According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on August 28, 2025, BAE Systems Information and Electronic Warfare Systems, based in Hudson, New Hampshire, has been awarded a $1.743 billion firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production and delivery of up to 55,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets.
The award covers Full-Rate Production Lots 13 through 17 and will provide guided rockets to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and approved Foreign Military Sales customers. Deliveries are scheduled to continue through December 2031, securing a long-term supply of one of the U.S. military’s most relied upon precision strike weapons.
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| A weapons load crew from the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conducts a stray voltage check before arming an A-10C Thunderbolt II with AGR-20 APKWS laser-guided rockets at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. (Picture source: U.S. DoD) |
Read MoreRelayed by the U.S. Press Agency Reuters on August 28, 2025, a spokesperson for Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force confirmed the deployment of the U.S. Army’s Typhon surface-to-surface missile system to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
The arrival of the system is scheduled to align with the start of Resolute Dragon 2025, a major bilateral exercise between Japan and the United States taking place from September 11 to September 25, 2025.
This deployment marks the first time the Typhon system has been positioned on Japanese territory, reflecting a deliberate escalation in U.S. efforts to build integrated, land-based strike capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region. 
A U.S. Army Typhon Mid-Range Capability system fires a Standard Missile-6 during a live-fire event at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on November 8, 2024. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
Read More As
China prepares for the formal Victory Day celebrations on September 3,
2025, the unveiling of ZTZ-201 signals the emergence of a new generation
of combat vehicles tailored for multi-domain, high-intensity conflict.
Combining speed, protection, and sensor-driven lethality, ZTZ-201
reflects the PLA’s effort to field agile armored units capable of
dominating the modern battlefield across land, air, and electronic
domains.
INTELLIGENCE: China Unveils ZTZ-201 Light Tank During Victory Day Military Parade Rehearsals 2025.
29 Aug, 2025 - 15:06
Army Web TVZTZ-201, China’s newest generation light tank, was publicly revealed for the first time during rehearsals held in preparation for the Victory Day military parade scheduled for September 3, 2025. The vehicle was observed navigating through the streets of Beijing in formation with other advanced armored assets of the PLA (People’s Liberation Army), offering a rare glimpse into the latest advancements in Chinese ground combat systems.
The appearance of ZTZ-201 confirms its emerging role within the PLA’s modernization efforts, reflecting a strategic shift toward lighter, faster, and digitally enhanced combat platforms tailored for high-threat operational environments.
China’s new ZTZ-201 light tank showcased during military parade rehearsals in Beijing, featuring an unmanned turret, active protection system, and hybrid electric drive for high-mobility operations in modern combat environments. (Picture source: China Social Net)
Designed in the 35 to 40-ton weight class, the ZTZ-201 breaks from the heavier Type 96 and Type 99 series, focusing instead on operational versatility, rapid deployment, and high survivability in contested zones. Its size and configuration indicate suitability for diverse combat scenarios including mountainous border regions, island chains in the South China Sea, and high-mobility amphibious operations. The tank's silhouette suggests a highly compact design, featuring an unmanned turret, advanced modular armor, and a digitally integrated fire control system.
Armament includes a 105 mm high-velocity smoothbore gun with an autoloader and modern stabilization systems, reportedly capable of firing APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) rounds at speeds comparable to those used by heavier Western and Russian MBTs (Main Battle Tanks). Some reports suggest development of a 120 mm variant may be underway. Around the turret, ZTZ-201 is fitted with a 360-degree AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar suite and an APS (Active Protection System) designed to detect and neutralize incoming ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) and loitering munitions. A RCWS (Remote-Controlled Weapon Station) on the roof provides anti-air and close defense capabilities against drones and infantry threats.
The vehicle's internal layout follows a crew capsule configuration at the front of the hull, separating operators from the ammunition and gun systems to increase survivability. Inside, a networked BMS (Battle Management System) supports AI (Artificial Intelligence)-enhanced targeting, autonomous navigation, and real-time threat classification. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain delivers high torque, reduced thermal and acoustic signatures, and silent movement at low speeds, enhancing tactical flexibility during reconnaissance and ambush operations.
ZTZ-201 appears to be part of a larger family of medium armored platforms, with potential variants including IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), mobile gun systems, and command vehicles based on the same chassis. Its debut during the parade rehearsal suggests it has reached at least IOC (Initial Operational Capability) within selected PLA units and is likely to play a central role in future rapid deployment formations.
Aug
29
On August 28, 2025, Aviation Week shared Boeing’s new rendering of its F/A-XX proposal, presented at the Tailhook Symposium in August 2025, which has reignited the interest about the future of the U.S. Navy’s sixth-generation fighter program. The image shows a carrier-based jet obscured by cloud cover that hides potentially key features such as canards and wingtips, while no vertical tail is visible.
Aug
29
According to information published by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency on August 27, 2025, the U.S. State Department has approved a Foreign Military Sale to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency worth $103.9 million. Acting as procurement agent for Belgium, Italy, and Romania, NSPA has requested up to 96 AIM-9X Block II or Block II+ Sidewinder air-to-air missiles along with 12 guidance units.
Aug
29
According to information published by Saudi Arabia Ministry of Defense on August 24, 2025, the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces have completed the graduation of their third class of THAAD anti-ballistic missile operators following specialized training at the US Army’s Fort Bliss base in Texas.
Aug
29
As reported by Jesus Roman on August 24, 2025, China has revealed the DF-26D, a new variant of the Dong Feng-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), during rehearsals for its September 3 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Japan. The DF-26D adds to a missile family that has been operational since 2016 with the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) and is known for its ability to carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.
Aug
29
On August 28, 2025, BAE Systems Hägglunds in Sweden officially unveiled the first CV9030 MkIV infantry fighting vehicle for the Czech Army, as reported by BAE Systems. The ceremony was attended by Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson and Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová, underscoring the strategic significance of this delivery. This milestone is part of a broader modernization effort aimed at enhancing the Czech Republic’s defense capabilities and meeting NATO obligations.
Aug
29
On August 29, 2025, Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk confirmed that the intelligence ship Simferopol was struck in the Danube Delta by a Russian high-speed unmanned surface vessel (USV). The attack resulted in the death of two sailors, several injuries, and searches for missing crew members, while most of the crew were brought to safety.
Aug
29
On August 28, 2025, NATO Air Command reported that two Italian F-35 fighters scrambled from Ämari Air Base in Estonia to intercept a Russian An-124 “Ruslan” approaching the Baltic region. The mission forms part of NATO’s long-running Air Policing effort, designed to safeguard the Alliance’s eastern flank against unauthorized or potentially destabilizing flights.
Aug
29
On August 27, 2025, General Dynamics Electric Boat held the keel laying of the future USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) at its Quonset Point facility in Rhode Island, aligning the ceremony with the submarine’s hull number date of 8/27. The keel laying was authenticated when Ship Sponsor Dr. Kelly Geurts welded her initials onto a steel plate, assisted by Electric Boat welder Robert Ray Jr., a 49-year employee of the yard.
Aug
28
The British Army Expo 2025 in Edinburgh unveiled the Boxer 8x8 armored vehicle as the new Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV), marking a turning point in the modernization of UK land forces. The showcase highlighted Boxer’s modular design, which separates a common drive module from interchangeable mission modules, enabling the same chassis to be adapted rapidly for infantry transport, command and control, medical evacuation, indirect fire support, or electronic warfare.
Aug
28
The UK Carrier Strike Group, spearheaded by the British Royal Navy’s flagship and largest warship, HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, has arrived in Japan for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s expanding presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Aug
28
According to information published by the Israeli company Rafael on August 28, 2025, the United States Army, in close coordination with the Inspectorate of the Polish Air Force and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, has successfully completed a live fire demonstration of the SPIKE NLOS missile system launched from an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter at the Central Air Force Training Range in Ustka, Poland.
Aug
28
According to information published by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) on August 27, 2025, the federal government approved a record €12.8 billion in arms exports for 2024, with Ukraine as the largest recipient. The figures were detailed in a cabinet-endorsed report presented at the Bendlerblock, the headquarters of Germany’s Ministry of Defence in Berlin.
Aug
28
According to information published by Reuters, on August 27, 2025, the United States Air Force is intensifying efforts to reinforce bomber bases and critical facilities after Ukraine’s unprecedented Operation Spiderweb exposed new vulnerabilities in modern airpower. In June, more than 100 Ukrainian drones penetrated deep into Russian territory, inflicting serious damage on strategic bomber fleets.
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