Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

People’s Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:56, April 23, 2026 BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) — China on Thursday marked the 77th anniversary of its navy, whose presence and growing strength have become an important force in maintaining regional and global stability. As part of the celebrations, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy plans to open bases in more than 10 cities to the public, with over 40 active-duty vessels on display, according to the official schedule. The number of vessels open to the public is the largest, and the variety the most diverse, in the history of such naval open-day events, the…

The debate over how best to deter China in the western Pacific has reached a new level of ambition. Ely Ratner, a former senior defense official in the Biden administration, proposed a “Pacific Defense Pact” — a legally binding multilateral treaty among the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. This reflects serious concerns over China’s rise and its potential future use of force along the first island chain. The underlying diagnosis is sound: Existing U.S. alliances in the region lack an integrated command and control structure and the collective responsiveness required to credibly deter China in a high-intensity conflict.…

Vienna, 23 April 2026: Following the contract signing on 13 February 2026 for four CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) for the Hellenic Navy’s new Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) frigates, Schiebel and the Hellenic Navy have successfully completed the acceptance tests of the first two systems. Over the course of one week at Kotroni Helicopter Base, the initial two CAMCOPTER® S-100 systems, comprising four Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), underwent functional testing, successfully completing the acceptance campaign and confirming their readiness for operational use. Equipped with L3 Harris MX-10 EO/IR and Overwatch Imaging PT-8DN Oceanwatch, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 will…

By Alex Raufoglu April 23, 2026 WASHINGTON — The expiration of a US sanctions waiver on Iranian oil last weekend has brought renewed attention to Washington’s economic strategy, as policymakers seek to limit Tehran’s access to revenue while navigating global energy market pressures. The measure, known as General License U, lapsed on April 19, ending a short-lived window that allowed a significant volume of Iranian crude — estimated at up to 170 million barrels — to circulate more freely on international markets. The decision coincides with a broader push by the US Treasury to intensify pressure on networks linked to…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced Wednesday, the first head of a military service to depart during President Donald Trump’s second term but just the latest top defense leader to step down or be ousted. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the Navy’s top civilian official, coming as the sea service has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the war. Another Trump loyalist is taking over as acting head of the Navy: Undersecretary…

As the first quarter of the twenty-first century concludes, the international geopolitical environment has become increasingly intricate. Regional disputes, hybrid threats, and the rapid advance of technology present unprecedented challenges to armed forces. The conflict in Ukraine, ongoing tensions in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, as well as the rise of armed non-state actors, exemplify a volatile and unpredictable security landscape. These developments necessitate far-reaching structural, doctrinal, and technological reforms within the Marine Corps of both Brazil and Germany, ensu ring their continued strategic relevance and operational effectiveness. Such restructuring is not occurring in isolation.…

(l. to r.) Kevin Schoonover, executive vice president – missiles, Hanwha Defense USA, Michael Coulter, chief executive officer, Hanwha Defense USA, Frank Morley, vice president, international business development, Northrop Grumman and Ron Boxall, vice president government programs, Northrop Grumman signed the MOA at Sea-Air-Space 2026. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman) Northrop Grumman and Hanwha Aerospace have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to start the initial phase of collaboration on developing a first-stage solid rocket booster for Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Reactive Strike (AReS) capability. AReS is a deployable, surface-launched, extended-range weapon system that offers stand-off strike ability in highly contested and…

Updated: 7:50 p.m. ET.Navy Secretary John Phelan, the service’s top civilian leader, is leaving his role, the Pentagon announced Wednesday. His departure was announced as the Navy takes part in an unprecedented blockade of Iranian ports, and the day after Phelan spoke at the nation’s largest naval-themed conference.“Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately,” Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said in a post on X. “On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States…

Editor’s note: This article is the seventh in an 11-part series examining how the United States should organize, lead, and integrate economic statecraft into strategy, defense practice, and the broader national security ecosystem. This special series is brought to you by the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and War on the Rocks. Prior installments can be found at the War by Other Ledgers page.Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime in 2025, a new record for cyber-enabled economic losses. Private sector losses to malicious cyber activity regularly exceed $200 billion in a given year. Alongside criminal groups, state-sponsored hackers are increasingly targeting America’s pocketbook.…

Discontent over the UFC’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence for promotional content is no longer limited to fans, as a fighter within the organization has now voiced his opposition. Combat sports fans have long voiced their frustration with how the MMA leader promotes its events, often drawing comparisons to the grand, cinematic feel of major boxing promotions, which tend to deliver a more polished and larger-than-life presentation. Now, with AI rapidly reshaping content creation and video production, the UFC appears to be leaning heavily into the technology. That shift was most evident in the teaser for UFC Freedom 250, which…