The growing use of long-range one-way attack drones in the Russian-Ukrainian War has posed new challenges for air defence planning, leading militaries across much of the world to assess how best to economically intercept relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft without exhausting inventories of costly modern missiles. While Russia has increasingly relied on fighters to intercept Ukrainian drones approaching strategic targets, questions have been raised regarding the high cost of employing advanced air-to-air missiles against targets that often cost under $10,000 to produce.
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Iraq’s National Security Adviser Qasim al-Aboudi has publicly accused Ukraine of conducting covert operations on Iraqi territory, alleging that security forces have arrested several individuals who confessed to carrying out attacks on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence. This represents one of the most significant cases of Ukrainian intelligence operations extending beyond the European theatre and into the Middle East, following prior operations that similarly targeted Western adversaries in Syria, Sudan and West Africa.
The U.S. Air Force’s recent decision to expand production capacity for the B-21 Raider next generation stealth bomber appears intended to pave the way for a significantly larger fleet than the current program of record. The Department of the Air Force announced a $4.5 billion agreement to increase annual B-21 production capacity by 25 percent, accelerating deliveries while maintaining cost and performance targets.
Following confirmation that the world’s largest and most heavily armed combat ship the Admiral Nakhimov will re-enter service in the Russian Navy later in 2026, the nuclear powered warship’s advanced capabilities have gained considerable attention. The vessel stands out not only for being the longest ranged and fastest major surface combatant in the world, but also the most heavily armed, with 96 vertical launch cells for long range surface-to-air missiles from the S-400 system, and 80 more for cruise missiles including the hypersonic Zircon missile.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that large surface combatants will form the centre of Russian naval development, signalling that Moscow has no intention of abandoning ambitions to maintain a blue-water navy despite years of prioritising submarines and smaller missile ships. His remarks follow recent confirmation by Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev that work is progressing on a new 9,500 ton ocean-going surface combatant, which has widely been interpreted as an announcement of a new destroyer program.
The unveiling of the PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector (ACE) surface-to-air missile for the MIM-104 Patriot long range air defence system as a much lower cost alternative to the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) variant currently in service has raised significant questions regarding the future of the U.S. and its strategic partners’ missile defence capabilities. Although Lockheed Martin has released relatively few technical details regarding the missile, its design is noticeably shorter and more compact than the PAC-3 MSE.
The wars in Ukraine and Iran crossed paths this week when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Iranian involvement in the Russian invasion, pointing to Shahed drone technology currently being used by invading forces.
Speaking during an interview with Sky News, Zelensky made the accusation and cautiously suggested that the link between Russia, Iran, and North Korea in the Ukraine conflict should be considered.
Iran’s Drones That Russia Is Using. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The wars in Ukraine and Iran crossed paths this week when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Iranian involvement in the Russian invasion, pointing to Shahed drone technology currently being used by invading forces.
Speaking during an interview with Sky News, Zelensky made the accusation and cautiously suggested that the link between Russia, Iran, and North Korea in the Ukraine conflict should be considered.
Iran’s Drones That Russia Is Using. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Ukraine’s Long-Range Sanctions Are Changing Daily Life in Russia: Despite Moscow’s best efforts to mitigate the damage caused by Ukraine’s long-range strikes on energy infrastructure, Russia’s fuel crisis is only deepening, with regional authorities introducing restrictive rationing measures. While drivers struggle to access the fuel they need to live their daily lives, freight companies and businesses are also being forced to adapt to new and persistent fuel shortages.
Ukraine’s Long-Range Sanctions Are Changing Daily Life in Russia: Despite Moscow’s best efforts to mitigate the damage caused by Ukraine’s long-range strikes on energy infrastructure, Russia’s fuel crisis is only deepening, with regional authorities introducing restrictive rationing measures. While drivers struggle to access the fuel they need to live their daily lives, freight companies and businesses are also being forced to adapt to new and persistent fuel shortages.