Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

In the increasingly challenging geopolitical situation, countries across the world are analysing how to ensure their armed forces remain as strong as possible. Airbus Helicopters’ Head of Programmes, Stefan Thomé, explains how the company’s policy of continuous development has built a range ready for essential missions. “Military requirements especially drive innovation… because military products are built for either superiority or survival – or both,” says Stefan Thomé. While Airbus offers the largest dual range of civil and military helicopters on the market, Thomé is highlighting the key role that continuous development has in terms of delivering military helicopters that are…

Recent U.S.-Russian talks about ending Moscow’s war on Ukraine should not be taken as a sign that Russia poses less of a threat to the United States and Europe, according to a new report from Estonia’s foreign-intelligence agency.“Despite this illusory thaw, Russia continues to regard the U.S. as its principal global adversary,” says “International Security and Estonia 2026,” released Tuesday.Such talks are designed to “exploit the new U.S. administration to restore bilateral relations,” the report says. That could facilitate Russian espionage, influence operations, and the movement of sanctioned goods. Most importantly, it could erode U.S. international influence, creating new opportunities…

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps today awarded autonomous trucking company Kodiak AI a contract to integrate its AI-powered autonomous driving system into Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) for the service’s Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary (ROGUE) Fires platform. “By integrating the Kodiak Driver into the ROGUE-Fires platform, Kodiak is enabling the U.S. Marine Corps to understand how autonomous operations can extend reach, improve operational tempo, and reduce risk to Marines while executing high-end expeditionary missions,” the company wrote in a statement today.  The ROGUE Fires platform consists of mounting the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — a…

He would be constrained, Donald Trump said, only by his “own morality” (see NYT, 10 January 2026). If taking this statement seriously, then this is the hallmark of tyranny and of a tyrant. At the moment, many terms and concepts are used in scholarly and journalistic observations to characterise Trump, his politics, and the people around him – many of whom are firmer and smarter ideologues than him – such as fascism (recently in The Atlantic by Jonathan Rauch; January 25, 2026), totalitarianism, or authoritarianism (see recently in the NYT by David Brooks, January 23, 2026). While all of them…

Leaders at the Homeland Security Department pleaded with lawmakers on Wednesday not to force their employees to endure another government shutdown, saying their offices are still reeling from the previous funding lapse and their employees cannot afford more delayed paychecks. Operations at the non-immigration agencies within DHS will suffer long-term damage from any extended shutdown of the department, officials told House appropriators at a hearing just two days before a lapse is set to occur. Every other agency in government has received full-year funding for fiscal 2026, but Democrats have withheld their votes for DHS as they seek reforms to President…

Pvt. Spencer Howe aspires to be an Army chaplain someday — but for now, his day job involves wearing sequins and rhinestones and doing synchronized spin jumps on ice.The 29-year-old soldier and Olympic pairs skater currently preparing to compete in the Milan Cortina Games is the first figure skater in the Army’s program that nurtures elite athletic talent, according to the program director.Willie Wilson, director of the World Class Athlete Program, told Military Times in a phone interview from Italy that Howe, who enlisted in October 2024 and graduated boot camp in February 2025 as a Motor Transport Operator, had…

U.S. Department of the Treasury February 10, 2026 WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action to disrupt two key mechanisms Hizballah uses to sustain its economic stability: revenue generation in coordination with the Iranian regime and exploitation of Lebanon’s informal financial sector. OFAC today sanctioned gold exchange company Jood SARL, which operates under the supervision of Hizballah’s U.S.-designated Al-Qard Al-Hassan (AQAH), and converts Hizballah’s gold reserves into usable funds that sustain the terrorist group’s reconstitution. OFAC also sanctioned an international procurement and commodities shipping scheme orchestrated by Hizballah financiers operating…

Press Release February 11, 2026 SANTA BARBARA, Calif. Senseeker Corp, a leading innovator of digital infrared image sensing technology, can now respond to customer requirements more quickly and thoroughly through the acquisition of Axis Machine (Santa Barbara, California) by Senseeker Machining Company (SMC). Senseeker Machining Company will continue to support and grow Axis Machine’s established customer base built up over 20+ years in delivering high-quality machined parts. The acquisition will enable Senseeker to further grow mechanical component lines and to reduce the lead time on machined parts used in Senseeker’s programs and portfolio of industry standard commercial cryogenic test equipment…

WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard has awarded Davie Defense a contract for five Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs), completing the agreement laid out in an October Memorandum of Understanding between the White House and Finland, the service announced today. “Our adversaries continue to look to grow their presence in the Arctic, equipping the Coast Guard with Arctic Security Cutters will help reassert American maritime dominance there,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in the statement. “Revitalizing the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking capabilities is crucial for our security and prosperity, and today’s announcement is an important step in that direction.” Davie…

Hybrid conflict — where conventional military force is combined with cyberoperations, information warfare, economic pressure and digital disruption — has made one thing clear: Sovereignty in defence is an increasingly complex concern. For European member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the challenge is both adopting advanced technologies and keeping these capabilities controllable, explainable and resilient under pressure. In this context, sovereignty refers to the ability to decide, operate and adapt independently — even under degraded conditions or disrupted dependencies. In this interview, NTT DATA’s Pieter Minack, Industry CTO: Federal and Defense, and René Indefrey, Head of Industry Consulting Defense…