Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has highlighted the importance of indirect fire on today battlefield. The Russian Army fields two 300 mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), the 9K58 Smerch, in service since 1989, and the 9K515 Tornado-S, which jointed the Smerch in 2014. A new MLRS, the Sarma, in the same calibre, is currently entering service, the first order dating back to 2024, when Russia ordered a first small batch of the new system. The export version of the Sarma was shown for the first time in public by Rosoboronexport at the World Defense Show, together with a command-and-control vehicle and…

Editor’s note: This article is the second 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. Cold light spills across a European plain, sixty-five kilometers of flat terrain that spans the territory of multiple nations. As the lead platoon moves forward, the squad leader scans the horizon while distant artillery zeroes in, guided by multiple drones stalking out front. He looks to his device for the picture that weaves together…

Lumut Naval Shipyard launched the third Maharaja Lela-class Littoral Combat Ship on 10 February 2026. (Lumut Naval Shipyard)Turkey’s Desan Shipyard commenced construction of the second Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS 2) for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), with a steel-cutting ceremony held on 11 February 2026.The milestone follows a letter of agreement signed as recently as 7 January 2026. The first 99m-long MPMS is already more than 58% complete, and the coast guard vessel is scheduled for delivery next year.The MPMS vessels are conceived as MMEA “motherships”, with provisions for carrying four fast interceptor boats and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV),…

Sean Strickland is hoping to re-insert his name in the conversation for a shot at the UFC middleweight title by beating rising contender Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Houston on Feb. 21. That said, he wonders if it’s good business to get assigned as the next in line for champion Khamzat Chimaev.Speaking with ESPN ahead of his first fight back from losing the UFC title to Dricus Du Plessis in February 2025, Strickland said he doesn’t like Chimaev’s activity as champion.“It’s kind of weird what the UFC did with Chimaev,” Strickland said. “You brought a guy in…

The FL50 is a new generation teleoperated strike system, showcased for the first time at the World Defense Show in Riyadh and developed by Chinese defence giant Norinco. Designed to be installed on an armoured carrier vehicle, the multi-canister launcher hosts a mid-class loitering munition, and embodies the convergence of artillery, tactical drones and smart munitions in a modular, export‑oriented package click on image to enlarge At WDS the FL50 was integrated on an 6×4 armoured platform that ensured good cross‑country mobility, crew protection and strategic deployability by road, rail, or air transport. The front armoured cabin hosts the crew…

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 11, 2026 – Exail announces the opening of a new office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a key milestone in its expansion across the Middle East. This new presence reflects Exail’s commitment to strengthening proximity with local customers and partners, and to supporting the development of its activities in the country. By establishing a permanent presence in Riyadh, Exail aims to reinforce customer support, foster long-term partnerships, and better address local operational needs. The new office will support ongoing programmes, future projects and cooperation initiatives with key local actors. “The opening of our Riyadh office demonstrates…

This is the latest in a series of semi-regular columns by Robbin Laird, where he will tackle current defense issues through the lens of more than 45 years of defense expertise in both the US and abroad. The goal of these columns: to look back at how questions and perspectives of the past should inform decisions being made today. I spent two weeks in December with the 3rd Marine Wing working with 1MEF during the Steel Knight 25 exercise. Steel Knight represents far more than another Marine Corps training exercise: Conducted across Southern California from December 1-14, 2025, this iteration served…

SAN DIEGO, California—Deliver what we ask for on time. That’s the terse message two maritime service chiefs are sending to industry.  “What I need is: when I have a contract with you, you deliver it on time. That’s really what I need. I don’t know how to sugarcoat that. It’s impossible to sugarcoat that. I need my stuff on time,” Adm. Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, told attendees Wednesday at the annual WEST Conference. “We just have to be very transparent about that. So I’d rather, you know, go into that contracting strategy and negotiation with that in mind, and…

MUNICH (AP) — An annual gathering of top international security figures that last year set the tone for a growing rift between the United States and Europe opens Friday, bringing together many top European officials with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others.The Munich Security Conference opens with a speech by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, one of 15 heads of state or government from European Union countries expected to attend.The many other expected guests at the conference that runs until Sunday include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In keeping with the conference’s tradition, there…

The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. The recent use of a laser directed energy weapon to down an aerial object near El Paso, Texas, and its chaotic aftermath, highlight the policy challenges and impediments the U.S. still faces in defending against drone incursions over the homeland. These are major national security concerns and a topic The War Zone has been reporting on for years. The latest chapter in the ongoing saga of U.S. efforts to begin countering small drone incursions over the country began last week. Reacting to…