Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

MATBOCK has been watching how operators actually use their gear, and what they saw was a lot of Graverobber™ bags showing up in drone operations. Rather than let users continue to adapt a medical pack to a mission set it wasn’t designed for, MATBOCK did what MATBOCK does, they went back to the drawing board and built something purpose-built. The result is the new ARES Drone Series, two packs built from the ground up to support drone assault operations, carrying the DNA of the Graverobber™ line but optimized specifically for drone operations. ARES Drone Assault Pack The smaller of the…

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Amid efforts to ramp up ammunition production in Australia, the government announced a A$72 million – around US$51 million – contract to set up an M795 155mm artillery projectile production line there.The deal with Rheinmetall Nioa Munitions (RNM) was announced on June 8. It will see the joint venture forging 155mm shells for the Australian Army and others at its Maryborough facility in Queensland.Notably, this is the first time M795 shells will be forged outside North America. The ammunition is in heavy demand, as Ukraine chews through 5,500-6,000 rounds every day.The M795 rounds are fired by…

In late May 2026, South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back unveiled a roadmap to achieving one of Seoul’s top military acquisition goals: nuclear-powered submarines. This roadmap is heading in the wrong direction.During last month’s inaugural meeting of the Future Defense Strategy Committee, South Korea published its Basic Plan for the Development of Nuclear-Powered Submarines. Chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, the committee was formed to help South Korea build robust, self-reliant defense capabilities. During the event, Lee’s opening remarks underscored the symbolic significance of the nuclear submarine capability and stressed the program’s role in “strengthening the Republic of Korea’s defense…

Credit: Defense FeedsDefense Feeds, Paris – The VBCI 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle is receiving a new generation of battlefield protection upgrades as the French Army adapts its armored forces to the growing threat posed by drones and loitering munitions.Displayed at Eurosatory 2026, the latest version of the combat vehicle demonstrates how lessons learned from recent conflicts are reshaping armored warfare and forcing military planners to rethink vehicle survivability on the modern battlefield.The upgraded platform reflects a broader trend among NATO armies, which are increasingly seeking practical solutions to counter the widespread use of reconnaissance drones, first-person-view attack drones and precision-guided…

The increasing importance of artillery, highlighted in the Ukrainian conflict, is leading several companies to add new systems to existing ones. At Eurosatory CIO, the 50/50 consortium between IDV and Leonardo, unveils its VBM 155, which puts together the artillery capabilities of the Leonardo La Spezia facility and the expertise on wheeled chassis of Bolzano-based IDV, recently acquired by the main Italian defence industry group EDR On-Line readers already had some anticipations on such a project in late November 2025, when Leonardo unveiled the technology demonstrator of a fully automated artillery turret fitted with a 155/52 mm ordnance. The demonstrator…

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran reached an initial agreement early Monday that would extend their shaky ceasefire and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but challenges immediately loomed, including Israel insisting it would hold onto land seized in Lebanon as it battles Hezbollah. Details of the deal, which would potentially allow desperately needed oil and natural gas to reach the global market through the critical waterway, were not immediately released. Iran signaled implementation would not start until the signing, which key mediator Pakistan said would take place Friday in Switzerland. But…

People’s Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:58, June 15, 2026 TOKYO, June 15 (Xinhua) — The Japanese government plans to rename the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) as the “Air and Space Self-Defense Force” within fiscal 2026, further extending Japan’s security framework into outer space, a move that has sparked concerns in Japan over military expansion, according to a report by the Nikkei. The report published on Sunday said relevant legislation is currently under deliberation in parliament. If enacted, it would mark the first change in the names of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces since the establishment of the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces…

MBDA, the European leader in complex weapon systems and a global player providing battlefield superiority, will be showcasing at Eurosatory 2026 a comprehensive portfolio of sovereign defence solutions to address the needs of armed forces in an increasingly uncertain and conflictual strategic environment. As Europe and its allies accelerate rearmament – against a backdrop of ongoing conflicts, widespread use of missiles and drones in mass – MBDA is meeting the challenge, combining cutting-edge high-performance systems with innovative effectors tailored to the needs of mass, cost-efficiency, and adaptability – embodying a new “smart mass” approach. Designed and produced through a new…

America’s defense industrial base cannot build the Navy out of the threat it faces. Decades of industry consolidation, persistent resource shortages, and inconsistent demand signals have delayed the production of critical vessels and munitions. With production bottlenecks stacking up, the Navy may have no choice but to let its allies do some of the building.Both the National Defense Strategy and Navy Warfighting Instructions highlight how mobilizing allies can field more forces to the mutual benefit of the United States and its strategic partners. Likewise, the latest U.S. Navy Shipbuilding Plan stresses the importance of allied investment and production.The Trump administration…

The Trump administration still needs to determine how it will remove nuclear materials from Iran after officials from both countries sign documents to end the war, a senior official said Friday.“This is very combustible stuff, very volatile stuff. We’re not just going to, like, go down there with a backhoe and a guy with a backpack and start taking it out,” the official, who did not want to be identified by name, said on a call with reporters organized by the White House. “The technical details need to be figured out, but I think there’s a commitment to do that.”Iranian…