Aircraft Carrier   China   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Pentagon report: China accelerating air and naval power — sixth‑gen fighters, AWACS gains and nine‑carrier build‑up

The Pentagon's annual assessment says China has tested two sixth‑generation fighter prototypes and made advances in airborne early‑warning capabilities, while the PLAN aims to field nine aircraft carriers by 2035. The report also warns an amphibious assault on Taiwan may be increasingly likely, changing regional force‑posture calculations.

Also: insidedefense.com and USNI News
2025-12-24T09:52:50.024415-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Wall Street Journal • Wall Street Journal

How the AC-130J Ghostrider and MQ-9 Reaper Are Being Used in U.S. Counter‑Narcotics Boat Strikes

By Wall Street Journal: The U.S. is dedicating serious firepower to taking out alleged drug boats around South America. Here’s how the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship and MQ-9 Reaper drone work.

2025-12-24T05:40:51.990850-08:00
China   Israel   Airports   Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
fdd.org • Cleo Paskal

China rebuilds Micronesian runway, sparking US national‑security concerns

By fdd.org: Skip to main content About About FDD FDD Team Advisors Jobs and Internships National Security Network Issues Israel at War Russia Iran China Turkey Cyber All Issues Projects Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation Transformative Cyber Innovation Lab Center on Economic and Financial Power Center on Military and Political Power Air and Missile Defense Program FDD's Long War Journal Barish Center.

2025-12-23T18:50:50.596691-08:00
ATC   Dassault Aviation   Middle East   Africa   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Reuters • Tuvan Gumrukcu

Radio contact lost with private jet believed to carry Libya’s army chief over Ankara; flights diverted

By Reuters: The Libyan army's chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, died in a plane crash on Tuesday after leaving Turkey's capital Ankara, the prime minister of Libya's internationally recognised government said, adding that four others were on the jet as well.

Also: AeroTime, Aviation24, defensemirror.com, travelcodex.com, news.ssbcrack.com, moderndiplomacy.eu, intellinews.com, Economic Times, al-monitor.com, aa.com.tr, The Independent, The Guardian and 32 more
2025-12-23T11:35:41.175896-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
The Space Review • Dwayne A. Day

Ukrainian Drone Strikes Destroy Multiple Tu-22M3 'Backfire' Bombers — Raises Questions Over Russia’s Bomber Fleet Strength

By The Space Review: The Backfire bomber controversyby Dwayne A. Day | ![]() A Backfire bomber in Russia about to be struck by a Ukrainian drone in June 2025. At least four Backfires were destroyed during the attack, and two others damaged.

Also: The Space Review
2025-12-23T15:04:23.305398-08:00