Naval and Defense News

[Nikel]

Assessment of the naval capabilities on recent the Chinese Military Parade.


https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... -missiles/

DOD response to two Venezuelan F-16 fighter aircraft flying over destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) on Thursday in the Caribbean.

The US is deploying 10 F-35 Lightning II 5th generation fighter jets to Puerto Rico to "conduct operations against drug cartels," two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters.

The warplanes are expected to arrive in the area by late next week.

Glide Phase Interceptor. Northrop Grumman


https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we ... -solutions






Slow motion video, Anduril Menace-I loaded by a USMC CH-53K.


https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... q0xs1t.mp4


https://www.anduril.com/hardware/menace/

Russian radars in Crimea were hit by drones – the 48Ya6-K1 'Podlet' and the 55Zh6M 'Nebo-M'

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... Q5T2xf.mp4

Russian 9А83М2 of the S-300V4 chased and bombarded by heavy night bomber drone of the “Lazar” unit. Zaporizhzhia region.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... Q1ev6d.mp4

[Blast33]

Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35, Italian AWACS surveillance planes & mid-air refuelling aircraft jointly operated by NATO were involved in an overnight operation in response to Russia's drone attack in Polish airspace
Russia testing Poland's defence
https://x.com/100glitterstars/status/19 ... 7109645377

Dutch F-35s intercept Russian drones over Poland
Last night, Dutch F-35s of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht, together with NATO allies, shot down Russian drones over Poland. The drones had entered NATO airspace.
NATO's response was swift and decisive. For the first time, Dutch F-35s actually deployed weapons during this mission. According to Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, the Russian threat is not limited to Ukraine, but is also a broader threat to Europe. "Russia is taking more and more risks, and with it, the threat to NATO territory is growing."
https://x.com/a_przysz/status/1965735447931605245

A Dutch news reconstruction video
https://nos.nl/video/2581928-zo-verliep ... dse-f-35-s

Clipboard_09-10-2025_01.jpg (43.49 KiB) Viewed 1926 times

[Nikel]

USS Gerald R. Ford arriving to Oslo.








Meanwhile the Adminal Nakhimov continues the sea trials. Pic by MT Anderson.






OSINT Defender.

Despite initial reports suggesting that the attack was launched from over or near the Persian Gulf, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that last Tuesday’s strike operation by the Israeli Air Force against a meeting of Hamas leadership in the Qatari capital of Doha, was actually carried out from over the Northern Red Sea, with twelve Israeli fighter jets, eight F-15s and four F-35s, firing several air-launched ballistic missile into space over Saudi Arabia at Qatar.

According to multiple senior U.S. officials briefed on the operation, it was only minutes before the strike that Israel notified the U.S. military it was carrying out an attack against Hamas, with the Israelis initially not providing precise information on the target, but space-based sensors operated by the U.S. Space Force detected infrared heat signatures projected by the launch and the trajectory of the missiles, confirming the target as Doha.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) alerted Gen. Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who in turn informed the White House. President Trump then directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to notify the Qataris, according to the White House. But it was too late. Qatar said the warning arrived around ten minutes after the missiles had already struck the meeting site in Doha.

I suppose the pic is from the WSJ piece, but it requires subscription.

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/h ... t-c2369608


auonsson.

There are some quite striking antenna similarities between the vessels used by Russia in the war in Black Sea and the vessels totally peacefully patrolling (and jamming) in the waters between Denmark and Germany.

Video of the strike in question.

https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... FA6zNb.mp4



Second B-21, TWZ piece.

https://www.twz.com/air/two-b-21-raider ... first-time


HQ video.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... 2A4-GC.mp4






Video, MiG-31I fighters with armed with Kinzhal missiles, ongoing Zapad-2025.


https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... j9EHEV.mp4


Paramushir (Kuril Islands), K-300P Bastion-P coastal missile system fired an 3M55 Oniks, Zapad-2025.


https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... 2m4Nlo.mp4



Same system and weapon, this time from the Alexandra Land Island in the Franz Josef Land archipelago


https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... xAfgQg.mp4



Gorshkov-class frigate “Admiral Golovko” fired a hypersonic missile "Tsirkon", Barents Sea.


https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... XGisJP.mp4

[Nikel]

Updated map by Ian Ellis.





TWZ on the arrival of F-35B to Puerto Rico.

https://www.twz.com/air/f-35b-joint-str ... -operation



SKhC.

Map of the Ukrainian drone strike campaign against Russian oil refineries starting from 2 August 2025

MT Anderson.

Admiral Nakhimov is approaching her pier in Severodvinsk.

Russia's Northern Fleet conducted anti-submarine exercises in the Barents Sea.
Tu-142MK ASW, "Aleksandr Mozhayskiy".
Il-38N ASW/MPA.
Ka-27M

https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... ScyPCu.mp4


The location of the IAF strike, by Israel Alma.

Israel conducted a precision airstrike in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The strike was aimed at senior Hamas leadership gathered in a Hamas-owned building in the upscale Katara neighborhood.

Beautiful video and music, Amiral Ronarc’h leaves Lorient to join her homeport of Brest.


https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... mp4?tag=16

[Nikel]

Video, Israeli Ministry of Defense, development of the Iron Beam laser system has been completed.


https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... 4_jrX3.mp4




Ian Ellis updated maps.









Video, Admiral Nahimov returning to port after the first sea trials.


https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... 3fCXTU.mp4



Marco Langbroek.

Navigational Warnings have appeared that point to a likely #Trident-III D5 #SLBM test launch in the Atlantic between Sept 17-22.

China’s New Giant Underwater Drone Increases Naval Mine Threat Around Taiwan

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... nd-taiwan/







Status-6

North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un supervised the work of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology Complex.

During the venture, the flight of the Saebyeol-4 reconnaissance UAV (copycat of US RQ-4 Global Hawk HALE UAV), as well as the tests of "Kumsong-series tactical attack drones," were carried out.

The Yasen-M class SSGN K-571 “Krasnoyarsk” and Project 949A Antey/Oscar II-class SSGN Omsk have launched cruise missiles ("P-800 Oniks" and "P-700 Granit") at a sea target in the Sea of Okhotsk.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... QWmM1H.mp4

[Nikel]

Ian Ellis updated map.







MT Anderson.

Analysis of Sentinel 2 imagery from September 20, 2025, shows a vessel with a highly unique fore and aft superstructure almost identical to the MV Ocean Trader, a US Special Operations Command vessel operating SW of St. Kitts.

The MV Ocean Trader is a fascinating asset. Converted from a commercial Ro-Ro ship, she serves as a clandestine forward operating base, capable of launching small craft and supporting special forces teams while blending in with commercial shipping traffic.

Radia to Develop World’s Largest Military Cargo Aircraft for U.S. and NATO.

https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerosp ... ato-forces








https://radia.com/defense





GUR strikes in Crimea, 2 Be-12 Chaika amphibious aircraft and 1 Mi-8 helicoptert.


https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... S6A-gj.mp4



And on 3 Mi-8 helicopters and a 55Zh6U Nebo-U surveillance radar.

https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... KceHLo.mp4

Greece orders one more FDI frigate

https://defencehorizon.com/greece-order ... i-frigate/







Good name for a scenario.

Britsky

Apaches in to Gotland.

[KungPao]

PLAN's J-15T, J-35 and KJ-600 have successfully completed their electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested landing trainings on Fujian.

https://youtu.be/oxkgQAt8b2I?si=DJYp_BKIhlAaezxv

[Nikel]

Alex Luck piece on the Flight Operations from the Aircraft Carrier “Fujian".

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... perations/



Video, comparing the efficiency of STOBAR and CATOBAR carriers launching J-15.


https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... QVbiSZ.mp4



CSIS. China’s Military in 10 Charts.

https://www.csis.org/analysis/chinas-military-10-charts



Kak_Kakovich map on russia fuel shortages by region and date, due to the ongoing Ukrainian drone campaign vs russian refineries.

https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/X8u4j/46/



Brent Sadler. Nine for the Navy: Proposals to Accelerate a Delayed Naval Buildup

https://www.heritage.org/defense/report ... al-buildup


Direct link to the pdf file.

https://www.heritage.org/sites/default/ ... IB5394.pdf




Video. "Prymary" group of the GUR strike in Crimea, An-26 transport aircrafts and coastal radar MR-10M1 "Mys M1".


https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... Wvn130.mp4

[Blast33]

A nice use of CMO:
"Foxhound Inbound", a military grade simulation of 3x Russian MIG-31 into Estonia Sep. 19th, 2025.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdwjtz_fAA8

Clipboard01.jpg (42.96 KiB) Viewed 1179 times

[Nikel]

How China Plans to Block Starlink in Taiwan: Up to 2,000 Drones Needed for Full Islandwide Shutdown


https://www.thedefensenews.com/news-det ... -Shutdown/







Ian Ellis maps. The buildup continues but nothing... And possible targets.











The second sea trial of the russian Kirov-class nuclear-powered cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, started a few days ago.

Rafale carrier landing with 0 visibility.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1990543859563258126


HI Sutton.

Russian spy ship Yantar, presumably in or near UK waters.

Note that the ROV (remote operated vehicle, a deep-sea robot) A-frame is deployed (red). It’s doing something on the seabed.

Also two new radomes (yellow)

TSM

NEW: Today, Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yonaguni, the westernmost Japanese island in the Senkakus. After inspecting a JGSDF garrison, Koizumi announced that the JSDF will deploy a Type 03 Chū-SAM missile battery on the island, to “reduce the likelihood of an armed attack against our country.” The Type 03 has an effective range of approximately 50 km, while Yonaguni itself is approximately 105 km from Taiwan.

In CMO.

Y.png (7.55 KiB) Viewed 412 times

[Nikel]

This night it was hit a rare russian AC, the A-60.








Status-6

The plane that was struck in Taganrog last night was a unique, experimental A-60 flying laboratory, based on the Il-76 transport aircraft.

The A-60 was developed in the Soviet Union as a carrier of laser weapons. It was used in experiments to blind and temporarily disable the optical systems of reconnaissance satellites.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the development of this project has been halted multiple times, mainly because of the lack of funding. The work restarted in 2010s.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially confirmed the attack on the Russian A-60 laser weapons carrier in the city of Taganrog last night.

In addition to that, the Aircraft Repair Plant TANTK named after G.M. Beriev and the Atlant Aero plant producing Molniya-type UAVs were also hit, the Ukrainian military said.

The strikes in Taganrog were reportedly conducted with Neptune cruise missiles and Bars drone-missiles.

Requested, still not present in the DB.

https://github.com/PygmalionOfCyprus/cm ... ssues/6381



MT Anderson. USS Abraham Lincoln location. Going south to the Panama canal?





WestPac according to USNI news.


https://news.usni.org/2025/11/24/uss-ab ... -san-diego

Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii has had its giant inflatable radar dome removed for the first time to be replaced

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/11/1 ... Wm9-oqTkIQ

[SunlitZelkova]

TSM

NEW: Today, Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yonaguni, the westernmost Japanese island in the Senkakus. After inspecting a JGSDF garrison, Koizumi announced that the JSDF will deploy a Type 03 Chū-SAM missile battery on the island, to “reduce the likelihood of an armed attack against our country.” The Type 03 has an effective range of approximately 50 km, while Yonaguni itself is approximately 105 km from Taiwan.

Yonaguni is not part of the Senkaku Islands, it is part of the Yaeyama Islands.

I wonder how effective these would be at the high escalation level of a Taiwan conflict. The PLARF is known to have built mockups of Japanese TELs to use as targets when testing missiles. There is hardly anywhere to hide on the island either, and its short range means strikes can simply be routed around the SAM range.

In CMO, I've fired missiles at the already existing SAM batteries on other nearby islands. Naturally, they can't do much against normal ballistic missiles, but they oddly were able to fire on DF-17s and even knock a couple of them down, before being overwhelmed by too large a salvo.

[Nikel]

Yonaguni is not part of the Senkaku Islands, it is part of the Yaeyama Islands.

Thanks for the correction, just quoted Taiwan Security Monitor.

Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program, Considering New Small Surface Combatants

https://news.usni.org/2025/11/25/navy-c ... combatants

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... ernatives/

https://www.twz.com/sea/navy-sinks-the- ... te-program






Video. Secretary of the Navy statement.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... vI6PZ5.mp4



Alex Luck, Littoral Combat Monitor. Something similar can be done in CMO

LCM.png (95.62 KiB) Viewed 326 times

Meanwhile, in Stockholm.


https://www.twz.com/sea/swedish-navy-to ... y-50-years




Ian Ellis maps.








Upcoming Harpia Publishing books in ebook format.


https://www.harpia-publishing.com/

H.png (132.08 KiB) Viewed 254 times

Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1) early-warning radar station in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with radar array exposed for maintenance

[Nikel]

RAF fleet status according to Armchair Admiral. Typhoons not included.

https://twitter-thread.com/t/1994531187872694578






Video. Failure of russian BM. SS-18 or Sarmat...


https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... 2kb4fo.mp4



Sat pic by E. Marcuz





More pics by Avivector.

Satellite images of Yasny ICBM Site as of November 29, 07:31 UTC

Yesterday, on November 28, during a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile from Yasny Site, the missile exploded in the air and fell near the silo.

The satellite image shows the crater from the missile impact and a burned-out area nearby, as well as a crater from missile debris.

On the road leading to the launch site, there are about 20 military trucks, including Ural-4320s and R-419L communication stations.

https://x.com/avivector/status/19948777 ... 89/photo/1

Sea Baby naval drones operated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) have struck two sanctioned tankers of Russia’s shadow fleet — KAIRO and VIRAT — in the Black Sea.

At the moment of the strike, both sanctioned vessels were empty and en route to the port of Novorossiysk to load cargo.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... vU4OgP.mp4



More on the Yantar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDHlkDkTHYs

The Real-Life Hunt For Red October Happened 50 Years Ago

https://www.twz.com/sea/the-real-life-h ... -years-ago

Germany set to finally deploy Israel's Arrow 3 defense system, which neutralized Iranian missiles

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defen ... cle-876672

[KLAB]

Supposedly DPRK stand off weapons and small AGM along with SRAAM and MRAAM.

https://militarnyi.com/en/news/north-ko ... e_vignette

DPRK SU25 PL10.jpg (70.87 KiB) Viewed 141 times

DPRK SU25 PL10 AGM.jpg (39.93 KiB) Viewed 141 times

DPRK MIG29 AAM PL10PL12.jpg (125.25 KiB) Viewed 141 times

DPRK MIG29 AAM PL10PL12 VIEW 2.jpg (85.81 KiB) Viewed 141 times

Polite suggestion's for what any of these are called?
K

[Blast33]

Türkiye’s Kizilelma Unmanned Fighter Executes World-First Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Strike.

Türkiyes_Kizilelma_Unmanned_Fighter_Executes_World-First_Beyond_Visual_Range_Air-to-Air_Strikee-86134bc7.jpg (38.26 KiB) Viewed 135 times

Summary:
This live-fire engagement is the latest step in a rapid and methodical development path.
Initial conceptual work on the MIUS (Combat Unmanned Aircraft System) programme dates back to 2013, with Kizilelma’s first public design images appearing in 2021.

- The drone’s maiden flight took place on 14 December 2022, followed by a dense sequence of envelope-expansion sorties, formation flights with Turkish Air Force F-16s and public demonstrations at Teknofest.
- On 20 October 2025, Kizilelma completed its first MURAD AESA radar flight test, moving from simple weapons-carriage towards radar-led air-to-air functionality
- Only a month later, on 20 November 2025, an Army Recognition-documented sortie saw the unmanned jet electronically “shoot down” an F-16 by detecting and tracking it with MURAD and simulating a Gökdoğan engagement over north-western Türkiye,
validating the national radar-to-missile digital kill chain on an unmanned platform.

- The Sinop campaign now adds the missing piece: an actual BVR missile fired from Kizilelma and physically destroying a jet-powered target, transforming a theoretical capability into a demonstrated one.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/ae ... air-strike

Movie here:https://x.com/ragipsoylu/status/1995021 ... 91015?s=20

[Nikel]

Ian Ellis map.

Israel set to fully deploy 'game-changing, cutting-edge' Iron Beam laser system this month

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defen ... cle-876798





4 systems, Iron Beam (100 kW), Mobile (50 kW), Lite Mobile (10 kW) and Naval (100 kW). Brochures direct links.


https://www.rafael.co.il/wp-content/upl ... system.pdf

https://www.rafael.co.il/wp-content/upl ... system.pdf

https://www.rafael.co.il/wp-content/upl ... system.pdf

https://www.rafael.co.il/wp-content/upl ... system.pdf



https://www.rafael.co.il/system/iron-beam/

Interception of the Russian jet powered Shahed kamikaze drone with an installed R-60 air-to-air missile.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... 7kRQXk.mp4

Israel Aerospace Industries CEO Boaz Levy: Interest in the Barak MX is not confined to Greece.

Israel is expected to close a strategic deal of historic proportions with Greece for the sale of three Israel air defense systems for €3 billion ($3.5 billion). The price is similar to that of the sale of the Arrow 3 system to Germany. The deal with Greece is expected to include Rafael’s Spyder system, which will replace the Russian Osa-AK and Tor-M1 systems, Israel Aerospace Industries’ Barak MX, which will replace the Hawk system, and Rafael’s David’s Sling, which will replace the Russian S-300 system. The Israeli systems will be integrated into a new air defense array alongside Patriot missiles, which Greece will retain.

https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-gree ... 1001527959