Russia is accelerating development of Rassvet, a low-Earth-orbit satellite communications network intended to provide a domestic alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink. The system is being developed by Russian company Bureau 1440 and is designed for both civilian connectivity and military communications. Rassvet Emerges as Russia’s Starlink Alternative
U.S. State Department has approved a potential $2.68 billion Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine covering air-defense upgrades, missiles, launchers, counter-drone radars and related equipment. The approval was issued in a congressional notification on September 18, 2026, as Ukraine continues to face Russian missile and drone attacks.
Lockheed Martin has received its first shipment of critical components from General Motors’ defense subsidiary, GM Defense, for the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor used by the Patriot air-defense system. The delivery comes as the U.S. works to expand missile production and strengthen its defense-industrial
United States has approved a potential $24.3 billion Foreign Military Sale of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a major step toward Riyadh acquiring the U.S.-built fifth-generation stealth aircraft. The proposed deal still requires congressional review before it can be finalized. 48
European governments are stepping up preparations for a wider security crisis as officials warn that Russia could increasingly use drones, missiles, cyberattacks and other forms of hybrid warfare to test NATO's response. The developments do not mean that a European war is imminent, but they show that governments
Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that Houthi forces attempted to target Riyadh with a ballistic missile, marking the first reported attempt to strike the Saudi capital since the latest escalation between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen. Saudi air defenses said the missile was intercepted. Smoke Reported Near
Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones toward Russian territory overnight, with hundreds aimed at Moscow in what Moscow's mayor described as the largest drone attack ever against the Russian capital. Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces intercepted or destroyed 1,110 Ukrainian drones across Russia,
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Poland temporarily suspended flight operations at Lublin and Rzeszów airports on September 17 as its military activated air-defense and radar systems in response to Russian attacks using jet-powered drones against western Ukraine. Polish authorities described the measures as preventive and aimed at protecting the country's airspace.
U.S. military operation against Iran has cost the Department of Defense approximately $38 billion through August 1, 2026, according to a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The agency estimates that continued combat could add $2 billion to $3 billion per month, depending on the intensity of
Yemen’s Houthi movement says it shot down a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter over Marib Governorate on September 16, 2026. The group said the aircraft was engaged with a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile while conducting operations over Yemen. The Houthis released video and photographs that
The U.S. Air Force is accelerating plans to replace its MQ-9A Reaper fleet after suffering heavy combat losses during operations against Iran. Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Niemi said the losses have accelerated discussions about the Reaper's successor. The service is now pursuing a new concept
L3Harris Technologies has received a $4.7 billion contract from Lockheed Martin to expand production of propulsion systems and other critical components for the Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor. The seven-year agreement is intended to strengthen the U.S. missile-defense industrial base and support rising
United Kingdom has agreed to help Ukraine develop its own long-range cruise missiles by sharing classified technical information related to British-made components used in the Storm Shadow missile. The announcement was made by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham during a visit to Kyiv in August 2026. The decision
Israel and Greece have signed a €3 billion defense agreement, worth approximately $3.5 billion, to develop a comprehensive, multi-layered air and missile defense network for Greece. The agreement, signed on August 31, 2026, is the largest defense deal in the history of Israel–Greece relations. The system, known
Iran’s capture of a U.S. autonomous underwater vehicle near the Strait of Hormuz could give Tehran an opportunity to study American unmanned-undersea technology, even though Washington says the vehicle was an older model that had malfunctioned and was not carrying classified systems. The incident involves an Anduril
Sweden has authorized the purchase of Lockheed Martin’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in a deal worth around SEK 7 billion, or roughly $729–733 million. The Swedish government announced the procurement on September 7, saying the system will provide a new long-range precision-fire capability
Falcon 9 Lifts Off From Vandenberg: SpaceX successfully launched another batch of 27 Starlink broadband satellites from California on September 6, 2026, continuing the rapid expansion of its low-Earth-orbit communications network. The Starlink Group 15-24 mission lifted off aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 from Space Launch
The U.S. Army has moved its Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node, or TITAN, program into the production phase with two contract delivery orders worth a combined $192 million. The awards, announced as of August 31, provide $127 million to Palantir Technologies and $65 million to Anduril Industries. The initial
Major Upgrade for Iraq’s Rotary-Wing Fleet The United States has approved a potential $800 million Foreign Military Sale to Iraq, covering a package of Bell helicopters, weapons, sensors, communications equipment, training, and logistical support. The U.S. State Department notified Congress of the proposed deal on August 31,