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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth tests a Dronebuster while touring static displays led by the 3rd Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (3/10 MTN) Warriors and Foreign Legion Force Poland Battle Group in Powidz, Poland, Feb. 15, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander C. Kubitza)

Hegseth issues new directive to hasten U.S. military’s counter-drone pursuits

The nation’s counter-drone task force “will not accept a slow-moving bureaucracy when faced with a fast-moving threat,” a spokesperson said.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gives a State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico on September 30, 2026 in Quantico, Virginia. Secretary Hegseth delivered his State of the Force address to junior officers, enlisted leaders, and special guests including Anduril Industries co-founder Palmer Luckey. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

U.S. creates new Autonomous Warfare Command to fuse and enhance military drone ops

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled AutoWarCom during his “State of the Force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
(Left to right) Prescott Paulin, Department of Defense for Research & Engineering, Industry Engagement Director; Chief Operating Officer for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), Blake Moore; and Sarah Pearson, Department of Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Director of Strategic Initiatives & the Bridge Program; moderated by Jen Judson, Bloomberg News, speaks during the 2026 Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference, in Washington, D.C. September 10, 2026. (DOD Photo by Devon Bistarkey).

DIU moves to prototype new contract model that will fast-track security clearances for startups

Senior officials unveiled the plan and impending solicitation, which was developed under DIU’s new Bridge Program.
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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine operates a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium in New York Harbor, June 16, 2026. Coast Guard crews provided an operational tour highlighting maritime security responsibilities throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Sydney Phoenix)

Gen. Caine urges industry to lean more into ‘shared risk’ when delivering tech for U.S. military

"When you look at the price of lethality right now, it's on an exponential decrease," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
U.S. Marines with I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare a first-person view small unmanned aircraft system during an FPV sUAS live fire demonstration at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 29, 2026. I MEF, in partnership with Defense Innovation Unit, evaluated fiber-optic drones for use in signal-degraded environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Bustamante)

DIU tries to transition tech to the frontlines faster with launch of new Bridge Program

The initiative marks the unit’s latest move under Owen West’s leadership to rapidly supply measurable combat power to the joint force.
Then-U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, stands in an F-15E Strike Eagle July 9, 2021, in an undisclosed location somewhere in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cameron Otte)

DIU’s first active-duty military deputy wants to help U.S. forces meet future fights ‘with swagger’

Two senior officials discussed the Defense Innovation Unit's plan to equip American forces with the right and best weapons, faster than ever before.
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