Author: Defenceline Webdesk
The development and proliferation of loitering munitions since 2020 have forced a significant rethink of anti-air warfare (AAW) planning and procurement. In the conflicts that have occurred since 2020 (i.e., the Second Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, the most recent Indo-Pak Conflict, and the ongoing US-Iran War), loitering munitions have proven that the traditional cost barriers to conducting long-range, high-impact strikes at scale no longer stand.1 In addition, the cost of stopping loitering munitions and drone swarms with traditional AAW solutions – notably surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) – is now prohibitive relative to the scale and…
India’s indigenously developed electric heavyweight torpedo, Takshak, is set to begin trials soon, according to reports. The plan is to conduct the tests from the Kalvari‑class advanced diesel‑electric attack submarines by the end of 2026, reported The Week.Initial dry and wet harbour trials will be carried out to ensure safe launch procedures without causing damage to submarine sensors or the exterior hull. If these are successful, live trials using actual explosives will follow in 2027 against decommissioned ships or underwater targets.Takshak has been developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The torpedo,…
USNI News The Pentagon’s request for new shipbuilding funds is among the highest-ever since the Korean War, rivaling the Reagan-era 600-ship spending plan Source link
WASHINGTON — A General Atomics prototype built for the Air Force’s budding Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone wingman program crashed in the California desert today after takeoff, the company said in a statement. Nobody was injured in the mishap, which occurred “following takeoff from a company-owned airport” at approximately 1 pm Pacific time, the statement said. Flight tests for General Atomics’ YFQ-42A have now been halted “temporarily in an abundance of caution” and will “resume when deemed appropriate.” General Atomics owns and operates Gray Butte Airport near Palmdale, Calif. An Air Force spokesperson said in a statement to Breaking Defense that…
Iranian Shahed-type loitering munitions began striking Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) targets in March 2026. The first call for counter-drone help went to Kyiv, not Islamabad. Within weeks, Ukraine signed 10-year defence cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) covering interceptor drone exports, counter-drone training, and – in Qatar’s case – joint manufacturing facilities. By mid-March, 228 Ukrainian counter-drone specialists were deployed across five Gulf states, establishing sensor networks, command-and-control (C2) protocols, and intercept crew training programmes. This is a disquieting outcome for Pakistan on multiple levels. Pakistan signed a defence cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia…
The Indian Naval Ship Sagar arrived in the Maldives this Monday, marking the very first port call of its current overseas deployment.This arrival serves as a significant milestone for the mission, which is being carried out alongside a diverse international contingent.The vessel is carrying 39 international crew members representing 16 different countries, including personnel from the Maldives National Defence Force. This collective presence was highlighted by the Indian Embassy in the Maldives, which noted that the visit reflects India’s overarching vision of achieving leadership through partnership and progress through peace.This deployment represents the second edition of the Indian Ocean Ship…
Collin Hayward, Small Wars Journal When directed by national leadership to pursue the destabilization of an adversary regime, information warfare professionals employ a phased approach Source link
WASHINGTON — The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking new hardware and software that can fuse together disparate data feeds and provide a real-time picture to aircrews that lack adequate situational awareness on the modern battlefield, according to a new solicitation. The DIU notice thus seeks vendors who can build a prototype modular, open mission engine (OMEN) — essentially a platform to plug in new feeds and applications. The solicitation says the OMEN “should enable rapid development, deployment, and sustainment of mission applications” and include an open software development kit, published application interfaces, commercial grade user interface and cross-platform compatibility. Many…
President Donald Trump said his administration is going after the news outlet that first reported a second Air Force officer was missing after an F-15E Strike Eagle went down over Iran, he said during a press conference Monday. The officer was rescued Saturday.Trump said Iran wasn’t aware until the news report that the fighter jet’s weapons systems officer was still in hiding after U.S. special operations forces quickly recovered the pilot following a crash on Friday. He did not specify which outlet he was speaking of, though both Channel 12 news in Israel and The Associated Press reported Friday that…
The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has revealed the first look of the fully integrated Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE), also known as the Kaveri Dry Engine, paired with the Advanced Full Authority Digital Engine Control Unit (AFADECU).This milestone marks a pivotal advancement in India’s indigenous turbofan engine program, designed specifically to power the First Vehicle of the Remotely Piloted Strike Aircraft (RPSA).The black-and-white image showcases the engine’s intricate assembly, highlighting exposed turbine sections, fuel lines, and control modules, underscoring its readiness for ground and flight testing.The KDE is a non-afterburning variant of…