ArmexNation

Polish F-16 jets scramble to intercept multiple Russian drones breaching NATO airspace during the September 10, 2025 incursion, marking a new phase in Eastern European security tensions  The drone incursion into Polish airspace on the night of September 10, 2025, represents a turning point in the broader standoff between Russia and the NATO alliance. Though the use of unmanned aerial systems has been a constant feature of the conflict in Ukraine since 2022, the direct and deliberate penetration of NATO territory by Russian drones, in such a coordinated and sustained manner, has crossed a threshold that many within the alliance had warned about but hoped would not be reached. From the moment the first drones crossed into Polish airspace, the event was treated not merely as an isolated tactical issue but as a strategic-level incident. These drones, based on initial assessments, were not civilian in nature, nor were they malfunctioning weather or surveillance platforms. Their delibera...

The next-generation modular uncrewed air system (UAS) from Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems, designed for high-intensity conflict, electronic warfare, and multi-domain operations — a key step toward distributed, scalable airpower. The ongoing partnership between Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems is one of the most consequential developments in the evolution of modern air warfare. It reflects not only a strategic alignment between two of the world’s most experienced defense contractors but also a broader shift in military thinking that prioritizes scalable, flexible, and rapidly deployable systems over legacy platforms built on extended procurement timelines and high per-unit costs. At its core, this partnership is about addressing real-world operational gaps and preparing for high-intensity, contested conflicts where speed, mass, and adaptability may determine the outcome more than traditional force structure or technological supremacy alone. The uncrewed air system (UAS) being co-develop...

  The MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an advanced uncrewed combat aircraft developed by Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force, exemplifies the next generation of airpower—autonomous, modular, and designed for high-risk missions without endangering pilots. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is a prominent example of how airpower is evolving in the 21st century. Designed to operate in concert with manned platforms, this uncrewed combat air vehicle offers a pathway to increase the combat mass, survivability, and flexibility of air forces without the limitations that come with piloted aircraft. Developed jointly by Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force, the Ghost Bat serves as a technological bridge between current airpower structures and the emerging operational concepts of manned-unmanned teaming, autonomy, and distributed combat systems. By design, it reflects a deep understanding of both modern air warfare demands and the challenges of operating in contested, complex, and dynamic airspace environments. ...

An F-35 Lightning II prepares for deployment at a U.S. airbase. The recent stationing of these advanced jets in Puerto Rico marks a significant escalation in America’s military posture in the Caribbean amid rising tensions with Venezuela The deployment of ten F-35 fighter jets by the United States to Puerto Rico represents a significant shift in the military balance and strategic posture in the Caribbean region, signaling not only a heightened concern with transnational criminal threats but also an underlying readiness for possible military friction involving Venezuela. Although the official reasoning behind the move remains centered on counter-narcotics operations, the scale, type, and timing of this action imply a layered strategy that intertwines drug interdiction with geopolitical signaling, deterrence, and preemptive positioning in a region already marked by longstanding political tensions and economic instability. The F-35 Lightning II is not a standard asset for counter-narcotic...

A U.S. Army Infantry Squad Vehicle equipped with the 20kW-class LOCUST laser weapon system—providing frontline units with mobile, silent, and precise counter-drone capabilities in contested environments.  The development and fielding of the 20kW-class LOCUST laser weapon system by AeroVironment for the United States Army marks a decisive shift in how modern military forces confront emerging aerial threats. This system is not a prototype in a lab or a theoretical capability under discussion—it is a fieldable, deployable, and operationally relevant directed-energy weapon built to meet the tactical needs of light and mobile infantry forces operating in highly contested and fast-evolving combat zones. The LOCUST system, short for Laser Operation Compact Utility System, represents a compact, high-energy laser integrated onto the General Motors Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), a lightweight, agile platform designed to transport a nine-soldier infantry squad across difficult terrain....

A concept rendering of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation carrier-based uncrewed combat aircraft, designed for high-threat missions and future warfare dominance  The U.S. Navy's ongoing push to integrate uncrewed combat aircraft into its carrier-based air wings marks one of the most significant transformations in naval aviation in decades. This effort is driven by both technological advancements and strategic necessity, particularly in the context of increasing competition with other major powers and the need to maintain superiority across vast maritime regions. The development of autonomous, carrier-capable combat aircraft represents a key part of a broader strategy aimed at modernizing the U.S. Navy’s force structure to ensure relevance and dominance in future warfare. The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program within the Navy is specifically tailored for carrier operations, meaning these aircraft must meet stringent requirements for launch, recovery, storage, and integration a...