https://www.commondef.com Fri, 06 Nov 2026 15:17:30+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/french-frigates-radical-bow-slices-through-waves-for-remarkably-smooth-sailing/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108116 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Frank Guy The Amiral Ronarc’h’s inverted bow reduces shocks and vibration, supports operations in rough seas and may limit structural wear, giving France’s 4,500 metric ton frigate the capabilities and stability normally associated with larger vessels. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/shield-ai-strikes-5-3-billion-echodyne-deal-to-bust-drone-threats/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108089 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Common Defense Staff Shield AI’s $5.3 billion Echodyne acquisition adds advanced MESA radar to its drone and autonomy portfolio as military demand for counter drone detection surges and the company expands across three unmanned systems business areas. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/popular-military-air-show-abandons-raf-fairford-for-good-after-suspected-iranian-plot/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108054 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Julian Dorsett The Royal International Air Tattoo is permanently moving to MOD Boscombe Down after four decades at RAF Fairford, following a canceled 2026 show, wartime bomber operations and a suspected plot that British officials indicated involved Iran. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/inside-centcom-podcast-debuts-as-iran-war-costs-and-deployments-mount-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108076 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Bethany Loveland CENTCOM’s new podcast focused on french fries, workouts and basketball while sailors faced record deployments, families remained in limbo and the Iran conflict’s military cost climbed beyond $47 billion. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/mbda-targets-2029-flight-for-fat-hypersonic-interceptor-demonstrator/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108075 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Frank Guy MBDA’s Hydis consortium is pursuing a 2029 demonstrator flight for a four stage interceptor designed against hypersonic and ballistic threats, while competing with Hydef for €100 million in European funding. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/israeli-company-says-computerized-trigger-is-built-to-blast-small-drones-from-the-sky/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108070 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Frank Guy Thailand is fielding IWI’s Arbel Anti-Drone System, which places computerized trigger control inside an AR-15 and uses calculated firing timing to help soldiers engage small drones traveling at roughly 60 kilometers per hour. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/chaotic-u-s-europe-pullout-could-push-nato-allies-away-from-american-arms-rand-warns/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108069 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Julian Dorsett RAND says Europe can handle an orderly American military drawdown, but a chaotic withdrawal could fracture allied trust, redirect weapons purchases toward European suppliers and undermine the defense industrial benefits Washington receives from arms exports. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/from-tanks-to-space-norway-and-germany-accelerate-the-hansa-security-pact/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108066 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Tank production in Levanger is the latest milestone in a German Norwegian partnership spanning submarines, missiles, military exercises, North Atlantic patrols and space surveillance under the increasingly ambitious Hansa Arrangement. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/france-turns-tank-gunners-into-fpv-drone-hunters-as-army-races-to-scale-up/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108063 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Bethany Loveland France’s experimental drone cavalry delivered strong exercise results, prompting plans for around 15 units by summer 2027 while revealing that electronic warfare, conventional armor and infantry remain essential to surviving a battlefield crowded with unmanned aircraft. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/russia-enlarges-drone-antennas-to-defeat-ukrainian-jamming/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108060 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Julian Dorsett Russia’s larger Kometa antenna arrays are helping drones penetrate Ukraine’s electronic warfare shield, but Ukrainian specialists say multiband jamming and coordinated spoofing networks can still redirect or disable the upgraded navigation systems. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/va-automation-surges-as-veterans-claims-errors-explode/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108083 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Frank Guy VA appeal data show evidence collection errors climbing from more than 66,000 in fiscal 2021 to over 329,000 in fiscal 2026 as the agency expands Automated Decision Support despite complaints that the system misses critical medical details. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/germany-names-army-chief-christian-freuding-for-nations-top-military-post/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108057 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Christian Freuding will become Germany’s highest ranking soldier in February 2027, succeeding Carsten Breuer as Breuer moves to lead NATO’s military committee, the alliance’s top military authority and a key advisory body. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/navy-mustang-turns-his-own-education-struggle-into-a-lifeline-for-veterans/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108044 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jai Salters transformed his own hunt for education and credential resources into ACT Now Education, a free nonprofit helping military families connect training, mentorship, and benefits with their actual career goals. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/hegseth-escalates-dc-guard-mission-with-humvees-patrol-cars-and-boats/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108040 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Hegseth’s Oct. 29 memo expands the Washington Guard mission with patrol cars, Humvees, support equipment and boats while preserving restrictions on arrests, intelligence operations, weapons use and aviation assets. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/military-unveils-paid-theology-pipeline-to-turn-troops-into-chaplains/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108037 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Frank Guy The new program will fund theological education for up to 75 qualified troops while preserving their military pay and benefits, creating a direct pipeline into the chaplain corps with additional active duty or Reserve service required. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/veteran-share-of-incoming-congress-sinks-to-15-lowest-since-at-least-the-1970s/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108031 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Common Defense Staff At least 57 veterans will enter the 120th Congress, but their projected 15% share marks the lowest level since at least the 1970s, despite a record 258 military veterans appearing on election ballots. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/vector-unveils-mission-ready-one-way-attack-drone-stack/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=108034 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Frank Guy Vector’s Warfighter’s Stack combines a compact Mace attack drone, modular arming device, and rugged controller as the company prepares for scaled production following a government order for 5,000 drones. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/captain-fido-is-coming-to-the-u-s-military-as-warhound-unleashes-genetically-modified-cyber-dogs/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107957 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Bethany Loveland Warhound has raised $200 million to develop genetically enhanced working dogs with wearable military technology, aiming to reduce European dependence while targeting canine health problems such as hip dysplasia and muscle atrophy. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/black-hawk-crew-narrowly-avoids-fireworks-in-alarming-nfl-flyover-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107938 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Viral video shows fireworks rising dangerously close to Army Black Hawks during an NFL flyover in Seattle, although officials confirmed that no aircraft were struck, no helicopters were damaged, and no crew members were injured. https://www.commondef.com/2026/11/tragedy-at-camp-schwab-as-us-marine-dies-following-training-incident/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107935 2026-11-06T16:28:57+00:00 Common Defense Staff A 3rd Marine Division Marine died following a training incident at Camp Schwab in Okinawa. The Marine Corps is investigating, withholding the Marine’s identity until 24 hours after family notification, and has released no additional details.