A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California on Monday, sending a towering plume of black smoke over the desert installation and triggering a large-scale emergency response.

The bomber went down at about 11:20 a.m. local time at the base, located roughly 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert. Officials have not said how many people were aboard the aircraft or whether anyone survived.

Video captured by local news helicopters showed smoke continuing to rise from the crash site hours later. The area near the runway appeared heavily scorched, with blackened ground marking the impact zone. Few recognizable pieces of the aircraft could be seen from the air. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

Emergency response continues

Edwards Air Force Base said emergency crews rushed to the scene immediately after the aircraft went down. In an initial statement, the base said the situation remained ongoing and that additional details would be released as they became available.

A US Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California. pic.twitter.com/G56SEDLkkS

— PAryan 88 (@RebelGoy88) June 15, 2026

Officials later posted an update on X, saying the installation had shut down its airfield while first responders carried out rescue and recovery operations. Aircraft headed to Edwards were diverted elsewhere, and the base suspended all non-commercial visitor passes until further notice.

Update- 12:48 PDT: The airfield has been closed, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted.

All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations.

— Edwards Air Force Base (@EdwardsAFB) June 15, 2026

A spokesperson for the installation declined to provide additional details from local media as authorities focused on the response effort. Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, maintenance history, and flight information to determine what led to the accident.

Questions surround crew

The Air Force has not identified the crew members involved or disclosed their condition. The B-52H typically operates with a five-person crew consisting of pilots and specialized officers responsible for navigation and electronic warfare duties.

As news of the crash spread, lawmakers offered support to those affected. Rep. Jay Obernolte, whose district includes Edwards Air Force Base, said he and his wife were praying for everyone involved, including the crew, their families and the first responders working at the scene. Rep. Lisa McClain also expressed support, saying her prayers were with those impacted by the crash.

My prayers are with everyone involved in the B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base this afternoon. Thank you to the emergency crews responding right now. Our service members carry the weight of this nation’s defense every single day. We are with them.

— Chairwoman Lisa McClain (@RepLisaMcClain) June 15, 2026

Aging bomber fleet

The B-52 Stratofortress first entered service in the 1950s and remains one of the oldest aircraft still flying in the US military inventory. The Air Force currently operates 76 B-52H bombers. Despite their age, the aircraft continue to fly operational missions and have undergone repeated modernization efforts.

Monday’s incident marks the most serious B-52 accident in years. The last fatal crash involving the bomber occurred in 2008, when six Air Force personnel died after a B-52 crashed near Guam during preparations for a ceremonial flyover.

Boeing stopped building the aircraft in 1962, meaning the Air Force can no longer replace lost bombers with newly manufactured airframes. For now, investigators remain focused on the immediate task of understanding what happened at Edwards Air Force Base and determining the fate of those aboard the aircraft.

Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks plans to expand its defense capabilities by acquiring most of Comtech’s space-related communications business, six years after the U.S. company’s own takeover bid collapsed.

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Contract brings GPS 3F orders to 14 satellites that add anti-jam features, digital payloads and upgraded civilian navigation signals

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As armies look for ways to keep soldiers under armor while maintaining constant awareness of the battlefield, Teledyne FLIR Defense has introduced a micro-drone system designed to do both.

Unveiled at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris, the Black Recon system enables troops to send out small reconnaissance drones from military vehicles and fixed installations while remaining under protection. The same platform retrieves the aircraft after each mission and prepares them for their next deployment.

The launch reflects a broader shift in military technology. Armed forces increasingly want autonomous systems that can shorten decision cycles, extend reconnaissance beyond line of sight, and continue operating in electronic warfare environments where GPS signals and communications links face disruption.

Keeping troops protected

At the center of Black Recon is a docking station that houses and supports up to three micro-unmanned aircraft. Rather than relying on a single drone and human operators in the field, the system cycles aircraft through missions. One drone can conduct reconnaissance while another recharges, creating what Teledyne describes as near-continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage.

Each aircraft launches autonomously, carries out reconnaissance and target acquisition tasks, then returns to the vehicle or installation for capture and recharging before the next sortie begins. The approach could prove particularly valuable for mechanized units operating in contested environments where even brief exposure outside a vehicle carries risk.

“Black Recon represents a major step forward in integrated reconnaissance for ground forces,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne Defense and Aerospace Group and senior vice president of Teledyne Technologies.

Lei said integrating launch, recovery, and recharging capabilities directly into military platforms gives operators persistent situational awareness while speeding access to intelligence and improving force protection during fast-moving operations.

Built for contested skies

The system was designed specifically for mounted operations instead of being repurposed from equipment meant for troops on foot. Teledyne said each drone weighs less than 450 grams and can stay aloft for about 50 to 60 minutes. The aircraft can also travel at speeds of up to 25 meters per second, extending surveillance beyond traditional engagement ranges.

Black Recon also targets one of modern warfare’s growing challenges: operating in electronically contested environments. The company said the drones can continue missions in GPS-denied conditions using advanced sensors and visual navigation systems. Visual inertial navigation also enables radio-silent operations without depending entirely on traditional radio-frequency links.

Additional capabilities include onboard relay functions to extend communications coverage and compatibility with the Black Hornet 4 nano-drone, which is already in service with several military customers.

The company also said the system can support thermal and visible imaging payloads, providing troops with real-time imagery and targeting data during operations.

Beyond reconnaissance missions

Although Teledyne developed Black Recon with military users in mind, the company said the technology could eventually support public safety missions, including border security, critical infrastructure monitoring and maritime patrol operations.

The platform’s modular design also leaves room for future payloads. Planned additions include chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear detection sensors, as well as lethality modules that could expand the system’s role beyond surveillance.

Black Recon is available for order now, with customer deliveries expected to begin in 2027. The launch comes as defense companies race to develop autonomous systems capable of maintaining battlefield awareness while reducing the burden and risk placed on human operators.

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Shield AI and Destinus have completed a flight test exercise demonstrating autonomous collaborative strike capabilities from an interceptor drone system, named Hornet.

Hornet is designed and manufactured by Destinus, a European defense technology company. It is a multi-role autonomous platform capable of counter-unmanned aircraft system, strike, reconnaissance, and data relay missions. It can also be integrated into the existing multi layered air-defense architecture for protecting forward bases and critical infrastructure from kamikaze drone swarms. Hornet can operate in GPS denied environments, has a minimum range of 75 km (46.6 miles) and can carry a payload of 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds).

According to the company the Hornet serves as an initial integration baseline for Shield AI’s Hivemind AI pilot across the Destinus product line. The company’s product line of unmanned aircraft systems and cruise missiles is based on a common architecture which facilitates cross platform integration. The integration also serves as a technical risk reduction measure.

Tim Moser, chief technology officer at Destinus, said: “Destinus platforms operate on our own flight control architecture, and Hivemind validated that we can integrate third-party autonomy without surrendering system design authority.”

What the exercise involved

The main aim of the full mission flight test is to facilitate the integration of Hivemind with Ruta cruise missile. The missile is intended for precision strike against hardened and high-value military targets. It will be fielded in two blocks with iterative capability enhancements in range and payload. The missile will be capable of flying low-altitude terrain-following flight trajectories and can operate in GPS denied and contested electronic warfare environments.

The flight test covered the complete mission sequence akin to the Ruta’s operational engagement. It included autonomy-assisted mission planning via ground control station, radio testing, autonomous terrain following, in-flight target updates, and autonomous terminal maneuver execution on operator command.

Previously, the company has also carried out tests demonstrating an inflight teaming of Hornet with Shield AI’s V-BAT UAS. In these tests, the V-BAT served as a communications relay between the ground station and multiple Destinus Hornet interceptor drones.

How Hivemind functions in a teaming role

Shield AI’s Hivemind AI pilot is a platform agnostic autonomy software. It enables platforms to sense, decide, and act independently, within operator-defined parameters under established command authority. It can dynamically reroutes mission plans, responds to unexpected conditions, avoids obstacles, and executes complex tasks.

In a teaming context, individual aircraft running Hivemind communicate peer-to-peer to distribute situational awareness and coordinate maneuvers to lessen reliance on a ground control station. The architecture is intended to preserve mission continuity even when datalinks are jammed or severed.

Destinus intends to transition these capabilities via the Ruta platform to Ukraine. This will enable the coordinated strike behaviors between V-BAT and multiple Ruta systems to be tested in a combat environment.

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South Korea has formally advanced its Korea Destroyer eXperimental (KDDX) program by designating Hanwha Ocean as the prime contractor for the construction of six next-generation destroyers, according to reports.

The move signals a concrete step in Seoul’s broader naval modernization effort, aimed at replacing aging KDX-I class frigates that have been in service since the late 1990s.

Program architecture and Hanwha Ocean’s role

Hanwha Ocean, formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) before its acquisition by the Hanwha Group in 2023, will serve as the lead shipbuilder for the KDDX fleet.

The company brings substantial warship construction experience, having previously built KDX-II Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class and KDX-III Sejong the Great-class destroyers for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN).

The KDDX is designed as a roughly 6,000-ton displacement vessel — placing it between a conventional frigate and a full destroyer — optimized for multi-domain operations covering anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and anti-air warfare (AAW).

The design incorporates an integrated mast architecture that consolidates radar, electronic warfare, and communications systems into a single structure to reduce radar cross-section.

Propulsion and combat systems specifications

The KDDX is expected to adopt a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) or integrated electric propulsion (IEP) system, with final propulsion architecture still subject to program refinement. The ship’s combat management system is slated for domestic development, consistent with South Korea’s stated goal of reducing dependence on foreign defense electronics.

The vertical launch system (VLS) configuration will likely accommodate the domestic Hyunmoo cruise missile family alongside the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) interceptors.

The radar suite is anticipated to include an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) system, developed in collaboration with LIG Nex1, which has been involved in previous Korean naval electronics programs. Integration of a domestically produced 127mm naval gun is also under consideration, though supplier finalization remains pending.

Industrial and procurement timeline

The six-ship order represents a significant production run by regional standards. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has been managing requirements definition, and the program has faced iterative delays tied to technology readiness levels for some onboard systems.

Full-rate production is expected to extend through the mid-2030s, with the lead vessel delivery targeted within the current decade pending contract finalization.

From an industrial standpoint, the contract reinforces Hanwha Ocean’s position in the domestic naval shipbuilding sector following its competition against HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which builds the existing Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyers.

The award consolidates naval surface combatant work at a single yard, which carries both efficiency benefits and supply chain concentration risks if production bottlenecks emerge.

Operational context and regional calculus

The KDDX program does not operate in isolation. The ROKN is simultaneously pursuing the KDX-III Batch II Aegis destroyer and expanding its submarine fleet under the KSS-III program. Sustaining parallel major acquisition tracks places pressure on defense budgets and domestic industrial bandwidth.

Questions remain about whether Korea’s shipyards can absorb concurrent destroyer, submarine, and future light aircraft carrier workloads without schedule compression on any individual program.

For engineers and defense analysts tracking South Korea’s evolving naval engineering programs, the KDDX contract award with Hanwha Ocean represents a procurement decision with tangible technical and strategic consequences that will play out across the next decade of ROKN fleet development.

The agency is seeking novel concepts to restore critical satellite services within hours or weeks

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American defense firm AeroVironment (AV) has introduced the TOM 50 RE, a lightweight, backpackable uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) designed for rapid deployment in complex and contested environments.

Developed by its subsidiary Telerob, the system was unveiled at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris. Weighing under 10 kilograms (22 pounds), the TOM 50 RE has a compact form factor, making it easy to be carried and operated by a single soldier or team member.

The robot features a stair-climbing flipper system and optional attachments, allowing it to navigate stairs, uneven terrain, and confined indoor spaces. This makes it ideal for bomb disposal operations in high-risk environments.

AV’s bomb disposal robot

AV’s rolling robot offers up to five hours of endurance and can carry payloads of up to five kilograms. The vehicle was designed to address key requirements of ground forces, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams, special operations units, and SWAT operators.

It supports four primary roles: mobile exploration for initial situational awareness in unknown areas; mission-accompanying reconnaissance with autonomous mapping; defusing operations using modular disruptors or drop-charge payloads; and operational support as a communications relay or additional sensor platform.

A core feature is its simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) capability. SLAM allows the TOM 50 RE to generate detailed digital maps of multi-level buildings and GPS-denied environments. This includes underground structures and dense urban terrain. Operators can mark points of interest on these maps and export data for immediate intelligence use and mission planning.

For situational awareness, the system includes four high-resolution wide-angle cameras with infrared capability, providing 360-degree coverage in day, night, and low-visibility conditions. Its IP-mesh radio architecture ensures secure, resilient communications and allows the UGV to act as a mobile repeater. This allows it to extend network connectivity for teams operating deep inside structures.

Addressing the ‘realities of modern ground combat’

The vehicle’s modular design features a Mission Module Interface that supports integration of specialized payloads, including advanced cameras and EOD tools. It is controlled via AV’s Halo command software on Tomahawk Grip systems or the Robo Command Control System, enabling coordination with other uncrewed assets.

“The introduction of TOM 50 RE reflects AV’s commitment to delivering robotic systems that directly address the realities of modern ground combat and explosive threat environments,” Wahid Nawabi, AV’s chairman, president, and CEO, explained in a press statement. “Today’s operators need systems that move with them, adapt to multiple missions, and provide immediate intelligence while reducing risk to human life.”

Florian Gruener, Managing Director of Telerob, meanwhile, added that the system delivers robotic capability at the point of need, allowing forces to gain awareness, mitigate threats, and decide faster while protecting personnel.

The TOM 50 RE expands AV’s portfolio of ground robotic systems for defense, security, and public safety applications. It builds on the company’s broader work in integrated autonomous capabilities across multiple domains.

A new mobile space surveillance radar is now active as military planners focus more on tracking potential threats in orbit, including satellites used for nuclear command, control, and intelligence. LeoLabs, a space monitoring company, announced that its latest radar, Scout Hawaii, began operating and will take part in the Valiant Shield 2026 exercise in the Pacific.

This is the first time the company’s Scout-S radar has been used in the field. It is designed to better track objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) and very low Earth orbit (VLEO).

Radar heads to major Pacific military exercise

Valiant Shield is a major joint military exercise held every two years by the United States in the Indo-Pacific. Since 2024, regional allies have also taken part.

This year’s exercise will take place from June 22 to July 1 in Hawaii, Guam, Japan, and nearby waters.

LeoLabs has not shared details about the contract for the radar’s participation. The company said the Scout-S program is funded by private investment and support from the US Space Force, including a Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) award announced in 2025.

The company views the exercise as an opportunity to test the radar in real-world conditions and demonstrate how it can support military space awareness missions.

A new class of radar is here.

Scout-S delivers persistent custody, dynamic tracking, and deployable sensing for LEO and VLEO — extending coverage where mission demand is greatest.

It's more than a radar. It’s a new approach to space sensing.

Deploy Where the Mission Demands. pic.twitter.com/If1pt0N2E9

— LeoLabs (@LeoLabs_Space) June 10, 2026

Built for rapid deployment anywhere

One of the key features of the Scout-S system is its mobility. The radar fits in a standard 20-foot shipping container, so it can be moved by truck, plane, or ship.

The system uses 3D scanning, direct-radiating-array technology, and a modular S-band electronic system. LeoLabs said these features help the radar find and track objects in busy orbital areas.

A company spokesperson said the improved design greatly increases how long the radar can observe a satellite as it passes by.

From snapshots to continuous tracking

Traditional tracking systems usually watch satellites for only short periods before waiting for the next pass. LeoLabs said Scout-S is built to provide much longer observation periods, helping operators track objects in orbit more continuously.

The company thinks this feature is more important now that military and commercial satellites can maneuver more often.

“The acceleration of adversarial activity in space is challenging U.S. and Allied Space Superiority. Tracking objects periodically to predict orbits is no longer enough. What matters now is the ability to maintain persistent custody of maneuverable payloads so our customers can respond to emerging threats,” said LeoLabs CEO Tony Frazier in the release.

The design also allows multiple units to be deployed quickly, helping to cover surveillance gaps that fixed radar sites cannot easily reach.

Tracking Chinese satellites and future expansion

Scout Hawaii is already sending data to LeoLabs’ global monitoring network. The company said the radar has consistently tracked Chinese intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites, including the Yaogan military spacecraft.

According to the firm, the system has tracked China’s reusable spaceplane in low Earth orbit. The radar has also shown it can monitor objects flying at very low altitudes. The company reported successfully tracking an object orbiting at 143 miles (230 kilometers) above Earth.

The firm plans to keep the Hawaii-based radar running after Valiant Shield ends, using it for more experiments and testing new features. The company also said a second Scout-S unit should be built by early 2027, with more production expected later that year.

The US Navy has reactivated a submarine squadron that was disbanded more than a decade ago and relocated it from Hawaii to Western Australia, marking a major milestone in the AUKUS security partnership and the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific.

The newly reestablished Submarine Squadron 3 (CSS-3) will operate from HMAS Stirling near Perth, Australia, after previously being based at Pearl Harbor, where it was decommissioned in 2012. The move supports the development of Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West), an initiative that will see US and UK nuclear-powered attack submarines regularly deployed from Australia beginning in 2027. 

According to the US Navy, CSS-3 personnel will work alongside members of the Royal Australian Navy to establish maintenance, logistics, and operational support infrastructure for future submarine rotations.

The reactivation was announced by the US Pacific Fleet’s submarine force and follows a recent trilateral AUKUS statement confirming that key milestones remain on track. Under the AUKUS agreement signed in 2021, Australia is expected to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and eventually operate its own conventionally armed nuclear-powered fleet. Sources: US Navy, DVIDS, AUKUS Joint Statement.

Why bring back a squadron that no longer exists?

Submarine squadrons serve as operational headquarters responsible for overseeing submarine deployments, maintenance, crew readiness, logistics, and mission support.

While the move may appear administrative, it represents a significant expansion of US submarine infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific. Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, commander of the US Pacific Fleet’s submarine force, said the additional forward-positioned squadron would improve the Navy’s responsiveness and operational flexibility across the region.

Strategically, HMAS Stirling is located in a key position on Australia’s western coast.  The base provides access to the Indian Ocean and sits closer to many Indo-Pacific operating areas than traditional US submarine hubs in Hawaii or the continental United States. The facility is expected to become one of the most important submarine support locations in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Preparing for submarine rotations

The squadron’s return is tied directly to SRF-West, one of the first major operational components of AUKUS.

Beginning in 2027, American Virginia-class and British Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarines are expected to conduct rotational deployments from HMAS Stirling rather than being permanently based there. The arrangement is designed to increase allied submarine presence in the region while helping Australia develop the expertise needed to operate and maintain its future fleet. 

The effort extends beyond military operations. The US Navy has already established Naval Support Activity Stirling to provide housing, healthcare, logistics, and support services for personnel assigned to the rotational force.

Meanwhile, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is preparing to establish a dedicated maintenance detachment in Western Australia. According to Navy officials, Australian civilian maintainers and naval personnel are already training in Hawaii, with hundreds expected to participate in submarine maintenance programs.

AUKUS enters a new phase

The reactivation of CSS-3 shows how AUKUS is evolving from a political agreement into a functioning military and industrial partnership.

Rather than focusing solely on future submarine transfers, the alliance is now building the infrastructure, workforce, and maintenance capabilities needed to sustain nuclear-powered submarines in Australia over the coming decades.

With rotational deployments expected within two years, the revived squadron may prove to be one of the earliest visible signs of how the AUKUS submarine plan is taking shape in practice.

A new type of radar to detect drones nearby ports, vessels, harbours, and critical maritime infrastructure has been introduced. Developed by Robin Radar Systems, IRIS OTM at Sea is designed for seamless land-to-sea deployments.

The new system is a major expansion of its IRIS On-The-Move (OTM) capability.

The comprehensive update is aimed at strengthening counter-UAS protection for shipping lanes, naval operations, and coastal assets. 

Offshore assets are exposed to low-cost aerial threats

“What we are seeing globally is that the drone threat is no longer confined to the battlefield or to land-based infrastructure. Shipping lanes, ports, harbours and offshore assets are now all exposed to low-cost aerial threats that can disrupt trade, damage infrastructure and threaten civilian safety,” said Siete Hamminga, CEO, Robin Radar Systems.

“The Strait of Hormuz has once again demonstrated how vulnerable critical maritime corridors can become during periods of instability. IRIS OTM at Sea is being designed to answer that challenge with a rapidly deployable, software-defined capability that can move seamlessly between land and sea.”

IRIS OTM at Sea will detect, track, and classify drones

Originally developed to operate from moving land vehicles traveling at speeds exceeding 62 mph (100km/h), IRIS On-The-Move will now be adapted for maritime environments through advanced software enhancements that compensate for sea clutter, vessel movement, and challenging coastal conditions, according to a press release.

Designed to be mounted on vessels, IRIS OTM at Sea will detect, track, and classify drones while travelling at speeds of up to 54 knots, operating effectively in extreme environments thanks to its salt- and corrosion-resistant engineering, resonance tolerance, and EMC-compliant architecture.Unlike traditional static radars, IRIS is designed to move with the threat itself, providing persistent situational awareness across highly dynamic environments, as per the release.

The company revealed that the radar’s software architecture will be updated to filter out heavy sea reflections and environmental clutter to isolate small airborne threats operating close to the waterline, an increasingly important capability as drone incursions continue to evolve across maritime theatres.

Robin Radar Systems highlighted that the maritime update has been shaped directly by operational lessons from ongoing live-fire environments, where the need for flexible, mobile counter-UAS systems capable of protecting dynamic environments has accelerated dramatically.  The company’s engineering teams reportedly adapted the system specifically to address the increasing use of fixed-wing drones and low-altitude aerial threats around strategic shipping corridors and maritime infrastructure.

“Modern security demands speed and flexibility. Operators need systems that can deploy quickly, integrate easily, and adapt as threats evolve,” said Vivien Croes, Chief Technical Officer, Robin Radar Systems.

“What makes this update important is that we are taking a combat-proven radar and extending its capabilities into one of the most operationally complex environments in the world. The future of counter-UAS is not static infrastructure, it is agile, mobile sensing systems capable of protecting people, critical infrastructure and global commerce wherever threats emerge.”

America’s Government Accountability Office (GAO) watchdog has warned that the US may struggle to sustain a long-term conflict with China should hostilities break out. The issue is not about technical capability (the US military is arguably the world’s most powerful), but rather a matter of logistics.

For combat operations thousands of miles from home, as would be the case in the Indo-Pacific, the GAO argues that the US may struggle to refuel and resupply assets, notably its considerable aircraft fleet.

The issue mainly centers around aging refueling aircraft and issues with spare parts. If tensions over Taiwan were to go hot, these could both conspire to make American efforts in the region trickier than expected.

“The percentage of aerial refuelling tankers that are available and mission capable has remained persistently below the standards that the [US] Air Force established for the fleet,” the report said.

To give you some idea of the problem, imagine an F-35 running a sortie from Hawaii to Taiwan, say. These aircraft have a combat radius of around 700 miles (1,127 km), and the distance between these two islands is about 5,000 miles.

An army marches on its stomach

The fighter wouldn’t be able to make it on its own and would need several midair refueling operations to safely get there and back. After the mission, it may also need repairs, which require a sufficient stock of spare parts lying around.

If enough tankers aren’t available, the fighters couldn’t arrive in meaningful numbers. A bit of a quandary.

Of course, travel distances for fighters can be dramatically reduced by deploying carrier groups closer to Taiwan, but that puts them at risk of being attacked by long-range missiles (including hypersonics), submarines, or Chinese aircraft.

The main weakness, the report argues, is the US reliance on aging aircraft like Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. Many of the current airframes entered service in the 1950s and 1960s, and are still going strong.

The airframes have been upgraded repeatedly, but old aircraft require more maintenance and suffer more breakdowns. And that leads to the second main issue: a lack of spare parts.

The US military increasingly struggles to obtain parts for older systems. Some suppliers no longer exist, and some components must be specially manufactured. Any break in supply means that assets, like aircraft, can sit grounded while waiting for parts.

Not how much you make, it’s how much you keep

So, even if you have 400 tankers on paper, perhaps only 250 are actually flyable on a given day. Other issues cited include a shortage of skilled personnel and delays in replacement hardware for older tech, like the planned Boeing KC-46 Pegasus.

But the KC-46 program has experienced years of technical problems and delays. The Air Force expected newer tankers to reduce pressure on older aircraft.

When factoring in the fact that China reportedly possesses long-range missiles specifically designed to target US bases and support aircraft, any direct conflict could prove very expensive for the US.

China’s military planners, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports, understand that destroying tankers may be more effective than trying to shoot down stealth fighters.

So, would such a conflict mean China could win? Not necessarily, since China has its own issues (like a lack of combat experience), but a “home advantage” would certainly tip the odds in its favor unless the US can cure its growing logistical bottlenecks.

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The German defense technology company Helsing has presented an electronic attack variant of the CA-1 autonomous unmanned aircraft at the International Aerospace Exhibition in Berlin. The platform named CA-1EA builds on the company`s existing CA-1 Europa architecture. 

CA-1 Europa is 4 ton class, single engine unmanned combat aircraft employing a low observable design. It has a length of 11 meters and a wingspan of 10 meters. Its autonomy is centered around the Helsing’s Centaur AI pilot stack and advanced mission systems.

The original combat variant, which the company is already producing, will now carry the designation CA-1KA (Kinetic Attack), distinguishing it from the new electronic warfare model. According to the company, the electronic attack variant is intended to provide non-kinetic effects on the battlefield by disrupting and degrading enemy sensors and reconnaissance networks. 

Helsing argues that modern air forces increasingly need a combination of kinetic and electronic attack capabilities to penetrate advanced air defence systems and counter sophisticated surveillance assets, making autonomous electronic warfare platforms a key component of future military operations.

New CA-1EA creates safer corridors through enemy air defences

Modern military operations depend heavily on suppressing enemy radar and surveillance networks before strike aircraft enter contested airspace. Helsing says the CA-1 EA is designed to fill that role by using airborne electronic warfare capabilities to disrupt and jam hostile ground-based radar systems. By interfering with an adversary’s ability to detect and track targets, the autonomous aircraft can help create safer flight paths for other assets operating behind it.

The company notes that the CA-1EA is designed to work alongside autonomous systems such as the CA-1 Europa as well as conventional crewed fighters, including the Eurofighter, extending electronic protection across mixed air fleets.

Both the CA-1KA and the CA-1EA electronic warfare variant are built on a common architecture, using the same airframe, propulsion system, autonomy software stack, and ground control infrastructure. The distinction between the two platforms is primarily defined by their payload configurations, which determine whether the aircraft is optimised for kinetic or electronic effects on the battlefield.

By standardising the core design across both variants, the German company aims to reduce production and lifecycle costs while streamlining manufacturing processes. The shared system architecture also simplifies logistics and maintenance requirements, while making it easier for operators to transition between mission types and train across both configurations within a unified operational framework.

Flexible CA-1 platform aims to meet diverse air force requirements 

As the company further explains, this modular approach enables the CA-1 platform to evolve further, giving it the flexibility to be adapted to the operational needs of European air forces. By maintaining a scalable and shared architecture, the system can be configured for different mission profiles without requiring a complete redesign. 

This design philosophy is intended to support rapid capability expansion while aligning with the varied requirements of modern European defense users.

“Modern air forces cannot do without electronic warfare. Helsing has been working to develop this capability for years. The CA-1EA is the result: an unmanned system that operates alongside the CA-1KA at tactical range, but can also be deployed flexibly as a standalone platform for electronic warfare,” said Stephanie Lingemann, vice president for air domain at Helsing.

The CA-1 platform is still under development, with the first flight of the CA-1 Europa attack variant planned for early 2027. It is being developed and produced in southern Germany by Helsing’s subsidiary Grob Aircraft, positioning the system as a fully European solution for German and allied air forces. The first operational capability is expected in 2029 for the CA-1KA variant, followed by 2031 for the CA-1EA electronic warfare version.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense reports that it has successfully tested the nation’s first domestically-produced heavyweight torpedo, the AKYA. Launched from the Preveze-class submarine TCG Sakarya, the torpedo acquired, tracked, and hit its target, reportedly breaking the target ship in two.

According to reports, the test was part of the Republic’s Denizkurdu II exercise held in the Eastern Mediterranean earlier this month. During the exercise, the TCG Sokullu Mehmet Paşa (a retired training ship) was deliberately sunk as part of a SINKEX (Sink Exercise).

Such exercises are critical for evaluating the real-world performance of weapons like torpedoes, as only so much can be learned from computer modelling. Actual sinking exercises provide valuable data on structural damage, flooding, shock effects, and sinking behaviour.

Developed by the Ankara-based defense company Roketsan, the AKYA is an impressive piece of kit, at least on paper. It has a diameter of 21 inches (53.3 cm), has a reported range of 27 nautical miles (50 km), and can travel at a speed of around 45 knots (83 kph).

Home-built for home defense

The electrically-propelled torpedo is guided using a combination of active and passive sonar, and can also track targets using wake homing. This latter capability, as the name suggests, enables the torpedo to follow the disturbance made by a ship as it moves through water.

The advantage is that it’s much harder to decoy than a torpedo, simply chasing engine noise. The torpedo doesn’t care where the ship is now; it just follows where the ship has been.

The torpedo also features autonomous or fiber-optic guidance capabilities. The latter enables the submarine to update target information, refine the attack profile, and improve accuracy throughout the engagement.

Apart from the torpedo itself, another major innovation for the Turkish navy was the use of the MÜREN Submarine Combat Management System (CMS). Also domestically developed, this system works as the submarine’s “brain.”

In modern submarines, such systems collect sonar information, track targets, and calculate firing solutions. It also manages the guidance process for wire-guided weapons and integrates navigation and tactical displays.

Previously, Turkish submarines relied heavily on foreign systems, but with MÜREN, Turkey is fast becoming less reliant on third parties for critical operations of this nature.

Made in Turkey, not imported

Apart from field testing the AKYA torpedo, the Denizkurdu II exercise also featured the testing of Turkey’s latest surface-to-surface missile, the ATMACA. Launched from the Ada-class corvette TCG Kınalıada, this domestically-produced guided anti-ship missile hit a retired open-sea tugboat, the TCG Akbaş.

Taken together, both these tests show that Turkey is making concerted efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers for military hardware. Historically, the nation relied heavily on German and American combat systems and weapons, but is increasingly replacing critical components with domestically developed alternatives.

The goal appears to be to develop an entirely national underwater warfare ecosystem where critical software, weapons, and support are under Turkish control.

For military planners, that can be as important as the weapon itself because it reduces vulnerability to export restrictions, sanctions, spare-part shortages, or political disagreements.

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For years, the idea of a fully autonomous weapon system killing a human being on the battlefield existed as a warning, a thought experiment, and an unconfirmed rumor. It is no longer any of those things.

A Ukrainian drone manufacturer has confirmed to New Scientist that a test involving 10 fully autonomous AI-controlled drones — operating with no human oversight or connection — killed Russian soldiers on the front line of the Ukraine war approximately two years ago.

The disclosure, made at a press event hosted by the Ukrainian embassy, marks what weapons experts are calling a historic threshold in the history of warfare.

“Everything it sees will be killed”

The drone-maker behind the technology, Alexander Kokhanovskyy, described the operation in blunt terms. The drones were launched toward the front line near the cities of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar during a Ukrainian counteroffensive push, programmed to cover between three kilometers (1.86 miles) and five kilometers (3.10 miles) over approximately 10 minutes, at which point they entered what Kokhanovskyy called “Terminator mode” — a state in which an onboard AI model independently searched for, identified, and attacked targets with no human input.

“We just launch it, and we know everything will be dead — everything that will be found there in this particular area will be dead,” Kokhanovskyy told New Scientist. “There is no connection to the drone at all, you cannot see the video, nothing. Everything it sees will be killed.”

Because the autonomous drones transmitted no live footage during the mission, there was no way to monitor them in real time. After the test concluded, human-piloted drones were sent into the area to manually survey results. What they found: “a couple of soldiers, one truck.”

Kokhanovskyy was not personally present at the test, which was carried out by an unnamed military unit. He was clear that it remained a one-off experiment and was never expanded into wider deployment. “It’s a test. We never implemented it more widely,” he said.

What makes this different from every prior incident

The distinction matters. Traditional armed drones transmit live video to a human operator who makes the decision to fire. A fully autonomous drone detects its target, decides whether it meets the engagement criteria, calculates an attack path, and executes the strike — entirely in software, with no human consulted at any point. In Terminator mode, that decision — whether a person lives or dies — was made by an algorithm.

A UN report in 2021 suggested that a Turkish Kargu-2 quadcopter may have been used to autonomously attack humans in Libya in 2020, but that account contained no confirmed casualties and gave no specific sourcing. The Ukraine disclosure, by a named manufacturer speaking on record at a diplomatic event, is the first confirmed account with stated outcomes.

What Kokhanovskyy wants

Ukraine’s current regulations prohibit fully autonomous lethal operation in the final stage of an engagement, requiring human verification before a strike is executed.

Kokhanovskyy acknowledged this constraint in the same conversation — while noting that his company’s upcoming ALITA counter-drone system, consisting of 16 launch pads and 64 drones, will require just two human operators to manage the entire battery. The system can travel toward incoming threats at 280mph, engaging everything from small drones to helicopters.

Even with humans required in the final step, Kokhanovskyy made his personal view clear: “I would love to operate without that restriction.”

That position is not universal inside Ukraine’s military. Major Danylo Polozhukhno, a senior figure in Ukraine’s 21st Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment who was unaware of the test, told New Scientist that his soldiers use semi-autonomous systems but always maintain a human in the loop.

A German company has completed the final assembly of a new unmanned aircraft system.

Called AeroForce X prototype, Aerodata AG’s aircraft has reached an important milestone and is moving on to the next phase as scheduled.

The prototype’s first  flight is scheduled to take place in Germany this year.

Closer to operational reality

“This milestone takes AeroForce X a huge step closer to operational reality,” said Ole Vörsmann, General Manager for Unmanned Systems.

“Now that final assembly has been successfully completed, we look forward to thoroughly testing the prototype during the upcoming test phases.”

The company also revealed that the MALE-class (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) unmanned aircraft system stands out in particular for its long endurance of up to 40 hours and a payload capacity of up to 1,300 kg. Thanks to its modular platform design, AeroForce X can be flexibly configured and deployed in combination with existing manned reconnaissance aircraft for a wide range of missions.

Aerodata AG will be exhibiting at the ILA Berlin from June 10 to 14, according to a press release.

Intended to address a broad range of surveillance

Reports have revealed that AeroForce X is intended to address a broad range of surveillance, reconnaissance, and mission-support requirements. One of its standout features is an endurance capability of up to 40 hours, enabling extended missions without the need for frequent landings or refueling. The platform is also engineered to carry payloads of up to 1,300 kilograms, providing considerable flexibility for various sensor packages and mission equipment.

A defining characteristic of AeroForce X is its modular architecture. The aircraft can be configured for different operational scenarios and integrated alongside manned reconnaissance platforms. This approach allows operators to tailor the system to mission-specific requirements while benefiting from coordinated manned-unmanned operations.

The development reflects the growing demand for advanced unmanned aerial systems capable of delivering long-duration surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities. By combining significant endurance, high payload capacity, and adaptable mission configurations, AeroForce X aims to position itself as a versatile solution for both governmental and commercial operators.

With the prototype now assembled and flight testing on the horizon, Aerodata has entered one of the most important phases of the program. The upcoming test campaign will be closely watched as the company seeks to demonstrate the operational potential of AeroForce X and strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving unmanned aviation sector.

Aerodata has emphasized a modular design philosophy for AeroForce X. Rather than being limited to a single role, the platform is intended to support various mission configurations through adaptable payload bays and mission systems. This approach allows operators to customize the aircraft according to evolving operational requirements, potentially reducing lifecycle costs and improving mission effectiveness.

The maiden flight, expected later this year in Germany, will serve as a crucial benchmark for the program. Beyond proving basic flight characteristics, the test campaign will evaluate aircraft handling, endurance, mission systems integration, and overall operational performance.

A new CSIS report says planned 2027 interceptor buys will test a supply chain still recovering from years of consolidation

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Chinese military planners have reportedly devised a plan to target US carriers in places like Guam. The strategy, published in the Chinese journal Tactical Missile Technology, claims a combination of satellites, AI, and missiles could render carrier groups vulnerable, even at distances of over 1,620 nautical miles (3,000 km).

At present, both the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the United States Navy know that the former can threaten critical assets like aircraft carriers close to China. To reduce that threat, the US Navy has increasingly positioned key assets farther from China’s coastline, relying on bases such as Guam and adopting more dispersed operating patterns across the Pacific.

The Navy has also been dispersing deployed ships in the region to make them much harder to find, track, and potentially attack. Not keeping their eggs in one basket, as it were.

However, as the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports, the PLA has been working on a potential plan to threaten such ships even at great distances. Led by associate professor Gao Tianyun from the College of International Studies at the National University of Defence Technology in Nanjing, the proposal is very interesting indeed.

Dangerous game of hide-and-seek

The study, titled “Research on the effectiveness of anti‑ship missile swarm operation under distributed confrontation,” basically describes an innovative “kill-chain” solution rather than a new wonder weapon.

The idea, in a nutshell, is to first find the group using a mixture of satellites, drones, radar aircraft, ships, submarines, signals intelligence, etc. Once done, the plan would rely on near-constant tracking for long-range missiles to be targeted and launched.

With that achieved, the paper suggests firing many missiles (a mix of hypersonics and “pre-strike firepower packages”) at the target, not one or two.

Once in flight, the plan would rely on the missiles cooperating by sharing target data, sorting real ships from decoys, assigning themselves to different targets, and attacking from different angles.

According to the researchers, such a coordinated attack could overwhelm layers of US naval defense, including Aegis-equipped destroyers, interceptor missiles, electronic warfare systems, decoys, and close-in weapon systems.

So, something of a coordinated, long-range missile swarm attack. The point is to make the US defence system run out of time, interceptors, radar capacity, or correct target choices.

Means and motive

Sounds reasonable on the surface, but the plan comes with one major caveat. That being said, this is just a plan right now, not proof that China can actually do it tomorrow.

Needless to say, hitting a moving carrier group at 1,620 nautical miles distant is not an easy task. Achieving it in reality would be brutally hard because the target moves, hides, jams, uses decoys, and fights back.

The hardest part is not the missile range; it is maintaining accurate targeting data across the whole chain. While effectively just a wargame made public, the release of this information is likely intended to send a warning to the US, rather than actually boast about its technological prowess.

In effect, they are saying that hiding and dispersing your ships won’t necessarily keep you safe. We (China) have the means to get them if we want to.

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US Navy’s Virginia-class fast-attack submarine has returned to the fleet ahead of schedule. The nuclear-powered USS Colorado (SSN 788) was undergoing scheduled maintenance at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY) and the Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF).

The submarine completed its maintenance 29 days ahead of schedule on June 10. It has rejoined the fleet and is now ready to serve in the Submarine Squadron 7 to ensure dominance in the Pacific.

The nuclear-powered vessel is capable of supporting various missions, such as anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations forces support; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Maintenance of Navy vessels at PHNSY and IMF

The PHNSY and IMF are located in the heart of the Pacific to ensure a comprehensive fleet repair and maintenance facility. It is one of the most comprehensive facilities of its kind between the U.S. West Coast and the Far East. Its mission is to keep the US Navy’s fast-attack submarines and surface ships ‘Fit to Fight’.

Effective and timely maintenance helps keep the Navy vessels lethal, ready to defend the country, and also maximizes their lifespan. The maintenance of the USS Colorado was completed ahead of schedule by the combined efforts of the crew from the shipyard and the vessel.

“Finishing ahead of schedule is not about rushing; it’s about hard work and persistence,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Ryan McCrillis, commander of PHNSY & IMF. “It’s producing first-time, high-quality work and attacking every roadblock with urgency.”

McCrillis further said that the early completion was a result of team effort, “from the newest apprentice to senior shipyard leaders, the ship’s force, the project team, and support from the fleet and headquarters.”

More about the nuclear-powered USS Colorado submarine

USS Colorado was commissioned on March 17, 2018, at Naval Submarine Base New London. It is the 15th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine and fifth Block III submarine of the class.

Displacing approximately 7,800 tons with a length of 370 feet, Virginia is longer but lighter than the previous Seawolf-class submarines. It can sail at speeds exceeding 28.7 miles per hour (25 knots) and can operate at a maximum depth of over 800 feet.  For propulsion, it relies on a S9G reactor, which produces over 40,000 shaft horsepower (SHP).

The nuclear-powered vessel has effectively limitless range and the ability to operate submerged for months. The range is limited only by the food and supplies that the crew needs to carry.

Colorado is a part of the Virginia-class’s third, or Block III, contract, in which the Navy redesigned approximately 20 percent of the ship to reduce acquisition costs.

The submarine features a redesigned bow, which replaces 12 individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes with two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs), each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles. There are other design changes that reduced the submarines’ acquisition cost while maintaining their warfighting capabilities.

It also has special features to support Special Forces – which include a reconfigurable torpedo room that can accommodate a large number of personnel and their equipment for prolonged deployments.

Ultra Maritime has completed the first in-water deployment trial of its next-generation Multistatic Active Receive Sonobuoy, or MSARS, in Scotland, marking a major step in the United Kingdom’s push to modernize anti-submarine warfare.

The trial comes as NATO nations monitor growing submarine activity across the North Atlantic. Military planners increasingly seek tools that can detect quieter submarines and unmanned underwater systems operating over larger maritime areas.

MSARS aims to strengthen those capabilities. The compact sonobuoy is designed to improve the detection and localization of underwater threats while supporting both crewed and uncrewed operations.

Expanding underwater surveillance

Ultra Maritime developed the system with backing from the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, known as Dstl. The effort supports the Atlantic Bastion program, which focuses on expanding autonomous anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The initiative seeks to bring uncrewed aircraft into submarine hunting missions while improving coordination with existing crewed assets. Those assets include the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 helicopter fleet.

Unlike traditional approaches that rely heavily on crewed aircraft, Atlantic Bastion emphasizes distributed operations. Multiple platforms can share information and work together to track underwater targets across wider areas. The company said rising submarine activity has increased the urgency for improved detection technologies.

“Enhanced detection and localization of threat submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles are critical to maintaining operational advantage,” Ultra Maritime said. MSARS gives operators flexibility before deployment. Crews can configure mission settings through a built-in digital interface before launching the sonobuoy from an aircraft.

Integration with SeaGuardian

Ultra Maritime is also working with General Atomics to integrate MSARS and other G-size sonobuoys onto the MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft. The pairing could significantly expand anti-submarine warfare coverage.

SeaGuardian’s endurance allows it to remain on station far longer than many traditional platforms. Combined with compact sonobuoys, operators could survey larger sections of ocean without increasing crew requirements.

Ultra Maritime says the integration would extend operational reach, increase sonobuoy carrying capacity, and support distributed multistatic operations in contested environments. The company also noted that it remains the only manufacturer producing G-size sonobuoys. Their smaller form factor makes them particularly suited for unmanned aircraft missions.

Broader sonobuoy push

The Scottish trial arrives as Ultra Maritime expands its sonobuoy business through production contracts and international partnerships. Earlier this year, the company secured a U.S. Navy contract covering low-rate initial production of the AN/SSQ-125B sonobuoy. The system aims to improve the detection of increasingly quiet submarines operating in challenging acoustic conditions.

Ultra Maritime has also expanded its presence in Europe. In 2025, France selected the company to provide active and passive sonobuoys under a contract awarded by Thales on behalf of the country’s defense procurement agency.

For defense planners on both sides of the Atlantic, the latest MSARS milestone represents more than a successful trial. It highlights a broader shift toward networked and increasingly autonomous anti-submarine operations designed for a more contested maritime environment.