Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

The UK Royal Navy (RN) sees its continuing shift to a ‘hybrid fleet’ as central to prevailing in future conflict, and is focused on accelerating delivery of the maritime uncrewed systems integral to this new ‘hybrid’ force structure, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff General Sir Gwyn Jenkins has said. Story by Dr Lee Willett, additional reporting by Richard Scott. Speaking at the fourth Paris Naval Conference on 3 February, Gen Jenkins said that transition success would hinge on how quickly the navy can harness rapidly emerging and evolving uncrewed technologies to ‘team’ with, and enhance the effects…

Iran Press TV Monday, 16 February 2026 6:03 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has denounced Israel’s plan to expand the boundaries of East al-Quds beyond the 1967 borders, known as the “Green Line,” warning that it sets a dangerous precedent and signals a de facto annexation of the city. In a statement on Monday, Hamas described the plan as a “very dangerous” and “an aggressive precedent” designed to impose “full annexation” of al-Quds. Israeli media reports indicate that the Israeli cabinet is planning to extend construction in the settlement of “Adam” in the central West Bank, effectively annexing more…

17 February 2026 – The newest NATO member, Sweden, has commissioned Rheinmetall to supply eight Seasnake 30 weapon systems for the Swedish Navy. These systems will be the primary armament of the new Combat Boat 90 fast military assault craft. The first order under the framework agreement is worth around €63 million and was placed in February 2026. Delivery of the first system is scheduled for February 2028. The framework agreement also includes airburst and 30 mm calibre training ammunition, with a term of four years. Spare parts and services are also included in the agreement. Additionally, the contract includes…

Editor’s note: This article is the third in an eight-part series led by retired General James Mingus, the thirty-ninth vice chief of staff of the Army, on transforming the Army to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s battlefield. You can read other articles in the series here. In 1981, Private Mingus, an Army artilleryman, relied on a $100 handheld calculator to compute fire missions on a linear, ground-based battlefield. Today, that linear fight is a thing of the past, just as the handy HP calculator has been replaced by digital systems with a billion times the compute power. The modern battlespace,…

CHABELLEY AIRFIELD, Djibouti — Chabelley Airfield marked a major operational milestone with the opening of its small arms range, a $1.6 million project that significantly expands on-site training capacity and operational flexibility for U.S. and partner forces. Prior to the range’s completion, U.S., allied and partner personnel were required to convoy to off-base training locations or wait as long as a month to access the range at Camp Lemonnier. “With nine lanes, Chabelley has tripled our local training capacity,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Lawrence Melnicoff, 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron commander. “This allows American forces to qualify and…

Media release Sunday 15 February 2026 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Prime Minister of Australia The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP Premier of South Australia The Albanese and Malinauskas Labor Governments are ensuring that South Australia remains the home of Australia’s submarine construction, with expenditure projected to be billions of dollars in the state over coming decades. Today the Albanese Government is announcing it will invest $3.9 billion as a down payment to deliver the new Submarine Construction Yard in Osborne. While the design process continues, significant investment is critical to delivering Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines which…

The possibility of a military confrontation between Washington and Tehran is on hold, at least for now, as the two countries have begun talks mediated by Oman. However, a strategic breakthrough from these talks—which according to US President Donald Trump should be resolved in the coming month—remains unlikely without substantial concessions by at least one party on topics previously considered out of the scope of negotiations. Iran maintains that its ballistic missile program and the support it provides its regional proxy network are non-negotiable—precisely the areas where the Trump administration demands drastic concessions. That means diplomacy could stall or break…

After Zuffa Boxing 3 wrapped up, Dana White fired back at his rival boxing promoters, who so far have questioned White’s vision and also mocked the UFC head honcho for claiming that he is going to “change the entire sport” of boxing. After yet another successful event since the launch, White says he expected more competition when he entered the boxing business, but feels like he’s “beating up babies.” “This is like beating up babies. I feel like I came in and I’m beating up babies. I expected more. I expected some pushback. I expected some, I don’t know, them…

The firepower of the A-10’s 30 mm cannon makes it a potent close-air support aircraft. (USAF) It is exactly 50 years since the first of 713 Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt IIs entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed to meet a 1967 USAF specification for a jet-powered close-support aircraft, the Fairchild A-10A first flew in May 1972. It was armed with a seven-barrel 30mm rotary cannon mounted in the nose, capable of firing 4,200 rounds per minute. Its eight underwing and three under-fuselage hardpoints can carry up to 16,000 lbs of ordnance. Powered by two 9.065 lb st…

“Mr. Perfect” Ernesto Hoost heads into SENSHI 30 as the man generations still use as a measuring stick, yet he admits one rivalry still bothers him: Bob Sapp. We spoke to Hoost ahead of the February 28 fight event. In the early 2000s K-1 boom, fighters like Sapp and Francisco Filho raised their own profiles by being the few who managed to beat Hoost while he was regarded as the most complete heavyweight kickboxer in the sport. Speaking ahead of SENSHI’s anniversary gala in Varna, the four-time K-1 World Grand Prix winner is open about how those Sapp fights still…