MTQ News

The United States has approved a possible $3 billion sale of 24 additional MH-60R Seahawk naval helicopters to South Korea, a move announced on May 18, 2026, that would triple the Republic of Korea Navy’s planned fleet from 12 to 36 aircraft and sharply expand its anti-submarine warfare capacity against growing North Korean underwater threats. The approval comes less than two months after the ROKN activated its first operational MH-60Rs at Jinhae Naval Base, signaling that Seoul is moving from a limited fleet replacement effort toward a broader restructuring of its maritime warfare posture focused on persistent submarine detection and fleet protection.  Read full defense news at this link... Issued alongside a $1.2 billion Apache helicopter modernization program, this potential $3 billion FMS would triple South Korea's planned fleet of MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopters from 12 to 36 units. (Picture source: US Navy) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift....

Northrop Grumman has moved its YFQ-48A Talon Blue closer to first flight after completing autonomous taxi testing for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, the company announced on May 18, 2026. While limited in scope, the milestone confirms the uncrewed fighter can independently handle runway movement, steering, braking, propulsion response, and onboard safety functions, a critical step toward fielding combat drones designed to operate alongside crewed fighters in contested airspace. The test validated the integration of the aircraft’s propulsion system, flight-control computers, autonomy software, communications links, and landing gear as a functioning operational platform rather than separate subsystems. Conducted after earlier groundwork linked to Mojave Air and Space Port in California, the achievement strengthens Northrop Grumman’s position in the race to deliver autonomous combat aircraft capable of extending airpower, increasing survivability, and supporti...

The United Kingdom has moved HMS Cardiff, its second Type 26 City-class frigate, into the afloat fitting-out phase after BAE Systems completed the warship’s first flood-up at the Scotstoun shipyard in Glasgow, marking a key step toward expanding the Royal Navy’s future anti-submarine warfare capability against increasingly quiet submarine threats. BAE Systems confirmed the milestone on April 30, 2026, as the frigate transitions from dry-dock construction to combat system integration, harbour testing, and eventual sea trials for a class designed to replace the Royal Navy’s aging Type 23 anti-submarine fleet. HMS Cardiff will now undergo installation and testing of sensors, weapons, and mission systems that will define the Type 26’s role as a high-end submarine hunter capable of protecting carrier strike groups and strategic maritime routes. The programme reflects a broader Western push to strengthen undersea warfare, survivability, and long-range naval deterrence as NATO navies adapt to...

The U.S. Army is moving to expand the depth and affordability of its air and missile defense network with a new effort to field low-cost interceptors capable of defeating drones, cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic threats without exhausting high-value Patriot PAC-3 MSE stocks. The requirement, published on May 15, 2026, through RCCTO Redstone under MOSAIC-26-03, signals a push to sustain layered air defense operations in high-intensity conflicts where mass attacks could quickly deplete premium interceptors. The Army is seeking mature interceptor technologies and critical subsystems priced well below existing missile defense weapons, with complete rounds capped under $1 million to enable larger inventories and faster replenishment. The initiative also emphasizes modular open-system integration with Patriot and the Integrated Battle Command System, reflecting a broader shift toward scalable, networked air defense architectures designed to counter saturation attacks and reduce the...

Turkish Aerospace has begun developing a carrier-capable version of the Hürjet supersonic trainer and light attack aircraft, expanding the platform from a land-based jet into a future naval combat asset aligned with Türkiye’s Mavi Vatan maritime strategy. The move, revealed as Türkiye accelerates plans for carrier aviation, would give the Turkish Navy a domestically produced fixed-wing aircraft able to operate from future warships and strengthen its ability to project air power across contested maritime zones. The navalized Hürjet is being redesigned with reinforced landing gear, a strengthened airframe, and an arresting hook to survive repeated carrier recoveries and sustained deck operations in harsh maritime conditions. Combined with planned unmanned aircraft such as Bayraktar TB3 and Kızılelma aboard the future MUGEM carrier, the aircraft could form part of a mixed manned-unmanned air wing that reflects the broader shift toward distributed and autonomous naval warfare. Read more......

The United States is accelerating plans for its future Golden Dome missile shield as fears grow that Russia and China could overwhelm America with hypersonic missile strikes targeting major cities, nuclear bases, aircraft carriers, and critical infrastructure during the opening hours of a future conflict. U.S. defense officials increasingly warn that existing homeland defense systems were built for limited ballistic missile threats and may struggle against next-generation hypersonic glide vehicles, AI-guided missile swarms, cruise missiles, drones, and coordinated cyber attacks launched simultaneously. Read full Defense News at this link … A Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missile is launched during a U.S. air defense exercise as Washington expands the future Golden Dome network aimed at stopping Russian and Chinese hypersonic weapons. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/oYuhqmV via IFTTT

  Anduril UK has been down-selected by the UK Ministry of Defence for the next phase of Project NYX, a British Army programme to develop autonomous “wingman” drones for the AH-64E Apache, the company announced on May 15, 2026. The effort matters because it reflects a major shift in attack aviation doctrine, with the British Army seeking to extend Apache reach, survivability, and combat mass in contested environments increasingly shaped by layered air defences, electronic warfare, and autonomous systems. Read Full Defense News At This Link. Britain selected Anduril UK to develop autonomous wingman drones for the British Army’s AH-64E Apache fleet under Project NYX (Picture Source: Anduril) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/wPVgtf9 via IFTTT

  The U.S. Navy has been spotted flying an F/A-18F Super Hornet with what appears to be the AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, marking the first publicly documented sighting of the long-secret AMRAAM successor on a frontline combat aircraft. Photos taken at Eglin Air Force Base on May 13, 2026, and published by Jonathan Tweedy indicate the missile has entered a visible integration-testing phase that could significantly extend the reach and survivability of U.S. carrier aviation in future beyond-visual-range air combat. Read Full Defense News At This Link. A newly photographed Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet carrying the AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile suggests the United States is moving closer to fielding a next-generation beyond-visual-range weapon designed to restore long-range air combat advantage against peer adversaries (Picture Source: Jonathan Tweedy) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/hdsJDek via IFTTT

Estonia is expanding its long-range strike capability with a new order for three additional K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers from South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, bringing its future fleet to nine systems and strengthening its ability to deliver precision fires deep beyond conventional artillery range. The agreement, signed in Tallinn on 11 May 2026 between the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, reinforces Estonia’s push to build a more credible deterrent against regional military threats on NATO’s eastern flank. The expanded Chunmoo force will give the Estonian Defence Forces access to guided 239 mm rockets and CTM-290 tactical ballistic missiles capable of striking high-value targets at extended distances with greater accuracy and response speed. Combined with training, operational support, and locally adapted vehicle modifications, the programme increases Estonia’s ability to conduct distributed long-range fires and reflects the...

 Israel is moving to extend the combat reach of its F-35I “Adir” stealth fighters through a new contract with Elbit Systems’ Cyclone subsidiary, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on May 14, 2026, a move that could reduce dependence on vulnerable aerial refueling aircraft during deep-strike operations. The more than $34 million program is strategically significant because it aims to give Israel greater freedom to launch long-range precision missions while preserving the survivability and operational flexibility of its fifth-generation strike fleet.  Read Full Defense news At This Link.  Israel’s new F-35I Adir external fuel tank program aims to extend stealth strike range, reduce tanker dependence, and improve deep-penetration mission flexibility in contested airspace (Picture Source: Israeli Air Force) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/E5YHT0B via IFTTT

The U.S. Navy is moving to weaponize artificial intelligence within its submarine shipbuilding sector with the rollout of ShipOS (Shipbuilding Operating System), a new AI-driven production management system designed to speed the construction of Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines and Virginia-class attack submarines, as the United States faces mounting naval pressure from China. Revealed in the Navy’s May 2026 Shipbuilding Plan, the initiative aims to cut chronic production delays and strengthen America’s ability to sustain submarine output during a potential high-intensity conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Read full Naval Defense News at this link … Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti tours General Dynamics Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility in Rhode Island, where modular construction and outfitting operations support future Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines as the U.S. Navy accelerates AI-enabled submarine production modernization. (Picture source: ...

The U.S. Air Force and Boeing have launched a three-part effort to raise the combat readiness of the KC-46A Pegasus tanker fleet and speed delivery of the long-delayed Remote Vision System 2.0 upgrade, addressing maintenance and refueling-system problems that have limited tanker availability during high-demand global operations. The agreement, announced on May 12, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia, matters because U.S. airpower depends on reliable aerial refueling to sustain long-range strike missions, rapid force projection, and coalition air campaigns across multiple theaters. The package includes upgrades for five early-production KC-46As, a faster retrofit path for the new remote vision system, and a five-year logistics support plan focused on improving refueling-system reliability. The Air Force expects the effort to deliver an immediate availability increase of about 6 percent and push overall KC-46A fleet readiness up by more than 20 percent by 2030, strengthening the tanker force th...

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is pushing toward containerized autonomous drone operations that could allow American forces to launch and sustain dispersed air missions from remote locations without relying on vulnerable airbases. In a request for information published by DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office under notice DARPA-SN-26-33, the agency outlined interest in Group 1-3 unmanned aerial vehicles capable of autonomous storage, launch, recovery, refueling, and recharging inside transportable containers, signaling a major shift toward resilient expeditionary drone warfare. The concept is designed to support continuous reconnaissance, electronic warfare, communications relay, targeting, and strike missions over multiple days, including in GPS-denied environments where conventional drone operations face severe limitations. If fielded, the system would strengthen U.S. force survivability and operational reach by enabling autonomous drone constellations that can rapid...

  The U.S. Air Force will keep the C-5M Galaxy in service until around FY2050, according to FY2027 budget documents, signaling that Washington still depends on the aircraft’s unmatched ability to move oversized military cargo across intercontinental distances. The decision, outlined in Air Force budget justification material tied to Next-Generation Airlift (NGAL) studies, confirms that no near-term platform can yet replace the Galaxy’s combination of payload, internal volume, and strategic lift capacity for global reinforcement and rapid force projection. Read Full Defense News At This Link. The U.S. Air Force plans to keep its C-5M Galaxy heavy airlift fleet operational until roughly FY2050, underscoring the aircraft’s unmatched role in transporting oversized military cargo while the Next-Generation Airlift program remains years from deployment (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/oFgxuvk via IFTTT

  The U.S. Army is expanding fielding of the Smart Shooter SMASH 2000LE fire control system under a new $10.7 million award announced by Smart Shooter on May 11, 2026, strengthening the ability of individual soldiers to destroy small drones at close range before they can strike troops or vehicles. The decision reflects a major doctrinal shift as FPV drones, loitering munitions, and low-cost reconnaissance systems force frontline units to assume a direct role in air defense at squad level rather than relying solely on higher-echelon protection. SMASH 2000LE uses AI-enabled target tracking, computer vision, and automated shot-release technology to improve hit probability against fast and evasive aerial threats, giving riflemen a practical hard-kill option during the final seconds of a drone attack. Its integration with wider sensor and battle-management networks aligns with the U.S. Army’s broader push toward layered and distributed counter-UAS warfare, where every maneuver unit beco...

The Philippine Army is evaluating Japan’s Type 10 main battle tank as a potential alternative to further expansion of its Israeli Sabrah fleet, according to MaxDefense Philippines on May 9, 2026, signaling a possible shift toward heavier but still infrastructure-compatible armored firepower amid delays affecting the Sabrah program. The move matters because Manila is seeking a tank capable of delivering significantly greater anti-armor lethality and survivability without exceeding the bridge, ferry, and road limitations that restrict deployment of conventional 60- to 70-tonne Western MBTs across the archipelago.  Read full defense news at this link... The Philippine Army is interested in the Type 10 because it combines full main battle tank firepower and advanced combat systems with a combat weight light enough to operate on many Philippine roads, bridges, and transport networks. (Picture source: Japanese Army) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/EMdP6za via IFTTT...

The U.S. Air Force is moving closer to operational deployment of its Dragon Cart palletized strike system, a capability that would allow cargo aircraft to launch cruise missiles directly from their rear cargo bays and turn transport fleets into long-range strike assets. As highlighted in recent U.S. defense reporting, the concept could significantly expand American stand-off attack capacity by enabling aircraft such as the C-17A Globemaster III and MC-130J Commando II to deliver precision weapons from outside heavily defended airspace without relying solely on traditional bomber forces. The system is designed to release palletized cruise missiles from standard airlift platforms, giving commanders a flexible way to rapidly increase missile-launch capacity during high-intensity conflict. Beyond adding firepower, Dragon Cart reflects a broader shift toward distributed strike operations and survivable force projection, where non-traditional aircraft can support long-range precision attacks...

 Pratt & Whitney is moving its XA103 adaptive engine from digital development toward physical assembly and testing, a major step announced by RTX on May 8, 2026, that could shape the propulsion backbone of future U.S. sixth-generation combat aircraft. The milestone matters because future air dominance platforms will depend as much on engine-generated power, cooling, range, and survivability as on stealth or weapons performance, especially in contested theaters such as the Indo-Pacific.  Read Full Defense News At This Link. Pratt & Whitney’s XA103 adaptive-cycle engine has advanced toward hardware assembly and future testing as the U.S. Air Force pushes to equip its sixth-generation F-47 fighter with propulsion capabilities exceeding today’s combat aircraft engines (Picture Source: Pratt & Whitney, edited by Army Recognition Group) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/SAwYHjn via IFTTT

 The United States is moving drone production closer to the front line in the Indo-Pacific after Firestorm received a $30 million APFIT award on May 8, 2026, to deploy xCell containerized microfactories and Tempest UAVs into the region. The initiative supports U.S. and allied forces by enabling sustained unmanned operations even if ports, airfields, and long-range supply routes are disrupted during a potential conflict in the Pacific.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  The United States is deploying Firestorm’s xCell mobile microfactories and Tempest UAVs to the Indo-Pacific to enable forward drone production and sustain unmanned operations in contested combat environments (Picture Source: Firestorm, Edited by Army Recognition Group) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/VRBengT via IFTTT

Iranian forces seized the Chinese-linked tanker Ocean Koi during a fast-boat boarding operation near the Strait of Hormuz on May 8, 2026, amid escalating U.S.-Iran military clashes that are now pushing Gulf tanker traffic toward collapse. The interception exposed Tehran’s ability to disrupt global oil flows without formally closing Hormuz, turning commercial shipping, insurance costs and energy markets into active pressure tools in the widening maritime confrontation.  Read full defense news at this link... Iran justified the tanker seizure by claiming the Ocean Koi was carrying Iranian oil while allegedly exploiting wartime conditions in the Gulf to disrupt Iranian petroleum exports and harm the country’s national interests. (Picture source: IRIB and Vessel Finder via X/The Maritime) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/k7P2cMd via IFTTT

The U.S. Special Operations support ship MV Ocean Trader has arrived at Diego Garcia as Washington expands military pressure across the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf, placing a covert maritime staging platform within operational reach of Iran and the Red Sea corridor. Satellite imagery first highlighted by OSINT analyst MT Anderson on May 8, 2026, showed the vessel anchored inside the atoll alongside an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and USNS Pililaau, reinforcing signs that the strategically isolated base is again being used as a forward hub for potential sustained regional contingency operations.  Read full defense news at this link... The arrival of MV Ocean Trader near Diego Garcia could mean that the United States is preparing for possible covert special operations, intelligence missions, or crisis-response actions somewhere across the Middle East, East Africa, or the Indian Ocean region. (Picture source: X/MT Anderson and Ian Ellis) Read more... from World Defence News https:...

The United States is investing nearly $1.9 billion to turn Guam into a hardened missile defense stronghold capable of resisting Chinese ballistic and hypersonic strikes, after the U.S. Missile Defense Agency awarded Lockheed Martin a new $407 million contract modification on May 7, 2026. The program expands the Aegis Guam System into a multi-service combat network designed to protect the island’s critical airfields, naval facilities, and logistics hubs that would be essential for sustaining U.S. operations during a Taiwan or wider Indo-Pacific conflict.  Read full defense news at this link... The Aegis Guam System acts like a high-tech protective umbrella over the island of Guam, using advanced sensors and missiles to detect and stop incoming Chinese missile threats before they can hit the ground. (Picture source: US DoD) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/ZjSbzui via IFTTT

The United States has launched one of its largest maritime pressure operations against Iran in decades, with U.S. Central Command confirming on May 8, 2026, that American naval and air forces are blocking more than 70 commercial tankers from accessing Iranian ports. The operation directly targets Tehran’s oil export network, threatening the regime’s main source of revenue while demonstrating Washington’s ability to disrupt Iranian economic lifelines across the Gulf and surrounding sea lanes. Read full Naval News at this link … U.S. Central Command intensifies maritime pressure on Iran as more than 70 oil tankers carrying over 166 million barrels of crude remain blocked from Iranian ports during a large-scale regional enforcement operation. (AI-generated image based on CENTCOM-released operational information.) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/1Kf0sGH via IFTTT

U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets have carried out the first confirmed American carrier-based strafing attacks against Iranian-flagged tankers in the Gulf of Oman, marking a major escalation in Washington’s blockade campaign against Iran following the collapse of the April 2026 ceasefire process. During operations conducted on May 6 and May 8, U.S. forces targeted the tankers M/T Hasna, M/T Sea Star III, and M/T Sevda with 20mm cannon fire and precision-guided munitions to disable propulsion and steering systems without sinking the vessels.  Read full defense news at this link... F/A-18E/F Super Hornets launched from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) used 20mm M61A2 cannon fire against Hasna and precision-guided munitions against Sea Star III and Sevda. (Picture source: US DoD) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/f8rpWi5 via IFTTT

The U.S. Navy has received its first Australian-built Speartooth autonomous underwater strike drone from C2 Robotics, confirming Washington’s growing interest in low-cost uncrewed systems able to expand undersea surveillance and attack capacity without relying solely on expensive crewed submarines. The delivery, announced on May 1, 2026, follows a 2025 NUWC Division Newport procurement for three long-range LUUVs and highlights how allied-developed autonomous platforms are becoming increasingly important for maritime denial, covert ISR, and distributed undersea warfare.  Read full defense news at this link... Australia's Speartooth LUUV, a relatively low-cost autonomous underwater vehicle, might be used by the US Navy to patrol contested maritime areas, gather intelligence, monitor ports and sea lanes, deploy sensors or weapons, and support mine warfare missions. (Picture source: C2 Robotics) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/lI2o0dg via IFTTT

The U.S. Army has selected AeroVironment’s Switchblade 400 loitering munition for the LASSO program on May 4, 2026, which signals a major shift away from traditional infantry anti-tank missiles toward portable precision-strike drones designed for fast-moving combat. The decision reflects battlefield lessons from Ukraine, where loitering munitions increasingly outperformed conventional anti-tank weapons by extending engagement range, accelerating target kill timelines, and reducing the logistical burden on frontline infantry units.  Read full defense news at this link... The U.S. need for the loitering munitions stemmed from lessons of the Russia–Ukraine war; current infantry brigade combat teams lacked organic anti‑tank weapons while both sides in Ukraine were exploiting kamikaze drones. (Picture source: AeroVironment) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/z9FI4v7 via IFTTT

AeroVironment’s LOCUST high-energy laser weapon system has completed a live counter-drone test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, demonstrating the ability to engage both stationary and airborne unmanned aircraft while advancing U.S. efforts to deploy directed-energy defenses in domestic airspace. The company announced on May 6, 2026, that the event conducted with Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Federal Aviation Administration delivered new safety data critical for future counter-drone operations around military bases, borders, airports, and critical infrastructure. The March 7–8 test connected real laser engagements with validated airspace control procedures, a key step before high-energy weapons can be fielded in populated or heavily regulated environments. The demonstration also reflects the growing military focus on low-cost, rapid-response counter-UAS systems capable of defeating drone threats without relying on conventional missiles or kinetic interceptors. Rea...

The U.S. Navy is advancing development of the Raytheon AIM-9X Compact Variant to give stealth fighters and future unmanned combat aircraft a higher internal missile load without sacrificing low-observable performance. The FY2027 budget request, which allocates $83.3 million for Navy-led work and identifies future U.S. Air Force participation from FY2028, signals a broader joint-service effort to increase air-to-air lethality and magazine depth for next-generation combat operations. The compact missile is designed to solve a critical limitation facing aircraft such as the F-22, F-35, and future Collaborative Combat Aircraft, where internal weapons bay space directly constrains combat endurance and engagement capacity. By reducing the size of the AIM-9X while preserving short-range air combat effectiveness, the program supports a wider shift toward stealth-optimized loadouts, autonomous teaming, and sustained air dominance in highly contested environments. Read more... Raytheon AIM-9X Co...

 Türkiye has unveiled a mobile directed-energy air-defense system that pairs the ALKA laser and electronic warfare weapon with the KAPLAN Hybrid tracked vehicle, creating a frontline counter-drone capability designed to move with armored forces and defeat swarms at low cost. The system was presented by ROKETSAN and FNSS during SAHA Expo 2026 in Istanbul, highlighting its role in closing a critical gap in NATO short-range air defense against mass, low-cost aerial threats.  Read Full Defense News At This Link. ROKETSAN and FNSS introduced a hybrid armored vehicle-mounted laser and electronic warfare system designed to detect, disrupt, and destroy drone threats while moving with frontline forces (Picture Source: Army Recognition Group) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/2lCHBXs via IFTTT

The U.S. Navy has positioned the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli forward of the Strait of Hormuz to conduct sustained flight operations in support of blockade enforcement against Iran, a move confirmed by U.S. Central Command on May 5, 2026, that directly shapes access to one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. By shifting to an aviation-centric role with F-35B fighters and Marine forces, the deployment prioritizes localized sea control and rapid response under threat conditions rather than restoring full commercial traffic, signaling a constrained but active enforcement posture.  Read full defense news at this link... The USS Tripoli's air wing includes nearly 20 F-35B fighters from VMFA-121, MV-22B tiltrotors from VMM-265, and MH-60S helicopters from HSC-25, forming a composite aviation force capable of strike, ISR, and transport missions. (Picture source: US Navy) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/cwFyM5i via IFTTT

U.S. Army AH-64 Apache and U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopters destroyed six Iranian fast-attack boats in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4 after they threatened commercial shipping, demonstrating a rapid-response strike option against swarm tactics in a critical maritime chokepoint, as confirmed later that day by U.S. Central Command. The engagement highlights how rotary-wing firepower can intercept and neutralize small, fast-moving threats before they reach vulnerable merchant vessels, reinforcing deterrence and reducing reliance on close escort missions. The helicopters used precision weapons and onboard sensors to quickly locate and eliminate the boats while U.S. forces simultaneously countered Iranian drones and cruise missiles, showing an integrated air defense and strike capability in a contested environment. This approach supports a broader shift toward layered maritime security, where speed, reach, and flexibility allow forces to maintain open sea lanes under persistent asymmetric...

The United States has launched Operation Project Freedom to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran effectively shut down one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, resulting in a global collapse in shipping traffic by over 90 percent. Confirmed by U.S. Central Command on May 4, 2026, the operation aims to reestablish even limited transit under combat conditions, directly challenging Iran’s ability to disrupt global oil flows and testing U.S. capacity to maintain maritime access under sustained missile, drone, and mine threats.  Read full defense news at this link... For Operation Project Freedom, U.S. Central Command deployed Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, helicopters, aircraft carriers, F-16 fighter jets, drones, and about 15,000 troops to protect commercial ships and try to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. (Picture source: CENTCOM) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/qFOB8TG via IFTTT

Belgium is emerging as a leading candidate to host European co-production of the AIM-120 AMRAAM, after the U.S. ambassador in Brussels, Bill White, signaled strong support for the bid in a press conference on April 29, 2026, potentially positioning the country as a key node in NATO’s missile supply chain. This contract would directly expand Western air combat and air defense capacity by shortening production cycles and reinforcing stockpiles critical for sustained high-intensity operations.  Read full defense news at this link... By late 2023, the AMRAAM production had already reached ~1,200 missiles/year, but is now expected to reach at least 1,900 missiles/year following a new agreement with the US Department of War in February 2026. (Picture source: US Air Force) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/o20IJMz via IFTTT