MTQ News

At the World Defense Show held in Riyadh this February, Türkiye’s defense electronics firm ASELSAN detailed its Steel Dome architecture, an integrated air and missile defense concept intended to counter threats ranging from low-cost drones to cruise missiles and ballistic projectiles. Company officials said the architecture brings together sensors, effectors, command and control, and electronic warfare into a single operational framework, reflecting a shift toward multi-layered, networked defense solutions that can be adapted to national and regional requirements. Read more.  Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/0H1JBpq via IFTTT

At the World Defense Show 2026, ST Engineering Land Systems showcased an updated Rhino armored vehicle configured for manned-unmanned teaming, or MUM T, positioning the platform as a next step in the mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle lineage. Company officials described the vehicle as a hybrid electric, multi-role system designed to pair a human crew with unmanned ground and aerial assets, while maintaining mission flexibility across combat operations, peacekeeping deployments, and border security tasks. Read more.  ST Engineering Land Systems’ Rhino MUM-T hybrid vehicle on display at the World Defense Show 2026 (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/P5zLsUw via IFTTT

 On February 4, 2026, the Swedish Armed Forces announced that six JAS 39 Gripen fighters from Skaraborg Air Wing F 7 had landed at Keflavík Air Base in Iceland to support NATO Air Policing during February and March 2026. The deployment, marks the 55th air policing rotation over Iceland, but the first led by the Swedish Air Force since Sweden joined NATO. A complementary announcement by NATO Allied Air Command on February 6 described the mission as a historic moment for the Alliance’s newest Ally, underlining how Stockholm’s accession has already translated into concrete operational commitments. In a context of heightened tension with Russia and growing military activity in the Arctic and North Atlantic, the move has implications that go well beyond Icelandic airspace alone.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Six Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters have deployed to Iceland for NATO air policing, marking Sweden’s first operational contribution to Alliance air defense...

The U.S. Navy’s push to put an armed, carrier-capable unmanned combat aircraft on the flight deck is sharpening into a real contest, as General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. and Anduril Industries used the Singapore Air Show to preview early thinking for the service’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Their message was consistent: the Navy’s version will not be a simple derivative of the Air Force effort, but a purpose-built design shaped by catapult launches, arrested recoveries, deck-spotting constraints, and the unforgiving math of wartime attrition, all while operating as a combat multiplier alongside the F-35C and F/A-18E/F. Read more... A carrier-capable unmanned combat jet designed to launch and recover from carriers, then team with F-35C and Super Hornets to extend range, add sensors and jamming, and carry extra weapons for air defense or strike using task-based autonomy with human control and lethal actions (Picture source: U.S. DoW). from World Defence News https:/...

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed it successfully carried out a live-warhead flight test of the Extended Range Attack Munition, or ERAM, on the Eglin Test and Training Range in Florida, marking a significant milestone for the service’s next generation of air-launched strike weapons. Conducted on January 21, 2026, the test concluded with a complete warhead detonation on a designated target, less than 16 months after the program’s initial contract award, an unusually rapid timeline by Pentagon standards, according to Air Force officials familiar with the effort. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link … A U.S. Air Force Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) cruise missile flies its planned trajectory during a live-warhead flight test over the Eglin Test and Training Range in January 2026, validating long-range standoff strike capability against ground targets. (Picture source: U.S. Air Force) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/nSFQD58 via IFTTT

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) disclosed on February 6, 2026, that the State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for Class IX spare parts and related support, estimated at $185 million. Logged under DSCA case 25-105 and sent to Congress, the package is not a dramatic new missile tranche or a fresh armored battalion in a box. Instead, it targets the unglamorous choke point that decides whether Western-provided platforms remain combat-relevant: the ability to keep them running, repaired, and mission-capable under relentless battlefield wear. In DSCA’s framing, the request is designed to strengthen Ukraine’s local sustainment capacity and sustain higher operational rates for U.S.-provided vehicles and weapon systems. Read more... A 185$ million U.S. Class IX spare-parts FMS aims to keep Ukraine's Western armor and artillery mission-ready, boosting repair speed and operational availability for Abrams, Bradley, HIMARS, and M777 sys...

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force formally placed the U.S.-made F-35B Lightning II into frontline service on February 7, 2026, holding a deployment commemoration ceremony at Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture. According to information published by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the operational introduction of the short takeoff and vertical landing variant reflects Tokyo’s accelerating focus on distributed and survivable air operations amid a tightening regional security environment. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link … Japanese defense officials and Japan Air Self-Defense Force personnel attend the F-35B deployment commemoration ceremony at Nyutabaru Air Base on February 7, marking the STOVL stealth fighter's official entry into frontline service. (Picture source: Japan MoD) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/4NAFd3H via IFTTT

  On February 5, 2026, Naval Air Systems Command announced that the U.S. Navy had carried out the third and final planned flight test of the Harpoon Block II Update (HIIU) Obsolescence Update program, closing a key chapter in the life-extension of one of its most widely used anti-ship missiles. Conducted in mid-January over ranges in California, the event confirms that the upgraded missile can still prosecute demanding coastal and land-attack profiles despite the age of the original design. In an era of contested littorals and dense coastal defenses, ensuring that an affordable, mature weapon like Harpoon remains credible is strategically significant for both the United States and allied fleets. Read Full Defense News At This Link. The U.S. Navy has completed the final flight test of its Harpoon Block II Update missile, confirming the upgraded weapon can still perform demanding coastal and land-strike missions despite the system’s aging design (Picture Source: NAVAIR) ...

The US Department of Defense announced that Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc of Sacramento, California, has received a 61 million dollar firm fixed price contract modification from Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River Maryland, to support US Navy training and test activities. The modification authorizes full-rate production of Lot Seven BQM 177A surface-launched aerial targets, along with 70 rocket-assisted takeoff kits and associated technical and administrative data, according to Navy contracting officials. Read more .  The BQM-177A can carry internal and external payloads, including Identification Friend or Foe IFF transponders passive and active radio frequency augmentation infrared augmentation through fixed flares or plume pods and electronic countermeasure packages.(Picture source: Kratos) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/A2ytBEL via IFTTT

Taiwan has quietly crossed an important threshold in its defense modernization as the first components of the land-based Harpoon Coastal Defense System arrived on the island this week, according to imagery published February 5 by local observers on social media. The photographs show convoys transporting missile launchers, radar vehicles, and command and control units associated with the U.S.-supplied system, signaling the opening phase of a program under which Taiwan has ordered 100 Harpoon missile system sets to strengthen its coastal and naval defense posture. Read more.   The Harpoon Coastal Defense System represents a land-based adaptation of Boeing’s established anti-ship missile architecture, configured specifically for deployment on mobile tactical vehicles (Picture source: Telegram Channel @china3army) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/0ABPwEU via IFTTT

Israel is moving to harden and missionize its next-generation heavy-lift fleet before the first aircraft even reaches an operational squadron. On February 5, 2026, the Israel Ministry of Defense’s Procurement Directorate signed an approximately $130 million agreement with Elbit Systems to integrate advanced Israeli command-and-control, avionics, electronic warfare, and a directed infrared countermeasure capability onto the Israeli Air Force’s incoming CH-53K helicopters. The deal covers 12 aircraft, the future CH-53K “Pereh” fleet, slated to replace the long-serving CH-53 “Yas’ur” that has anchored Israel’s most demanding assault, recovery, and special-mission lift for decades. Read more... Israel's CH-53K Pereh will field a missionized Israeli cockpit with enhanced command-and-control, advanced avionics for low-visibility and night operations, integrated electronic warfare, and DIRCM active anti-missile protection, enabling safer heavy-lift insertions, rapid obstacle and landin...

On February 2, 2026, the Swedish Älvsborg Amphibious Regiment (Amf 4) confirmed that the French Navy FDI frigate Amiral Ronarc’h (D660) entered the port of Gothenburg and moored at Arendal for a scheduled visit through February 5. The port call coincided with Sweden’s final evaluation phase for its Luleå-class frigate procurement, in which France participates. Expected in early 2026, the procurement choice, valued at approximately $5 billion, represents Sweden’s first acquisition of large warships since the early 1980s.  Read full defense news at this link... The port call of the Amiral Ronarc’h took place as Sweden evaluates three competing offers for the Luleå-class frigate program, which is estimated at roughly $5 billion and foresees the delivery of two ships by 2030, followed by two additional units by 2035. (Picture source: Ambassade de France en Suède) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/DoHvWfQ via IFTTT

Airbus Helicopters announced on 3 February 2026 that France’s Directorate General of Armament (DGA) has formally amended its ongoing SMDM contract to include a vertical take-off and landing variant of the Aliaca unmanned aircraft system for the French Navy. Ordered through Airbus Helicopters' subsidiary Survey Copter, the updated agreement makes France the first operator of the VTOL Aliaca, with deliveries scheduled to begin in May 2026 following a DGA-led qualification campaign. Read more.  The Aliaca VTOL is positioned as a tactical mini-drone rather than a long-endurance MALE asset (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/nJRhrSA via IFTTT

On February 2, 2026, the French Armament General Directorate confirmed the award of the Syfrall heavy light crossing system framework contract to a consortium formed by CNIM Systèmes Industriels, CEFA, and Soframe. The decision follows a notification issued on December 30, 2025, and activates a contract with a maximum value of €697,254,995 excluding tax over a duration of 120 months. The program falls under the 2024–2030 French military programming law and allows acquisitions for partner nations. Read more.  The Pont Flottant Motorisé (PFM), composed of powered floating modules that can be assembled into ferries or continuous bridges, remains the primary floating bridge system in the French Army, notably in the PFM F2 configuration. (Picture source: CNIM Systèmes Industriels) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/rZvuA0V via IFTTT

Speaking in Singapore, Boeing executives confirmed that the MQ-28 Ghost Bat program is shifting from its origins as a technology demonstrator toward an operational combat aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force, with initial service targeted before the end of the decade. According to Aviation Week reporting on February 2, 2026, the company is also shaping a Block 3 configuration designed specifically for international customers, as global air forces seek lower-cost, attritable platforms capable of operating alongside fighters such as the F-35 and future sixth-generation aircraft. Read more.  Boeing is accelerating MQ-28 Ghost Bat service with the RAAF by 2028 while developing an export-ready Block 3 variant for allied air forces. (Picture source: Australian MoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/ZRTCVbF via IFTTT

On January 13, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia confirmed the transfer of a C-130H Hercules tactical transport aircraft to the Tunisian Air Force during a ceremony at Sidi Ahmed Air Base. The delivery marked the fourth C-130 military transport aircraft provided to Tunisia since 2021, as part of ongoing bilateral military cooperation. U.S. and Tunisian officials stated the aircraft will be used for transport, security operations, joint exercises, and regional response missions.  Read full defense news at this link... Developed in the early 1950s, the C-130 entered service in 1956 and has since become one of the most widely used military transport aircraft globally, with more than 2,700 Hercules produced to date. (Picture source: U.S. Embassy in Tunisia) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/gCBZ98I via IFTTT

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on February 1, 2026, that Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov held high-level talks in Kyiv with Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson on a sweeping new security assistance package, described by Ukrainian officials as both a political signal and an industrial breakthrough. According to official messaging, the discussions covered Saab-produced air defense systems and radars, expanded electronic warfare support, and multiple categories of drones, while also opening a parallel aviation dialogue on the possible transfer of JAS 39 Gripen fighters and Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles. Read more.   Meteor is designed specifically for Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) combat, with an emphasis on maintaining lethality at extended distances (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/UfBlw0D via IFTTT

The Taiwanese Army is set to close out its long-awaited M1A2T Abrams tank program, with Taiwan’s Liberty Times reporting on 1 February that the final batch of 28 vehicles has completed production in the United States. According to the report, attributed to defense correspondent Tu Ju-min in Taipei, the tanks are expected to be transported by sea to Taiwan before the end of March, completing a 108-vehicle procurement that has been central to Taipei’s effort to restore credible heavy armor capability at the brigade level. Read more.  Taiwan’s final 28 M1A2T Abrams tanks have completed U.S. production, closing a 108-vehicle program to modernize the Taiwanese Army. (Picture source: Taiwan Military News Agency) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/S6TxVh3 via IFTTT

On January 30, 2026, the United States approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel covering 3,250 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and related equipment, with an estimated value of $1.98 billion. The vehicles are intended to replace part of the Israel Defense Forces' light tactical fleet, including a large number of Humvees.  Read full defense news at this link... The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) was developed to address shortcomings in protection, payload, and durability identified during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and by mid-2023, more than 20,000 JLTVs had been manufactured. (Picture source: U.S. Army) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/pQBW6uT via IFTTT

According to a February 1, 2026, report by South Korean outlet MAEIL Business Newspaper, Canada has intensified high-level engagement with South Korea as part of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), a program described domestically as a 60 trillion won (USD 45 billion) acquisition. Stephen Poirier, identified as Canada’s Minister of National Defence Procurement, is expected to tour major shipyards this week to review submarine construction capacity and assess conditions for industrial cooperation, a move widely viewed by defense industry observers as late-stage due diligence before final proposals are locked in. Read full Naval News at this link … Launch ceremony of ROKS Jang Yeong-sil, the first South Korean KSS-III Batch-II submarine, at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard, representing the next-generation 3,600-ton-class design officially offered by South Korea to Canada under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. (Picture source: Wikimedia) Read More from World D...

On January 30, 2026, the British government announced that the Ministry of Defence intends to commission MBDA UK Limited to deliver a detailed technical report on the compatibility of the Aster missile family with the Mk41 Vertical Launching System, a widely used US naval launcher. The proposed one-year contract, valued at an estimated £2,000,000, is expected to be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, citing a single-supplier justification based on the proprietary and highly specialized nature of the missile and launcher technologies involved, according to MoD documentation. Read full Naval News at this link … British Royal Navy HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 Daring-class air-defense destroyer, equipped with the Vertical Launching System (VLS) firing Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles as part of the UK’s principal naval area air defense capability. (Picture source: UK MoD) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/Xre7s5W via IFTTT

 The British Royal Navy confirmed on 30 January 2026 that it has carried out a series of integration trials at the National Drone Hub at Predannack Airfield on Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula, testing how crewed aircraft can work more closely with uncrewed systems. During the activity, known as Eagles Eye, an AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron conducted simulated Martlet missile engagements against moving targets, using live targeting data supplied by two light drones and ground-based sensors, according to a Navy statement. Read more.  In British service, the Wildcat HMA2 is configured for anti-surface warfare and the engagement of fast threats, including light craft, mobile coastal targets, and asymmetric threats (Picture source: UK MoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/mKg9IUL via IFTTT

 Türkiye’s defense software firm HAVELSAN has taken a significant step toward operationalizing autonomous warfare, unveiling a live field demonstration of its Digital Troops concept using a coordinated swarm of POYRAZ quadcopter drones. Conducted in front of senior civilian and military officials, the exercise focused on autonomous mission execution, kamikaze-style attack profiles, and simultaneous multi-target engagement, underscoring HAVELSAN’s claim that its distributed swarm architecture is now resilient enough for real-world combat conditions rather than controlled test environments. Read more .  HAVELSAN showcases a live POYRAZ drone swarm, signaling Türkiye’s move toward deployable autonomous Digital Troops combat systems.(Picture source: Havelsan) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/QWINb1j via IFTTT

The Australian Government on 30 January 2026,  confirmed the delivery of a Guardian-class Patrol Boat to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, marking the latest milestone in Australia’s Pacific Maritime Security Program. The vessel, commissioned as RMIS Jelmae, was handed over at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, with Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko accepting the ship on behalf of the government. Australian officials described the transfer as part of a sustained effort to support maritime sovereignty, law enforcement, and regional stability across the Pacific. Read more.   The Guardian‑class Patrol Boat, RMIS Jelmae, alongside HMAS Stirling, marking its formal handover to the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) in Western Australia. (Picture source: Australian MoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/LznFvhm via IFTTT

On January 28, 2026, The Telegraph reported that China supplied Russia with at least $10.3 billion in advanced machinery and electronics since 2022. The deliveries included CNC machine tools, microchips, and testing equipment identified at the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, where the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile is produced. China denied providing military support, stating exports were civilian and commercial.  Read full defense news at this link... The Oreshnik, also designated SS-X-31B or SS-X-34, is an intermediate-range, ground-launched ballistic missile developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, with ranges between 800 km and 5,000 km depending on payload mass and trajectory. (Picture source: Russian MoD) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/znsBLel via IFTTT

 During a formal ceremony marking the opening of newly constructed military barracks on January 24, 2026, the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan publicly showcased two newly inducted military systems, offering a rare glimpse into the country’s defense modernization efforts. The equipment presented included the JN1101 vehicular comprehensive anti-UAV system developed by the 36th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and the HZ emergency powered pontoon bridge manufactured by Hubei Huazhou Heavy Industry Emergency Equipment Co., Ltd. Public disclosures of new capabilities remain uncommon in Turkmenistan, making the event a notable indicator of evolving procurement priorities. Read more.  Taken together, the unveiling of the JN1101 anti-UAV system and the HZ powered pontoon bridge highlight Turkmenistan’s growing reliance on Chinese defense and emergency equipment suppliers (Picture source: Weibo Channel 疯子白杨) Read full Defense news.  ...

According to a January 21, 2026, report by Reuters, Germany is preparing to procure at least three MEKO A-200 frigates for the German Navy, as delays continue to affect the F-126 frigate program. The ships would be built by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, with first deliveries planned from 2029 under a parallel procurement framework approved by parliamentary budget authorities.  Read full defense news at this link... The MEKO A-200 frigate has a length of 121 meters, a beam of 16.4 meters, and a design draught of about 4.4 meters, with a full-load displacement of roughly 3,950 tonnes. (Picture source: TKMS) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/5ca0Jeq via IFTTT

On January 28, 2026, the future aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) departed Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding facility to begin builder’s sea trials. The underway period marks the supercarrier’s transition from dockside testing to open-water evaluation under the shipbuilder's responsibility. Trials follow initial nuclear propulsion testing conducted in the James River in September 2025.  Read full defense news at this link... The construction of the USS John F. Kennedy began on July 20, 2015, at Newport News Shipbuilding, where structural assembly continued through 2019. The ship was launched on October 29, 2019, and christened on December 7, 2019, after which extensive outfitting followed over several years. (Picture source: HII) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/BXTOS9F via IFTTT

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea early Monday, triggering swift condemnations from South Korea and Japan, which said the activity violated United Nations Security Council resolutions banning the regime’s ballistic missile testing. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and Japan’s Coast Guard confirmed the launches originated near Pyongyang, as U.S., South Korean, and Japanese defense officials moved to share tracking data and assess what they described as another deliberate signal from Kim Jong Un’s leadership amid stalled diplomacy. Read more.  At this stage, the exact model has not been officially confirmed, but the technical and visual indicators released by North Korean media suggest it could plausibly be the KN-25, a system that deliberately blurs the boundary between rocket artillery and ballistic missiles (Picture source: KCNA) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/DuJ4BZr via IFTTT

On January 27, 2026, the Italian Army received the first four Lynx KF-41 infantry fighting vehicles at the Army Multifunctional Experimentation Center in Montelibretti. The delivery formally initiated the Army Armoured Combat Systems (A2CS) program and followed the signature of an initial contract for 21 vehicles at the end of 2025. The program plans to acquire up to 1,050 tracked vehicles in multiple variants to replace the VCC-80 Dardo, modernize Italy’s heavy brigades, and rationalize its armored fleet.  Read full defense news at this link.... The first four Lynx infantry fighting vehicles delivered to the Italian Army were fitted with Rheinmetall’s Lance 30 mm turret as an interim solution, but will later be retrofitted with Leonardo’s Hitfist 30 mm turret. (Picture source: Italian Army) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/BeyAwZN via IFTTT

Russia’s state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec announced on January 22 that units of the Russian Armed Forces will soon be equipped with a new type of rifle-calibre ammunition intended to engage small unmanned aerial systems at close range. The munition, developed under Rostec’s High Precision Systems holding company and designated Mnogotochie, is designed for use with standard Kalashnikov assault rifles, giving ordinary infantry units an organic and, immediately available option for responding to FPV strike and reconnaissance drones operating at low altitude. Read more .  Test footage shows Mnogotochie ammunition engaging a drone with a standard AK rifle. (Picture source: TASS) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/I20zSpk via IFTTT

As reported by HotNews on January 26, 2026, Romania has detailed the structure of its €16.6 billion Security Action For Europe (SAFE) financing package, which includes the procurement of seven complete Rheinmetall Skynex very short-range air defense batteries. The programs funded under SAFE are scheduled for completion by 2030 and are financed through long-term EU-backed credit conditions.  Read full defense news at this link... A standard Skynex air defense system consists of four 35 mm Revolver Gun Mk3 unmanned turrets, one Skynex Control Node CN-1 command-and-control post using the Skymaster battle management system, and at least one X-TAR3D X-band radar for airspace surveillance. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/AYqZb4V via IFTTT

Northrop Grumman has released new details and video footage of its Jackal turbojet-powered precision strike missile, shedding light on a system designed to bring speed, autonomy, and adaptable effects to frontline units operating in increasingly contested air and electromagnetic environments. Unveiled in late August 2025, Jackal reflects a deliberate shift toward weapons that can survive jamming, operate with limited human control, and deliver precision effects at scale without relying on traditional air superiority. Read more... Northrop Grumman's Jackal is a turbojet-powered autonomous precision strike missile designed for multi-domain launch, capable of high-speed standoff attack, limited loiter, GPS-denied navigation, and modular payloads for strike, ISR, or electronic warfare, with architecture aligned for future swarm-enabled operations in contested environments (Picture source: Northrop Grumman). from World Defence News https://ift.tt/Gi5s2rf via IFTTT

Speaking to students at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology on January 23, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the nuclear-powered icebreaker Lider, described by him as a 150 MW vessel with no global equivalent, is progressing on schedule at the Zvezda shipyard and is expected to be completed by 2030. The announcement was used to underscore Moscow’s broader strategic intent in the High North, where the Arctic is increasingly treated not as a remote periphery but as a core national interest linking economic development, infrastructure expansion, and long-term security posture. Read more... Lider (Project 10510) is a nuclear-powered, up to 120 MW at the shafts, built to break over 4 meters of ice and open a roughly 50-meter channel for year-round Arctic escort and sustained Russian presence (Picture source: Screenshot from Rosatom video). from World Defence News https://ift.tt/MI476Px via IFTTT

A blunt statement posted this week by the Department of War’s Chief Technology Office on X signaled a shift in tone from experimentation to execution. “Yes, the Department of War has directed energy weapons. Yes, we are scaling them,” the message read, leaving little ambiguity about intent. In Washington’s current branding, “Department of War” functions as a secondary designation for the Department of Defense under a 5 September 2025 executive order, but the language matters. It frames lasers and high-power microwaves not as futuristic research projects but as warfighting tools moving toward broader operational use. The question now confronting U.S. planners is whether these systems can transition from limited prototypes and niche shipboard installations into dependable defensive firepower capable of restoring magazine depth as cheap drones and massed cruise-missile salvos increasingly define modern battlefields. Read more... Mounted on a Stryker M-SHORAD vehicle, the U.S. Army'...

On January 22, 2026, maintainers from the U.S. Air Force 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base carried out a high-intensity readiness drill that brought a U-2 Dragon Lady to launch under simulated contested conditions during Exercise DRAGON SHIELD, with ground crews operating in austere circumstances that included Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear. The scenario was designed to validate the Air Force’s ability to generate intelligence sorties even when bases are under threat, communications are degraded, and personnel are forced to work masked, restricted, and under time pressure. At its core, the exercise delivered a clear operational signal: in a high-end conflict, the United States intends to keep its most valuable intelligence aircraft flying on demand. Read more... The U-2 Dragon Lady is a high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft capable of operating above 70,000 feet, equipped with advanced imagery and signals intelligence se...