U.S. nuclear deterrence policy under renewed scrutiny
As global power competition grows, U.S. nuclear deterrence policy is again in question. For decades, this policy has emphasized stability and continuity. Yet experts warn that the world has changed faster than U.S. strategy. Dr. Keith B. Payne, co-founder of the National Institute for Public Policy, leads a new study urging immediate change before adversaries […]
Defence Agenda Evening Brief — 04 October 2025
Compiled (TRT): 04 October 2025, 11:00 (Europe/Istanbul) Executive Summary Signals from the past seven days orbit three themes: (1) autonomy matures—the U.S. Navy’s autonomous USV launch & recovery trials and BAE’s Forterra autonomous AMPV push the envelope from demos to workflows; (2) network transition—Link 16’s long glidepath toward optical backbones fuels migration and interoperability planning; […]
China’s Type 100 Tank Marks Shift to Networked Combat Systems
China has introduced the Type 100 tank, a vehicle that moves away from the classic heavy tank model. Instead of relying on sheer size and armour, the design focuses on speed, modularity, and digital integration. The China Type 100 tank now represents a shift from “tank as a unit” to “tank as part of a […]
Maritime wisdom and naval strategy
Subtle intellect remains the most essential trait for individuals shaping maritime power. Yet the acquisition of maritime wisdom is not an overnight endeavor; it is cultivated through sustained engagement with centuries of thought, strategic practice, and the lived experiences of sailors, commanders, and statesmen. Renowned strategists and thinkers—Sun Tzu, Thucydides, Kautilya, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von […]
Rafael counter-UAS systems: Hunter Eagle and Ghost Hunter unveiled
Rafael counter-UAS systems have entered a new phase with the debut of Hunter Eagle and Ghost Hunter drones at DSEI 2025 in London. The Israeli company aims to reinforce its position as a leader in layered drone defence, addressing the surge of UAV threats on the battlefield. This launch signals a shift in how militaries […]
DE-CIX launches orbital Internet Exchange
DE-CIX, the world’s largest Internet Exchange operator, has launched Space-IX, its plan for the first orbital Internet Exchange. The initiative will connect satellites, orbital systems, and ground networks into one ecosystem. As a result, it could transform how digital traffic flows between Earth and space.
Modular RMH payloads reshape naval MCM
Modular Remote Minehunting Modules (RMH) for unmanned surface vessels are emerging as a flexible, upgradable approach to mine countermeasures — this matters because navies need scalable, adaptable MCM capabilities in contested littorals. The ability to swap minehunting payloads without redesigning the host USV reduces risk, speeds refresh cycles and helps fleets respond to evolving mine […]
BAE and Forterra fast-track autonomous AMPV
BAE Systems has partnered with autonomy specialist Forterra to speed up work on a self-driving version of the U.S. Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). This is the first external collaboration under BAE’s new “capability kit” modernization drive. The deal, announced on September 30, sets a goal of delivering a working autonomous AMPV prototype by 2026. […]
Maritime mesh‑networked communications reshape naval networks
Navies and defence research agencies are quietly advancing **maritime mesh networking** architectures. These include deployable floating radio nodes, sea‑surface relays, and hybrid hop‑mesh links. Together, they aim to keep JADC2‑grade connectivity alive in contested littorals and spectrum‑denied waters. The concept is straightforward yet potent: scatter affordable nodes that talk to each other and to higher‑tier […]
IFVs as tank killers—promise & pitfalls
Arming infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with anti‑tank guided missiles (ATGMs) has surged back into fashion. The obituary for dedicated tank destroyers was written a decade ago as long‑range missiles, loitering munitions and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) promised to make specialist platforms redundant. Yet many armies are now adding podded missiles […]
Honeywell’s HON1600 engine targets CC
Why now: closing a small‑thrust gap CCA needs engines below the 2,000 lbf bracket that still deliver agility and reach. Many programs wait for the right propulsion at the right price. The Honeywell HON1600 engine targets that gap. It offers 800–1600 lbf, in turbojet or turbofan form, so airframers can tune range or dash speed. […]
Ankara eyes Boeing jets, Lockheed fighters
Türkiye signalled interest in a large Türkiye Boeing and Lockheed deal—encompassing “hundreds” of airliners and new batches of combat aircraft—according to a Reuters brief on a Bloomberg report dated September 23, 2025. The package, reportedly intertwined with local production worth over $10 billion and subject to U.S. presidential approval, aligns commercial fleet renewal with a […]
Three Think‑Tank Perspectives on Defence Diplomacy
Abstract Over the past month, three analyses from distinct geographies (the United States, the Euro-Atlantic region, and the Indo-Pacific region) have examined how defense diplomacy shapes industrial bases, supply chains, and alliance-managed procurement. The GAO (US) report foregrounds risk stemming from dependence on foreign suppliers and proposes governance tools to improve supply‑chain visibility. The Atlantic […]
Link 16 phaseout: optics take the load
Link 16 phaseout is no longer a taboo subject. As the Space Development Agency (SDA) fields the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), leaders now frame laser communications as the practical bridge from PowerPoint to CJADC2 in the real world. Launches continue in tranches on a two‑year rhythm. Optical crosslinks and ground entry points are scaling, […]
VLPI: photonic integration for defence quantum systems
DARPA’s new Request for Information (RFI DARPA‑SN‑25‑88) on Very Large‑scale Photonic Integration marks a quiet but consequential turn in the U.S. defence approach to quantum hardware. The notice invites industry to propose how photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can scale from today’s tens‑to‑hundreds of components into coherent circuits with thousands—or conceivably millions—of photonic elements suitable for […]
Defence Agenda Evening Brief — 27 September 2025
27 September 2025, 18:00 (Europe/Istanbul) Executive Summary Defence agenda evening brief: USV launch & recovery, Link 16 shift, HÜRJET–Spain, IAC outreach, SAHA updates—absolute dates, unknowns marked. The past week delivered tangible autonomy progress at sea, a candid Pentagon-adjacent debate over the long-term future of Link 16, and a visible uptick in Türkiye’s aerospace diplomacy. The […]
Naval USV autonomous launch & recovery advances
The U.S. Navy has started at‑sea trials of USV autonomous launch & recovery (ALR) using Sealartec’s system on the JPEM Stiletto testbed. This is a practical step toward distributed, crew‑light operations at sea. As a result, ships can handle small boats and USVs faster, with less risk and fewer people on deck. Why it matters […]
Is an Islamic NATO Emerging?
In the wake of Israel’s September 9 air‑launched ballistic‑missile strike that targeted Hamas figures meeting in Doha, the Gulf’s security furniture is being rearranged in plain sight. The episode jolted assumptions about US guarantees and stoked debate over an Islamic NATO—or, more realistically, a “6+2” framework linking the six GCC states with Türkiye and Egypt […]
Anduril Fury’s semi‑autonomous first flight
Anduril Fury semi-autonomous first flight is poised to set a different tone for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. Rather than rushing to a basic hop, Anduril is insisting that the very first air run include push‑button taxi, takeoff, flight and landing executed by onboard autonomy—an aggressive choice meant to compress the […]
AMASS: adaptive swarms C2 for multi‑domain warfare
The U.S. Department of Defense’s AMASS (Autonomous Multi‑domain Adaptive Swarms‑of‑Swarms) initiative pushes adaptive swarms C2 from single‑swarm experiments toward coordinated, theater‑level orchestration across air, land, and maritime domains. By formalising requirements around common command languages, resilience, and cross‑swarm deconfliction, AMASS elevates unmanned teaming from boutique demonstrations to scalable operational architecture [1][2]. For defence primes and […]