Iran’s Navy Tells Ships Strait of Hormuz Shut Again, Two Vessels Report Gunfire
Iran’s navy broadcast a VHF message declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed again, reversing a prior notice that allowed limited lanes. On Saturday, at least two commercial vessels reported gunfire from IRGC gunboats near the Qeshm and Larak islands, forcing them to turn back. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed a tanker was approached and fired upon, though the crew remained safe. Roughly 20,000 seafarers on hundreds of ships are now stranded, threatening 20% of global oil and LNG shipments.
JanelaRAT Malware Now Hijacking Banking Sessions of Users in Latin America : Research
Kaspersky’s GReAT team has identified a new JanelaRAT variant that specifically targets online banking customers in Brazil and Mexico. The malware disguises itself as a pixel‑art program and is delivered via phishing emails containing malicious VBS scripts. Unlike earlier versions,...
Indian Ships Reverse Course in Hormuz Strait, Vessel Tracker Says
Two Indian‑flagged vessels, including a supertanker loaded with 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil, turned back in the Strait of Hormuz after reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire. The British Maritime Trade Operations Centre said the crew were safe but...
Ukraine Strikes Two Russian Refineries, Baltic Sea Port
Ukrainian drone forces struck two oil refineries in Russia’s Samara region and set fire to the Vysotsk port terminal in the Leningrad region, according to local governors and Ukrainian officials. The attacks are part of a broader campaign that has...
Japan Warship in Taiwan Strait Signals Free Passage Rights: Academic
Japan's Maritime Self‑Defense Force destroyer JS Ikazuchi sailed through the Taiwan Strait on April 18, staying on station from 4:02 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. China’s Eastern Theater Command reported shadowing the vessel with naval and air forces and lodged a formal protest....
Spanish Army Tests Destinus Interceptor Container Launch System
The Spanish Army’s TEC 3 exercise in Almería showcased Destinus’s Hornet B1 autonomous counter‑drone interceptor, which successfully performed a live container‑launched interception in front of King Felipe VI and more than 20 domestic defense firms. The Hornet B1 offers a low‑cost alternative to traditional...
Major Rare Earth Discoveries in Scandinavia Raise Hopes of Easing Europe’s Dependence on China
Historic rare‑earth discoveries in Norway and Sweden have dramatically expanded Europe’s domestic resource base. The Fensfeltet deposit in southern Norway was revised to 15.9 million tonnes of rare‑earth oxides, while Sweden’s Per Geijer and Norra Kärr sites together could satisfy up to 18%...
Hormuz Chaos, Lebanon Clashes Dent Trump Peace Deal Hopes
Iran re‑imposed a closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, halting vessel traffic and prompting reports of gunfire near a supertanker. At the same time, Israel launched attacks on targets in Lebanon, escalating regional tensions. The moves undercut optimism...
Kyodo News Digest: April 18, 2026
Japan and Australia signed contracts for the first three of eleven frigates based on the upgraded Mogami‑class, deepening defence ties amid China’s assertiveness. Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is open for commercial ships during a Lebanon cease‑fire, while the...
No 2 Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems Wing
The RAF Regiment’s 34 Squadron transitioned in summer 2022 into a dedicated counter‑uncrewed aerial systems unit, forming the core of the No 2 Counter‑Uncrewed Aerial Systems Wing at RAF Leeming. The wing, alongside 63 Squadron and the 609 Royal Auxiliary Air...
Tycoon 2FA Loses Phishing Kit Crown Amid Surge in Attacks
Tycoon 2FA, once the dominant phishing‑as‑a‑service platform with an 89% market share, lost its crown after a coordinated law‑enforcement seizure of 330 domains in March. Barracuda Networks reports that attacks using the four major kits—Tycoon, Mamba, EvilProxy and Sneaky—have risen from...
OneArc Update on Latest Deals and a New FPV Drone Trainer
OneArc, created in December 2025 from the merger of Bohemia Interactive, Pitch and Terrasim, announced its latest deals and the debut of its FPV drone trainer, Flowstate, at the ITEC exhibition in London. The company highlighted the rapid migration of roughly...
Ukraine Has Finally Given Up on Trump
Ukraine has publicly abandoned reliance on the United States after a year of dwindling aid under President Trump. Kyiv is accelerating diplomatic and military outreach to Gulf states, Germany, and other European partners, leveraging its rapidly expanding drone industry. President...
Iran Says that Strait of Hormuz Is Closed Once Again, Situation Returns to Previous State
Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz will revert to strict control, effectively re‑closing the waterway after a brief, limited reopening. Tehran blames the United States for not guaranteeing full freedom of navigation, demanding vessel approvals for any transit. Shipping...
![JTF-DC Commanding General Battlefield Circulation [Image 4 of 9]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2604/9623928/250w_q95.jpg)
JTF-DC Commanding General Battlefield Circulation [Image 4 of 9]
The U.S. Army’s Joint Task Force‑District of Columbia (JTF‑DC) has mobilized roughly 2,500 National Guard personnel to support the DC Safe and Beautiful mission. Guard members are working alongside the Metropolitan Police Department to bolster security for residents, commuters and...
Russia Bolsters Air Force with New Su-35S Batch
Russia’s state defence conglomerate Rostec announced that United Aircraft Corporation delivered another batch of new‑production Su‑35S fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces. Deliveries throughout 2025 occurred in at least five documented batches, with total numbers estimated between seven and twenty‑one...
A Potent Threat in Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s ‘Mosquito Fleet’
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fields a “mosquito fleet” of tiny, high‑speed boats that can top 115 mph and launch missiles or drones at passing vessels. The guerrilla‑style flotilla operates separately from Iran’s regular navy and has become the primary...
Australia Signs Deal For First Batch of Warships From Japan
Australia has finalized a contract for the first three of 11 advanced warships it will acquire from Japan, marking the inaugural batch of the Mogami‑class stealth frigates. The signing ceremony in Melbourne was attended by Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles...
Australia Announces Contract For First Three ‘Upgraded Mogami’ General Purpose Frigates Under SEA 3000
Australia announced contracts with Japan and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for three upgraded Mogami‑class general‑purpose frigates, the first step of the SEA 3000 program that could field up to 11 ships. The vessels will be built in Japan and delivered to...
India Shelves U.S. Stryker Deal? Backs Indigenous WhAP Armored Vehicles in Major Make-in-India Boost: Reports
India appears to have dropped plans to acquire the U.S.-made Stryker armored vehicle, opting instead for the home‑grown WhAP (Wheeled Armored Platform) as part of a broader Make‑in‑India drive. The decision coincides with the Defence Acquisition Council’s green light for...
Strategic Autonomy or Ambiguity? India’s Gulf Dilemma
India’s Gulf policy is marked by cautious strategic autonomy amid the Iran‑Israel‑US crisis. New Delhi’s reliance on energy imports through the Strait of Hormuz, deep economic ties with Gulf states, and a sizable diaspora constrain overt diplomatic action. While Pakistan...
Europe Decides on a Multilateral Mission in Hormuz. Iran Opens the Strait
European leaders met in Paris and agreed to consider a multilateral mission to safeguard navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but only after a cease‑fire ends the Iran‑U.S. conflict. Iran’s foreign minister announced the immediate reopening of the strait to...
Trump Is Urged to Move on Nuclear Site Thought to Be Beyond Reach of Bombs
U.S. airstrikes over the past year have crippled Iran’s primary nuclear facilities, yet a deep underground complex known as Pickaxe Mountain remains untouched and may be beyond the reach of America’s most powerful bunker‑buster bombs. Experts warn the unfinished site...
Japan Ditches Decades of Arm Export Curbs as US Reliability Wavers
Japan is preparing to amend its Three Principles on the Transfer of Defence Equipment, loosening export curbs that have been in place since 1967. The cabinet is expected to approve the revisions next week, adding an end‑use monitoring mechanism to...
Royal Navy Pays a Visit to Pitcairn, the UK's Sole Pacific Territory
In early April the Royal Navy’s offshore patrol vessel HMS Tamar visited Pitcairn, the UK’s only Pacific overseas territory, to conduct fishery‑protection patrols across a 325‑nautical‑mile zone that includes Henderson, Oeno, Dulcie and Sandy islands. The ship’s Diving & Threat Exploitation...
The Real Outcome of the Iran War: America Is Now the World’s Most Secure ...
The United States is leveraging the Iran‑Hormuz standoff to reposition itself as a secure, domestic energy supplier while channeling capital back to American markets. Oil futures have slipped into the low $70s‑$80s as the strait shows signs of reopening, prompting...
Iran Mediators Meet in Turkey to Discuss Peace Push
Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia convened on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum to coordinate a third "quad" effort aimed at ending the U.S.-Iran war. Pakistan continues to act as the primary mediator, while Egypt...
Recalibrating the India-South Korea Strategic Partnership
President Lee Jae‑myung's three‑day visit to India is framed as a strategic inflection point rather than routine diplomacy. South Korea faces a deepening split between its US‑anchored security alliance and a trade dependence of 20‑25% on China. India‑South Korea trade...
Blue Origin Unveils Project Quartz Global Ground Station Network
Blue Origin announced Project Quartz, a global network of proprietary ground stations and operation centers to support its New Glenn heavy‑lift rocket and Blue Ring orbital‑logistics vehicle. The infrastructure, now under construction, aims to replace third‑party ground‑as‑a‑service providers, giving the company tighter control...
Singapore: Collective Cyber Defence in an AI-Driven Threat Era
Senior Minister Tan Kiat How highlighted Singapore’s digital transformation milestone at STACKx 2026, noting that 99% of government transactions now occur online. Platforms such as Singpass and LifeSG handle tens of millions of monthly interactions, but the expanding digital footprint...
SWF 2026 Counterspace Report Highlights Electronic Warfare Threat and Canadian Defence Implications
The Secure World Foundation’s 2026 Global Counterspace Capabilities report finds that electronic warfare and cyber operations are now the sole active counter‑space tools, as nations avoid kinetic anti‑satellite tests. For Canada, the findings intersect with its new Defence Industrial Strategy...
US-Iran Talks Take Sudden, Uncertain Shift with Sweeping Claims on Both Sides
President Trump proclaimed that Iran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and a cease‑fire between Israel and Lebanon, but Iranian officials dismissed the claims as false and the waterway remains effectively closed, with vessel movements limited to approved...
Four Scenarios for Geopolitics After the Iran War
Iran announced it will reopen the Strait of Hormuz for vessels on pre‑approved routes, even as President Donald Trump pledged to keep a U.S. blockade on Iranian ships. The cease‑fire remains fragile, and both sides are still negotiating a settlement....
GitHub User Attachments Abused to Spread Novel Infostealer
Cyderes researchers uncovered a new malware campaign that abuses GitHub user‑attachment links to deliver ZIP archives containing a custom loader called Direct‑Sys and the CGrabber infostealer. The loader sideloads a Microsoft‑signed DLL, performs three anti‑sandbox checks, and uses direct syscalls...
Ondas Inc. (ONDS): Among the Best Military Drone Stocks to Buy Right Now
Ondas Inc. announced a $68 million initial order for heavy engineering vehicles under a multi‑year $140 million strategic military procurement program, to be delivered by its subsidiary INDO Earth Moving starting Q4 2026. The same month, its Sentrycs unit secured several multi‑million‑dollar contracts...
CORRECTING and REPLACING Terradepth's Absolute Ocean Cleared Selection Process and Placed in NIWC Atlantic RCC Hopper
Terradepth announced that its Absolute Ocean cloud‑native data‑to‑decision platform has been moved into the Rapid Capabilities Cell (RCC) Hopper at Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic. The placement designates the solution as a government‑evaluated prototype, allowing U.S. Navy sponsors to sign...
Is Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS) One of the Best Military Drone Stocks to Buy Right Now?
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS) secured a $446.8 million contract from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to provide ground management and integration for the Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT) program. The agreement makes Kratos the primary contractor...
L3Harris Technologies (LHX) Wins $465 Million Army Contract For Next-Generation Night-Vision System
L3Harris Technologies announced a seven‑year, $465 million contract with the U.S. Army to supply its next‑generation Binocular Night Observation Device (BiNOD) system. The award centers on the company’s NOVA night‑vision goggles, which attach to helmets and deliver continuous situational awareness for...
Lockheed Martin (LMT) Secures $1.9 Billion Contract to Continue C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System Program
Lockheed Martin won a sole‑source, $1.9 billion IDIQ contract from the Pentagon to sustain the C‑130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System program for ten years. The agreement ensures uninterrupted delivery of training devices and support for aircrews and maintenance personnel operating...
Is Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) One of the Best Military Drone Stocks to Buy Right Now?
Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) is highlighted among the top ten military drone stocks, driven by its flagship MQ‑4C Triton unmanned aircraft. The Triton, used by the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, provides high‑altitude maritime ISR, search‑and‑rescue, and electronic...
Army’s HADES Spy Plane on Track for First Delivery Later This Year
The U.S. Army awarded Sierra Nevada Corporation a $1 billion contract to convert a Bombardier 6500 business jet into the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) ISR platform. Flight tests for three prototype aircraft will start this summer, with the...
Observability as the Backbone of Compliance in a New Federal Cyber Era
Federal agencies are moving toward continuous compliance validation as AI adoption and a new national cybersecurity strategy raise the stakes for real‑time governance. Lee Koepping argues that observability—beyond simple uptime—must become a unified, enterprise‑wide capability that ties together telemetry, configuration...
Defense Watch: Talon Blue News, Iranian Missiles, LTAMDS Award, DDG News
Pratt & Whitney confirmed its PW500 engine will power Northrop Grumman’s YFQ‑48A Talon Blue drone, positioning the platform for the Air Force’s Increment 2 CCA competition. Raytheon Technologies secured a $904.6 million LTAMDS radar contract, bringing its Army total to $5.4 billion and...
Aerospace and Defense: Innovating Securely at Speed
Aerospace and defense firms face mounting pressure to deliver new capabilities faster while preserving mission assurance and security. Executives are turning to agile development, modular open architectures, and continuous digital engineering to compress innovation cycles. Strategic acquisitions of AI, digital,...
These Tiny Hunter-Killers Ram Shahed Drones Right From the Sky. America Wants Them, Too.
The Bumblebee family of quadcopter drones—Ukraine’s AI‑assisted interceptor and the U.S.‑bound Bumblebee V2—use artificial‑intelligence‑guided visual tracking to collide with and destroy hostile Shahed drones. Both systems are inexpensive, lightweight and rely on a “hard‑kill” kinetic strike rather than missiles. The Pentagon’s...
Scoop: Inside the Historic U.S.-Cuba Negotiations in Havana
U.S. State Department officials traveled to Havana for the first U.S. government flight since President Obama’s 2016 visit, meeting with Cuban officials including Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of Raul Castro. The delegation offered to restore internet access via...
Zelenskiy: Ukraine Believes Russia Will Try Again to Involve Belarus in the War
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that Ukraine believes Russia is preparing to involve Belarus again in the war, citing intelligence about new road construction and artillery positions near the border. The alert, based on a briefing from commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, signals...
Federal Cyber Leaders Urge Faster AI Adoption to Counter Evolving Threats
Federal cyber leaders warned that agencies are lagging behind the rapid evolution of AI‑driven threats and called for faster AI adoption. Keith Busby, acting CISO at CMS, emphasized the need to embed AI in security operations while preserving human decision‑making. Anil Chaudhry...
All-Robot Assault in Ukraine Boosts Drone Investing Case
Ukrainian forces announced they seized a Russian position using only ground and air robots, marking a milestone in fully autonomous combat. The claim, made by President Volodymyr Zelensky, underscores the rapid evolution of drone and robotics technology on the battlefield....
Anthropic’s New Cybersecurity Model Could Get It Back in the Government’s Good Graces
Anthropic is attempting to repair its fraught relationship with the U.S. government by launching Claude Mythos Preview, a cybersecurity‑focused AI model. The model claims to spot vulnerabilities in major browsers, operating systems and other critical internet infrastructure, and has already...