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The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. A U.S. Navy uncrewed surface vessel (USV) found and rescued the crew of a U.S. Army Apache that went down overnight near the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman. This is the first known use of a drone boat executing a personnel recovery action as part of a military search and rescue operation, and it’s likely a glimpse of what’s to come. The cause of the incident is otherwise under investigation. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)…

The UFC White House card on Sunday could go down as one of the biggest cards in history, but Dana White still has to play promoter to sell the fights.Perhaps the best example was the UFC CEO talking about the magnitude surrounding the co-main event where Alex Pereira attempts to become the first ever three-division champion when he moves to heavyweight to challenge Ciryl Gane for the interim title. Pereira is already a massively popular superstar after winning belts at light heavyweight and middleweight, but he would accomplish something no one else has ever done by capturing a third title.“If…

The Gabriel Bonfim showed his continued evolution as he claimed a shutout victory over Belal Muhammad to put himself into the upper echelon of the UFC welterweight division. But any talk of a title shot will have to wait for now. Bonfim looked outstanding in his 50-45, 50-45, 50-45 win over the former undisputed champion at the Meta APEX on Saturday night as he showed that he’s significantly leveled up his game. However, despite his notable victory, “Marretinha” still has a way to go before he can challenge for the 170-pound title. The good news is he seems to know…

Americans these days agree on very little about politics and international relations. But there is a growing consensus around two fundamental points. One is that the long-standing liberal world order—founded after World War II and based on a system of U.S.-led alliances, multilateral institutions, relatively open trade, and the defense of rules and norms such as state sovereignty, nonaggression, and freedom of navigation—is now dead and buried. It had been waning for some time, the logic goes, but the second Trump administration is proving to be the final nail in the coffin. The second point of emerging consensus is that…

Credit: SGT Matthew Bickerton.Defense Feeds – Canberra. The Australia Tests First Locally Built AS9 Huntsman Howitzer milestone marks a major achievement for the country’s defense industry as Canberra advances efforts to strengthen sovereign manufacturing capabilities while modernizing the Australian Army’s artillery force.Australia has successfully tested its first domestically produced AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzer, representing a key step in the country’s ambitious land force modernization program. The platform forms part of a broader initiative aimed at improving long-range fire support capabilities while establishing a stronger local defense industrial base capable of supporting future military requirements.The AS9 Huntsman is expected to become…

He was standing in the ring at Lumpinee Stadium when the announcer started speaking. He thought he was getting another bonus. Then the word “contract” landed. He still could not fully process it when he walked out. Taiga “Black Samurai” Orii stopped Julian Mayorga via ground-and-pound TKO at 3:03 of the first round at The Inner Circle on June 5 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, to claim the US$100,000 ONE Championship contract. The 30-year-old Japanese fighter has now finished every opponent he has ever faced across his professional career, adding Mayorga to a list that includes Zar Mawia in…

Cesar Ruiz is making sure to tap into the very best training methods available while eying up the 2026 season. And, as the 2020 first-round NFL draft pick explains to M&F, he’s added Artificial Intelligence to his already impressive program of prep. The 6’4” offensive lineman’s desire to build the best version of himself was ramped up as a result of injuries such as a fractured foot in 2022, leading him to lean into mobility, flexibility, and recovery. More recently, he’s been working through an issue with his knee, but as the new season approaches, the man from New Jersey…

The Philippine Navy on June 9, 2026, welcomed the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-21) into active service. It is the second Sulayman-class OPV built by HD HHI in South Korea. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the commissioning ceremony as part of the Navy’s 128th anniversary celebration. The event also marked the first time that one of the Navy’s biggest warships was able to berth at the headquarters in Manila following dredging work completed earlier this year. After the commissioning, Marcos briefly toured the ship with senior defense and military officials and met with members of its crew.…

As armed forces worldwide modernise to address increasingly complex and rapidly evolving threats, the need for integrated, mission-ready defence technologies has never been greater. At Eurosatory 2026, MKU Limited will showcase a comprehensive portfolio of solutions designed to enhance the survivability, situational awareness and operational effectiveness of soldiers and platforms across land, air and maritime domains. With over four decades of experience, MKU has evolved into a global defence technology company trusted by military and security forces in more than 100 countries. Today, the company protects over 3 million soldiers and has delivered protection and survivability solutions for more than…

The nation’s largest federal employee union last week urged House lawmakers to once again bar the Defense Department from implementing President Trump’s executive order stripping two-thirds of the federal workforce of its collective bargaining rights.In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order banning unions at most federal agencies, citing a seldom-used provision of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act to exempt workforces from federal sector labor law under the auspices of national security. A second order, signed last August, added a half-dozen more agencies to the initial edict.The measure—and its implementation—have been tied up in a myriad of court cases…