The F-35 fighter jets' readiness for flight in 2024 was only 50% due to poor maintenance by Lockheed Martin and a lack of Pentagon oversight. Despite this, the Pentagon paid the company $1.7 billion without penalties, and the US Air Force reduced its F-35 order for 2026 due to rising costs.
The Pentagon has discovered over 100 DF-31 solid-fuel missiles in China's secret silos on the border with Mongolia. Beijing is modernizing its nuclear arsenal faster than any other nation in the world and will have over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the US campaign, including strikes on drug-trafficking vessels and interception of oil tankers, aims to deter illicit activities and demand the departure of Nicolás Maduro from power. Since early September, approximately 100 people have died as a result of the strikes.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth commented on the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The US will continue maritime interdictions as part of Operation "Southern Spear" to eliminate illegal criminal networks.
US President Donald Trump signed into law the defense policy bill for fiscal year 2026 with a record budget of $901 billion. The document allocates $800 million to Ukraine - $400 million for each of the next two years as part of the Security Assistance Initiative, which provides for the purchase of American weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Norway has announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth 3. 2 billion Norwegian kroner (about 267 million euros). The funds will be used to purchase ammunition for F-16s and air defense systems within the framework of the JUMPSTART initiative.
The pace of Russian troops' advance in Ukraine is the slowest in the last century. Despite statements by the Kremlin and some American politicians, Ukrainian military and experts deny the proximity of a breakthrough.
The US Armed Forces are analyzing the use of autonomous weapon systems in the war in Ukraine to apply these developments in their own operations. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth emphasized that AI will play a key role in future wars, calling on allies to increase defense budgets.
The US Department of Defense proposes adding Alibaba, Baidu, and BYD to the list of companies posing a national security threat due to their ties with the Chinese government. Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg informed lawmakers of this decision on October 7.
Renaming the official name of the US Department of Defense would cost approximately $2 billion. This is reported by sources familiar with the costs.
The US plans to acquire at least 1 million drones for the army over the next two to three years. This is a response to the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and concerns about dependence on Chinese-made components.
Nigeria's new army commander has vowed to intensify military operations against Islamist groups in the country's northeast. This comes after a warning from US President Donald Trump about possible military action if Abuja fails to curb violence against Christians.
Disruptions in navigation systems were recorded near Trinidad and Tobago, where a US warship was stationed. An expert in electronic warfare believes that the United States could have been the source of the jamming.
North Korea launched about a dozen rockets from multiple launch rocket systems towards the Yellow Sea. This happened shortly before the planned visit of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to the demilitarized zone.
The White House has changed press rules, restricting journalists' free access to Room 140 and the offices of high-ranking officials without prior request. These restrictions, imposed by the National Security Council, are aimed at protecting classified information.
ISW assesses that providing Ukraine with American Tomahawk missiles would be a response to Russia's use of cruise and ballistic missiles. This would allow Ukraine to strike key Russian military targets located deep in the rear.
The US Pentagon has ordered thousands of National Guard personnel to undergo training for civil unrest suppression missions. This decision has sparked outrage among Democratic governors, who are challenging it in court.
Donald Trump's initiative to resume nuclear weapons testing as a signal to Moscow and China has caused a split in the US Congress. Republicans support the move, while Democrats consider it a dangerous provocation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the US President's statement about the possible resumption of nuclear weapons testing, emphasizing the extremely high nuclear risks. Guterres' spokesman Farhan Haq stated that nuclear tests are unacceptable under any circumstances, recalling the catastrophic consequences of previous tests.
Nuclear-armed China has proposed to the US, Russia, France, and Great Britain to begin negotiations on a treaty on the mutual non-first use of nuclear weapons. At the same time, Beijing maintains a moratorium on nuclear tests and supports a policy of self-defense.
Venezuela announced the detention of CIA agents, accusing them of preparing a "false flag attack" to provoke a war with the United States. President Nicolas Maduro's statement came amid the deployment of the US destroyer USS Gravely near Venezuela.
The Trump administration has lifted a key ban on Ukraine's use of long-range Western missiles to strike Russia. This decision allows Ukraine to attack military targets deep within Russia, including with Storm Shadow missiles.
The United States and Australia have entered into an agreement to expand the supply of rare earth and critical minerals, which includes an investment of $8. 5 billion in Australian projects. This partnership aims to reduce dependence on China, which controls a significant share of the extraction and processing of these materials.
In his evening video address, President Zelenskyy spoke about the results of the meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and about the upcoming meeting with the US President in Washington.
The US Department of Defense has prepared plans to sell or transfer Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, but the final decision rests with President Donald Trump. The supply of missiles is complicated by the absence of launchers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the risk of confrontation with Russia.
The Trump administration has prepared a classified legal opinion justifying lethal strikes against a wide range of drug cartels. The opinion argues that the president has the right to authorize such actions because the cartels' activities pose an immediate threat to the safety of Americans.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has approved the launch of the F/A-XX new generation fighter development program for the United States Navy. This project will replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and ensure air superiority over China.
Russia has modified its missiles to bypass Ukrainian air defense, as evidenced by months of devastating airstrikes. Ukrainian forces intercepted 37% of ballistic missiles in July, but this figure dropped to 6% in September.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered hundreds of generals and admirals to gather next week without warning or explanation at a Marine Corps base in Virginia. The unusual directive has caused concern and confusion among the top military brass.
The US Department of Defense is preparing to appeal to President Donald Trump to approve the execution of Nidal Hasan, who committed a shooting at Fort Hood in 2009. This could be the first execution of a US serviceman in over six decades.
