# Pentagon
Latest news and articles about Pentagon
Total: 15 articles found

Musk’s SpaceX and xAI Join Pentagon Contest to Build Voice‑Controlled Drone Swarms
SpaceX and xAI have entered a Pentagon $100 million prize challenge to build voice‑controlled autonomous drone swarms, joining a small group of competitors. The move highlights the US military’s reliance on commercial innovators while raising technical, legal and geopolitical questions about autonomy, oversight and proliferation.

Chinese Report Says U.S. Military Used Anthropic’s ‘Claude’ in Venezuela Operation — Raising New Questions About AI’s Role in Warfare
A Chinese outlet reported that the U.S. military used Anthropic’s AI model Claude to analyse imagery and intelligence in an alleged January operation to remove Venezuela’s president. The claim is unverified, but highlights tensions between AI firms seeking use-limiting safeguards and defence customers seeking broad access, and raises urgent questions about oversight and the geopolitics of commercial AI in warfare.

OpenAI Linked to Pentagon Bids to Turn Spoken Orders into Drone‑Swarm Commands
NetEase reported that OpenAI is named in competing Pentagon bids to supply voice‑to‑digital translation for drone‑swarm command software, a narrowly defined role that stops short of direct control or targeting. The work is part of a $100m Pentagon prototype challenge to field autonomous swarms, raising technical, ethical and geopolitical questions about the integration of generative AI into weapons systems.

U.S. Readies Potentially Prolonged Strikes on Iran as Tensions Surge
U.S. officials say military planning is underway for strikes on Iran that could last weeks and extend beyond nuclear targets to security and state institutions. Washington has bolstered forces in the Middle East while Tehran warns of retaliation, raising the risk of a protracted regional confrontation.

OpenAI’s Voice Models Tapped for Pentagon Drone‑Swarm Challenge, Raising Dual‑Use Concerns
OpenAI has shared an open‑source voice‑to‑instruction model with two Pentagon‑selected defence firms competing in a prize to produce voice‑controlled drone‑swarm prototypes. The move highlights the tension between commercial AI innovation and the risks of rapid diffusion of components that can enable more autonomous and potentially weaponised systems.

Pentagon Readies Second Carrier Strike Group — George H.W. Bush — for Possible Middle East Deployment
The Pentagon has directed a second carrier strike group, centered on USS George H.W. Bush, to prepare for deployment to the Middle East, with a likely departure from the U.S. East Coast in about two weeks. The decision sharpens U.S. naval presence in the region, signaling deterrence while imposing logistical and strategic trade-offs for American forces juggling global commitments.

Pentagon Readies Second Carrier for Middle East as Tensions Persist
The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered a second carrier strike group—the USS George H.W. Bush—to prepare for deployment to the Middle East, accelerating training off Virginia to meet a departure roughly two weeks away. The move aims to bolster deterrence and reassure regional partners but raises questions about strain on U.S. naval resources and implications for the Indo-Pacific balance with China.

The Sentinel Sinkhole: How a $141bn ICBM Upgrade Is Exposing Fault Lines in US Nuclear Renewal
The US LGM‑35A Sentinel ICBM programme has ballooned to roughly $141 billion and triggered a Nunn‑McCurdy breach after costs surged and schedules slipped. Much of the overrun stems from unexpectedly heavy investment in new hardened silos and associated infrastructure, creating risks to the timing and credibility of the US land‑based deterrent.

Pentagon Declares It Will Execute Any Trump Order on Iran as Tensions Spike
The Pentagon told President Trump it is prepared to execute any orders regarding Iran as U.S. forces gather in the Middle East. Washington is reportedly weighing strikes on Iranian leaders and nuclear sites, while Tehran has warned it is ready to respond to any aggression and called for an end to provocations if genuine talks are desired.

Pentagon Tells Trump It Is Ready to Carry Out Any Iran Order as Tensions Climb
The Pentagon told President Trump it is prepared to implement any decision on Iran as U.S. forces concentrate in the Middle East. Trump is reportedly considering a range of military options while Iran warns it is ready to respond, leaving the region at heightened risk of escalation.

Congress Revives Boeing E‑7 AWACS Funding After Pentagon Pushes Cut, Exposing Rift Over Space-Based Warning
Congress restored roughly $1.1 billion for the Boeing E‑7 Wedgetail AEW programme in the FY2026 NDAA drafts, undoing a White House proposal that would have reduced funding to under $100 million. The move reflects congressional wariness about relying solely on a new space‑based warning architecture and concerns about replacing the ageing E‑3 AWACS fleet.

U.S. Gears Misawa Base to Host 48 F-35A Stealth Fighters, Signalling a Pacific Posture Shift
The Pentagon is preparing Misawa Air Base in Japan to host 48 F-35A stealth fighters to replace 36 F-16s, part of a 2024 modernization plan. The upgrade strengthens U.S.-Japan deterrence, requires significant base infrastructure and will reverberate across regional strategic dynamics.