The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to strike 18 US technology and defense-related companies operating in the Middle East, including GE, which has contributed to a bearish sentiment among investors.
Asgard will help it realise the ambitions of the government's 2025 Strategic defence review, which promised to 'deliver a tenfold increase in lethality over the next 10 years' via a combination of enhanced 'firepower, surveillance technology, autonomy, digital connectivity and data'.
The RFI calls for a "rapidly procured and installable Counter UAS (unmanned aircraft system) capability" that is "suitable for maritime platforms to detect, track, identify, and defeat airborne threats." Project TALON will combine a mix of "effectors" both kinetic and non-kinetic to counter the threats posed by the proliferation of drones, and is intended to complement current complex missile-based systems.
British forces have shot down multiple drones across the Middle East over the past 24 hours as Iran continues to retaliate against countries across the region in response to US and Israeli strikes. The UK said that the interception of drones above Jordan marks 'the first time an RAF F-35 has destroyed a target on operations.' The fighters were supported by Typhoon jets and a Voyager tanker aircraft.
"To accelerate current weapons development timelines, DARPA is considering an alternative development paradigm to increase the nation's magazine depth and breadth."
Britain is to develop new air defence weapons alongside the EU's four biggest military powers, deepening ties with the European defence sector. The project will invite manufacturers in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Poland to submit plans to build low-cost missiles and autonomous drones. The allies are pledging a speedy process to build the weapons together, inspired by Ukraine's development of cheap drones to counter attacks from Russia.
Some aircraft succeeded even though they made life harder for the people flying them. They demanded constant attention, punished mistakes, and left little margin for error. Instead of relying on forgiving design, these platforms forced crews to compensate through skill, planning, and coordination. Over time, combat proved that the human element was the decisive factor behind their success. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at these aircraft that embodied the human factor.
Five European nations France, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy (the E5 nations) have launched a new programme to develop low-cost air defence systems and autonomous drones. Announced on Friday, the initiative leverages Ukrainian expertise from four years of war against Russia, forming part of wider European efforts to bolster border security, including a proposed "drone wall" to detect and intercept drones violating airspace. Both Moscow and Kyiv possess advanced drone warfare capabilities, with battlefield innovations from the conflict reshaping modern tactics.
We are aware of reports that a US F-35 aircraft conducted an emergency landing at a regional US airbase after flying a combat mission over Iran. The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition. This incident is under investigation.
Claims that elite Western F-16 pilots are secretly patrolling Ukraine's skies have sent shockwaves through defence circles - but Kyiv insists it's all Ukrainian pilots in action, and no, Tom Cruise is not starring as Maverick over the skies of Ukraine. Reports from French outlet Intelligence Online suggested a top-secret international squadron of US and Dutch veterans was deployed on temporary contracts to intercept Russian drones and missiles using advanced Lockheed Martin targeting pods. But Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat hit back, calling the reports "just rumours" from a source of dubious reputation.
Two jets out of the four sent to Qatar have been allocated specifically to help Bahrain intercept incoming drones, as the US-Israel war with Iran has entered its second week. It comes as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper landed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday amid continued concern about Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz - a key artery for commercial shipping.
Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
Three U.S. fighter jets, F-15E Strike Eagles involved in the operation against Iran, were shot down mistakenly by Kuwait's air defenses in "an apparent friendly fire incident," the U.S. military's Central Command said. All six crew members "ejected safely," were recovered and were in stable condition, Centcom said.
The cost for the US and other militaries to keep newer combat aircraft ready to fly is going to soar in the coming years, a new report on sustainment trends argues. A new report from the American consulting firm Oliver Wyman projects global military aircraft spending over the next decade, including an annual sustainment cost growth of 1.1% through 2036. That's a pace roughly 11 times faster than the previous decade.
A US Navy F-35 stealth fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone on Tuesday that was flying toward an American aircraft carrier with "unclear intent," the US military confirmed to Business Insider. The incident, which occurred over the Arabian Sea, comes as the US has positioned nearly a dozen warships in the Middle East and tensions between the Trump administration and Iran are running high.