Russia has reportedly used a newly upgraded ballistic missile, provisionally known as the Iskander-1000, for the first time in combat, with Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence reporting that it struck a target in the capital Kiev on August 27. The 9M723-2 ballistic missile used is reportedly an upgraded derivative of the 9M723-1 missile used by the older Iskander-M system, and can achieve a 1,000 kilometre range, where the Iskander-M system was previously limited to a 500 kilometre range.

Since Donald Trump arrived on the political scene, one of his political weaknesses has been that his coattails have never carried over when he’s not been on the ballot. Because of that, and because incumbent presidents’ parties nearly always lose seats in their first midterm elections — and because Trump is historically unpopular — all signs point to the Democrats winning in November’s midterm elections thanks to the Iran war and other issues, which will likely win them back the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate as well.

If Democrats win back one or both houses of Congress this November, thanks to the Iran war and many other issues Americans are upset about, they won’t just deal a blow to President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda.

They’ll also gain control of congressional committees and, with it, the ability to issue subpoenas and hold hearings.

President Donald J. Trump rings the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq during an event to launch Trump Accounts, Monday, July 6, 2026, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jonny Kim – perhaps the most qualified person on the planet should a future space shuttle ever require a door gunner – is leaving NASA after nearly a decade to return to active duty with naval aviation training, the space exploration program has announced.
Along with his record as an astronaut with an eight-month tour in space under his belt, Kim began his military career as a Navy SEAL before attending Harvard Medical School to become a doctor and Navy flight surgeon. He also qualified as a Naval Aviator while on duty with NASA. Thursday marked his last day at NASA.

In response to a deadly resurgence of malaria that’s afflicting populations across sub-Saharan Africa, the Navy is searching for a contractor to supply data collection and medical surveillance services in Yemen to inform its investigations before the disease potentially spreads elsewhere, or infects U.S. forces.
The escalating malaria epidemic there — triggered by a fusion of humanitarian crises, environmental shifts, and changing mosquito dynamics — marks one of the most severe modern global health emergencies.

From Buckingham butchers to the Normandy beache

Today, “Transformers” has a worldwide presence in toys, comic books, video games, TV shows, movies, and even amusement park rides. You don’t even need to be a real fan—Just hearing the name brings to mind (and ears) the iconic jingle or that signature robotic transforming noise.
It’s incredible to think that this franchise that dominates the globe owes its existence to the Second World War, G.I. Joe action figures and one very special Marine—brother to Peter Cullen, the true voice of Optimus Prime.

The joint Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint exercises between the air forces of China and Egypt are providing an unprecedentedly demanding test for the MiG-29 fighter, with Egyptian MiG-29M/M2 combat jets conducting simulated air-to-air engagements with Chinese J-16s. Although the MiG-29 is one of the most widely operated fighter types in the world, the J-16 is in many respects the most capable combat jets against which it has ever been tested.

build a navy like you intend to take her to war

Four decades.

Austal USA launched the Navy’s Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Medium (AFDM) 15 on July 28. This is the first AFDM built in over 40 years and the largest vessel launched into the Mobile Channel to date. At 12,000 tons, 694 feet long and with a deck working area of 90,800 square feet, AFDM is the largest vessel launch Austal USA’s test and activation team has coordinated and executed in the company’s 26-year history.

Strength, fitness, and unwavering determination

There’s a question hanging over the Iran war, officially reaching its half-a-year anniversary this weekend, that nobody seems to know the answer to…

What Does Victory Look Like for the United States?

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, decends for landing at Ørland Air Base, Norway, during a Bomber Task Force Europe deployment, Aug. 9, 2025. The BTF mission highlights how we deliver effects rapidly across dynamic and contested environments through integrated training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tambri Cason)

A U.S.

Russia this week issued an explicit threat against the United Kingdom, warning that British military targets may be attacked in response to Ukrainian strikes using British-supplied weapons.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a briefing in Moscow on Thursday, August 27, that London was coming dangerously close to direct involvement in the conflict.

Challenger 3 On the March. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Challenger 3 Tank British Army Image.

6,000 troops. Drones overhead.

On Thursday, Russia launched a massive aerial attack on Ukraine. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia fired some 258 drones toward cities, ports and industrial sites.

They estimated that one-third of the drones were jet-powered, and that Russia also used a pair of Oniks ship-killers, Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and Banderol cruise missiles.

Iskander-M. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Ukrainian forces said they shot down or suppressed 222 drones, seven ballistic missiles, three Banderols and one Oniks missile.

President Donald Trump was elected to a second term in 2024 with an unusual coalition.

Since then, with Trump’s approval rating at or near an all-time low, that coalition has begun to fray — and Iran is a big reason why.

President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order on the Administration’s tariff plans at a “Make America Wealthy Again” event, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in the White House Rose Garden. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

Donald Trump. White House Flickr.

Sonu Shankar, a cybersecurity industry veteran who recently served as an advisor to Pentagon leadership, has been named principal deputy CIO at the Defense Department.
Shankar was appointed to the role by President Donald Trump, according to a DOD news release. He was officially sworn-in Aug. 24.
Prior to taking on his new job in the CIO’s office, Shankar served as a “strategic advisor” to Pentagon leadership via the Business Operators for National Defense program, per the release.

The Falklands Cup returns to Exmouth on 10 Sept

The story behind CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s mysterious trip to Moscow appears to be unraveling, with reports now suggesting that the U.S. intelligence official warned Russia against escalating its confrontation with NATO and pressured the Kremlin to reduce its support for Iran.

The Kremlin has since confirmed that Ratcliffe, who was spotted traveling to Moscow on public flight trackers, met with Russia’s foreign intelligence chief during his eight-hour-long visit.

Russia, one of the world’s biggest oil producers, is importing gasoline and sending its own crude abroad for refining as Ukrainian drone strikes continue to knock some of its major refineries offline. It comes as peace talks stall, and Kyiv prolongs its campaign against critical Russian infrastructure.

Gasoline Rationing Rolled Out in Russia

Oil Tanker. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Oil fields. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The imports mark a sharp backward step for Russia, which normally exports large volumes of gasoline and diesel.

Cyber security remains a persistent concern for public and private sector organizations alike. Given the potential impact of cyber threats from criminal groups, adversarial states, and extremists, the topic draws substantial attention. Yet, in a field that evolves so quickly, some risks slip through the cracks. We asked four experts to identify and assess a key cyber security threat to U.S. national security that analysts and policymakers often overlook.Read more below.

The UK has handed final blueprints for Storm Sh

Commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC)
An unknown object has struck an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz near Khasab, Oman, early this morning. A fire on the tanker has been brought under control by its crew, and all on board are reported safe and well with no pollution released into the environment.
Incidents of commercial shipping being attacked in the Hormuz corridor have been a feature of August 2026.

AVR founder and director Martin Carr points to Ukraine’s UAS integration as a model for Nato militaries’ UAS combat teams.

Six months ago, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury.

Missiles rained down across Iran as U.S.-Israeli missiles relentlessly battered the country.

F-16I Fighter from Israel. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

F-16I Sufa. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Within hours, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was dead. Reports from a state where information is tightly controlled came through slowly, but it seemed for all the world that the operation had wiped out Iran’s leadership.

Yet, six months on, the two sides remain at war.

This video describes the military situation in

For 16 years, Jamie Lenio built her life around her husband’s service.
She moved with him from Japan to North Carolina and eventually to Germany. She has supported his deployments, temporary duty assignments, and military missions while raising their children through long stretches of separation, building a life around the understanding that when the military moved her family, she would move with them.

Crude oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz have reached around 70% of their prewar levels, at least for Qatar and Kuwait.

Qatar and Kuwait Lack ‘Back Up’ Routes
Before the U.S. and Israel began strikes on Iran on February 28, the two Gulf States exported some 2 million barrels of crude per day through the busy waterway. On Thursday, traders told Bloomberg that shuttle tankers and ship-to-ship transfers outside the strait had helped them replenish most of this traffic.

Oil Platform. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Generic Oil Tanker Image. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Yaryna Chornohuz is one of Ukraine’s best

Dataminr won a $318 million contract from the Defense Department for AI-powered situational awareness technology to support the A2 Publicly Available Information Alerting program.
The deal was announced Thursday evening. It was a competitive acquisition, and eight offers were received, according to the Pentagon.
“This contract provides situational awareness, force protection, and indications and warnings on global events,” per the DOD announcement. Work covered by the deal is expected to be completed by June 25, 2031.

The Navy is offering bonuses of up to $100,000 to keep some of its most experienced sailors in some of its toughest, most secretive jobs. The six-figure bonus is being offered to chief warrant officers in the service’s SEAL units and special boat teams with between four and 16 years of commissioned service, according to a recent Navy Administrative Message, or NAVADMIN.
The bonus program is available to a fairly small slice of sailors within Naval Special Warfare who hold 7151 and 7171 designators, which are warrant officer billets for SEALs and combat craft crewmen.

The US Army has revealed SixPAC, a new packaging made of lightweight polymer and steel components for small-calibre ammunition.

Russia Conducts “Massive” Overnight Attack, Killing Two – Russia conducted “massive” overnight airstrikes across Ukraine, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense.

At least nine cities across multiple regions of Ukraine were hit in the early hours of Thursday, 27th August. A 78-year-old woman was killed in Zaporizhzhia, with another person mortally wounded in Kharkiv. Explosions could also be heard across the country’s capital, Kyiv, throughout Thursday morning.

Will the Iran War doom the GOP in 2028?  – The Iran War is not only historically unpopular, but it doesn’t appear it will end anytime soon, with its current stalemate very likely extending into 2027. As a result, Iran is likely to emerge as a live issue in the 2028 presidential campaign.

What effect will Iran have on 2028? With that election more than two years away, it’s likely way too early to say for sure. But it raises fascinating questions in both parties.

BETHESDA, Md. — The first large-scale tests for the Golden Dome missile defense shield focused on validating the architecture’s complex command-and-control and software systems, according to a top official overseeing the program. 
Members of the military and industry observed the tests, which were designed to demonstrate and challenge the unique C2 capabilities required for the architecture, Lt. Gen. Brian Gibson, vice director of Golden Dome, said Wednesday.

This video describes the military situation in

Yesterday’s unannounced whirlwind visit by US CIA Director John Ratcliffe has taken on new significance after another report late today, 26 August.

The crux of the story is that Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly desperate – so much so that he may resort to using a tactical nuclear weapon against Ukraine.

Fat Boy Nuclear Bomb At U.S. Air Force Museum. Photo Credit: Harry J. Kazianis/National Security Journal Original Photo.

The former KGB mid-level officer (US military O-5 rank) is being pressed from multiple sides.

Authorities say 24-year-old Chad Williams opened fire at the In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho on Aug. 1, 2026. Tragically, three people were killed and seven others were wounded. But the casualty count might have been much higher if not for the heroic actions of bystanders who helped evacuate the area and render first aid to victims.
One bystander who stood out was Jordan Salinas, an armed, private citizen, who engaged the shooter.

Thomas Global Systems has completed the delivery of 16 M1A2 Abrams Immersive Tactical Trainers to the Australian Department of Defence, finalising the acquisition phase of Project LAND 907 Armoured Combat programme.

“We can’t believe what is happening (to the city) now,” Drovko says, explaining how parks and the apartment courtyards, which used to be filled with kids playing, are now empty.

“The city is dying,” he told reporters from the Kyiv Independent.

Patriot Missile Launch. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

A MIM-104 Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile System assigned to the Fort Bliss, Texas-based 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade fires as part of a bi-lateral live-fire exercise with military members from the Royal Netherlands Ground-based Air Defense Command at McGregor Range, N.M.

Nord Stream 2 was the world’s largest offshore pipeline system and the signature project symbolizing the close ties between the Russian and German economies.

When of was completed, German Chancellor Angela Merkel touted it as one of her greatest achievements. President Vladimir Putin saw it as the most visible showcase of his cooperation with the EU.

HIMARS Rocket. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Bill Gertz, WashT
All Navy personnel and their families face increased dangers of attacks from terrorism, drones and online threats

Defence Blog
Squire recently completed a demonstration at Silent Swarm, a military experimentation event sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering,…

Rachel S.

Pomerleau, BrDefense
The Army is planning for its long-range ground jammer, dubbed Terrestrial Layer System-Echelons Above Brigade (TLS-EAB)

Joseph Trevithick, The WarZone
Bradleys deploying swarms of uncrewed ground vehicles would give the U.S.

The UK Royal Navy currently operates two conventionally powered supercarriers: The HMS Queen Elizabeth and the HMS Prince of Wales.

The ships are three times the size of the Invincible-class carriers they replaced and can carry F-35B fifth-generation stealth fighters.

HMS Prince of Wales. Image Credit: Royal Navy.

HMS Prince of Wales Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Royal Navy.

Queen Elizabeth has made headlines several times, admittedly not always for good reasons.

While the class suffers from reliability issues, there is a lot to say in favor of Britain’s two-carrier fleet.

Russia Is Now Feeling the Heat of the Ukraine War: Ukraine continues its assault on Russian warehouses and logistics hubs, with strikes destroying a major Wildberries warehouse southeast of Moscow overnight into August 26.

The strikes involved hundreds of drones that crossed into Russian territory overnight, while another strike hit one of the country’s largest oil refineries.

KEKAHA, Hawaii — U.S.

A growing chunk of Saudi oil is now being rerouted amid tensions in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

Riyadh Looks North

President Donald J. Trump watches the liftoff of Artemis II in the Outer Oval Office, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

President Donald J. Trump holds a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the state to take control of “critical infrastructure” amid ongoing attacks by Ukraine.

Putin signed the decree on Monday, 24th August, authorizing the Russian government to temporarily run key infrastructure sites across the country that have been subjected to drone assaults by Kyiv.

In recent months, Ukraine has targeted oil and gas refineries, as well as transport, communications and logistics facilities in a bid to disrupt the Russian war effort, subsequently bringing the conflict close to home for everyday Russians.

Ukraine struck a Wildberries logistics hub in the Russian city of Kotovsk, about 310 miles southeast of Moscow in the Tambov region, early Wednesday, according to regional officials and multiple news outlets.

The strike killed at least three people across a broader wave of drone attacks that night and, according to Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov, “completely” destroyed the warehouse.

Putin Is Speaking Image from Russian Federation Government End of 2024

Putin in 2024 Image Credit: Russian Federation

It was the second time that the specific 1.