety of our men and women in uniform.”
Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, director for operations for the Joint Staff, also testified during the hearing for his nomination to general and commander of U.S. European Command and supreme allied commander Europe.
“Our adversaries are converging, and the risks of conflict with one or more of them grows each and every day. Accordingly, it is more essential than ever for us to focus on warfighting, readiness and lethality at all echelons,” Grynkewich said.
It is in America’s interest to have a strong NATO, he added.
Grynkewich noted that while the Indo-Pacific region has risen in importance over the past two decades, European and American security remain as intertwined as their histories, cultures and economies. Increased military spending by NATO members will ensure a strong alliance, he said, adding it’s also important to spend the money in ways that complement essential capabilities.
The general said it’s important for the U.S. to invest in munitions, drones and counter-drone technologies.
“We need to focus not just on traditional prime contractors but also expand the competitive space to new entrants to get as much production capacity as possible,” he said. (Source: U.S. DoD)
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need.
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