Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

Introduction Representative governments in the United States and elsewhere need to prevent, contain, and respond to future AI-enabled cyberattacks and more broadly address a range of developing AI challenges. Legislation and policy are needed to strengthen civil defense, harden critical sectors of the economy, guide the use of advanced AI models, and proactively shape the AI future. Civil defense consists of efforts to mobilize and protect citizens during natural and manmade disasters, including crippling cyberattacks. The future cannot rest only with AI developers; the public needs to prepare for contingencies that may adversely affect the economy, safety, and daily life.…

The Ophir® SupIR-X 15-300 mm f/4 motorized continuous zoom lens is purpose-built to fully leverage the performance of 10 µm SXGA MWIR detectors for demanding long-range ISR and surveillance missions. Combining a 45° to 2.4° horizontal field of view, high-resolution imaging, and a compact ~1 kg design, SupIR-X delivers the clarity, stability, and reach required for advanced airborne, land, and maritime EO/IR systems. When greater range is needed, SupIR-X integrates seamlessly with the Ophir extender ecosystem, scaling up to 1200 mm focal length while maintaining a constant f/4 aperture, enabling vehicle target detection beyond 26 km under standard operational conditions.…

Hanwha Aerospace unveiled its vision for the next evolution of the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer at this year’s K9 User Club in Estonia, demonstrating how the globally proven artillery system is evolving beyond its traditional role through next-generation operating concepts, platform expansion and smarter sustainment to meet the demands of the future battlefield. The three-day forum brings together more than 200 military and industry representatives from seven K9 user nations—the Republic of Korea, Estonia, Poland, Norway, Finland, Romania and Australia—alongside observer delegations from Spain and Sweden.Hosted by the Estonian Defence Forces at the Estonian National Museum from Sept. 2–4, the annual…

On August 14, Han Kuang 42, the field phase of the latest edition of Taiwan’s largest annual wargame, drew to a close. For many military hardware enthusiasts, the sight of recently delivered US-built M1A2T Abrams tanks practicing concealment, movement, and refueling near Taiwan’s main international airport, Mirage 2000-5 combat aircraft being rapidly loaded with air-to-air missiles while their base was under simulated attack, and Taiwanese navy and coast guard ships conducting antiblockade operations will have been an encouraging sign of serious defensive preparations. Others will have been more skeptical. In the past, such flashy displays have been the source of…

A bomber does not need to be the fastest aircraft in the sky, or carry the biggest payload, to be the most powerful. In modern warfare, the real measure is harder to see: can the aircraft reach a heavily defended target, survive, deliver its weapons, and keep doing it thousands of miles from home?That changes the conversation.A Cold War-era giant such as the B-52 can haul an enormous weapons load, while a stealth aircraft like the B-2 is designed to make sophisticated air defenses struggle to detect it in the first place.Then there is the B-21 Raider, which pushes the…

Since the Strait of Hormuz closure in February, much attention has centered on rising gasoline prices. But concerns around the price of diesel are growing as the spread between diesel and crude prices in the United States surpasses $100. Strangled Middle Eastern oil exports, compounded by declines in global refinery capacities, are deepening the diesel supply crunch. Some states and communities will bear the costs more than others.  Why diesel matters According to the US Energy Information Administration, distillate fuel oil, the petroleum category that includes both diesel and heating oil, is used predominantly for transportation, accounting for more than 75 percent of consumption within the…

UFC President Dana White, who is a huge Boston Celtics fan, recently shared his take on Jaylen Brown’s trade to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 29-year-old, on the 6th of July, 2026, was traded to the 76ers in exchange for veteran Paul George and two first-round picks and two second-round picks. Brown spent 10 seasons with the Celtics, starting in 2016, winning the NBA Championship in 2024, and also being named the NBA Finals MVP that same year. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 18: Dana White announces the contract winners during season ten, week two of Dana White’s Contender Series at…

Japan is seeking to acquire the U.S.-made AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) under its fiscal year 2027 defense budget request to suppress enemy warship air defenses and enable long-range anti-ship strikes. In a separate move outlined in the same budget request, Tokyo is also moving to add a new air-to-air role to its extended-range ASM-3 Kai supersonic anti-ship missile. Naval News previously reported on the JASDF’s plan to employ the ASM-3ER against high-value airborne targets, leveraging its supersonic speed and extended range to engage enemy AWACS and aerial refueling tankers. Both procurement efforts were included among the new…

More than six decades after entering service, the M113 APC is still moving soldiers across battlefields. That alone is remarkable.Designed during the Cold War, the M113 APC predates drones, digital networks, loitering munitions and many of the anti-armor weapons that now define modern warfare. By today’s standards, its aluminum armor and simple tracked design look almost primitive.Yet the M113 APC refuses to disappear.Its survival isn’t really about nostalgia. Militaries have learned that an armored vehicle doesn’t always need to be the most advanced machine in the fleet. Sometimes, being reliable, available and adaptable matters more.Credit: Defense FeedsThe problem is that…

We played a wargame using AI players. Two nuclear-armed nations — Red and Blue — with a long-standing, fierce border dispute were placed into a militarized crisis. Over the course of several turns, the states managed to avoid escalation to war, though there were non-operational nuclear demonstrations. Surprised by the lack of escalation we’d been primed to find by Juan-Pablo Rivera, Gabriel Mukobi, Anka Reuel, Max Lamparth, Chandler Smith, and Jacquelyn Schneider, as well as Kenneth Payne, we tried upping the stakes. We gave Red some new tactical nuclear weapons, altering the balance a bit in their favor. The states…