mark
Military Watch
[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/25/26 9:39pm
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force has demonstrated one of the most important advantages of its fighter aircraft with the deployment of J-16s to Egypt for the Eagles of Civilisation exercises, as the aircraft traveled more than 6,000 kilometres in a single intercontinental range flight supported by YY-20A aerial tankers. The deployment provides a striking demonstration of the ability of China’s large fighters to operate over distances far exceeding those of Western aircraft. The J-16 is a large twin-engine aircraft fighter from the Soviet Su-27 Flanker design, with its size and outstandingly high fuel-to-weight ratio, making it one of the longest ranged combat aircraft in the world. China operates more long range heavyweight fighter fighters than Russia and NATO combined, with with the J-16 fleet alone numbering over 450 aircraft, while a greater number of newer and even longer ranged J-20 fighters, and a smaller number of J-11, J-15, Su-30, and Su-35 fighters allowing for long distance operations at scale. This ensures that Chinese fighter operations are very significantly less reliant on aerial refuelling support than operations by Western aircraft, and that if receiving such support they can operate over far longer distances. While the Flanker and J-20 designs were brought into service with outstandingly long ranges, advances in engine and composite material technologies have significantly further extended these ranges over time.  The 6,000 kilometre range demonstrated by J-16 units has significant implications not only for the potential reinforcing of China’s strategic partners, but also for combat operations against Western Bloc forces in the Pacific. A 3,000 kilometre combat radius allows fighters to intercept hostile targets far out into the Pacific, pairing well with the aircraft’s unrivalled 500 kilometre air-to-air engagement range provided by PL-17 missiles. The expansion of the KJ-500 AEW&C and YY-20 airborne tanker fleet will facilitate distant operations on an increasingly large scale.  The J-16 has a range of over 4,000 kilometres if operating on internal fuel, with aerial refuelling capable of more than doubling this. The U.S. F-35 and F-22, by contrast, have ranges of approximately 2,000 kilometres. The newer fifth generation J-20 builds on these advantages with both a longer range, and with a supercruise capability, allowing the aircraft to fly at high supersonic speeds for sustained periods without compromising range by using afterburners. The J-16’s large radar, electronic warfare suite weapons load are further leading advantages of the design, with its capabilities widely assessed to make it the most formidable fourth generation fighter type in the world.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/25/26 9:06pm
Western-supplied tanks that Ukraine once regarded as among its most important battlefield assets are increasingly being kept out of direct combat due to their very limited survivability. A New York Times report on Ukraine’s 33rd Separate Mechanised Brigade found that German-built Leopard tanks are spending much of their time concealed beneath camouflage netting in forest positions in the Kharkiv region. Instead of spearheading assaults, some are now primarily used to recover damaged vehicles. This follows years of reports pointing to the limited usefulness of Western tanks in the high intensity conflict. Ukraine began receiving large numbers of Western tanks in 2023, including the German Leopard 2s, British Challenger 2s and U.S. M1 Abrams, which Western analysts widely asserted would be a game changer that would allow the country to conduct large-scale armoured offensives. These tanks’ viability for modern warfare has been widely questioned, as their emphasis on heavy armour protection is considered far from optimal in an era of drone warfare. The German Leopard 2, which was the first to be used in combat, has taken very high losses, while several of the tanks have been captured and analysed in detail at Russian facilities.The Leopard 2 tanks operated by the 33rd Brigade reportedly cost around $10 million each, creating a striking mismatch with the inexpensive drones that can threaten them. According to The New York Times’ report, crews venture out primarily to tow damaged equipment, with poor weather sometimes providing the safest conditions because rain, fog and low visibility reduce drone activity. The brigade has also adapted by changing what its tank crews do. About half of one tank battalion has reportedly retrained as drone operators, reflecting the growing importance of unmanned systems even among personnel originally trained for armoured warfare. Some younger recruits have joined the unit without ever operating a tank and instead work with ground drones and other unmanned systems.After the underperformance of the Leopard 2, Western analysts widely projected that the U.S. M1 Abrams would provide more capable. The vehicles quickly began to take heavy losses after their first combat operations in April 2024. In June 2025 87 percent of the Abrams were assessed to have been lost. The U.S. Army subsequently cancelled plans for further modernisation of the M1A2 to deeply revise the Abrams’ design, and instead financed the development of the very deeply revised and much lighter M1E3 Abrams next generation variant. The capture of significant numbers of Abrams and German-supplied Leopard 2 tanks, which have often been filmed being towed away from the frontlines by Russian units, has allowed Russian experts to study the vehicles in detail. Footage released in October 2024 confirmed that at least one captured Leopard 2A6 had been sent to Russia’s main tank manufacturing facility, Uralvagonzavod, in order “to assess the actual military-technical level of various systems and the captured vehicle itself.” It was subsequently reported by multiple Russian sources in December 2024 that at least one Abrams tank would also be studied at Uralvagonzavod. It is notable that a significantly lower proportion of the British Challenger 2 tank fleet has been lost in combat, largely due to its lack of frontline deployments relative to other tanks in the Ukrainian fleet.

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Ground]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/25/26 8:35pm
Chinese state media has revealed that its YY-20A aerial tanker performed an airborne command role during the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s deployment of J-16 fighters to Egypt for the Eagles of Civilisation 2026 exercise. Described as operating as an “airborne command node,” its ability to contribute to command and coordination in addition to providing aerial refuelling could make it significantly more valuable for operations than previously thought. The Y-20 is currently the world’s largest tanker and heavy lift aircraft design in production worldwide, and is rapidly entering service to form the backbone of the Chinese fleet. The Chinese force traveled more than 6,000 kilometres to reach Egypt, during which YY-20A tankers refuelled J-16 fighters, allowing them to participate in an overseas exercise without requiring multiple intermediate stops. Commenting on the YY-20A’s capabilities, CCTV reported: “The tanker performed aerial-refuelling duties and also served as an airborne command node,” indicating that it was integrated into its airborne command-and-control architecture during the long-distance transit. The extent to which the aircraft are relied on for such roles remains uncertain. Airborne command and control is normally associated with dedicated special-mission aircraft, such as China’s KJ-500, which was specifically designed to provide airborne early warning, battle-management and command functions. Other special-mission aircraft provide electronic warfare, intelligence and communications capabilities. The YY-20A’s newly disclosed role therefore appears to represent a complementary capability rather than a replacement for these dedicated platforms. It complements the world’s largest buildup of airborne warning and control aircraft, which is currently being staged by China. Chinese sources have not publicly disclosed whether the YY-20A carries dedicated removable communications equipment, additional operators, specialised data links or other mission systems for the deployment. Nor has Beijing indicated that the tanker possesses anything approaching the full sensor and battle-management capabilities of the KJ-500. Earlier in August Chinese state media highlighted the Y-20B’s ability to switch between transport and aerial-refuelling configurations, and discussed the possibility of using the platform for additional missions, including electronic warfare and airborne early warning. A dedicated AEW&C system based on the Y-20, the KJ-3000, is also currently in advanced flight testing. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/24/26 8:53pm
The confirmed delivery of the first J-10C fighters to Uzbekistan Air Force has represented the most significant milestone in for the service since its creation following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, as it moves to phase Soviet-era combat aircraft out of service. Reports indicate that Uzbekistan has placed orders for 24 J-10C fighters, the first two of which were delivered in July, which will allow it to fully phase its Soviet-built MiG-29s out of service. The MiG-29 and its heavier counterpart the Su-27 have formed the backbone of the Uzbekistan Air Force for most of the past 35 years, although Su-27s were phased out of service some time in the early 2020s due to their high operational costs. The contrast between the J-10C and Uzbekistan’s MiG-29s is particularly substantial because the two aircraft belong to very different technological generations. The MiG-29 was designed in the Soviet Union during the 1970s as a highly manoeuvrable air-superiority fighter intended primarily for operations relatively close to friendly airbases and ground-controlled interception networks. The J-10C, by contrast, was developed as a modern multirole fighter incorporating an AESA radar, digital avionics, datalinks satellite communications and access to cutting edge weaponry. While the MiG-29 was designed with considerable modernisation potential, and was in the late 1980s in many respects the most capable light or medium weight fighter type in the world, the program received only minimal funding after the Soviet Union’s disintegration, resulting in a slow rate of improvements. While the modern MiG-29M and its derivative the MiG-35 are far more capable than Soviet era variants, their capabilities are significantly less advanced than those of the J-10C, reflecting both their lower priority status within the Russian defence sector, and China’s increasingly vast technological lead over Russia. While the J-10C has a considerable advantage over the MiG-29M and MiG-35, this is more overwhelming when compared to Uzbekistan’s obsolete MiG-29s. The biggest single improvement is arguably the radar, as Uzbek MiG-29s integrate a radar with an architecture that dates back several decades, whereas the J-10C introduced an active electronically scanned array radar. AESA technology allows the fighter to rapidly scan large volumes of airspace, track multiple targets and maintain greater resistance to electronic countermeasures than older mechanically scanned systems. It can also improve detection and tracking of smaller or low-flying targets, making the J-10C substantially more versatile in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The difference becomes even more important when the radar is considered as part of a complete combat system rather than in isolation. The J-10C’s sensors can be connected through modern datalinks, allowing information from other aircraft and potentially ground-based sensors to contribute to its tactical picture. This reduces the need for the pilot to rely exclusively on what the fighter’s own radar can detect. An older MiG-29’s ability to participate in a modern networked air war is much more constrained.  The J-10C also gives Uzbekistan access to a dramatically more capable beyond-visual-range air-combat system, with the PL-15 missile combining a range of close to 300 kilometres, with an AESA radar seeker, that latter which provides advantages in target acquisition, resistance to countermeasures and terminal engagement. The missile is among the most capable in the world. The PL-10 missile integrated for visual range combat has high-off-boresight capabilities with few rivals in the world, and while the MiG-29’s R-73 missile was world leading when introduced into service four decades ago, it has today been comfortably surpassed by newer Chinese technologies.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [-] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/24/26 8:34pm
Footage from Russia has provided a first look at a new production batch of Su-34 strike fighters, with the aircraft still in yellow factory primer and expected to be delivered to the Aerospace Forces in September. Russia has significantly accelerated production and delivery of Su-34s, with the aircraft being ordered in greater numbers than any of the country’s other fighter types since the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The pace of deliveries has increased substantially since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, reflecting both the importance of the platform to Russian operational doctrine and Moscow’s efforts to replenish and expand its tactical aviation fleet. The Su-34 is manufactured by the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association, part of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), under Russia’s state defence procurement program. The aircraft is the heaviest and longest ranged in service anywhere in the world, and is approximately 50 percent larger than the Soviet Su-27 Flanker on which its design is loosely based. The aircraft can achieve intercontinental ranges if using external fuel tanks, and has a combat radius of over 2,500 kilometres if operating on internal fuel with a large combat load. State defence conglomerate Rostec stated in April 2025 that Su-34 production had “more than doubled over the two years,” with the importance attributed to the fighter program reflected in official descriptions of its role within the Aerospace Forces. When a new batch was delivered in February 2025, UAC General Director Vadim Badekha stated that the aircraft “form the basis of frontline air striking power” and had demonstrated effectiveness in combat. The aircraft have been particularly heavily relied on to launch glide bomb strikes on Ukrainian targets, with the improving ranges of these bombs having significantly contributed to survivability. The extensive use of Su-34s over Ukraine has provided substantial operational experience, with Rostec having revealed in December 2025 that the aircraft had received improvements based on experience obtained during the conflict, particularly in relation to precision strike capabilities. According to the company, these modifications enable the aircraft to conduct “more precise and powerful strikes at distances of hundreds of kilometres from its home airfield.” Likely more significantly than updates to the Su-34, the Aerospace Forces’ doctrine for employing them has been modernised considerably, after the aircraft took heavy losses in initial engagements with Ukrainian forces. 

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/24/26 5:45pm
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has expanded its use of unmanned aircraft around Japan, with TB-001 reconnaissance and attack drone deployed to operate over the East China Sea alongside Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft. A flight of one aircraft of each type on August 18 prompted the Japan Air Self-Defense Force  to scramble F-15 fighters to monitor them. The combination of aircraft is particularly noteworthy because it brings together a long-endurance unmanned aircraft with a crewed intelligence, surveillance and electronic-warfare platform in one of the most strategically sensitive areas of the Western Pacific. The TB-001, developed by Sichuan Tengden Sci-Tech Innovation, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle which uses a distinctive twin-boom configuration. Its large airframe allows it to carry substantial fuel and mission equipment, while later versions have incorporated a third engine to increase payload and performance. Publicly reported specifications for the aircraft indicate endurance of roughly 35–40 hours, allowing it to remain over an area for considerably longer than a conventional fighter or manned reconnaissance aircraft. This TB-001’s endurance is particularly valuable for maritime operations. Rather than conducting a brief reconnaissance flight, a TB-001 can potentially remain on station for many hours, monitoring shipping, naval movements and aircraft activity while transmitting information back to Chinese command centres. Its ability to carry weapons also means that an aircraft initially deployed for surveillance could potentially transition into a strike role, although there is no indication that the drone was carrying out an attack mission during the latest flight. The TB-001’s significance extends beyond its individual capabilities. China has been developing an increasingly diverse family of long-endurance unmanned aircraft intended to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, targeting and strike missions. The TB-001 complements larger and more specialised systems such as the WZ-7 high-altitude long-endurance reconnaissance aircraft, and the world’s only hypersonic aircraft the WZ-8, giving the People’s Liberation Army multiple layers of unmanned surveillance across the maritime approaches to China. The presence of the Y-9 alongside the TB-001 is arguably even more significant, with the aircraft being relied on for intelligence collection and electronic warfare, providing sensors and processing capabilities that can complement unmanned aircraft operating in the same area. Although Japan has not established that the two aircraft were operating as a formally integrated manned-unmanned team, their simultaneous presence suggests the possibility of increasingly sophisticated combinations of crewed and uncrewed platforms. Chinese air operations near Japan have increased significantly since December 2025, when a new administration in Tokyo adopted a considerably more hostile posture towards China including threatening to intervene in the ongoing conflict between the rival Chinese governments in Beijing and Taipei.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/24/26 4:43pm
Multiple Indian sources have reported that the country’s defence ministry is looking to procure technologies from Japan’s Maya class destroyer program as it develops its next-generation Project 18 destroyer. Project 18 is being conceived as a major step beyond the 7,400 ton Visakhapatnam class destroyers, potentially moving India into the same broad category as larger and more capable ships fielded in Northeast Asia. There has reportedly been a particular focus on learning from Japanese programs in areas including integrated air defence, sensor fusion, ballistic missile defence and network-centric warfare. The Maya class combines a large hull with the U.S. AEGIS combat system and sophisticated missile armament. The two ships, JS Maya and JS Haguro, displace approximately 10,250 tons, giving them substantially more internal volume than most conventional destroyers. Their primary role is fleet air defence, although they are expected to integrate land attack cruise missiles in future. Each Maya class destroyer integrates 96 vertical launch cells accommodating SM-3 and SM-6 anti-missile interceptors as its primary armament. India’s Project 18 destroyers are expected to displace 11,000–13,000 tons, making them substantially larger than India’s existing combat ships. The additional displacement would provide greater room for radar equipment, electrical generation, missiles, aviation facilities and future upgrades. India’s current Visakhapatnam class destroyers integrate 32 cells for the Barak-8/LR-SAM family and 16 BrahMos launch positions, giving them considerable air-defence and anti-ship capability, with the Soviet-origin BrahMos having superior anti-shipping capabilities to any missile type in Japanese or Western service. While the SM-3 and SM-6 may have superior capabilities to the Israeli-origin Barak-8, the United States is not considered likely to export these to India. Destroyers developed under Project 18 are expected to employ Integrated Electric Propulsion, which generates electrical power centrally and distributes it between propulsion and high-demand systems such as radar, electronic warfare and potentially directed-energy weapons. This architecture is attractive for a large future combatant because the electrical requirements of sensors and weapons are likely to increase substantially over the ship’s service life. Major advances in sensor architecture are also expected. The future of the destroyer program remains highly uncertain, with India’s defence sector having consistently struggled with major programs, several of which have been cancelled. The supercarrier program INS Vishal was a notable example.

[Category: South Asia, Naval]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/24/26 10:16am
The unveiling of the U.S. Navy’s AIM-424 Malice very long range air-to-air missile is expected to have significant implications in the Pacific Theatre, and should the weapon complete development it will allow fighters to threaten hostile targets at unprecedented ranges.  With an officially stated range of more than 250 nautical miles, or 463 kilometres, the missile could provide U.S. naval aviation with a new means of threatening China’s increasingly important airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) fleet, which has emerged as the world’s fastest growing and most capable. The fact that the missile was designed for internal carriage by F-35 stealth fighters is a significant further contributor to its potency. China has invested heavily in AEW&C aircraft, particularly the KJ-500, while the development of the carrier-based KJ-600 is expected to give future Chinese carrier groups their own sophisticated airborne early warning capability. A much larger counterpart with more powerful sensors optimised to track stealth aircraft, the KJ-3000, is currently in advanced development stages. These aircraft act as airborne command-and-control nodes that can coordinate fighters, distribute targeting information and extend the effective reach of China’s air-to-air missile network. Their survival is therefore critical to the effectiveness of the wider Chinese air combat system.The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has for several years been procuring KJ-500s on a larger scale than all other countries’ procurements of all other land-based AEW&C systems combined. The fleet now estimated to have reached over to 50 aircraft making it by far the most fielded system of its kind in the world. Although the KJ-500’s primary rival the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail has been ordered by multiple countries, each has acquired only  small numbers typically between three and seven. The Saab GlobalEye, a much lighter and less capable system, has likewise been built in small numbers, while the Russian A-100 has suffered from major delays and is not expected to be brought into service on a large scale. As China’s AEW&C aircraft can remain behind the fighter force, and therefore outside the engagement envelope of many conventional air-to-air missiles, a very-long-range weapon such as AIM-424 is an optimal asset to potentially undermine this arrangement by threatening the sensor aircraft themselves. An AEW&C aircraft such as the KJ-500 is a large and relatively vulnerable platform compared with a modern fighter, and its ability to survive depends heavily on maintaining sufficient distance from enemy aircraft. If Chinese commanders know that American fighters possess a missile capable of reaching more than 450 kilometres, they may have to move AEW&C aircraft farther from the battlespace.Responses to the AIM-424’s development could create a cascading effect throughout the Chinese air force. Moving an AEW&C aircraft farther away reduces the area in which its radar and communications systems can effectively support forward forces. Chinese fighters may consequently have to operate closer to their own support aircraft, rely more heavily on their onboard sensors or accept greater risks when operating beyond the coverage of their airborne command network. This is nevertheless less of an issue for China than the United States, as Chinese fighters integrate significantly larger and more powerful radars on average than their U.S. counterparts. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/24/26 8:51am
Russian forces used Iskander tactical ballistic missile systems to strike a concentration of heavy trucks modified to transport and launch long-range unmanned aerial vehicles near Boryspil in the Kiev region, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence. The Ministry claimed that the strike destroyed up to 40 trucks equipped with launchers, potentially disrupting Ukraines ability to conduct long-range drone operations from the area. The targeting of drone launch vehicles has increasingly been prioritised, as drone strikes take a growing toll on Russia’s economy by targeting critical infrastructure.  Mobile launch vehicles provide Ukraine with a means of dispersing long-range drone operations, providing greater survivability than relying exclusively on fixed launch infrastructure. Heavy trucks can transport drones, launch equipment and associated support systems, allowing launch positions to be changed between operations and potentially complicating Russian efforts to locate and destroy them. The Russian Defence Ministry said the latest strike formed part of continued attacks against Ukrainian drone launch sites, ships and seaports used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Each Iskander-M brigade is comprised of 51 vehicles, including 12 transporter erector launchers and 12 reload vehicles which between them can deploy 48 missiles. Russia’s defence sector has succeeded in maintaining production of missiles for the system at a surged wartime rate, with output having quintupled by mid-2023. This has allowed for a much higher rate of use. The arsenal has continued to be supplemented by procurements of KN-23, KN-24 and KN-30 ballistic missiles from North Korea, which have complementary and in many respects superior capabilities. 

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Missile and Space]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/23/26 10:07pm
Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force J-16 fighters have begun simulated air-to-air engagements with Egyptian Air Force Rafale and MiG-29M fighters as part of the Eagles of Civilisation exercises, which began on August 22. The exercise marks the first deployment of the J-16 outside Asia, with at least six of the long range fighters flying roughly 6,000 kilometres to Egypt. Considering the J-16’s performance record and known capabilities, it is expected to demonstrate its vast superiority over other participating fighter types, with the aircraft being considerably larger and more powerful than fighter types in Egyptian service. Air-combat exercises depend heavily on the rules of engagement, starting positions, weapons simulated, support from airborne early-warning aircraft and the experience of the participating crews. Nevertheless, repeated encounters can provide pilots with valuable information about how different aircraft behave and how their sensors and tactics interact. Despite a significant military buildup by NATO member states in East Asia, however, Rafales have not been deployed in the region in any significant numbers. The possibility of J-16s engaging Rafales in combat remains limited, with the French fighter type having consistently lost tenders in which it has competed either against the F-35 or against the F-15. Experience operating against the Rafale provides dissimilar air combat experience, albeit against an adversary far less capable than those which Chinese fighter units face in East Asia. The possibility of Chinese fighter units needing to engage the French aircraft, however, cannot be ruled out, with the CEO of the Rafale’s producer Dassault having in late 2025 suggested that France could market the aircraft to equip the Republic of China Air Force, with the Republic of China government remaining in a state of civil war with the People’s Republic of China based on the Chinese mainland. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the sale of aircraft remains under consideration, which would place them on the frontlines in the Taiwan Strait.Engagements between the J-16 and Rafale are expected to be highly one sided, as European fighter industries have fallen significantly behind those of China and the United States. The J-16 integrates a radar over triple the size of that of the Rafale, and which was developed by a country with a significantly larger and more sophisticated electronics industry meaning it will likely also be more advanced. Its flight performance including manoeuvrability at all speeds, and its altitudes, are all significantly higher, while its weapons carrying capacity is far greater. The Rafale’s M88 engines are by far the least powerful of any in production for fighter aircraft today, which constrains its flight performance. The Rafale’s performance was far from favourable in its first high intensity air-to-air engagements in May 2025, during which between one and four of the fighters in Indian service were shot down by Pakistan Air Force J-10C fighters, while achieving no kills. The J-10C was developed in parallel to the J-16 as a lighter and lower cost counterpart, and has approximately half the engine power and a radar with less than half the power of the larger aircraft. J-16s form the backbone of the Chinese fourth generation fleet, with over 450 in service, although procurements are being made on a far smaller scale than those of the more advanced J-20 fifth generation fighter. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [-] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/23/26 7:45pm
Two Russian Aerospace Forces Su-57 fifth generation fighter aircraft played a central role in strikes on the Ukrainain port city of Odessa on August 23, as the expansion of the fleet has allowed them to contribute to operations across the frontlines. Odessa has been intensively targeted throughout August, with drones and missiles having primarily been directed  against port, transport, energy and logistics infrastructure. As Ukraines principal Black Sea logistics and export hub, strikes on port facilities are key to limiting NATO members’ ability to deliver armaments to Ukraine, and placing further strain on the economies of Ukraine and its supporters in the Western world. Although Russia has remained considerably behind China and the United States in bringing fifth generation fighters into service, the aircraft has been more intensively combat tested than any other of its generation. Head of the Sukhoi Design Bureau’s flight service Sergey Bogdan in November 2025 observed that extensive combat testing in the Ukrainian theatre had allowed the design to be further refined and updated. Combat operations in the Ukrainian theatre have included air defence suppression, air-to-air combat, and operations in heavily defended enemy airspace, as well as a range of precision strike missions.The Su-57 is significantly more complex that other Russian fighter types, with flyaway a cost well over double that of the Su-35S and close to triple that of the Su-30SM despite its similar size and use of a common engine type with the former. The fighter was in service in very limited numbers when Russian-Ukrainian hostilities broke out in 2022, with under half a dozen having been delivered to the Aerospace Forces. The fleet has since grown rapidly, however, with an estimated 50-60 currently operational. Ukrainian sources reported by  in May 2024, and again in September that year, that Su-57 units had intensified their strikes on the country, with reports in August 2025 indicating that these operations had expanded to include whole formations of the aircraft. Kh-59/69 cruise missiles have remained the aircraft’s primary weapon for precision strikes in the theatre. On August 9 Odessa was hit in a combined Russian attack involving drones and missiles, causing substantial damage in the city, as part of a wider Russian barrage against targets across the country. On August 19-20 another large combined missile-and-drone attack against targets across Ukraine saw ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones target Odessa. A border crossing with Moldova in Odesa region was also targeted, complementing wider strikes on transport and maritime infrastructure. Further attacks were conducted on August 21-22 and on August 23, including a strike key railway infrastructure. 

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/23/26 5:08pm
A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon long range anti-submarine warfare aircraft transited the Taiwan Strait on August 21, in a significant show of force through one of the world’s most significant geopolitical hotspot. The aircraft was monitored throughout its passage by mainland Chinese forces. Although designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, the P-8 although it is also capable of  intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue operations, and can carry a limited armament for striking surface targets. Approximately 125 currently in service in the U.S. Navy.The P-8’s advanced acoustic sensors and high speed data links allow it to work alongside other anti-submarine warfare assets to achieve high levels of situational awareness for a joint network. In August 2025 it was confirmed that U.S. Navy P-8s had begun operations integrating the new highly secretive AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor, a new radar pod developed by Raytheon which was was seen mounted beneath the aircraft using a Special Mission Pod Deployment Mechanism (SMPDM). The radar was designed specifically to operate in coastal environments, providing moving target indication and synthetic aperture imaging. When operating against hostile submarines, the P-8 can drop sonobuoys in patterns to establish acoustic coverage, with data from these sensors fused by onboard processors to classify and track potential targets. The aircraft’s importance is expected to grow considerably as China rapidly expands its production capacity for nuclear powered attack submarines and prepares to bring a new generation of submarines with far superior stealth capabilities into service. P-8s have operated around Russian territory in considerable numbers since 2022, providing invaluable intelligence to Ukrainian and supporting Western forces on the ground, raising the possibility that they could play a similar role in a potential Taiwan Strait war. The Republic of China government based on Taiwan Island, and the People’s Republic of China government based on the Chinese mainland, currently remain in a state of civil war, with both claiming to be the sole legitimate governments of China. Although the government in Taipei lacks international recognition, including from the United States, the U.S. and other Western Bloc states have continued to support it militarily due to their ongoing conflict with Beijing. The balance of power in and around the Taiwan Strait has become increasingly overwhelmingly unfavourable to Western Bloc interests, however, with China’s significant lead in expanding fifth generation fighter deployments and in developing sixth generation fighters being notable examples. 

[Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/23/26 4:47pm
The U.S. Navy has publicly revealed a previously undisclosed very long-range air-to-air missile designated the AIM-424 Malice, with official imagery showing the missile being carried by both an F-18E/F and F-35C fighters. The Navy describes the AIM-424 as a next-generation weapon intended to provide a substantial increase in range, lethality and survivability against advanced airborne threats. Under development by Raytheon, the missile and has an officially stated range of more than 250 nautical miles, or approximately 463 kilometres, making it the longest ranged air-to-air missile type in the world other than the Chinese PL-17.With the PL-17 confirmed in 2023 to be in service, the AIM-424 appears intended to bridge the gap between U.S. and Chinese aviation in their maximum engagement ranges. The missile’s official fact sheet identifies it as measuring 4.11 metres in length, 0.34 metres in diameter and 0.67 metres in wingspan, with a mass of approximately 680 kilograms. As is common for very long range missile types, its diameter and weight are far greater than those of usual missiles developed for fighter-sized aircraft, such as the AIM-120 which remains the U.S. Armed Forces’ primary air-to-air missile type. Russia previously led the world in its long range air-to-air targeting capabilities, with the R-37 missile having been scheduled to enter service in 1994, before production was cancelled after the USSR disintegrated. The program was revived and received limited upgrades to enter service in 2014, with a Mach 6 speed and very large 60 kilogram warhead. The missile complements the high altitudes and speeds of the MiG-31 interceptor, which can achieve a 400 kilometre engagement range, although other fighter types such as the Su-35 an only launch across more limited ranges of around 350 kilometres. The PL-17 is estimated to have a 500 kilometre engagement range, and reportedly integrates a seeker head using both an active electronically scanned array radar and an infrared seeker for dual guidance and greater resilience to jamming or use of decoys. The J-16 fighters that carry it have significantly longer ranges than any fighter type in the Western world, with a combat radius approximately double that of the F-35 and F-22 fifth generation fighters. The fighter carries a radar approximately triple the size of that of the NATO’s primary frontline fighter the F-35. China’s deployment of the world’s most capable airborne sensor network is critical to allowing such missiles to engage targets at their full ranges.The AIM-424s development appears to reflect growing concern over the increasingly contested air environment anticipated in a conflict with a technologically advanced adversary, particularly China. Long-range air-to-air missiles have become increasingly important as improvements in fighter sensors, electronic warfare and integrated air-defence networks make it more difficult for aircraft to approach targets closely enough to employ shorter-range weapons. The AIM-424 is therefore intended to support a “first look, first shot, first kill” approach by allowing U.S. aircraft to engage threats from substantially greater distances. 

[Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Naval]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/23/26 4:14pm
Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Ali Abdollahi has provided new insight into the state of the country’s ballistic missile industry, visiting an underground facility involved in production as part of an apparent effort to send a direct message to adversaries. This appears to respond to Western claims that Iranian missile production has been degraded, particularly in the field of solid-fuel ballistic missiles. The existence of underground production and storage facilities has long been an important feature of Iran’s missile infrastructure, allowing it to protect critical equipment and munitions from air strikes. Iranian officials and military-linked sources have repeatedly emphasised that attacks against visible facilities do not provide a complete picture of the country’s remaining missile infrastructure, as much of Iran’s ballistic missile program is deliberately distributed and concealed underground. This makes assessments based solely on satellite imagery or damage to known above-ground facilities inherently difficult. Iran has since the 1990s relied on extensive North Korean assistance to fortify facilities deep underground, including not only storage sites, but also full production lines and even a number of nuclear sites. According to Iranian military sources, sufficient quantities of pre-war missile stocks remain in storage to sustain operations for years. Iran possesses thousands of ballistic missiles across different types, with estimates suggesting the country’s inventory has been reduced to only a small residual stock should therefore be treated cautiously. As the actual size of Iran’s remaining missile inventory is one of the most difficult aspects of the country’s military capability to assess, these reports provide important insight.The extent of Iran’s investments over decades in building up its arsenal and its broader related infrastructure makes its ability to sustain its advanced missile capabilities far from surprising. The underground production infrastructure is arguably just as important as the missiles already in storage, as if Iran has retained sufficient manufacturing capacity, destroying individual launchers or missile stocks becomes much less decisive because the country can gradually replace losses. Iranian sources also claim that missile production has increased significantly since the conflict began, while successive upgrades are being introduced to improve accuracy and overall performance. Iranian sources have noted that the country’s military-industrial position is not without serious problems, with one of the most significant constraints reportedly being manpower. Iran is experiencing shortages of trained ballistic missile operators, with recruitment reportedly already underway to replenish the personnel required to operate its missile forces. Operating sophisticated ballistic missile systems requires considerably more than simply possessing launch vehicles and missiles. Personnel must be trained in launch procedures, targeting, maintenance, communications, navigation and coordination with Iran’s wider command-and-control network.The Iranian leadership’s decision to publicly showcase an underground missile-production facility therefore appears designed to address several narratives simultaneously. It demonstrates that production infrastructure survives, emphasises the country’s ability to continue manufacturing solid-fuel missiles and seeks to reassure both domestic and foreign audiences that attacks against known facilities have not eliminated Iran’s strategic strike capability. Iranian missile attacks have demonstrated a very high success rate, and even against targets in Israel, where air defences are most heavily concentrated, Israeli media in late March confirmed an 80 percent success rate. 

[Category: Middle East, Missile and Space]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/23/26 3:33pm
China’s newJ-35 fifth generation fighter has appeared in recent photographs with an unusually reflective, silver-like surface, prompting speculation that China may be evaluating a new surface treatment intended to improve the type’s advanced radar evading capabilities against advanced sensors. The new coating is substantially more reflective than the subdued grey finishes normally associated with low-observable combat aircraft. Light appears to reflect strongly from portions of the fuselage, wings and empennage, giving the aircraft an almost polished-metal appearance. The J-35 was confirmed in 2025 to be in service in both the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force and the Navy, with the former integrating it into the air wing of its supercarriers, the first of which the Fujian entered service in November 2025. The J-35 is the second fighter type of its generation to enter service, following the larger and longer ranged J-20 air superiority fighter which was confirmed to have joined the Air Force more than eight years earlier in February 2017. Its entry into serial production makes China the first country in the world to produce two fifth generation fighter types simultaneously. The new stealth coating on the J-35 has drawn comparisons with experimental coatings previously observed on the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 and U.S. Navy F-35C fighters. An F-22 with a highly reflective metallic coating was first photographed at Nellis Air Force Base in November 2021. The coating covered much of the aircrafts outer skin and featured prominent tile-like and panel patterns.  A second F-22 featuring a different reflective treatment was subsequently photographed in March 2022. Little is known regarding the coatings, and whether they will be widely adopted on parts or the whole of the aircraft. The possibility of their use solely on tail fins has been raised in the past. The future of the J-35 program remains highly uncertain, with the Air Force expected to procure only a limited number due to the superior capabilities of the J-20. With China poised to be the world’s first to field sixth generation fighters in the early 2030s, there remains a possibility that the J-35 may not be procured in large numbers due to competition from these newer more advanced aircraft for orders from both the Air Force and the Navy. The J-35 is currently the only fifth generation fighter type that has been integrated onto an aircraft carrier of the latest generation, with its role in the Navy being considerably more significant than in the Air Force. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/23/26 7:20am
The Korean People’s Army is reportedly sending a specialised contingent of drone operators to Russia, potentially marking a significant expansion of North Korea’s direct involvement in the ongoing Russian war effort in the Ukrainian theatre. Ukrainian intelligence officials reported that among the estimated 8,500 North Korean military personnel in Russia, around 400 were drone operators. The latest contingent reportedly also includes approximately 1,000 engineers and sappers, most of whom are deployed in Russia’s Kursk region. The deployment of drone operations marks a significant escalation of North Korea’s participation in the war effort, and closely follows reports that Korean People’s Army personnel were also manning new ballistic missile units that were being employed in the Ukrainian theatre. Ukrainian sources indicate that drones are expected to perform both reconnaissance and strike missions, potentially allowing North Korean personnel to participate directly in attacks against Ukrainian territory without crossing the border into Russia. Russia was in 2022 reported to also be receiving support from Iranian drone operators due to the large scale exports of single use attack drones from the country. The deployment of drone operators provides an opportunity to acquire practical experience of modern warfare, as Ukraine has become an intensive testing ground for drones, electronic warfare, precision artillery and reconnaissance systems. North Korea has already had personnel exposed to these conditions through earlier deployments. Experience gained could be transferred back to other Korean People’s Army units, potentially influencing North Korean tactics and doctrine.North Korea is reported to have provided significant support for Russia’s drone industry, with the Alabuga Factory that license produces Iranian drone designs reported in June 2025 to be receiving an influx of 25,000 North Korean industrial workers to help increase production. This corroborated prior reports from Ukrainian intelligence officials, with North Korea’s sizeable industrial workforce with high levels of technical education were expected to make this support highly prized. Russia is expected to make significant transfers of drone technologies and knowhow to its neighbour, likely to cover some of the costs of its vast defence procurements from the country. 

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/23/26 7:02am
The Republic of Korea Army is preparing to integrate a new active protection system onto its K2 Black Panther main battle tanks that will significantly enhance their ability to engage hostile drones. The program, approved by the countrys Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), will add an active protection system (APS), electronic-warfare equipment and a remotely controlled weapon station to the K2. The K2 Tank Performance Upgrade Project is valued at approximately 3.43 trillion won ($2.43 billion) and is scheduled to run from 2028 to 2046. The unusually long modernisation program reflects an effort to keep the K2 relevant against rapidly evolving threats over the coming decades. The K2 is widely considered the most capable NATO-standard tank by a significant margin, and has proven highly successful on export markets with major sales to Poland and Turkey. South Korean military planners have placed particular emphasis on the growing use of drones and loitering munitions, which have demonstrated an ability to attack armoured vehicles from directions that conventional armour is not optimised to protect. Experience of the war in Ukraine has shown that inexpensive first-person-view drones and loitering munitions are now a leading threat to main battle tanks, with Russia having accelerated work on its own active protection system in response. South Korea was one of the first countries in the world alongside China and Israel to develop indigenous active protection systems and widely integrate them onto frontline units. Russia and North Korea have since developed their own systems, while countries in the Western world are modernising their tanks with procurements from Israel. The vulnerability of armoured vehicles to attacks against their roofs, rear sections and other weakly protected areas has encouraged militaries worldwide to supplement passive armour with active and electronic protection.The K2 already incorporates a sophisticated defensive architecture. Its existing protection includes a millimetre-wave radar associated with its missile approach warning capability, laser-warning receivers, radar warning equipment and smoke grenade launchers. The planned active protection system will build on this architecture by providing the tank with the ability to physically intercept incoming threats rather than merely detect them or obscure the vehicles signature.The K2 upgrade will also incorporate electronic jammers intended to disrupt hostile drones. This will provide the tank with a defensive layer that can engage threats without necessarily requiring a kinetic interceptor. The combination of electronic warfare and hard-kill protection is intended to provide a layered defence against unmanned systems. A remote-controlled weapon station will provide another component of the upgraded tanks defensive architecture. Together with the active protection system and electronic warfare equipment, it will improve the K2s ability to detect and engage threats in close proximity while reducing the need for crew members to expose themselves.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Ground]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/22/26 2:39pm
New satellite imagery has shown rapid progress being made on China’s first nuclear powered supercarrier at the Dalian Shipyard. Images confirm that the hull is already approximately 320 metres long and 46 metres wide, although those dimensions will increase as construction progresses upwards towards the flight deck. The vessel is substantially larger and more capable than the Navy’s three existing carriers, and is expected to be the largest in the world at close to 110,000 tons. A larger carrier provides additional internal volume for aviation fuel, weapons, maintenance facilities, crew accommodation, machinery and aircraft. More importantly, additional flight-deck area can allow a carrier to operate more aircraft while simultaneously launching and recovering them. This matters because a primary measure of a carrier’s combat capacity is how rapidly it can generate sorties. China’s third carrier the Fujian, and the U.S. Navy Nimitz and Gerald Ford class ships, are together unrivalled in this regard as the world’s only supercarriers.The first images confirming work on the new supercarrier were published in October 2025, after which new images from the Dalian Shipyard in November showing the installation of structures within the developing hull that appear broadly consistent with reactor containment arrangements. Although there were prior indications that the new supercarrier would be nuclear powered, including reports in November 2024 indicating that a nuclear reactor prototype for surface warships was being constructed near the city of Leshan, this has become increasingly certain as construction has progressed.The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy commissioned its first supercarrier, the Fujian, into active service on November 5, 2025, with the ship currently being the only supercarrier in service outside the U.S. Navy. At 85,000 tons, it is smaller than the 100,000 ton Gerald Ford class ships, and can launch just three aircraft simultaneously rather than four. Its air wing is significantly more advanced, however, and includes fifth generation fighters which Gerald Ford class ships’ air wings have yet to integrate. Chinese shipyards are expected to continue building conventionally powered supercarriers alongside nuclear powered ships, as the much lower costs and maintenance requirements of the former are highly advantageous for regional operations.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]

[*] [-] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/22/26 2:13pm
The Swedish Air Force has taken a major step towards providing its Gripen lightweight fighters with long-range deep-strike capability, with one of the aircraft for the first time launching a Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile on August 21. Swedish Air Force commander Major General Jonas Wikman previously described the capability as particularly important because Sweden had not previously possessed a dedicated deep-strike or offensive counter-air capability. “The capability itself is very important because we haven’t had any deep-strike or offensive counter-air capabilities before,” Wikman said. The Taurus was jointly developed by Germany and Sweden, and saw the first production contracts placed in 2002. Sweden’s first procurement and integration program, however, was only announced in February 2025, with initial operational capability originally planned for 2028. The weapon was designed to engage targets that are difficult to attack with conventional fighter-launched bombs, namely those that are hardened, deeply buried and heavily protected such as command facilities. Its ability to fly hundreds of kilometres before reaching its target allows the launching aircraft to remain far outside the immediate defensive envelope surrounding the objective.Wikman stressed that Sweden had previously have concentrated its resources on defensive capabilities, but that with the Taurus’ integration,“now that is a huge shift for us.” Gripens were designed to be dispersed at bases and on road networks across Sweden, then launched to deliver long-range precision weapons without requiring a large fixed airbase to remain operational. That creates a potentially difficult targeting problem for an adversary, as Gripens will be able to continue launching deep strikes from dispersed locations.One of Taurus’s most distinctive features is its emphasis on destroying hardened sites, with its warhead designed to penetrate the target before detonating its main charge. This makes it particularly suitable for hardened structures, reinforced buildings, bunkers and other installations where a conventional surface explosion might have limited effect. Its navigation system combines different forms of guidance and terrain-related information to maintain its course in spite of potential electronic interference. 

[Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

[*] [+] [-] [x] [A+] [a-]  
[l] at 8/21/26 10:46pm
Footage released by Russian sources has shown a Russian Aerospace Forces Su-35 air superiority fighter firing a Kh-31PM anti-radiation missile, which was reportedly launched to target components from a Ukrainian MIM-104 Patriot long range air defence system. According to the target range cue, the missile was fired from 125 kilometre ranges. The missile reportedly has a 55 kilometre minimum range, with its maximum range approaching 300 kilometres. Although the majority of footage showing the targeting of Ukrainian air defence systems has involved Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile systems, the use of Kh-31 missiles has been reported in the past. The Kh-31PM is one of Russia’s most advanced anti-radiation missiles, and represents a major evolution of the Soviet-era Kh-31P, combining the original missile’s exceptionally high speed with a substantially improved seeker and propulsion system. The original Kh-31P could be fitted with different seeker modules, each optimised for particular radar frequency bands requiring operators to select the appropriate seeker based on knowledge of what type of radar the missile was expected to encounter. The Kh-31PM instead incorporates a multi-band L-130 passive seeker, the broadband architecture of which is intended to allow the missile to detect a much wider variety of radar emissions. The Kh-31 family has an unusual propulsion arrangement that remains one of its defining characteristics. The missile initially uses a solid-fuel rocket booster to accelerate rapidly after launch, after which the booster is discarded and a ramjet sustainer takes over. This allows the missile to reach extremely high speeds; Russian documentation for the earlier Kh-31P gives a maximum velocity of approximately 1,000 metres per second, while open-source assessments of later variants commonly place peak speeds around Mach 4 or higher. This speed reduces reaction times and makes missiles much more challenging to intercept. Russian Su-35s have been observed carrying Kh-31PM missiles during operations in Ukraine from early 2022, with Russian pilots having described a procedure in which the missile’s passive seeker is activated before entering the threat area, allowing it to automatically launch after detecting the relevant fire-control radar. The Kh-31PM is a passive radar-homing weapon, meaning it does not transmit a radar signal to find its target, and instead homes in on electromagnetic radiation from enemy radar systems. This provides a major advantage, as an aircraft launching a conventional active-radar missile must potentially expose itself by using its own radar to locate and track a target. The baseline Kh-31P weighs approximately 586–600 kilograms and carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead of roughly 87–89 kilograms, providing more destructive potential than the large majority of anti-radiation missiles. This provides a greater change that more components from a targeted system will be destroyed and that operators will suffer greater casualties. Although this larger warhead adds to the fighters weight, the heavy weights of Russian fighter types like the Su-35 mean that it can be carried without significantly impacting flight performance. The war in Ukraine has seen ground-based air defences play a particularly central role, with Ukrainian forces relying particularly heavily on such systems to compensate for a total lack of modern fighter aircraft. Russia saw its own air defence suppression capabilities decline considerably since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, with specialised aircraft such as the MiG-25BM retired without replacement. Mobile air defence systems are inherently difficult targets because they can relocate after detecting an attack, with a very fast anti-radiation missile can reduce the time available for such movement. With the Patriot suffering from significantly lower mobility than rival Russian systems, this further increases its vulnerability. 

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Missile and Space]

As of 8/26/26 11:14am. Last new 8/26/26 10:36am.

Next feed in category: Military Times