UK Ministry of DefenceJun 23, 2026
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Toponymic (place name) factfile papers produced by the Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (PCGN).
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Defense NewsFeb 19, 2026
Iran-US nuclear talks may fail due to both nations’ red lines – but that doesn’t make them futile
"Talks do not necessarily need an end point — in the shape of a deal — for them to have purpose," argues an international relations professor.
The War ZoneFeb 18, 2026
Russia Eyes Balloon Communications System To Fill Massive Gap Left After Losing Starlink
SpaceX has cut off Russia's access to Starlink and now Moscow is scrambling to find a replacement. The post Russia Eyes Balloon Communications System To Fill Massive Gap Left After Losing Starlink...
The War ZoneFeb 18, 2026
What Iran’s Naval Exercise With China And Russia In The Strait Of Hormuz Actually Means
The Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercise comes as the U.S. is flowing forces to the Middle East ahead of a possible attack on Iran. The post What Iran’s Naval Exercise With China And Russia In The...
Breaking DefenseFeb 18, 2026
Canada is still interested in Golden Dome. What can it bring – and how could it fall apart?
“Those [Golden Dome] conversations are ongoing, and we will only participate if it is right for both parties,” a spokesperson with Canada’s Minister of Defense told Breaking Defense.
Defense NewsFeb 18, 2026
Envoys signal no breakthrough on bridging Russia and Ukraine’s military, political differences
The negotiations in Switzerland were the third round of direct talks organized by the U.S. Expectations for significant progress in Geneva were low.
Defense OneFeb 18, 2026
The D Brief: Sentinel’s progress; Buildup near Iran; Canada’s decoupling plan; Russia targets Ukrainian energy; And a bit more.
Initial Sentinel ICBM expected by early 2030, Air Force says. Service leaders say that the program will enter its engineering and manufacturing development phase this year, one year earlier than...
USNI NewsFeb 18, 2026
Russian Surface Action Group Underway for Asia-Pacific Deployment
A surface action group from the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet recently departed Vladivostok for an Asia-Pacific deployment. Corvettes RFS Sovershenny (333) and RFS Rezkiy (343) and fleet oiler Pechenga...
Breaking DefenseFeb 18, 2026
SCOPA exec details Saudi firm’s relaunch, reveals ambitious aims
“A company cannot work with East and West. You have to make strategic decisions. And the decision has been made within SCOPA. We’re working with NATO countries,” company executive Walid Abu Khaled...
Defense NewsFeb 18, 2026
Germany won’t build nukes but could flash French, UK weapons to deter foes, Merz says
Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested examining whether France and the U.K. could be elevated to the same level as the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
War on the RocksFeb 18, 2026
China Now Finds Itself in al-Qaeda’s Crosshairs
Could China replace the United States atop the target list of transnational jihadist groups like al-Qaeda? A recent statement released by Sheikh Saad bin Atef al Awlaqi, the emir of al-Qaeda in the...
Breaking DefenseFeb 17, 2026
Venezuela operation relied on little-known cyber center, official says
A Joint Integration Fire Center to better integrate cyber and non-kinetic effects was proved out during operations in Venezuela last month.
USNI NewsFeb 17, 2026
Coast Guard Highlights Port Protection Mission, Joint Force Support in Indo-Pacific Wartime Scenario
SAN DIEGO – The Coast Guard is ready to protect crucial ports and supply lines from drone attacks during a potential wartime scenario in the Indo-Pacific in support of Navy and Marine Corps...
War on the RocksFeb 17, 2026
Recalibrating U.S. Intelligence Strategy for an Uncertain Global Order
In the wake of 9/11, the newly established Office of the Director of National Intelligence produced the nation’s first National Intelligence Strategy, a document explicitly intended to guide reforms...
War on the RocksFeb 16, 2026
The Full Spectrum of Victory
Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection...
USNI NewsFeb 16, 2026
NATO Launches Arctic Sentry in High North in Response to Russian Activity
NATO launched multi-domain activity Arctic Sentry in the High North, its third such operation in the past year. “With Russia’s increasing military activity and China’s growing interest in the Arctic,...
USNI NewsFeb 16, 2026
Report to Congress on Iranian Nuclear Programs
The following is the Feb. 9 2026, Congressional Research Service In Sight report, Iran’s Nuclear Program and UN Sanctions Reimposition. From the report UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015),...
Defense NewsFeb 16, 2026
Slovakia in talks with US to buy four more F-16s
The additional jets would enable the country to shoulder its own air-policing missions, according to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Defense NewsFeb 16, 2026
Pentagon official blesses Europe’s push to spend defense money at home
“Otherwise people in Germany or Poland or whatever are going to say: ‘Why are we only sending money across the Atlantic?’” said the Pentagon policy chief.
War on the RocksFeb 16, 2026
The Sound of Munich: Autonomy, Anxiety, and the Twilight of Transatlantic Order
Munich was warmer than Washington this weekend, both in weather and in sentiment. Neither development was widely forecast. The sense of crisis in transatlantic relations was plain, especially on the...
UK Ministry of DefenceFeb 14, 2026
UK Carrier Strike Group to deploy to North Atlantic to keep UK safe
UK will bolster regional security by deploying a Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North
Defense OneFeb 13, 2026
The D Brief: DHS shutdown likely; US troops leave al-Tanf; CNO’s plea to industry; Crowded robot-boat market; And a bit more.
The Department of Homeland Security is on track for a shutdown this weekend after Senate Democrats rejected a GOP-crafted funding bill that they said provided inadequate guardrails on federal...
Defense NewsFeb 13, 2026
India clears the way for landmark deal to acquire French Rafale jets
“India sees a kindred spirit in France because France also has always talked about retaining strategic autonomy," one analyst said.
War on the RocksFeb 13, 2026
Running to Stand Still: Russian Nuclear Modernization after New START
John Maynard Keynes once wrote, “The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones”: an apt depiction of the current discourse and debate of what the world will look like...
Defense OneFeb 12, 2026
Men lie, strategies lie—numbers don’t
The word counts of the new National Defense Strategy.
Defense OneFeb 12, 2026
The D Brief: El Paso, explained; Navy ships collide; Marines’ aviation plan; Estonia’s warning; And a bit more.
Border patrol agents prompted the extraordinary U.S. airspace closure over El Paso Tuesday night and into Wednesday after using a high-powered laser to shoot down what was later revealed to be a party...
Defense NewsFeb 12, 2026
Russia will uphold nuclear weapons limits of expired treaty, foreign minister says
To address the stated concerns in Moscow and Washington, a multilateral pact would be required, a process that experts say could be exceedingly tricky.
Defense NewsFeb 12, 2026
China’s new maritime combat drone poised for global success: analysts
Beijing is positioning itself as a drone provider for certain countries, while the country's next-gen fighter jet faces more uncertain export prospects.
C4ISRNETFeb 12, 2026
China’s new maritime combat drone poised for global success: analysts
Beijing is positioning itself as a drone provider for certain countries, while the country's next-gen fighter jet faces more uncertain export prospects.
UK Ministry of DefenceFeb 12, 2026
UK announces urgent new air defence package for Ukraine worth over half a billion pounds
New half a billion pound package of air defence for Ukraine, including £150 million for NATO PURL, and additional 1,000 UK-manufactured missiles.
War on the RocksFeb 12, 2026
Gilded Capability: Overinvestment and the Survivability Paradox
Infernos raged aboard Japanese aircraft carriers after U.S. Navy dive-bombers found their marks during the Battle of Midway. Many Japanese pilots were incinerated in ready rooms and in the cockpits of...
Naval NewsFeb 12, 2026
First Chinese Type 09V Nuclear Powered Attack Submarine Appears At Bohai
Submarine yard Bohai Shipbuilding earlier this week moved the first Chinese Type 09V (or 095) nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN) into the launch bay at the yards facilities in Huludao. Naval News...
The War ZoneFeb 12, 2026
USAF Ready To Make All B-52s Nuclear-Capable, Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads If Directed
The end of New START treaty has left the U.S. nuclear arsenal unbounded for the first time in decades. The post USAF Ready To Make All B-52s Nuclear-Capable, Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads If...
Defense OneFeb 12, 2026
Russia still sees US as its top adversary, Estonian intelligence report says
Moscow’s gestures toward normalized relations are no more than an “illusory thaw.”
The War ZoneFeb 11, 2026
Securing The High North: MQ-9B SeaGuardian’s Role In Arctic Security
Branded Content: High north security patrol missions fit well with this uncrewed platform’s many roles and long endurance. The post Securing The High North: MQ-9B SeaGuardian’s Role In Arctic Security...
The War ZoneFeb 11, 2026
Pentagon Is Making A Naughty Or Nice List Of Defense Contractors
Beset by delays, cost overruns and long waiting lists for critical weapons, the Pentagon says it is changing the way it will be doing business. The post Pentagon Is Making A Naughty Or Nice List Of...
War on the RocksFeb 11, 2026
Why Russia’s Export Failures Matter For India
In 2022, Vasabjit Banerjee and Benjamin Tkach wrote, “After Ukraine, Where Will India Buy Its Weapons,” where they explore India’s various defense systems acquisition relationships. Four years later,...
Defense NewsFeb 11, 2026
NATO kicks off ‘Arctic Sentry’ operation following Greenland brouhaha
The mission will tie together various allied activities in the region, according to NATO officials.
Defense OneFeb 11, 2026
The D Brief: More borderland, militarized; Every soldier a drone pilot; USAF hones hub-and-spoke basing; El Paso airport briefly closed; And a bit more.
The U.S. military is taking control of more Texas land, citing "security operations along the U.S. southern border," Defense One 's Thomas Novelly reported Tuesday. The seizure has raised questions...
Breaking DefenseFeb 11, 2026
‘Under destruction’? US tensions with NATO allies to take center stage at Munich conference
Besides transatlantic tension, other topics on the agenda at the Munich Security Conference include AI, climate change, hybrid warfare, nuclear security and space.
Defense NewsFeb 11, 2026
Estonian spies believe Europe’s collective deterrence push is working
Russia’s military-industrial complex, even if strained by sanctions, has continued to grow significantly, the Estonian intelligence assessment notes.
Naval NewsFeb 11, 2026
Cold War Battlescruiser, Modern Price: Russia’s Costly Admiral Nakhimov Upgrade
At around 28,000 tons Russia’s Kirov-class is the largest and most heavily armed surface combatant in the World. One of these Soviet-era steel titans, Admiral Nakhimov, has recently emerged from a...
War on the RocksFeb 11, 2026
Pauses Without Peace: What Last Year’s Ceasefires Reveal About Global Conflict Management
What if the United States isn’t ending wars, just interrupting them?Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump — who has repeatedly described himself as a “President of Peace” — has...
War on the RocksFeb 11, 2026
Sweet Nothings: Rutte’s Trump-Whispering Is Counterproductive
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte might have been the only European in the room who enjoyed President Donald Trump’s lengthy, meandering speech last month at the World Economic Forum at Davos. He was...
Defense OneFeb 11, 2026
NATO innovation chief: Alliance must speed up, or risk Russian invasion
Ukraine shows that “the obsolescence is nearly immediate,” for even the best weapons.
UK Ministry of DefenceFeb 11, 2026
UK steps up defence of Arctic and High North from rising Russian threats
During a visit to meet Royal Marine Commandos at Camp Viking in the Arctic Circle in northern Norway, the Defence Secretary will today confirm that the number of British troops deployed to Norway will...
The War ZoneFeb 10, 2026
China “Just Not There Yet” On H-20 Stealth Bomber: Global Strike Command’s Top General
The new head of Air Force Global Strike Command says "China is a regional bomber force at best." The post China “Just Not There Yet” On H-20 Stealth Bomber: Global Strike Command’s Top General...
Defense OneFeb 10, 2026
The D Brief: Pentagon’s industry performance reviews; CNO’s fighting instructions; Marine Corps’ clean audit; DOD’s new AI tool; And a bit more.
Update: The Pentagon will reportedly carry out performance reviews of major U.S. defense firms and plans to make "noncompliance determinations" in the weeks ahead, The Hill and the Wall Street Journal...
Defense NewsFeb 10, 2026
German startup aims to deliver European hypersonic strike by 2029
Hypersonica says it uses military-grade components from suppliers, as the company notched a successful test flight in Norway.
Defense NewsFeb 10, 2026
Russian stealth jets have arrived in North Africa, as filmed by Algerian potato farmer
The U.S. government considers the deal problematic, threatening sanctions.
War on the RocksFeb 10, 2026
Does Guaranteeing Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge Still Serve U.S. Interests?
In early January 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dropped a bombshell. In an interview for the Economist, he claimed that he sought to “taper off” the $3.8 billion in military aid that...
War on the RocksFeb 10, 2026
Biodefense Blind Spot: Why Washington Confuses Pandemics with Bioweapons
The next great biological threat may not begin in a wet market, a jungle, or a laboratory accident. It may begin on a laptop with a commercially available AI model.In October 2025, AI researchers from...
The War ZoneFeb 9, 2026
A-10 Warthog Protects Mine-Hunting Littoral Combat Ship In Persian Gulf Drill
The A-10, now in the twilight of its career, is uniquely suited to protect naval assets from lower-end threats, such as swarms of Iranian small boats. The post A-10 Warthog Protects Mine-Hunting...
Defense NewsFeb 9, 2026
US Air Force needs 500 next-gen fighters, bombers to beat China, think tank says
"No more ‘divest to invest,’” aviation expert Heather Penney said, arguing that the Air Force needs to dramatically boost its F-47 and B-21 acquisition.
USNI NewsFeb 9, 2026
‘One Size Fits All’ Won’t Work for the Navy of the Future, Says CNO Caudle
THE PENTAGON — Naval analysts have long warned that the one-size-fits-all model of carrier strike group deployment is reaching its limits, stretching the tolerance of crews and ships and leading to...
Defense NewsFeb 9, 2026
Ukraine seeks god mode with new control app for drone war
Mission Control feeds directly into Ukraine’s performance-based “gamification” model, where drone units earn points for verified kills.
C4ISRNETFeb 9, 2026
Ukraine seeks god mode with new control app for drone war
Mission Control feeds directly into Ukraine’s performance-based “gamification” model, where drone units earn points for verified kills.
Defense OneFeb 9, 2026
The D Brief: More maritime strikes, seizure; Warships off Haiti; US official hints at new nukes; Introducing ‘Fictional Intelligence’; And a bit more.
The U.S. military seized its eighth tanker allegedly linked to Venezuela, the Defense Department said on social media Monday. The interdiction occurred "without incident in the INDOPACOM area of...