Momentum is building for the rugby Inter Servic
Author: Michael
Summary and Key Points: Defense analyst Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, evaluates reports that researchers at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center have identified potential stability flaws in the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider.
-Utilizing a proprietary AI simulation tool called PADJ-X, Chinese scientists are processing open-source flight data—including recent aerial refueling footage—to model the B-21’s aerodynamic performance.
The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony Dec. 2, 2022 in Palmdale, Calif.
Summary and Key Points: Defense expert Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, evaluates the persistent threat of Iranian mobile missile launchers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) despite the 15,000 strikes conducted during Operation Epic Fury.
-While CENTCOM and the IDF have achieved air dominance and suppressed 95% of launches, Iran’s decentralized “mosaic defense” leverages hardened, mountainous facilities to preserve an estimated 500 ballistic missiles.
A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II flies over the Gulf of America, September 16, 2025.
The uniform distinctions between the Union and Confederate soldiers were many, but the colors of their Civil War uniforms became the iconic identifier in historical lore. Simply saying “blue” and “gray” was enough to connect either side in both speeches and in stories, but it wasn’t always that way.
As states seceded at the beginning of the Civil War, officers and soldiers alike chose sides. While the United States fully split into two, many on both sides still wore the Union blue.
Summary and Key Points: National security analyst Jack Buckby evaluates the strategic logic of extending Ohio-class SSGN service lives following the 2027 extension of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68).
-As Operation Epic Fury consumes Tomahawk (TLAM) stocks at a rate of 168 missiles per 100 hours, the retirement of the USS Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and Georgia would eliminate over 600 vertical launch cells.
SILVERDALE, Wash. (Oct. 27, 2025) Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) arrives at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor following routine operations at sea, Oct. 27, 2025.
Ireland and the UK sign a refreshed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral defence cooperation.
Summary and Key Points: Journalist Georgia Gilholy evaluates the “stagnation” of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II’s Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) update.
-Despite the 1,100th delivery in 2026, the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) reports that the upgrade—designed as the backbone for Block 4—suffers from chronic stability deficiencies.
Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander performs aerial maneuvers during the Wings Over Houston Airshow Oct. 18, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
As the Royal Navy continues its transformation
Summary and Key Points: National security analyst Steve Balestrieri evaluates the MBT-70 (KPz-70), a 1960s joint venture between the United States and West Germany designed to replace the M60 Patton and Leopard 1.
-The project collapsed due to fundamental disagreements: the U.S. insisted on a 152mm XM150 gun/launcher for Shillelagh missiles, while Germany prioritized the 120mm Rheinmetall smoothbore.
MBT-70. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
MBT-70 Tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Technical friction over SAE vs. Metric units and Continental vs.
Summary and Key Points: Defense expert Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, evaluates the retirement of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, the “quarterbacks” of the Carrier Strike Group.
-Despite their 122 VLS cells, the aging fleet faces prohibitive maintenance costs, leading to a planned phase-out by 2027—though the USS Gettysburg, Chosin, and Cape St. George have received extensions through 2029.
Tomahawk Block IV Missile. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Tomahawk Launch. Image Credit: Creative Commons.