The debate over how best to deter China in the western Pacific has reached a new level of ambition. Ely Ratner, a former senior defense official in the Biden administration, proposed a “Pacific Defense Pact” — a legally binding multilateral treaty among the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. This reflects serious concerns over China’s rise and its potential future use of force along the first island chain. The underlying diagnosis is sound: Existing U.S.
Author: Michael
The Russian Su-57 fifth generation fighter is benefitting from continuous improvements to its artificial intelligence related capabilities, according to a recent announcement by a spokesman for the state intermediary agency for Russian defence exports Rosoboronexport. “The Sukhoi Design Bureau is continuously working to improve the technical design of the advanced multirole Su-57E fighter, including its modern onboard equipment with AI components.
During U.S. Armed Forces’ military assault against Iran from February 28, the very widespread reliance on Cold War era KC-135 Stratotankers to support operations drew considerable attention to the ongoing issues with the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker program intended to provide a direct replacement with next generation features. Due to ongoing issues and development delays, the KC-46A is still not fully through operational testing, despite already being in limited service, which has for years represented a concurrency problem for the Air Force.
The Russian 35th Guards Combined Arms Army’s Nuclear Biological Chemical Protection Troops have deployed TOS-1A thermobaric rocket artillery systems to bombard Ukrainian positions in the Zaporizhzhia region, where ground forces are making major advances. Footage released from the settlement of Komsomolske has shown large explosions as the TOS-1A systems appear to inflict major damage.
The Russian Su-35 long range air superiority fighter in 2025 achieved a major turnaround on global export markets, with leaked Russian government documents that year showing that 48 of the aircraft had been ordered to re-equip the Iranian Air Force, and six more to equip the Ethiopian Air Force. Combined with the delivery of 18 aircraft to Algeria from February that year, this represented a quintupling o confirmed export orders in 2025, from a previous 24 fighters sold to China, to 96 fighters sold to four separate foreign clients.
John Phelan is departing his role as secretary of the Navy, effective immediately, and Hung Cao will step in as acting SECNAV, Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell announced on social media late Wednesday.
Phelan’s surprise exit comes a day after he delivered a keynote address at the Sea-Air-Space symposium, in which he touted plans for a next-generation battleship, one of President Donald Trump’s signature military modernization initiatives.
“Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately,” Parnell said in a statement.
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Washington — In a surprise move, the Pentagon announced Wednesday that Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is leaving his post effective immediately, marking the first departure of a service secretary under President Donald Trump’s second administration.
Reuters is reporting Phelan was fired with no details given.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the news in a social media post, stating: “Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately.
Navy Secretary John Phelan is “departing the administration, effective immediately,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell announced on Wednesday.
Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as the Navy’s acting secretary, Parnell wrote in a brief statement on social media.
Parnell did not provide any reasons why Phelan is departing his current role. No further information about Phelan’s departure was immediately available.
Phelan was confirmed as Navy secretary in March 2025.
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The Royal Navy Cricket team just made a huge st