Lockheed Martin announced a framework agreement with the U.S. Department of the Army to accelerate production of PAC‑3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors, THAAD and the Precision Strike Missile, with a planned investment of $8‑9 billion through 2030 to expand munitions capacity. The company will triple PAC‑3 MSE output and quadruple THAAD and PrSM production, and will also increase production of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, Long‑Range Anti‑Ship Missile, Joint Air-to‑Ground Missile and Javelin. A $4.7 billion undefinitized contract action awarded in April 2026 supports the PAC‑3 MSE acceleration, while a $4.94 billion contract for the Precision Strike Missile was awarded in July 2025 after Milestone C approval. Lockheed Martin chairman Jim Taiclet said the agreement establishes a new model for government‑industry partnership that improves speed, accountability and shared commitment. Tim Cahill, president of the Missiles and Fire Control division, said the five‑ to seven‑year commitment gives manufacturers greater confidence to invest in long‑lead items and expand capacity. Jason Reynolds, vice president and general manager for integrated air and missile defense, noted that the company is reducing component lead times, expanding its workforce, using robotics and additive manufacturing, and licensing production to partners such as Japan. The long‑term procurement approach aims to lower unit costs, increase price predictability and provide better value for the U.S. government. Lockheed Martin also plans to field a lower‑cost PAC‑3 Adapted Capability Effector variant expected to cost less than half of the current PAC‑3 MSE while retaining core capability. The initiative is intended to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and support allied missile production needs.
Conflict, defense, and military affairs shaping battlefields and strategy worldwide.
Chinese warships and bombers conducted drills at Scarborough Shoal on August 1, 2026, a disputed feature in the South China Sea located 120 nautical miles off the Philippines, according to a PLA Southern Theater Command news release. The exercises were presented as a demonstration of China’s power projection and as a measure to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, the release said. Scarborough Shoal has been a flashpoint in the South China Sea dispute since the early 2010s, when China’s 10‑Dash Line claim overlapped with Philippine claims, leading to frequent low‑intensity confrontations at Second Thomas, Sabina, and Scarborough shoals, according to analysts. The dispute centers on competing sovereignty claims and competing interpretations of international law, the analysts noted. The PLA release said the drills were intended to protect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. The formation included a Type 052D guided‑missile destroyer, a Type 071 landing platform dock, a Type 054A frigate and a Type 056A corvette, the release said. The Type 071 dock carried embarked landing craft and a Z‑20 helicopter, and the group operated alongside at least two H‑6K bombers equipped with YJ‑12 supersonic anti‑ship cruise missiles, the release added. A KJ‑500 airborne early warning and control aircraft was also deployed, the release noted. The drills followed a similar operation earlier in the year that featured the navy’s newest frigate class and light attack aircraft, the release reported. Chinese officials said the deployment reflects a new normal in response to Philippine maritime activities, the release stated. Philippine vessels recently modernized with limited air‑defense systems and anti‑ship missiles, making them less capable of countering the Chinese destroyers and frigates, according to regional security assessments. United States officials said they plan to provide the Armed Forces of the Philippines with one‑way attack drones and unmanned surface vessels under the Asymmetric Capabilities Program, with transfers expected by 2027, the officials said. The drills highlight the continuing strategic competition in the South China Sea, and the ability of the Philippines to offset China’s naval superiority remains uncertain, according to observers.
On August 3, 2026, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian faced a political dispute concerning the Strait of Hormuz and internal governance, as the United States announced plans to meet with Iranian officials to discuss the waterway and nuclear matters. The Institute for the Study of War and the Critical Threats Project publish daily updates on the war between the United States and Iran. The updates cover events from the previous 24 hours. Iran frames attacks on US bases and regional states as defensive while also carrying out proactive operations with specific objectives. Senior cleric Mohammad Bagher Kharrazi said on August 3 that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned President Masoud Pezeshkian that his resignation would be accepted if Pezeshkian tried to resign again. Kharrazi said the warning caused Pezeshkian to back down. He provided no evidence for the claim. Pezeshkian had previously threatened resignation if the Supreme Leader rejected a memorandum of understanding on the Strait of Hormuz. Pezeshkian said on August 2 that all members of the Supreme National Security Council supported the memorandum and that Iran must compel the United States to uphold it. Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that a prolonged closure or short‑term exploitation of the Strait of Hormuz could generate international consensus against Iran, including from China, and that Iran has a limited window to use the waterway as leverage for economic recovery and to deter US military action. US President Donald Trump announced on August 2 that US and Iranian officials would meet soon to discuss reopening the Strait and nuclear issues. The IRGC faction that dominates decision‑making has maintained maximalist positions and said Iran will not allow a second corridor in the Strait under any circumstances. A Wall Street Journal report said Iranian negotiators support a proposal for inbound traffic through Iranian waters and outbound traffic through Omani waters but await IRGC approval. The IRGC continued to use force to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz on August 2, including attacks on vessels transiting the southern route off Oman. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported an explosion near a civilian vessel off the coast of Oman; an Iranian projectile or mine may have caused it. Iran’s Artesh ground forces reportedly conducted at least 14 raids against Kurdish opposition groups in Iraqi Kurdistan, according to an adviser to the Artesh commander; the claim has not been independently verified. IRGC commander Brigadier General Mohammad Karami threatened to turn northwestern Iran into a graveyard if Kurdish groups attack Iranian forces, amid heightened Kurdish activity along the northwestern border. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with the security chief of Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport to discuss security measures amid tensions between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah, which has threatened to shut down the airport if Iranian influence is restricted. Yemeni sources said Houthi forces reinforced drone and missile launch sites with assistance from the IRGC and coordinated with other Axis of Resistance members to weaken Saudi Arabia’s blockade and resist Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have also sent commanders, advisers, and weapons to Houthi‑controlled areas. The upcoming US‑Iran negotiations and the internal power struggle within Iran’s leadership remain unresolved, with the IRGC’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz and the potential impact on regional security yet to be determined.
THE NAVY announced on Saturday that Cmdr. Joseph Sammur was relieved of command of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia (SSBN-736) following an investigation into a maintenance issue. Cmdr. Luke Kelvington, deputy for training of Submarine Squadron 20, has temporarily taken charge of the Blue Crew. The change of command ceremony occurred on August 14, 2025, at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, where Cmdr. James Kepper IV transferred authority to Cmdr. Sammur. Sammur had assumed command on that date and served for nearly a year. The Navy said the relief was due to a loss of confidence after the investigation. The submarine remains in port for maintenance.
Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh described the company's progress in developing long‑range missiles and drones during an interview that was interrupted when Russian ballistic missiles approached Kyiv on July 24, 2026. The firm aims to provide Ukraine with domestically produced strike capabilities that can reach deep inside Russian territory. Since the start of the full‑scale invasion, Ukraine has sought to replace imported weapons with indigenous systems, a effort complicated by limited production capacity and continuous Russian attacks on manufacturing sites. The FP‑1 and FP‑2 strike drones, introduced in 2023, have been used in attacks on targets deep inside Russia, including the Moscow oil refinery and naval vessels in the Sea of Azov. The FP‑1 has a range of about 3,400 km with a 60 kg warhead, while the FP‑2 reaches 700 km with a 200 kg payload. Both platforms can carry up to eight 57 mm S‑5 rockets, enabling standoff strikes against mobile air‑defense units. The Flamingo cruise missile, with a claimed range of 1,800 miles, originally used Ivchenko AI‑25 turbofan engines derived from the L‑39 Albatros trainer. Fire Point is developing a turbojet engine specifically for UAVs and plans to complete testing by the end of the year, after which mass production will begin. The company set a target of producing at least seven Flamingo missiles per day, or about 2,555 annually, but current output is lower because EU funding delays have reduced order volume. Terekh said production will be ramped up later in 2026 or early 2027 as contracts arrive. Mission planning is conducted by Ukrainian forces, while Fire Point provides navigation solutions that are resistant to jamming, spoofing and other electronic‑warfare tactics. After each strike the company conducts an after‑action review to assess software and planning performance. Development of the FP‑9 ballistic missile, intended to reach Moscow with an 850 km range, required building new solid‑fuel casting facilities in Ukraine and Denmark after the original Pavlograd plant was inaccessible. Engine casting is underway and the first test launches are expected soon, with operational status targeted for autumn. The FP‑7.x interceptor, designed to be cheaper than a Patriot PAC‑3 missile, will use imaging infrared seekers sourced from European partners, including Diehl Defense. The goal is to achieve a unit cost below one million euros and to produce at least 2,000 units per year once the seeker supply chain is stabilized. Fire Point is negotiating with Diehl Defense for seeker integration and is exploring collaborations with European defense firms to broaden industrial capacity. Export interest exists among several European nations, but the company is conducting careful end‑use verification before any sales. In addition to missile and drone production, Fire Point is working with a satellite manufacturer to develop an independent communications constellation for its UAVs, and it is pursuing autonomous flight capabilities to reduce reliance on external data links. The company says it will continue to provide software updates and logistical support as a service rather than a one‑time hardware sale, aiming to keep Ukrainian forces equipped throughout the conflict and beyond.
Retired Rear Adm. Bryan Compton, the first commander of USS Nimitz (CVN-68), attended a gathering on July 31, 2026 at Naval Station Norfolk, where about 400 former sailors and their families assembled to mark the ship’s upcoming inactivation. USS Nimitz, commissioned in 1975, is the oldest active aircraft carrier in the fleet and will be inactivated in 2027 and subsequently scrapped. Approximately 400 former crew members and family members disembarked buses at Pier 14 and boarded the carrier for the ceremony. Compton, an A-4E Skyhawk pilot who earned the Navy Cross for leading a strike against a North Vietnamese power plant in 1967, greeted former sailors, posed for photographs in the hangar bay and on the flight deck with current commander Capt. Joseph Furco. Compton said, "It was a good deal. I was the captain," when asked about his command of Nimitz. Gary Rollins, president of the USS Nimitz Association and a former aviation ordnanceman, noted the importance of aviation ordnance to carrier operations. Steve Anderson, a former aviation structural mechanic who served before commissioning and during the first deployment, explained that he missed the original commissioning because he lacked dress blues but attended the farewell event. T.C. and Kim Lott traveled from Florida; Kim became the first woman assigned to Nimitz after the 1994 policy change that lifted restrictions on women serving on warships. The couple met during a 1990s deployment, married a year later, and renewed their vows on the flight deck, officiated by Peter Norris, chaplain of the association and former Royal Navy medic. T.C. said the carrier served as his family foundation, stating, "[This ship] is my family. Without this ship, I have no foundation for starting my family." The ceremony underscored the ship’s historical significance as it prepares for inactivation and eventual scrapping.
Ukrainian naval personnel operate U.S.-donated patrol boats on the Black Sea, a capability that has become central to Ukraine’s coastal defense amid ongoing Russian attacks on p...
Ukrainian naval personnel operate U.S.-donated patrol boats on the Black Sea, a capability that has become central to Ukraine’s coastal defense amid ongoing Russian attacks on port infrastructure.
The patrol boats, originally built for the U.S. Navy as Metal Shark “40 Defiant” vessels, were transferred to Ukraine in 2022 as part of a security aid package. Six were delivered, and several remain in active use near Odesa.
Sergeant Oleh, a 27‑year‑old Ukrainian naval officer, described the boat’s speed and low radar signature as advantageous for evasive maneuvers. During a recent overcast morning, the crew executed a sharp turn after receiving a warning that three Russian cruise missiles were headed toward their position, causing the missiles to strike inland and produce plumes of black smoke.
The crew has been engaged in daily operations that include shooting down Russian Shahed drones and retrieving wreckage from the water. Machine gunner Roman said two weapons are required to down a single Shahed: a 7.62 mm M240 and a 12.7 mm M2 Browning at the stern. Junior lieutenant Yevhen noted that the drones are increasingly equipped with cameras, raising the risk for the crew.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes in the past four years have damaged or destroyed more than 1,000 port facilities, hit more than 230 commercial ships, and killed or injured over 300 civilians, according to Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. In June and July, Russia attacked nearly 50 cargo vessels, killing more than 30 people, Ukraine told the United Nations Security Council after an emergency meeting.
The security situation in the Black Sea has deteriorated, with Russian bombardment of port infrastructure, grain silos and commercial vessels threatening Ukraine’s ability to export agricultural products. The attacks coincide with Ukraine’s own campaign against Russian oil tankers and other ships in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, aimed at isolating Crimea and disrupting Moscow’s shipping routes.
The Ukrainian navy lost about 70 % of its fleet when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and seized the naval headquarters at Sevastopol. Since then, the United States and other nations have contributed vessels, including four former Coast Guard Island‑class patrol boats, three of which remain in use, according to Yevhen. Retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Foggo said a more conventional Ukrainian fleet cannot be restored until the war ends.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who led a congressional delegation to Odesa in February 2026, said the Black Sea is vital for countering Russian ambitions in the region, describing it historically and strategically as an important part of Russia’s empire.
Ukraine maintains a constant presence on the Black Sea with a “mosquito fleet” of small, fast boats that have largely evaded Russian attacks. The boat commanded by Oleh operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with only minor modifications such as added netting to protect against loitering munitions.
Hryhoriy, 24, keeps a vigilant watch from the bow, operating defensive fire and a grenade launcher, and said the job is grueling but necessary for safety.
The continued use of these patrol boats underscores Ukraine’s effort to preserve freedom of navigation on the Black Sea amid ongoing Russian hostilities.
Protesters gathered in a square near President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office in Kyiv on July 20, 2026, to demonstrate against the recent dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Fedorov, who served as defense minister for six months, had promoted the integration of drones and robotic systems into Ukrainian forces, arguing that such technology could reduce reliance on large numbers of personnel. His resignation, announced last week, has drawn criticism from some service members who view his approach as aligned with a shift toward more technologically driven warfare.
Many of the demonstrators were young soldiers and civilians, including a 21‑year‑old National Guard member identified as Loki, who said Fedorov’s policies had enabled successful drone strikes on supply routes into Crimea and fuel depots in Russia, resulting in temporary fuel shortages and power outages in those regions. Another participant, known as Architect, stated that modern tactics should replace what he described as outdated methods that send infantry into high‑risk assaults. A 29‑year‑old soldier using the call sign Mage praised Fedorov for reforms that allowed units to purchase equipment directly through the website Brave1, bypassing traditional procurement channels.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in the previous month that the United States would create an office to coordinate drone programs across the military, calling the proliferation of unmanned systems the most consequential battlefield innovation of the generation. American officials said they were studying Ukrainian tactics and incorporating them into U.S. doctrine.
President Zelenskyy said the dismissal was driven by tensions between Fedorov and Syrskyi, the commander in chief, who has been referred to by some troops as “the butcher” for his willingness to accept high casualties in eastern trench fighting. Syrskyi has argued that infantry remains necessary in the east and that drones cannot replace all combat functions.
Architect added that he preferred fighting with robots over risking lives, saying, “It’s better to fight soulless robots than living people who have hopes and want to live.” Oleg Rogynskyy, chief executive of the drone consortium Uforce, said the United States’ recent moves send a strong signal to the defense industry and improve the efficiency of funding for autonomous systems.
The situation remains unresolved, with no official announcement of Fedorov’s reinstatement, and the Ukrainian government has not indicated whether the policy shift toward autonomous systems will continue.
Eight people were detained Tuesday after attempting to force entry through the main gate of Osan Air Base in South Korea. The incident occurred between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. local time, according to the 51st Fighter Wing and South Korean police. Security Forces personnel responded immediately, detained the group and transferred them to the Korean National Police, said Master Sgt. Eric Flores of the 51st Fighter Wing in an email. Police indicated the individuals may be affiliated with groups that oppose the U.S. military presence in South Korea, according to National Police spokeswoman Julie Song. Authorities did not identify the suspects or name the organizations they are believed to represent. No injuries were reported and the base said its operations continued without disruption. The eight remain in custody while military and local officials investigate the incident, Flores said. The wing is cooperating with South Korean police, and the case will be handled under applicable U.S. and South Korean laws and procedures, he added. The incident highlights ongoing security concerns at U.S. installations in the region, and no further details have been released regarding potential impacts on base activities.
USS George Washington arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam, on July 30, 2026, marking the fourth U.S. aircraft carrier visit since 1995 and the first since 2023. The carrier was joined by USS Robert Smalls and USS Shoup.
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group returned to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on July 28 after concluding the RIMPAC 2026 exercise, which involved 30 nations, 30,000 personnel, 30 surface ships, five submarines and nearly 200 aircraft, executing 2,400 sorties and 5,000 scenario‑based problem sets. Vice Admiral Jeff Jablon, commander of the RIMPAC Combined Task Force, said the exercise strengthens the network of allies and partners in the Indo‑Pacific.
USS Theodore Roosevelt departed Pearl Harbor on July 31 and is heading to San Diego before potentially replacing the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Middle East, contingent on ongoing Iran negotiations that began on June 17 and have less than two weeks remaining on a 60‑day timetable. The ship passed the USS Arizona Memorial on August 1.
In the Middle East, the Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush carrier groups continue to enforce a U.S. blockade against Iran, with CENTCOM reporting 44 commercial vessels redirected, two disabled by force and two boarded, and 27 vessels turned around in the past week alone. USS Comstock, part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, warned that non‑compliant vessels would be compelled by force.
The overall carrier posture shows three ships deployed, three in various states of readiness, four in maintenance and one used for training, while one amphibious ready group is deployed and five are training or in port. The situation remains fluid as diplomatic talks with Iran continue.
A South Korean navy frigate earned the Top Gun award in the Naval Surface Fire Support Rodeo during Rim of the Pacific 2026, the world’s largest international naval exercise. RIMPAC, hosted by the U.S. Navy, brought together 30 nations around Hawaii for the 30th edition of the exercise that began in 1971. South Korea served as the first Asian nation to command the combined maritime component. The competition evaluated gunnery accuracy, with 13 warships from 10 countries firing five rounds from 5‑inch guns at a target 4.5 miles away. The ship demonstrating the greatest accuracy won the Top Gun award. Senior Chief Petty Officer Joo Hyo‑jin, who oversees the ship’s guns, said, “We are very proud to have earned the honor of the Top Gun with my shipmates.” Commander Lee Jung‑soo, the frigate’s commanding officer, added, “It is meaningful to be acknowledged on the international stage for South Korea’s advanced defense industry and the navy’s outstanding operational capabilities.” The award marks South Korea’s second Top Gun, 16 years after the destroyer ROKS King Sejong won the competition in 2010. The six‑week exercise, conducted from July 12 to August 1, highlighted interoperability among participating navies and reinforced alliances in the Indo‑Pacific region.
As of August 3, 2026, the U.S. Navy reported 290 battle‑force ships deployed worldwide, including 232 USS and 58 USNS vessels. The deployment reflects routine presence and participation in exercises such as RIMPAC 2026. In the Indo‑Pacific, the carrier strike group centered on USS George Washington (CVN‑73) arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam on August 1 for a port visit and began its first patrol of 2026, accompanied by the cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG‑62) and destroyers USS Benfold (DDG‑65) and USS Shoup (DDG‑86). In the South China Sea, the littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS‑32) operated with the Philippine Navy frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FFG‑15) during a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone on July 25, 2026. In the Western Pacific, LCS ships USS Canberra (LCS‑30) and USS Tulsa (LCS‑16), homeported in Manama, Bahrain, were in port in Singapore. In Hawaii, the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN‑71) departed Pearl Harbor on August 1 after a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial and participated in RIMPAC 2026 alongside the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD‑2). In Panama, the San Antonio‑class amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD‑17) transited the Panama Canal on August 1 and entered port. In the Caribbean, the guided‑missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG‑101) made a port call in Ponce, Puerto Rico on July 27, 2026, while the Freedom‑class LCS USS Billings (LCS‑15) and USS Cooperstown (LCS‑23) operated in the Central Caribbean Sea. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit operated independently in the Caribbean without an assigned amphibious ready group. In the Mediterranean, the guided‑missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG‑117) conducted crew activities, and the independent destroyers USS Roosevelt (DDG‑80) and USS Paul Ignatius (DDG‑117) were homeported at Naval Station Rota. In the Red Sea, USS Gonzalez (DDG‑66) performed maintenance while operating as the sole guided‑missile destroyer in the area. In the Arabian Sea, the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group operated under Operation Epic Fury, with aircraft from multiple strike fighter squadrons and support squadrons deployed, and the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN‑72) homeported at Naval Air Station North Island. Additional ships in the Arabian Sea included the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group with USS Boxer (LHD‑4), USS Comstock (LSD‑45), USS Portland (LPD‑27), and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which conducted a tactical retrieval drill on July 29, 2026. In the Indian Ocean, USS Mustin (DDG‑89) conducted a replenishment‑at‑sea with USNS Arctic (T‑AOE‑8). In the Pacific, the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD‑8) returned to San Diego on July 31, and the destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG‑103) arrived at Norfolk on July 31 after a six‑month deployment covering the 4th, 5th and 6th fleets. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN‑69) returned to Norfolk on August 2, and the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD‑3) completed a round‑trip to Norfolk on August 2‑3. Additional forces not displayed include submarines, individual surface ships, aircraft squadrons, SEALs, Marine expeditionary units, Seabees, and explosive ordnance disposal teams worldwide.
U.S. unconventional weapons policy is being shaped by a shrinking pool of technical expertise and reduced funding, leading analysts to rely on speculative scenarios rather than evidence. The shift reflects budget cuts and organizational changes that have eliminated annual reports, reduced staff, and disbanded advisory forums. Historically, Cold War policymakers consulted technical experts on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, but after 9/11 the debate moved to non‑expert sources and hypothetical narratives. Recent actions by the Trump administration have further downsized the Department of Homeland Security Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, the National Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center, the FBI WMD Directorate, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s advisory committees. These cuts have created an experience vacuum that makes it difficult to assess actual threats or integrate data on current unconventional weapons trends. The article recommends stronger collaboration between technical communities, renewed support for data portals such as the University of Maryland’s CBRNE portal, and the appointment of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs to mentor experts and ensure evidence‑based policy.
The U.S. Navy’s land‑based test facility at Wallops Island, Virginia, now hosts an AN/SPY-6(V)4 radar, a step toward integrating the system onto the Arleigh Burke destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG-91). The radar is part of the Destroyer Modernization 2.0 program’s upgrade package, which also includes a SEWIP Block III electronic warfare suite, Aegis Combat System improvements and additional thermal management chillers. Land‑based testing at Wallops will evaluate the radar’s power and combat system interfaces before shipboard installation, a routine procedure for naval radar development. Initial testing is scheduled to begin later this year and continue through mid‑2028, with integration work on the ship starting in the same period and completing in 2028. The AN/SPY-6(V)4, also called the Air and Missile Defense Radar Backfit, is a reduced‑capacity version of the AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar used on Flight III destroyers; it contains 96 Radar Modular Assemblies compared with 148 on the larger radar. Each module is a two‑by‑two‑by‑two‑foot cube with an active electronically scanned antenna, and individual modules can be replaced without disabling the system. The upgrade represents a capability improvement for Flight IIA destroyers, which currently operate the older AN/SPY-1D passive electronically scanned array radar. The full modernization package is intended to extend vessel lifespan and improve combat effectiveness. The Navy has indicated that up to 20 Arleigh Burke destroyers could receive the complete package, though the exact number remains undetermined. As of now, 75 destroyers are in service, including 34 Flight IIA variants, and additional Flight IIA Restart and Technology Insertion subtypes are planned.
Russian forces are replicating a battlefield air interdiction campaign that previously set conditions for advances near Pokrovsk and Hulyaipole in late 2025, now targeting logistics in the Donetsk region. The main objective of the campaign is to isolate Ukrainian forces defending the Fortress Belt from sustained supply lines. In August 2026, Russian strikes have focused on the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, the northern tip of the Fortress Belt, using drones, missiles and glide bombs to hit ground lines of communication, rail routes and bridges. A multiple launch rocket system strike on August 2 damaged the Cherivkovsky Bridge over the Kazennyi Torets River, which connects Slovyansk to the H-20 highway and Kramatorsk, according to geolocated footage. Russian milbloggers said the bridge was one of three capable of handling heavy vehicles. Russian forces also struck locomotives and other logistics assets in the area, and have increased the use of glide bombs to destroy hardened targets such as bridges and strongpoints, a shift noted by the Institute for the Study of War. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on August 3 that glide bombs and helicopter‑launched missiles struck Ukrainian positions near Raihorodok, northeast of Slovyansk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on August 3 that Rustem Umerov was appointed head of the Foreign Intelligence Service and Ihor Klymenko became the Defense Council secretary, while Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna was dismissed. Ukrainian forces reported downing 163 of 181 strike drones launched overnight on August 2‑3, and continued to strike Russian military assets. Ukrainian strikes on a Wildberries logistics facility in Khryastovo, Vladimir Oblast, caused a fire and led the company to suspend operations, according to the company's press service and regional officials. The strike damaged roughly 176,000 square metres of warehouse space, representing about 17 percent of Wildberries' total logistics footprint. Russian opposition outlet Astra reported the suspension, and Forbes Russia estimated that Ukrainian attacks on Wildberries facilities destroyed more than 900,000 square metres of warehouse space in July 2026, causing about $3.48 billion in damage to sellers. In the Black Sea, Russian forces conducted a drone strike against a civilian tugboat, igniting a fire, and have intensified attacks on port infrastructure, affecting insurance rates and the movement of bulk carriers. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 181 Shahed‑type and similar drones from multiple directions on the night of August 2‑3, and that Ukrainian forces downed most of them. Russian Air, missile and drone operations also targeted energy and civilian infrastructure in several oblasts, causing power outages in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Kherson. Ukrainian forces have continued to strike electrical substations in occupied Donetsk Oblast, hitting 187 nodes since July 1, according to USF commander Major Robert Brovdi. Russian units have made limited advances in northern Sumy Oblast and the Kharkiv direction, with reports of infiltrations near Kostyantynivka, Lyman and other settlements, but no confirmed territorial gains on August 3. Russian and Ukrainian sources differ on claims of seized locations such as Bilyi Kolodyaz and Ustinivka, with Ukrainian officials stating that those areas remain contested.
The U.S. Navy announced that future Virginia-class attack submarines equipped with Virginia Payload Modules will be designated as guided‑missile submarines (SSGN). The reclassification is part of a plan to acquire 19 VPM‑equipped Virginia SSGNs, beginning with the upcoming USS Arizona (SSN‑803), the second Block V variant. The Ohio‑class guided‑missile submarines, which currently number four, are scheduled for retirement by the end of 2029.
Ohio‑class SSGNs have carried up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles and have served as platforms for special operations and unmanned systems. Their retirement creates a gap in the Navy’s long‑range strike capability. The Navy estimates that each Ohio SSGN can provide roughly the missile capacity of four Virginia SSGNs, meaning that 16 Virginia SSGNs would be needed to replace the four Ohio boats before additional vessels can be fielded.
The Navy press release said the VPM adds four large vertical tubes, raising the total Tomahawk load from 12 to 40 per submarine. In addition to Tomahawks, the tubes are intended for hypersonic missiles such as the Intermediate‑Range Conventional Prompt Strike and potentially other payloads. The first Block V boat with a VPM will be USS Arizona, while the initial Block V vessel, USS Oklahoma, will not receive the module. A $76.6 billion contract for nine Block VI Virginia SSGNs and five Columbia‑class ballistic missile submarines was awarded. A discrepancy of one submarine in the public plan — 11 Block V boats combined with nine Block VI boats totaling 20 — has been noted, and the Navy has sought clarification.
Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, director of submarine programs, said the VPM‑equipped SSGNs will sustain undersea dominance for decades and provide a versatile strike tool for commanders. Admiral Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, added that the new submarines will strengthen deterrence, expand options for combatant commanders, and support distributed maritime operations.
Production constraints at General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding, the target of two submarines per year in the 2030s, and export arrangements under the AUKUS partnership present challenges. Full deployment of the 19‑ship Virginia SSGN fleet is not expected before fiscal year 2038, nearly a decade after the final Ohio SSGN is taken out of service.
The transition will occur as USS Georgia, an Ohio‑class SSGN, begins its inactivation process after more than four decades of service. The Navy projects that the Virginia SSGNs will provide persistent forward presence and reinforce alliance deterrence across key theaters.
The Soviet Navy converted a Romeo-class submarine, S-49, into a test platform for anti-submarine missile systems in 1971.
The conversion created the Project 633RV variant, which added external 650mm launch tubes for the RPK-7 Veter missile and internal 533mm tubes for the RPK-6 Vodopad missile.
Engineers removed standard equipment and installed specialized launch mechanisms, programming gear, electrical connections, fire‑control systems, sealing arrangements and guide tracks, turning the forward section into a test laboratory.
After conversion, S-49 conducted 24 launches between 1973 and 1974 at depths of 50 to 150 meters, and 22 additional launches from 1975 onward, including a test at 240 meters, as well as trials of the 3M10 Granat cruise missile starting in 1977.
The vessel remained in service after an overhaul from 1986 to 1991, was redesignated PZS-50 as a floating battery charger in 1995, and was retired around 2019; it is now displayed in an underground museum in Balaklava.
Its testing contributed data that helped integrate the Vodopad and Veter missiles into Soviet submarine arsenals, and its current status as a museum exhibit is uncertain given the ongoing conflict in Crimea.
OKINAWA CITY, Japan — About 100 volunteers gathered on August 2 to clean Gate 2 Street, a nightlife corridor near Kadena Air Base, as part of events marking the United States’ 250th anniversary. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Edward Terrell Sims II, of the 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, organized the weekly cleanup that began in June 2025. He handed out supplies and instructions from a parking lot outside Gate 2 before the volunteers dispersed along the street. The group collected more than 20 bags of trash, including beer bottles, over the course of an hour. Sims said he launched the effort to make the area safer and more enjoyable for residents of all ages. Initial participation was limited, but the activity grew after partnering with the local community center, which holds similar cleanups on Saturdays. Kenji Matsuda, chairman of the Center Residents’ Association, said Sims’ consistency prompted the association to increase its own cleanup frequency. Col. Bryon Buzan, commander of Kadena’s 18th Mission Support Group, volunteered two weeks after arriving on the island and praised the opportunity for service members to engage with the community. Yukimori Miyazato, a city resident who works closely with Sims, described the joint effort as a way to build unity without language barriers. The cleanup received a certificate of appreciation from the city in March. Officials noted that the weekly activity provides a visible example of cooperation between U.S. personnel and Okinawan residents.