Breaking Defense

What Breaking Defense does

Breaking Defense is a U.S.-based digital news outlet covering defense technology, defense policy, and national security, operated as a brand within Breaking Media, Inc. The publication delivers editorial coverage across vertical beats — Air, Land, Naval, Space, Networks and Digital Warfare, AI, Business, Congress, Pentagon, and Global — serving three primary reader segments: defense industry professionals at prime contractors and the broader defense industrial base, Pentagon and military leadership and government personnel, and defense investors and market analysts. Breaking Defense distributes content through its WordPress-based website, The Weekly Break Out weekly video show, Pentagon Buzz video series, email newsletters, RSS feeds, and active social media channels (Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn).

The company's underlying technology is a standard digital publishing stack: a WordPress CMS, content syndication via RSS, video distribution on YouTube, and email newsletter infrastructure. Breaking Defense has built differentiated editorial assets — a deep content library covering major weapons programs (THAAD, F-35, T-7 Red Hawk, MUOS, CCA, drone wingman), exclusive Pentagon policy reporting, and named defense beat reporters (Valerie Insinna, Ashley Roque, Theresa Hitchens, Lee Ferran, Carley Welch, Diana Stancy, Michael Marrow) — that constitute its primary intangible value. A Europe Edition extends editorial reach into European defense markets.

Breaking Defense's revenue model is a hybrid B2B media model. Direct revenue comes from (1) display and banner advertising on the website, (2) sponsored content and underwritten video programming from a roster of defense prime contractors and technology vendors (Northrop Grumman, Red Hat, Leonardo DRS, L3Harris, Ursa Major, Cigent), and (3) email newsletter subscriptions. The go-to-market motion is sales-led: Breaking Defense sells sponsored editorial placements and underwritten content programs to defense vendors targeting defense decision-makers, with a concentrated customer base among large defense primes. The publication is part of the broader Breaking Media network alongside Above the Law, Deal Breaker, Fashionista, Med City News, and How Appealing, providing cross-promotion and shared infrastructure.

Name

Breaking Defense

Legal name

Breaking Media, Inc.

Website

https://breakingdefense.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Breaking Defense is a U.S. digital news outlet covering defense technology, policy, and national security for defense industry professionals, Pentagon officials, and defense investors via a website, video shows, newsletters, and sponsored content partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense News and Analysis

NAICS

Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Rolling News & Breaking News Channels (MPABAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Defense news
• National security
• Military technology
• Defense policy
• Defense industry

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Digital Advertising: The publication generates revenue through display advertising, sponsored content, and banner placements on its website, targeting defense industry professionals and government readers
2. Sponsored Content/Posts: Companies such as Leonardo DRS, Red Hat, Northrop Grumman, and Ursa Major sponsor specific content sections and video programs, providing additional revenue streams
3. Newsletter Subscriptions: The publication offers newsletter signups for content delivery, potentially with premium subscription tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Breaking Defense is a digital news publication covering defense technology, policy and national security. The platform delivers news, analysis, opinion pieces, video shows (The Weekly Break Out, Pentagon Buzz), email newsletters, and RSS feeds across defense topics including air warfare, land warfare, naval warfare, space, networks and digital warfare, AI, Congress, the Pentagon, and global defense issues. Content is targeted at defense industry professionals, military and government readers, and defense contractors.

Product overview

Breaking Defense is a defense technology, policy and national security news platform. The company operates a unified content platform delivering news across multiple formats: written articles on its website covering topics including Air, Land, Naval, Space, Networks/AI, Business, Congress, Pentagon, and Global news; a weekly video show called 'The Weekly Break Out'; email newsletters; and RSS feeds. The coverage spans defense technologies, weapons systems, procurement, policy, and military operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Breaking Defense Website The Breaking Defense website is the primary digital platform delivering defense technology, policy and national security news, analysis, and opinion content to defense industry professionals, government readers, and defense contractors. Coverage spans Air, Land, Naval, Space, Networks/AI, Business, Congress, Pentagon, and Global defense topics.
• The Weekly Break Out A weekly video news show produced by Breaking Defense covering defense technology, policy, and acquisition topics, underwritten by defense industry sponsors such as Leonardo DRS. Targeted at defense industry professionals and Pentagon readers.
• Breaking Defense Newsletter Email newsletter subscription service providing regular defense technology, policy, and national security news updates delivered to subscribers.
• Breaking Defense RSS Feed A full RSS feed providing real-time syndicated access to Breaking Defense articles and news content for external readers and content aggregators.
• Pentagon Buzz A video series focused on Department of Defense policies, personalities, and power dynamics. Sponsored by L3Harris Technologies, providing visibility among defense policy audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Coverage of major defense policy announcements and program developments reaches defense industry decision-makers

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leonardo DRScoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2026Leonardo DRS sponsors The Weekly Break Out video show, underwritten content that provides visibility for Leonardo DRS among defense industry professionals and Pentagon readers. The sponsorship positions Leonardo DRS products and capabilities before Breaking Defense's targeted audience of defense decision-makers.
• Red HatcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2026Red Hat sponsors the AI & Autonomy section of Breaking Defense, a key coverage area for emerging defense technology. The sponsored content focuses on software-defined mission dominance in space applications, targeting defense technology readers interested in AI, autonomy, and digital transformation topics.
• Northrop GrummancoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2025Northrop Grumman sponsors the Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy coverage section on Breaking Defense, a premium placement for defense AI content that reaches defense industry professionals and government readers tracking AI adoption in military applications.
• L3Harris TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerL3Harris sponsors Pentagon Buzz video content on Breaking Defense, a video series focused on DoD policies, personalities and power. The sponsorship provides brand visibility among defense policy audiences.
• Ursa MajorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUrsa Major, a new entrant in air-and-missile defense, sponsors a sponsored post/video interview focused on industrial base gaps and new approaches to munitions and hypersonics development, positioning the company before defense industry readers.
• CigentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCigent sponsors content on AI and data security in defense environments, specifically focused on data-at-rest protection for defense AI applications, targeting cybersecurity-conscious defense technology readers.
• Breaking Media NetworkcoreOthersBreaking Defense is part of the Breaking Media network which includes Above the Law, How Appealing, Deal Breaker, Fashionista, and Med City News, providing cross-promotion and shared audience reach across multiple verticals.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Defense News: Defense News (Sightline Media) is the most direct competitor to Breaking Defense: a daily online publication covering Pentagon policy, defense acquisition, and global military operations, with the same advertising and sponsored-content revenue model.
• Defense One: Defense One is a digital-only outlet covering defense and national security policy from a Washington perspective, producing original reporting, analysis, and events—directly competing with Breaking Defense for the same Pentagon-adjacent audience and defense-contractor sponsorships.
• Military.com: Military.com is a large digital publisher covering military life, defense news, and veteran affairs, monetized through advertising and sponsored content. While its audience skews broader (service members and families), it overlaps Breaking Defense on defense news and defense-adjacent advertising budgets.
• The War Zone (The Drive): The War Zone is a defense and military technology vertical within The Drive that publishes deep-dive coverage of weapons systems, military aviation, and Pentagon programs. It mirrors Breaking Defense's editorial focus on defense technology and competes for the same enthusiast and industry audience.
• Military Times: Military Times is a long-established defense news publication covering Pentagon policy, operations, and the defense industry. It operates in the same B2B advertising and subscription model as Breaking Defense and serves many of the same DoD and contractor decision-makers.
• C4ISRNET: C4ISRNET covers defense networks, cyber, and command-and-control programs within Sightline Media's portfolio. It directly overlaps Breaking Defense's Networks and AI coverage categories and competes for the same set of defense technology advertisers.
• USNI News (U.S. Naval Institute): USNI News provides defense and naval policy coverage, analysis, and Proceedings magazine content, monetized through memberships and sponsorships. It is comparable to Breaking Defense as a defense-focused policy outlet with a mix of advertising/sponsorship and subscription revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Janes: Janes is the incumbent defense intelligence and analysis provider, covering defense programs, equipment, and national security with subscription-based open-source intelligence. It is comparable to Breaking Defense in subject matter but operates a much broader B2B subscription business rather than advertising.
• Politico (defense coverage): Politico's defense vertical delivers Washington-focused policy reporting and produces Defense One in partnership. It competes with Breaking Defense for the same Pentagon-adjacent readership and defense-contractor marketing dollars, but as part of a much larger general politics publication.

Regional players

• Stars and Stripes: Stars and Stripes is a U.S. military-affiliated news outlet covering DoD operations and policy with a primarily U.S.-focused audience. It overlaps Breaking Defense on Pentagon coverage but is editorially distinct (DoD-funded) and not primarily ad-driven.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BreakingDefense
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@breakingdefense6100
• Facebookfacebook.com/BreakingDefense
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/Breaking-Defense-4026790

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Breaking Defense