Reuters
Russia is deploying its Rassvet satellite network faster than planned, with Ukrainian intelligence saying the constellation could reach nearly 300 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035. Separately, Moscow reportedly is developing Volna-Kupol-Garant, a system designed to disrupt Starlink satellites rather than individual ground terminals.
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Russia is deploying its Rassvet satellite network faster than planned, with Ukrainian intelligence saying the constellation could reach nearly 300 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035. Separately, Moscow reportedly is developing Volna-Kupol-Garant, a system designed to disrupt Starlink satellites rather than individual ground terminals.
Turkish Airlines increased international passenger traffic in the first half despite an initial demand shock following the Iran conflict. The carrier is nevertheless keeping capacity growth constrained as markets recover, signaling continued caution in network planning amid geopolitical volatility.
India has begun efforts to join France’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), following the collapse of the French-German partnership behind the sixth-generation fighter program. The move could reshape FCAS participation and deepen defense-industrial ties between India and France as Paris reassesses the program’s international partnerships.
Two drones were spotted above a military base in western Germany, authorities said, two days after an explosive-laden drone was found near a runway at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The incidents raise immediate security concerns for military installations and airport operations, although authorities have not established a connection between them.
A visit to Japan by the head of Switzerland’s Federal Office for Defence Procurement, Armasuisse, included meetings with government agencies and technology companies, prompting speculation that Bern and Tokyo may be exploring cooperation connected to the Global Combat Air Programme, the trilateral fighter initiative involving Japan, the UK and Italy.
A drone entered Bulgarian airspace from Romania and exploded in a sunflower field near Kardam, about 1 kilometer from a compressor station on the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. Bulgaria said an initial debris assessment indicated a model commonly used by Ukraine; there were no casualties or infrastructure damage.
Elon Musk could permit Ukraine to use Starlink connectivity to help locate Russian missile launchers, potentially expanding the system’s role in the conflict beyond communications. The reported possibility underscores the operational and geopolitical significance of privately provided satellite infrastructure in wartime.
Taiwan’s Army deployed four M1A2T Abrams tanks and six Yunpao armored vehicles to Taoyuan International Airport for the first time during Han Kuang 42. The exercise simulated a Chinese airborne assault to seize the airport, underscoring concerns about protecting a critical gateway to Taipei.
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