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People’s Daily Online (Xinhua) 07:55, May 21, 2026 BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hailed a “new stage” in bilateral ties as they agreed to further extend a China-Russia friendship treaty and pledged to work together for a more just and equitable world order. Putin’s two-day state visit marked his 25th trip to China. Xi and Putin held talks, chatted over tea, visited a photo exhibition, and witnessed the signing of a slew of cooperation documents in Beijing. Amid a fluid and turbulent international landscape, the two countries have developed…

42 Aircraft Lost in Operation Epic Fury | Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University wpDiscuzInsert

People’s Daily Online (Xinhua) 14:38, May 21, 2026 TOKYO, May 21 (Xinhua) — The U.S. military will deploy its Typhon mid-range missile launcher and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to southwestern Japan next month for joint exercises with the Self-Defense Forces, local media reported, after the previous deployment drew strong local opposition. The systems will be deployed to the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Kanoya Air Base in Kagoshima Prefecture during the Valiant Shield and Orient Shield joint exercises between June and September, Kyodo News reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. After the drills conclude, the Typhon and HIMARS…

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org The Air Force pulled a KC-135 out of storage at the “Boneyard” in early April, three weeks after another one of the service’s Stratotankers crashed in Iraq during Operation Epic Fury. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach mentioned during testimony to the House Armed Service Committee on May 20 that service had recently reactivated a KC-135 from its massive aircraft storage facility at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.…

Army Directive 2026-07 has officially introduced the Combat Field Test (CFT), a physical battery designed to better assess the capabilities for soldiers in combat arms specialties. Paired with the Army Fitness Test (AFT), these assessment mechanisms and scoring standards now reflect a balance between relative (AFT) and absolute (CFT) measures of fitness and physical capability. While this new test has increased the fitness ceiling for soldiers in combat branches, the Army should next address the floor. Under this new policy, soldiers in combat specialties with permanent profiles preventing them from performing any primary event on the AFT are ineligible to…

Even as the Army abruptly cancelled a planned deployment to Poland earlier this year, the service is continuing to expand military cooperation with the country through the Pentagon’s counter-drone initiative, the Army announced on Wednesday. The service touts the program as a way to help Washington and its allies purchase defense technology faster, as the U.S.-managed marketplace connects partner nations with emerging technology in an attempt to speed up slow procurement systems that have often lagged behind ever-changing threats.Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on Thursday posted a photo on social media with Poland’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, Paweł Zalewski, as…

Building on the operational legacy of the FN MAG® GPMG, the latest TACTICAL variant has officially arrived. This release introduces a specialised Long Rail Conversion Kit designed to enhance the platform. By focusing on ergonomics and dual optic capability, the update ensures the FN MAG® series remains a dominant force on the evolving battlefield. Bold. Accurate. Reliable. By combining over 135 years of engineering mastery with direct feedback from the field, the FN MAG® TACTICAL with Long Rail is a variant of the long-standing, widely used and combat-proven FN MAG® GPMG. Originally developed by FN Herstal, the FN MAG® is a global…

We’re now just over two months away from the launch of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and players are about to get their chance to try out the latest version of the game. With a new Marvel Tokon demo coming to Combo Breaker 2026 this weekend, Arc System Works has now released the full movelist for Black Panther so players can be prepared. The developers note that Shuri is a speed-based…

Credit: AUS DoDDefense Feeds, Canberra — Australia AH-64E Apache delivery expands Army attack capability as the Australian Army receives two additional AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters under its ongoing aviation modernization program. The arrival marks another major step in replacing the Army’s aging Tiger attack helicopter fleet with one of the world’s most advanced combat rotorcraft platforms.The AH-64E Apache Guardian is widely regarded as one of the most capable attack helicopters currently in service. Equipped with advanced targeting systems, improved networking capability and upgraded survivability features, the aircraft is designed to operate in complex battlefield environments while supporting both conventional and…

Welterweights are headed to OKC.Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight fan favorite Kevin Holland is set to collide with rising prospect Jacobe Smith at UFC Oklahoma City on Sat., July 18, 2026, inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.Holland (29-15-1) enters the matchup coming off a much-needed unanimous decision victory over Randy Brown at UFC 327, snapping a two-fight skid.The longtime UFC action fighter has alternated wins and losses over his last several appearances and currently sits at 4-4 across his previous eight fights.Now, he gets another dangerous up-and-comer thrown at him.Smith (12-0) has quickly become one of the most violent…