2026 – Page 64 – The Defense Post

Apr- 2026 -

16 April

U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Morales, assigned to 41st Field Artillery Brigade, updates Soldier information in a battalion aid station during Saber Guardian 25, Cincu Training Area, Romania, June 13, 2025. The aid station enables rapid triage, treatment, and evacuation of casualties, ensuring readiness and lifesaving support in austere operational environments. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Hunter Carpenter) Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict.

DARPA’s $2M Bet: Teach AI Agents to Talk Smarter and Discover New Science

DARPA is going all-in on AI agents that don’t just trade answers, but could help unlock the next wave of scientific breakthroughs.

16 April

Sea

Akhsan Erido Elezhar

A High-Risk Part of USV Ops Just Went Autonomous With Vestdavit’s ‘AutoHook’

A new robotic system from Fairbanks More Defense’s Vestdavit is aiming to reduce risk in the launch and recovery of unmanned surface vessels at sea.

16 April

Land

Bea Castañeda

JLTV: Inside America’s Next-Generation Tactical Vehicle

Navigate our Joint Light Tactical Vehicle guide examining how this platform balances survivability, off-road performance, and versatility across diverse combat and support missions.

16 April

Air

A Chilean air force KC-135E Stratotanker and U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fly in Chilean airspace.

Giulia Bernacchi

Chilean KC-135 Stratotanker Refuels US F-35s for First Time

The US Air Force and the Chilean Air Force have conducted an air-to-air refueling involving a Chilean KC-135 and two US F-35A aircraft.

16 April

Americas

Giulia Bernacchi

Embraer Upgrades SABER M60 Radar Systems for Brazilian Army

Embraer has completed the upgrade of two SABER M60 radar systems operated by the Brazilian Army to the 2.0 configuration.

16 April

Asia Pacific

Akhsan Erido Elezhar

India Bets on GaN Radars to Spot Autonomous Threats Out to 450 Km

India is strengthening its early warning capabilities with plans to develop a 4D Active Electronically Scanned Array long-range surveillance radar powered by Gallium Nitride technology.

16 April

Europe

The AH64 Apache conducts dust landings while deployed to RAFO Musannah as part of Ex PINION OMAN 21. Force elements from across the 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team (1AvnBCT) recently deployed on Exercise PINION OMAN 21 (ExPO21) to conduct essential desert environmental training and live firing prior to supporting 1 (UK) Division on Exercise KHANJAR OMAN 21. The training and qualifications also ensure lead elements of 1AvnBCT who are held are Extremely High Readiness are equipped to react to a multitude of potential threats, able to deploy globally as well as support standing operational commitments in the homeland. In order to support the deployment, maintain serviceability and readiness of the aircraft, personnel from the Army Air Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Logistics Corps, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy work day and night in challenging conditions to conduct vital maintenance, repair, refuel and support. These personnel are the vital enablers which assure that each aircraft is maintained to the highest standard and set the conditions for the aircrew to continuingly fly in some of the harshest conditions in the world.

Jodesz Gavilan

UK Awards Boeing $1.2B Contract to Support Apache and Chinook Fleet

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Boeing Defence UK a $1.2-billion contract to maintain and support its Apache attack helicopters and Chinook transport fleet.

16 April

Americas

Jodesz Gavilan

US Expands Air-to-Air Missile Program With Raytheon in $234.8M Deal

The US Air Force has awarded Raytheon a $234.8-million contract to move its extended-range air-to-air missile program closer to full-rate production.

16 April

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

Jodesz Gavilan

ParaZero Wins New Order for Net-Based Drone Defense System

Israel-based ParaZero has secured another order from a defense customer for its DefendAir counter-drone system as demand for non-kinetic air defense tools rises.

16 April

Air