MTQ News

At the beginning of November 2025, the U.S. Department of War announced that the U.S. Navy had advanced its unmanned aviation capabilities by establishing Unmanned Patrol Squadron Eleven. Known as VUP-11, the unit becomes the Navy’s second operational squadron flying the MQ-4C Triton, a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system designed to support maritime patrol and reconnaissance missions across vast ocean areas. Read full Naval News at this link ... The MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Navy, designed to provide persistent maritime surveillance and real-time intelligence across vast ocean regions. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/5hs79I0 via IFTTT

China has taken a significant step forward in unmanned warfare with the debut flight of Jiutian, the world’s largest unmanned aircraft developed by state-owned Xi’an Chida Aircraft Parts Manufacturing Co. Ltd., according to Chinese media reports. Conducted this week in Shaanxi province, the flight showcased a platform intended to release and coordinate dozens of smaller drones, a capability that could strain U.S. and allied air defenses operating across the Indo-Pacific theater. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link ... China's Jiutian unmanned aircraft, the world’s largest combat drone, functions as a high-altitude drone carrier capable of deploying over 100 autonomous microdrones in coordinated swarm missions. Designed for saturation attacks, Jiutian launches AI-powered drones that overwhelm enemy air defenses through simultaneous, multi-vector strikes, marking a strategic shift in modern air combat. (Picture source: RupprechtDeino X account) Read More from...

At the Egypt International Defense Exhibition 2025, Serbian defense exporter Yugoimport SDPR rolled out one of its most comprehensive international showcases to date, featuring loitering munitions, modular infantry weapons, 8x8 armored vehicles, and advanced artillery systems. Company officials framed the display as a response to regional demand for cost-effective, combat-proven equipment, positioning Serbia as both a supplier and development partner for Middle Eastern militaries seeking alternatives beyond traditional Western and Eastern sources. Read full Defense News at this link ... Yugoimport SDPR showcases its latest Serbian-made defense technologies at EDEX 2025, including modular small arms, loitering munitions, and advanced combat vehicles, reinforcing its growing footprint in Middle Eastern defense markets. (Picture source / Copyright: Army Recognition Group) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/M2wh7rR via IFTTT

On December 12, 2025, the Wall Street Journal announced that U.S. special forces boarded a ship in the Indian Ocean last month and seized military-related items assessed as moving from China to Iran. U.S. officials described the action as a maritime interdiction aimed at slowing Iran’s attempts to rebuild parts of its missile arsenal after a 12-day conflict in June 2025. The boarding took place several hundred miles off Sri Lanka, the cargo was removed, and the vessel was allowed to continue, while the ship’s name and ownership were not disclosed.  Read full defense news at this link... The seized material was described as dual-use components potentially useful for Iran’s missile program, and U.S. officials tied the timing to intensified Iranian efforts to rebuild its ballistic missile arsenal before another confrontation with Israel. (Picture source: US Navy) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/9fkURlj via IFTTT

As reported by OSINTDefender on December 10, 2025, Thailand’s Royal Thai Army has deployed U.S.-made Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles in frontline operations along the Thai-Cambodian disputed border. Despite public statements from U.S. President Donald Trump that both sides had agreed in principle to halt fighting, clashes with Cambodia continue to intensify, especially near the Bueng Takwan checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province.  Read full defense news at this link... Thailand's Stryker orders were placed in fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021 for 70, 50, and 10 vehicles, respectively, bringing the reported total to 130 Strykers at an overall program cost of about 9.1 billion baht, or roughly $282,830,000. (Picture source: X/OSINTdefender) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/VA86SR2 via IFTTT

 On December 1, 2025, a C-17 Globemaster III from the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 204th Airlift Squadron traced the coastal cliffs of Molokai at low altitude, flying a demanding training route out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam as reported by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) on December 10, 2025. The sortie, recorded in a new series of official images, was not a simple currency check but a rehearsal for operating close to terrain, far from large airfields and under time pressure. In a region increasingly defined by contested logistics and long distances over water, low-level airlift training has become a critical tool for sustaining forces and populations on dispersed islands. For Indo-Pacific allies and partners, the images are a reminder that U.S. air mobility units are quietly preparing to reach remote or threatened locations even if traditional routes are compromised.  Read Full Defense News At this Link.  The coastal low-level tr...

U.S. Air Force Alaskan Command, operating under U.S. Northern Command, executed a high-intensity joint force simulation in the Gulf of Alaska on December 9, 2025, as part of Operation TUNDRA MERLIN, U.S. officials said in a Department of War release. The exercise integrated F-35A Lightning II fighter jets into precision maritime strike scenarios, validating joint command-and-control performance and combat readiness under extreme Arctic weather conditions within the Alaskan Theater of Operations. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link ... A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II from the 354th Fighter Wing touches down at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, following Arctic flight operations during Operation TUNDRA MERLIN on December 9, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/rXFbMUh via IFTTT

On December 9, 2025, HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division hosted the keel laying ceremony for the Virginia-class attack submarine Barb (SSN-804) in Newport News, Virginia, marking the official start of the construction of what will become the U.S. Navy’s 31st Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the 15th built at this yard. The future Barb is the first Block V Virginia-class submarine to carry a World War II lineage into modern service while remaining part of the joint production effort shared between Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat.  Read full defense news at this link... To date, the U.S. Navy has authorized a total of 66 Virginia-class submarines, with 24 boats delivered to the fleet as of early 2025, including the USS North Carolina (SSN-777), and an additional 16 under contract for future construction. (Picture source: U.S. Navy) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/gm9ldOa via IFTTT

Ukraine is quietly preparing for a world in which its long-range firepower depends less on foreign stocks and more on its own factories. In a recent interview with Ukrainian media, Fire Point’s chief designer indicated that, once state orders and financing are confirmed, the company could pivot to mass serial production of ballistic missiles as early as May, speaking of “hundreds per month” rather than dozens. That projection comes as Fire Point finalizes codification of its FP-7 tactical ballistic missile and advances work on the longer-range FP-9, a pairing that would move Ukraine from ad hoc deep strikes to something closer to a standing ballistic arsenal. Read more .  The combined fielding of the FP-7 and FP-9 would alter Ukraine’s operational depth (Picture source: Fire Point) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/3mJoEdc via IFTTT

 On the 8th of December, new images circulating on Chinese social media showed Z-10ME attack helicopters flying with a previously unseen air-to-surface missile configuration. The helicopters, believed to belong to a unit identified as the 76th Army Aviation Brigade, carried green missiles closely matching the dimensions and layout of the CM-502KG. This appearance provides the clearest indication so far that the CM-502KG family is being integrated on China’s main attack helicopter, significantly changing the platform’s engagement envelope. The development is relevant because it suggests a move from traditional, short-range anti-tank weapons toward longer-range precision strike options within the PLA Ground Force’s aviation units. The pairing of Z-10ME and CM-502KG signals an incremental but important evolution in China’s land-based strike capabilities.  Read Full Defense News At This Link. China’s Z-10ME attack helicopters have been spotted carrying CM-502KG (KF-10) pre...

 On December 8, 2025, Bulgaria’s navy quietly turned a page in its history in Varna. At the Naval Base, the national and naval flags were raised over the new modular patrol ship Hrabri (“Brave”), the first warship built by Bulgarian industry for the fleet in more than a century, as reported by the Ministry of Defence and the Bulgarian News Agency BTA. The ceremony, attended by Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov and senior commanders, formally brought the 90-metre vessel into service after successful trials in the Black Sea. In a region reshaped by the war in Ukraine and increasing mine and drone incidents, the arrival of Brave marks a substantial reinforcement of Bulgaria’s ability to monitor and control its maritime approaches. Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Beyond symbolizing a new hull under the Bulgarian flag, Brave marks a broader shift: the revival of national shipbuilding, the move from Soviet-era to NATO systems, and...

Calidus introduced its Damita Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun as the newest entry in the UAE’s expanding air defense lineup. The company describes the vehicle as a fully integrated counter-drone and short-range air defense solution on the Wahash 8x8 armored chassis. Officials say the system blends an Emirati mobility platform with a German-designed autocannon suite and an Australian-developed sensor and fire-control package. This combination gives operators a mobile platform capable of tracking, identifying, and engaging small unmanned aircraft and low-flying fixed-wing threats. The manufacturer did not fully disclose specific sensor ranges or ammunition details. These are therefore noted as assumptions based on comparable SPAAG (Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun) configurations. Read full Defense News at this link ... The Damita is a new Emirati 8x8 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system integrating Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 35 turret, guided missiles, and a high-energy laser we...

Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Ankara on December 4, officials from the Turkish Ministry of National Defense confirmed that Türkiye is now cutting steel and assembling the first blocks of its indigenous MILDEN diesel-electric attack submarine at Gölcük Naval Shipyard, shifting the long-running design effort into a full industrial phase. The announcement, paired with the recent start of construction on the first TF 2000 air defense destroyer in Istanbul and a 6.5 billion dollar package of Steel Dome contracts, underlines a deliberate push to anchor future fleet growth in domestic shipyards, sensors, and weapons rather than imported architectures. Read more.  MILDEN is presented as a diesel-electric attack submarine of around 2,700 tons with a length of more than 80 meters, integrating an air-independent propulsion system designed to prolong submerged operations without using the snorkel.(Picture source: Turkish MoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Def...

On December 2, 2025, during a training event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marines used the M1014 shotgun to engage small, low-flying drones as part of their regular Steel Knight 25 field regimen. Instructors described the work as hands-on, live-fire training that builds confidence and muscle memory for Marines who may face similar threats in dispersed or urban environments. The service is expanding these drills across multiple units as small drones become a routine presence in global conflicts. Read full Defense News at this link ... U.S. Marine Sgt. Emerick Wurstner fires an M1014 shotgun during a counter-small drone training range at Camp Pendleton during Exercise Steel Knight 25, Dec. 2, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/p2HCBRs via IFTTT

 On December 5, 2025, Teledyne FLIR Defense announced that the U.S. Marine Corps had awarded the company a 42.5 million USD contract under the Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program. This new delivery order covers more than 600 Rogue 1 loitering munition systems and their associated support equipment, giving rifle squads and platoons a precision strike tool they can employ independently. The decision reflects the growing importance of loitering munitions in modern conflicts, where small tactical units must be able to engage targets beyond line of sight. By investing in OPF-L at scale, the Marine Corps is reinforcing its shift toward more autonomous, responsive fires at the lowest echelon. The contract also confirms Teledyne FLIR’s position as a key supplier of integrated sensing and strike solutions to U.S. forces.  Read Full Defense News At This Link. The U.S. Marine Corps has begun fielding Rogue 1 loitering munitions, giving small units a lightweight precisio...

On December 5, 2025, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan released a video on his official X account to announce that the Dutch Damen Group LST 100 platform will serve as the Navy’s baseline for the Medium Landing Ship program, a long-awaited effort intended to provide the Marine Corps with agile and survivable connectors for littoral missions. Phelan said the selection reflects extensive design evaluations and fleet input, noting that the LST 100 configuration aligns with the Marine Corps requirement for dispersed maritime operations and rapid offload capability. Read full Naval News at this link ... Nigerian Navy’s LST 100 landing ship NNS Kada transits through the Gulf of Guinea. The U.S. Navy has selected the Damen-designed vessel as the foundation for its future Medium Landing Ship to support U.S. Marine Corps operations in contested littoral environments. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/UYIZLh2 via...

Northrop Grumman has introduced Project Talon as its new autonomous wingman offering, positioning the aircraft as a low-observable, rapidly built teammate for U.S. and allied fighters. Unveiled at Mojave Air and Space Port and developed with subsidiary Scaled Composites, the uncrewed jet is pitched as a Collaborative Combat Aircraft that balances capability with aggressive cost and schedule targets, after the company missed out on the first round of the U.S. Air Force CCA awards. Executives say Talon went from project launch to weight on wheels in roughly 15 months and is expected to fly within about nine months, keeping development inside a two-year window and underscoring Pentagon demands for faster prototyping and production. Read more.  The platform seems designed to carry a range of long-range ISR sensors, including stabilised electro-optical payloads able to deliver high-resolution multispectral imagery for early detection, reconnaissance, or target designation (Pict...

French defense officials have opened a military investigation after five unidentified drones were intercepted on Thursday evening over Île Longue. This tightly guarded base hosts France’s four ballistic missile submarines in the roadstead of Brest. According to initial reports by Le Monde and statements relayed by the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture and the Rennes military prosecutor, base security sensors detected multiple aircraft inside the prohibited airspace around 19:30 local time, prompting the rapid activation of counter-drone procedures. Authorities say the drones were neutralized using electronic jamming in line with protocols for nuclear sites, although some early accounts also mentioned small-arms fire, and investigators have not yet recovered any debris or identified the operators. Read more.  The Île Longue submarine base in Brittany, France, where nuclear ballistic missile submarines such as Le Vigilant are located (Picture source: Google Maps/Wikimedia) Re...

 During Expodefensa 2025 in Bogota, Colombian state-owned manufacturer Indumil publicly unveiled its GADCI air-delivered grenade and the associated SLAGA deployment pod, a tandem system conceived from the outset for use on unmanned aerial systems (UAS). In a context where armed forces worldwide are adapting commercial and military drones to deliver munitions, this new solution illustrates Colombia’s ambition to structure its own response to the growing role of robotics on the battlefield. By combining an aerially deployed grenade with a lightweight carbon-fiber carrier, Indumil seeks to provide the Colombian armed forces with a rapid-reaction asset tailored to regional operational realities. The system’s presentation is particularly relevant for militaries looking for scalable, low-signature strike options that remain under tight human control.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Colombia’s Indumil positions the GADCI and SLAGA as a concrete response to the tac...

 On December 3, 2025, at the Schönewalde/Holzdorf air base south of Berlin, Germany formally declared initial operational capability for the Arrow Weapon System Germany (AWS-G), the German configuration of Israel’s Arrow 3 ballistic missile defense system, as announced by the German MoD and Israeli MoD. This marks the first time a European nation fields an exo-atmospheric interceptor designed to neutralize long-range ballistic missiles in space, closing a strategic gap in Europe’s air and missile defense architecture that NATO has warned about for years. The system’s entry into service comes against the backdrop of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine and increasingly explicit nuclear and missile signaling from Moscow, which have pushed Berlin to overhaul its defense posture after decades of underinvestment. With Arrow 3 now operational on German soil, Berlin is positioning itself as a central provider of protection not only for its own population and infrastructure, but also f...

 A new vehicle-mounted UAV launcher quietly drew attention at EDEX 2025, where Eagles International for Defense Systems presented its Toyota Land Cruiser 79-based Tiger patrol vehicle carrying a Skairon Industries loitering munition-class drone. According to company materials and Army Recognition reporting at the show, the roof-mounted rail system is designed to give platoon-sized elements a rapid launch sensor-to-shooter tool that can be deployed seconds after the vehicle comes to a halt, while keeping the platform within the weight and mobility limits of the Land Cruiser family. Read more... A compact rail-launched Skairon loitering munition mounted on the Egyptian Tiger TLC 79 patrol vehicle provides rapid on-the-move launch capability, delivering short-range reconnaissance and precision strike options directly to frontline units while preserving the vehicle’s high mobility and lightweight profile (Picture source: Army Recognition Group). from World Defence News https...

 On 1st December 2025, the Arab Organization for Industrialization used EDEX 2025 in Cairo to unveil a new unmanned ground system called Aqrab, a six-wheeled robotic vehicle armed with a half-inch remote launch platform and gun operated from under armor. Army Recognition’s team at the show saw the vehicle up close, confirming its role as Egypt’s first publicly exhibited armed UGS designed for high-risk patrol, reconnaissance, and fire support missions. Read more... Aqrab UGS mounts a stabilized 12.7 mm remote weapon station with day-night sensors for precise standoff fire against light armored and soft targets (Picture source: Army Recognition Group). from World Defence News https://ift.tt/GWBDktg via IFTTT

 Amstone International Group rolled out its new ST-108 GPR mine detection vehicle during the opening day of EDEX 2025, describing it as a purpose-built platform for route clearance and counter IED missions. Company representatives and show materials highlighted the combination of a Four Wheel Drive MRAP base and a full-width radar array, a configuration intended to offer crews reliable detection of buried threats while operating at convoy speeds on damaged or contested road networks. Read more... Armored ST-108 GPR mine detection vehicle with forward ground-penetrating radar array for rapid detection of buried mines and IEDs while leading route clearance and convoy protection operations (Picture source: Army Recognition Group). from World Defence News https://ift.tt/oeUxQsy via IFTTT

 Presented as it enters its final outfitting phase, Colombia’s new OPV 93 offshore patrol vessel, the lead unit of the Patrullero Oceánico Colombiano class, took center stage at Expodefensa 2025 in Bogota. Designed and built by state-owned shipbuilder COTECMAR in Cartagena, the 93-meter, 14-meter beam platform evolves the earlier OPV 80 design with greater displacement, a 10,000 nautical mile range, and endurance of up to 40 days for blue water patrols across both of Colombia’s maritime fronts. Read more .  The offshore patrol vessel (OPV) 93, the first of the Patrullero Oceánico Colombiano class, is fully developed and built in Cartagena. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/u8gpvMO via IFTTT

 Indumil has used Expodefensa 2025, held this week at the Corferias exhibition center in Bogota, to formally showcase its new 5.56 x 45 mm rifle platform, currently displayed under the provisional label "New Fusil Indumil". The state-owned company is positioning the weapon as a modular, NATO-standard system optimized around three barrel lengths, while a national naming contest runs in parallel, with the final designation expected to be announced during the show. Read more.   Indumil’s new 5.56 rifle debuts at Expodefensa 2025, offering modular barrel options and NATO-standard features for Colombia’s armed forces (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/MXrBPHh via IFTTT

On November 15, 2025, AH-64 Apache helicopters from the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment lifted off from Wheeler Army Airfield over the Hawaiian island chain, not for a routine gunnery range, but as part of a large-scale combat rehearsal tailored to the Indo-Pacific, as reported by DVIDS on December 1, 2025. The multiship air assault operation formed one of the aviation pillars of Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center rotation 26-01, a combat training event designed to mirror the complexity of future wars in jungle and archipelagic environments. Far from being a distant training backdrop, Hawaii is emerging as a central proving ground where the U.S. Army tests how it will fight, sustain and command forces across contested seas and dense terrain. By integrating Apache units into this scenario, the Army is turning familiar attack helicopters into instruments for experimenting with new operational concepts in the Pacific theater.  Read Full Defense News At This Link. ...

British soldiers from Dreadnaught Squadron of the British Army Royal Tank Regiment completed a small Unmanned Aircraft System operators course in Estonia, according to information posted by the Royal Armoured Corps on its official X account on November 30, 2025. The training, conducted alongside allied instructors and tested in winter conditions, reflects a growing push to equip armored crews with lightweight reconnaissance drones that can scout ahead of heavy vehicles and improve battlefield awareness. Read full Defense News at this link ... British soldiers from Dreadnaught Squadron, Royal Tank Regiment, operate a small tactical drone during sUAS training in Estonia, enhancing battlefield reconnaissance capabilities in coordination with NATO forces. (Picture source: Royal Armoured Corps X account) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/6i4po58 via IFTTT

  On 28 November 2025, Poland briefly placed Patriot air defense systems at Rzeszów-Jasionka airport on high alert after four Russian MiG-31 fighters armed with Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles flew westward over the Baltic Sea while remaining in Russian airspace, as reported by Bild and relayed by regional media. Although no border was crossed, the combination of high-speed interceptor aircraft and long-range hypersonic-capable missiles moving along NATO’s northeastern periphery immediately triggered standard contingency procedures to protect the alliance’s main logistics hub for Ukraine. The incident shows how, in the current strategic environment, even flights conducted strictly within Russian airspace can produce rapid shifts in alert posture along NATO’s eastern flank. For Poland and its allies, the episode is a practical stress test of integrated air and missile defense, and a reminder that deterrence today is measured not only by hardware but also by the speed and coherence of...

During the period from 24 to 29 November 2025, a series of top defense news stories offered a clear look at how military power is shifting across every major domain. According to regional defense ministries and public statements by military officials, Türkiye advanced its push for naval independence, Argentina accelerated long-delayed upgrades to its ground forces, and the United States carried out strategic air operations that drew wide attention. Parallel progress in Asia and South America on new naval platforms added further weight to a week already marked by rising capabilities and recalibrated security priorities. Read full Defense News at this link ... Global defense forces shifted strategy this week 24 - 29 as Türkiye advanced naval self-defense, Argentina began armored modernization, Saudi Arabia eyed a massive drone deal, the U.S. flexed air power, and South Korea and Brazil launched new warships. Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/Bsi6IyT via IFT...

Pictures released by the U.S. Department of War show the U.S. Navy USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier conducting flight operations in the Caribbean Sea, a pace U.S. officials describe as part of an expanded readiness posture under U.S. Southern Command. While the Pentagon did not detail the full scope of the mission, officials familiar with regional operations say the increased tempo reflects a broader effort to counter trafficking networks that operate through key shipping corridors. Ford’s presence, amid tensions with Venezuela, also serves as a visible reminder that Washington is leaning more heavily on naval aviation to reinforce stability in the southern approaches. Read full Naval News at this link ... An F/A-18E Super Hornet touches down on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, during operations on November 17, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) Read More from World Defence News htt...

 On November 27, 2025, at Gölcük Naval Shipyard, Türkiye formally received the Reis-class submarine TCG Hızırreis (S-331), the second of six Type 214TN boats built under the New Type Submarine Project (YTDP), in a handover attended by representatives of the Defence Industry Agency (SSB), the Turkish Navy, Gölcük Naval Shipyard and TKMS. The transfer followed months of harbour and sea acceptance tests and was announced both by Turkish media and by TKMS, which underlined that the delivery confirms the programme is now progressing within the expected cost and schedule envelope. Coming just over a year after the commissioning of the lead boat TCG Piri Reis in August 2024, the entry into service of Hızırreis marks a new stage in Türkiye’s long-running effort to renew its diesel-electric fleet and introduce air-independent propulsion (AIP) capabilities on a large scale. For Ankara and its partners, this handover is more than a technical milestone: it feeds directly into the balance of po...

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency confirmed that on November 28, 2025, it signed a contract with General Dynamics European Land Systems Bridge Systems for the delivery of the M3 Amphibious Bridge and Ferry System, a key asset for rapid wet gap crossings. According to information released by the company, Norway has become the third NORDEFCO member to adopt the M3 platform, a step that supports joint Nordic planning and improves the region’s ability to maneuver heavy equipment across complex terrain. Read full Defense News at this link ... Norwegian Army to receive the M3 Amphibious Bridge and Ferry System, a highly mobile, self-propelled platform capable of rapidly deploying floating bridges or ferries for heavy military vehicles, enhancing NATO’s wet-gap crossing capabilities. (Picture source: GDELS) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/g2JANSa via IFTTT

On November 27, 2025, Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds confirmed that the first ASCOD Hunter infantry fighting vehicles will be delivered in the first half of 2026, enabling preliminary unit integration and training ahead of full fleet deliveries in 2027. The announcement follows the signing of a letter of intent with Spain and Austria that formalizes the cooperation within the ASCOD program and establishes a shared user group for upgrades, sustainment, and interoperability. Latvia’s procurement plan covers a total of 84 Hunter IFVs, split between two battalions, with at least 30 percent of the program designated for Latvian industry through licensed assembly and sustainment work.  Read full defense news at this link... Latvian soldiers from the Mechanized Infantry Brigade selected the name Hunter, which the Ministry notes is linked to Latvian mythology where the hunter symbolizes skill, adaptation, connection to the environment and survival in demanding conditions. (...

On 27 November 2025, a new combat video circulated online showing Ukraine’s 413th Regiment “Raid” of the Unmanned Systems Forces using an FPV drone to hit a Russian 9K33 Osa-AKM short-range air defense system. The footage, published on the unit’s social media and relayed by the Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi, shows the drone approaching slowly before striking the radar array of the vehicle-mounted launcher. This episode is not an isolated incident but another indicator of how relatively inexpensive FPV platforms are systematically eroding the protection once provided by Soviet-era air defenses. For Ukraine and its partners, the strike is relevant as it highlights both the tactical flexibility of unmanned systems and the persistent vulnerabilities in Russia’s much-publicized layered air defense concept.  Read Full Defense News At This Link. Ukrainian FPV operators released new footage showing their drone destroying a Russian Osa AKM short-range air defense system, a hit...

China’s unveiling of the Type 076 amphibious assault carrier has drawn attention across the naval defense community because its 263-meter hull and estimated 50,000-ton displacement now exceed the dimensions of France’s nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle. According to early assessments from regional security analysts, the ship is structured less as a blue-water strike carrier and more as a high-capacity platform for drones, helicopters, and amphibious forces, designed for short-range power projection along China’s eastern coastline and in the Taiwan Strait. Read full Naval News at this link ... Visual comparison between China’s Type 076 amphibious assault carrier and France’s Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft carrier. The Type 076 measures 263 meters in length and displaces approximately 50,000 tons, while the Charles de Gaulle is slightly shorter at 261.5 meters and displaces around 43,000 tons.  (Picture source: Zhao DaShuai X account) Read More from World Defence N...