Saturday, January 17, 2026

World Defense News 17 Jan 2026

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) are adapting rapidly to one of the most persistent threats on today’s battlefield, the widespread use of Russian first-person-view kamikaze drones. 
The 3rd Regiment of the Ukrainian SOF recently disclosed details of newly developed counter-drone training tactics that rely on shotguns and close-range engagement techniques, according to material released by Ukrainian military sources. 
The methods were tested and refined during frontline operations, where FPV (First Person View) drones have been increasingly used to target troops in trenches, tree lines, and defensive positions. Read full Defense News at this link ...


Ukrainian Special Forces from the 3rd Regiment of UASOF conduct live-fire training with 12-gauge shotguns to intercept hostile FPV drones during close-range counter-UAS drills near the front line. (Picture source: 3rd Regiment of UASOF)

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3rd @SOF_UKR Regiment operator, callsign “ALIK”. Formerly worked in film and journalism. Joined the Defense Forces in 2022 and became a sniper. 

The drone war over Ukraine has pushed Russia into an uncomfortable truth that every modern army is now relearning: when small quadcopters and FPV strike drones arrive low, fast, and in numbers, air defense systems do not always operate successfully. 
Even the best radar-guided systems struggle with clutter, short warning times, and the simple arithmetic of saturation. 
  • That is why Russia is increasingly formalizing what began as a field improvisation, turning smoothbore shotguns and basic small arms into a “last meters” defensive layer that is cheap, mobile, and simple. Read more...
Russia is issuing modified MP-155 shotguns and relying on standard infantry rifles to bring down FPV drones at close range, reflecting how swarming low-altitude UAV attacks can slip past electronic warfare and short-range air defenses and force troops into a last-ditch, manpower-driven counter-drone layer (Picture source: Rostec).
 
 

According to Daum on January 15, 2026, Morocco has begun evaluating a potential acquisition of up to 400 K2 Black Panther tanks from South Korea as part of a broader reassessment of its land forces. If pursued, the move would mark a major diversification away from the reliance on U.S. and Russian tanks, as well as positioning Rabat as the first African operator of the K2 Black Panther tank. Read full defense news at this link...

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On January 15, 2026, the United States approved a potential $1.5 billion Foreign Military Sale to Peru, covering the design, construction, and long-term support of maritime and onshore facilities at Callao Naval Base, which is Peru's primary naval base. The approved scope includes construction, engineering, and program support services and excludes weapons transfers, at a time when Peru’s Pacific coast is seeing increased Chinese investment in nearby commercial port facilities.
 

On January 15, 2026, Chris Cavas shared that the U.S. Navy has released an official FF(X) frigate concept graphic at the Surface Navy Association symposium, outlining a new small surface combatant planned for contract award in 2026. The graphic, while confirming that the FF(X) design is based on the Legend-class National Security Cutter hull with limited structural modification to reduce risk and accelerate acquisition, also includes the first set of specifications for the new U.S. Navy frigate.
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On 15 January 2026, Anduril Industries announced that the U.S. Marine Corps had awarded the company a 23.9 million dollar contract for the next phase of the Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program. The agreement covers the delivery of more than 600 Bolt-M loitering munition systems beginning in February 2026, giving dismounted Marine infantry rifle squads a man-packable, easy-to-operate precision strike capability beyond line of sight.
 

Teledyne FLIR Defense announced on January 15, 2026, that it has secured a U.S. Army contract worth up to $32 million to deliver and integrate a Recon Surveillance Kit for Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles being provided to Bulgaria through the Foreign Military Sales process. The award, placed by U.S.
 

On January 14, 2026, Shield AI announced that its X-Bat autonomous combat aircraft has entered wind tunnel testing, marking the first physical validation step of its jet-powered VTOL “fighter” concept. The news was revealed in a company post on X, where Shield AI underlined the need to “test fast” in order to reduce risk and sharpen each design iteration for greater safety and efficiency in the air.
 

On January 15, 2026, Destinus unveiled the Ruta Block 2, a mid-range autonomous cruise missile with a stated range exceeding 450 kilometers and a 250-kilogram payload for strikes against fixed high-value targets. The Block 2 marks a departure from the earlier Ruta Block 1 missile-drone as it incorporates autonomous, AI-based guidance with anti-jam features and is intended for integration with mobile launchers and allied command-and-control architectures. Read full defense news at this link...
 

On January 16, 2026, John Cockerill announced that Arquus, part of the John Cockerill Group, and Daimler Truck were awarded a contract to supply 7,000 new-generation Zetros military logistics trucks to the French Army under the PL6T program. The contract covers vehicle production, variants, and long-term in-service support over more than ten years. The program replaces aging 4 to 6-tonne military trucks used for domestic, overseas, and training operations. Read full defense news at this link...
 

On January 16, 2026, Baykar Technologies announced that its Bayraktar Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet had successfully completed a new performance test flight, reaching a cruise speed of Mach 0.8. The milestone, revealed through a statement on Baykar’s official X account, represents a significant advance in Türkiye’s jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) program.
 

Rheinmetall and Spain’s EM&E Group have formally submitted a joint proposal to the Spanish Ministry of Defence for the development of a national high-mobility rocket launcher system under the SILAM (Sistema Lanzador de Alta Movilidad) program. Announced on January 14, 2026, the initiative signals a strategic redirection of Spain’s long-range fires modernization toward sovereign capability and industrial self-reliance, breaking away from dependency on foreign systems.
 

On 14 January 2026, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers gave conceptual approval to the acquisition of Archer wheeled artillery systems for the National Armed Forces, marking a decisive step in the country’s artillery modernisation. According to an information report published on the official website of the Latvian Ministry of Defence, the decision authorises the ministry to move forward toward an intergovernmental agreement with Sweden for 18 systems.
 

The HS Kimon, the first FDI HN Belharra-class frigate for the Hellenic Navy, arrived in Greece on January 15, 2026, following its delivery from France. The induction marks the first addition of a new frigate to the Greek fleet in 28 years and forms part of a four-ship naval modernization program, as the ship entered the Saronic Gulf and proceeded to join the Salamis naval base. Read full defense news at this link...

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According to Izvestia on January 12, 2026, Russia is targeting a first flight of the Su-75 Checkmate light stealth fighter during 2026, though no date has been confirmed. If confirmed, this would mark the first real transition since its public debut in 2021 as a full-scale mock-up, showing whether Russia can still field a new lightweight combat aircraft under sanctions and industrial pressure. Read full defense news at this link...

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The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on January 14, 2026, that the State Department approved a possible $800 million Foreign Military Sale to Kuwait for Patriot program sustainment and follow-on technical support. On paper, it is maintenance. In practice, it is the difference between owning Patriot and keeping it ready when the northern Gulf lights up. For Kuwait, sustainment is strategic because air defense credibility is measured in uptime, not in brochures. Read more.
 

U.S. company L3Harris Technologies announced on January 14, 2026, that the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps selected 34 large T7 unmanned ground vehicles to enhance explosive ordnance disposal missions, with deliveries beginning in 2026 under a multi-year contract that also includes operator training.
 

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced on January 15, 2026, that U.S. forces boarded and seized the Motor Tanker Veronica in international waters of the Caribbean Sea. The vessel was identified by U.S. authorities as a sanctioned crude oil tanker linked to Venezuelan oil movements and interdicted under the maritime blockade imposed by President Donald Trump. Read full defense news at this link...

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U.S. Sierra Nevada Corporation announced on January 13, 2026, that the company has purchased at its own expense a fourth Bombardier Global 6500 business jet intended for the U.S. Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program of rcord. 
SNC Buys Global 6500 Jet to Accelerate US Army HADES Development 
 

Information shared by Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken on X indicates that, in late December 2025, Belgium began rolling out a fast-track counter-drone package combining new detection and electronic disruption tools with Latvia’s Blaze interceptor drones, while also moving to introduce Bolt Loitering Munitions as a precision strike capability for ground units, with immediate response kits scheduled for deployment at every Belgian military base from early January.
 

On January 9, 2026, China’s defense industry regulator confirmed that the J-10CE fighter jet recorded combat results in 2025, marking Beijing’s first official confirmation of combat outcomes involving an exported Chinese jet.
 

According to Defence Professionals India on January 6, 2026, the Indian Air Force initiated contacts with Ecuador to evaluate the acquisition of stored Sepecat Jaguar airframes for the recovery of engines, structural assemblies, and systems. The effort aims to sustain India’s Jaguar fleet until approximately 2035, as production has long ended and original global supply chains no longer exist. Read full defense news at this link...

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On January 14, 2026, the French Army began a new phase of robotic and artificial intelligence experimentation at Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan using the hydrogen-powered Hermione unmanned ground vehicle under the Pendragon framework. The trials support the development of the first AI-directed combat unit planned for 2027, focusing on autonomy, energy endurance, and unit-level integration. Read full defense news at this link...

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On January 13, 2025, 서각 이유충 합판 그림 조각가 shared a YouTube video showing that the Philippine Navy’s first Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessel, the BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), has departed the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, following completion of sea trials and fitting-out. The ship is now underway on its delivery transit to the Philippines, with arrival expected in late January 2026, ahead of final inspections and commissioning in Subic.

 

In a notable shift in American naval deployments, the U.S. Navy has ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to transit from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, according to U.S. defense officials. The move comes as U.S. policymakers weigh growing concerns over Iranian regional activity, including actions by Tehran’s affiliated militias, and seek to ensure sufficient combat power is positioned to respond quickly if the security environment deteriorates.
 
 
 

Poland’s 1st Armoured Brigade has conducted its first live-fire exercise with M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area, as part of a joint Polish–American gunnery event involving U.S. soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division.
 

The Air Force Global Strike Command confirmed on January 13, 2026, that two MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters assigned to the 40th Helicopter Squadron conducted the platform’s first operational Minuteman III ICBM convoy security mission at Malmstrom Air Force Base on January 8.
 
 
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