MTQ News

As reported by Tracey SBU Fella on April 3, 2025, Russia is continuing the construction of the largest warship it has built since the Cold War, the Project 23900-class amphibious assault ship Ivan Rogov, at the Zaliv shipyard located in the Crimean city of Kerch, currently under Russian control. Intended to become the new flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the Ivan Rogov significantly exceeds the size of the Slava-class missile cruiser Moskva, which sank in 2022.  Read full defense news at this link... Satellite imagery from spring 2025 shows the vessel’s hull to be nearly complete, measuring approximately 220 meters in length and 40 meters in width, making it the largest warship Russia has built since the Cold War. (Picture source: Twitter/@trajaykay) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/SrRye6b via IFTTT

Türkiye has successfully completed the preliminary design phase of its indigenous GÖKHAN ramjet-powered air-to-air missile, a major step forward in the country's ambition to develop a domestically produced long-range missile system capable of engaging aerial threats beyond visual range. This advancement comes as part of the "National Ramjet Powered Air-to-Air Missile (GÖKHAN) Development Project," initiated under a contract signed between the Ministry of National Defense and TÜBİTAK SAGE on May 21, 2021. Read full Defense News at this link ... Conceptual illustration of Türkiye’s GÖKHAN ramjet-powered air-to-air missile, designed for beyond-visual-range engagements and integration on F-16 and KAAN fighter aircraft. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/OSC1uAo via IFTTT

On March 31, 2025, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that, as of March 19, 2025, a total of 91 Ajax tracked reconnaissance armored vehicles have been accepted into service with the British Army. This was officially announced by Lord Coaker, Minister of State for Defense, in response to a parliamentary question submitted by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem in the House of Lords. While this delivery represents a significant milestone, it also highlights the scale of the remaining task, with 498 additional vehicles still awaiting delivery by the manufacturer, General Dynamics UK. Read full Defense News at this link ... The full family of Ajax armored vehicles for the British Army includes six mission-specific variants: Ajax (reconnaissance and strike), Ares (armoured personnel carrier), Athena (command and control), Argus (engineer reconnaissance), Apollo (armoured recovery), and Atlas (armoured repair). Built on the ASCOD 2 platform and developed by General Dynamics UK...

On April 4, 2025, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced that the first of twelve Gray Eagle® 25M unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), funded through the U.S. Congress’ Fiscal Year 2023 defense budget, is on track for delivery to the U.S. Army National Guard beginning in 2027. This acquisition marks a pivotal advancement in the Guard’s aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, introducing a platform specifically engineered for multi-domain operations and operational dominance in contested environments. Read full Defense News at this link ... The Gray Eagle 25M unmanned aircraft system, set to enter service with the U.S. Army National Guard in 2027, brings next-generation surveillance, strike, and multi-domain capabilities. (Picture source: GA-ASI) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/WitM4hq via IFTTT

In early April 2025, newly published images circulating on Chinese social media platforms ignited a wave of speculation and analysis within the global defense community. These pictures, which appear to show a futuristic, tailless stealth aircraft conducting taxiing and possibly low-altitude flight tests near the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation’s facilities in Liaoning Province, are believed to depict China's long-rumored sixth-generation fighter jet, unofficially designated as the J-50.  Read Defense Aerospace News at this link ... Chinese J-50 sixth-generation fighter jet is seen in a rare image published on China's Weibo platform, which is believed to show early flight trials. (Picture source: Weibo Chinese Social Network) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/hVTOD5U via IFTTT

Greece has taken a monumental step toward redefining its national defense with the formal announcement of the “Achilles Shield,” a €2.8 billion ($3 billion) air defense initiative that forms the most technologically advanced component of the country’s ongoing €25 billion military modernization program. Unveiled by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Parliament on April 2, 2025, Achilles Shield is designed as a multi-layered, integrated air defense system capable of countering a wide range of threats including aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles, UAVs, naval platforms, and even submarine-based threats. Set to be operational by 2027, this ambitious project represents not only a critical modernization effort but also a strategic pivot in how Greece envisions its role in the Eastern Mediterranean and within NATO’s collective defense posture. Read full Defense News at this link ... The Hellenic Armed Forces will deploy the €2.8 billion 'Achilles Shield'—a multi-layered ...

According to information published on April 4, 2025, by The Korea Herald, South Korea's largest English-language daily newspaper, South Korea and the United States have reached a landmark agreement to temporarily redeploy U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile defense batteries from South Korea to the Middle East. This strategic decision marks the first known instance of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) assets being transferred to another theater of operation and reflects a broader realignment of U.S. defense priorities in response to rising security threats in the Middle East. Read full Defense News at this link ... A U.S. Army Patriot M903 missile launcher on display during the KADEX defense exhibition at a South Korean military base. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/TWRXMsk via IFTTT

The United States is ramping up its military and diplomatic presence in Panama, signaling a significant strategic shift under the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Defense on April 4, 2025, recent security engagements between U.S. and Panamanian forces culminated in the first official U.S.-Panama Special Operations Forces (SOF) talks, held on February 18, 2025. This strategic engagement, held amidst ongoing U.S. military exercises in the country, reflects Washington’s renewed push to reassert control over the Panama Canal—a vital artery of global commerce that U.S. President Donald Trump now says America is “reclaiming.” Read full Defense News at this link ... A U.S. Army Special Forces operator from the 7th Special Forces Group instructs Panamanian National Aeronaval Service personnel on demolition techniques during a joint training exercise in Cerro Tigre, Panama, February 19, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. D...

Presents at the SOFINS 2025 exhibition, the OSKAR loitering munition, developed by Delair and KNDS France, represents a new generation of tactical remotely operated munitions designed to meet the requirements of special forces and forward-deployed units. While not being introduced for the first time, the system now stands out due to its technical maturity and its specific capabilities in terms of endurance, precision, and resilience in contested electromagnetic environments. Read more .  A key strength of the OSKAR lies in its ability to operate effectively in environments subject to heavy electronic jamming or lacking satellite navigation services (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news.   from World Defence News https://ift.tt/CUg3h09 via IFTTT

At the 2025 edition of the SOFINS exhibition dedicated to special forces, Aerix Systems presents a drone system based on omnidirectional propulsion technology, designed to operate in both complex civilian environments and demanding military contexts. This system, named AXS-µ1, builds on technologies developed for the Aerix T-6 platform. It combines high maneuverability with the ability to fly inverted and rotate freely, allowing for stable flight performance even in strong wind conditions. Read more .  Aerix Systems offers an integration-agnostic platform with 32 mechanical attachment points distributed across the drone (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/SM3UHE8 via IFTTT

During the SOFINS exhibition dedicated to special forces and defense innovation, Milton Innovation, a subsidiary of the Etienne Lacroix Group and a new member of GICAT, unveiled the prototype of its miniaturized drone, the Sky Watcher. Initially presented in its first configuration at Eurosatory in June 2024, this next-generation drone has since undergone a comprehensive redesign, including modifications to its structural layout, electronic components, propulsion system, and general architecture, to enhance compactness, robustness, and modularity. This reengineering work also includes the integration of miniaturized GNSS antennas and sensors, as well as the development of a smart battery system in collaboration with a French partner. Read more .  With a reported flight endurance of up to one hour and an operational range of 10 km, the Sky Watcher can carry a payload of up to 3 kg, including an onboard camera. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news....

On April 3, 2025, Colombian President Gustavo Petro formally announced his government's decision to acquire the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft, marking a decisive step in the country’s longstanding effort to modernize its air force. The announcement follows the signing of a letter of intent with the Swedish government and the formal designation of strategic air defense as a national priority. According to Petro, the fleet to be acquired will be entirely new, utilizing the latest technology, and will be the same model already introduced in Brazil — the advanced Gripen E/F variant.  Read full defense news at this link... The Saab Gripen’s delta wing and canard configuration, combined with fly-by-wire controls and embedded AI for human-machine collaboration, contribute to its maneuverability. (Picture source: Raimo Roonet Aviation Photography via Facebook/Flygvapnet) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/ZdbmOQh via IFTTT

On April 1, 2025, British Secretary of State for Defense, Maria Eagle, responded to a parliamentary question raised by MP Mark François regarding the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank (MBT) program. In her written reply published on the UK Parliament website, she acknowledged that the program had been affected by delays within the supply chain. While emphasizing that additional resources have been allocated to address these disruptions, she confirmed that the next phase of trials is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2025. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to closely monitor progress to assess any further impact on the program’s timeline, particularly its Initial Operating Capability (IOC) goal set for 2027. Read full Defense News at this link ... A Challenger 3 prototype on display at DVD 2024 defense exhibition at Millbrook Proving Ground, showcasing the new turret design, Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun, and advanced digital systems that will define the British Ar...

Faced with the increasing complexity of underwater operations, particularly in the fields of critical infrastructure monitoring and environmental surveying, the ability to obtain accurate and immediately usable data has become a key operational challenge. It is in this context that Cathx Ocean presented its new underwater camera system, INKA Iris, at UDT 2025. This next-generation imaging sensor integrates onboard data processing and real-time artificial intelligence capabilities, opening new possibilities for autonomous underwater vehicles. Read more.   INKA Iris is the first camera built on the INKA platform developed by Cathx Ocean, combining ultra-high-resolution image capture with intelligent data processing directly on the sensor (Picture source: Cathx Ocean) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/4aRSeCk via IFTTT

On April 1, 2025, the U.S. State Department announced the approval of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Philippines for twenty F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets and associated weapons, equipment, and support systems, valued at an estimated $5.58 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the necessary certification to Congress, opening a 30-day window during which lawmakers may review the proposed deal, although such sales are rarely blocked. The approval follows heightened U.S.-Philippine defense engagement and comes amid regional tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.  Read full defense news at this link... The F-16 Block 70/72 Fighting Falcon features the proven APG-83 AESA radar, which offers enhanced situational awareness with capabilities comparable to those of fifth-generation fighter radars. (Picture source: Edwards Air Force Base) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/0TSEDaU via IFTTT

From April 1 to 3, 2025, Camp de Souge in Gironde is hosting the 7th edition of SOFINS, the Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar, organized by the Cercle de l’Arbalète. As a uniquely structured event in Europe, SOFINS brings together defense industry professionals, special operations personnel, and international delegations in a closed, human-scale format designed exclusively for professionals. Positioned at the intersection of operational experience and technological development, this event provides a rare environment for real-world testing, demonstration, and direct dialogue in realistic field conditions. Read more.   SOFINS catalyzes cooperation between industry and forces, highlighting France’s expertise in supporting special operations capabilities Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/L38sRva via IFTTT

  From April 1 to 3, 2025, the SOFINS exhibition (Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar), held in Martignas-sur-Jalle, Gironde, and organized by the Cercle de l’Arbalète, offers the public an unprecedented look at the prototype of the  NH90  Caiman Standard 2 helicopter. This official unveiling, led by France’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) in partnership with Airbus Helicopters France, marks a key milestone in the modernization of the French special forces' air mobility assets at a time when adapting to evolving threats requires targeted upgrades of deployment platforms. Read more.  The main enhancements introduced in the Standard 2 configuration is the integration of the Safran EOS410 optronic system, featuring an infrared camera combined with a laser designator and pointer (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news. from World Defence News https://ift.tt/l3oguYJ via IFTTT

On March 31, 2025, Israeli company RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., one of the country’s premier defense contractors, announced the successful completion of a live-fire test of its advanced TYPHOON 30 Remote Weapon Station (RWS). The test, conducted in February 2025, validated the system’s superior counter-drone capabilities, reinforcing its strategic role in Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) operations. Read full Defense News at this link ... RAFAEL’s Typhoon 30 Remote Weapon Station, mounted on a modular platform, during a live-fire demonstration in Israel, February 2025. Equipped with a 30mm Bushmaster II cannon and advanced sensor suite, the system showcases its precision engagement capabilities against aerial threats, including drones. (Picture source: Rafael) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/S6psnQu via IFTTT

On March 31, 2025, the American Defense Company Lockheed Martin announced it has been awarded a major Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Army, valued at up to $4.94 billion, for the continued production of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). This strategic agreement marks a significant step in the U.S. Army’s modernization efforts, aimed at dramatically enhancing its long-range precision fires capabilities in response to evolving global threats. Read full Defense News at this link ... A U.S. Army M142 HIMARS launches a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) during a live-fire test, showcasing the system’s extended-range precision strike capability and enhanced firepower. (Picture source: U.S. DoD) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/swYDLAv via IFTTT

Poland has taken another decisive step in strengthening its national and regional air defense capabilities with the signing of a $2 billion agreement with the United States on March 31, 2025. The signing ceremony, held at the 3rd Warsaw Air Defense Missile Brigade in Sochaczew, was attended by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and other senior defense officials. The newly signed intergovernmental agreement marks a critical phase in the implementation of Poland’s WISŁA air and missile defense program, focusing on logistical support, technical maintenance, and the development of advanced training infrastructure for the Patriot air defense missile system. Read full Defense News at this link ... Polish Patriot air defense missile launcher on deployment at the 3rd Warsaw Air Defense Missile Brigade — a key component of the WISŁA program enhancing Poland’s multi-layered defense against aerial and missile threa...