Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

Introduction Age of Empires II is the seminal RTS game that defined a generation of players. Released in 1999, it went on to become the most popular and influential title the RTS genre had ever seen, and its influence is still felt to this very day, with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition still ranking amongst the top 10 most played strategy games in 2026, with its community being more alive than ever. Tight controls, perfected RTS fundamentals of resource gathering, and city-building are hallmarks of AoE II, so it’s only natural that we look forward to finding other similar…

Israeli company Elbit Systems has signed contracts with an international customer, in an aggregate value of approximately $270 million, in the field of advanced ISR & Targeting payloads, to be performed over a period of up to six years. Under the contracts, Elbit Systems will supply systems from its SPECTRO family of multi- spectral electro-optic Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) solutions. The SPECTRO systems integrate Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR), Visible and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) high-definition imaging channels, advanced laser designation capabilities and AI-based analytics technologies, enabling advanced target identification, tracking and long-range intelligence gathering capabilities for airborne, naval and…

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) confronts challenges on multiple fronts. RAND Project AIR FORCE’s (PAF’s) mission is to help DAF leaders make informed, research-based decisions to meet those challenges. We provide objective analyses of complex problems and effective solutions for confronting those problems. We clarify issues that are often clouded by uncertainty or disagreement and develop solid courses of action for the U.S. Air Force (USAF), the U.S. Space Force (USSF), and the DAF as a whole. Our standard of success is very high: we must earn DAF leaders’ trust in the quality and objectivity of our research;…

Recent years have made it clear that technological dependencies can become a security risk. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, growing tensions between the US and China, conflicts in the Middle East and attacks on critical infrastructure all demonstrate that supply chains, communication channels and digital services have long been part of geopolitical conflicts. Against this backdrop, digital sovereignty becomes a strategic necessity. For armed forces and organisations with a security mandate, this means ensuring information superiority and command and control capabilities under all conditions. Dependencies on individual technology providers, proprietary interfaces or uncontrollable cloud and platform services can compromise…

Arman Tsarukyan might never meet Islam Makhachev in the cage again, but he knows there’s a way he can still get the better of him.The two first fought in Tsarukyan’s debut in 2019, when Tsarukyan, then just 22 years old, jumped on a short-notice opportunity to fight Makhachev at a UFC event in Russia. Makhachev won a hard-fought battle and became UFC champion three years later, with Tsarukyan eventually working his way back to a title shot against Makhachev at UFC 311 in January 2025. That opportunity infamously ended in disaster when a back injury forced Tsarukyan out of the…

The U.S. launched new air strikes on Iranian targets on Tuesday, quashing hopes that an exchange of fire last weekend might not lead to a wider renewal of hostilities.Oil prices had already risen after that first exchange of direct attacks since July and after reports of two tankers being hit on Monday leaving the Strait, the global oil supply waterway that Iran has effectively closed to shipping. Brent crude futures, already up 2% on the day, jumped almost 2% more on the reports. [O/R]Tehran remained defiant, warning that it would prevent oil being exported from the Gulf, despite a threat…

CARBONDALE, PA, September 1, 2026 – Gentex Corporation, a global leader in advanced personal protection and situational awareness solutions, today announced its continued support of Allied Forces worldwide through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) contract, equipping military personnel in more than 20 NATO nations with proven, mission-ready headborne systems and capabilities. The contract reinforces Gentex’s commitment to delivering trusted, high-performance solutions that enhance protection, interoperability, and operational effectiveness for allied partners. Recent program awards further accelerate this momentum, reinforcing Gentex’s Ops-Core® brand’s position as a trusted partner to allied forces worldwide. Gentex’s Ops-Core was selected by the Czech…

The Department of Defense is still failing to safeguard the electronic health records of top government officials, according to a new watchdog report.In 2021, a DoD Inspector General audit found that snoopers were able to access the protected health information, or PHI, of “well-known DOD personnel.” Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs found that VA staff — often out of simple curiosity — had improperly accessed records of then-vice presidential candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Walz.The Defense Health Agency has since tightened access to health records of well-known personnel, according to a follow-up DOD IG audit published Monday. But what…

More than half a century after the F-15 Eagle first took off, the Pentagon is preparing to spend as much as $131.23 billion keeping the legendary fighter in production, upgrading the aircraft in service and supporting flights around the world. The Boeing Co. received the massive contract Monday for the F-15 Eagle Crest program, according to the Department of War contract announcement. The agreement covers all portions of the aircraft, including the maintenance of every part needed to keep it functional. Government-operated depot maintenance capabilities are intended to preserve critical F-15 weapons system capabilities for the Air Force, Air National…

The best attack helicopters in the world are no longer judged simply by how many missiles they can carry or how fast they can fly. Modern gunships are closer to flying sensor-and-weapons networks, able to find targets, share information, strike from standoff distances, and keep operating when the battlefield gets messy.That shift matters in 2026. An attack helicopter may look spectacular on paper, but its real value comes from how well its sensors, weapons, protection, communications, and crew systems work together.A helicopter with a slightly smaller weapons load can be more capable if it can detect a target earlier, identify…