The Republic of China (RoC) Air Force has formally unveil a new anti-ballistic missile system, the Qiang Kung, which was developed to be able to intercept attacks at medium high altitudes. Translating to Strong Bow in English, the system is reportedly currently in production, and was unveiled under three weeks after the mainland’s Chinese People’s Liberation Army revealed multiple new ballistic missile classes in a major parade on September 3.
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Key Points and Summary – The Tu-160 “Blackjack” remains central to Russia’s triad, and Moscow is upgrading and restarting production as the stealth PAK DA slips. The Tu-160M2 adds revised NK-32 engines, modern radar/avionics and expanded weapons while retaining Mach-2 speed, ~12,300-km range and heavy payload for Kh-55/Kh-101 cruise missiles.
-Combat use includes Syria strikes in 2015 and repeated standoff attacks on Ukraine from Engels, itself hit by drones.
Tu-160M Bomber Air Force. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Russia plans to overhaul 16 airframes and build many more.
Key Points and Summary: Change Is Coming To the U.S. Air Force – The U.S. Air Force is pivoting from counterterror missions to deterring China and Russia, driving a force redesign around stealth, autonomy, AI, sensors, and adaptive engines.
-Legacy punch remains: the B-52 Superfortress gets new F130 engines and a modern radar, with inlet issues resolved in testing as CERP moves ahead.
A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress flies a show of presence mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 20, 2025.
Key Points and Summary – China’s twin-seat J-20S advances the Mighty Dragon with low-observable shaping, internal bays, AESA/IRST fusion, and a second crew member to manage electronic warfare and drone teaming. It fields long-range PL-15s and PL-10s for stealthy, networked air dominance. Europe’s Eurofighter Typhoon answers with superb agility, supercruise, PIRATE IRST, a wide-field AESA, robust DASS self-protection, and Meteor BVR missiles.
-In beyond-visual-range combat, the J-20S’s stealth and missile reach likely secure a first-shot advantage.
The Pentagon is getting a new cyber policy leader after the Senate voted to confirm Katherine Sutton and a slew of other nominees for high-level government jobs on Thursday.
After she’s sworn in, Sutton will be only the second Senate-confirmed official to ever hold the role of assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy. That office was officially created last year at the behest of Congress. The Trump administration recently rebranded it as assistant secretary of war for cyber policy.
The Marine Corps is deploying strategic digital transformation teams and getting set to launch a new training effort to instruct and upskill its entire workforce on artificial intelligence and associated emerging technologies, according to a top official involved in those efforts.
Marine Corps AI lead Capt. Christopher Clark provided the latest update on the service’s journey to meaningfully integrate the technology across all levels, from headquarters down to small tactical units, during a keynote presentation at FedScoop’s FedTalks conference on Thursday.
An Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington on Wednesday night, officials said in a release.
Four service members who were involved in the crash were assigned to the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The 160th SOAR is headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with battalions, two at Fort Campbell, one at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia and a fourth out of JBLM.
The crash occurred in a rural area near the base on Wednesday at around 9 p.m. local time, officials said.
Key Points and Summary – China’s J-20 “Mighty Dragon” is now fielded in the hundreds and blends low-observable design with a heavy weapons load.
-Its core threat is beyond-visual-range combat: internal bays carry PL-15 missiles for long-reach shots, while PL-10s cover close-in fights; external hardpoints enable a high-payload “beast mode.” The jet can also strike ground targets and suppress air defenses.
U.S. Air Force Nathalie Olarte, crew chief, launches an F-16 Fighting Falcon from an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan.
Key Points and Summary – Saab’s upgraded JAS 39 Gripen E/F is tailored for NATO air policing and deterrence as Russia probes alliance airspace.
-The new variant adds supercruise, stronger EW and sensor fusion, IRST, and Meteor BVR missiles, while a GE F414 engine boosts speed and range.
JAS 39 Gripen. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Designed for Sweden’s Bas 90 concept, Gripens disperse to road bases, launch quickly, and turn around fast with minimal crews.
-The E/F’s open, rapidly updatable software and networking enable manned-unmanned teaming in the future.
Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below.***RussiaIn early September, the Russian and Belarusian militaries conducted a major military exercise, called Zapad 2025. This was the first Zapad exercise since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The exercise was notably smaller than the previous one held in 2021.