EPISODE 052: BLIND, DEAFEN, STRIKE — HOW IRAN WAGES A WAR OF ATTRITION AGAINST AIR DEFENSE

March 2026 // Asymmetric Warfare // EPISODE 052

"How is this possible if Trump defeated Iran?"
The question being asked more often. The answer lies in tactics, not headlines.

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🔍 SIGNAL CORE

Iranian missile and drone strikes are producing a cumulative effect that's becoming difficult to ignore even for hardliners in the US and Israel.

What's happening:

• Attack intensity has decreased by an order of magnitude compared to first days
• But the success rate of penetrations is increasing
• Targets have shifted: from massive "area" attacks to precision strikes on key AD/AAM nodes

Result: A system that was supposed to "hold the sky" is gradually losing its vision and hearing.

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⚡ IRANIAN TACTICS: BLIND FIRST, BODY SECOND

Iran didn't start with strikes on airbases or oil depots. It started with what makes any defense vulnerable:

PHASE 1: "BLINDING"

• Strikes on early warning radars: AN/FPS-132, AN/TPY-2
• Attacks on command posts and communication nodes
• Deliberate overload of interception channels

PHASE 2: "DEAFENING"

• Attacks on Patriot SAM positions, Ground Master-2000 stations
• Strikes on UAV warehouses, logistics nodes, backup generators
• Disorganization of "detect-decide-engage" cycles

PHASE 3: "BREAKTHROUGH"

• Precision strikes on bases, infrastructure, allied facilities
• Fewer missiles — more hits
• Increasing effectiveness as system is already "softened"

📉 This isn't chaos. It's an algorithm.

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🎯 WHAT OPEN DATA CONFIRMS

AD/AAM component losses:

• Beginning of conflict: ~20-25 active radars (including Patriot) in US/partner responsibility zone
• By late March: over a dozen no longer detected
• Some — regrouping, some — probable defeat or damage

Strike geography:

• Kuwait: Ali al-Salem base — aviation and infrastructure destruction
• UAE: maximum attack density, strikes on radars and warehouses
• Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia: regular arrivals on dual-use facilities

Sources: satellite imagery, Gulf states defense ministry reports, regional HQ leaks.

Period	Attack Intensity	Success Rate	Tactical Focus
Week 1	Maximum	Low (massive interception)	AD overload, reconnaissance by fire
Week 2	Medium	Increasing	Strikes on radars and communication nodes
Week 3+	Low	High	Precision strikes on "blinded" system

Key insight: Iran isn't trying to "overwhelm with quantity." It's teaching the system to make mistakes — and exploiting those mistakes.

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🛰️ US REACTION: E-2D AS PROBLEM INDICATOR

The US is redeploying additional carrier-based E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AWACS aircraft to the Middle East (minimum 5 units).

Why this matters:

• Ground radars don't provide required detection density for low-flying UAVs and cruise missiles
• E-2D can operate under suppression conditions and "see" what stationary radars missed
• But this is forced adaptation, not planned reinforcement

💡 When the adversary forces you to change your defense architecture on the fly — they've already won the tactical initiative.

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🧩 POLITICAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT

INSIDE US AND ISRAEL:

• Growing dissonance between "victory over Iran" rhetoric and continuing arrivals
• Even hardliners ask: "If Iran lost, why is it still striking?"
• Criticism focuses not on goals but methods: "We promised quick results. Where are they?"

FOR IRAN:

• Fact of regular successful strikes on US facilities = strategic and propaganda victory
• Forced AD reinforcement = additional costs, logistical burden, supply chain vulnerability
• Tehran demonstrates: it can inflict sensitive damage without direct confrontation

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🔍 WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

• "Disappeared" radar map: which facilities don't return after pause — marker of real losses
• Pentagon rhetoric: shift from "full control" to "adaptation to threats"
• E-2D logistics: where based, which zones covered, how often positions changed
• Iran's response to AD reinforcement: new UAV types, swarm tactics, cyber components
• Allies' reaction: if UAE or Saudi Arabia start requesting additional guarantees — signal of escalating threat perception

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🎯 BOTTOM LINE

In new-type warfare, victory doesn't go to the one who delivers the most powerful strike, but to the one who more accurately breaks the opponent's decision-making cycle. Iran isn't trying to "defeat" the US head-on. It's making each subsequent attack cost less — and yield more. This isn't blitzkrieg. It's attrition warfare. And it's already underway.

SOURCES

[1] TRT Russian: "Iranian drone tactics: How Tehran is wearing down Gulf air defenses"

[2] News.ru: "Blind, Deafen, Strike: Iran's new warfare doctrine"

[3] Anadolu Agency: "Iran's drone warfare: Attrition tactics against US air defenses"

[4] Haqqin.az: "How Iran is changing the rules of air defense warfare"

#Iran #DroneWarfare #AirDefense #RadarWar #AsymmetricConflict #MiddleEast #USMilitary #Patriot #E2D #HybridThreat #2026Signal #AttritionWarfare #SEAD

→ yellowstone-end.blogspot.com

Sources: TRT Russian, News.ru, Anadolu Agency, Haqqin.az — full links in original publication.

EPISODE 051: THE FIVE-DAY LIE — WHEN PROMISES EXPIRE BEFORE DAWN

March 2026 // Hybrid Warfare // EPISODE 051

Trump: "We paused strikes on Iranian energy for 5 days of talks."

Fars Agency, 03:47 Tehran time: "Gas facility, hydro plant, pipeline hit. No casualties. Damage confirmed."

Time between promise and violation: less than 18 hours.

---

🔍 THE SIGNAL

What happened:

Iran's Fars News Agency reports overnight strikes on energy infrastructure in Isfahan and Khorramshahr:

• Gas processing facility — damaged
• Hydroelectric power station — hit
• Pipeline segment — compromised
• Casualties: none (officially)
• Responsibility: not claimed (standard protocol)

What was promised:

24 hours earlier, Donald Trump announced a five-day pause on strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, citing "productive negotiations" with Tehran representatives.

The gap: Promise issued → Strike executed → Narrative shattered.

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⚡ WHY TIMING MATTERS MORE THAN TONNAGE

This wasn't a massive barrage. No city blacked out. No mass casualties reported.

But in hybrid warfare, signal > scale.

What the strike communicates:

• Operational tempo remains high — regardless of diplomatic rhetoric
• Coordination between US/Israel continues, even if public messaging diverges
• "Pause" may apply to announced policy, not executed operations
• Iranian media now has proof to discredit US assurances domestically and regionally

📉 In information warfare, a single unacknowledged strike can do more damage to trust than ten acknowledged battles.

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🎯 TWO NARRATIVES, ONE REALITY

WASHINGTON'S FRAME:

• ✓ "Temporary pause to enable diplomacy"
• ✓ "Ultimatum on Hormuz remains separate"
• ✓ "We control escalation; we can dial it up or down"

TEHRAN'S FRAME:

• ✗ "Promises last less than a day"
• ✗ "Negotiations are cover, not constraint"
• ✗ "If they strike during a 'pause', what happens when talks fail?"

Reality check: Both can be true simultaneously. Diplomacy and kinetic operations often run on parallel tracks. The question isn't whether the strike "violated" the pause — it's whether the pause was ever meant to bind all actors, at all levels, in real time.

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🔐 WHAT "NO CASUALTIES" DOESN'T TELL YOU

Official reports emphasize zero deaths. That's important — and potentially misleading.

What we don't know:

• Was the strike timed to minimize human risk (e.g., night shift, automated systems)?
• Does "damage" mean cosmetic, functional, or catastrophic?
• Were backup systems activated? For how long can they hold?
• Is this a one-off, or the first of a new wave?

💡 In infrastructure warfare, the first strike is often reconnaissance. The second is optimization. The third is systemic disruption.

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🧩 THE HORMUZ ULTIMATUM — STILL IN PLAY?

Trump's separate demand — "Open Hormuz in 48 hours or we hit your largest power plant" — remains active.

Key tension:

If strikes on smaller energy assets continue during a promised pause on larger ones, what does that signal?

🟡 Option A:	Calibration — testing response thresholds without triggering full escalation
🟡 Option B:	Decoupling — US and Israel operating on different scripts
🔴 Option C:	Deliberate ambiguity — keeping Tehran guessing to fracture decision-making

Iran's next move likely depends on which interpretation their intelligence services endorse.

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🔍 WHAT TO WATCH IN THE NEXT 24–72 HOURS

• Official US/Israel response: silence, denial, or tacit acknowledgment?
• Iranian retaliation: proportional strike, symbolic target, or strategic escalation?
• Market reaction: oil, gas, fertilizer prices — do they price in "pause fatigue"?
• Diplomatic channel status: do talks continue, stall, or collapse publicly?
• Pattern replication: similar strikes on other "paused" categories (nuclear, water, IT)?

---

🎯 BOTTOM LINE

In modern conflict, the most dangerous weapon isn't the missile — it's the mismatch between what's said and what's done. When promises expire before dawn, trust becomes the first casualty. And without trust, every signal becomes noise, and every pause becomes a trap.

📌 Save. Share. Watch the gap between words and actions.

SOURCES

[1] Fars News: "Gas facility, hydro plant, pipeline hit in Isfahan and Khorramshahr"

[2] Mail.kz: "US announces pause on Iran strikes, attacks reported hours later"

[3] Pravda: "Five-day lie: US promise on Iran strikes broken in 18 hours"

#Iran #Israel #US #EnergyWarfare #HybridConflict #DiplomacyVsKinetics #Hormuz #Isfahan #Khorramshahr #SignalIntelligence #2026Crisis #TrustDeficit

→ yellowstone-end.blogspot.com

Sources: Fars News, Mail.kz, Pravda.com — full links in original reporting.

EPISODE 040: NUCLEAR CHECKMATE? WHY THE US IS TALKING ABOUT TESTS AGAIN — AND WHAT CHINA HAS TO DO WITH IT

 Nuclear Strategy // EPISODE 040

"Seismic signal of magnitude 2.75. Lop Nur test site. June 22, 2020. Not an earthquake. Not a mine collapse. An explosion."
This is Washington's new accusation against Beijing—and it could change the rules of the global nuclear game.

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🔍 CORE OF THE ACCUSATIONS: WHAT THE US IS CLAIMING

On February 17, 2026, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Christopher Yeaw made a sensational statement at the Hudson Institute [[6]]:

• Date and location: June 22, 2020, Lop Nur test site (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, PRC).
• Data: A seismic station in Kazakhstan recorded a magnitude 2.75 event at a depth characteristic of underground tests.
• Analysts' conclusion: *"Virtually impossible that this was a natural phenomenon. The signal matches a low-yield nuclear explosion"* [[2]].
• Purpose of the alleged test: Development of technologies for:
  • Miniaturization of warheads (MIRV - multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles)
  • Ultra-low-yield tactical nuclear weapons
  • Integration of nuclear weapons with hypersonic delivery systems [[4]]

📌 Important: The U.S. emphasizes this was not a "critical" chain reaction in the classical sense, but a "yield-producing test"—an experiment where actual nuclear energy release was recorded.

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🛰️ WHAT INDEPENDENT EXPERTS SAY

Source	Position
NORSAR (Norway)	Signal resembles an explosion, but recorded at one station, weak—"cannot confirm or deny" [[2]]
CSIS (USA)	Satellite images show activity at Lop Nur: new tunnels, infrastructure—but "ambiguous" for concluding nuclear test
Carnegie Endowment	China is actively modernizing the test site; 45 historical tests insufficient for complex new systems. Incentive for covert tests exists [[2]]

🔹 Technical detail: If the explosion was conducted in a special cavity ("decoupling"), the actual yield could be 10-100 times higher than recorded—up to hundreds of tons or even 1 kiloton of TNT equivalent.

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🇨🇳 CHINA'S RESPONSE: "100% SLANDER"

*"The U.S. accusations of China conducting nuclear tests are completely groundless. This is political manipulation to justify its own return to nuclear testing and evade disarmament obligations."*
— Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington [[14]]

Official position:

• ✅ China has complied with the nuclear test moratorium since 1996
• ✅ All activities at Lop Nur are exclusively for peaceful purposes (high-energy physics, geolocation, seismic monitoring)
• ❌ Any claims to the contrary are part of an information campaign to contain China's development

---

🌍 2026 CONTEXT: WHY NOW?

This isn't just "old news." It's part of a larger strategy:

🇺🇸 U.S. COURSE: "EQUALITY IN TESTING"

• Trump administration publicly declared readiness to resume nuclear testing "on equal terms with adversaries" [[9]]
• Pentagon considering arsenal modernization: new warheads, tactical nukes, hypersonic integration
• Political message: "If others violate the moratorium, we won't be bound by unilateral restrictions"

🇨🇳 CHINA: RACE TO GET AHEAD

• Pentagon data: China's arsenal grew from ~200 warheads (2019) to 600+ in 2026, target 1000 by 2030 [[2]]
• New technologies: mobile ICBMs DF-41, hypersonic gliders DF-ZF, submarine-launched JL-3 missiles
• Beijing's logic: "To deter the U.S., we need not just more missiles—but smarter, more precise, more flexible ones"

🌐 GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES

• Nuclear test moratorium (CTBT) is de facto crumbling
• Japan, South Korea, NATO countries increase pressure on Beijing for "transparency"
• Risk: chain reaction—if one side starts testing, others will follow

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🔚 INSTEAD OF AN EPILOGUE

The Lop Nur dispute isn't just a technical discussion about seismograms. It's about who will set the rules in the era of new nuclear reality.

China says: "We're for stability."
The U.S. responds: "Only if it's mutual."
And the world watches—and prepares.

🗓️ Watch for developments: UN Security Council hearings on arms control are scheduled for September 2026. The next "episode" of this story may begin then.

---

SOURCES

[1] CNN: "US accuses China of covert nuclear test in 2020, raising global tensions"

[2] NPR: "U.S. says China conducted a secret nuclear test in 2020. Here's what we know"

[3] Caliber.Az: "US Accuses China of Conducting Nuclear Test in 2020"

[4] Hudson Institute: "China's Nuclear Breakout and the End of Strategic Stability"

[5] CSIS: "China's Nuclear Modernization: Implications for U.S. Deterrence"

[6] Hudson Institute: "Christopher Yeaw on China's Nuclear Program (Feb 17, 2026)"

— EPISODE 040 // The Control Stack

#NuclearStrategy #ChinaUS #LopNur #CTBT #ArmsRace #Geopolitics

→ thecontrolstack.blogspot.com

Decoding control's architecture—one signal at a time.

Japan will deploy a fleet of Turkish and American drones to protect strategic islands by 2026

By 2026, Japan plans to significantly strengthen the defense of its remote and strategically important islands through the massive integration of Turkish-made and American-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This became known from reports from Japanese government sources published on August 12, 2025.

As part of the new defense strategy, the Japanese government is preparing to allocate more than 1 trillion yen (about 6.3 billion US dollars) in the next fiscal year for the purchase of drones for the Self-Defense Forces. These funds will be used to equip the Land, Sea and Air Forces with modern drones capable of solving both reconnaissance and strike missions.

The main focus will be on the protection of island territories, especially in the southwestern region of the archipelago, including disputed areas. Drones will provide round-the-clock surveillance, rapid detection of threats and, if necessary, rapid response to violations of air and sea space.

The fleet will include both American UAVs, known for their reliability and integration with NATO systems, as well as Turkish attack drones such as Bayraktar TB2 and newer models that have already proven themselves in various conflicts around the world. This combination gives Japan flexibility and a variety of tactical options.

The integration of foreign drones is part of a broader modernization program aimed at strengthening offensive capabilities, which marks a shift from a traditionally defensive doctrine to a more active defense.

British "Workwitch" retires: a competition has started to replace them — the Corvus project

 

The British Ministry of Defense has officially launched the process of replacing the aging fleet of Watchkeeper drones in the army. The new project is called Corvus, and it is intended to become the next generation of tactical UAVs for the ground forces. The contract for the development and supply of the system was published on July 31 and is estimated at 130 million pounds.

This major contract, which will be managed by Bristol-based Defense Equipment and Support (DE&S), is for the first five years, starting in May 2026. Now there is a competition among manufacturers, and the winner will get a chance to supply the army with a new, more modern system.

The main task for the new Corvus drone is to provide tactical deep reconnaissance. It should be able to carry out round—the-clock and continuous surveillance over long distances, supporting operations at the highest level - at the level of divisions and even corps. This means that the Corvus should have a longer flight range, a longer stay in the air, and advanced reconnaissance systems compared to the current Watchkeeper.

The Corvus project is not just an upgrade of equipment, but a serious step towards modernizing the intelligence capabilities of the British army in the context of current and future conflicts.

Japan puts "long-range needles" in the south: Type-12 missiles on Kumamoto against China

 

Type-12 Missile Launcher

Japan is coming close to implementing a plan to deploy its new ultra-long-range anti-ship missiles, and this is directly related to China's growing activity in the region. The country's Defense ministry has almost completed the development of a plan according to which the upgraded Type-12 missiles will be deployed at the base of the Ground Self-Defense Forces at Camp Kangun, Kumamoto Prefecture. This is clearly being done as a deterrent measure in response to China's increased military maneuvers around the disputed islands of Nansei and Taiwan. The first missiles are expected to arrive at the base as early as this fiscal year, starting approximately in March 2026. The main feature of the new missiles is their impressive range, which, according to various sources, ranges from 900 to 1200 km, which is several times more than the older versions. This range allows missiles to reach potentially dangerous areas. It is planned that after deployment in Kyushu (where Kumamoto is located), the missiles will appear in Okinawa. Other potential locations are also being considered, for example, the garrison in the Southern Federal District (Icu Prefecture). These mobile missile systems will seriously strengthen the defense of the southwestern islands of Japan.

China's railway against border conflicts: Is the war between Thailand and Cambodia not an accident?

The Asian media is increasingly thinking that the recent escalation between Thailand and Cambodia is not just a dispute over border lands, but part of a larger game. Many are beginning to assume that this conflict is an attempt to disrupt or at least slow down the Chinese megaproject Belt and Road, in particular, the construction of the pan—Asian railway, which should stretch for 6,000 kilometers through the entire Southeastern region.

This network is not just a road. This is a geopolitical breakthrough: it should connect China with Singapore, passing through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia, providing Beijing with a direct and secure land corridor to the south Seas. And this is a huge economic and strategic benefit.

Something is already working: the China–Laos line has been launched and successfully transports passengers and cargo. The China–Thailand section is under construction at full capacity — the first stage, from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, is scheduled to open by early 2026. Everything is on schedule. But then there's the catch.

The next logical step is access to Cambodia: it is necessary to lay a branch line from Bangkok through Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and from there on to China. It was in this area, on the border of Thailand and Cambodia, that new military clashes broke out.

And it's not just a coincidence. Cambodia is a long—time ally of China. It actively accepts Chinese investments, military cooperation is growing, and Chinese ships are increasingly seen in the country's ports. Thailand, on the other hand, is a strategic partner of the United States in ASEAN, participates in joint exercises, buys American weapons and is still strongly influenced by Washington.

So it turns out: one is on the side of China, the other is in the orbit of the United States. And between them is the key transportation hub of the future railway.

Unsurprisingly, many analysts see this conflict not just as a territorial dispute, but as a geopolitical standoff over control of the infrastructure of the future. After all, if the railway goes through, China will strengthen its influence in the region, reduce its dependence on sea routes (like the Strait of Malacca) and get direct access to the Indian Ocean through Myanmar — a corridor was also planned there, but it is frozen due to the civil war.

So the escalation on the Thai—Cambodian border is probably not just a local incident, but part of a broader strategy:  to slow down Chinese expansion under the guise of a local conflict. And the Belt and Road railway is not just a project, but a battle for the future of Southeast Asia.

The U.S. Air Force will receive two B-21 Raiders in 2026

The US military has officially confirmed that in fiscal year 2026, the US Air Force will receive the first two B-21 Raider strategic bombers, new stealth aircraft designed to form the basis of the country's nuclear triad potential in the coming decades.  

These vehicles will arrive in the so-called "test configuration", that is, they will not be fully operational immediately. But at the same time, they will meet all production standards and will be able to be quickly put into combat mode — for example, by removing unnecessary equipment such as a test nose beam.

Production of the B-21 will take place at the Northrop Grumman plant in Palmdale, California, which is one of the most closed and technologically advanced aerospace plants in the United States.  

The budget for 2026 allocated 10.3 billion dollars to expand production and accelerate the release of the B-21, of which about 4.5 billion will be spent on increasing the production of these aircraft.  

Currently, it is planned to produce 7-8 bombers per year, and the total number of ordered vehicles may range from 100 to 145 units. It depends on how events develop and how quickly production can be established.

The first B-21s will provide partial combat readiness, and full-scale mass deployment will begin in the following years. This is important because the B-21 is not just an upgrade, but a qualitatively new aircraft capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, while remaining virtually invisible to radar.

So we can say that the era of new strategic bombers begins next year, and the B—21 Raider will become its symbol.

B—21 Raider

The US wants to spend $4 billion on a new MILNET satellite network

The US Space Force has said it needs more than four billion dollars to create a new satellite constellation called MILNET. This thing is supposed to provide an army with ultra-fast and secure communications around the world. The idea is on the list of the military's top priorities for the fiscal year 2026, but so far without funding, it's just a beautiful dream.

What is MILNET?

Imagine a whole swarm of satellites in low-Earth orbit that are constantly exchanging data with each other and with the troops. This arrangement provides minimal delay in information transmission and high speed — ideal for operational combat management or coordination somewhere in the jungle or on an icy plateau.

Why is this necessary?

— Better connection. MILNET will help you communicate not only in areas where everything is clear, but also in the most remote corners of the planet, where the signal was previously lost.  

— Impact resistance. Satellites scattered in orbit are more difficult to disable than one large system. This will protect communications from cyber attacks and even missiles.  

— Superiority in space and cyberspace. The military believes that with such a network, they will be able to seize the initiative in strategic actions against other countries, such as China or Russia.

Although the project is important, it is listed as an "unfunded priority." That is, the military themselves understand that this is necessary, but there is no money for it yet. Now they will run around the offices of Congress and ask for budget funding to launch all this.

If the money is found, MILNET could become a real revolution in US military and government communications. Imagine: instant data transfer, protection from external threats, and full coverage across the planet. All this will increase the effectiveness of the American army and make it even more technologically advanced.  

In general, the future is already on the way — if Congress approves the funding, of course.

The US Army will begin production of the IFPC Increment 2 system in 2026

 

IFPC Inc 2

The U.S. Army plans to begin production of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 mobile air defense system in early 2026, with initial operational availability by mid-2027. This system is designed to protect key military installations and infrastructure from a wide range of aerial threats, including subsonic cruise missiles, drones (UAS), as well as rocket, artillery and mortar attacks (RAM).

IFPC Inc 2 fills the critical gap between short-range systems and strategic missile defense capabilities, providing flexible and scalable protection. It includes a Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) mounted on a mobile platform capable of launching various types of interceptors, including the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AGM-114L Hellfire and Israeli Tamir missiles used in the Iron Dome system.

The system integrates with the control architecture of the Army Integrated Air Defense and Missile Defense System (AIAMD) and uses the Sentinel A4 radar, which provides 360-degree detection and high-precision tracking of low-flying and low-visibility targets. The program also includes the development of variants with high-energy lasers and powerful microwave systems as an addition to kinetic interceptors.

Despite the delays in testing, the U.S. Army intends to ensure the deployment of the first IFPC Inc 2 battalion by 2027, including plans to deploy the systems to Guam in the Pacific Ocean. This will significantly increase protection against modern and future aerial threats, especially in the face of the growing threat from hypersonic and cruise missiles.

The US Army's Dark Eagle hypersonic weapons program is moving towards expanding operational use

According to a report by the U.S. Accounting Chamber (GAO) published in June 2025, the U.S. Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) program, codenamed Dark Eagle, continues to steadily develop and expand its operational use. The report confirms that the second battery of this advanced system is scheduled for deployment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.

The Dark Eagle program is being implemented as part of the Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) strategy, which aims to accelerate the development and delivery of key combat capabilities on the battlefield. This strategy makes it possible to reduce the time required to introduce new technologies and respond promptly to modern security challenges.

The Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon is a long-range system capable of hitting targets at a considerable distance with high speed and accuracy, which significantly increases the combat potential of the US Army. The deployment of the second battery will enhance the ability to respond quickly and effectively in various combat scenarios.

The expansion of the program demonstrates the priority of hypersonic technologies in US defense policy and the desire to maintain technological superiority at the global level. The introduction of such systems will allow the US Army to increase its deterrent potential and provide an operational advantage in the face of growing competition with other world powers.

The US Air Force is ready to increase its nuclear arsenal after the START Treaty expires in 2026

The chief nuclear officer of the United States Air Force, General Thomas A. Bussiere, said on June 5, 2025, that the Air Force was ready to add more nuclear warheads to its strategic bombers and underground missile systems if ordered to do so after the expiration of a key arms control treaty.

During the discussion of the US strategic arsenal, organized by the Atlantic Council, General Bussiere stressed that after the end of the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expires in February 2026, "a decision may be made to provide additional capabilities in both ground and bomber areas."

The START Treaty, concluded between the United States and Russia, limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads and their means of delivery. Its expiration creates uncertainty in the field of nuclear control and may lead to an increase in arsenals.

Turkey completes purchase of C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the UK

C-130J Super Hercules 

Turkey has completed the acquisition of a number of C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft, which were previously operated by the United Kingdom and were withdrawn from its armed forces after almost 25 years of service. The first planes are expected to arrive in Turkey in early 2026.

The purchase of the C-130J will allow the Turkish army to upgrade its fleet of military transport aircraft, increase mobility and efficiency in performing various tasks, from transporting troops and cargo to conducting humanitarian missions and evacuations. Super Hercules is known for its reliability, versatility and ability to fly in difficult conditions.

The decommissioning of C-130J aircraft in the UK is associated with the modernization of their air force and the transition to new models. For Turkey, the acquisition of these time—tested machines is an opportunity to quickly and efficiently strengthen its air capabilities without the long development and production time of new platforms.

The delivery of C-130J Super Hercules aircraft will strengthen Turkey's defense capability and expand its capabilities to ensure strategic mobility and support military operations.

Turkey makes a breakthrough in unmanned technologies: the KIZILELMA fighter jet will join the aircraft carrier fleet by 2026

Bayraktar KIZILELMA

The Turkish developer Baykar, known for its successful UAVs such as Bayraktar TB2, presented a new stage in the development of the national aerospace program — the KIZILELMA unmanned fighter aircraft. As expected, this high-tech attack drone will join the aircraft carrier fleet of the Turkish Naval Forces by 2026, which will be an important step towards the country's strategic defense independence.

KIZILELMA (Kalemli İHA Stealth Test Aircraft) is a promising fifth—generation attack drone with elements of stealth technology. Its main characteristics:

- Take—off weight is about 4.5 tons  

- The maximum speed is over 900 km/h  

- Range — over 1,500 km  

- Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability  

- Integration of air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles

Thanks to these parameters, KIZILELMA can perform the tasks of interception, reconnaissance and pinpoint strikes, competing with modern manned fighters.  

According to the plans of the Turkish Ministry of Defense, KIZILELMA will be based on the new Turkish aircraft carrier type TGC Anadolu, which has already been upgraded to work with unmanned systems. This will create a unique air group combining deck helicopters and attack drones, providing flexibility and autonomy of operations on the high seas.  

In addition, the integration of UAVs into the aircraft carrier structure opens up new opportunities for joint operations with allies, especially given the growing interest in automated combat platforms in NATO.

The launch of KIZILELMA into mass production and its adoption by 2026 symbolize Turkey's transition to a new level of technological sovereignty. The country demonstrates the ability to develop and produce sophisticated military equipment without dependence on Western suppliers.  

It also strengthens the export potential of the Turkish defense industry. Given the success of Bayraktar TB2 on the international market, KIZILELMA may become a sought-after solution among countries seeking to modernize their air forces without the involvement of traditional suppliers from the United States or the EU.

The KIZILELMA program highlights Turkey's ambitions not only in the region, but also on the global stage. The creation of its own unmanned fighter allows Ankara to strengthen its military presence in the Black Sea, the Aegean Basin and the Eastern Mediterranean.  

In addition, the development of the domestic aerospace sector reduces dependence on external factors, such as restrictions on the supply of American F-35 fighter jets, which previously included Turkey.