In June, the U.S. Department of Commerce informed the Dutch company ASML that it suspects one of its extreme ultraviolet lithography machines has reached China, an accusation that ASML denied, and for which no supporting evidence has yet been made public. ASML is the sole global producer of the machines capable of making the most advanced microchips. Whether China obtained a full extreme ultraviolet lithography scanner, major subsystems, or just related components, the strategic question is the same: How much can China gain from physical access to these pieces of the technology?The U.S.

On June 22, the United States announced that it had signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. This type of agreement broadly authorizes trade in nuclear technology, equipment, and materials, but only if the agreement and the country in question meet defined nonproliferation requirements. They are called Section 123 agreements for the section of the 1957 U.S. Atomic Energy Act that lays out the specific conditions for them.

The Russian Navy has deployed ten Su-30SM2 long range fighters from the Baltic Fleet’s Naval Aviation to conduct precision strike exercises in the Kaliningrad Region, rehearsing attacks against simulated enemy command posts, fortified positions and concentrations of armoured vehicles. The exercise underscores the growing emphasis placed on the Su-30SM2’s strike capabilities, at a time when the heavily militarised Kaliningrad exclave faces an intense NATO military buildup across all its borders.

Russia’s sole producer of nuclear powered submarines the Sevmash Shipyard has floated out the latest Yasen-M class nuclear-powered attack submarine Ulyanovsk, which is the sixth ship of its class. “Today, on July 28, the Sevmash Enterprise of the United Shipbuilding Corporation held a ceremony of rolling out the Project Yasen-M multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine cruiser Ulyanovsk from its slipway,” the Russian Defence Ministry announced. The ship will operate under the Navy’s Northern Fleet, and was laid down almost exactly nine years prior to its launch on July 27, 2017.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that development work on the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile remains ongoing, with recent combat experience reportedly leading to significant improvements in its precision. Speaking at a meeting with Russian Navy personnel, the president stressed that the missile continues to evolve and that its latest operational employment has demonstrated increasing levels of accuracy. “They are still working on it [the Zircon], and it needs to be assessed carefully.

The U.S. Navy has begun retiring its first of four Ohio class guided missile submarines, with the USS Georgia scheduled to be officially inactivated on July 31 following its return to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. The retirement marks the beginning of the end for the world’s most heavily armed tactical submarines, which were designed to carry 154 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles. Their withdrawal from service is particularly notable due to a lack of a similarly heavily armed replacement for the vessels.

Oman Proposes New Governance for Strait of Hormuz; Iran Says No: Oman has presented Iran with a new proposal backed by Gulf nations that would reshape how commercial vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz. The deal appears to be a compromise designed to reduce tensions following months of conflict while avoiding one of the biggest sticking points in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

On Sunday, President Trump shared a series of AI-generated images depicting a strike on Kharg Island, bearing the message “Strike on Kharg.”

Quality of the images aside, the comments from Trump have once again raised the possibility of an operation to seize Kharg Island from Iranian control.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, pilot and commander of the F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team, performs an aerial demonstration during the 52nd Annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, April 15, 2026. Capt.

Since the time that the war in Ukraine appeared to turn into a failed enterprise that would ultimately fulfill any of his declared objectives, there have been any number of projected end scenarios for the end of the rule of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Then there is the specter of 1917 being repeated.

Su-57 Felon Fighter from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Su-57 Felon in the Sky. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The Russian Army gets tired of being sent to die in senseless attack waves against enemy positions.

Saudi Arabia claims that Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq launched a devastating drone attack against Saudi oil infrastructure.

Fears abound that this is just the start of a new round of warfare in the ever-expanding Iran War.

F-15C Fighter Coming in From Last Flight. Image Credit: National Security Journal.

F-15C Fighter on the Tarmac. Image Credit: National Security Journal. Taken on August 13, 2025.

It should be noted that the Iraqi-based Shiite militias did not take credit for the attacks. Nevertheless, the Iraqi government has vowed to prevent such attacks from recurring.

The Supersonic Fighter – always 15 minute

The Marine Corps has taken delivery of the last of 359 MV-22B Ospreys that it has procured over the past two decades, Corps officials announced on Tuesday.
The tiltrotor MV-22B Osprey is the primary aircraft that takes Marines to and from Navy ships, remote bases and battlefields. The Osprey’s unique rotating engines allow it to fly long-range missions like an airplane while also being able to hover and make vertical takeoffs and landings, similar to a helicopter.

The Marine Corps received its 359th MV-22B Osprey on Tuesday, marking the completion of the tiltrotor’s program of record nearly 20 years after it was first deployed by the service.
The Marine Corps expects to keep and upgrade the Osprey through 2055, according to a service press release. Officials have also alluded to looking at other aircraft, such as the Army’s MV-75 tiltrotor, DefenseOne reported in April. 
The service calls the MV-22 the “cornerstone” of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, the service’s principle fighting organization.

The United States and United Arab Emirates are setting up a new bilateral military crew that will hustle to integrate their forces’ artificial intelligence capabilities, and deploy joint assets to monitor and enhance regional security. 
Task Force Talon Synapse is slated to soon be fully operational, U.S. Central Command announced Tuesday. Approximately 20 American and Emirati personnel with expertise in AI, data, cybersecurity and related technology areas will serve on the Abu Dhabi-based team.

RAF personnel and equipment crossed continents

According to a report by Reuters, just one in three Americans supports the war in Iran.

With the war now entering its fifth month, fatigue amongst the American population is starting to mount as the war continues and the Trump administration fails to make its goals for Iran concrete.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) steams behind the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Persian Gulf on Jan. 31, 2006. The Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is conducting maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf.(DoD photo by Airman Apprentice Nathan Laird, U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Tuesday, July 28, for their first face-to-face talks since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint campaign against Iran five months ago.

The much-anticipated closed-door meeting lasted approximately 90 minutes and concluded shortly after 12:30 pm Eastern Time.

F-35I Adir Fighter from Israel. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Israel F-35I Adir Stealth Fighter. Image Credit: IAF.

This video describes the military situation in

Known for his imperious nature, the Governor of the Rostov-na-Donu region, Yuri Slyusar, was once one of the most powerful figures in the Russian defense industrial sector.

As the CEO of the United Aircraft-Building Corporation (OAK), he controlled a sprawling empire of aviation design and research centers, production plants, test facilities, and a slew of suppliers spread across eleven time zones.

It helped shape the Allied victory in the Secon

After more than four years of war, Ukraine is no longer solely operating in a defensive manner and is exerting an enormous amount of pressure on the Russian economy, military, and even the president himself.

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushes ahead with the so-called “long-range sanctions” campaign, which has seen long-range Ukrainian drones and missiles destroy oil refineries and logistics throughout the country, President Vladimir Putin is now faced with difficult questions.

North Korea and Russia are reportedly nearly finished building a bridge that is the first-ever road connection between the two countries.

Though notionally an economic project, the road is in actuality believed to be part of an expanded line intended to aid Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

T-14 Armata. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Main battle tank T-14 object 148 on heavy unified tracked platform Armata. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The bridge in question crosses the Tumen River deep in Russia’s east.

DAYTON, Ohio — The Air Force and the Defense Innovation Unit plan to start the concept refinement phase of its MQ-9A Reaper replacement effort during the first quarter of fiscal 2027, service officials said Monday.
The Air Force wants to bring multiple companies into the next stage of the Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) program, Col. John Dayton, portfolio acquisition executive for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and special operations forces, told reporters Monday.

With many Russian oil refineries crippled by Ukrainian drone and missile strikes, one of the world’s largest energy-producing and exporting countries has been forced to source fuel from abroad in order to meet domestic demand.

India, which typically imports a significant portion of its fuel from Russia, has become a surprising source of oil for Russia in what is quickly becoming a bizarre reversal of roles.

Putin in March 2022 Creative Commons Image

Oil shipments from India highlight how acute Russia’s fuel pinch is.

The British Army’s 1st Battalion, The Pri

In the last week, there have been increased reports of diminished U.S. stockpiles of weapons, including Patriot anti-missile interceptors.

The New York Times reported over the weekend that such concerns were a factor in the United States pausing strikes on Iran in recent days.

Patriot Missile Interceptor Test. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Patriot Missile Launch. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

On the night of 25-26 July, Ukraine attacked one of the most advanced Russian air defense systems – a battery that was deployed in Crimea at the time. According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Service (HUR) troops a launcher from an Almaz-Antei S-400 (NATO Codename SA-21) missile defense system and a radar were “destroyed” in Crimea overnight into Sunday.

Ukraine’s military and the organized resistance on the peninsula that support them have been gradually “chipping away” at the air defense network in Crimea.

Water disputes can directly drive conflict, but more often, water scarcity acts as a catalyst — one that, combined with other pressures, raises the risk of conflict. This is nothing new; water has shaped human conflict for millennia. What’s changed is the accumulation of stress, as climate change, population growth, human migration, and the intensive demands of agriculture and industry are converging to strain water systems in ways that threaten to exacerbate instability.

The continuing Iran war and the subsequent disruptions to the oil supply have caused gas prices to skyrocket in the United States, and a lot of Americans are starting to feel the pain.

According to a report by The Guardian, Americans are beginning to lose their patience with the continuing Iran campaign, which President Trump had insisted would end quickly.

President Donald Trump participates in a working lunch meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan.

On Monday, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack against Russia, supposedly targeting areas in the Moscow region. According to regional authorities, around 400 attack drones were utilized in the attack, with most getting intercepted by air defenses.

Judging by the silence from Zelenskyy, who usually writes a post after successful attacks, nothing of importance was hit during the attack.

M72 LAW Anti-Tank Weapon. Image Credit: 19FortyFive.

This video describes the military situation in

There was a royal visit at RAF Marham, to meet

Ukraine Launches Massive Overnight Moscow Assault: Ukraine launched one of its most intense long-range drone attacks of the war overnight into Tuesday, July 28, with Russian authorities claiming that almost 400 drones targeted the Moscow region. Additional strikes were reported throughout western Russia and occupied Crimea.

Russian authorities claim that most of the drones were intercepted before they could reach the capital, but a number of strikes were reported in towns south of the capital city, with damage reported to an apartment building, warehouses, and some industrial facilities.

Dakota Meyer, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2011 and rejoined the Marines last year after more than a decade as a civilian, is now a special assistant to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the Pentagon.
No information about Meyer’s responsibilities in his new role was immediately available.
Meyer, a sergeant in the Marine Reserve, was awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing dozens of U.S. and allied troops in a 2009 ambush in Afghanistan. He left the Marines in 2010.

Marine Forces Special Operations Command is on the hunt for high-tech capabilities that could streamline its armory operations.
MARSOC is teaming up with the SOFWERX innovation hub on a new “automated armory” initiative to bring together members of industry and other solution providers to help the command pursue commercially available technologies and other tools that could support digitization.
The new multi-phase effort is reflective of the Defense Department’s push to adopt AI systems to reduce drudge work for personnel.

BAE Systems has given the public a glance at Br

For more than 40 years, the FIM-92 Stinger has

As the Navy begins major upgrades to barracks for its most junior sailors, thousands will soon need temporary housing during those projects — which is where the private sector comes in. Navy officials are asking private companies to come up with ideas for “swing” spaces so sailors are “not displaced into subpar accommodations during the transition.”
Among quick-fix ideas suggested in a federal contracting notice are pre-built or modular homes, trailers or RVs, semi-permanent housing used for industrial workers sometimes called “man-camps,” and even houseboats.

The Crimean peninsula has been under Russian occupation for more than 12 years, since the Russian invasion in 2014. But of late, Ukraine has been launching attacks on the territory, including some overnight that knocked out power in several towns there.

According to the New York Times, Ukraine has launched a drone campaign aimed at targeting the power grid in Crimea, which has succeeded in knocking out electricity for hundreds of thousands of people, sometimes for days at a time.

Lancet Drone. Image Credit: Russian State Media.

Lancet Drone from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

L3Harris entered into a framework agreement with the DoW and Lockheed Martin to increase propulsion production for the THAAD system.

Hundreds of Ukrainian Drones Target Moscow in One of the Largest Raids of the War – Multiple targets inside Western Russia have fallen victim to the most recent powerful Ukrainian drone swarm attack. This attack, utilizing hundreds of unmanned systems launched from Ukraine, disrupted civilian air traffic, damaged critical infrastructure, and showcased how far the Ukrainians were willing to go in their war with Russia.

Russian officials said the assault lasted roughly 10 hours.

President Donald J. Trump and President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. White House Photo.

Military families know a thing or two about adventure. One day, you’re finally figuring out the fastest route to school pickup, and the next, you’re surrounded by moving boxes and learning a whole new town.
New duty stations bring new neighborhoods, new trails, new landmarks, and plenty of opportunities to explore. If your family enjoys a little adventure, geocaching might just become your next favorite hobby.

“U-571.” “Training Day.” “Fury.” All Written by a submarine sonar technician aboard the USS Haddo. 
His name, in case you didn’t already know, is David Ayer. He’s also the director of “End of Watch,” “Suicide Squad,” and the upcoming military K9 film “Heart of the Beast.” His latest stars Brad Pitt as Special Forces officer James Belmont, who must fight to survive the Alaskan wilderness with his retired working dog Odin after a plane crash.

A steel fabrication plant in the town of Chekhov, in Moscow Oblast, was struck by Ukrainian drones, the Kyiv Independent reported on Tuesday, citing monitoring channels on Telegram. The plant reportedly struck was the Hydrostalkonstruktsiya steel fabrication factory.

Also struck, per the report, was a third-party logistics warehouse in the village of Koledino, south of Moscow.

Shahed Drone from Ukraine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

In addition, a blackout was reported in Crimea, also overnight.

As fighting with Iran restarted in early July, the U.S. Air Force sent more fighter jets to the Middle East. The F-16s and F-35s based in Germany and the United Kingdom carry out multiple missions, but are also capable of suppressing enemy air defense operations.
Those missions, also known as SEAD or “Wild Weasel” missions, have become central to U.S. operations in the Middle East, as the military has waged extensive air campaigns over enemy territory in recent years.

Oman is leading the charge for a renewed round of negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, aiming to influence regional diplomacy. As a nation that sits just across from Iran, separated by the now-contested Strait of Hormuz (SoH), Omanis have struggled under the weight of being caught between their relationships with the United States and the Islamic Republic.

Oman’s newest attempt to get the US and Iran talking rather than shooting at each other centers around resolving the outstanding conflict over who controls the SoH.

Oil Tanker. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Blow Up | Military Motivation 2026
✓ Link to

Bundeswehr has contracted Rheinmetall to deliver 56 additional Elefant 2, with deliveries planned in 2026 and 2027.

After listing several major developments from the war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week delivered an extensive debrief of his nation’s intelligence findings. These reports are based on Russian operations uncovered by his Defense Intelligence Service (HUR) and the Ukraine Security Service (SBU) units operating in the field.

His list of findings, delivered on 25 July, was headlined by his report that Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) for 30,000 North Korean People’s Army (KPA) soldiers.

Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, the commander of the Navy brig USS Somers, didn’t want to make a rash decision.
As First Lt. Guert Gansevoort informed him that some crew members were plotting to overthrow him, Mackenzie did not become angry, according to a U.S. Naval Institute article. Instead, he instructed Gansevoort in an even tone to keep a close watch on Midshipman Philip Spencer, the scheme’s supposed ringleader.