Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

A programme to build ‘wingman’ unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to operate alongside British Army Apache attack helicopters is advancing, with seven companies invited to bring forward their designs for what is known as Project NYX, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 24 January 2026. The invitation to tender follows a rigorous pre-qualification phase that concluded late in 2025, with Anduril, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin UK, Syos, Tekever and Thales downselected. In March 2026 the shortlist will be further downselected to four suppliers, when they will be offered contracts to participate in research and development to produce a…

The Pentagon declared on Friday that the U.S. military’s top priority is to defend the homeland and Western Hemisphere, a shift supplanting its longstanding goal of countering China. The 2026 National Defense Strategy — a quadrennial report — described the change as a sharp alteration “in approach, focus, and tone.” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in a pointed critique of past policy, wrote the U.S. government had previously “neglected – even rejected – putting Americans and their concrete interests first.” “No longer will the Department be distracted by interventionism, endless wars, regime change, and nation building,” he added.The 34-page blueprint…

In late 2003, I was asked to take on the task of demobilizing Iraqi militias. This would later be named the “transition and reintegration” program. Shortly after the program commenced, efforts to stabilize and rebuild Iraq veered off in directions no one wanted.The task I took on was conceptually simple but practically daunting: persuade Iraq’s armed factions to lay down their weapons and trust in a future they could not yet see while violence escalated. The United States now faces a familiar but more challenging version of that dilemma as it considers how to disarm Hamas in a devastated Gaza.…

Sputnik News 20260125 MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The current generation of European politicians is unable to counter US President Donald Trump’s assertiveness, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. “They [politicians] are not able to resist Trump’s assertiveness,” Peskov told Rossiya 1 correspondent Pavel Zarubin. US President Donald Trump’s methods do not align with Russia’s vision for a multipolar world, Peskov also said. “The methods he takes do not quite correspond with our approaches about a multipolar world,” Peskov told Rossiya 1 journalist Pavel Zarubin. Other Statements: Europe erupted in outrage after Trump published his correspondence with French President…

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — In support of the Department of War’s transformation initiative, Fort Bragg and the XVIII Airborne Corps officially opened the Lt. Gen. James Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost on January 23, 2026. As the first facility of its kind, building on U.S. Army Division innovation labs, the JIOP serves as a center that bridges tactical and operational challenges with rapid innovative solutions. Designed as a hub for military personnel, academia, and industry, the JIOP aims to collaboratively address problems faced on the modern battlefield. The facility is named in honor of Lt. Gen. James Gavin, who commanded the…

MELBOURNE — The first of four business jets heavily modified by L3Harris into airborne surveillance and electronic warfare aircraft for the Australian military has arrived at a base in the south of the country. The MC-55A Peregrine Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (ISREW) aircraft, based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet, arrived at RAAF Base Edinburgh late last week, according to a joint media release issued on Saturday by the offices of Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy. “This advanced capability reinforces Australia’s national defence posture and contributes to deterrence. Integrated within a focused…

Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly’s lawyers on Monday urged a federal judge to block the Defense Department from downgrading his retirement rank as a Navy captain and his pay for telling U.S. troops they aren’t required to follow illegal orders. Paul J. Fishman wrote in a 35-page filing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s attempt to punish Kelly for appearing in the video alongside other members of Congress violates several constitutional rights.  “As a decorated combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Kelly is deeply committed to the necessity of good order and discipline in the armed forces,” Fishman wrote. “He…

WASHINGTON — The Space Force is planning to buy its new RG-XX neighborhood watch satellites on a rolling basis over time, using a pool process under which multiple qualified vendors will be issued individual task orders based on service needs and budget, according to a senior service official. “Our strategy is to set up an ID/IQ — indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract type — which allows us [to] multi-award vendors. This will allow us to every year procure what the service needs based off of the available funding,” Col. Byron McClain, program executive officer for Space Combat Power at Space…

~ How rugged USB-C connectors power interoperability across C5ISR systems ~ Modern defence operations rely on seamless communication across land, sea, air, space and cyber domains. As joint and coalition missions become more complex, the systems behind them need to connect, share data and adapt in real time. These demands are driving significant changes in how defence communications are designed and deployed. Rugged USB-C connectors, originally developed for everyday electronics but now built to military-grade standards are becoming key to this evolution. They simplify system integration and help maintain connectivity at the tactical edge. Here, Alex Raymond, European product manager…

Bottom lines up front DAVOS—This week Davos, Switzerland, returns to being a charming ski town. The shops and restaurants—temporarily rented by every major tech company on the planet to host events and receptions—return to their owners and will soon be filled with tourists on holiday.   But what happened at the 2026 World Economic Forum won’t soon be forgotten. This was the year the forum changed policy. As one attendee told us on her way off the mountain, “Imagine what would have happened this week if Trump didn’t have to meet the Europeans face to face.” It’s an intriguing, if chilling,…