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The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded Northrop Grumman and Kratos a $231.5 million contract to develop its first fleet of au...
01/09/2026

The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded Northrop Grumman and Kratos a $231.5 million contract to develop its first fleet of autonomous drone wingmen. The 24-month effort will use Kratos’ XQ-58 Valkyrie aircraft paired with Northrop’s mission systems and Prism autonomy software.

The program, part of the Marine Corps’ MUX TACAIR initiative, aims to support manned aircraft in surveillance, electronic warfare, and strike missions. Over 20 successful flight demonstrations with the Valkyrie and F-35 were previously completed.

Over 140,000 civilians have fled Aleppo as fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democrat...
01/09/2026

Over 140,000 civilians have fled Aleppo as fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces escalates. At least seven people have been killed since the clashes began Tuesday.

The Syrian army has taken much of the Ashrafiyah neighborhood and is advancing toward Sheikh Maqsoud. A six-hour ceasefire was declared to allow evacuations before further strikes.

The Syrian defense ministry published maps of targeted areas and demanded armed groups leave by 9:00 a.m. local time Friday. Negotiations are ongoing over a Kurdish withdrawal from the city.

The U.S. Army revealed its M1E3 Abrams main battle tank prototype ahead of the Detroit Auto Show, calling it a “cutting-...
01/08/2026

The U.S. Army revealed its M1E3 Abrams main battle tank prototype ahead of the Detroit Auto Show, calling it a “cutting-edge technology demonstrator.” The prototype was produced by Roush and delivered last month.

It features software upgrades, improved mobility, and new sensor modules, while retaining the M1A1 turret and introducing a reconfigured chassis. Interior changes include side-by-side crew seating and removal of traditional fuel tanks.

Testing is scheduled to begin in early 2026.

President Trump signed an executive order banning defense contractors from paying dividends or conducting stock buybacks...
01/08/2026

President Trump signed an executive order banning defense contractors from paying dividends or conducting stock buybacks "until such time as they are able to produce a superior product, on time and on budget."

The order also caps executive pay at $5 million and requires firms to invest in new production facilities.

Trump singled out RTX as "the least responsive" to Pentagon needs and "most aggressive" in prioritizing shareholder payouts over military readiness.

Israel and Syria have agreed to set up a U.S.-supervised communication cell to coordinate intelligence sharing, military...
01/07/2026

Israel and Syria have agreed to set up a U.S.-supervised communication cell to coordinate intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, and economic cooperation. The agreement followed a third round of talks in Paris aimed at reviving the 1974 disengagement deal.

A U.S. official told Axios that Washington also proposed a joint economic zone along the border, including agriculture, wind energy, and tourism projects. However it is yet to be seen whether the two countries increase cooperation to such an extent.

Photo (L): (Mohammad Bash / Shutterstock)

The U.S. will reportedly lead a multinational effort to monitor any future ceasefire in Ukraine, according to French Pre...
01/07/2026

The U.S. will reportedly lead a multinational effort to monitor any future ceasefire in Ukraine, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. The decision was made during a 35-nation “Coalition of the Willing” summit in Paris.

A draft statement says the U.S. would support a European-led force with intelligence, logistics, and defense assistance if Russia attacks again. Washington has not yet released an official statement.

U.S. forces have seized the M/V Marinera (formerly Bella 1) in the North Atlantic, ending a weeks-long pursuit that bega...
01/07/2026

U.S. forces have seized the M/V Marinera (formerly Bella 1) in the North Atlantic, ending a weeks-long pursuit that began when the tanker fled a U.S. blockade near Venezuela.

USCGC Munro tracked the vessel across several thousand nautical miles with support from RAF A400s and U-28A Draco reconnaissance aircraft.

As we reported earlier, the tanker had changed its name from Bella I and reflagged to Russia after evading initial interdiction. Russian media earlier posted a video showing an MH-6M Little Bird flying port side of the tanker.

In a separate pre-dawn operation, Coast Guard forces intercepted a second tanker, the M/T Sophia, in international waters near the Caribbean.

EUCOM, SOUTHCOM and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem have confirmed the operations as a success.

Ali Khamenei is reportedly preparing to flee to Russia with up to 20 aides and family members if protests escalate or se...
01/06/2026

Ali Khamenei is reportedly preparing to flee to Russia with up to 20 aides and family members if protests escalate or security forces lose control, according to The Times.

Protests over inflation have entered their ninth day across 222 locations, with more than 20 killed and nearly 1,000 arrested, according to Human Rights Activists News Agency.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned of possible intervention if protesters are killed, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support for the demonstrators. Iranian officials condemned both statements as foreign interference and accused the U.S. and Israel of inciting violence.

U.S. forces are reportedly preparing to intercept the Marinera, a crude oil tanker previously known as Bella 1, which ch...
01/06/2026

U.S. forces are reportedly preparing to intercept the Marinera, a crude oil tanker previously known as Bella 1, which changed its name and registry after evading U.S. interdiction.

Officials told media the interdiction could take place this week, though it's still up in the air. The reports follow an unusual buildup of aircraft in the UK, including C-17s originating from Fort Campbell, home of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

If successful, the Marinera would become the third tanker seized by American forces since last month.

Left-wing militants known as the Volcano Group claimed responsibility for an arson attack that cut electricity to about ...
01/05/2026

Left-wing militants known as the Volcano Group claimed responsibility for an arson attack that cut electricity to about 45,000 homes and 2,200 businesses in southwest Berlin, authorities said. The fire broke out Saturday on a cable bridge over the Teltow Canal near the Lichterfelde power plant.

In an online statement, the group said the power station had been “successfully sabotaged” and described the action as targeting the fossil fuel economy. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has previously linked the Volcano Group to repeated attacks on the regional power grid and classifies it as a left-wing extremist organization.

Photo: (R) The Berlin Lichterfelde power station (TeleMakro Fotografie / Shutterstock)

British Typhoon FGR4 jets and French aircraft struck an underground ISIS weapons site in Syria’s Homs province on Saturd...
01/05/2026

British Typhoon FGR4 jets and French aircraft struck an underground ISIS weapons site in Syria’s Homs province on Saturday evening. The UK Ministry of Defence reported the use of Paveway IV bombs in the joint operation, with no civilian casualties.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the action was intended to prevent a resurgence of ISIS activity.

Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a Manhattan courthouse today after a multi-branch milita...
01/05/2026

Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a Manhattan courthouse today after a multi-branch military operation conducted by Delta Force, the 160th SOAR, and the FBI extracted them from Caracas early Saturday morning. They arrived in New York later that evening and are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Maduro faces charges for his role in trafficking “thousands of tons” of co***ne into the U.S., alongside five other defendants.

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SOFX was formed in 2013 by Sam Havelock, a career Navy SEAL and technologist with over 21-year active duty within U.S Special Operations and the Marine Corps. Havelock commanded operational units at numerous echelons of SOF, including the battalion level. There is an advisory board and steering committee that includes a number of top ranking former Flag Officers, Senior Executive Service members, and industry leaders.