Jamal Peterson 
The United States Navy is actively developing a new category of smaller, more flexible warships, which it considers to be an essential part of its future naval force. The inaugural ship of the upcoming FF(X) series, inspired by the design of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter, is slated for launch in 2028. … Read more
This week, the U.S. Navy initiated the first deployment of a kamikaze drone from an American sea vessel. The drone was launched from a littoral combat ship in a notable first for naval operations. The drone, designated as a Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS), was deployed from the USS Santa Barbara, an Independence-class littoral … Read more
MILAN — A proposal has been introduced by the Norwegian Ministry of Defense for the potential increase in power of the military police on the distant Arctic island of Jan Mayen, belonging to Norway. This proposal, currently open for feedback from relevant parties until next month, aims to broaden the jurisdiction of Norway’s military police … Read more
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — This year, Vietnam has intensified its efforts to expand its territory in the South China Sea by starting construction on eight new sites within the Spratly Islands archipelago. The region, which consists of numerous small reefs and rocks, some of which are submerged, has seen significant transformation into militarized … Read more
ROME — Bangladesh has initiated a formal process to discuss acquiring the Eurofighter aircraft by signing a Letter of Intent. This move could position Bangladesh as the inaugural nation outside of Europe and the Middle East to secure this type of fighter jet. The negotiations for this acquisition will be conducted between the Bangladesh Air … Read more
Estonia Seals Its Final Roadway Linking to Russia In a significant development, Estonia has permanently shut down the last existing road that provided a direct link to Russia. This closure marks a pivotal shift in the transport and geopolitical landscapes between the two countries. Understanding the Closure The decision to close the road was influenced … Read more
Purchase of Anti-Drone Technology by the Netherlands PARIS — The Dutch government has finalized a deal with Germany’s Rheinmetall to acquire Skyranger anti-drone systems for a sum under €1 billion (approximately US$1.2 billion), which is less than initially projected in a budget report to parliament in January. The Netherlands is set to procure both mobile … Read more
BERLIN — Estonia has recently started placing the initial set of concrete bunkers on its southeastern frontier with Russia, a significant development in the Baltic Defense Line initiative, despite some hold-ups. As of this week, five bunkers are set for installation, with plans to have 28 positioned by the end of the year, informed Krismar … Read more
ROME — A UK government official has committed to resolving the ongoing issues related to excessive vibrations in Britain’s new Ajax armored vehicles, amid calls from opposition leaders to either rectify or abandon the project. Currently, three investigations are in progress concerning the disturbing levels of noise and vibrations experienced in the General Dynamics vehicles … Read more
The proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026, recently unveiled by Congress, suggests a discretionary defense budget of $900.6 billion. This figure represents an $8 billion increase from the initial budget proposal put forth by the Pentagon earlier this year. The detailed breakdown of the NDAA reveals allocations of $162 billion dedicated … Read more
