Roketsan Unveils Covert Drone Launcher System
Introduction Turkish defense firm Roketsan has introduced a covert drone launcher that hides in plain sight, disguised as a standard shipping container on a truck. Unveiled at the IDEF 2025 defense expo in Istanbul, the containerized system is designed for surprise deep-strike attacks reminiscent of Ukraine’s daring Operation Spiderweb campaign. By blending in with civilian […]
EDGE Group to Expand UAE Satellite Engineering Capabilities
The UAE National Space Academy has launched the Space Mission and Satellite Engineering (SMSE) programme with EDGE Group. Announced on 7 August 2025, the initiative focuses on preparing a new generation of Emirati engineers to design, build, and manage advanced space missions. It is part of the country’s broader effort to strengthen its indigenous satellite […]
US B-1B Lancers Arrive in Norway for NATO Deterrence Mission
Strategic Bomber Presence in Europe The U.S. Air Force has deployed B-1B Lancer strategic bombers from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas to Ørland Air Base, Norway. The aircraft arrived on 9 August 2025 for the fifth Bomber Task Force Europe mission this year. These rotations form a central part of NATO’s strategy to deter […]
MTS-A HD Sensor Boosts Maritime Helicopters
Raytheon, part of RTX, has introduced the MTS-A HD maritime helicopter sensor. This high-definition system is designed to improve U.S. Navy helicopter missions, offering sharper imagery and greater targeting accuracy. It aims to support pilots in complex maritime environments, where clear visuals are critical for safety and mission success. Next-Generation Capability for Maritime Security The […]
The Drone and AI Delusion
The phrase Drone and AI Delusion has entered the defence-tech lexicon as media, investors, and policymakers hail low-cost autonomous systems as battlefield game-changers. From Silicon Valley pitches to think tank op-eds, the narrative claims drones and AI will transform conflict, offset disadvantages, and deliver decisive victories. While compelling, this view mistakes tactical disruption for strategic […]
Army Launches Drone Marketplace to Transform Unit-Level UAS Procurement
The U.S. Army is creating an Army drone marketplace — a trusted, validated catalog of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) matched with unit-level mission needs. This initiative blends commercial agility with military verification, replacing slow acquisition cycles with a rapid, transparent process that improves readiness. From Traditional Acquisition to Agile Selection Conventional UAS procurement follows long […]
Army Advances Directed-Energy Air-Defense Program
The directed-energy air-defense transition within the U.S. Army marks a decisive shift from decades of prototyping toward operational integration. The upcoming 2026 award for a high-energy, vehicle-mounted laser production contract will be a critical test of whether these systems can move beyond experimental deployments to become embedded in U.S. layered defense architectures against drones, rockets, […]
E-130J Phoenix II TACAMO Aircraft Named by U.S. Navy
E-130J Phoenix II Revives TACAMO’s Strategic Role The E-130J Phoenix II TACAMO aircraft has been officially named by the U.S. Navy, signaling a major step in modernizing America’s airborne nuclear command and control capabilities. Announced by the Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) and Strategic Communications Wing 1 (SCW-1), this designation reconnects […]
MDA Unveils SHIELD $151B Contracting Vehicle for Golden Dome
At SMD 2025 in Huntsville, Alabama, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) unveiled new details about its Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program. This second major contracting vehicle under the Golden Dome initiative could exceed $151 billion over a decade, making it one of the largest U.S. missile defense acquisition efforts. Flexible […]
Drones in Land Warfare: Tactical Revolution, Strategic Limits
Uncrewed systems are transforming how battles are fought, but they have not changed how land wars are won. Drones (UAS/UGV) deliver persistent ISR, precision effects, and tempo advantages, yet they cannot by themselves create the decisive condition in land warfare: control of territory. Against a domain-specific theory of land war centered on control, drones fail […]
From Atlanticism to Pacificism: Reorienting U.S. Defense Strategy
From Atlanticism to Pacificism: Reorienting U.S. Defense Strategy The phrase From Atlanticism to Pacificism denotes not merely a geographic reorientation but a paradigmatic shift in the United States’ strategic ontology. For over two centuries, U.S. foreign and defense policy was deeply embedded in Euro-Atlantic constructs, a product of historical-cultural affinity, economic interdependence, and the geopolitical […]
KAAN Fighter Aircraft: Türkiye’s Fifth-Generation Air Superiority Jet
KAAN Fighter Aircraft: Türkiye’s Fifth-Generation Air Superiority Jet Türkiye’s National 5th-Gen Air Superiority Program The KAAN fighter aircraft, previously designated TF-X, is Türkiye’s flagship fifth-generation air superiority platform under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). This program aims to replace the Turkish Air Force’s aging F-16 fleet. The KAAN is optimized for stealth, high-speed performance, […]
Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV with Alpagut Loitering Munition Analyze
Technical Specifications & Integration Highlights Akıncı drone loitering munitions test trials mark a milestone in Türkiye’s unmanned combat air vehicle program. In recent demonstrations, the Bayraktar Akıncı successfully deployed Roketsan’s Alpagut and Eren loitering munitions, showcasing new precision strike options and expanding its operational versatility in contested environments. Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV Alpagut Loitering Munition Eren […]
Northrop Grumman Names First Beacon Autonomous Testbed Partners
Northrop Grumman Names First Beacon Autonomous Testbed Partners Northrop Grumman has announced the first six partners for its new Beacon autonomous testbed ecosystem. The programme aims to accelerate the development and integration of advanced autonomous mission capabilities. Announced on July 30, 2025, the initial partners are Applied Intuition, Autonodyne, Merlin, Red 6, Shield AI and […]
Akıncı Drone Tests Alpagut and Eren Loitering Munitions
Akıncı Drone Leads Türkiye’s UAV Advancements Akıncı drone tests Alpagut and Eren loitering munitions in a new round of trials conducted by Turkish defence manufacturer Baykar. Powered by dual Ukrainian AI-450T turboprop engines, the heavy combat UAV demonstrated long-endurance strike capabilities with precision targeting. The footage, shared by Baykar CTO Selçuk Bayraktar, shows the UAV’s […]
Poland, Türkiye Advance Strategic Ammunition Production Partnership
Ankara and Warsaw Strengthen Defence-Industrial Cooperation Poland and Türkiye have taken another step toward deepening their strategic defence partnership, with a particular focus on advanced ammunition production technologies. On August 6, 2025, Poland’s Deputy Minister of National Defense Pawel Bejda met with Turkish Ambassador Rauf Alp Denktas in Warsaw to discuss cooperation in manufacturing 120mm […]
Baykar Opens First Anatolian Factory in Samsun
Strategic Expansion to the Black Sea Turkish defence giant Baykar has announced plans to open its first production facility in the Anatolian region, selecting Samsun—a key Black Sea port city—as the site for the high-tech investment. “This new investment will bring high-tech manufacturing capabilities and high-quality jobs to Samsun. The Black Sea region will become […]
China’s Nuclear Arsenal Expansion
China’s rapid buildup of nuclear weapons—estimated at nearly 600 warheads—raises urgent strategic implications for global defense planning. Current Arsenal and Accelerated Buildup Independent assessments—including the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)—estimate China possesses approximately 600 nuclear warheads as of early 2025. Since 2020, its stockpile has nearly tripled, marking […]
Lockheed Unveils Hub for Golden Dome Command Systems
The Lockheed Martin team has launched a prototyping hub aimed at developing Golden Dome command systems, a critical layer of the homeland missile-defense network. This initiative leverages real-world testing environments to rapidly align command-and-control capabilities across both land and space domains. A Rapid Response Hub Takes Shape Within just 36 days, the company stood up the […]
Army’s 2026 Counter‑Drone Laser Competition
The U.S. Army is gearing up to host its 2026 competition for a counter‑drone laser system under the Enduring High Energy Laser initiative. This strategic move marks the transition from prototypes toward scalable, combat-ready directed‑energy solutions. It also highlights the crucial synergy between technology development and space superiority funding. From Prototype to Scalable Capability Over […]