MTQ News

 The U.S. War Department announced on March 6, 2026, a $53.1 million contract modification for Lockheed Martin to support expanded production of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, a stealthy precision weapon designed to strike heavily defended naval targets at extended range. The funding will be used to acquire tooling and test equipment, a move that suggests the Pentagon is strengthening the industrial capacity required to produce the missile at higher volume rather than simply adding incremental orders. LRASM is a key element of U.S. maritime strike capability, currently deployed on platforms such as the B-1B bomber and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The contract reflects growing emphasis on long-range anti-ship warfare as U.S. planners prepare for potential high-end naval conflict scenarios. By investing in production infrastructure, the Pentagon is signaling that sustained output of advanced anti-ship weapons will remain a priority for future force readiness.  Read Full Defens...

The U.S. Navy could soon position three aircraft carriers within operational range of Iran as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is already operating in the Red Sea after transiting the Suez Canal, while the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is conducting operations tied to the growing confrontation with Iran. A third carrier, USS George H.W. Bush, has completed workups along the U.S. East Coast and may deploy to the region in the coming weeks. If sent, the deployment would place three U.S. carrier strike groups within reach of Iranian territory, dramatically increasing American naval aviation capacity in the region. Read full Naval News at this link … An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213 lands on the flight deck of the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), during flight operations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 2, ...

Italy is deploying the FREMM frigate Federico Martinengo to waters off Cyprus to strengthen the island’s air and maritime defense posture after the drone strike on Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base pushed the eastern Mediterranean closer to direct spillover from the Iran crisis. Rome’s decision, first outlined by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in parliament and then followed by the ship’s departure from Taranto, places an Italian surface combatant inside a wider European security screen being assembled with Spain, France, and the Netherlands to deter further attacks and protect a European Union member on the conflict’s edge. Read more... Italian Navy FREMM frigate Federico Martinengo deploys toward Cyprus to strengthen air and maritime defense against possible drone threats linked to the regional crisis (Picture source: Italian Navy). from World Defence News https://ift.tt/XAFJT8E via IFTTT

Britain’s rapid deployment of Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters to Cyprus is more than a routine movement of aviation assets. It is a fast reinforcement of the UK’s forward air defense posture in the Eastern Mediterranean, placing a mobile sensor-shooter closer to British bases, shipping lanes, and regional flashpoints at a moment when one-way attack drones and low-cost uncrewed threats are shaping operational planning across the theater. The RAF confirmed that a C-17 Globemaster from 99 Squadron moved a Wildcat from RNAS Yeovilton to RAF Akrotiri in a single 24-hour mission cycle, while the UK government separately said two Wildcats armed with Martlet missiles are deploying alongside HMS Dragon to strengthen defenses against the growing drone threat. Read more... Britain’s rapid deployment of Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters to Cyprus reinforces the UK’s forward defense posture in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding a fast, mobile platform equipped with sensors and Martlet missiles to hel...

The U.S. Navy is preparing to deploy the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East in a move that could raise the number of American carrier strike groups operating in the region to three, according to U.S. defense officials. The deployment would significantly increase the U.S. Navy’s ability to conduct sustained air strikes, maritime security patrols, and deterrence operations near Iran while strengthening protection for commercial shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters. Carrier strike groups typically include a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, guided missile destroyers, and a cruiser, providing a mobile air base capable of launching dozens of sorties daily and supporting regional security missions. Read full Naval News at this link … USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy, sails during operations at sea. The carrier is preparing for potential deployment to the Middle East as part of a ...

The U.S. Navy demonstrated the reach of its submarine force after the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Charlotte (SSN 766) reportedly sank the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean with two MK 48 heavyweight torpedoes. U.S. officials cited by the Indian outlet News18 on March 6, 2026, said the submarine fired two torpedoes during the engagement, resulting in the rapid loss of the Iranian warship. IRIS Dena, a domestically produced Moudge-class frigate, had been operating far from Iranian waters as part of Tehran’s expanding blue water naval deployments. The incident underscores the vulnerability of surface ships to modern submarine attacks and highlights the continuing dominance of U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarines in open ocean warfare. Read full Naval News at this link … Screenshot from video footage released by U.S. Central Command showing the Iranian Navy Moudge-class frigate IRIS Dena during the sinking process in the Indian Ocean after reportedly be...

Sri Lanka took control of the Iranian naval auxiliary ship IRIS Bushehr after the vessel requested assistance near the island following the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a U.S. submarine. Sri Lankan authorities evacuated 208 crew members and transferred them to Colombo while placing the ship under state supervision. The replenishment ship is being escorted to Trincomalee as search and rescue operations continue after the torpedo attack in the Indian Ocean.  Read full defense news at this link... The Bandar Abbas-class fleet replenishment ship IRIS Bushehr (422) requested assistance from Sri Lanka on March 4, 2026, after one of its engines malfunctioned, leading to the evacuation of more than 200 crew members. (Picture source: Facebook/Anupa Kavindu Bandara and X/visionergeo) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/cnZMHYQ via IFTTT

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un spent two days inspecting the country’s newest 5,000-ton destroyer, Choe Hyon, and observing cruise missile launches conducted from the vessel during sea trials linked to the Nampo shipyard on the country’s west coast. State media reported that Kim reviewed the warship ahead of its commissioning and inspected another vessel under construction at the same shipyard. During the visit, he ordered the shipbuilding sector to produce two destroyers annually over the next five years as part of a broader naval expansion program. Kim also reiterated that the long-term objective is to equip the Korean People’s Navy with nuclear strike capabilities. Read More .  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects operations aboard the Choe Hyon destroyer (Picture source: French KCNA) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/HAt6o5B via IFTTT

Canada is considering splitting its planned purchase of 12 diesel-electric submarines equally between Germany’s TKMS Type 212CD and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean KSS-III Batch-II proposals. The option would allocate six submarines from each supplier under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project to replace the Victoria-class fleet. A final decision could be announced as early as April 2026 as Ottawa finishes evaluating operational, industrial, and cost implications.  Read full defense news at this link... Canadian authorities are considering the option of dividing the procurement between Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, acquiring six submarines from each supplier. (Picture source: TKMS and Hanwha Ocean) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/0FOyZJP via IFTTT

U.S. long-range strategic bombers B-52 have targeted Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure and command posts as part of Operation Epic Fury, expanding the American air campaign aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to coordinate and launch regional missile attacks. U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed that a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carried out precision strikes against Iranian ballistic missile sites and command and control facilities during ongoing U.S. military operations in the region. The strike reflects a broader effort by U.S. forces to disrupt Iran’s missile launch architecture and the systems used to coordinate attacks across the Middle East. Defense officials say the operation is intended to weaken Iran’s capacity to organize missile operations targeting regional partners and U.S. interests. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link … U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber takes off for a long-range strike mission as pa...

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Qatar Emiri Air Force shot down two Iranian Su-24 strike bombers approaching national airspace during the third day of Operation Epic Fury. The same day, air defense systems also intercepted several ballistic missiles and drones targeting locations across the state. The interception marked the first confirmed destruction of an Iranian aircraft in flight since the beginning of the 2026 Iran war.  Read full defense news at this link... Iran acquired its first Su-24MK bombers from the Soviet Union around 1989 and later expanded the fleet during the 1991 Gulf War, when Iraqi pilots flew several combat aircraft to Iran to avoid destruction by coalition forces. (Picture source: Wikimedia/Shahram Sharifi) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/clPTC63 via IFTTT

  On 3 March 2026, the Czech Armed Forces announced the first operational foreign deployment of their new UH‑1Y Venom multi‑role helicopters to Poland, marking a significant contribution to NATO’s collective air defence. The rotation, carried out by the 5th Helicopter Unit Task Force from the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base at Náměšť nad Oslavou, follows the Czech Ministry of Defence’s 25 February statement confirming that H‑1 platforms would be committed in March to reinforce NATO’s eastern airspace. The mission is specifically designed to counter low‑flying drones and missiles, enhancing the protection of Polish airspace near the Ukrainian conflict zone. Read Full Defense News At This Link. Czech UH-1Y Venom helicopters have deployed to Poland in their first overseas mission to strengthen NATO air defenses against rising drone incursions near the Ukrainian border (Picture Source: Czech Armed Forces) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/XQ4d6f2 via IFTTT

The Dutch Ministry of Defence is positioning a multi-billion-dollar program to field roughly 400 tracked Armoured Combat Support Vehicles, a move that would restore protected mobility for logistics, recovery, and command functions while expanding the Army’s ability to fight under persistent drone surveillance, loitering munitions, and missile threat. Beyond simply adding vehicles, the plan is designed to rebuild the armored “backbone” that keeps mechanized formations moving and supplied in a high-intensity fight, allowing sustainment and leadership elements to operate closer to the front rather than from vulnerable rear areas. Dutch reporting indicates the project is being steered toward Van Halteren, a family-run defense manufacturer in Bunschoten-Spakenburg, with a wider national supply chain expected to participate in production, systems integration, and long-term lifecycle support. Read more... FFG’s 26-ton ACSV G5 Armoured Combat Support Vehicle combines an 8-ton payload with l...

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it destroyed a high-value early warning radar in Qatar that underpins long-range ballistic missile tracking for U.S. and partner forces, a claim that, if validated, would reduce U.S. Central Command’s sensor depth and compress reaction timelines for base defense across the Gulf. Qatar’s interior, defense, and foreign ministries stated that air defenses intercepted 65 ballistic missiles and 12 drones in the attack, while confirming two ballistic missiles impacted the U.S.-operated Al Udeid Air Base and a UAV targeted an early warning radar installation; eight people were injured by falling shrapnel. As in previous regional escalations, early battlefield damage claims may diverge from subsequent technical assessments. Read more... AN/FPS-132 Block 5 early-warning radar uses a fixed UHF phased-array to detect and continuously track ballistic missiles and space objects at very long range, generating early launch warning, trajectory and im...

The UK Ministry of Defence said a small one-way attack drone struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus shortly after midnight on March 2, 2026, as analysts examined whether the system resembled Iran’s Shahed-136 loitering munition, a long-range delta wing drone widely used in regional conflicts. The strike occurred only hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom would authorize the United States to use selected British bases for defensive operations targeting Iranian missile launchers and storage facilities, placing the incident within a fast-moving cycle of action and response involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Read more.  Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets are ready to take off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus (Picture source: UK MoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/BZFMjG2 via IFTTT

Belgian armed forces have intercepted and seized the oil tanker Ethera in the North Sea in what officials describe as a coordinated interdiction supported by France, marking Belgium’s first direct confiscation of a vessel linked to Russia’s shadow fleet. The tanker is now under armed escort to the port of Zeebrugge, where it will be formally impounded under European Union sanctions authorities. The action represents a shift from administrative penalties and monitoring toward operational maritime enforcement, underscoring growing European resolve to curb sanctioned Russian energy exports. By physically diverting and detaining the vessel at sea, Belgium has transformed sanctions policy into a visible show of naval and coast guard capability in one of Europe’s busiest shipping corridors. Read full Naval News at this link … Belgian troops conduct an airborne boarding of the sanctioned tanker Ethera in the North Sea as part of Operation Blue Intruder, marking Belgium’s first seizure ...

 On 1 March 2026, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released an unclassified video on X showing an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launching tactical ballistic missiles toward targets in Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury. The accompanying message stated that the Iranian leadership had been warned and described the action as “swift and decisive,” underlining that the strikes were carried out under presidential direction. The footage offers a rare, officially sanctioned view of ground-launched deep-strike systems being employed in the opening phase of a major US-led operation, conducted jointly with the United States’ ally Israel.  Read Full Defense News At This Link. U.S. Central Command released unclassified footage showing an M142 HIMARS launching ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles toward targets in Iran during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury, underscoring the use of U.S. ground-based deep strike capabilities in a joint action with Israel (...

  On 25 February 2026, Norway and the United Kingdom formalised a new helicopter cooperation agreement that allows British military helicopters to operate routinely from Norwegian naval and coast guard vessels, as well as from Norwegian bases. The accord is presented by the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret) as a follow-on to the “Lunna House” defence agreement signed in December, deepening integration between the two countries’ maritime forces and addressing Norway’s current lack of organic shipborne helicopters. According to Forsvaret, the deal signed by Rear Admiral Oliver Berdal and the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, is intended to hard-wire British rotary-wing capabilities into Norwegian-led operations in the High North and North Atlantic. This official Norwegian source frames the agreement as both a practical measure to cover a capability gap and a significant contribution to NATO’s collective defence posture in the region. Read Full Defense News At This Link. ...

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israeli forces initiated Operation Epic Fury, executing coordinated multi-domain precision strikes against Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure after Iran fired missiles into Israeli territory earlier in the day. According to defense officials, the campaign is designed to dismantle Tehran’s ballistic missile architecture while disrupting sensitive nuclear development layers that could support a weapons capability. This marks a calculated shift from deterrence signaling to direct suppression of Iran’s long-range strike network and enriched material pathways, with strikes focused on command and control nodes, launch complexes, hardened protection layers, and nuclear support facilities. Rather than a limited retaliatory action, Operation Epic Fury is structured as a systemic attack on the pillars underpinning Iran’s strategic deterrent posture, reflecting a broader effort to reshape the regional security environment and constrain Tehran’s...

 On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Romanian and allied fighter jets were scrambled twice within a few hours after Russian drones operating against Ukrainian Danube ports approached and briefly violated Romanian airspace, the Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MApN) said, as reported AGERPRES. The incident unfolded over the northern part of Tulcea County and the area north of Sulina, at a time when Russia has intensified its long-range drone campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure along the Danube. By forcing Romanian F-16s and NATO Eurofighter Typhoons into real interception missions, the episode turned the Black Sea frontier into a concrete test of the Alliance’s air policing posture. For Bucharest and its allies, it underlined how attacks directed at Ukraine are increasingly brushing against NATO territory and probing the eastern flank’s ability to react.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Romanian F-16s and NATO Eurofighters were scrambled twice after Ru...

France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle entered Swedish waters to sharpen NATO’s northern warfighting posture, but the deployment’s most telling moment came when Swedish forces electronically neutralized a suspected Russian drone closing on the carrier while it was alongside in Malmö, highlighting both the vulnerability of major naval assets to persistent reconnaissance and the growing importance of host-nation electronic warfare and airspace control in the Baltic’s tight chokepoints, where surveillance, electronic attack, and strategic signaling increasingly shape day-to-day competition.   Read more... Swedish forces jammed a suspected Russian drone that approached France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while it was alongside in Malmö during NATO-linked drills, highlighting the Baltic’s growing role as a contested space for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and deterrence against Russian gray-zone pressure (Picture source: U.S. Navy). from Worl...

At Enforce Tac 2026 in Germany, Girsan, the main supplier of pistols to the Turkish Armed Forces, unveiled a prototype rifle based on the AK-47 platform. The Turkish company told Army Recognition that it is targeting a market launch in 2027 for this future project. However, technical specifications and intended customer segments were not disclosed at that stage.  Read full defense news at this link... The AK-47 platform combines unmatched battlefield reliability with manufacturing simplicity, global logistics compatibility, cost-effectiveness, and long-term upgrade adaptability. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/3UT8Wpk via IFTTT

At Enforce Tac 2026, the Norwegian company Eelume presented its Eelume S autonomous underwater vehicle configured for mine countermeasure missions in coastal and confined seabed environments. The articulated AUV integrates sonar and optical sensors to perform detection, classification, and identification within a single platform. With a range up to 64 km, the Eelume S targets operations in shallow waters, harbors, slopes, and high-relief terrain where conventional AUVs and minehunting vessels face maneuverability constraints.  Read full defense news at this link... The Eeelume S keeps personnel and crewed vessels out of minefields by reducing reliance on crewed minesweeping and by limiting the need for separate remotely operated vehicle operations during identification. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/PX9MNpH via IFTTT

Army Recognition is appointed as the official media partner for BEDEX 2026, providing the Official Online Show Daily News and Web TV, positioning our editorial team at the center of a new European venue where industrial solutions, operational requirements, and alliance-level defense priorities are set to converge. This partnership goes beyond simple visibility. BEDEX is structured to bring together decision-makers, uniformed stakeholders, and manufacturers within the institutional environment of Brussels, in close proximity to NATO and EU defense structures, creating a concentrated platform where capability gaps, acquisition priorities, and interoperability challenges can be identified and analyzed in real time. Read more... BEDEX 2026 at Brussels Expo will gather European defense leaders, industry innovators, and military decision-makers, with Army Recognition serving as Official Media Partner, providing Daily News and Web TV coverage from the show floor (Picture source: BEDEX/ Arm...

On February 24, 2026, Türkiye inducted the Sancar armed unmanned surface vehicle into Turkish Naval Forces service with a maximum speed above 40 knots and a range of 400 nautical miles. The Sancar was developed by Havelsan with Yonca Onuk Shipyard and integrates national combat management software. Officials linked the induction to efforts to reduce foreign dependence in defense systems, while supporting autonomous operations, missile integration, NATO-compatible systems, and network-enabled naval command structures.  Read full defense news at this link... Developed by Havelsan in cooperation with Yonca-Onuk Shipyard, the Sancar is equipped with a 12.7 mm Stamp-2 stabilized remote weapon station, which could be fitted with tactical missiles such as the UMTAS and L-UMTAS. (Picture source: Havelsan) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/T9dMv4u via IFTTT

Russia’s 90th Guards Tank Division is preparing BMPT “Terminator” crews for combat employment, refining a specialized armored fire-support capability intended to shield tank formations and assist assault troops under the conditions of high-density anti-armor fires and pervasive reconnaissance now defining the war in Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense said the crews belong to a guards tank regiment within the division, which operates under Russia’s “Center” grouping, and that the training cycle concentrates on rapid engagement and concealment techniques designed to reduce exposure time while delivering heavy suppressive fire. The emphasis on speed to the firing line, rapid target servicing, and immediate displacement reflects a battlefield where drones, artillery, and loitering munitions punish static positions, and where armored formations must suppress dismounted anti-tank teams before they can cue follow-on strikes. Read more... Russia’s BMPT “Terminator” is a heavily armore...

The Pentagon is exploring a floating nuclear power plant concept that could give U.S. military bases a rapid, high-output source of electricity to sustain AI-era operations when civilian grids are strained, disrupted, or targeted. The proposal under discussion would place a reactor aboard a ship-like platform moored at a waterside installation, then connect it to the base and local grid, potentially shortening fielding timelines by using Defense Department authorities rather than the civilian licensing pathway. The prospect points to a widening defense problem: power is becoming a limiting factor for command-and-control, sensor networks, cyber operations, and the compute-heavy infrastructure required to train and run military AI tools. The effort centers on talks with UK-based Core Power and an initial deployment window as early as 2028. Read more... Pentagon officials are considering deploying a 300 MW floating nuclear power plant at a U.S. military base by 2028 to strengthen energ...

The German Army has taken delivery of its first five Patria 6x6 armored vehicles, a seemingly modest handover that nevertheless signals the opening move in a wider transformation of how the Bundeswehr’s combat support units will deploy, survive, and sustain tempo under NATO’s renewed focus on high-intensity land warfare. These initial platforms are pre-series vehicles, delivered early to begin operator training, maintenance familiarization, and the technical verification work needed before serial production ramps. Handed over at the Zeithain material depot by Patria Deutschland leadership under the oversight of the Bundeswehr procurement agency BAAINBw, the first tranche is designed to seed the training pipeline and accelerate readiness, ensuring that crews, mechanics, and unit commanders can validate tactics, mission-kit integration, and sustainment routines ahead of the larger fleet that will follow. Read more... Germany’s Patria 6x6 delivers protected, amphibious mobility with mo...

On February 22, 2026, the Financial Times revealed that Iran finalized a secret €500 million agreement with Russia’s Rosoboronexport for 500 9K333 Verba MANPADS launchers, 2,500 9M336 surface-to-air missiles, and associated night vision equipment. The contract was reportedly signed in Moscow in December 2025 and foresees deliveries between 2027 and 2029, although a smaller number of systems may have been transferred earlier. The purchase follows recent U.S.–Israel strikes, heightened U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, and ongoing U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations.  Read full defense news at this link... The Russian-made 9K333 Verba MANPADS is a shoulder-fired air defense system designed to engage aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and UAVs at ranges of 500 m to 6–6.5 km and altitudes up to 4.5 km, with reaction time under 8 seconds and average speeds exceeding 600 m/s. (Picture source: Russian MoD) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/xIafR7c...

  On 21 February 2026, footage and statements released by Baykar Technologies on its official X account confirmed that the Bayraktar AKINCI Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle had carried out its first successful air-to-air engagement using the EREN High-Speed Multi-Purpose Loitering Munition, destroying a target drone over the Black Sea off Sinop. The test comes at a moment when Türkiye has consolidated its position as the world’s leading exporter of armed UAVs and when allied airspace is increasingly challenged by massed kamikaze drones and cruise-missile-like threats on the eastern flank. By transforming a long-endurance strike UCAV into a cost-effective “drone killer” equipped with a turbojet-powered interceptor, Ankara has taken a visible step in rewriting the economics and tactics of air defence. For NATO planners, the demonstration points to a future in which persistent unmanned patrols complement manned fighters and ground-based air defence systems in a layered, networked shield...

L3Harris Technologies announced on February 18, 2026, that it secured its largest full-rate production contract for U.S. Navy submarine communications systems, following an award from General Dynamics Electric Boat. The agreement calls for delivery of 26 shipsets for Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines and Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, with production extending through 2033. The communications suites, which enable secure, survivable connectivity between submerged platforms and national command authorities, form a critical part of both conventional undersea operations and the sea-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad. Read more.   Pre-Commissioning Unit New Jersey (SSN 796), a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, arrives at Naval Weapons Station Earle on September 6, 2024 (Picture source: US DoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/BDXjJFS via IFTTT

The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command on February 20, 2026, delivered the first two AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Australia, initiating a 29-aircraft procurement under Project Land 4503, as reported by Terri Stover. The transfer, executed through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework, formalizes the Australian Army’s shift from the Airbus Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter to Boeing’s latest Apache Guardian configuration. The handover comes as Canberra accelerates land force modernization with a focus on long-range precision strike, improved networked targeting, and expeditionary operations across the Indo-Pacific littoral environment. Read more.  Australia’s first AH-64E Apache attack helicopters commenced flying operations in Townsville on 27 November 2025 (Picture source: Australian MoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/nfxJDN9 via IFTTT

The French Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Marine nationale confirmed on February 19, 2026, that the Jeanne d’Arc 2026 task group has sailed from Toulon for a five-month deployment stretching from the Mediterranean into the Red Sea, East Africa, the Indian Ocean and onward to the Indo-Pacific. Built around the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude (L9015) and escorted by the La Fayette-class stealth frigate Aconit (F713), the mission blends the traditional formation of naval officers with a more pointed operational signal: France is rehearsing joint power projection under the same maritime security pressures that now define key sea lanes across three continents. Read more... Dixmude is a Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, combining a six-spot flight deck and hangar for a mixed helicopter and drone air wing with a well deck for EDA landing craft, while also serving as a floating command post and hospital for expeditionary operations (Picture source: Marine Nationale)...

Rostec disclosed on February 20, 2026, that Uralvagonzavod has delivered a new batch of modernized BREM-80 armored repair and recovery vehicles to Russia’s Ministry of Defense ahead of Defender of the Fatherland Day. The company frames the upgrade package as a direct response to battlefield realities in Ukraine, where recovery crews operate under constant pressure from drones, artillery, and loitering munitions. The most consequential changes center on improved crew protection and a mechanized coupling system that lets operators attach, hook up, and begin towing damaged armor without stepping outside the vehicle, reducing exposure during the most vulnerable moments of a recovery mission. Read more... Modernized BREM-80 T-80-based armored recovery vehicle with heavy winches, a 18-ton-class crane, a dozer-spade anchor, and a mechanized coupling for rapid under-armor towing and extraction under drone and artillery threat (Picture source: Army Recognition Group). from World Defen...