Open-source investigators have confirmed two drone strikes in northern Mali involving Shahed-136-type loitering munitions in the villages of Tuareg Inafarak and Talahandak, near the Algerian border. The findings come from an investigation by Bellingcat and Jeune Afrique, which analyzed social media footage, high-resolution satellite imagery, geolocation data, and expert assessments. Investigators matched videos posted online […]
US; Army selects Rheinmetall for hybrid logistics UGVs
American Rheinmetall won an 18-month contract to develop hybrid-powered unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in support of the US Army’s frontline tactical resupply missions. The effort will produce robotic platforms capable of transporting cargo to forward troops, reducing soldiers’ exposure to enemy fire and other battlefield hazards during logistics operations. To deliver the capability, the company […]
Vietnam; VAF formally orders 18 Yak-130M light attack aircraft
On July 24, 2026, Vietnam was revealed as the launch export customer for the Russian Yak-130M light attack aircraft after the disclosure by Irkutsk Aviation Plant CEO Andrei Soynov of a contract for 18 units during a presidential visit to the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. The procurement expands Vietnam’s operational Yak-130 fleet to 28 aircraft and […]
US Army; First successful firing test of hypersonic warhead from repurposed supergun
On July 30, 2026, the U.S. Army executed the first full-scale live-fire test of a hypersonic warhead using a cannon-based test system at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Conducted in partnership with the DEVCOM Armaments Center and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the trial utilized the Heavy Artillery Test System, a static asset derived from the […]
Israel; Navy commissions final German built Dolphin-class submarine
The Israeli Navy may have officially assumed custody of the Dolphin II-class submarine INS Drakon from German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems at a private handover in Kiel on July 22, 2026, according to the German media Marine Forum. The modified vessel features an extended 73-meter hull and a substantially enlarged sail designed to accommodate specialized […]
Thailand; Navy mulls buy of BrahMos supersonic missiles from India
Bangkok is exploring procurement of the anti-ship variant of India’s homegrown BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to modernize the Royal Thai Navy’s maritime deterrence. The potential acquisition aligns with Bangkok’s broader strategy to establish an independent force posture, protecting littoral zones and critical sea routes without depending on larger partner militaries, according to local Indian media. […]
UK; Government funds 22 local industries to boost munitions production
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded contracts worth up to 300,000 pounds ($404,000) each to 22 companies as part of efforts to boost the country’s domestic munitions manufacturing capability. The contracts will fund feasibility studies for 22 selected companies to develop proposals for manufacturing energetics materials — the explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics used in […]
Australia; MoD tests AEGIS ground-based air defense system
Lockheed Martin, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Australia and the U.S. Navy, has successfully completed Taipan Strike 26, a live-fire demonstration of a developmental Medium Range Ground-Based Air Defense (MRGBAD) capability that marks a decisive step toward building Australia’s future Aegis-based land missile defense network. Conducted on July 29, 2026, at the Woomera Test […]
Russia; Army reveals T-80BVM upgraded with anti-drone protection
A newly photographed Russian T-80BVM main battle tank appears with a significantly expanded anti-drone protection package, according to imagery circulating online on August 3, 2026, highlighting how Moscow continues adapting its armored fleet to counter the growing threat posed by multi-angle FPV drone attacks. Although the image’s origin and the vehicle’s status remain unconfirmed, the […]
Israel; MoD plans 10 years development of indigenous stealth combat fighter and drone
An Israeli government official disclosed a ten-year strategic objective on July 30, 2026, to develop a domestically produced stealth fighter jet and an autonomous combat aircraft inspired by the F-35’s capabilities, according to Bloomberg and The Jerusalem Post. This initiative forms part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policy to phase out foreign military financing from […]