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Military Watch
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[l] at 9/24/26 8:14am
The Chinese government has taken possession of sensitive components from a Royal Australia Air Force F-35A fighter after a shipment carrying the parts was unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong, according to sources familiar with the incident cited by Bloomberg. The components, which include an F-35 cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door, were being transported from Australia to the United States for inspection and possible repair or disposal when they were diverted in late May. The shipment was being transported by UPS on behalf of Lockheed Martin, with the reasons for the diversion remaining uncertain. The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office has confirmed that it is aware of the incident and is working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to recover the components. “We are actively working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence,” the office reported. The components are potentially valuable, with both the cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door were supplied by Lockheed Martin and coated with radar-absorbing material intended to contribute to the F-35’s low-observable characteristics.The canopy is of particular interest because its radar-absorbing coating forms part of the aircraft’s overall low-observable design. The weapons-bay doors similarly require radar-absorbing treatment because exposed surfaces can otherwise produce radar returns that increase the aircraft’s signature. Analysing them could help China’s defences sector develop more effective means of detecting and tracking F-35s, which are heavily reliant on their stealth capabilities to remain survivable in high intensity conflict scenarios. Analysts have noted that while the F-35’s highly sensitive avionics were not compromised, the loss of key parts of the airframe could represent a very major setback for the program. The incident is nonetheless significant because China has a longstanding interest in understanding the F-35 and its low-observable technologies, with the aircraft being the only one of its generation in production in the Western world. China is currently serially producing two fifth generation fighter types, the J-20 and J-35, which are both heavier, longer ranged and have superior flight performances and larger radars than the F-35. The F-35 is considered the only fighter type in the world capable of engaging China’s most capable fighter types on a near peer level. It is expected to remain the most capable fighter type in the Wester world at least until the late 2030s or early 2040s when the U.S. F-47 sixth generation fighter enters service. The very limited numbers of F-47s planned to be procured means the F-35 will be relied on very heavily for decades, which makes even a partial compromising of its stealth features a very major setback. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/24/26 7:00am
The Russian Aerospace Forces have received a new batch of Su-57 fifth generation fighter aircraft, following an intensification of work to accelerate the type’s rate of production. The aircraft were reported to have undergone “a full cycle of factory tests, were tested in various operating modes by pilots from the Russian Defence Ministry” before delivery.” Commenting on the delivery, United Aircraft Cooperation CEO Vadim Badekha observed: "The fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft is the best aircraft in its class. Unconditional fulfilment of the state defence procurement plan for the delivery of these and other operational-tactical aircraft is our top priority. Our specialists, in cooperation with other Rostec companies, are constantly enhancing production processes to ensure the necessary pace of aircraft manufacturing.”The Su-57 has been more intensively combat tested than any other fighter type, with combat operations in the Ukrainian theatre having included air defence suppression, air-to-air combat, and operations in heavily defended enemy airspace, as well as a range of precision strike missions. With a design significantly more complex that those of other Russian fighter types, its flyaway cost is over double that of the Su-35S, although its significantly greater combat potential has lead analysts to widely regard it as more cost effective. A major factor in its favour is that its lifetime sustainment costs are reportedly comparable to those of fourth generation fighters like the Su-35, contrasting with the case in the United States were fifth generation fighters cost close to twice as much to sustain as their fourth generation predecessors. In July 2025 Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces Lieutenant General Alexander Maksimtsev reported that preparations were underway for accelerated deliveries of Su-57 fighters. Russian industry had set a highly ambitious target of a 67 percent surge in the production in 2024, with 20 Su-57s having been expected to enter service that year compared to just 12 fighters in 2023 and only six fighters in 2022. The Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant in the Russian Far East saw new facilities opened in August 2025 for production of the Su-57, raising the possibility that the increased delivery rate referred to by General Maksimtsev may largely be facilitated by this expansion. In parallel to deliveries to the Russian Aerospace Forces, Su-57 fighters are currently being produced for export. The Algerian Air Force received its first two fighters in late 2025, and is expected to receive additional fighters in 2026. A second client, which is assessed to be most likely to be Kazakhstan, will receive the fighters by the end of 2025, while it has been confirmed that a third client in the Middle East region has also placed orders. The geopolitical situation in the region means that Iran is the only likely client. In late January it was confirmed that Russian-Indian talks regarding a license production deal for the Su-57 had reached advanced technical stages, with Indian orders expected to be far larger than those placed by other foreign clients, with questions having been raised regarding the extent to which production facilities can keep up with both domestic orders and rising foreign demand. 

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/23/26 5:35pm
The United States Air Force has returned the MQ-1 Predator drone to frontline service more than eight years after the type was officially retired, providing a remarkable revival for one of the most iconic combat drones of the post-Cold War era. This follows extreme losses to the MQ-9 Reaper fleet, with close to 60 Reapers having been shot down or destroyed on the ground by Iranian and allied Yemeni Ansuruallah Coalition forces, the large majority of them since February 2026, leaving the U.S. Air Force unable to sustain operations. The scale of the losses has made the availability of lower-cost unmanned aircraft increasingly important, with the Predator’s status as a previously retired aircraft making it largely expendable. Iran has repeatedly claimed that American MQ-1 aircraft have been destroyed during the conflict. On September 21, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that it had intercepted a U.S. MQ-1 over the Strait of Hormuz using a new air- defence system. The MQ-9 is considerably larger and more expensive than the original Predator, while its sophisticated sensors and communications equipment make each loss particularly consequential. It remains uncertain how many Predators may have been lost in combat, however, as some MQ-1s reported destroyed appear to have been new and much more valuable MQ-1C Gray Eagles rather than old MQ-1 Predators. The revival of the Predator illustrates the changing economics of unmanned warfare. The original MQ-1 was designed around relatively simple and inexpensive persistent surveillance. It later became the first major U.S. armed unmanned aircraft, carrying AGM-114 Hellfire missiles in addition to electro-optical and infrared sensors. The MQ-9 Reaper was subsequently developed to provide substantially greater speed, payload and sensor capacity. Its larger airframe also allowed it to carry a considerably broader selection of weapons and equipment. Despite its superior capabilities, the Reaper’s far greater cost become a liability when deployed for high intensity operations. The Predator’s unexpected second life consequently highlights a broader feature of the current conflict: the value of quantity alongside sophistication. An older unmanned aircraft cannot replicate the capabilities of an MQ-9, but a relatively inexpensive platform can still provide useful surveillance or serve as a test and training asset without consuming the same resources as the newest generation of American unmanned systems. While Reaper drones have formed a vital part of the U.S. Air Force’s reconnaissance-strike complex, and have been flown into contested air space for intelligence gathering and in some cases for strike operations, relying on the Predator for such missions can help preserve the much more valuable Reaper fleet.

[Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/23/26 5:17pm
China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation is continuing intensive flight testing for the world’s first sixth generation fighter program, with newly released footage providing some of the clearest views yet of the rapidly evolving design. The latest imagery highlights changes to the aircraft’s engines, intakes, sensors and external configuration. Five prototypes are now believed to have participated in flight testing, with substantial differences already visible between individual airframes. The continuing modifications suggest that Chengdu is using successive prototypes to refine the aircraft rather than moving directly towards a fixed production configuration.Recent footage circulating online shows one of the new fighter prototypes making a landing approach, providing an unusually clear view of the aircraft’s rear fuselage and propulsion arrangement. The aircraft retains its unique three-engine configuration and exceptionally broad tailless airframe, as well as a two-seat cockpit in which the crew sit side-by-side. One of the most significant changes visible is a change to the engine exhaust arrangement, with prior aircraft having had a trough-like configuration, while later ones aircraft have adopted two-dimensional thrust-vectoring exhausts. The change is accompanied by other major aerodynamic modifications that have appeared during the program’s development.The new fighter has also progressively adopted divertless supersonic intakes, where the first prototype had a different intake arrangement, which significantly improves stealth capabilities. A lighter-coloured radome is visible on one of the recent test aircraft also indicates that an operational radar has been installed for flight testing. The latest test aircraft also appears to have adopted a two-tone paint scheme broadly resembling that used on operational Chinese J-20 fifth generation fighters. Lighter-coloured leading and trailing edges are particularly notable because these areas can contain antennas and other systems on low-observable aircraft. Earlier prototypes had a more distinctive splinter-style camouflage pattern.Chengdu’s fighter is not only the first of its generation, but also by far the largest in the world, optimising it for very long range operations, and for integration of an outstandingly powerful radar and heavy weapons payload. Cost restrictions mean that no other country is expected to field a similarly large fighter type, as while sustaining such an aircraft is affordable in China, in the Untied States the costs would be very considerably greater. Despite its heavy weight, Chengdu’s fighter has repeatedly demonstrated extreme levels of manoeuvrability, undermining early Western assessments that the aircraft was a bomber or strike fighter rather than an aircraft optimised for air superiority missions. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/23/26 7:50am
A Russian Armed Forces Mi-8 helicopter briefly entered Polish airspace from Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave on September 23, prompting the Polish Air Force to scramble fighter aircraft and place ground-based air-defence forces on standby. The fighters in question were reportedly F-16C/D Block 52s, which currently form the backbone of the fleet as deliveries of F-35s and South Korean FA-50s continue. The incident occurred near the northern Polish town of Braniewo, only a short distance from the Russian border, and comes amid heightened tensions along NATO’s eastern flank.According to Poland’s Operational Command of the Armed Forces, the iRussian helicopter was flying from the Kaliningrad region and crossed into Polish airspace to a maximum depth of approximately 300 metres, remaining inside Polish territory for 42 seconds before departing. Commenting on the incident, Poland’s Operational Command observed “The nature of the incident indicates that Russia is once again testing the readiness of our air defence.” It added that Polish air-defence crews remain under continuous surveillance and at constant readiness to protect the country’s airspace. There have been a number of incidents involving Russian and allied Belarusian helicopters reportedly Polish airspace helicopters. In April 2025, Poland reported that a Russian military helicopter had entered its airspace over the Baltic Sea’s territorial waters. In August 2023, Poland reported that two Belarusian military helicopters, an Mi-24 and Mi-8, had briefly crossed into Polish airspace near the Belarusian border, although Minsk rejected the Polish account. More recently, Poland has faced more serious incidents connected with the war in Ukraine, with numerous Russian and Ukrainian drones reported to have entered the country’s airspace, forcing Polish and other NATO forces to respond by shooting them down.Tensions between Russia and Poland have been particularly high with Polish contractor playing major roles in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War. In December 2023 Polish journalist Zbigniew Parafianowicz revealed that he had been provided details by Polish officials on operations in Ukraine from early 2022, with a Polish officer having informed him: “we worked out a formula for our presence in Ukraine … we were simply sent on paid leave. Politicians pretended not to see this.” The Polish Volunteer Corps has used a similar model to provide cover for the mass deployment of Polish personnel, who are technically former personnel when entering the theatre, with their presence having for years been widely reported on multiple frontlines. In February 2026, the lower house of the Polish parliament adopted legislation to provide legal cover to Polish citizens who fought in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War.

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/22/26 8:06pm
An artificial intelligence-assisted U.S. military intelligence report falsely claimed that a Chinese vessel in the Middle East was transporting components connected to a nuclear weapons program, nearly prompting American forces to intercept and board the ship during the war with Iran, according to a CNN investigation. Four people familiar with the episode told CNN that the intelligence report immediately raised alarms within the U.S. Armed Forces, which began preparing an operation against the Chinese vessel. Armed personnel were reportedly preparing to board the ship, while U.S. military aircraft were already in the air.The operation was halted only after officials examined the underlying intelligence more closely and discovered that the report had been generated with assistance from an AI chatbot. The chatbot had incorrectly identified the material being carried by the vessel. CNN was unable to determine what the ship was actually carrying. One source described the resulting intelligence assessment as “entirely false,” while adding that it “almost started a war.” An American operation against a Chinese vessel could have created a direct confrontation between Washington and Beijing, potentially escalating well beyond the original incident. The incident occurred in the spring while U.S. forces were conducting military operations against Iran. The episode reportedly began when an analyst associated with a U.S. special operations command examined intelligence concerning the ship’s manifest. The information originated with U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific in Hawaii. Rather than relying exclusively on conventional intelligence-analysis procedures, the analyst queried an AI chatbot about the information. According to CNN’s sources, the chatbot combined publicly available information with classified signals intelligence held by the U.S. government before reaching its erroneous conclusion about the ship’s cargo. The analyst subsequently used AI a second time to transform the findings into a standard intelligence report.That second step was particularly consequential because the resulting document was presented in the familiar format of a conventional military intelligence product. It was then circulated within the U.S. Armed Forces, where personnel acted upon its contents. “The internal tools are mostly just copies of the commercial stuff wearing lipstick,” a former senior U.S. official familiar with the AI systems used by military and intelligence analysts told CNN.  The incident highlights the potential consequences of AI systems producing inaccurate information in military environments where intelligence assessments can directly influence the use of force. Large language models are capable of producing plausible-sounding answers that contain factual errors, a phenomenon commonly referred to as AI “hallucination.” In this case, however, the erroneous output reportedly progressed beyond an isolated analytical mistake and was incorporated into an operational intelligence product. The incident occurred as the Pentagon is rapidly expanding its use of artificial intelligence. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has promoted an “AI-first” approach across the U.S. Armed Forces, with AI being introduced for applications ranging from intelligence analysis and targeting to logistics, budgeting and supply-chain management. Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton, a CNN military analyst, argued that analysts still need to independently establish whether information fed into AI systems is accurate and plausible. “You still need real analysis, in order to figure out exactly what’s happening, to make sure that the data that you’re using in these AI tools is actually, first of all, true, and secondly, if it’s plausible,” Leighton said. “Those are the kinds of things that really require a lot of time, as an intel analyst, to figure out.” The episode raises questions about the security and reliability of AI systems used to process sensitive intelligence. 

[Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Naval]

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[l] at 9/22/26 7:55pm
The Republic of Korea Air Force has received its first indigenous fighter aircraft with the deliver of the first serially produced KF-21 combat jet. Aircraft 26-001 was formally handed over by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) at its facility in Sacheon before flying to Yecheon Air Base, which will serve as the fighter’s first operational base. The delivery marks one of the most significant milestone in the history of the country’s combat aviation industry, with the KF-21 Block I being a fourth generation fighter, while the KF-21 Block II will enter service near the end of the decade as a fully fifth generation fighter. South Korea’s efforts to develop an indigenous fighter were been formally initiated in the early 2000s, after which the KF-21 program was launched in 2015. The aircraft is intended to replace ageing F-5 and F-16 fighters in frontline service. The ROKAF had already begun preparing for the aircraft’s arrival in June, when it reactivated the 156th Fighter Squadron. The unit had previously operated the F-4E Phantom II before being deactivated approximately 14 years ago. It will now become the first operational unit to introduce the KF-21. Air Force Chief of Staff General Son Sug-rak described the delivery as the point at which responsibility for the program passes from its developers to the air force. “Overcoming numerous trials and hardships, the KF-21 was handed over to the Air Force today and commenced flight operations. Up until yesterday was the time for the Boramae project’s policymakers and developers. From today onward, it is the Air Force’s time,” he stated. Son also called on personnel assigned to operate the aircraft to assume responsibility for rapidly establishing the KF-21 as a frontline combat capability. KAI is scheduled to produce 40 Block I aircraft for the ROKAF by 2028, after which 80 Block II aircraft will be delivered form 2028-2032. These aircraft will receive enhanced strike capabilities, including the integration of long-range air-to-ground weapons, substantially expanding the KF-21’s role from an aircraft primarily focused on air combat into a broader multirole platform. The KF-21 is not considered a pair competitor to even much older variants of the U.S. F-35 or Chinese J-20 or J-35 fighters, but is still expected to be significantly more capable than medium weight and lightweight fourth generation fighters such as the Rafale, Eurofighter, and F-18E/F.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/22/26 5:01pm
The U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke class destroyer fleet is facing renewed operational demands in the Middle East, as the service continues to support an ongoing offensive against Iran, raising concerns over the ability of an ageing fleet to sustain a high operational tempo while maintaining scheduled maintenance. According to U.S. Central Command, a substantial concentration of American destroyers is currently supporting operations in the region. As of September 14, two destroyers were operating in the Red Sea, while another 13 were present in the Arabian Sea. The war has demonstrated the intensity of operations that can be imposed on individual destroyers operating around strategically important maritime chokepoints, even against less capable adversaries such as Iran.The renewed Middle Eastern deployment comes as the Navy continues to experience significant difficulties keeping its surface combatants on their planned maintenance schedules. The Congressional Budget Office reported in December 2025 that overhauls of Arleigh Burke class destroyers beginning between 2011 and 2024 lasted an average of 26 percent longer than the Navy’s final scheduled estimates. The 225 maintenance periods examined by the CBO also required approximately 8 percent more labour than originally scheduled. The CBO projected that the destroyers would spend an average of more than nine years of their service lives in maintenance, equivalent to approximately 27 percent of their planned operational lifetimes. This was more than twice the roughly four years that the Navy’s 2012 maintenance plans had anticipated. Several factors were identified as contributing to the delays, including the increasing age of the fleet, maintenance that had previously been postponed, delays in inspections and contract awards, unexpected additional work, shortages or delays involving parts and materials, and modernisation requirements. The average age of the Arleigh Burke class fleet increased from approximately 10 years in 2011 to 20 years in 2024. Although newer Flight IIA and Flight III destroyers are entering service, a substantial proportion of the fleet consists of older vessels that require increasingly extensive maintenance to sustain in service. Production of destroyers has remained slow, and is far surpassed by that in China, and to a lesser extent that in North Korea. The current operational requirements present a difficult balancing problem. Keeping large numbers of destroyers deployed provides the United States with substantial missile-defence and strike capabilities in the Middle East, but prolonged deployments can increase wear on ships that may already require extensive maintenance. The Navy has declined to provide details concerning the current readiness status of its destroyers or the potential effect of Middle Eastern operations on future deployment schedules, citing operational-security and classification considerations. The challenge is particularly significant because destroyers have become increasingly important to U.S. naval operations in an era of expanding missile threats. The Navy brought its first Flight III Arleigh Burke class destroyer, the USS Jack H. Lucas, into service in December 2025, marking the beginning of the latest phase in by far the world’s oldest destroyer program. With the first ship of the class, the USS Arleigh Burke, laid down in 1988 and commissioned into service in July 1991, questions have increasingly been raised regarding the ships’ viability against peer level adversaries, and particularly the significantly newer Type 052D and Type 055 class destroyers that form the backbone of China’s surface combat fleet. With the Arleigh Burke class forming the backbone of the Navy’s large surface combatant force, prolonged high-tempo operations could therefore effects extending well beyond the Middle East, testing the Navy’s ability to balance forward deployments with maintenance and modernisation, which have so far been found lacking.

[Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Naval]

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[l] at 9/22/26 4:52pm
The U.S. Navy is seeking proposals for a new carrier-based unmanned combat aircraft designed to operate alongside manned fighters, with the service setting an affordability target of approximately $30 million per aircraft. The requirement forms part of the Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Increment 1 programme and is intended to provide a new autonomous strike and combat capability for future carrier air wings. Requirements for advanced stealth capabilities and a long range have raised serious questions regarding the viability of producing a combat jet at anything close to the required cost. Unmanned carrier-based fighter programs have gained greater significance due to the de-prioritisation and defunding of the Navy’s F/A-XX sixth generation fighter program, and to the Navy’s limited investment in F-35C fifth generation fighter procurements, which has left the service very heavily reliant on fourth generation F-18 fighters that are at risk of obsolescence. The Navy is seeking a platform capable of carrying up to four external weapons weighing as much as 2,500 pounds (1,134kg) each, potentially allowing a maximum external weapons load of approximately 10,000 pounds. The requirement also leaves open the possibility of internal weapons carriage, which would allow future designs to reduce their radar signatures and improve survivability in heavily defended airspace. The Navy wants the new unmanned fighter to have a deck footprint comparable to its manned fourth generation fighters, allowing it to be accommodated within established carrier handling and storage arrangements without requiring major changes to carrier infrastructure. The aircraft is also expected to operate in sea states up to Sea State 5 and from austere locations with limited support equipment. It further requires that the aircraft be capable of autonomous flight and mission-level functions, supporting manned-unmanned teaming without requiring continuous direct control by an operator. The new requirement represents a renewed emphasis on carrier-based unmanned combat aircraft after the Navy previously moved away from the concept. Northrop Grumman’s X-47B demonstrated autonomous carrier operations more than a decade ago. The Navy’s decision to pursue a relatively large and heavily armed unmanned aircraft reflects the growing importance of extending the range, weapons capacity and survivability of carrier air wings. Rather than simply serving as inexpensive adjuncts to manned fighters, the proposed aircraft could perform strike and other high-risk missions while allowing crewed aircraft to operate with additional unmanned platforms in contested environments.

[Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/22/26 4:21pm
The Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), General Takehiro Morita, has flown aboard India’s domestically developed Tejas fighter during the ongoing two-week Veer Guardian 2026 bilateral air exercise. Morita flew in a twin-seat Tejas alongside Group Captain I. Samrat, while Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh led the formation in a single-seat Tejas from Air Force Station Jodhpur. The flight provided Morita with an opportunity to experience the Indian fighter directly while also serving as a high-profile demonstration of the increasingly close operational relationship between the two air forces. Veer Guardian 2026 marks the first deployment of Japanese fighter aircraft to Indian territory for a bilateral exercise. The JASDF has deployed three F-2A fighters from the 8th Air Wing at Tsuiki Air Base in Fukuoka Prefecture, accompanied by approximately 110 personnel. The aircraft were ferried to India through Okinawa and Thailand, with U.S. Air Force support for the long-distance deployment including aerial refuelling. This follows the first Veer Guardian exercise which was held in Japan in January 2023, during which the Indian Air Force deployed four Su-30MKI fighters, two C-17 transport aircraft and an Il-78 aerial refuelling tanker to Japan.Delays to the development of the Tejas have caused serious and worsening issues for Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities, resulting in both the missing of targets for the size of the fighter fleet by a considerable margin, and in major increases to the average age of currently serving fighter types. The fighter belatedly made its first flight only on January 4, 2001, after which it took a further 18 years before the aircraft were accepted into service in a limited capacity in February 2019. The fighter’s combat potential remains limited, while the first flight of the enhanced Tejas Mk2 variant was confirmed in March 2026 to have been further delayed by two years. 

[Category: South Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/21/26 9:06pm
North Korea has announced the successful test of a new missile system incorporating a hypersonic glide vehicle, marking the latest test since such systems were first flown in September 2021. South Korean forces detected two short-range ballistic missile launches from the country’s eastern coast, reporting that the projectiles travelled approximately 450 and 600 kilometres before falling into the sea, indicating that the vehicles are intended for a short range tactical system. North Korea in 2025 became the first country to unveil a short range ballistic missile with a glide vehicle, which is an evolution of the KN-23 design better optimised to evade enemy air defences.Images released by the Korean Central News Agency showed a missile displayed on a transporter-erector-launcher and a monitoring screen identifying the weapon as the Hwasong-11Ma-1. The system appears to be an evolution of North Korea’s Hwasong-11 family of short-range ballistic missiles, referred to in the West as the KN-23, with analysts assessing that it is equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle. Unlike a conventional ballistic missile warhead, a hypersonic glide vehicle can manoeuvre during the terminal portion of flight rather than following a predictable ballistic trajectory. This can complicate the task of missile-defence systems, particularly when combined with high speed and a relatively low flight path. North Korean state media described the new weapon as being of “great significance” and said it incorporated “ultra-modern defence technology.” Chairman of the ruling Korean Workers’ Party Kim Jong Un stated that the development would strengthen the country’s warfighting capabilities, warning that “the enemy will know better what such progress means without any explanation.” The new capability would give adversaries “an incurable headache and a very cruel and unavoidable blow,” he added. The value of hypersonic glide vehicles was first demonstrated in high intensity combat in March 2026, when Iran fired fired the Fattah 2, which integrates one such vehicle, against high value targets in Israel. Iran is widely speculated to have been able to bring the missile into service with the help of technology transfers from North Korea. The two Western adversaries having maintained close defence ties since the 1980s centred around transfers of Korean missiles and related technologies. North Korea’s decision to integrate hypersonic glide vehicles onto short range ballistic missiles could result in such systems proliferating widely, most immediately to Russia where large scale procurements of various missile types from the East Asian state have continued at scale. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Missile and Space]

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[l] at 9/21/26 8:46pm
The Republic of China Armed Forces have conducted a three-day precision-fire exercise at Jiupeng in Pingtung County integrating U.S.-supplied HIMARS rocket artillery systems with various loitering munitions, air-defence systems and anti-ship missiles. Th exercises provided a large-scale demonstration of the services’ ability to coordinate multiple weapon systems against an amphibious assault. The exercise, which began in September 2026, is focused on integrating sensors, command-and-control networks and precision weapons rather than simply demonstrating the range of individual systems. The exercise brings together systems operated by multiple branches of the Armed Forces, including Air Force Patriot and Tien Kung air-defence systems, Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III cruise missiles, and Army M142 HIMARS launchers and ALTIUS 600M loitering munitions. The maritime component is centred on the decommissioned Republic of China Navy frigate Lan Yang, which is being used as a target off the islands eastern coast. The arrangement provides an opportunity to test how different sensors and weapons can be integrated against a maritime target rather than operated independently.The exercise reflects a growing emphasis within the Republic of China Armed Forces on combining relatively inexpensive unmanned systems with longer-range precision weapons. The U.S.-supplied ALTIUS 600M provides a potentially persistent surveillance and strike capability, while HIMARS and coastal anti-ship missiles can provide substantially greater destructive power against identified targets. The ability to connect these systems through a common command-and-control architecture could allow a target detected by one platform to be engaged by another without requiring every weapon system to operate its own independent sensor network.The opening phase of the exercise concentrated on air defence and command links, including Patriot firings. The second day included the Hsiung Sheng missile, Chien Hsiang loitering munition and Land Sword II system, while subsequent phases were scheduled to incorporate HIMARS, Hsiung Feng II and III missiles and ALTIUS 600M systems. The exercise therefore encompasses both defensive and offensive systems, reflecting the Republic of China militarys requirement to contest air and maritime approaches while maintaining the ability to strike forces involved in an attempted landing. The HIMARS component is also part of a broader expansion of the Republic of China Armys precision-fire capabilities. The Republic of China received its first batch of 11 M142 HIMARS launchers in 2025, while further procurement has expanded the planned fleet. Earlier live-fire training in June 2026 demonstrated HIMARS operations on the islands western coast, while the current exercise places the system within a much broader joint precision-strike framework. The combination of HIMARS, Hsiung Feng missiles, Hsiung Sheng missiles and loitering munitions is particularly relevant to preparations for a potential amphibious operation. A large-scale landing on Taiwan Island would require an attacking force to move through maritime approaches before establishing and supplying beachheads. Land-based precision weapons and unmanned systems could therefore be used at different stages of an engagement.The exercise also highlights the importance of survivability. Mobile launchers such as HIMARS can relocate after firing, while smaller unmanned systems can be dispersed and operated from relatively concealed positions. This is particularly important for the Republic of China Armed Forces because fixed missile and air-defence installations could be targeted early in a conflict. A force built around dispersed launchers, mobile sensors and networked unmanned systems could make it more difficult for an adversary to eliminate the entire precision-strike architecture through attacks on a limited number of fixed facilities.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Missile and Space]

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[l] at 9/21/26 1:09pm
New satellite imagery has provided a detailed look at a Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine at the Bohai Shipyard in Huludao, revealing several features that point to significant advances over earlier Chinese designs. The submarine is widely described by outside observers as a Type 095, which is intended to succeed and significantly outperform the earlier Type 093 class ships that currently form the backbone of the nuclear powered combat fleet. Recently commenting on the Type 095 program, former U.S. Navy officer Christopher Carlson observed: “The Type 095 will be a very quiet submarine, which will complicate the situation.” Senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation think tank Brent Sadler similarly warned that Chinese submarine technologies appeared to be making significant strides, making the ships more difficult to track. The latest imagery, captured on September 18, provides an unusually clear view of the vessel, with one of the most important features visible being the pump-jet propulsion system. Unlike a conventional exposed propeller, a pump-jet encloses the rotating components within a shroud and can offer advantages in acoustic performance and propulsion efficiency, particularly at higher submerged speeds. The improved Type 093B nuclear-powered attack submarines already have such systems, with the Type 095 expected to further refine them considerably. All that is known of the Type 095’s design indicates a strong emphasis on cleaner hydrodynamic shaping and stealth-oriented engineering, with pump-jets being a key part of this.The new submarine features an X-shaped stern arrangement, replacing the cruciform configuration used on earlier Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarines. Such an arrangement can provide improved manoeuvrability and control while potentially reducing acoustic signatures across portions of the submarine’s operating envelope. Janes has described the vessel as the first known Chinese SSN to adopt an X-tail configuration, although an X-shaped stern has already been observed on China’s Type 041 diesel-electric submarine and other newer designs The adoption of both a pumpjet and X-shaped stern is particularly significant because these features are associated with efforts to improve submarine survivability. Images appear to show at least two relatively large circular openings positioned side by side ahead of the submarine’s sail. Their function is unclear, with possibilities including weapons-related systems or components associated with the submarine’s sonar installation. The positioning has drawn comparisons with the two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes fitted to U.S. Navy Block III Virginia class submarines, although there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that China’s submarine employs an equivalent arrangement. The size of the submarine is also significant. Based on analysis of additional commercial satellite imagery, the vessel appears to measure approximately 120 metres in length, making it significantly larger than prior Chinese attack submarines types. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]

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[l] at 9/21/26 10:42am
China has publicly displayed information concerning a laser weapon system associated with its first sixth generation fighter, as the aircraft continued to progress rapidly in flight testing since its unveiling in December 2024. At the 14th China International Defence Electronics Exhibition in Beijing from September 15 to 17, the Beijing Precision Engineering Institute for Aircraft Industry displayed an “Acquisition, Tracking and Pointing” system for a fighter aircraft laser weapon alongside an illustration of the J-36. The material indicated a system weighing less than 380kg and appeared to reference power in excess of 100kW, although important technical details were obscured.The exhibition material does not establish that the new fighter has already flown with a laser weapon installed. Rather, it provides the clearest public indication so far that China is investigating the integration of directed-energy weapons with its next-generation combat aircraft. Such a system could potentially be intended for defensive applications against incoming air-to-air or surface-to-air missiles, although its actual role, effective range and maturity remain unknown. A laser weapons is not expected to serve as a primary air-to-air weapon for the fighter, but can potentially provide an alternative to a cannon for visual range engagements, and a defensive capability against enemy missile attacks. Developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the new sixth generation fighter represents a radical departure from all prior fighter designs. One of the most distinctive features is its three-engine configuration. The engines are buried within the large fuselage, with their exhausts arranged across the rear of the aircraft. The unusual arrangement has generated considerable speculation over the aircraft’s intended mission, with its exceptionally large size and apparent fuel capacity suggesting that it may be designed for substantially longer-range operations than conventional air-superiority fighters.The use of three engines, and significant advances made to Chinese engine designs, is expected to allow for the generation of considerable power for onboard avionics and directed energy weapons, with the aircraft’s power generation capacity thought to far exceed those of all existing fighter types, including the J-20 which is currently considered a world leader in the field. While analysts in the Western world have largely focused on laser weapons as a counter to low cost drones, against which the use of air-to-air missiles is unaffordable, Chinese analysts have pointed to the importance of such weapons to defend aircraft against missile attacks, effectively complementing the major advances China is pioneering in stealth technologies with the world’s first tailless fighters. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/21/26 7:26am
Russia is reportedly constructing extensive underground production facilities at its Alabuga industrial complex in Tatarstan, as it seeks to protect its rapidly expanding production of single use attack drone. Ukrainian open-source intelligence analyst Dnipro Osint has estimated that approximately 42,000 square metres of underground space has already been constructed at the site, which has become the principal Russian manufacturing centre for Geran-2 drones, the Russian designation for the Iranian-designed Shahed-136. The reported construction represents a major change in the physical configuration of the Alabuga complex, with design choices having been made following an intensification of joint strikes launched from Ukraine against key industrial targets in Russia. Ukraine has launched multiple strikes on the Alabuga industrial complex, with construction on new underground facilities assessed by Ukrainian sources to have progressed rapidly. The underground areas are reportedly intended for future production facilities, although the precise functions of the structures have not been independently confirmed. The evidence currently comes primarily from satellite imagery and OSINT analysis rather than an official Russian announcement. The factory located near Yelabuga approximately 1,200 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, and has expanded substantially since Russia began industrial-scale production of attack drones. The Alabuga facility incorporates multiple stages of the manufacturing process, including composite airframe production, engine manufacture, metalworking, electronics and wiring, final assembly and storage. Satellite imagery has shown that the Yelabuga UAV production complex had grown from an initial pair of buildings into a large industrial network containing dozens of facilities, with the broader complex having expanded to more than 2.8 million square metres of space. Approximately 15 percent of the Alabuga Special Economic Zones facilities are potentially now involved in drone production. This expansion has allowed Russia to significantly intensify drone strikes on Ukrainian targets, while maintaining a large wider force for a potential conflict with NATO members. Russian state media in July 2025 for the first time revealed footage of the Alabuga Factory, which showed hundreds of the aircraft already completed, at what is reportedly the largest facility of its kind in the world. Russia’s defence sector has since mid-2022 considerably expanded its capacity to produce single use attack drones, with The Economist in May that year reporting that output of the Geran-2 had increased more than tenfold from 300 a month, to over 100 per day. Industry was reported at the time to be on track to be able to produce 500 of the aircraft daily, allowing for strikes using over 1000 of the aircraft to be launched several times per week. The Shahed 136 made its combat debut in the Ukrainian theatre in September 2022, and quickly emerged as one of the Russian Armed Forces’ most valued strike assets. New variants and modifications have continued to appear, such as those deploying PTM-3 anti-tank mines which were first seen in August 2025. In June 2025 it was reported that 25,000 North Korean industrial workers were being dispatched to Russia to support production efforts in Tatarstan, which had long been considered likely by analysts, and corroborated reports from Ukrainian intelligence officials. 

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/21/26 4:34am
A U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptor has been photographed carrying an external infrared search and track (IRST) pod beneath its wing, providing further evidence that the service is continuing flight testing of a new passive sensor capability for its oldest fifth generation fighters. The aircraft was also covered with numerous small reference markers, indicating that it remains involved in developmental testing rather than routine operational service. While all other fifth generation fighter types were designed to integrate such sensors, the F-22 is a much older design that first flew in 1990, and saw many subsystems including an expected IRST removed after the Cold War ended due to budget cuts. IRST systems allow aircraft to detect and track targets passively by sensing their infrared emissions rather than transmitting radar energy. This can be particularly valuable against stealth aircraft, since a passive sensor does not reveal the fighter’s location through radar emissions. The system can also provide an additional source of targeting information alongside the F-22’s AN/APG-77 AESA radar and electronic warfare suite. The Air Force’s testing of the IRST capability has been underway for several years. The service’s F-22 Rapid Prototyping programme conducted six flight demonstrations involving sensor-enhancement hardware during 2024. The importance of IRST systems has grown considerably due to China’s procurement of advanced stealth fighters at a far faster rate than any other country. Although stealth aircraft have reduced heat signatures, reductions are less extreme than those made to radar signatures, which makes IRSTs one of the most effective systems for detecting, tracking and targeting them. The systems are nevertheless restricted to much shorter detection ranges than radars. Even with IRST upgrades, however, the viability of the F-22 for conflict in the Pacific remains highly questionable, with its range being the poorest of its generation, its stealth features ageing, and its radar and avionics having fallen three decades behind the cutting edge. The new pod appears designed to minimise the aerodynamic and radar-signature penalties normally associated with external equipment. This is particularly important for the F-22, whose defining characteristic is its low observability. Conventional external pods and fuel tanks would increase the aircraft’s radar cross-section and potentially compromise one of the advantages for which the Raptor was designed. The IRST pod is being developed alongside other equipment intended to preserve the aircraft’s stealth characteristics. Recent photographs have also shown F-22s carrying low-observable external fuel tanks and associated equipment pods. The Air Force is testing these systems as part of efforts to extend the Raptor’s range and expand its capabilities without requiring a major redesign of the aircraft. 

[Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/20/26 8:16pm
Australia’s AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program being pursued jointly with the United States and United Kingdom has generated renewed concern in Indonesia, after a former senior Australian defence official publicly invoked an “aggressive Indonesia” as a hypothetical adversary in making the case for the program’s strategic value. Michael Pezzullo, formerly deputy secretary for strategy in Australia’s Defence Department, made the remarks while giving evidence to the AUKUS Public Inquiry, arguing that nuclear-powered submarines would provide Australia with a significant advantage in undersea warfare and greater freedom to conduct operations without immediately requiring American or other allied support. In describing a hypothetical conflict, he stated that Australian forces would seek to “rapidly destroy as much of the enemy’s fighting power as possible”. Indonesia was used as the illustrative potential adversary in the scenario. Australia and Indonesia have a history of conflict, including during the Indonesian confrontation with the formation of Malaysia between 1963 and 1965, with Australian intelligence having played important roles in engineering a coup in 1965 that ended the conflict and killed several million in Indonesia. Another major crisis followed in 1999 when Australia led an international peacekeeping force into East Timor to establish it as an independent state from Indonesia, which paved the way for the Australian government to lay claim to considerable fossil fuel deposits near the territory. AUKUS nevertheless introduces new strategic complications. Announced in 2021, the pact is intended to provide Australia with conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, initially through the acquisition of U.S.-built Virginia-class vessels and eventually through the development of the SSN-AUKUS submarine by Australia and the United Kingdom. The vessels will give the Royal Australian Navy substantially greater submerged endurance and range than conventionally powered submarines, allowing them to operate over much larger areas of the Pacific. While primarily targeted at China, Indonesia’s unwillingness to support broader Western Bloc efforts against Beijing, and its insistence on neutrality, has been widely assessed to have made it a potential target. 

[Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Naval]

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[l] at 9/20/26 7:56am
United States intelligence officials have warned that a proposed $24 billion sale of F-35 fifth generation fighters to Saudi Arabia could create opportunities for China to obtain sensitive military technologies, according to internal assessments cited by The New York Times. The warnings come as Washington moves forward with the proposed sale despite concerns over the Arab Kingdom’s expanding military, technological and defence relationship with Beijing. Saudi Arabia is the first non-developed economy to be permitted to procure the F-35, marking a major turning point for the program. Intelligence concerns centre on the possibility that Chinese intelligence services could gain access to F-35 technologies through espionage in Saudi Arabia or through the kingdom’s increasingly close military and technological relationship with Beijing. A detailed assessment produced by the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency has examined Chinese military access to Saudi bases and the use of Chinese telecommunications technology within the kingdom. According to officials familiar with the assessment, the Agency questioned whether the United States and Saudi Arabia would be able to maintain sufficiently secure facilities for F-35-related technology. Particular concern has reportedly been directed towards the aircraft’s advanced radar and surveillance systems, which would be among the most sensitive technologies transferred to Saudi Arabia as part of the program. The assessment has recommended that access to facilities containing F-35 technology be restricted to Saudi and American personnel and contractors. It also raised the broader question of whether Riyadh would agree to restrict contact between Chinese military and intelligence personnel and sites associated with the F-35 programme. Chinese telecommunications equipment represents another area of concern. The DIA reportedly questioned whether Saudi Arabia would remove equipment supplied by Huawei and ZTE from telecommunications and router infrastructure associated with F-35 facilities and defence installations. The compromising of technologies associated with the F-35 could be particularly detrimental to the Untied States due to the unprecedented extent to which the U.S. and its strategic partners rely on the fighter type. While China is currently serially production two separate fifth generation fighters developed under the J-20 and J-35 programs, and is expected to bring two separate sixth generation fighter types into service in the early 2030s, for the U.S. and wider Western world the F-35 will remain their only fifth generation fighter for the foreseeable future. Until the F-47 sixth generation fighter’s expected service entry in the 2040s, the F-35 will remain the only Western fighter type with advanced stealth capabilities and avionics needed to go head to head with advanced Chinese fighters, with the lack of other similarly advanced fighter types in production in the Western world making it particularly sensitive. 

[Category: Middle East, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/20/26 6:34am
The widespread circulation of footage of T-14 tank at a firing range in exercises has drawn attention to the status of the Russian next generation tank, which since the outbreak of full scale hostilities in the Ukrainian theatre in early 2022 has become increasingly uncertain. The T-14 has generated persistent publicity, which has been defined less by operational deployment than by repeated reports of testing, possible deployment, withdrawal, production difficulties and appearances at military exhibitions. The contrast between the tanks prominent status in Russian military publicity and its apparent total absence from the war zone has made it one of the clearest examples of the difficulties Russia’s defence sector has faced in bringing new generations of military equipment into service. The T-14 appeared in the Moscow Victory Day parade in May 2022, alongside T-90M tanks and other modern Russian equipment. It was also displayed at the Army 2022 military-technical forum in August, where Rosoboronexport presented an export version of the tank. The export presentation was significant because Russia has continued to market the vehicle internationally despite non having been delivered to the Russian Army itself.  By late 2022, reports emerged that the T-14 may enter service and operate in the Ukrainian theatre in a limited capacity, with images and videos emerging In November and December showing T-14s conducting training, including footage associated with training areas used by mobilised Russian personnel. In December 2022 Russian television presenter Vladimir Solovyov published footage of what he described as combat coordination involving T-14-equipped tank battalion. Some Russian and foreign reports interpreted the footage as evidence that the tank was being prepared for deployment to Ukraine, although there was no independent confirmation that the vehicles had crossed into the theatre at that point. The possibility of deployment received particular attention in January 2023 after British Defence Intelligence assessed that Russia was likely considering sending a small number of T-14s to participate in frontline operations. Satellite imagery from late December had reportedly shown T-14s at a training area in southern Russia associated with pre-deployment activity. TOn April 25, 2023, Russia media outlet RIA Novosti, citing an unnamed source, reported that T-14s had begun firing on Ukrainian positions but had not participated in direct assault operations. According to the report, the vehicles had received additional protection on their flanks and their crews had undergone combat coordination. Russian reporting continued to claim that the T-14 was being evaluated in Ukraine, and on July 19, TASS quoted a defence-industry source as saying that several T-14s belonging to the Southern Battlegroup had been used in combat to assess their performance and had subsequently been withdrawn from the frontlines. A second source said that the tank had entered service with units of the Southern Military District, although the necessary trials were continuing. On August 22, 2023, TASS reported another defence-industry source as saying that the T-14 had been used several times in the Ukrainian theatre and was being modified on the basis of its experience there. Subsequently in March 2024, however, Rostec chief Sergey Chemezov said that the Russian Army was not using the T-14 in Ukraine because of its high cost, although he still described the tank as superior to existing tanks in terms of functionality. This explanation has been seriously questioned, on the basis that even limited service entry would providing experience to further refine the design, could significantly increase the possibility of exports, and could provide disproportionate benefits for the Army’s capabilities by providing optimal command tanks. The T-14 far greater combat potential than any other Russian or Western tank types has made its lack of procurements difficult to explain based on cost alone.In April 2024 new footage of from a Russian test range showed personnel training to operate T-14 tanks during exercises, fuelling speculation that the type may be intended to belatedly enter service in the name future. The release of the footage was closely followed by a TASS report indicating that the tank was undergoing state and troop trials, and would enter service before January 2025. This did not occur, however, and while the T-14 was expected to be the world’s first fourth generation tank to enter service in the 2010s, delays allowed the Chinese Type 100 to achieve this landmark goal in 2025 with a more advanced and better refined design. The future of the T-14 program thus remains highly uncertain, and it is unclear whether it is intended to be brought into service, whether it is a viable product for export markets, and to what extent its appearances are intended primarily for public relations purposes. 

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Ground]

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[l] at 9/19/26 11:49pm
The Republic of China Armed Forces based on Taiwan are significantly expanding its inventory of Anduril Industries’ Altius unmanned systems, with the Republic of China Ministry of National Defense announcing a procurement of more than 2,000 additional drones. The acquisition comes amid continuing questions over the performance of some Anduril systems in Ukraine, following reports that the aircraft performed poorly against Russian forces and proved vulnerable to electronic warfare. The latest $852.7 million procurement covers 1,554 Altius-700M anti-armour attack drones and 478 Altius-600 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones. The Republic of China Armed Forces have already received 291 Altius-600M one-way attack drones. According to the Ministry of National Defense, deliveries began in August 2025 and were completed in March 2026. The system has an advertised effective range of approximately 160 kilometres and can be employed for reconnaissance or attack missions. The scale of these procurements make the Altius family one of the more prominent American unmanned systems being introduced into service in China. The Altius-600M is intended primarily as an expendable weapon, with the Armed Forces describing the aircraft as ammunition rather than as a conventional reusable aircraft. The larger Altius-700M is intended to provide a longer-range attack capability, including against armoured targets. Anduril’s record in Ukraine has generated scrutiny. Reuters reported in November 2025 that the company’s Altius systems had encountered problems in testing, while people familiar with their use in Ukraine said an early model struggled against Russian electronic warfare. According to four people cited by Reuters, Russian jamming of satellite navigation and difficulties accounting for terrain interfered with flight plans. Anduril has nevertheless rejected the broader characterisation that its systems have been ineffective in Ukraine. The firm has acknowledged that its systems have encountered failures during testing, but argues that such incidents are an inherent part of rapidly developing military technology. The procurement of drones from Anduril has encountered a significant logistical complication. Reports in September revealed that the initial delivery of 291 Altius-600M drones did not include the chargers required to recharge their batteries. The issue arose because the original charging equipment contained components were manufactured in mainland China, which is part of the People’s Republic of China with which the Taiwan-based Republic of China government is in a state of civil war. Efforts have thus been made to establish an alternative supply chain, with this raising costs considerably. Although the Republic of China lacks international recognition, the United States has made extensive transfers of armaments in order to strengthen its capabilities against the Chinese mainland as a means to gain an advantage in the ongoing Sino-U.S. Cold War.In August 2025 Anduril Industries signed a memorandum of understanding for direct collaboration with the Republic of China’s top defence research institute the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). This covered cooperation in areas that include autonomous systems and the Lattice AI-enabled command and control platform, and is expected to provide the Republic of China Armed Forces with special access to a number of U.S. defence technologies. An informed source stressed regarding the agreement that “It’s not just about importing tech. It’s about changing the way we build, test, and deploy defence capabilities. OTA enables the kind of speed and flexibility needed in modern conflict.” Anduril Industries was founded in 2017 by multiple former defence officials, and focuses on the development of artificial intelligence and robotics for the Pentagon.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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[l] at 9/19/26 10:30pm
Chairman of the Korean Workers’ Party Kim Jong Un has ordered the wider integration of artificial intelligence into the country’s offensive and defensive weapons systems, while calling for increased automation of artillery and expanded military production. The directives were issued during a three-day inspection of major defence-industrial facilities, highlighting the Korean People’s Army’s growing emphasis on combining conventional firepower with increasingly automated and unmanned systems. State media has released images showing leadership examining production facilities for artillery systems and drones, including the country’s large 600mm multiple launch rocket systems which are the longest range systems of their kind in the world, with all these assets thought to be capable of benefitting from wider adoption of AI. During the inspections, Chairman Kim called for the country’s artillery forces to possess the “most concentrated and destructive, massive and versatile offensive capability,” describing their two principal functions as deterrence and warfighting. He directed defence manufacturers to increase production capacity, modernise manufacturing processes and improve the technological infrastructure of military-industrial facilities to meet longer-term production objectives. The inspections appear to have covered several of North Korea’s most important recent weapons programs. Images released by state media showed 600mm and 240mm rocket artillery systems and unmanned aircraft. The 600mm system, commonly referred to outside North Korea as the KN-25, uses mobile launchers allow the systems to be dispersed and relocated. North Korea has also stated that the system incorporates artificial intelligence and combined guidance technologies. North Korea’s renewed emphasis on AI follows earlier demonstrations of weapons described by Pyongyang as incorporating artificial intelligence. In May, the country conducted tests involving tactical ballistic missiles, long-range artillery rockets and a tactical cruise missile system that state media claimed used AI-assisted guidance. North Korea said the tests were intended to assess the combat performance of weapons and automated launch systems upgraded for modern warfare. The importance of artificial intelligence in modern warfare has gained growing attention both due to the expanding potentials of the technology, due to its increasingly central rules in the Russian-Ukrainian War, where North Korean forces are actively deployed.North Korean forces have participated in frontline operations alongside the Russian Army, providing opportunities to observe a conflict in which drones, electronic warfare, automated targeting and precision artillery have become central components of battlefield operations. In August Ukrainian sources reported that 400 drone operators from the country had deployed to Russia to support the war effort. Russia has itself reportedly assisted North Korea’s development of military drones and related technologies. The renewed focus on artificial intelligence is occurring alongside a broader expansion of North Korea’s unmanned warfare capabilities. In recent days, Pyongyang has publicly revealed production lines for the Saetbyol-4 and Saetbyol-9 unmanned aircraft as well as an unnamed one-way attack drone. The appearance of multiple airframes at production facilities suggests that North Korea is seeking to establish greater manufacturing capacity rather than merely develop individual experimental aircraft. For North Korea, the combination of artificial intelligence, automation, drones and mass-produced artillery could transform the country’s reconnaissance strike complexes. The Korean People’s Army already operates by father largest artillery and rocket artillery forces in the world, and has made major strides in modernising its capabilities including expanding ranges and improving precision guidance capabilities. Automated target acquisition and guidance could reduce the manpower required to operate certain weapons and potentially increase their responsiveness on the battlefield. High levels of autonomy achieved by new types of drones could also provide greater access to targeting data for artillery and missile forces, while advances in artificial intelligence allow low cost attack drones to provide complementary strike capabilities.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Missile and Space]

As of 9/24/26 5:03pm. Last new 9/24/26 11:17am.

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