
Why Trump’s Takeover In Gaza Preceded The War In Iran
On February 28, 2026 the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, sparking a rapid escalation in the Gulf and pushing oil above $100 a barrel. The author argues that the military action is the visible tip of a pre‑existing technocratic coup that uses tokenization, AI, and private‑equity‑style governance to reshape sovereignty. A newly created Board of Peace, funded by Gulf sovereign wealth and chaired by President Trump, is already planning a digital stablecoin for Gaza and a broader financial control framework. The piece frames these moves as a betrayal of the populist promises that brought the current administration to power.

"De Facto" Communist Party Intelligence Arm Met With Chrétien and Senator Woo During Canada Visit, Beijing Readout Shows
A senior official from the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department (IDCPC) met former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Senator Yuen Pau Woo during a four‑day March visit to Canada. The delegation also sat with Canadian officials, business leaders and think‑tank...

The War in Iran Enters Its Third Week
The third week of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has seen intense combat, including the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 40 senior officials. Over 6,000 U.S. combat missions have targeted Iran’s missile infrastructure, which the Pentagon...

European Defence Agency Awards Contract for First VLEO Military Satellite Concept
The European Defence Agency has granted a €15.65 million research contract to a Sener‑led consortium to design the first military satellite optimized for very low Earth orbit (VLEO). VLEO, ranging from 150‑350 km, promises sharper imagery and lower communication latency but requires...

Lessons From Ukraine on Cognitive Warfare: Journal of Strategic Security
A 2025 Journal of Strategic Security report by Briggs and Tusor examines Ukraine’s war as a case study in cognitive warfare, highlighting how Russia employs cyber attacks, disinformation, private militias, and religious channels to manipulate perception. The authors detail Ukraine’s...

Proxy Warfare: The Missing Facet of Australian Defence Policy
Andrew Maher’s March 2026 article warns that Australian defence policy has largely abandoned proxy warfare, a tool once central to the nation’s World‑II and early Cold‑War strategies. The piece documents a literature gap after 1975, despite the resurgence of gray‑zone...

War Without Borders: Sleeper Networks Will Target Civilians EP718
The latest Survival Dispatch report, "War Without Borders: Sleeper Networks Will Target Civilians EP718," warns that Iranian-backed sleeper cells are being embedded in Western societies to conduct attacks on civilian targets. The piece is part of a five‑part series by...

Winners & Losers | Small Men Want to Destroy the World
In the sixty weeks since President Trump’s inauguration, long‑standing military and economic alliances that underpinned post‑World War II peace have begun to fray. The author argues that Trump’s fiscal mismanagement, confrontational diplomacy, and overextension of U.S. forces have weakened America’s global...

A 2016 Warning About Weaponized Drones: The Army’s Early sUAS Threat Experiment
In August 2016 the U.S. Army Systems Adaptive Red Team ran the UAS Threat Experiment 2‑16, using off‑the‑shelf drones to simulate attacks on convoys and urban targets. The trials examined improvised explosive payloads, autonomous targeting of moving vehicles, and command‑and‑control...
Why Washington Has Turned to Pakistan—And What It Means for India
In 2025 Washington pivoted toward Pakistan, valuing its ability to deliver immediate security, economic, and diplomatic results over traditional strategic considerations. The Trump administration’s transactional style emphasizes rapid, measurable outcomes, positioning Islamabad as a "deliverable" partner through counter‑terrorism cooperation, mineral...

Experts Say Retaliation Was Predictable—And Trump May Be Betting On It
Security analysts warn that Iran’s war with Israel is spurring a rise in domestic terror threats against the United States. Recent shootings in Virginia, Michigan, and Texas, carried out by individuals with ties to Iran or its proxies, illustrate a...

KNDS and EOS Sign Deal on Remote Weapon Systems
KNDS and EOS Defence Systems have signed a teaming agreement to develop and market remote‑controlled weapon stations integrating KNDS’s medium‑calibre guns with EOS’s counter‑UAS platforms. The partnership will focus on land and naval applications, featuring the ITAR‑free 30×113 multi‑purpose gun...

Trump Demands Help with Hormuz; Japan and Australia = NO | Rapid Read 16 Mar 2026
President Trump has pressed allies for US warship escorts through the Strait of Hormuz, but Japan and Australia have declined the request. Drone strikes have forced a shutdown of oil loading at Fujairah and disrupted Dubai airport operations, prompting Saudi...

"Tear Up Texas": FBI Encouraged a 2015 Islamic Terror Shooting & Did Nothing to Stop It
In May 2015 two men from Phoenix traveled to Garland, Texas, intent on attacking the Curtis Culwell Center. An undercover FBI informant, posing as an extremist, encouraged them via text and shadowed them to the venue but did not intervene....

B-58 Navigator Recalls Being on Nuclear Alert During Cuban Missile Crisis, Doing More Bomb Runs than Anyone in the Hustler...
Former B-58 Hustler navigator Richard “Butch” Sheffield recounts his service during the early 1960s, highlighting a record‑breaking mission in which his crew performed the most bomb runs in a single flight by refueling from multiple KC‑135 tankers and extending flight...
Possible New Result in Quantum Factorization
A new preprint claims a theoretical speedup for quantum factoring of large integers. Bruce Schneier, noting his lack of expertise, expresses skepticism about the result’s validity. If the claim holds, it would represent an improvement over Shor’s algorithm. The announcement...

Royal Navy Squadron Deploys New Gibraltar Drones
Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron has introduced ANAFI Parrot quadcopter drones for maritime surveillance, supporting patrols and high‑profile ship visits. A streamlined approval process now reduces drone clearance from weeks to days, enabling launches from HMS Cutlass and HMS Dagger. The...

Drone Boat Targets Used in Major Indo-Pacific Drill
QinetiQ Target Systems Canada deployed its Hammerhead uncrewed surface vehicle (USV‑T) targets during the Cobra Gold exercise in Thailand, simulating fast‑in‑shore attack craft and explosive drone boats. Ten Hammerhead units were used across three scenarios, including beach‑assault and coordinated swarm...

RAF Regiment Trains in Arctic Ahead of Cold Response
Personnel from 51 Squadron RAF Regiment deployed to Norway to conduct Arctic warfare training ahead of Exercise Cold Response 2026. The program, held over 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, included survival drills at temperatures as low as –21 °C, navigation,...

Babcock SME Charter to Strengthen Defence Supply Chains
Babcock has introduced a ten‑point SME Engagement Charter to make defence procurement more accessible for small and medium‑sized enterprises. The initiative tackles common barriers such as unclear contact points, complex contracts, and limited testing facilities by proposing a digital portal,...

Royal Navy Warship ‘Fights Off’ Drone Swarms
The Royal Navy’s Type‑45 destroyer HMS Duncan completed Exercise Sharpshooter, a four‑day live‑firing drill off Wales that simulated coordinated drone and missile attacks. The scenario, delivered by QinetiQ, blended real Banshee aerial drones and Hammerhead surface vessels with synthetic cruise‑missile and...

Beyond the Menu of Options: A Taxonomy for Information Security Strategies
The paper introduces a three‑tier taxonomy for information security, categorizing approaches as reactive defensive, proactive defensive, and offensive measures. It argues that current counter‑disinformation efforts lack a coherent framework, hindering strategic evaluation and resource allocation. Case studies of Taiwan, Finland,...
Electronic Surveillance Under Scrutiny as Trump Targets Left Wing Groups as “Domestic Terrorists”
Congress is set to vote on renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act, a key authority that permits the NSA and FBI to collect electronic communications without individualized warrants. The renewal comes as President Trump has issued an executive...

USS Tripoli Amphibious Assault Ship Sprinting To Middle East
The U.S. Navy dispatched the America‑class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA‑7) from Sasebo, Japan, carrying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and roughly 2,500 Marines. The deployment, slated to reach the Middle East within one to two weeks, underscores the rapid...
Trump Mulls Deal in the Mirror
Former President Donald Trump signaled openness to negotiations with Iran to resolve a dispute that has disrupted oil markets and nearly halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He said Iran wants a deal but the terms must include Tehran...
The Downlink [Mar 15, 25] Space Power: Space Force West Scholars Axed. What’s The Future for Senior Professional Military Education?
The U.S. Space Force has terminated its West Scholars program at Johns Hopkins SAIS, a three‑year initiative designed to provide senior officers with space‑focused graduate education. The cancellation is part of a broader cut that eliminates similar graduate‑level opportunities at...
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Mar 15 ’26 Business Report]
During the March 15 Defense & Aerospace Report podcast, analysts discussed how the escalating US‑Israel‑Iran conflict and extended Russian energy sanctions are pushing oil prices higher, despite a 400‑million‑barrel reserve release. Weaker U.S. employment data and modest Q4 2025 growth...

3/15/26 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
The March 15 2026 roundup highlights a surge in U.S. defense spending and technology integration, most notably a contract worth up to $20 billion with Anduril for autonomous systems. It also details the deployment of the Typhon missile family capable of striking targets...

Why Is Steph Curry Investing in Israeli Security Tech?
Steph Curry, through his advisory role at Penny Jar Capital, has joined major venture rounds for Israeli cybersecurity firms Upwind Security and Zafran, contributing over $300 million and $30 million respectively. Both startups are led by veterans of Israel’s elite Unit 8200 intelligence...

Viribus Unitis: 2nd International Legion Reassigned to Assault Forces
Ukraine completed the restructuring of its International Legion, with the 2nd International Legion officially incorporated into the 253rd Assault Regiment on February 10, 2026. The battalion, previously the most vocal opponent of the Legion’s dissolution, will now operate as the 3rd Infantry...

The Crew That Never Came Home
Six U.S. Air Force airmen died this week when a KC-135 Stratotanker collided mid‑air over Iraq during an aerial refueling mission. The crew—two captains, a major, and two technical sergeants—were responsible for extending the range of combat aircraft, a role...

The Kremlin Built a Digital Prison. Now It's Trapped Inside It.
Russia has completed its long‑term project of a sovereign, state‑controlled internet, effectively creating a digital prison that can be severed from the global web at will. The Kremlin’s deployment of deep‑packet inspection and annual disconnection drills culminated in a full‑scale...

Expert Q&A on Key Law of Naval Warfare Issues in the Conflict with Iran
The ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has expanded from coastal strikes to direct attacks on Iranian Navy and IRGC vessels, including the sinking of IRIS Dena and the internment of IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan. Both...

Russia's Fifth Spring at War, on Midrats
The podcast marks the fifth spring of the Russia‑Ukraine war, featuring CNA senior researcher Dr. Dmitry Gorenburg. He outlines Russia’s grinding attrition strategy, heavy reliance on drones and foreign satellite services, and the strain caused by Starlink disruptions. The discussion...

‘No Exit Ramp’: Markets Fear War Spiral After Kharg Strikes
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared the Strait of Hormuz open to all except the United States and its allies, following a recent strike on the Iranian tanker Kharg. The remarks sparked concerns that Tehran could restrict American vessels, intensifying...

RAF Fairford at the Centre of Operation Epic Fury: Britain’s Strategic Bomber Hub
RAF Fairford has become the focal point for U.S. Air Force long‑range bomber operations supporting Operation Epic Fury, a campaign aimed at degrading Iranian missile infrastructure. Around eight B‑1B Lancers arrived in early March, followed by three B‑52H Stratofortresses from...

The Dogfight Where a Luftwaffe Ju 88 Outmaneuvered 2 RAF Spitfires and Shot One Down
In May 1941 a Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88C night‑fighter, piloted by Oberfeldwebel Hans Hahn, engaged two RAF Spitfires over Norfolk and shot down Plt Off Bernard Klee’s aircraft. The Ju 88’s unexpected agility allowed it to weave, evade and position...

Paying for a War
The United States is projected to spend roughly $1.5 trillion on defense and offensive operations in 2026, a level that dwarfs most other fiscal priorities. Because the dollar is a sovereign currency, the Treasury can technically create money to fund this...

Belgian F-16s Are Testing FZ275 Laser-Guided Rockets for C-UAS Role
Belgian Air Force has begun flight tests of domestically‑developed FZ275 70 mm laser‑guided rockets on its F‑16AM fleet, mounting six LAU‑131A/A pods for a total of 42 rounds. The trials, conducted since early 2026, aim to validate the rockets for counter‑unmanned‑air‑system...

Russia Uses Bot Network to Stoke Hungary–Ukraine Tensions Ahead of Hungary’s Election
Russia’s Matryoshka bot network is flooding Hungary with fabricated stories that portray Ukraine as hostile and Ukrainian refugees as violent, just weeks before the April 2026 parliamentary election. The disinformation uses fake videos bearing the logos of Reuters, Euronews and...
Without Rare Earth Elements, Electronic Warfare Systems Lose Their Edge
Electronic warfare (EW) has become the backbone of modern military operations, turning the electromagnetic spectrum into a decisive battlespace. The performance of EW hardware hinges on rare‑earth‑based components—neodymium‑iron‑boron and samarium‑cobalt magnets for antenna steering, power generation, and high‑temperature stability, plus...

X US Admiral Describes Two Week Plan for US Victory
U.S. Admiral Montgomery outlined a two‑to‑three‑week plan to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz by intensifying degradation strikes on Iranian island launch sites, radars and ports. The operation will deploy ten to fourteen Aegis destroyers with air and helicopter...

5 KC-135s Damaged in Iranian Attack Saudi Air Base, Pro-Iran Militia Claims Stratotanker Shooting Down on Mar. 12
Iranian missiles struck Prince Sultan Air Base on March 13, damaging five USAF KC-135 Stratotankers, the primary aerial refueling platform for Operation Epic Fury. President Donald Trump reported that four of the aircraft sustained only minor damage and are already...

Rutte Calls for Stronger Defence Industry at Brussels Expo
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte used the Brussels European Defense Exhibition to stress the Alliance’s reliance on a robust defence industrial base. He reminded industry leaders that modern forces need advanced equipment as much as personnel, and called for expanded...

Hypothetical Legal Advice to SecDef Hegseth on “No Quarter” Statement (From Office of General Counsel)
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s March 13, 2026 remarks that U.S. forces would give "no quarter, no mercy" to Iranian combatants could be interpreted as an illegal command under the law of armed conflict. The Department of War’s General Counsel...

Army Explores New Vehicle-Mounted Counter-Drone System
The UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support has issued a market engagement notice for a specialist counter‑UAS system mounted on an armoured vehicle under the Land‑GBAD programme. The capability is intended to provide short‑range drone defence for both...
George Answers Your Questions: A Summary of the Iran War, So Far
George, a geopolitical analyst, fielded a reader’s question about whether the United States and its allies are effectively employing a “mowing the lawn” approach in the ongoing Iran conflict—periodic, limited strikes against Iran’s military and nuclear assets without pursuing regime...

UK Sets Out New Strategy to Counter Extremism
The UK government unveiled a cross‑government strategy, "Protecting What Matters," that frames social cohesion as a national security priority. It introduces a Social Cohesion Taskforce, expands the Pride in Place community‑regeneration programme, and proposes an "Earned Settlement" route requiring ten...

Dallas, Texas Is a Drone and 3D Printing Place to Be
North Texas, particularly the Dallas suburbs, has quietly become a national hotspot where drone manufacturing and 3D printing intersect. Companies such as Eagle NXT, Shield AI, and Delta Black Aerospace are scaling operations in Allen, Frisco and McKinney, using additive manufacturing for rapid...

Work Continues to Boost Submarine Maintenance at Clyde
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £68,890 contract to Shropshire‑based Beaverfit for a temporary, container‑based storage and working facility at HM Naval Base Clyde. The solution comprises eight ISO containers fitted with a canopy, creating a covered engineering...