Author: Michael

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.

OCCAR has awarded a £53m ($70m) contract to Artec for the long-lead production of 37 weapon systems for the British Army’s RCH 155 artillery.

The US Army has entered into an massive enterprise contract with Anduril, with a value of up to $20bn, deliverable over the next decade.

Summary and Key Points: National security analyst Steve Balestrieri examines the Dassault Mirage 2000-5F’s critical 2026 role as France expands its military support for Ukraine.

-The Ukrainian Air Force expects to double its operational fleet to four airframes, primarily utilizing MBDA MICA and Magic 2 missiles to intercept Shahed-type drones and Kh-101 cruise missiles.

Mirage 2000 Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

-However, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu faces a strategic crisis; high-tempo Rafale interceptions in the UAE have depleted MICA stockpiles.

Could you tell the difference between real war

Summary and Key Points: National security expert Harrison Kass analyzes the U.S. Navy’s decision to extend the service of USS Nimitz (CVN-68) until March 2027.

-As the lead ship of its class, the 51-year-old supercarrier is shifting homeports to Norfolk to begin a $96 million inactivation process at Newport News Shipbuilding.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower conducts rudder turns during sea trials.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower conducts rudder turns during sea trials. Dwight D.

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war.