To understand how close Myanmar’s pro-democracy resistance came to victory last year — and how far it has slipped since — there is no sharper microcosm than the story of a Gen Z sniper. In April 2025, a female teenager, Anina, enraptured the world, her youth-driven “Spring Revolution” a vivid foil to the sclerotic forces of military dictator Min Aung Hlaing (officially called the Tatmadaw). When her unit captured the town of Falam, fortune seemed on the resistance’s side. Yet, a year later, regime troops stormed Anina’s hometown, a stunning blow to the resistance.
Author: Michael
Following confirmation from the U.S. Department of War that a $1.55 billion spending plan would be financed in Fiscal Year 2027 for the procurement of E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C), it has been confirmed that 42 percent of this financing will be provided by cutting funding for the Navy’s procurement of E-2 AEW&C systems. The Pentagon and the Air Force announced plans to cancel the E-7 program in mid-2025, after it had suffered delays and cost overruns.
Following the first flight of Russia’s long awaited next generation fighter-trainer, the Yak-130M, on June 25, expectations have grown that the aircraft will belatedly provide the country with a viable competitor in the world’s fast growing markets for lightweight tactical combat jets. While the Yak-130’s development revolutionised the combat training capabilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the services of multiple clients around the world, the Yak-130M’s design focuses more on enhancing its combat potential, which was previously only a secondary focus of the program.
Multiple media outlets have reported that the Ministry of Defence of Bangladesh has reached a decision to procure two dozen J-10C fighter aircraft from China, which although unconfirmed, has been re-reported by Chinese state media outlets. Plans to procure the aircraft were reportedly advanced during Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China from June 24 to 26, as Dhaka and Beijing prepare to deepen cooperation in defence, infrastructure development, and trade.
Even before the Iran War began, the world knew that the Strait of Hormuz was a risk. It’s one of a handful of reasons Iran has any leverage at all.
Despite that, the Strait is crucial to Gulf exporters for the passage of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), which support both Asian and European economies.
Aircraft Carrier Turn US Navy. Image Credit: US Navy.
Now, four months after the war began in February, the world has seen what happens when Iran decides to use that leverage.
Col. Ryan Bell gave one of his company commanders a tall order at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, earlier this year.
“I want you to make this breach uncontested for your riflemen when they enter,” Bell, commander of the 3rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, recounted to reporters on Thursday.
The Kremlin has officially denied a Wall Street Journal article claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin was pressuring Belarus to engage in hostilities with Ukraine, and in the process support an “expansion” of the former KGB Lt. Col.’s war against his neighbor.
Such a move would see Belarus join as an active combatant, which the country’s self-declared President Aleksandr Lukashenko has thus far avoided.
Putin Speaking at Railway Conference Russia Government Photo.
The US Navy has unveiled an ambitious long-term shipbuilding plan that envisions expanding the fleet to roughly 450 vessels by the early 2030s, combining traditional warships with a growing number of unmanned surface and undersea systems.
The new proposal represents more than another procurement plan—it’s a broader shift in how the Navy expects future wars, particularly against China, to be fought.
An F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter Squadron 103 is parked on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as the ship operates in the Arabian Sea on Dec.
Public Domain
At Armed Forces Press, sometimes we like to wait and respond to a military event after watching all the talking heads rally to the blob talking points, then we drop our real analysis.
This time is no different.
The Financial Times reports that Pentagon chief Hagseth is dismissing General Christopher Donahue, who coordinated military aid to Ukraine. The commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa will soon be forced to leave his post – he will complete his service in July.
To properly opine on the resignation of General Chris Donahue, U.S.
Reports on Thursday, June 25, described how Iranian forces struck a cargo ship off the coast of Oman. The strike occurred hours after the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned ships not to use a new United Nations-backed route through the Strait of Hormuz without permission from Tehran.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, the vessel sustained damage, but no casualties occurred. Two U.S. officials also told Reuters that Iran had fired on the ship, which was struck roughly 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, Oman.
Tomahawk Launch.