Washington Post
• Mark Montgomery
Ukraine may be able to use its F-16 fleet to target Russian ballistic-missile launchers within weeks, but the effort depends on Washington authorizing or enabling a specific capability. The potential mission would expand the aircraft’s role beyond conventional air operations into counter-launcher missions.
Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons
Latest source-backed stories
Ukraine may be able to use its F-16 fleet to target Russian ballistic-missile launchers within weeks, but the effort depends on Washington authorizing or enabling a specific capability. The potential mission would expand the aircraft’s role beyond conventional air operations into counter-launcher missions.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping military operations across every domain, from missile and drone warfare to satellites, naval forces, airpower and cyber operations. The accelerating integration of AI into weapons and command systems raises consequential questions about escalation, control and the future role of humans in decisions involving weapons of mass destruction.
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force has conducted its first firing of an RTX BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile. The U.S.-supported test, launched from the destroyer JS Chokai, advances Tokyo’s long-range strike capability and marks a significant operational milestone for its maritime forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked U.S. President Donald Trump to enable Starlink support for operations targeting ballistic-missile launchers inside Russia. The request would expand the role of commercial satellite connectivity in Ukraine’s military targeting and strike activities.
China’s Type 052D destroyer reportedly carried and launched the YJ-20 hypersonic missile, signaling an expanded naval strike capability in the Pacific. Separately, Japan’s F-2 fighter has been seen with a new large stealth cruise missile under its wings, pointing to longer standoff reach for air-launched strikes.
Chinese state media has hinted at wider deployment of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile, a program closely watched by regional militaries and defense analysts. The reporting suggests the weapon is moving beyond limited demonstrations toward more extensive fielding.
High activity
Ukraine says its F-16s have destroyed more than 2,500 one-way attack drones, but repeated interceptions are wearing down the small fleet. The EU has disbursed €3.47 billion ($4 billion) to fund additional drones, air-defence missiles and Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets, amid renewed Russian missile and drone attacks that killed nine, including children. NATO is also investigating a reported Russian missile hit into Polish airspace.
Create a free account to see more recent Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
