Western-supplied tanks that Ukraine once regarded as among its most important battlefield assets are increasingly being kept out of direct combat due to their very limited survivability. A New York Times report on Ukraine’s 33rd Separate Mechanised Brigade found that German-built Leopard tanks are spending much of their time concealed beneath camouflage netting in forest positions in the Kharkiv region. Instead of spearheading assaults, some are now primarily used to recover damaged vehicles.
Author: Michael
Chinese state media has revealed that its YY-20A aerial tanker performed an airborne command role during the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s deployment of J-16 fighters to Egypt for the Eagles of Civilisation 2026 exercise. Described as operating as an “airborne command node,” its ability to contribute to command and coordination in addition to providing aerial refuelling could make it significantly more valuable for operations than previously thought.
Why the secret trip to Russia? According to multiple news outlets, the American CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, 25 August, for previously unannounced meetings with senior Kremlin officials. Sources who spoke to CBS News also confirmed that the US Central Intelligence chief was in the Russian capital.
Reports of the CIA Director’s trip began not long after a US Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III (call sign RCH4555, tail number 07-7181) cargo lifter aircraft was seen landing at the VIP terminal of Moscow’s Vnukovo airport.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Before Operation Epic Fury, the Army’s Network Enterprise Technology Command transferred digital services across theaters for the first time, according to the unit’s top officer, so the Army’s Middle East hub could have network support in the event Iran targeted its critical communication infrastructure.
Maj. Gen.
Russia’s ‘grey zone’ activity
The Air Force announced Tuesday that VivSoft Technologies will develop and field a new platform intended to consolidate the service’s fragmented aircrew scheduling, training and readiness-management capabilities.
The company received a $100 million Other Transaction Authority production agreement for the Aerospace Readiness Enterprise System (ARES) program, which will consolidate multiple Air Force scheduling software tools into a single enterprise environment enabled by artificial intelligence. The service plans to begin rolling out ARES across major commands in 2027.
What changes when Royal Engineers leave the UK
All sailors and Marines will soon have to take a new yearly gas “mask fit” test after the two services amended their gas mask rules to meet the Pentagon’s recent overhaul of grooming standards.
The new annual Chemical, Biological Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) mask test requirements were recently published in official Marine Corps and Navy administrative notices, or ADMINs. The Marine Corps policy incorporates new pass-fail training compliance statuses while the Navy rules speed up the timeline for sailors to comply with the mask fit training and certification tests.
Is the Army making a mistake ending it’s
The end of World War II was over 80 years ago, and the number of Americans who served during the war is starting to number fewer and fewer. August 23, 2026, was a milestone for that dwindling number of veterans, as Roy Drinkard, World War II veteran and oldest living Marine passed away at the age of 106.
Also Read: TSA is adding dedicated security lines for military, veterans, and their families
Born on July 12, 1920 in Falkville, Ala., Drinkard’s father was a businessman who also served as the town’s mayor for 20 years. Young Roy attended St. Bernard Preparatory School in Cullman, Ala.