MTQ News

The Greek Navy deployed the Psara frigate to Cyprus in March 2026 following a drone attack near RAF Akrotiri. The vessel is equipped with the Centauros electronic warfare system to counter low-altitude Iranian UAVs. The mission focuses on defensive operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and on reducing reliance on high-cost missile interceptors.  Read full defense news at this link... This expertise was developed during the frigate’s 2024 deployment in the Red Sea under EU Operation Aspides, where the Psara protected shipping lanes against Iranian-made drones by using its Centauros system. (Picture source: Greek Navy) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/fHbLPB5 via IFTTT

 Japan is moving forward with the deployment of its upgraded Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile, marking a step in expanding its long-range strike capabilities, as elements of the system were presented to local officials at the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Kengun Garrison in Kumamoto on March 17, 2026. The event, attended by regional leadership including Governor Takashi Kimura and Mayor Kazufumi Onishi, comes just ahead of an initial operational rollout expected by the end of the month, underscoring Tokyo’s accelerating effort to field counterstrike systems as part of a broader shift in national defense policy in response to regional security pressures. Read more.  An upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile is launched from a ground-based platform during a test in Japan, demonstrating extended stand-off engagement capabilities. (Picture source: Japanese Defense Ministry) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/Fa8cvzR via IFTTT

Ukrainian defense company Fire Point is moving ahead with the construction of a solid rocket fuel production facility in Denmark, with initial operations targeted for 2026, according to project details shared with regional authorities. The initiative, developed in coordination with Danish regulators, is progressing alongside environmental and industrial safety approvals as construction continues. The facility is intended to support Ukraine’s growing demand for missile propulsion materials amid the ongoing conflict, while also reflecting a broader European effort to expand defense manufacturing capacity beyond national borders. Danish involvement underscores a shift toward distributed production models designed to mitigate supply chain risks and accelerate output under wartime conditions. Read more .  The FP-7 operational-tactical ballistic missile has already entered early flight testing, with launches conducted in late February and again on March 14, 2026 (Picture source: ...

U.S. Central Command says American forces have conducted more than 6,000 combat sorties over Iran since Operation Epic Fury began at 01:15 on 28 February 2026 under presidential authorization. The campaign targets sites assessed to pose an immediate threat and has already struck roughly 6,000 locations across the country. According to CENTCOM’s 12 March operational update, the strikes have also damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian naval vessels, including over 60 ships and more than 30 minelayers. The operation represents one of the largest sustained U.S. air campaigns in the region in decades and appears focused on weakening Iran’s maritime capabilities and military infrastructure. Read more.  A U.S. Air Force F-16 departs on a mission in the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 2, 2026. (Picture source: US DoD) Read full Defense news .  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/LW7pGxb via IFTTT

 On March 15, 2026, Baykar Technologies announced that the Bayraktar KIZILELMA successfully carried out a live firing test with LGK‑82 and TEBER‑82 precision‑guided bombs, achieving direct hits and validating integration of two distinct 500‑lb‑class weapon kits built around the Mk‑82 bomb body. The achievement marks a major step in advancing Türkiye’s jet‑powered unmanned combat capability, demonstrating seamless compatibility with indigenous guidance systems developed by ASELSAN and ROKETSAN. Beyond its immediate technical success, the test highlights Türkiye’s expanding expertise in precision strike and underscores KIZILELMA’s emerging potential as a force‑multiplier platform, aligning with global efforts to harness uncrewed combat aircraft for greater strike capacity, persistence, and operational flexibility in future air campaigns.  Read Full Defense News At This Link. Baykar announced that its Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft successfully conducted a f...

The U.S. Central Command confirmed the operational use of EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft during Operation Epic Fury against Iranian military command networks. Based on the C-130H Hercules transport aircraft, the EC-130H disrupts the key communication channels used by Iran's air defense units, missile forces, and command structures to coordinate responses to U.S. strikes.  Read full defense news at this link... The EC-130H Compass Call is capable of jamming radio communications, data links, and other electronic signals used by hostile forces to coordinate operations, reducing the ability of opposing forces to organize defensive responses or direct units across the battlefield. (Picture source: US Air Force) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/NBQvEV8 via IFTTT

U.S. Central Command has deployed B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers to conduct night-strike missions under Operation Epic Fury, expanding the operational reach of American airpower in the region. The heavy bomber, capable of delivering large payloads of precision-guided munitions over intercontinental distances, adds a strategic layer to ongoing strike operations. Officials say the deployment demonstrates the United States’ ability to integrate long-range bomber forces into active combat missions while maintaining persistent pressure on hostile targets. The B-52’s presence also introduces a highly visible deterrent signal, reinforcing U.S. strike capacity and operational flexibility within the broader regional campaign. Read full defense aerospace news at this link … A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress prepares for takeoff with live ordnance during Operation Epic Fury, supporting U.S. Central Command night strike missions across the region. (Picture source: U.S. Central Co...

  On March 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of War announced that Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace had been awarded a $45.54 million contract to supply a Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System to Latvia under the Foreign Military Sales framework. This decision marks a significant step in strengthening NATO’s forward maritime deterrence posture on its northeastern flank at a time when the Baltic Sea has become a central theater for alliance vigilance, sea denial, and critical infrastructure protection. For Latvia, the acquisition represents more than a modernization effort, as it adds a precision coastal strike capability able to reinforce national defense while integrating into broader allied command-and-control architectures. Based on the contract notice issued by the Department of War on March 13, this development highlights the continued U.S. role in enabling frontline NATO members to field credible, networked, and combat-relevant defensive systems. Read Full Defense News At T...

U.S. forces operating under Operation Epic Fury are targeting critical elements of Iran’s military aviation infrastructure, focusing on logistics and surveillance aircraft rather than frontline fighters. Imagery and video released by U.S. Central Command on March 12, 2026, show precision strikes destroying several Il-76 strategic transport aircraft, P-3 Orion maritime patrol planes, and C-130 Hercules tactical airlifters parked at Iranian airbases. Defense analysts say these platforms form the backbone of Iran’s operational mobility and intelligence-gathering capabilities. By striking them on the ground, the campaign appears intended to limit Tehran’s ability to move military equipment, monitor maritime activity, and sustain operations across the Middle East. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link … Still image from a video released by U.S. Central Command on March 12, 2026, showing a precision strike targeting an Iranian Navy P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft during ope...

At the Brussels European Defence Exhibition (BEDEX) 2026, Belgian defense firm ALX Systems unveiled a loitering munition developed entirely within Belgium to meet operational requirements identified by the Belgian Armed Forces. The system highlights a broader push across Europe to strengthen domestic defense capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for emerging battlefield technologies such as loitering strike systems. Company representatives said the munition was designed with input from military operators and aims to support tactical reconnaissance and precision strike missions at the unit level. Read more .  Belgian firm ALX Systems unveils a domestically developed loitering munition at BEDEX 2026 in Brussels. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/dS5I3ab via IFTTT

 At the BEDEX 2026 defense exhibition in Brussels, the Belgian Army unveils its new Griffon wheeled armored vehicle, a troop transport designed to enhance the operational capabilities of the Land Component’s motorized brigade. The vehicle is being introduced under the Franco-Belgian CaMo (Capacité Motorisée) cooperation program, which aligns Belgian land forces with French operational standards and equipment. Developed by the industrial consortium KNDS, Arquus, and Thales, the Griffon is built to carry an infantry combat group while offering improved ballistic protection, high tactical mobility, and integration into a digitally networked battlefield system that enables real- time coordination between vehicles and command units. Read more.  In Belgium, the Griffon is acquired through the CaMo program launched in 2018 between Belgium and France to align the capabilities of the Belgian motorized brigade with those of the French Army and the SCORPION program (Picture source...

  On March 12, 2026, U.S. defense company Kratos presented a full-scale mock-up of its XQ-58A Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft at BEDEX 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. The display highlighted the rapid evolution of collaborative combat aircraft designed to operate alongside manned fighter platforms and extend the reach of modern airpower. As NATO and European air forces increasingly explore manned-unmanned teaming concepts, the Valkyrie stands out as a possible solution for generating additional combat mass at lower cost. Army Recognition has been officially designated as the only Official Online Show Daily News and Web Partner for BEDEX 2026, providing exclusive digital coverage of the exhibition and detailed reporting on systems such as the XQ-58A. Read Full Defense News At This Link. U.S. defense company Kratos showcased a full-scale mock-up of its XQ-58A Valkyrie loyal wingman drone at BEDEX 2026 in Brussels, highlighting the platform as a potential collaborative combat ai...

The second MC-55A Peregrine ISR aircraft arrived at RAAF Base Edinburgh, Australia, on March 12, 2026, following a ferry flight from the United States with stops in Hawaii and Guam. The airborne intelligence aircraft, derived from the Gulfstream G550, will join the Royal Australian Air Force's No. 10 Squadron to support signals intelligence collection and electromagnetic surveillance across the Indo-Pacific region.  Read full defense news at this link... The second MC-55A Peregrine departed from Greenville Majors Airport in Texas on March 9, 2026, then onward to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii and Guam before the final flight to Australia. (Picture source: X/Airman941) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/GvfRcey via IFTTT

Romania approved a request from the United States to temporarily deploy military aircraft, surveillance equipment, and personnel on its territory in support of operations linked to the Iran conflict. The deployment includes aerial refueling assets, monitoring systems, satellite communications equipment, and several hundred US troops. Assets will operate from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base and Câmpia Turzii Air Base after parliamentary approval.  Read full defense news at this link... The American request primarily involves the temporary deployment of tanker aircraft, such as KC-135 Stratotankers or KC-46 Pegasus, to extend the operational range of combat aircraft participating in air operations against Iranian targets. (Picture source: US Air Force) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/U80MjBk via IFTTT

Australian counter-drone specialist DroneShield is establishing a production facility in Belgium dedicated to manufacturing counter-unmanned aerial systems for European customers. The site will produce anti-drone detection and mitigation equipment for regional government and defense clients as European states accelerate efforts to defend military installations, airports, and key infrastructure from small drone threats. DroneShield expects the first systems produced at the Belgian facility to begin deliveries around mid-2026, signaling a rapid industrial ramp-up designed to support expanding demand for C-UAS capabilities across Europe. Read more. DroneShield counter drone systems, including RfPatrol Mk2, DroneSentry-X Mk2, and DroneGun Mk4, were displayed as part of the company’s layered C-UAS architecture, combining detection, tracking, and electronic neutralization of hostile unmanned aerial vehicles. (Picture source: Droneshield) Read full Defense news.  fro...

The Royal Navy has dispatched the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon toward the Eastern Mediterranean to rebuild a high-end air-defense shield around Cyprus and reinforce British protection of RAF Akrotiri after a drone strike landed within 800 yards of UK personnel. Dragon sailed from Portsmouth on March 10 as part of a wider package that already includes Wildcat helicopters armed for counter-drone work, a Merlin airborne surveillance helicopter in Cyprus, additional fast jets, radar, and ground-based air defense. Operationally, London is moving from static base protection to a layered maritime-air shield. Read more... HMS Dragon deploys to the Eastern Mediterranean to strengthen British air and missile defense around Cyprus, bringing advanced Sea Viper interception capability to protect RAF Akrotiri against growing drone and missile threats (Picture source: UK Royal Navy). from World Defence News https://ift.tt/jvYGJOL via IFTTT

The Belgian Army presented its first Griffon 6x6 armored vehicle during a press demonstration at the Infantry School in Arlon, offering an early look at the platform that will soon equip frontline units. The vehicle, part of the joint Franco-Belgian CaMo (Capacité Motorisée, meaning Motorized Capability) modernization program, is expected to formally enter Belgian service in the coming months as crews begin training and familiarization.  Read full Defense News at this link … The first Griffon 6×6 multirole armored combat vehicle delivered to the Belgian Army is displayed during a press demonstration at the Belgian Army Infantry School, where it will be used to train instructors and crews ahead of its operational introduction within Belgium’s future medium brigade under the Franco-Belgian CaMo program. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/WzBImnH via IFTTT

Guardiaris used Enforce Tac 2026 in Nuremberg to highlight how its Mobile Training Center can bring tactical small-arms and anti-tank training directly to deployed or dispersed units, reducing reliance on fixed infrastructure and accelerating readiness cycles. Presented during the 23 to 25 February 2026 edition of Germany’s leading trade fair for security and defence, the system reflects Guardiaris’ broader role in the defense sector as a developer of military simulation solutions spanning small arms, anti-tank weapons, vehicles, drone operator training, and networked synthetic environments built around its in-house GUARD simulation engine. In the interview recorded at Enforce Tac 2026, the Mobile Training Center stands out not as a simple trailer-based simulator, but as a deployable training capability designed to push immersive rehearsal, instructor control, and performance analysis closer to the operational user. Read more... Guardiaris showcased its Mobile Training Center at Enf...

Türkiye has deployed six F-16 fighter aircraft and supporting air-defense systems to northern Cyprus in a move intended to reinforce air policing, strengthen quick-reaction alert coverage, and improve the protection of allied airspace, military infrastructure, and key bases on NATO’s southern flank. Ankara said the deployment forms part of a phased response to evolving regional developments, with the official Turkish position presenting it as a precautionary security measure linked to the broader spillover risks created by the Iran war and to the requirement for enhanced protection of the island’s northern sector. Read more... Türkiye’s deployment of six F-16s to northern Cyprus strengthens quick-reaction air defense over the eastern Mediterranean, using the fighter’s advanced air-to-air missile capability and multirole performance to help protect NATO skies, bases, and regional infrastructure amid rising spillover from the Iran conflict (Picture source: Türkiye MoD). from Wo...

The Tennessee Army National Guard is moving to buy a new class of first-person-view strike drones that would give its schoolhouse a low-cost, tactically relevant platform for training soldiers to find, track, and attack targets inside the compressed kill chain now shaping modern land combat. The solicitation, issued for the 117th Regiment Regional Training Institute at Smyrna, seeks two small unmanned aircraft systems under contract number W912L726QA003, with delivery required within 30 days of award. The requirement is structured as a 100 percent small-business set-aside and explicitly ties the purchase to National Guard authorization, signaling that this is not an ad hoc buy but part of a wider institutional push to inject current drone warfare lessons into Guard training. Read more... The Tennessee Army National Guard is acquiring small FPV strike drones to train soldiers in reconnaissance, target engagement, and GPS-denied operations, reflecting the growing battlefield importanc...

 On March 6, 2026, the Israeli Air Force’s official X account (@IAFsite) released a new nighttime image revealing an F-16I Sufa equipped with four RAMPAGE stand-off missiles. This configuration marks a significant advancement from the loadouts displayed at the outset of Operation Lion’s Roar, underscoring the expanding long-range strike capabilities of Israel’s U.S.-built fighter fleet. The photo offers an unusually clear glimpse into Israel’s evolving deep-strike posture, emerging amid intensified joint U.S.–Israeli operations under Operation Epic Fury and Operation Lion’s Roar, which continue to shape the broader regional air campaign.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  A newly released nighttime image shows an Israeli Air Force F-16I Sufa carrying four RAMPAGE stand-off missiles, revealing a heavier deep-strike loadout likely intended for long-range precision attacks against hardened targets (Picture Source: Israeli Air Force) from World Defence New...

 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...