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Military Watch
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[l] at 11/8/26 4:55pm
The Republic of China Air Force has received a second batch of three F-16C/D Block 70 fighter aircraft purchased from the United States, as deliveries continue under a major program intended to modernise its combat fleet. The aircraft, numbered 6729, 6731 and 6732, arrived at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung County on November 8, landing at approximately 11 a.m. local time, according to the Air Force. The latest delivery brings the total number of aircraft received under the program to five, following the arrival of the first two fighters on October 2. The three aircraft departed from Lockheed Martin’s production facility in South Carolina earlier in November and reached Hawaii on November 4.The United States approved the sale of 66 F-16C/D Block 70 fighters and associated equipment to the Republic of China in 2019, under a contract valued at approximately $8.2 billion. Deliveries were initially expected to begin in 2023 and conclude by 2026, but a wide range of production and technical problems have delayed this. The Republic of China Ministry of National Defence in July confirmed that it was seeking compensation from the United States and the manufacturer of its new fighters Lockheed Martin. The sale contract did not contain financial penalty provisions, however. The Republic of China Ministry of National Defense previously attributed some of the difficulty to the fact that the configuration ordered incorporated a new combination of systems requiring extensive flight testing and calibration. Compensation claims over delayed F-16 deliveries are far from unprecedented, with Premier Cho Jung-tai having in October 2025 stated that the government did not rule out “taking legal action against the manufacturer.” The deliveries are far from isolated, with outstanding backlogs of undelivered U.S. equipment to the Republic of China Armed Forces having in December 2025 reached over $21.45 billion. More broadly, equipment deliveries to multiple defence clients have been delayed considerably due to major industrial constraints in the United States, with this having been exacerbated by the U.S. Armed Forces’ own shortages due to the war effort against Iran. An example was the indefinite suspension of the delivery of Japan’s first 400 RGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, due to serious shortages of the missiles in the U.S. Navy. The Japanese government Board of Audit  revealed in January that military equipment worth approximately 1.1 trillion yen ($6.9 billion) purchased from the U.S. under the Foreign Military Sales program more than five years ago had yet to be delivered. The Republic of China is the only developed economy to have ordered F-16s in the last decade, with the decision to procure the aircraft having been made after persistent efforts to oder the F-35 fifth generation fighter consistently failed. The Republic of China’s status as effectively a non-state actor, due to its almost total lack of international recognition, has been a primary factor in this, with the United States continuing to recognise the Beijing-based People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate Chinese government. The PRC has developed its own fifth generation fighters, most notably the J-20 air superiority fighter, and is scheduled to introduce the world’s first sixth generation fighters into service around 2030. The F-16s being delivered are thus largely obsolete before they have even been delivered, with the procurement of the aircraft largely reflecting a lack of alternative options. 

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

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[l] at 11/8/26 4:41pm
North Korea has tested its Pyongae-6 long-range surface-to-air missile system, demonstrating improvements to its guidance technology and target-tracking capabilities. The test was conducted on November 4 and overseen by Kim Jong-sik, a senior official of the ruling Workers’ Party and a member of its Central Military Commission, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Although Pyongyang did not identify the system by name, imagery of the launch vehicle and missile is consistent with the Pyongae-6, which was first publicly displayed in 2020 and is widely assessed to have been developed to provide a more capable successor to North Korea’s earlier Pyongae-5 system. The Pyongae-5 began development in the late 1990s, and provided a general counterpart to the Russian S-300PMU-1/2 system, with the Pyongae-6 providing a new generation of capabilities. KCNA reported that the November 4 test verified the missile’s technical characteristics and reliability, including its new materials, an intelligent multiple-guidance mode, target identification and tracking, and the processing of detection information. These capabilities are important for engaging aircraft and other airborne threats at long distances, particularly when targets are manoeuvring or operating in environments where electronic warfare can interfere with radar detection and missile guidance. Images released by North Korean state media showed a missile being launched vertically from a large, truck-mounted transporter-erector-launcher with a 10×10 wheeled chassis. The configuration resembles vehicles associated with the Pyongae-6, including those displayed during North Korea’s October 2020 military parade. The missile itself appears to have a slender body and multiple sets of flight-control surfaces, consistent with the design features previously observed during tests of the system. The new system has frequently been compared with Russia’s S-400, primarily because of its apparent configuration and the scale of its launch vehicles and missiles. Some assessments have suggested that the Pyongae-6 could have an engagement range of approximately 200–250 kilometres, potentially placing it in the category of long-range systems designed to threaten aircraft well beyond the immediate vicinity of defended facilities. An important technical feature associated with an earlier Pyongae-6 test is what North Korean state media described as a “twin rudder control” arrangement and a “double impulse flight engine”. These descriptions are generally interpreted as referring to multiple sets of aerodynamic control surfaces and a dual-impulse or dual-thrust propulsion arrangement. Such a motor can provide an initial acceleration phase followed by a second impulse later in flight, potentially improving the interceptor’s ability to manoeuvre during the terminal engagement phase or maintain sufficient energy against targets at longer distances. The September 2021 test was reported to have examined the missile alongside its radar, launch system and command vehicle, providing evidence that development extended beyond the interceptor alone.The Pyongae-6’s potential significance lies in its role within a more modern, mobile and layered North Korean air defence network. North Korea has historically relied on a mixture of older Soviet-derived systems, including the S-75, S-125 and S-200 families, alongside more recently developed domestic weapons. The introduction of the Pyongae-6 has allowed these to be phased out of service. Mobile launchers can also be dispersed and relocated, complicating efforts to identify and neutralise air defence positions before an air campaign. While North Korea has not been able to provide post-Cold War fighter aircraft, the size of its ground-based arsenal, density with which systems are deployed, and fortification of their positions, makes its airspace one of the most secure in the world. The Pyongae-6 system has provided the most revolutionary improvement for the country’s air defence capabilities since the procurement of a network based on the Soviet S-75 system from the late 1950s.

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

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[l] at 11/8/26 4:23pm
Germany cannot supply Ukraine with additional MIM-104 Patriot air defence systems without creating unacceptable gaps in its own defences, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has stated, urging other Western countries to contribute more to Ukraine’s air defence requirements. Pistorius said Berlin had already delivered several Patriot systems and substantial quantities of interceptor missiles, leaving little capacity for further transfers. “We cannot provide any more at this moment,” he said, explaining that equipment transferred now could not be replaced for the foreseeable future. Transfers have placed pressure on German military inventories at a time when Berlin is seeking to expand its armed forces, and establishing new permanent force deployments near Russian territory. In March German officials speaking to the Wall Street Journal warned that the country has been left poorly protected against potential air or missile attacks due to the transfer of military systems, and particularly Patriot systems, to Ukraine. The issue has been exacerbated by the more recent deployment of remaining Patriot systems to protect Poland on NATOs eastern flank from late 2025. Germany was alongside the Netherlands and the United States one of the first three countries to donate Patriot systems to Ukraine in early 2023. In April 2024 German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock confirmed the exhaustion of the country’s capacity to make further donations, stating: “Unfortunately, the stocks, especially our own Patriot systems, are now pretty much exhausted. Therefore I made it clear at a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting that we need to check the availability of all Patriot systems in Europe and globally, and that we will make every effort to obtain these systems for Ukraine.”The rapid destruction of Patriot systems by Russian forces in Ukraine has meanwhile ensured that demand for additional systems for frontline operations remains high. Although the German Defence Ministry ordered eight new Patriot systems from the United States in 2024 to replenish systems donated to Ukraine, with these costing $2.33 billion each, these are not expected to be delivered for the foreseeable future. With the U.S. Army’s own stockpiles of interceptors for the systems having fallen critically low, new production is expected to be prioritised for the U.S. Army, and potentially for the Republic of China Army. Europe remains a low priority for the delivery of high demand weaponry, with East Asia and the Middle East being prioritised. Pistorius’s latest remarks reflected growing frustration in Berlin over the distribution of military assistance among Ukraine’s Western backers. Pistorius argued that other countries had contributed substantially less and should now assume a greater share of the burden. The question of additional air defence assistance is expected to feature in discussions at the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, scheduled for mid-November. The shortage extends beyond the Patriot launchers and associated radar systems to the interceptor missiles needed to sustain operations. Ukraine has repeatedly called for additional PAC-3 missiles, which are designed to intercept ballistic missiles, as well as other Patriot-compatible ammunition. Interceptions can consume multiple expensive missiles against a single incoming threat, making sustained defence against large-scale attacks particularly demanding. The resulting expenditure has placed pressure on stocks across the United States and its allies, while replenishing inventories depends on production capacity and delivery schedules.

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Missile and Space]

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[l] at 11/8/26 3:33pm
New footage of China’s first supercarrier Fujian has shown the ship at sea with a fully flight deck of J-15 Flying Shark combat jets, highlighting the progress of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s efforts to develop its carrier aviation capabilities. Although the aircraft was commissioned in November 2025, it has not previously been seen with such a large number of aircraft on deck, indicating progress in bringing it to a full operational status. The Fujian is by far the largest aircraft carrier outside the U.S. Navy, at 85,000 tons, which combined with its more efficient flattop design allows it to accommodate a particular large air wing. Its three catapult launch systems also allow multiple aircraft to be launched simultaneously. The J-15 is the longest ranged carrier-based fighter type in service anywhere in the world, and is considerably heavier than either the J-35 fifth generation fighter also deployed on Chinese carriers, or that the F-18E/F or F-35C in the U.S. Navy. While the original J-15 entered service in the early 2010s as a derivative of the J-11B fighter, with relatively basic fourth generation capabilities, the new J-15B variant was confirmed to have entered service in 2024 as a much more capable ‘4+ generation’ fighter with a longer range, superior flight performance, and fifth generation level avionics and weaponry. The aircraft’s exceptionally long range, high weapons carrying capacity, and large radar make it particulalry highly prized for a wide range of operations. Although the J-15B’s air-to-air performance has gained particular attention, the Navy in July revealed its anti-shipping configuration for the first time, with the aircraft seen carrying four YJ-83K anti-ship cruise missiles. The YJ-83K is a well-established subsonic anti-ship cruise missile weighing approximately 700 kilograms, and with a 230 kilometre range. A J-15 carrying four such weapons therefore departs with roughly 2.8 tonnes of anti-ship ordnance before accounting for air-to-air missiles or external fuel tanks. It is notable that the YJ-83K is not the most capable anti-ship missile type which has been integrated onto the J-15T, with  unofficial photographs taken by Chinese aviation enthusiasts in February having captured one of the fighters carrying two YJ-15 hypersonic missiles during what appeared to be flight testing.  The first footage showing the Fujian conducting launch and recovery operations involving the J-15 and J-35 was released in September 2025, confirming the ship’s electromagnetic catapults and arresting systems could accommodate several major types of fixed-wing aircraft. The carrier’s operational development also has wider implications for China’s ability to sustain naval air operations at greater distances from its coastline. Unlike ski-jump carriers, which impose limitations on aircraft take-off weights, a catapult-equipped vessel can launch a broader range of aircraft and provide greater flexibility in how they are configured for individual missions. The Fujian is the first of multiple supercarriers planned, with two more currently under construction of which one is nuclear powered. Operational experience with the ship is thus expected to be invaluable for China’s fast progressing carrier program. At a time when the U.S. Navy’s own fleet is fast ageing and suffering from declining availability, while its new carriers face serious delays and cost overruns, this has significant implications for the balance of power at sea. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]

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[l] at 11/8/26 3:33pm
New footage of China’s first supercarrier Fujian has shown the ship at sea with a fully flight deck of J-15 Flying Shark combat jets, highlighting the progress of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s efforts to develop its carrier aviation capabilities. Although the aircraft was commissioned in November 2025, it has not previously been seen with such a large number of aircraft on deck, indicating progress in bringing it to a full operational status. The Fujian is by far the largest aircraft carrier outside the U.S. Navy, at 85,000 tons, which combined with its more efficient flattop design allows it to accommodate a particular large air wing. Its three catapult launch systems also allow multiple aircraft to be launched simultaneously. The J-15 is the longest ranged carrier-based fighter type in service anywhere in the world, and is considerably heavier than either the J-35 fifth generation fighter also deployed on Chinese carriers, or that the F-18E/F or F-35C in the U.S. Navy. While the original J-15 entered service in the early 2010s as a derivative of the J-11B fighter, with relatively basic fourth generation capabilities, the new J-15B variant was confirmed to have entered service in 2024 as a much more capable ‘4+ generation’ fighter with a longer range, superior flight performance, and fifth generation level avionics and weaponry. The aircraft’s exceptionally long range, high weapons carrying capacity, and large radar make it particulalry highly prized for a wide range of operations. Although the J-15B’s air-to-air performance has gained particular attention, the Navy in July revealed its anti-shipping configuration for the first time, with the aircraft seen carrying four YJ-83K anti-ship cruise missiles. The YJ-83K is a well-established subsonic anti-ship cruise missile weighing approximately 700 kilograms, and with a 230 kilometre range. A J-15 carrying four such weapons therefore departs with roughly 2.8 tonnes of anti-ship ordnance before accounting for air-to-air missiles or external fuel tanks. It is notable that the YJ-83K is not the most capable anti-ship missile type which has been integrated onto the J-15T, with  unofficial photographs taken by Chinese aviation enthusiasts in February having captured one of the fighters carrying two YJ-15 hypersonic missiles during what appeared to be flight testing.  The first footage showing the Fujian conducting launch and recovery operations involving the J-15 and J-35 was released in September 2025, confirming the ship’s electromagnetic catapults and arresting systems could accommodate several major types of fixed-wing aircraft. The carrier’s operational development also has wider implications for China’s ability to sustain naval air operations at greater distances from its coastline. Unlike ski-jump carriers, which impose limitations on aircraft take-off weights, a catapult-equipped vessel can launch a broader range of aircraft and provide greater flexibility in how they are configured for individual missions. The Fujian is the first of multiple supercarriers planned, with two more currently under construction of which one is nuclear powered. Operational experience with the ship is thus expected to be invaluable for China’s fast progressing carrier program. At a time when the U.S. Navy’s own fleet is fast ageing and suffering from declining availability, while its new carriers face serious delays and cost overruns, this has significant implications for the balance of power at sea. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]

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[l] at 11/6/26 9:09pm
The Russia’s Ministry of Defence has released the first official footage showing a Mi-28NM Night Hunter attack helicopter launching a Dan-T cruise missile during combat operations in Ukraine, providing confirmation that the weapon has been integrated with the rotary-wing platform. The footage released on November 6 shows the helicopter taking off with two missiles mounted on its external pylons before releasing one of the weapons in flight. Russian officials stated that the missile was used against a target in the area of responsibility of the Western Group of Forces, claiming that it struck the designated coordinates. The Dan-T is a relatively inexpensive, jet-powered strike weapon derived from the Dan-M aerial target drone. Russian defence exporter Rosoboronexport has advertised the missile with a range of up to 450 kilometres and a warhead weighing as much as 130 kilograms, while its reported launch weight is approximately 270 kilograms. Its maximum speed is reportedly around 500 kilometres per hour, with guidance provided by inertial and satellite navigation systems. These characteristics place the weapon in a different category from the shorter-range anti-tank and guided missiles that have traditionally formed the principal armament of Russian attack helicopters like the Mi-28.The Dan-T is closely associated with the S8000 Banderol, another relatively low-cost Russian cruise missile developed for employment from unmanned aircraft and other launch platforms. The two weapons have similar external configurations, and some reporting has described the Dan-T as a variant or export-related derivative of the Banderol. Their precise relationship remains somewhat unclear in open-source reporting, however, and specifications should not automatically be treated as interchangeable. The Banderol has previously been associated with the Orion reconnaissance and strike drone, while the Dan-T has been promoted for use from a wider range of aircraft.The integration of the missile with the Mi-28NM significantly expands the range at which the helicopter can engage ground targets. This is particularly valuable as attack helicopters operating close to the front have faced growing risks from short-range air defences and interceptor drones. The aircraft’s established armament includes anti-tank guided missiles designed for engagements at considerably shorter distances, alongside a 30mm cannon and unguided rockets. By carrying a cruise missile with a reported range of hundreds of kilometres, the helicopter can potentially attack fixed targets well beyond the immediate battlefield without approaching the target area itself. The development comes as Russia seeks to increase its use of comparatively inexpensive precision weapons alongside more costly cruise and ballistic missiles. 

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

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[l] at 11/6/26 8:52pm
North Korea has expanded its large surface combat ship construction program to involve three shipyards, with more facilities participating in destroyer construction than the United States, which relies on two principal shipyards to build its Arleigh Burke class destroyers. Satellite imagery published in November 2026 indicates that Nampho, Chongjin and Rajin are all involved in North Korea’s expanding naval shipbuilding effort, including a new class of 10,000 ton destroyer larger than the Arleigh Burke class. It remains uncertain whether North Korea now has three independent destroyer production lines, or whether facilitate at Rajin are only being used to assemble large prefabricated sections manufactured at Chongjin.North Korean government sources have repeatedly confirmed plans for the construction of two destroyers each year over the next five years as part of a naval expansion program, with this first having been achieved in 2025 with the launch of the country’s first two 5,000 ton Choe Hyon class destroyers. This rate of construction places the country’s shipbuilding industry ahead of that of the United States, which has averaged an output of 1.6 destroyers annually, in a distant second place behind China which has produced 6-10 destroyers per year. Although the contraction in U.S. production of surface warships has taken place much more slowly than the contraction of civilian shipbuilding over the past 35 years, the fall in the number of surface combat ships, and in the total tonnage launched per year has nevertheless been tremendous.Nampho Shipyard, on North Korea’s west coast, remains the most established centre of North Korea’s new large-warship program. It constructed the lead Choe Hyon class destroyer, and has since been undergoing expansion as the Navy seeks to increase its capacity to build larger vessels. On November 2, 2026, chairman of the ruling Korean Workers’ Party Kim Jong Un visited Nampho to inspect a new warship under construction, which described by North Korean state media as substantially larger than the destroyer completed the previous year. Images released from the visit showed a large hull under construction, with external analysts assessing that the vessel could displace approximately 10,000 tons. The U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke class destroyers are built principally at two shipyards: Bath Iron Works in Maine and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi. Both have extensive experience constructing sophisticated guided-missile destroyers equipped with the Aegis combat system, advanced radars and vertical-launch systems. In May 2026, Bath Iron Works began fabrication of the future USS Thomas G. Kelley, the 48th Arleigh Burke class destroyer built at the facility. Ingalls, meanwhile, delivered the destroyer USS Ted Stevens in December 2025 and reported several additional Flight III destroyers under construction or moving through preparatory stages. The Arleigh Burke class integrates 96 vertical launch cells, which is relatively limited for its 9,600 ton size, with North Korean ships of a similar size are expected to be far more heavily armed.North Korean destroyers are expected to remain more constrained than Arleigh Burke class ships in their anti-ballistic missile and long range ground attack capabilities, which are the primary roles for which the U.S. warships were designed. Arleigh Burke class destroyers integrate SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6 anti-ballistic missiles to provide a multi-layered defensive capability, with their fourth primary armament being the Tomahawk cruise missile. Choe Hyon class destroyers, by contrast, are thought to integrate a navalised derivative of the Pyongae-6 long range air defence system which is less specialised in missile defence. North Korean destroyers are expected to be significantly more capable in anti-shipping roles, however, due to the integration of hypersonic cruise missiles. North Korea and the U.S. are two of very few countries that are expected to integrate nuclear-tipped cruise missiles onto their destroyers in the 2030s. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]

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[l] at 11/6/26 7:34pm
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reported the shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicle over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the latest in a series of American drone losses during the ongoing conflict. According to a statement carried by Iranian state media on November 6, the Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force used an advanced air defence system integrated into Iran’s national air defence network to detect and destroy the aircraft. The MQ-1 is the sixteenth drone of its type reported to have been shot down since the United States initiated hostilities with Iran on February 28. The MQ-1C Gray Eagle is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft operated by the U.S. Army for reconnaissance, surveillance and armed missions. The larger MQ-9 Reaper, operated primarily by the U.S. Air Force and other U.S. government users, is designed for persistent surveillance and precision strikes. Heavy losses of MQ-9s, which are reported at 56 over Iran and several more over Yemen, are assessed to have been a primary factor leading to a shift in operations to rely on the lower value and more expendable MQ-1 for a range of missions. There have been a number of unconfirmed reports that MQ-1 Predator drones held in storage in the U.S. may also have been deployed to support operations against Iran. The U.S. Air Force is facing an unexpectedly severe capability gap after suffering extensive drone losses, leading the service to initiate an urgent search for replacement aircraft. This has included efforts to purchase unused MQ-9A Block 5 airframes from the producer, General Atomics, although fewer than ten new aircraft remain available worldwide. The fallout from the losses has been interpreted by analysts as an important indication of how limited the United States’ ability is to rapidly regenerate its forces have become. The U.S.-led assault on Iran has depleted inventories of a very wide range of armaments types including Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), Patriot, THAAD, SM-3, and SM-6 air defence interceptors, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and GBU-57 penetrative bombs, among others, with Reaper drones representing the bulk of the American aircraft lost in the conflict.

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

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[l] at 11/6/26 6:18pm
Chinese commercial satellite imagery has revealed the movement of the U.S. Navy’s Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group through the South China Sea, illustrating how commercial remote-sensing capabilities are making the movements of major naval formations increasingly visible. Imagery released by Chinese commercial satellite company MizarVision reportedly identified the Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the cruiser USS Chosin, and the destroyer USS Roosevelt. The disclosure came as the carrier was transiting westward towards the Middle East following operations in the western Pacific. The imagery has highlighted that the tracking of high value naval assets is becoming increasingly straightforward, which has significantly implications for their survivability. The Theodore Roosevelt departed its home port of San Diego on September 27 for a deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. It is expected to reinforce American naval forces in the Middle East, potentially relieving the USS George Washington carrier strike group in the Arabian Sea. The USS George Washington had itself previously been operating in the Pacific, before being sent toward the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in August, after the Lincoln’s deployment had been extended far beyond normal limits by the war against Iran. The diversion of carrier groups away from the Pacific has highlighted the extent to which America’s strategic commitments are exceeding the capacity of its forces to maintain large presences in multiple theatres simultaneously.Maintaining a large presence in the Middle East has imposed tremendous costs on the U.S. Armed Forces, with the Navy suffering disproportionately heavily. The service’s arsenals of anti-missile interceptors have also been depleted at a wholly unsustainable rate, much as those of the Army have been. The carrier and destroyer fleets have faced particularly serious strain. The renewed Middle Eastern deployments have occurred as the Navy continues to experience significant difficulties keeping its surface combatants on their planned maintenance schedules. The United States’ inability to achieve its primary objectives in over eight months of hostilities, and the very considerable losses its forces have taken, has been widely assessed by analysts to be a likely turning point for perceptions of the country’s ability to project power militarily.

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

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[l] at 11/6/26 3:41pm
Operational U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II fighters have for the first time begun flying with conformal fuel tanks, marking a significant development in the evolution of the aircraft’s capabilities after the service initially decided not to equip the aircraft with the fuel-saving systems. Two fighters assigned to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing have been observed operating with the tanks, which increase fuel capacity while providing additional mounting points for weapons and other external equipment. The development reflects growing interest in extending the F-15EX’s unrefuelled range, which is particularly critical for a potential conflict with China in the Pacific. The F-15 is the only heavyweight fighter in production in the Western world, with the F-15EX being by far the longest ranged Western fighter type. The F-15EX was designed from the outset to accommodate the same conformal fuel tanks used by the F-15E Strike Eagle. Each tank can hold approximately 750 U.S. gallons of fuel. Conformal fuel tanks are fitted closely against the aircraft’s fuselage, reducing their aerodynamic penalty and leaving underwing stations available for other equipment. The aircraft can also carry conventional external fuel tanks alongside its conformal tanks, providing the potential for a particularly long-range configuration with a substantial weapons load. The decision to omit these tanks from the first operational F-15EXs reflected the aircraft’s original emphasis on air-to-air combat, as the added weight imposes significant penalties on flight performance. Although very long ranged by the standards of Western fighter types, the F-15’s range is very limited compared to rival Chinese fighter types such as the J-20 and J-16. The survivability of American aerial refuelling aircraft such as the KC-46 in the Pacific, which would be relied on to extend the ranges of U.S. fighters, remains in serious question. These factors have long fuelled expectations that conformal fuel tanks would eventually be integrated onto the F-15EX. The F-15 is one of just two fighter types procured by the U.S. Air Force over the last 15 years, alongside the F-35A, with the F-35 being a much smaller and shorter ranged fighter, which due to its stealth capabilities cannot integrate external fuel tanks without seeing its survivability seriously undermined. The advantages of conformal tanks extend beyond additional fuel capacity. Conventional underwing tanks increase drag and occupy stations that could otherwise carry weapons, targeting pods or other equipment. Conformal fuel tanks provide additional fuel while freeing those stations for alternative stores, improving the flexibility of the aircraft’s configuration. Nevertheless, unlike drop tanks, they cannot be jettisoned during flight to reduce drag and weight when maximum performance becomes necessary, such as during an air-to-air engagement. This trade-off is particularly relevant to air-superiority missions, in which pilots may prefer the ability to discard external tanks before engaging an opponent. The decision to fit conformal fuel tanks may thus depend on mission requirements, with long-range patrols and strike missions benefiting more directly than engagements in which maximum manoeuvrability is the priority.

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

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[l] at 11/6/26 7:26am
The Russian armed forces have made growing use of Pantsir air defence combat vehicles a Belarusian-built MZKT-7930-312 chassis, reflecting efforts to address longstanding mobility and stability problems associated with the Russian air defence system’s standard truck platform. The eight-wheeled vehicle produced by Belarus’s Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant offers potentially more stable and capable foundation for the heavy combat system. The standard Pantsir-S1 used by the Russian Armed Forces is mounted on the KamAZ-6560, an eight-wheeled truck carrying a substantial combination of radar equipment, missiles and twin 30mm autocannons. The high centre of gravity created by the Pantsir’s heavy payload, combined with the KamAZ-6560’s relatively narrow track width, has contributed to reports of Pantsir-equipped trucks overturning during manoeuvres.  The vehicles have also been criticised for its off-road mobility, prompting interest in alternative chassis that can better accommodate the system’s weight and operational requirements. The MZKT-7930 family is already used for several major Russian weapons systems, including the Iskander-M ballistic missile system and the Bastion coastal defence system. Its heavy-duty eight-wheel-drive configuration is designed to carry large military payloads, making it a suitable candidate for the Pantsir’s combination of sensors and weapons. Belarus reportedly received an order for 18 MZKT-7930-series chassis intended for Pantsir systems in 2024, although the precise number of vehicles subsequently completed and delivered remains uncertain.The use of the Belarusian chassis is not entirely new. A Pantsir configuration mounted on an MZKT-7930 was displayed as a prototype at the MAKS air show near Moscow in 2009, but the arrangement did not become the standard configuration for Russian service. More recently, a Pantsir mounted on a similar Belarusian chassis was reportedly destroyed by Ukrainian forces near Mariupol in February 2026, providing evidence that the configuration had progressed beyond an exhibition concept. Russia subsequently displayed a Pantsir-S1M on the MZKT platform during the Tsentr-2026 strategic exercise in September and October, marking a more public demonstration of the arrangement. While Russia has favoured phasing out reliance on Belarusian vehicles in the past, operational experience may have led the Defence Ministry to revise its priorities. The Pantsir family provides short-range air defence against threats including aircraft, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, generally operating as a protective layer around higher-value assets and longer-range air defence systems. Its mobility is particularly important because the system must be able to reposition while protecting military facilities, airfields and other strategic sites. The systems combine surveillance and tracking radars with surface-to-air missiles and automatic cannon armament, allowing it to engage a wide range of airborne threats at relatively short distances. They have been extensively combat tested in the Ukrainian theatre and against Turkish-backed jihadist militants in both Syria and Libya. 

[Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Missile and Space]

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[l] at 11/5/26 11:38pm
North Korea has expanded its destroyer construction program to a third shipyard, with satellite imagery indicating that large sections of a new vessel are being transferred from the Chongjin Shipyard to the Rajin Shipyard on the country’s northeastern coast. The movement suggests that the country’s defence sector is distributing different stages of warship production between facilities, amid reports that the first ship of a new much heavier destroyer class has begun construction. Imagery captured in October shows major structural sections arriving at Rajin, where assembly appears to be taking place inside a dry dock. The new ships are expected to be produced alongside the 5,000 ton Choe Hyon class destroyers, the first two of which were launched in mid-2025. The transferred sections measure approximately 18–20 metres across, exceeding the roughly 16-metre width of the Choe Hyon class destroyers, suggesting that the new vessel could belong to a larger class of warship. Satellite imagery indicates that the sections were manufactured or prepared at Chongjin before being moved along the coast to Rajin, a distance of approximately 70 kilometres. The components were transported aboard a cargo vessel measuring around 45 metres long and 16 metres wide. Their relocation suggests a division of labour between the two facilities, potentially allowing Chongjin to continue manufacturing large structural sections while Rajin undertakes final assembly and prepares the vessel for launch. The Choe Hyon class’ launch and demonstrated capabilities have led analysts to seriously revise assessments of the capabilities of the North Korean defence sector to build large surface warships. Not only are they the first destroyers built in the country’s history, but they are also cutting edge with capabilities in many ways on par with the latest Chinese, Japanese, South Korean and U.S. ships, well ahead of rivals in Europe and Russia. During the first sea trials of the second Choe Hyon class destroyer the Kang Kon, the chairman of the ruling Korean Workers’ Party Kim Jong Un announced plans to build 10,000 ton destroyers. He had first indicated plans to produce larger destroyers earlier that year. With 5,000 ton Choe Hyon class ships integrating by far the largest number of missile launch cells relative to their sizes, at 74 cells per ship, a 10,000 ton ship is expected to integrate well over 150 launch cells, making it the most heavily armed destroyer design in the world. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]

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[l] at 11/5/26 10:21pm
The fast growing capabilities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s helicopters has caused growing concerns in the Western world, with the country’s industry increasingly positions itself as the global leader in the field. Although overshadowed by growing primacy in areas such as sixth generation fighter aviation, quantum communications, and destroyers, the development of dedicated attack helicopters, modern medium-lift transports and specialised naval variants equipped for anti-submarine warfare and amphibious operations has had no parallels abroad. The development of China’s military helicopter fleet appears to have been less strongly prioritised than other areas of development, but reflects a broader effort to establish a more self-sufficient defence-industrial base while improving forces’ ability to conduct complex operations. China’s dedicated attack helicopter fleet is centred on the Z-10, which entered service in 2010 after making its first flight in 2003. The tandem-seat aircraft can carry anti-tank guided missiles, air-to-air missiles and rockets, supported by electro-optical targeting equipment and defensive countermeasures. Subsequent upgrades have introduced improved armour, warning sensors and longer-range guided weapons, while the export-oriented Z-10ME incorporates additional improvements, including a millimetre-wave radar mounted above the main rotor. The smaller Z-19 complements the Z-10 by combining reconnaissance and attack capabilities, while the larger Z-21, first observed in 2024, appears set to provide China with its first heavyweight attack helicopter. The Z-21 features heavier protection, a more extensive sensor suite and a greater weapons-carrying capacity than the Z-10, and has been widely projected to provide distinct superiority over leading foreign rivals such as the Russian Mi-28 and Ka-52 and U.S. AH-64.The Z-20 family represents another major element of China’s helicopter modernisation program, and after its first flight in 2013 was confirmed to have entered service in 2019. Powered by two WZ-10 turboshaft engines, it can transport up to 13 fully equipped personnel and perform a broad range of general-purpose missions. Its modern avionics, defensive systems and adaptability have also provided a foundation for specialised variants intended to support the increasingly complex operational requirements. The Z-20K family includes transport and assault configurations, while the Z-20T is designed for armed assault missions and can carry guided missiles, rockets and external fuel tanks. The naval Z-20F is configured for anti-submarine warfare, incorporating a dipping sonar, sonobuoy deployment equipment and the ability to carry lightweight torpedoes. A separate Z-20J variant is intended for shipborne transport and assault missions, expanding the range of tasks that can be conducted from Chinese surface combatants and amphibious vessels. The development of so many derivatives has made the Z-20 the most versatile single helicopter design in the world. China’s older helicopter families have also undergone extensive development. The Z-8 has evolved into a platform supporting transport, search and rescue, electronic warfare and airborne command functions. Meanwhile, Russian-built Mi-17 and Mi-171 helicopters continue to provide substantial transport capacity, including specialised support for operations in demanding environments. The Navy also fields Russian Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters and Ka-31 airborne radar platforms, which provide capabilities that domestic designs are increasingly being developed to supplement or replace. The development of shipborne Z-20 variants is expected to continue to expand the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare and amphibious assault capabilities, phasing out these older Russian aircraft. The development of a much heavier lift aircraft is also expected, potentially to rival the Russian Mi-26 which currently leads the world by a significant margin in its lift capabilities. China has not established distinct dominance in its helicopter capabilities in ways the country’s defence sector has in many other fields, but appears poised to do so more gradually, which is expected to translate into advances in a wide range of areas from logistics to amphibious assault and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. 

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

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[l] at 11/5/26 3:47pm
The U.S. Air Force’s F-47 sixth-generation fighter is expected to make its maiden flight in 2028 using an interim propulsion system, with the advanced adaptive-cycle engines intended to power operational expected to only be ready for integration in the early 2030s. Two major US aerospace manufacturers are competing to develop the new powerplants, namely General Electric Aerospace, with its XA102, and Pratt & Whitney, with its XA103. Both designs passed their Assembly Readiness Reviews in May 2026, a milestone intended to establish that engine designs, manufacturing processes and supply chains are sufficiently mature to proceed towards prototype assembly. Pratt & Whitney announced completion of its review on May 8, followed by General Electric Aerospace on May 11. The U.S. has not developed a clean sheet fighter engine for over 35 years, with the F119 fifth generation engine having first flown in 1990, while the newer F135 is a closer derivative of that design. Significant defence sector decline since the end of the Cold War has raised questions regarding whether the new engine program will be able to meet requirements and avoid significant delays, with the F135 developed to power the F-35 having proved highly problematic and significantly undercut fleet availability rates. The Air Force has been preparing for potential integration activities for the next generation engine around 2030, while budget plans envisage substantial funding for the program through the latter part of the decade. The service has not publicly confirmed the precise interim engine configuration that the first F-47 will use, nor whether the initial flight-test aircraft will later be re-engined with one of the competing adaptive-cycle designs.Following considerable uncertainty regarding the future of the F-47 program, its development gained greater urgency after China was revealed in December 2024 to have brought two entirely separate sixth generation fighters into flight testing, four years before the U.S. is scheduled to do the same. Cost restrictions mean that the F-47 may not be as large, long ranged, or integrate as large a radar as the Chinese sixth generation fighter developed by Chengdu. 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. The XA102 and XA103 are adaptive-cycle engines, designed to vary their operating characteristics to balance fuel efficiency, thrust and thermal management requirements. Compared with conventional fighter engines, the technology is intended to provide greater flexibility between efficient cruising and high-performance flight, potentially extending combat radius and time on station while generating additional electrical power for advanced sensors and other onboard systems. These capabilities are particularly relevant to the F-47, which is being developed to operate across the vast distances of the Pacific. The very high flight performances demonstrated by Chinese sixth generation fighters has set a high bar for the American program to compete with, which will require not only a highly advanced propulsion system, but also major advances in flight controls. 

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

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[l] at 11/5/26 2:18am
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier Shandong has departed dry dock at Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island after approximately nine months of deep refurbishment, with imagery shared online indicating that the vessel has begun its first sea trials since the overhaul. The carrier’s departure was reported on November 1, following an extended maintenance period that began in January 2026. The available imagery appears to show the ship underway with its flight deck markings yet to be restored. The absence of the markings suggests that work on the flight deck may not yet be complete, and the carrier’s return to sea should not be interpreted as confirmation that it is ready to resume routine flight operations. Sea trials following a major maintenance period allow a ship’s systems and performance to be assessed before it returns to operational duties. The Shandong, commissioned in December 2019, is China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier and the second to enter service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy. It uses a ski-jump flight deck and arresting wires, unlike the newer warship Fujian, which is a much larger flattop supercarrier with electromagnetic catapults. The vessel is based on the Soviet Kuznetsov class design, much like its sister ship the Liaoning which was procured partly completed after the USSR disintegrated, although both ships are significantly more modern and have demonstrated far higher reliability than the problematic Russian carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. While the Shandong is one of just three carriers in service capable of accommodating manned fixed wing aircraft, not only are two more supercarriers making rapid progress under construction, by the world’s first Type 076 class drone carrier has also begun its first launches of unmanned fighters, and is expected to be commissioned in 2027.The Shandong’s extended stay at Yulin also marks a significant use of China’s southern carrier-support infrastructure, demonstrating the Navy’s ability to conduct major carrier maintenance outside the traditional shipbuilding and repair facilities at Dalian. The precise scope of the Shandong’s overhaul, and the remaining work required before it can resume carrier aviation operations, remain highly uncertain. It has been speculated that modifications to the warship are intended to allow it to integrate new types of aircraft, most notably J-35 fifth generation fighters and possibly KJ-600 airborne early warning and control systems. These aircraft have both been integrated into the air wing of the Fujian, and would complement the heavily enhanced J-15B fighters and J-15D electronic attack jets that were confirmed in 2024 to have begun operating from the Shandong.

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]

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[l] at 11/4/26 7:52pm
Footage released on November 4 has shown China’s most capable air superiority fighter the J-20 in a rare air-to-air combat configuration, with the aircraft integrating eight PL-15 air-to-air missiles on external underwing pylons. Referred to informally as ‘beast most’ in the Western world, such configurations allow fifth generation fighters to significantly expand their firepower, with externally carried weaponry supplementing that already inside fighters’ internal weapons bays. This seriously compromises the radar evading stealth profiles of the fighters, however, allowing them to be detected, tracked, and locked onto at much longer ranges. Fifth generation fighters accordingly usually integrate their entire missile arsenals in internal weapons bays, with the J-20’s bays able to accommodate eight missiles including six radar guided missiles in a main bay, and one smaller infrared guided missile in each of its two side bays.Footage first circulated in February 2025 showing a J-20 carrying what appeared to be eight PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, mounted in pairs on four underwing pylons. A further video emerged in September 2025 showing another aircraft in a similar configuration, indicating that the arrangement was not necessarily limited to a single isolated test. The aircraft in the earlier footage appeared to have a yellowish primer finish associated with manufacturer testing, raising the possibility that the configuration was being evaluated by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation rather than demonstrated by an operational combat unit. This configuration could be particularly useful if engaging hostile targets with limited anti-aircraft capabilities of their own, such as hostile bombers or unmanned aircraft. J-20 fighters currently rely on support from J-16s, which are slightly larger non-stealth aircraft able to carry much larger missile loads. Stealth-configured J-20s can operate closer to hostile airspace, using their sensors and networking capabilities to identify targets and transmit engagement information to other aircraft operating farther behind them, such as J-16s carrying longer ranged missiles and in greater quantities. J-20s in ‘beast mode’ configurations, however, can potentially obviate the need for J-16s in the fleet. The J-16 nevertheless has the advantage of a simpler lower maintenance design, and of integrating a significantly larger and more powerful radar, which is by many estimates the most powerful carried by any fighter type in the world. Further developments in Chinas air-to-air missile inventory could make external carriage even more consequential. The PL-17, a substantially larger very-long-range missile, has been associated with efforts to threaten high-value support aircraft operating at considerable distances from the front line. Its dimensions are generally assessed to prevent it from being carried in the J-20s internal weapons bays, making external mounting a potential requirement. Although it is unclear whether the eight-missile configuration has been designed to accommodate the PL-17, the availability of external hardpoints gives the aircraft greater flexibility to employ weapons that cannot be integrated internally. The PL-16, another missile associated with the J-20s future armament, has a more compact design intended to increase the number of long-range missiles carried internally. Its lighter weight could allow for an increase in the number of missiles carried externally. 

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

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[l] at 11/4/26 6:59pm
Following the Democratic Partys decisive victories in the November 2026 midterm elections, which will give it control of both chambers of Congress from January, the Trump administrations proposed BBG(X) battleship program is expected to face substantially greater scrutiny. The unconventional program’s enormous projected costs, uncertain operational requirements and potential to divert resources from other naval modernisation priorities, have long made them controversial, with cancellation having appeared likely from the outset. Unveiled in December 2025 as part of President Trump’s proposed Golden Fleet initiative, the program envisages constructing a new generation of exceptionally large guided-missile warships displacing approximately 35,000 tons each, or three to four times the size of the Arleigh Burke class destroyers that form the backbone of the fleet. The programs projected costs have become one of its greatest obstacles. Estimates published by the Congressional Budget Office in August 2026 indicated that the first BBG(X) could cost approximately $23 billion, while subsequent vessels could average around $18 billion each. This would make even the subsequent ships considerably more expensive than the Navys Gerald Ford class aircraft carriers on a per-vessel basis in some comparisons. Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, observed that one battleship could equate to that of as many as ten Arleigh Burke class destroyers, describing the trade-off as particularly unfavourable. The expense is especially difficult to justify given the Navys existing difficulties maintaining sufficient numbers of operational destroyers and expanding its overall fleet.The potential cancellation of BBG(X) would be particularly consequential because the battleship program was reportedly intended to replace or supersede work on the DDG(X) next generation destroyer, which had been under development as the successor to the Arleigh Burke class. The DDG(X) was conceived as a next-generation guided-missile destroyer capable of addressing several limitations that have emerged as the Burke design has undergone successive upgrades over more than four decades. Although the latest Flight III vessels incorporate considerably improved radar and combat systems, the original hull design has increasingly limited the space, weight, electrical power and cooling capacity available for introducing additional weapons and sensors. The Navy consequently concluded that a substantially redesigned hull would be required to accommodate future generations of naval technologies without imposing increasingly restrictive compromises on their integration.The proposed DDG(X) would displace approximately 14,500 tons, making it considerably larger than the approximately 9,700 ton Arleigh Burke class and comparable in size to some of the worlds largest existing destroyers. Its design was intended to combine elements of the Flight III Arleigh Burkes Aegis combat system with a new hull, an integrated power system and substantially greater capacity for future weapons. The Navy envisaged providing the vessel with 96 conventional Mk 41 vertical launch cells, alongside the possibility of incorporating 12 larger missile-launch cells likely for ballistic missiles. The design is expected to bridge gaps in size, firepower, and stealth features with the Chinese Type 055, which is currently widely considered the world’s most capable surface combatant class. 

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

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[l] at 11/4/26 4:48pm
French shipbuilder Naval Group has unveiled the SCX26, a concept for a future stealth destroyer designed to operate as a command hub for crewed warships and large numbers of uncrewed aerial, surface and underwater systems. Presented at the Euronaval 2026 exhibition in Paris on November 3, the design combines a substantial missile arsenal, distributed sensors and extensive facilities for deploying, recovering and maintaining drones. Naval Group describes the vessel as a research and technology demonstrator concept rather than a warship intended for immediate construction, using it to explore how surface combatants could evolve in response to emerging threats and advances in automation. The SCX26 is approximately 170 metres long, with a full-load displacement estimated at around 8,000 to 10,000 tons. Naval Group envisages a maximum speed of 30 knots and a range of up to 8,000 nautical miles, supported by a combined diesel-electric and gas-turbine (CODLAG) propulsion system. Its size would place it above France’s current FDI frigates and within the category of large surface combatants designed to conduct air defence, anti-submarine warfare and long-range strike missions. The concept has reportedly progressed beyond preliminary artwork to include hydrodynamic model testing, although no construction schedule or procurement commitment has been announced. One of the vessel’s most distinctive features is its twin-island superstructure, with two widely separated structures incorporating bridges, masts and radar installations, which distributes key sensors and ship functions rather than concentrating them in a single superstructure, thus providing greater redundancy if individual systems are damaged. It remains uncertain to what extent the SCX26 program can reverse the prevailing decline in the standings of European surface combat ships. For decades European destroyers have struggled to remain competitive with the most capable surface combatants developed by the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea, with the gap particularly pronounced in missile capacity, sustained combat power and the ability to operate independently in high-intensity naval warfare. European warships have faced a fast growing disparity with leading foreign competitors in the combat capabilities they can deliver during prolonged engagements. This reflects not simply shortcomings in naval engineering, but decades of declining defence expenditure, fragmented procurement, insufficient production runs and a failure to prioritise the requirements of large-scale maritime warfare. The contrast is particularly striking when comparing the development of European destroyers with that of the US Navys Arleigh Burke class and Chinas Type 052D and Type 055 classes, which have benefited from decades of sustained investment and much more robust technological bases. The most readily measurable disadvantage is the number of missiles European destroyers can carry. The U.S. Navys Arleigh Burke Flight III class ships accommodate 96 Mk 41 vertical launch system cells, while Chinas Type 055 destroyers integrate 112. By comparison, some of Europes most advanced air-defence destroyers, including Britains Type 45 and the Franco-Italian Horizon class, were built around just 48 principal missile-launch cells. This disparity has considerable operational consequences because modern naval warfare places enormous demands on the number of interceptors available to individual vessels. U.S. and Northeast Asian destroyers also have much more versatile armaments suites capable of ballistic missile defence, land attack, and anti-shipping among other roles, while European destroyers tend to be single-role ships usually optimised for air defence, and less capable even in these roles than their foreign counterparts. Naval Group envisages an extensive vertical-launch missile arsenal, with 12 Sylver launcher installations distributed between the forward and aft sections. Depending on the configuration, these could accommodate up to 96 missiles, including Aster 30 surface-to-air interceptors and MdCN land-attack cruise missiles. The company has also outlined options for exceeding 100 missiles through the use of quad-packed CAMM interceptors, future Sylver NG launchers and additional launch modules installed in the ship’s flexible central zone. Two Rampart multipurpose launchers would provide another layer of close-range defence, with options for short-range missiles, guided rockets and decoys. The final missile capacity would depend on the selected launcher configurations and weapons mix. The ambitions of the program have raised serious questions regarding the ability of European defence sectors to see it through, although if successful it could potentially curb the trend towards the lack of competitiveness of European surface combatants.

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

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[l] at 11/4/26 4:47pm
China’s first nuclear powered supercarrier is rapidly taking shape at Dalian Shipyard in northeastern China, with satellite imagery indicating that the vessel could be launched as early as 2027. Construction has advanced rapidly since prefabricated hull sections began appearing in early 2025, with the vessel approaching the dimensions of the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carriers at approximately 322 metres in length and 46 metres across at its widest point in October 2026. These dimensions already significantly exceed those of China’s third carrier, the Fujian, at a comparable stage of construction. The final dimensions are expected to increase as the bow and flight deck are completed, with the vessel expected to exceed the approximately 333 metre length of the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz class carriers and the 337 metre length of the American Gerald Ford class. Separate analysis by Janes has estimated a completed hull length of approximately 336–339 metres, although the final dimensions remain uncertain.The scale of China’s longer-term carrier fleet ambitions is reflected in a 2025 U.S. Department of Defense assessment, which said Beijing aims to add six aircraft carriers capable of accommodating manned fixed wing aircraft by 2035, potentially bringing the fleet from a current strength of three to a total of nine. These ships will be supported by a growing fleet of helicopter and drone carriers, with the Type 076 class having begun to launch unmanned fighters in late October from its electromagnetic catapult system. This is expected to provide China with the world’s largest carrier fleet, which will be particularly advantageous when considering the age and low availability rates of the rival American fleet. Achieving such an expansion will require a significant increase in construction capacity and supporting naval infrastructure, particularly if several of the new vessels are nuclear-powered. It would also require the Navy to train and retain sufficient carrier aircrew, ship crews and maintenance personnel to operate multiple formations simultaneously. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy commissioned its first supercarrier, the Fujian, into active service on November 5, 2025, with the ship currently being the only supercarrier in service outside the U.S. Navy. At 85,000 tons, it is smaller than the 100,000 ton Gerald Ford class ships, and can launch just three aircraft at a time rather than four. Its air wing was significantly more advanced, however, and includes fifth generation fighters which Gerald Ford class ships’ air wings had yet to integrate. The Fujian is expected to provide critical early experience in supercarrier operations. It is expected that Chinese shipyards will construct both conventional and nuclear powered supercarriers in parallel, although future conventionally powered ships are also expected to be significantly larger than the Fujian. The new supercarrier is expected to be the largest in the world at close to 110,000 tons. A larger carrier provides additional internal volume for aviation fuel, weapons, maintenance facilities, crew accommodation, machinery and aircraft. A larger flight-deck area can allow a carrier to operate more aircraft while simultaneously launching and recovering them. In November, new images from the Dalian Shipyard showed the installation of structures within the developing hull that appear broadly consistent with reactor containment arrangements. China is not only building much larger carriers, but is also expected to be years ahead of the United States in integrating sixth generation fighters into the air wings of such ships, as the country’s defence sector has achieved a significant lead in developing such aircraft. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]

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[l] at 11/4/26 3:32pm
The Eurofighter consortium is targeting potential sales of more than 200 additional fighter aircraft, with several European and overseas customers considering further purchases as demand for combat aviation increases. The consortium assessed that substantial opportunities remain to expand the aircraft’s order backlog exist, potentially sustaining production and supporting operations of the fighter into the 2060s. These projections have raised serious questions, however, with the aircraft having failed to perform well on foreign markets, and other than a small early sale of 12 fighters to Austria, having secured no contracts outside the Middle East. Jointly developed and manufactured by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo on behalf of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, the fighter has not only proved uncompetitive on export markets, but has also increasingly been overlooked by its partner countries. Despite considerable pressure  from local industry the United Kingdom has permanently shelved plans to purchase more Eurofighters, and plans to continue to withdraw them from service decades ahead of schedule. It has simultaneously continued orders for F-35A fighters. Germany has similarly sharply reversed its prior opposition to F-35 procurements as it became increasingly clear that prioritising protecting local industry would seriously constrain combat capabilities due to the Eurofighter’s serious limitations, and is instead compromising between the demand of industry, and the need for a superiority capability, by splitting orders between the two types. Overly optimistic projections for fighter exports are far from isolated to the Eurofighter program, with the American F-16 having similarly been projected by industry to see over 200 additional foreign orders placed, despite very limited foreign demand for the foreign aircraft. The fighter has not only lost every tender in which it has competed against the U.S. F-35, but also against the competing French Rafale, the U.S. F-15, and in some cases the F-16. The aircraft’s combination of high sustainment costs and a very limited combat potential have been a leading factor undermining its potential.  When operated by the Qatar Emiri Air Force, the aircraft were recently confirmed to have performed very poorly in simulated combat with Chinese J-10C fighters flown by the Pakistan Air Force. It was confirmed soon afterwards that Qatar was seeking to retire its 24 Eurofighters from service just three years after they began deliveries to the country in 2022. Reports from Saudi Arabia and Oman, both of which procured the aircraft, indicate that the Eurofighter has compared poorly to even much older American fighter types such as the F-15C/D, and that the decision to acquire the aircraft was made primarily for political reasons. The most recent sale of the aircraft to Turkey was made only after Turkish efforts to procure the F-35A and the F-16 Block 70 both failed, with Ankara’s poor relations with France leaving the Eurofighter as effectively the only option for an immediately available NATO standard fighter type. While the consortium plans continue upgrading the Eurofighter with a more advanced radar, avionics, flight-control systems, electronic warfare equipment and weapons integration, the aircraft appears highly unlikely to become internationally competitive.

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

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[l] at 11/3/26 6:36pm
A Chinese People’s Liberation Army HQ-9B surface-to-air missile system has conducted two successful interceptions of ballistic missile targets, highlighting the expanding capabilities of the primary long-range air defence system in Chinese service. One of the missiles altered its trajectory and descended sharply during flight, requiring the defending unit to launch an interceptor within an extremely narrow engagement window. The exercise provides an indication of the capabilities being developed by Chinas air-defence forces to counter missiles employing more unpredictable flight profiles. The unpredictability of the missile’s trajectory illustrated the importance of rapid threat assessment and engagement procedures when confronting manoeuvring missile targets. A particularly important aspect of the reported engagement was the interceptors ability to respond to sudden changes in the targets trajectory. Conventional ballistic missile interception is already technically demanding because incoming warheads can travel at extremely high speeds, leaving defenders with limited time to detect, track and engage them. Manoeuvring targets introduce an additional challenge by making their future trajectories less predictable, potentially reducing the effectiveness of interception solutions based on conventional ballistic flight calculations. The engagement was conducted by the PLA Air Forces Shenwei Missile Battalion. According to personnel interviewed by state broadcaster CCTV, the unit had not been informed in advance which particular targets it would be assigned to intercept. During the engagement, one incoming missile abruptly changed direction and descended rapidly, forcing the unit to make an immediate decision to launch. Battalion personnel emphasised that even a delay of one or two seconds could have resulted in the interception opportunity being lost.The reported engagement is particularly significant given the growing development of manoeuvring re-entry vehicles and other advanced ballistic missile technologies. Several countries are investing in systems designed to alter their trajectories during the terminal phase of flight, making them more difficult to predict and intercept than conventional ballistic warheads. Chinas own DF-17 hypersonic glide vehicle and other advanced missile programmes illustrate the importance Beijing places on developing weapons capable of penetrating increasingly sophisticated air and missile-defence networks. The ability to intercept targets that make substantial mid-flight manoeuvres would therefore represent an important capability for defending military installations, command centres and other strategically important infrastructure against advanced missile attacks. The HQ-9B forms part of a much broader Chinese effort to develop a layered air and missile-defence architecture incorporating several different interceptor classes. New higher tier anti-ballistic missile systems have more recently been introduced into service, most notably the HQ-19 and HQ-29, the latter which is the only road-mobile system outside Russia capable of intercepting intercontinental range ballistic missiles. The recent interception and continuous updates to the HQ-9 have prompted speculation about whether the system could eventually achieve the capability engage hypersonic glide vehicles, possibly through the integration of new generations of interceptor missiles and new software. Hypersonic glide vehicles present particularly difficult challenges because they combine very high velocities with the ability to manoeuvre across less predictable flight paths, potentially complicating radar tracking and reducing the time available for defensive engagement. However, a successful interception of a manoeuvring ballistic missile target does not by itself demonstrate an ability to defeat operational hypersonic glide vehicles. 

[Category: Asia-Pacific, Missile and Space]

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