The US and Saudi Arabia conducted joint precision strikes in eastern Iraq against Iran-aligned groups, responding to over 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks on US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure within 72 hours.
Canada has been granted "enhanced insight" into the British-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) for a sixth-generation fighter jet, allowing it to assess potential future participation and diversify defense partnerships.
President Xi Jinping awarded top scientists, including Ben De for his work on China's first airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar, at a ceremony in Beijing. Xi emphasized the importance of scientific and technological self-reliance during the 15th five-year plan period.
Sweden will deliver 16 Gripen E fighter jets to Ukraine for $2.54bn. Denmark also announced a $671.8m military aid package. Meanwhile, Ukraine's military prepares for a potential Russian offensive from the north, and a parcel bomb injured three in Monaco, reportedly targeting a Ukrainian-origin businessman.
Keir Starmer's £298bn defence investment plan faces criticism for a £4.7bn funding gap, leaving the next prime minister, Andy Burnham, to find the extra funds. The plan prioritizes drones, fighter jets, and nuclear weapons, with spending rising to 2.7% of GDP by 2030.
Russian lawmaker Andrey Kolesnik stated that weapons in Kaliningrad are sufficient to repel any NATO attack, responding to Lt. Gen. Dariusz Parylak's remarks on NATO's military buildup near the Suwalki Gap. Kolesnik warned of potential missile strikes on European capitals if necessary, echoing President Putin's past warnings against blockading the region.
China has confirmed for the first time that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during its war with India last year. During the conflict, a Chinese-made fighter shot down at least one of India’s French-made fighters. On Thursday, China’s state broadcaster CCTV aired an interview with Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, a key developer of China’s advanced fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial...
