Exercise Red Flag 26-1 has wrapped up at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, following nearly two weeks of intensive allied air combat training that brought together roughly 3,000 personnel from 32 units across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
- Conducted over the 12,000-square-mile Nevada Test and Training Range, the exercise integrated fighters, tankers, intelligence assets, and command and control teams to simulate high-end joint combat operations against advanced threats.
- Participants included USAF, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, Air National Guard, the Royal Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force, working under realistic operational pressures to refine tactics, interoperability, and sustainment practices. Read more.
Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern presented an updated configuration of its Skat-350M reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, confirming on February 8 that the platform now incorporates a dedicated countermeasure system against FPV interceptor drones.
- A company representative said the upgrade includes an expanded maneuver set and defensive architecture aimed at improving survivability against low altitude, high speed kamikaze threats that have proliferated in recent conflicts.
- The Skat-350M, previously positioned as a tactical ISR asset for brigade-level units, now reflects a broader shift in drone warfare where reconnaissance platforms must defend themselves against other unmanned systems operating in contested airspace. Read more.
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| The Skat-350M is designed for reconnaissance and support of ground operations under harsh weather conditions, within a temperature range from -45 to +45 degrees Celsius (Picture source: Army Recognition) |
Feb
17
Rostec, the Russian state-owned industrial conglomerate, has confirmed a fresh shipment of BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, dated 28 January 2026, and framed the delivery as part of an accelerated production tempo, with January output reportedly running 40 percent above plan.
Feb
16
Army Recognition Group has officially expanded its naval defense reporting following a full digital migration and platform consolidation in May 2024, bringing its previously separate land, air, and naval content under a single unified website. The transition reflects both structural changes within the organization and shifting reader demand toward integrated coverage of multi-domain military capabilities.
Feb
16
The U.S. Navy’s second Ford-class aircraft carrier, USS John F. Kennedy CVN 79, completed its first at-sea trials at the end of January 2026, marking a major step toward formal commissioning and operational service. Conducted off the East Coast by Huntington Ingalls Industries in coordination with Navy supervisors, the trials tested the ship’s nuclear propulsion plant, electromagnetic aircraft launch system, advanced arresting gear, and key combat and radar systems.
Feb
16
Schiebel announced on February 13, 2026, that the Greek Navy has contracted for shipborne CAMCOPTER S-100 unmanned aerial systems to operate from its Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention, or FDI, Belharra-class frigates. The rotary-wing drones will equip HS Kimon, HS Nearchos, and HS Formion, with the first system expected to become operational aboard HS Kimon in spring 2026, shortly after the frigate arrives in Greece.
Feb
16
U.S. Navy forces carried out a vertical boarding operation against the oil tanker Veronica III on February 15, 2026, inserting personnel from an MH 60R “Romeo” Seahawk helicopter while an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer provided escort and perimeter security, according to information released by the U.S. Department of War. The interdiction occurred in international waters under U.S.
Feb
16
On February 12, 2026, Italy’s parliament authorized €8.8 billion for the sixth-generation GCAP fighter, covering concept assessment and full development phases. Updated projections place total development at €18.6 billion, surpassing Italy’s €18 billion expenditure for 90 F-35 aircraft and positioning GCAP as the country’s most expensive defense program. Read full defense news at this link...
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Feb
16
On February 16, 2026, The Times of Israel reported via its liveblog that Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, claims the Israeli F-35I Adir fleet has been fitted with range-extending fuel tanks “without compromising stealth.” Quoting an interview in the daily Israel Hayom, the liveblog entry suggests that years of quiet work on tailor-made fuel and weapons configurations for the Adir have now reached operational maturity.
Feb
16
Airmen at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia are spearheading a new U.S. Air Force initiative to counter the growing threat of laser strikes against aircraft, following data from the Federal Aviation Administration showing more than 10,000 reported incidents in 2025, nearly 48 percent higher than in 2020.
Feb
16
U.S. Central Command on February 16, 2026, published images and operational details showing EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 133 and F-35C Lightning II fighters from Marine Fighter Squadron 314 spotted on the flight deck of USS Abraham Lincoln, CVN 72, as the carrier operated in international waters under U.S. 5th Fleet. According to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the Nimitz-class carrier is conducting continuous flight operations in support of regional security objectives.
Feb
16
U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman and Poland’s Niewiadow-PGM have formalized a framework agreement to manufacture over 180,000 155 mm artillery shells each year in Poland, according to Reuters reporting from Warsaw on February 11, 2026.
Feb
16
The Department of War confirmed that a next- generation compact nuclear reactor was transported by C-17 Globemaster III from March Air Reserve Base to Hill Air Force Base on February 15, 2026. According to reporting, the airlift signals a shift from policy direction to physical deployment as federal agencies push to fast-track advanced nuclear infrastructure on U.S. soil.
Feb
16
The U.S. Air Force has formally awarded Boeing a sole- source contract to manufacture additional GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, replenishing weapons expended during the June 2025 B-2 Spirit strikes on hardened Iranian nuclear sites, including the deeply buried Fordo enrichment facility. The decision was confirmed in a publicly released justification notice, which states that Boeing remains the only qualified producer of the 30,000-pound class precision-guided munition.
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