Iran War Is Not Delaying US Weapons Shipments to Taiwan, Officials Say
U.S. officials told Congress that the ongoing war with Iran has not delayed weapons shipments to Taiwan, and U.S. policy toward the island remains unchanged. The conflict, which began with airstrikes on Feb. 28, raised concerns about a potential backlog, but the administration says deliveries continue and is exploring ways to expedite them. A $14 billion arms package, including advanced interceptors, is poised for presidential approval, though the timing may be affected by President Trump’s postponed trip to China. The hearing also highlighted partisan disputes over emergency powers and congressional oversight of foreign sales.
Tesla’s Cybertruck May Be Wrong for Some. Could It Be Right for the Battlefield?
The U.S. has adapted 30mm chain‑gun systems, like M‑ACE, onto civilian pickups to create low‑cost, mid‑air drone‑killing platforms now deployed in Ukraine. Tesla’s under‑selling Cybertruck, with roughly 10,000 unsold units, could serve as a remotely operated vehicle for these systems,...
US Army Plans Research Center to Boost Explosives Production
The U.S. Army announced plans for a new Center of Excellence at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky to accelerate research, development, and production of key explosives such as RDX and HMX. The Sources Sought notice, due April 15, calls for...
US Air Force KC-135 Goes Down in Iraq, CENTCOM Says
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker crashed in western Iraq, killing all six crew members. The incident occurred during Operation Epic Fury and involved two aircraft, with the second landing safely. CENTCOM said the loss was not caused by hostile...
Italy’s Leonardo Rides High on Soaring Global Defense Spending
Leonardo announced a bullish industrial plan targeting €32 billion in annual orders by 2030, up from €23.8 billion last year. The firm projects revenue to climb 50% to €30 billion, driven by a new air‑defence system, the Michelangelo Dome, and an expanded focus...
Diego Garcia Base Access: Getting Past the Misinformation
The United States relies on the United Kingdom for access to Diego Garcia, the Indian Ocean’s pivotal military hub, amid a long‑running sovereignty dispute with Mauritius. Recent U.S. administrations—both Biden and Trump—have publicly backed a UK‑Mauritius agreement that preserves American...
Australian Submariners Have a Brush with Iran War
On March 4, a U.S. Navy submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, the first such kill since World War II, with three Australian submariners aboard the vessel. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed their presence but stressed that Australian personnel did not take...
Turkey Sends Six F-16 Fighters to Northern Cyprus Amid Iran Missile Threats
Turkey deployed six F‑16C fighter jets to Ercan International Airport in Northern Cyprus, expanding a phased security buildup after recent regional threats. The aircraft are equipped for combat air patrol and air‑defense missions over the Eastern Mediterranean. The move follows...
European NATO Nations Reduce Reliance on US Arms Imports: SIPRI Data
European NATO members reduced the United States' share of major arms imports to 58% in the 2021‑2025 period, down from 64% in the previous five years. The decline coincides with a three‑fold increase in overall European defense spending after Russia’s...
NORAD Intercepts 2 Russian Maritime Patrol Aircraft Near Alaska, Canada
NORAD detected and tracked two Russian Tu‑142 maritime patrol aircraft operating within the Alaskan and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones on Wednesday. The command scrambled a mixed force of U.S. F‑35 Lightning II and F‑22 Raptors, KC‑135 tankers, an E‑3 AWACS,...
French-German Fighter Program on Life Support as Dassault Blames Airbus
The French‑German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter program is on the brink of collapse after Dassault Aviation publicly accused Airbus of refusing to collaborate on the next‑generation jet. Dassault’s CEO Eric Trappier warned that without Airbus’s participation the project...
Lockheed Debuts AI on F-35 Fighter Jet to Identify Targets
Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated AI‑enhanced target identification on an F‑35 during the Project Overwatch flight test at Nellis Air Force Base. The machine‑learning model processed sensor data in real time and presented pilots with potential combat targets, marking the first...
NATO Is Not Ready for Drone Warfare in the Arctic
NATO’s Arctic defence plans are outpaced by Russia’s rapid expansion of uncrewed systems, with Moscow now producing over 1.5 million drones a year and fielding Arctic‑adapted platforms. The alliance’s ambition to secure the High North is hampered by a shortage of...
Navy Seeks New Anti-Radar Missile Compatible with F-18, F-35 Aircraft
The U.S. Navy issued a Sources‑Sought notice for the Advanced Emission Suppression Missile (AESM), a next‑generation anti‑radiation weapon with longer range than the AGM‑88 HARM. The missile must be compatible with existing F‑18, EA‑18G and F‑35 platforms and be fielded...
Erdoğan Pitches KAAN Fighter Jet as an Alternative to Western Warplanes
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt emphasized deepening defence cooperation, notably proposing Saudi investment in Turkey’s fifth‑generation KAAN fighter and sealing a $350 million Egyptian deal for air‑defence systems and ammunition production. Both talks highlighted the...