US Says Iran’s New Supreme Leader Likely ‘Wounded’, Dismisses Strait of Hormuz Concerns
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly wounded and possibly disfigured, casting doubt on his legitimacy. Hegseth warned that the United States will launch the highest volume of air strikes ever over Iran and Tehran. He downplayed the strategic impact of the recent effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks signal a sharp escalation in U.S. military posture toward Tehran amid Iran’s internal power transition.
Ovzon Receives $1.3M US Defense Contract
Swedish satellite communications firm Ovzon secured a $1.3 million, three‑month contract from the U.S. Defense Department for sat‑com services and technical support, with work commencing immediately. The agreement builds on a relationship dating back to 2014, during which the Pentagon has...
Following Congressional Rebuke, Air Force Awards E-7 Contracts
The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing two sole‑source contracts— a $2.3 billion option and a $99.3 million radar‑source modification— pushing the E‑7 Wedgetail program’s total value above $5 billion. The awards implement the FY 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which directed the service to continue...
Trump Says War Will End when He Feels It "in My Bones"
Former President Donald Trump told The Brian Kilmeade Show he will know the Iran conflict is over when he feels it "in his bones," implying a near‑term end. He also suggested the war may not last much longer, despite the...
Iran's Drones Highlight Infrastructure Vulnerability: Researcher
Researcher Fabian Hoffmann warns that long‑range drones expose critical infrastructure in Europe and the Gulf to new vulnerabilities. Iran’s recent attacks on Dubai’s financial district and its pledge to target Western tech firms illustrate the growing threat. Existing air‑defence systems,...
So What’s the Strategy on Iran?
The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center released a new "So What’s the Strategy?" podcast episode featuring former National Security Council chief of staff Alex Gray. Host Matthew Kroenig and Gray dissect Washington’s approach to the ongoing Iran war, referencing the 2020...
45,000 Malicious IP Addresses Taken Down in International Cyber Operation
An INTERPOL‑coordinated effort, Operation Synergia III, dismantled more than 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers between July 2025 and January 2026. Law enforcement from 72 countries arrested 94 suspects and seized 212 devices, while investigations continue against another 110 individuals. The operation uncovered extensive...
The Broken Records: Tracing the Human Cost of the 2022 British MoD Leak
In February 2022 the UK Ministry of Defence inadvertently released personal data on roughly 18,700 Afghan nationals who had supported British forces and were seeking protection. The breach remained undisclosed for almost two years, and a High Court super‑injunction in September 2023...
The US and Cuba Are Talking
Mexico's president helped broker the first confirmed talks between the United States and Cuba, with Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel confirming a dialogue aimed at resolving long‑standing bilateral differences. The discussions are in an early phase and follow reports that the Trump...
U.S. Army Tests Polaris Autonomous Ground Vehicles in Germany
The U.S. Army’s xTech|Edge Strike: Ground competition in Germany showcased autonomous variants of Polaris’s MRZR D4, RANGER XD 1500 and RZR XP 1000, integrated by Dataspeed, Forterra and Overland AI. The demonstrations focused on logistics, reconnaissance and casualty‑evacuation missions, proving that commercial off‑road platforms can be...
The Ukraine War and the Need for Active Protection Systems
The Ukraine‑Russia conflict has exposed the vulnerability of modern armored vehicles to ATGMs and one‑way effectors, prompting a surge in demand for active protection systems (APS). Hard‑kill solutions, especially Israel’s Trophy, dominate the market, while competitors like Iron Fist and emerging...
AF Week in Photos
U.S. Air Force showcased a week of diverse operations, from F‑35A combat missions in the Middle East supporting Operation Epic Fury to Arctic F‑22 sorties defending North American airspace. Joint exercises highlighted B‑2, Navy F‑35C and F/A‑18E maritime strikes, while...
Daimler Truck 'Well Positioned for Defense Growth,' CFO Says
Daimler Truck Holding AG announced its strategy to capitalize on rising European defense spending, aiming to double its defense segment by 2030. CFO Eva Scherer highlighted the company's capability to quickly scale production, leveraging its experience managing cyclical markets. The...
Pentagon: Iran's Missiles, Not Mines, Pose Main Threat to Hormuz Shipping
The Pentagon has concluded that Iran’s missile arsenal, rather than naval mines, represents the chief danger to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts note that Iran’s short‑ and medium‑range ballistic missiles can reach vessels transiting the narrow waterway,...
Six Confirmed Deceased in Loss of U.S. KC-135 Over Iraq
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed over western Iraq on March 12, 2026, killing all six crew members. The loss occurred during Operation Epic Fury and was confirmed not to be the result of hostile or friendly fire. The...
Rolls-Royce to Lead Powertrain Development for MGCS in Important Step for the Programme
Rolls‑Royce Power Systems has been appointed general contractor to develop the drive system for the Franco‑German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). The contract pairs its 1,400 kW MTU199 ten‑cylinder engine with ZF’s eLSG5000 electrified powershift steering transmission, creating the world’s first...
Russia’s Relentless Interference Since Start of Ukraine War Has Failed to Break Moldova
Four years after Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, Moldova has withstood Moscow’s destabilisation campaign and moved forward on its EU accession path. The country secured candidate status in 2022 and opened accession negotiations in 2024, while President Maia Sandu won...
Intercepting Shahed and Other Strike UAVs — a New Stage in the Evolution of Air Defense Technologies
Drone Fight Group, Bat Drones and Ukrainian maker PG Robotics have begun serial production of the Angel Spire interceptor drone, aimed at neutralising Shahed‑type loitering munitions and other hostile UAVs. The platform can cruise between 150 and 290 km/h and reach targets up...
Canada Announces $40 Billion Plan to Strengthen Arctic Security, Infrastructure, and Development
Canada announced a $40 billion Arctic strategy, allocating over $35 billion in federal funds to boost security, infrastructure, and economic development. The plan earmarks $32 billion for forward operating locations in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Iqaluit, plus $2.67 billion for new support hubs and nodes....
Vietnam and the Geopolitics of Critical Minerals
Vietnam has tightened restrictions on raw rare‑earth exports to force domestic refining, positioning itself as a niche superpower in critical minerals. Meanwhile, the United States is building a broad coalition of more than 50 partners through initiatives like the Critical...
High-Density Thick Film Substrates
Remtec announced its high‑density thick‑film multilayer ceramic substrates, targeting military, avionics, space and industrial markets. The product line offers 6‑8 conductor layers on alumina, aluminum nitride or beryllia, with either gold or low‑cost silver interconnects delivering 1‑3 mΩ/sq conductivity. Features include...
PrSM Increment 2 Takes Flight and Advances Army’s Moving-Target and Maritime Capability
Lockheed Martin announced the successful first flight test of the Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 on March 12, 2026, launching from a HIMARS and flying 350 km. The test demonstrated a new multi‑mode seeker capable of locking moving maritime targets, expanding the missile’s mission...
Police Sinkholes 45,000 IP Addresses in Cybercrime Crackdown
Operation Synergia III, an Interpol‑led crackdown from July 2025 to January 2026, sinkholed roughly 45,000 malicious IP addresses and seized 212 servers across 72 countries. The operation resulted in 94 arrests, with another 110 suspects under investigation, and uncovered over 33,000 phishing and fraudulent...
NATO Intercepts Third Iranian Missile Heading Toward Turkey
On Friday, NATO’s eastern Mediterranean defense systems shot down a third ballistic missile launched from Iran that was heading toward Turkish airspace, marking the latest interception in just over a week. The alliance emphasized its vigilance in protecting all members,...
France's Position in Middle East Is Defensive, Macron Says, After Attack on Its Soldiers
President Emmanuel Macron condemned a drone attack in northern Iraq that killed one French soldier and wounded six, calling it "unacceptable" and stressing France's defensive posture in the Middle East. He announced a request for a full military analysis of...
Hegseth Says US Military Has Designated Officer to Complete Probe on Iran School Strike
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that an officer outside of U.S. Central Command has been appointed to complete a command investigation into the strike on a girls' school in southern Iran. The investigating officer is a general officer, underscoring...
What Rob Jetten’s New Minority Government Means for Dutch and European Defense
Rob Jetten leads the Netherlands’ first minority coalition, formed by D66, CDA and VVD, holding only 66 of 150 parliamentary seats. The government’s agenda emphasizes a stronger European pillar within NATO, a 3.5% of GDP defence spending target, and joint...
Pete Hegseth on Strait of Hormuz: 'Don't Need to Worry About It'
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters the United States is not worried about a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, despite recent spikes in oil prices. He emphasized that the Pentagon already has contingency...
French Soldier Dies After a Drone Attack in Iraq
A drone strike on 12 March hit the French‑run Mala Kara base near Erbil, killing one French soldier and wounding several others. The attack, claimed by the pro‑Iranian Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq, coincided with a simultaneous drone hit on an...
FN and Damen to Develop Next-Generation Maritime Defense Solutions
Damen Shipyards Group and FN Herstal have signed a memorandum of understanding at the BEDEX exhibition to jointly develop next‑generation maritime defence solutions. The partnership will integrate FN’s weapons and sensor technologies into Damen vessels, including unmanned surface vessels, to...
Italy Weighs Options as Damaged Russian LNG Tanker Drifts in the Mediterranean
A Russian LNG tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, was struck by Ukrainian naval drones and left drifting in the Mediterranean between Italy and Malta. The vessel’s 30 crew were evacuated, and while the hull remains afloat, the amount of LNG on board...
Mercury Systems Acquires SolderMask to Support Higher Rate Production
Mercury Systems announced the acquisition of SolderMask, Inc., securing its dry‑film solder mask technology, intellectual property, and a five‑person team. The deal, closed on March 3, 2026, integrates SolderMask’s capabilities into Mercury’s Huntington Beach site while a parallel line is built in...
US Sanctions on Rwanda’s Military Begin to Bite
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior officials on March 2, accusing them of actively supporting the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sanctions have already...
Airbus Prepares Valkyrie Combat Drone for German Air Force
Airbus is preparing flight tests of a Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie‑based uncrewed combat aircraft equipped with its European‑developed MARS mission system for the German Air Force. The two Valkyrie prototypes, being readied at Airbus’ Manching facility, are slated for maiden flights...
Dragon No Longer in the Cab: Senator Cotton and Rep. Stefanik Quietly Move to Eject China From American Trucking
Rep. Elise Stefanik introduced the Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act of 2026, mandating that every carrier in the Department of Defense freight chain certify it has no ownership or control ties to Chinese military‑linked entities. The bill creates a...
EU Leaders Push Visa Crackdown on Russian War Veterans
EU leaders including Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Poland’s Donald Tusk have urged the European Commission to tighten visa rules for Russian nationals with combat experience in Ukraine. In a joint letter they warned that demobilised fighters, many recruited from prisons,...
U.S. Army Tests APEX Counter-Drone Round for Apache
The U.S. Army conducted live‑fire trials of a new 30 mm Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) round on AH‑64 Apache helicopters at Yuma Proving Ground. Over the course of the evaluation, crews fired roughly 1,200 rounds, pitting the APEX munition against the...
UAE’s First Combat Use of M-SAM II Could Raise Export Prospects for South Korean Air Defence
South Korea’s M‑SAM II missile, part of the Cheongung II air‑defence suite, was employed by the United Arab Emirates to intercept Iranian projectiles launched after the U.S. Operation Epic Fury. The engagement, beginning on 28 February, marks the first overseas combat use of...
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Poland's Tusk Vows to Use EU Defence Loans Despite President's Veto
Poland’s president Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill that would have unlocked €43.7 billion in EU Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loans, citing long‑term debt risks. Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded by promising to tap the same financing through existing armed‑forces funds,...
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Trump Claimed in G7 Call that Iran Is "About to Surrender," Axios Reports
Former President Donald Trump told G7 leaders in a virtual meeting that Iran is "about to surrender," citing the ongoing U.S.-Israel Operation Epic Fury. He boasted that the campaign had eliminated a threat and dismissed Iranian leadership as "deranged scumbags."...
A.I. Goes to War + Is ‘A.I. Brain Fry’ Real? + How Grammarly Stole Casey’s Identity
The Hard Fork episode examines how the United States and Israel are integrating artificial intelligence into the Iran conflict, using AI to pinpoint targets such as data centers and fiber‑optic infrastructure. It also highlights a new workplace phenomenon dubbed “AI...
Q&A: Rebecca Evernden on UK Space Strategy
Rebecca Evernden, the newly appointed director of the UK Space Agency, outlined a four‑pillar strategy—satellite communications, launch capability, in‑orbit servicing and manufacturing, and space domain awareness—to drive economic growth and national security. She emphasized that the agency’s launch ambitions remain...
Iranian Armed Forces Going AWOL
Iranian regular forces are confronting acute supply shortages, with soldiers receiving as few as 20 rounds of ammunition for two men, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly hoards medical supplies and refuses to evacuate the wounded. Both branches...
The Gulf’s Tough Choices
The United States and Israel have entered a war with Iran that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) spent years trying to avoid through diplomacy. Daily attacks are now targeting civilian infrastructure across the Gulf’s six member states, exposing a growing...
3D Printable Nanotube Composite Shields Electronics In Extreme Environments
Researchers have created an ultrathin, stretchable, 3D‑printable composite that combines single‑walled carbon nanotubes and boron nitride nanotubes to simultaneously block electromagnetic interference and absorb neutron radiation. The hybrid films achieve over 50 dB EMI shielding at micrometer thicknesses, while a 2:8...
Norway Police Arrest Mother of Three Suspects of US Embassy Bomb
Norwegian police detained the mother of three men suspected of planting an explosive device outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo on March 8. The mother was arrested on Friday on suspicion of involvement, though authorities gave no further details. All four...
NIWC Carries MRAP Innovation Forward With Marine Drone Defeating Air Defense System
The Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NIWC) delivered the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) to the Marine Corps, mounting a 30 mm cannon, Stinger missiles and electronic‑warfare tools on two JLTVs. Developed from 2022 using commercial‑off‑the‑shelf parts and the command’s...
Lockheed Martin Delivers Second Shipment of ASEV Shipsets and AN/SPY-7(V)1 Equipment to Japan
Lockheed Martin announced on March 12, 2026 that it has delivered the second Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) shipset, featuring the AN/SPY-7(V)1 solid‑state radar, to Japan’s Ministry of Defense. The shipment, executed through Mitsubishi Corporation under a Direct Commercial Sale,...
Shadow Fleet Vessels Exposed in Sweden
Swedish Coast Guard intercepted the tanker Sea Owl 1 near Trelleborg, identifying it as a Russian shadow‑fleet vessel operating under a falsified Comorian flag. The ship, listed under EU sanctions, is suspected of transporting oil or liquid fuels to Russia, echoing...
East Front News #86: Sabotages in Poland; Ukraine Delivers Support to the Persian Gulf Countries
The article highlights a wave of Russian‑linked information operations that blame Ukrainian citizens for sabotage incidents in Poland, aiming to erode Warsaw‑Kyiv trust. In Bucharest, Romania agreed to let the United States use its airfields, signaling deeper NATO logistics cooperation....