Category: Defense

From Ghost Signals to Orbital Shields In June 2024, Australian astronomers detected a mysterious, intense burst of radio waves originating from near Earth. Initially, they thought they’d found a new pulsar or quasar. Instead, they traced the 30-nanosecond pulse to an unlikely source – NASA’s defunct Relay-2 satellite, launched during the Cold War and dormant…
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NATO’s biggest space-data deal to date pairs the Alliance’s new Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) programme with the world’s largest commercial radar-satellite fleet, run by Finnish unicorn ICEYE. Below you’ll find a deep-dive on what the contract actually covers, why it matters strategically and commercially, the technology under the hood, and the open questions…
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A dramatic 24-hour burst of missile fire, bunker-buster strikes, and dizzying political messaging has pushed the Iran-Israel war to its most perilous point yet. Iran’s “symbolic” barrage on America’s Al Udeid air base in Qatar came only a day after U.S. B-2 bombers flattened three Iranian nuclear sites, while Israel kept pounding targets in Tehran.…
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Recent commercial satellite photographs released by Maxar Technologies, Planet Labs and multiple newsrooms confirm that the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) outside Qom—the deepest, most heavily‑fortified node in Iran’s nuclear network—absorbed direct hits from U.S. Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs during the 22 June allied air‑raid. High‑resolution before‑and‑after imagery shows at least six fresh penetrator holes in the limestone ridge above the…
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China’s June 2025 demonstration of a 1‑gigabit‑per‑second laser down‑link from geostationary orbit sparked sensational headlines claiming a weak “candle‑bright” beam had “pulverized Starlink.” In reality, the 2‑watt transmission was a communications breakthrough, not an anti‑satellite strike. Yet the episode sits at the crossroads of two fast‑diverging trends: (1) a legitimate push to replace crowded radio channels with…
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China’s June 2025 experiment beaming 1 Gbps of data from geostationary orbit with a laser barely brighter than a night‑light has electrified the telecom industry—and alarmed military planners worldwide. Multiple open‑source reports agree that the demonstration proves China can move high‑bandwidth traffic five times faster than today’s Starlink downlinks while using a fraction of the power, thanks to a…
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Missile technology forms the backbone of modern military power, from intercontinental nuclear-tipped rockets to precision-guided tactical weapons. This comprehensive country-by-country guide details the world’s missile systems – ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship and air-defense missiles, air-to-air weapons, and more – including those in service, in development, or recently retired. For each nation, we outline key…
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Introduction to Anti-Drone Technologies As drones proliferate in both civilian and military arenas, the need to counter rogue or malicious drones has become urgent. High-profile incidents – from drones causing airport shutdowns to UAVs menacing critical infrastructure – have underscored the threat. For example, the NFL reported a staggering 20,000% increase in drone incursions at…
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Overview and Development History Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighters in flight during a demonstration. The Sukhoi Su-57, known by its NATO codename “Felon,” is Russia’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. Developed under the PAK FA program (Perspektivnyy Aviatsionnyy Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii – “Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation”), the Su-57 was designed to replace aging Soviet-era…
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The Rising Threat of Drones in Modern Warfare and Public Security Drones as Emerging Threats: Small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have rapidly become a double-edged sword – offering benefits for civilians while introducing new threats on battlefields and in public spaces ctc.westpoint.edu ctc.westpoint.edu. Terrorist organizations and insurgents have weaponized cheap commercial drones for bombings, kamikaze…
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