Defense News Digest: January 2026
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Welcome to IDGA’s monthly news roundup. For over two decades, IDGA has organized conferences designed to further the national security objectives of the current administration and to facilitate the acquisition priorities of the DoD, DHS, and other federal agencies. Now, through this weekly series, we look to educate the community on the latest research, program updates and news in the defense and government sector.
With fiscal year funding for the U.S. Military and the Department of Homeland Security capturing headlines in recent weeks, this month’s Defense News Digest looks at some specifics from the FY 2026 NDAA, as well as Pentagon efforts to secure military installations from drone attacks, and the Army unveiling the first look at a new armored vehicle.
Pentagon pushes low-collateral drone defenses at U.S. bases
The Pentagon plans to deploy “low-collateral” kinetic counter-drone interceptors at all U.S. military installations to strengthen homeland base security, according to Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-401. The approach emphasizes non-explosive tools, such as nets, net launchers, and drone-on-drone interceptors, that can safely bring down unmanned aerial systems while preserving evidence to identify a drone’s origin and mission.
Ross said the effort follows guidance from Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg to ensure every installation has a kinetic counter-UAS option. His comments come as DoD expands installation commanders’ authority to defend beyond base fence lines, addressing policy constraints that previously limited responses to drone incursions.
Pushing back on concerns about using kinetic effects in U.S. airspace, Ross argued that homeland and overseas basing face similar threats and require layered defenses. He stressed that commanders will be responsible for managing collateral risks and determining when and where to engage, using tools designed to minimize harm to civilians and infrastructure. The broader mission includes close coordination with federal law enforcement to capture and analyze intruding drones rather than letting them escape.
Golden Dome funding approved, but spending plan remains unclear
Congress approved a $23 billion initial allocation for the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative, but lawmakers say the DoW has yet to explain how the money will be spent. Six months after the funding was approved through reconciliation, appropriators report they still lack detailed budget justifications, deployment schedules, cost and performance metrics, and a finalized system architecture, leaving them unable to conduct effective oversight for fiscal 2026.
Golden Dome, a projected $175 billion effort ordered by President Trump, aims to build a large-scale space-based network to detect, track, and intercept missile threats. While the Pentagon has labeled it a top national priority, the program has been largely classified, limiting congressional visibility.
Lawmakers have directed the Pentagon to submit a comprehensive spend plan within two months if the 2026 defense funding bill becomes law, with annual budget justification volumes required starting in fiscal 2028. Until then, Golden Dome funding is spread across related programs rather than a single line item, underscoring both the initiative’s ambition and the uncertainty surrounding its execution.
Army rolls out next-generation tank years ahead of schedule
The Army has unveiled the M1E3, its next-generation main battle tank and planned replacement for the M1A1 Abrams, five years earlier than originally expected. Built largely with commercial, off-the-shelf components and designed around a digital-first architecture, the M1E3 prioritizes software and modular upgrades over fixed hardware, allowing new sensors, communications systems, and defensive technologies to be rapidly integrated as they mature.
Developed under the Army’s new Continuous Transformation acquisition model, the M1E3 leverages commercially available parts, including a Caterpillar engine and hybrid-electric propulsion, to reduce cost and weight while improving efficiency. The tank is expected to weigh roughly 25% less than current Abrams variants, consume about half the fuel, and still deliver advanced lethality, mobility, and counter-drone capabilities.
Four prototype vehicles will begin soldier testing this summer, years earlier than planned, after roughly $75 million in initial development. The Army has requested more than $700 million to expand the program and scale production. Leaders see the M1E3 as a template for future modernization efforts, with the same rapid, modular approach planned for the Army’s upcoming Bradley replacement.
Learn More About Armored Vehicle USA
Armored Vehicles USA 2026 returns to Detroit, Michigan on June 23–24, uniting over 400 senior military leaders, acquisition professionals, and industry experts for two days of strategic briefings, technical discussions, and solution-oriented collaboration.
Learn MoreDIU seeks AI “orchestrator” for voice-controlled drone swarms
Last month, the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) launched a fast-moving competition offering up to $100 million in prizes to develop an AI-enabled “orchestrator” that lets a single servicemember control formations of unmanned air, ground, and maritime systems using plain-English voice or text commands. Backed by the Navy and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, the effort aims to replace today’s labor-intensive model, where each drone needs a dedicated operator, with software that translates commander intent into coordinated, machine-executable actions.
Proposals were due January 25, and DIU set an aggressive testing timeline, with selected teams expected to begin evaluations within days and progress through multiple sprints over six months. The technical bar is high: systems must interpret common military commands, coordinate heterogeneous swarms, adapt autonomously when communications are disrupted, and operate at the tactical edge without cloud connectivity, while making voice control viable in noisy, contested environments.
The initiative aligns with recent Pentagon demonstrations of autonomous swarming, including a January “Swarm Forge” test showing AI-coordinated drones striking targets with minimal human input. With the submission deadline now passed, further announcements and down-selects are expected imminently as DIU moves toward prototyping and live testing.
