Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

Introduction  Since Fall 2024, actors affiliated with the Russian state have been responsible for, or associated with, a growing series of disruptive incidents near the Baltic Sea. The incidents, conducted by an increasingly militarized shadow fleet of commercial vessels, involve various forms of territorial violations, disruptions in commerce, and acts of intimidation directed against countries bordering the sea. The increasingly aggressive maritime “grey zone” operations have become more sophisticated in recent months and have coincided with a more militant Russian posture toward Baltic members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). While Russia has a long history of hybrid warfare…

Dignitaries inspect a scale model of Vietnam’s future multirole anti-submarine warfare frigate. (VTV)Vietnam has started construction of a new domestically designed anti-submarine frigate that is set to become the Vietnam People’s Navy’s (VPN) largest surface combatant when completed in around three years’ time.A steel-cutting ceremony was held on 10 August at Song Thu Corporation’s shipyard in Da Nang, attended by representatives from Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence, Communist Party and VPN.Vietnamese state media said the unnamed vessel will be equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, air defence missiles and advanced anti-ship missiles developed domestically by Viettel and associated…

The battlefield in Ukraine is becoming increasingly transparent, increasingly lethal, and increasingly difficult to command. Unmanned aircraft systems watch movement far beyond the forward line. First-person-view drones turn fleeting observation into immediate attack. Electronic warfare contests communications and navigation. Digital networks push intelligence, imagery, targeting information, and orders across formations at speeds that would have been inconceivable even a few short years ago. Russia and Ukraine have consequently been forced into a continuous cycle of tactical and technological adaptation. This has understandably concentrated Western attention on technology. Yet one of the most consequential lessons from Ukraine is less technological. Drones…

This Saturday in Philadelphia, the #UFC returns with a numbered event in UFC 330. In the main event, top pound-for-pound fighter Islam Makhachev defends the welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry, while Mackenzie Dern faces Gillian Robertson in a strawweight title matchup. Despite the card having two title fights, does there seem to me very little buzz for it?On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel discusses UFC 330, the Makhachev vs. Machado Garry matchup and how the latter can truly shake things up, Dern vs. Robertson, and the card as a whole after Wednesday’s media day. Additionally,…

For Azerbaijan, the significance of Armenia’s parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026 extends beyond the political orientation of its immediate neighbour. While much of the international discussion in recent months surrounding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s re-election has focused on Armenia’s developing relationship with the European Union and the gradual erosion of Russian influence in the South Caucasus, Baku views the outcome through a somewhat different lens. The key question was not whether Armenia is continuing to move ‘closer’ to Europe, but whether the government in Yerevan is actually capable of implementing political and legal (constitutional) commitments Baku wants in order…

A Maryland Air Force base was selected to receive nearly 30 HH-60W helicopters as a replacement for the base’s existing UH-1N “Huey” helicopters. Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, will receive 26 HH-60Ws, an advanced combat search and rescue helicopter, to replace their 26 UH-1N medium utility helicopters, according to a Wednesday release. As part of the transition to the HH-60W “Whiskey,” the base will gain 60 active-duty manpower positions, per the statement.JBA will stand up the 5th Helicopter Squadron on Aug. 27 as the first unit on base to receive the new helicopters. The 1st Helicopter Squadron will continue to fly…

Trending:Conor McGregor didn’t want to fight at UFC 329, says Din ThomasCredit: Steven Ryan/GettyUFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov says his father was paramount in defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 229. Despite being years removed from his final UFC fight, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov remains one of the biggest stars in Mixed Martial Arts. His legendary win over former two-division champion Conor McGregor remains one of the biggest victories in MMA history. Before, during, and after their fight, tensions between Nurmagomedov and McGregor remained high. Nurmagomedov opted to retire at UFC 254 following the tragic death of his…

PASCAGOULA, Miss.—Thick puffs of clouds didn’t stop the sun from beating down on the shipyard. And only a strong morning breeze could cut that Gulf Coast heat. But prospective welders for HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding need not immediately contend with the elements to get a taste of the trade—thanks to the yard’s air-conditioned virtual-reality welding lab. “If you’ve never worked with your hands before, or used a welding torch, it can feel intimidating,” Brian Blanchette, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, told Defense One. “Starting in a virtual-reality setting provides a controlled, low‑pressure environment. It not only helps reduce that initial fear, but it…

Far from being an underdog, Lucy Underdown has secured a third “Britain’s Strongest Woman” title after dominating the field once again, with her trademark power and sheer determination. Underdown, who is a serving police officer in Kent, England, first took the title of Britain’s Strongest Woman in 2024, and has won again this year to mark her third consecutive victory. “What a great competition!” wrote Underdown in a celebratory post via Instagram. “I knew exactly what I needed to do and when it came down to the competition, I had a sense of calm I have never felt before. I…

The intelligence community’s lead IT shop has launched a shared classified jobs portal, as the IC looks to boost its artificial intelligence talent and other expertise. Doug Cossa, the IC chief information officer, said the Office of the Director of National Intelligence launched “ICJobs” several weeks ago. He said it’s only available to those with high-level security clearance at the top secret/sensitive compartmented information (TS/SCI) level. “ICJobs is a platform like USAJobs, but on the high side, on the TS/SCI network, to where we can have our staff get their resumes out there in a classified manner, and our job…