Today's Defense Pulse
UK MOD issues new RA 5219 rules for flight‑test instrumentation and data recorders
Regulatory Article 5219 now mandates specific sensors, recorder capacities, data‑retention periods and compliance procedures for UK military air‑system flight trials. The latest Issue 8 revision was released on 29 May 2026, replacing earlier versions dating back to 2014. The rule applies to all future flight‑test programs of air platforms.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Disciplined Growth Acquisition Corp raises $150M in IPO
The Quiet Ship Off Oman
China’s Liaowang 1, a signals‑intelligence vessel, has positioned itself off Oman to monitor electromagnetic emissions from U.S. and allied forces in the Gulf. Its radar domes capture radar, communications and movement data, creating a real‑time electronic map of the regional conflict. The ship operates in international waters, making any U.S. attempt to remove it a potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing. Analysts say this passive surveillance capability could be as decisive as kinetic assets in shaping the war’s outcome.
A Little Excursion
President Joe Biden referred to the escalating confrontation with Iran as a “little excursion,” downplaying what analysts describe as a full‑scale war. The comment follows a series of missile strikes, cyber attacks, and naval encounters that have already caused civilian...
The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge
Tim Harford’s FT piece argues that research once dismissed as useless often becomes foundational to transformative technologies. He cites the RSA algorithm, born from abstract number theory, and Flexner’s 1939 defense of pure science that later powered radio, cryptography, and...
Pentagon Seeks System to Ensure AI Models Work as Planned
The Pentagon and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence are issuing an Area of Interest for a modular "harness" that can evaluate any AI model against mission‑specific benchmarks. The system must test isolated AI performance, human‑AI team outcomes,...
Is Beijing Stepping up Island Building in South China Sea After 10-Year Pause?
Satellite imagery shows China rapidly expanding Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, deploying more than 30 dredgers and construction vessels. The reclamation effort, the first major South China Sea project since Beijing announced a halt over a decade ago, appears...
China’s Leverage over Iran Could Shape Xi‑Trump Summit
This is just my wild guess: If the IRGC continues to block the Strait of Hormuz and begins targeting China-linked vessels, Beijing may not rule out the possibility of deploying naval forces to escort commercial ships through the strait. That said, naval...
Mutually Assured Destruction No Longer Exists, Nobel Game Theory Insight
As you observe the war have you considered “mutually assured destruction?” Does that exist now? No. An oldie but goodie from a Nobel winner on my podcast, discussing the issue, game theory: https://t.co/7kaWq2OyDD
Learning the Wrong Lessons? Counterterrorism Amid a Jihadist Revival
The UN sanctions committee warns that global jihadism has rebounded, with Al‑Qaeda’s core network now estimated at 25,000 members and its affiliates operating across the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and South Asia. Extremist groups are exploiting cheap commercial technology—satellite links,...
Bremmer Positions Iran on TACO‑FAFO Spectrum
Simply had to share this. Ian Bremmer's take on where Iran currently stands on the TACO-FAFO spectrum. https://t.co/mfNXtENe1q
US‑Israel Operation
Fully agree with General Petraeus. The U.S. and Israel have had enormous success. The operation continues. The straights of Hormuz a significant variable at the moment.
DHS Shutdown Continues with No Deal in Sight
The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for nearly a month after a February continuing resolution expired without a new funding deal. Congressional attempts to pass a bipartisan funding bill have stalled, with the House approving a measure...
Erdoğan Rejects Sectarian Labels, Emphasizes Unity in Islam
#TurkeyWatch 🇹🇷: President Erdoğan emphasizes: “We are moving carefully to protect Türkiye from the fire surrounding it. We have never viewed the Iranian people as Shia or Sunni, Turk or Kurd. For us, there is no ‘Sunni-ism’ or ‘Shia-ism’—only Islam.” https://t.co/zPyvCgXvIE
Iran Conflict Fuels Gulf Tanker Attacks, Crude Surge
About to jump on CNBC @asiasquawkbox to talk about the Iran War, the Strait of Hormuz, the latest tanker attacks in the Gulf, and tonight’s jump in the price of crude. Tune in! https://t.co/myMaR7VRA7
Inside Counter Terrorism Policing
In this episode of Inside Counter‑Terrorism Policing, hosts discuss a harrowing incident where a young male planned a live‑streamed school massacre in Ukraine and even attempted to use a burning bomb. The team assembled an intelligence package, shared it with...
Satellite Shows Possible B‑2 GBU‑57 Strikes on Iran’s
Did B-2s Just Drop GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators On Another Iranian Nuclear Site? Satellite imagery shows a prized hardened facility at Iran's Parchin military complex with three massive impact points in a neat row on top. https://t.co/iqrFn2XO2R
Iranian USVs Ignite Two Oil Tankers, 400k Barrels Threatened
The Malta-flagged 50k ton Greek-owned tanker and Marshall Is-flagged 74k ton American-owned tanker is on fire in the anchorage off Iraq. It is suspected the ships were hit by Iranian unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The ships were involved...
The China Opening: Nixon’s Strategic Masterstroke and How His Successors Squandered It
President Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit to Beijing broke diplomatic isolation and used the Sino‑Soviet split to gain strategic leverage against the USSR. The move opened a channel that later presidents expanded into full diplomatic ties, WTO membership, and deep economic...
Shahed Drone Range Too Short for US Threat
JTBC an Iranian Shahed drone has a range of about 2000 km For one to hit California, it would have to be launched from the middle of the ocean. Even smuggled into Hawaii, it wouldn't make it to CA. The only way...
Development of Coruna iOS Exploit Kit Pinned on US Military Contractor
U.S. defense contractor L3Harris, through its Trenchant surveillance‑tech division, was identified as a developer of the Coruna iOS exploit kit. Former employees disclosed that the kit, comprising roughly two dozen components originally built for a government surveillance client, has been...
US Marine Corps Pursues Thermal Cloaks to Hide Troops From Heat Sensors
The U.S. Marine Corps has issued a Sources‑Sought notice for a Multispectral Camouflage Overgarment (MCO) that can obscure Marines across visual, near‑infrared, short‑wave infrared, mid‑wave infrared and long‑wave infrared bands. The program targets delivery of 13,000 cloaks by 2027 and...
Media: Iran Was Preparing To Strike California With Shahed Drones
The FBI circulated a late‑February bulletin warning that Iran may attempt a surprise Shahed drone strike on California, potentially launched from an unknown vessel offshore. Shahed “suicide” drones, already deployed by Russia in Ukraine, represent a low‑cost, high‑impact weapon that...
Iran Could Block Hormuz Using Low‑Cost Drones, Like Ukraine
I'm no Middle East expert, but looking at how Ukraine, without a Navy, destroyed the Russian Black Sea fleet using cheap drones, I would expect Iran, which is 3x larger than Ukraine, will find a way to block the Strait...
China Won’t Risk Credibility by Pressuring Others
Evergreen argument. Unfortunately, I've heard this same argument many times on Russia ("Beijing should pressure Moscow" to deescalate with Ukraine), North Korea ("Beijing should coerce and pressure for denuclearization"), and Pakistan ("Beijing should press its partner" in at least two...
We Just Got Our First Look Ever At The B-21 Raider Performing This Risky Maneuver
The U.S. Air Force captured its first public glimpse of a B‑21 Raider linking up with a KC‑135R Stratotanker for mid‑air refueling, a risky maneuver that validates the bomber’s operational envelope. The test, part of a series of flight trials,...
Reports of Tanker Attack in Southern Iraq
An oil tanker near Iraq's Umm Qasr port caught fire, with early reports indicating a possible direct attack on the vessel. Witnesses said multiple tankers were ablaze, suggesting a coordinated incident. The event adds to a series of recent assaults...
Trump Considers Raids to Recover Iran's Enriched Uranium
The Trump administration is reportedly weighing a covert special operation to seize any remaining enriched uranium in Iran’s stockpile. The plan, still under discussion, would involve a rapid raid on Iranian nuclear facilities to physically remove the material. Non‑proliferation experts...
U.S. Air Force B-1 And B-52 Bombers Now Striking Iran From The UK
The U.S. Air Force has positioned eight B‑1B Lancer and three B‑52H Stratofortress bombers at RAF Fairford, UK, to conduct Operation Epic Fury strikes against Iran. Forward‑based aircraft cut flight times to Iranian targets by more than half, enabling a rapid, high‑tempo...
Rheinmetall Withdraws From Mynaric Bidding Process; Rocket Lab Acquisition Clears Major Competitive Hurdle
Rheinmetall AG announced it will not submit a formal bid for laser‑communications specialist Mynaric AG, ending a brief period of speculation about a German “national solution” to block Rocket Lab’s $150 million acquisition. The withdrawal leaves Rocket Lab as the sole...
Trump on Iran: We Won, but Don't Want to Leave Early
U.S. President Donald Trump told a Kentucky rally that the United States has "won" the war against Iran, claiming the destruction of 58 Iranian naval vessels. He emphasized that the U.S. will stay engaged to "finish the job" and avoid...
Army Taps Elbit America To Join SBMC Development Effort, Will Test Prototypes This Year
The U.S. Army has added Elbit Systems of America to the Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) development team, joining Anduril Industries and startup Rivet. Elbit will deliver and test its prototype hardware later this year as part of the SBMC...
Trump Says U.S. Will Tap Strategic Petroleum Reserve As Iran War Surges Gas Prices
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will draw 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the next four months, the first release since 2022. The move comes as the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran has pushed...
MQ-9s Over Iran: Striking and Finding Targets—But Taking Some Losses
U.S. MQ‑9 Reaper drones are conducting persistent ISR and precision strikes against Iranian missile and drone launchers as part of Operation Epic Fury, having hit more than 5,500 targets since the conflict began. Iran’s air defenses have managed to down...
Ex-Trump Envoy Makes Case for Iran Attack
Former Trump deputy special envoy Morgan Ortagus defended the February 28 U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran, arguing they were a necessary response to a cumulative threat from Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and regional destabilization. She claimed the Trump administration had repeatedly offered...
G7 Explores Ship Escorts in Gulf as Middle East War Threatens Energy Supply Routes
G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Russia sanctions while confronting the ripple effects of the U.S.–Israeli conflict on Iran and global energy markets. They agreed to deepen coordination with Gulf partners to safeguard shipping lanes and stabilize oil supplies. A...
WEBINAR (3/11/26): Vigilance Is Not Enough: A History of United States Intelligence
The Michael V. Hayden Center at George Mason University is hosting a live‑streamed and in‑person webinar on March 11, 2026, featuring intelligence veteran Dr. Mark Lowenthal. Lowenthal will discuss his new book, Vigilance Is Not Enough: A History of United...
VIDEO: JSOU Snapshot: Chinese Influence and Cognitive Warfare
The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) released a short video titled “Chinese Influence and Cognitive Warfare,” examining how Beijing designs and deploys influence campaigns against adversaries. The piece outlines China’s long‑standing focus on controlling narratives both at home and abroad,...
Ukrainian Defense Companies Moving To All Domestic Production Of Components
Ukrainian drone and defense firms are rapidly localizing component production, now achieving 80‑90% domestic content for first‑level parts and aiming for 100% on‑shoring of critical systems. Companies such as The Fourth Law and Unwave are building a semiconductor fab to...
Explainer: How Global Shipping Is Financing China’s Navy without Knowing It
Global shipping’s reliance on Chinese Tier‑1 shipyards is simultaneously financing the People’s Liberation Army Navy. CSIS data shows these yards produce 40% of China’s commercial tonnage while building virtually every major warship, generating $165 billion in export revenue from 2019‑2024. Freight‑rate...
U.S. Military Abandons Reconstruction, Embraces Endless Destruction
For decades, US military doctrine meant: if you break a country, you own the reconstruction. General "Spider" Marks says that calculus is gone. "We're just going to break it. And if you get back on that horse and you think...
AI Lowers OSINT Barriers, Turns Iran Conflict Into Theater
How AI is turning Iran conflict into theater There’s a confluence of factors at play. AI coding tools mean people don’t need much technical skill to assemble open-source intelligence anymore, and chatbots can offer fast, if dubious, analysis of it. Yup.....
![[Wang Son-Taek] The Hidden Cost of War: Public Diplomacy](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/03/11/news-p.v1.20260311.929efa03846b4bb2b5cbda2a4133aa61_T1.jpg)
[Wang Son-Taek] The Hidden Cost of War: Public Diplomacy
The piece examines how prolonged conflicts impose hidden costs beyond the battlefield, focusing on public diplomacy’s role in shaping perceptions and economic stability. It cites the recent 7% plunge in the KOSPI amid Middle‑East tensions as a market signal of...
UN Security Council Condemns Iran's Attacks on Gulf Civilians
UN Security Council Condemns #Iran Attacks Against Gulf Neighbors The resolution, proposed by Bahrain on behalf of GCC, decried Iran’s retaliation against civilian targets, including energy facilities, as an international law violation. @Magdalena_971 https://t.co/P9t8JHNDMg
Russian Spies Duped Ordinary Europeans Into Delivering Explosives
Russian intel recruited ordinary citizens across Europe to post packages to the UK and Poland that turned out to contain explosives. I hadn't heard about this when the couriers were arrested. Now one has spoken about how he was tricked...
Mojtaba Khamenei's Wound Reveals Who Really Rules Iran
Iran confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei, named the country’s third supreme leader on March 8, was wounded in the February 28 U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The appointment was orchestrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a...
Iranian School Hit After Being Misidentified as Military Target
NEW FROM WAPO: The Iranian school building where scores of children were killed as the U.S. and Israel began their massive aerial campaign was on a U.S. target list and may have been mistaken for a military site, multiple people...
Cuts to Civilian‑protection Team Lead to Tragic School Bombing
They gutted the team that operationally helps the US military avoid civilian casualties during war. Then we killed over 150 schoolgirls by accidentally bombing their school. This administration is torching American soft power.
Pentagon Bans Photographers over Unflattering Hegseth Images
Thank you to everyone who read and commented on our story about the Pentagon shutting out photographers for publishing “unflattering” photos of Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth. As always, I’m reachable on Signal at scottnover.99 if there’s anything you think I...
Delaying Action Costs More: Strategy and Uncertainty Discussed
"Can America and Israel finish the job? A conversation with John Spencer." I had a great talk w/ my dear friend @havivrettiggur on his "Ask Haviv Anything" podcast. We talk about strategy, uncertainty, and the price of waiting too long...
Iran Demands US‑Israel Halt Bombings to End War
Iran is demanding as a condition to ending the war a pledge the the U.S. and Israel stop bombing it and killing its leaders. That's... eminently reasonable. https://t.co/XZ3jlXDTIP
Escalating Attacks Threaten Strait of Hormuz Disruption
The last 24 hours have brought the most sustained attacks from both sides since the conflict started. We could see this escalation spill into the Strait of Hormuz with mines and further maritime disruption. Full video analysis exclusively on...