Author: Defenceline Webdesk

Twelve companies are now competing to build space-based interceptors for President Donald Trump’s sprawling Golden Dome missile defense shield, the Space Force announced Friday. In late 2025 and early this year, the Space Force awarded 20 Other Transaction Authority agreements, flexible contracts not bound by certain federal procurement regulations, Space Force Systems Command said in a news release. The awards are worth up to $3.2 billion, and the dozen companies range from well-known prime contractors to smaller and defense players. They include Anduril, Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics, GITAI USA Inc, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Quindar Inc, Raytheon, Sci-Tec Inc, SpaceX, True…

The Indian Navy is increasingly prioritising the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) programme, which could lead to the cancellation of plans for additional Rafale-M acquisitions.This shift reflects a strategic push towards self-reliance, despite delays in TEDBF development and the looming retirement of the MiG-29K fleet.The Indian Navy’s carrier aviation strategy is at a crossroads. Its current fleet of around 40 MiG-29K deck-based fighters, inducted between 2009 and 2017, has long been plagued by technical deficiencies, including frequent engine failures, poor serviceability, and structural shortcomings flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General.Availability rates between 2014 and 2016 were as low…

Warner, S&S Out front is the Air Force, which already has a number on its plane: F-47. The budget includes $5 billion to accelerate the development of the Boeing “air dominance” fighter,… Source link

WASHINGTON — For the first time since 2003, three aircraft carriers and their accompanying strike groups are now operating in the Middle East, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.  After leaving Naval Station Norfolk in March, the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush arrived in the Middle East on Thursday, according to CENTCOM, where it joins both the Gerald R. Ford and the Abraham Lincoln as part of a historic military buildup to support Operation Epic Fury.  “For the first time in decades, three aircraft carriers are operating in the Middle East at the same time,” CENTCOM said today in a post…

India is moving towards the establishment of an Integrated Rocket Force (IRF) as a direct counter to China’s People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF).The initiative is designed to consolidate India’s conventional missile capabilities under a unified command structure, thereby addressing the significant disparity in missile numbers and enhancing the country’s ability to conduct deep conventional strikes.The IRF will bring together systems such as BrahMos, Pralay, and Pinaka, creating a cohesive force capable of executing precise, high-volume attacks against Chinese installations. This marks a decisive step in strengthening India’s non-contact warfare capabilities and bridging the operational gap with China.The primary objective…

L. Seligman, et al., WSJ John Phelan refused to accept his dismissal until he heard from the president Source link

WASHINGTON — The Space Force has quietly tapped a dozen companies to bring to fruition a key element of President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense shield: space-based interceptors (SBIs), which the service expects should be ready for demonstration in as little as two years. In a press release today, the Space Force revealed that 20 contracts — collectively totaling a potential $3.2 billion — have been awarded to the 12 firms over the last several months under a dedicated SBI program. According to the Space Force, the companies will help construct a proliferated low earth orbit “constellation of interceptors…

India’s continuing interest in the Russian Su-57 stealth fighter has revived debate about whether the Indian Air Force could adopt Russia’s Manned-Unmanned Teaming model rather than the American approach.The IAF is grappling with a severe fighter squadron shortage, operating around 30 squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42. Delays in indigenous programs, particularly the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, have forced New Delhi to consider stop-gap measures, including the Su-57.Despite official claims of not actively pursuing the deal, reports suggest the option remains on the table.The Su-57 two-seater variant is central to Russia’s MUM-T concept. In this model, the pilot flies…

Dita Liliansa, The Interpreter A levy on Malacca transit would be illegal under UNCLOS – the same treaty that confirmed Indonesia’s archipelagic statehood. Source link

WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin has claimed victory in a longstanding competition to sell fighter jets to Peru, though senior officials in Lima appear to be at odds with each other over the fate of the deal. Lockheed “welcomes the Government of Peru’s announcement to purchase 12 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft to modernize the nation’s fighter fleet and strengthen its national defense capabilities,” the American aerospace giant said in a press release on Thursday. Lockheed VP for integrated fighter group Mike Shoemaker was quoted as saying, “Peru’s choice of the F-16 underscores the aircraft’s unmatched operational performance and combat record, as well…