US military, technology, arms, tactics

[Rakesh]

This Will Be The Navy’s New FF(X) Frigate
https://www.twz.com/sea/this-will-be-th ... fx-frigate
19 Dec 2025

The Navy is leveraging the Coast Guard's Legend class National Security Cutter to plug the gap left by axing the Constellation class frigate.

[vera_k]

New ‘Trump-Class’ Navy Warships Named After President: What to Know

[SNaik]

https://www.goldenfleet.navy.mil/

[Vayutuvan]

Hmm. Where is the money for this? Are there any time and cost estimations for resources?

Looks good on paper. It might turn into another F-35, though.

[saip]

New ‘Trump-Class’ Navy Warships Named After President: What to Know

I thought a person has to be dead before ships can be named after them. Premonition?
I was only kidding. Actually quite a few ships have been named/launched while the (former) Presidents were alive. Ford, Carter, Reagan etc

[vera_k]

Ship is not being named. Usually the class is named after the first in line. Not here.
But the USS Clinton and USS Bush aircraft carriers may be called true premonitions.

[Rakesh]

Trump Announces Nuclear-Armed Battleships for the US Navy
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... -u-s-navy/
23 Dec 2025

[Vayutuvan]

New ‘Trump-Class’ Navy Warships Named After President: What to Know

I thought a person has to be dead before ships can be named after them. Premontion?

Be careful.

[Manish_P]

New MBT planned to honor Trump to be the largest, bestest in the world. Seig Hei.... oops

[Jay]

New ‘Trump-Class’ Navy Warships Named After President: What to Know

The new trump class ships feature an Epstein-sourced “island” superstructure and come equipped with the state of the art MINORS suite — Minimal Impact, No Ops Role systems — certified for maximum satisfaction of supreme commander and zero battlefield relevance.

[Vayutuvan]

New ‘Trump-Class’ Navy Warships Named After President: What to Know

The new trump class ships feature an Epstein-sourced “island” superstructure and come equipped with the state of the art MINORS suite — Minimal Impact, No Ops Role systems — certified for maximum satisfaction of supreme commander and zero battlefield relevance.

Let us take it to Understanding the US thread, hain jee? That is where we can post alternate facts like this, and Hic eats little children.

[Rakesh]

Report to Congress on BBG(X) Battleship Program
https://news.usni.org/2026/01/01/report ... ip-program
01 Jan 2026

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/20059 ... 66725?s=20 ---> US tri-service F-35 deliveries and orders now exceed 1,000 aircraft. Current plans point to more than 1,500 F-35 aircraft in service by the mid-2030s, with the fleet potentially approaching 2,000 by the late 2030s, likely the program’s high-water mark given sixth generation programs (F-47 NGAD and potentially the F/A-XX) would begin competing for procurement dollars starting in the late 2020s and the early 2030s.

https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/20068 ... 43208?s=20 ---> 1,000+ F-35 airframes and counting.

[Rakesh]

The U.S. Navy Must Build the ‘Golden Fleet’
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2026/01/the ... den-fleet/
02 Jan 2026

Navy’s Next Destroyer Is Vital as U.S.–China Tensions Escalate
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report ... s-escalate
14 April 2023

[Rakesh]

U.S. Navy accepts delivery of third Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... destroyer/
05 Jan 2026

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/airsuperiorx/status/20083 ... 24545?s=20 ---> I have created a diagram of the P-8A Poseidon and its associated systems. Big thanks to @SR_Planespotter for providing me with fantastic photos to use.



https://x.com/airsuperiorx/status/20091 ... 79767?s=20 ---> Supplemental diagram to display the repositioning of the MX-20HD due to AN/APS-154 installation.



https://x.com/aeroweanie/status/2008361 ... 62317?s=20 ---> You show it with the the AAS installed (which requires the ventral fins to be installed). Without the AAS, there is a retractable MX20 sensor turret. Also, on the nose bulkhead below the AN/APY-10 is the ILS localizer antenna.

[Rakesh]

Our First Glimpse At The M1E3 Abrams Next-Gen Tank Demonstrator
https://www.twz.com/land/our-first-glim ... monstrator
06 Jan 2026

Testing of the first iteration of the Army's next-generation, lighter-weight, hybrid-electric Abrams tank concept is set to kick off soon.

[Rakesh]

Electric Boat receives new floating dry dock to support Columbia-class submarines
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... ubmarines/
07 Jan 2026

[Rakesh]

U.S. forces use AGM-154C-1 glide bomb in Venezuela strike
https://defence-blog.com/u-s-forces-use ... la-strike/
08 Jan 2026

[drnayar]

https://interestingengineering.com/mili ... tron-beams

HFIR’s neutrons come directly from the reactor, giving them the same energy and producing them in such large quantities that measurements can be completed much faster, often in just a few hours rather than weeks.

Meanwhile, Matt Caruso, a PhD student and researcher in Frame’s research group, stated that welding is a dynamic process, which makes post-weld stress mapping more practical.

[Tanaji]

Our First Glimpse At The M1E3 Abrams Next-Gen Tank Demonstrator
https://www.twz.com/land/our-first-glim ... monstrator
06 Jan 2026

Testing of the first iteration of the Army's next-generation, lighter-weight, hybrid-electric Abrams tank concept is set to kick off soon.

ANI | Updated: Jan 10, 2026 1017 IST

Raksha Mantralay, Office of DGMF, Delhi, India:

Anonymous sources have reported a steady stream of late-night activity this week as staff reporting to the DGMF were observed staying after hours and lights remained on well into the night.
Civilian staff of the MoD working as liaison with the DGMF said they noticed people entering and leaving the building between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., and security footage from common areas showed repeated trips to a central copy room. Several witnesses described the copier area as unusually busy, with machines running for long periods and frequent paper trays being refilled.
“It looked like someone was printing nonstop,” said one NCO who asked to remain anonymous. “You could hear the machines going, and employees came out carrying stacks of paper.”
Heavy use of multiple photocopiers was corroborated by building maintenance staff, who reported increased noise from the copy room and an uptick in service calls to replenish supplies.

Maintenance logs recorded repeated requests to clear jams and replace paper rolls between late evening and early morning hours.
In addition to the heightened copier activity, building staff observed an increase in shipments of photocopier toner arriving at the loading dock over the past several days. Delivery records show multiple toner packages, some labeled for high-capacity machines, were unloaded in the evenings and taken to DGMF suites.

Anonymous sources also showed high resolution photos being printed of a hybrid electric tank vaguely referred to by its code name of A1E3.

No official statement has been released by the office of DGMF about the extended working hours or the surge in printing supplies.

In a post released on X and further in a press release, Brigadier General Narendranath Verma said “I feel blessed to report that we have finally completed the specifications of the RFP that we have been working on for Indias Future Main Battle Tank since the last few months. It has been a very challenging exercise and we are facing very significant obstacles that got resolved only on 06 Jan 2026. I am now confident that the the GSQRs we have laid down in the RFP for the Indian industry will mean that Indias future will be secure for next the decade at least”. In response to a question about what would happen if the Indian industry were not capable of meeting the complex GSQRs, Brigadier General Verma replied “I am prepared for any eventuality and we will fight with what we have. I will discuss with my compatriots in Chandigarh to meet this eventuality should this come to pass”.

In other news, the entire engineering division at Awadi have been warned to watch their language when speaking. Complaints were made to HR when a steady stream of profanities were heard from the engineering offices. The engineering division had been perusing GSQRs for the FMBT that were released today, it has been reliably learnt from sources.

—End of report—

[Rakesh]

^^^^ Good One

Every time I see a foreign tank, the first image that comes to mind is the DGMF drafting a GSQR based on that tank.

You just put that image beautifully into a news report. Well done.

[Rakesh]

The US-China Commodities Cold War
https://themerchantsnews.substack.com/p ... s-cold-war
09 Jan 2026

Why Trump Just Fired the Opening Shot in a Battle That Will Reshape Global Markets?

https://x.com/jackprandelli/status/2009 ... 44793?s=20 ---> Over 70% of U.S. rare earth imports come from China. Defense systems need tungsten, gallium, germanium. Semiconductor manufacturing the foundation of modern military capability depends on rare earth polishing compounds and fabrication tools with rare earth components. Rare earth elements used per unit:

F-35 Fighter Jet: 418 kg (Guided missiles, lasers for targeting, drive motors)

Arleigh Burke DDG-51 Destroyer: 2,600 kg (Advanced radar, missile guidance, propulsion, drive motors)

Virginia Class Submarine: 4,600 kg (Tomahawk missiles, radar systems, drive motors)

[Rakesh]

The military is babying F-35s to hide their true cost to taxpayers
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/cost-of-f35/
23 Jan 2026

Fewer sorties and flight hours kick maintenance down the road, hiding performance issues and taking valuable flight time away from pilots

[Rakesh]

USAF Planning For Up To Eight E-4C ‘Doomsday’ Aircraft
https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircra ... y-aircraft
23 Jan 2026

[Rakesh]

The strategic logic and industrial peril of Trump’s battleship plan for the US Navy
https://www.navylookout.com/the-strateg ... e-us-navy/
26 January 2026

[Rakesh]

B-21 Raider Future Insights From Global Strike Command’s Top General
https://www.twz.com/air/b-21-raider-fut ... op-general
27 Jan 2026

The new head of Air Force Global Strike Command offers us an exclusive look at the B-21 program in his first interview since taking charge.

[Rakesh]

B-21 Raider Future Insights From Global Strike Command’s Top General
https://www.twz.com/air/b-21-raider-fut ... op-general
27 Jan 2026

The new head of Air Force Global Strike Command offers us an exclusive look at the B-21 program in his first interview since taking charge.

[Rakesh]

Current F-35 configuration complicates fielding of APG-85 radar
https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/02/0 ... -85-radar/
05 Feb 2026

[Rakesh]

Current F-35 configuration complicates fielding of APG-85 radar
https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/02/0 ... -85-radar/
05 Feb 2026

https://x.com/PLA_MilitaryUpd/status/20 ... 35840?s=20 ---> The 17th batch of F-35s for the USAF are now Radar-less blind birds because the AN/APG-85 radar is "challenging to produce". Blind Amy is now like a phone without a sim card, needs to beg other planes for a "Hotspot". Meanwhile we are mass producing silicon radars and J-20s.

[Rakesh]

Current F-35 configuration complicates fielding of APG-85 radar
https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/02/0 ... -85-radar/
05 Feb 2026

https://x.com/HealthRanger/status/20218 ... 15312?s=20 ---> Introducing America's new stealth fighter. It's called the "Ostrich." Since it has no radar, it can't see any other planes, so it thinks it's hiding.

[pravula]

I am not sure about that image. Those weights do not seem to have a retainer clip installed, so they will move around and even fall out. Its not gonna fly with that. My guess is weights are added for loading/unloading operations, especially because of how the strapps are attached. Without the weights, the crane cannot lift evenly.

added later: looks like those images are from a training excercise

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8647343/ ... y-exercise

[Rakesh]

No, You Can’t Just ‘Jailbreak’ the F-35
https://theaviationist.com/2026/02/18/n ... -the-f-35/
18 Feb 2026

[chetak]

these guys are full of crap and they are off to attack eyeraaan...............

the amriki's latest soooper doooper aircraft carrier seems to have a dire shortage of crappers, not enough to serve the needs of the crew

Toilet war on US warship amid Iran tensions raises a stink

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/u ... 2026-02-24

CLOGGED TOILETS ADD TO WOES

However, what has made matters worse is the clogged toilets and a breakdown of the sewage system in what has been billed as the world's most expensive warship ($13.3 billion). According to a report in the Wall Street Journal and interviews with sailors, most of the 650 toilets in the warship are out of commission. This is due to a lack of routine maintenance, as the warship has been on the move continuously.

Such is the dire situation that the shortage of toilets has led to queues of up to 45 minutes daily. Frequent tussles between sailors and hull technicians, responsible for plumbing and repair operations, have complicated matters. In fact, technicians are working 19 hours a day to clear the mess.

[Manish_P]

...
the amriki's latest soooper doooper aircraft carrier seems to have a dire shortage of crappers, not enough to serve the needs of the crew
....

Maybe the El Presidente can call up his great pal the Failed Marshall and tell him that he has a great idea to give Pakistanis a crap, sorry, crash course in aircraft carrier operations.

Assman Moonir will surely bend over backwards to oblige.

Perform solved and Trump can claim he stopped another war - this time a civil war between American military personnel.

[chetak]

...
the amriki's latest soooper doooper aircraft carrier seems to have a dire shortage of crappers, not enough to serve the needs of the crew
....

Maybe the El Presidente can call up his great pal the Failed Marshall and tell him that he has a great idea to give Pakistanis a crap, sorry, crash course in aircraft carrier operations.

Assman Moonir will surely bend over backwards to oblige.

Perform solved and Trump can claim he stopped another war - this time a civil war between American military personnel.

Manish ji,

OM craps on everybody, the failed marshall craps on command, either from the amrikis, cheen, saudis, turkey, or the taliban, the crew on the soooper doooper ship can't crap unless they stand in line for >45 minutes, per last reports and the ayyo tulle now craps underground after he painted a huge target on his anointed successor's back

geopolitics is suddenly taking a crappy turn.

almost miss the ye olde colonial flavor to regime change events

[Rakesh]

Former U.S. Air Force Pilot Arrested for Providing Defense Services to the Chinese Military
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-u ... e-military
25 Feb 2026

https://x.com/shanaka86/status/2026863465005199587?s=20 ---> The FBI just arrested a former U.S. Air Force Major who spent 26 months in Beijing training Chinese fighter pilots. But the story everyone is missing is not the arrest. It is the network behind it. Gerald Eddie Brown Jr. Call sign “Runner.” 65 years old. 24 years in the Air Force. Flew the F-4, F-15, F-16, A-10. Commanded units responsible for nuclear weapons delivery. After retiring in 1996, he became a contract simulator instructor training American pilots to fly the F-35 Lightning II. In August 2023, he started negotiating to train PLAAF pilots. His intermediary connected him to the network of Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national who pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiring with PLA hackers to steal 65 gigabytes of classified data from Boeing and major defense contractors. The targets: the C-17, the F-22, and the F-35.

Read that again.

The same network that stole the F-35’s blueprints then recruited the man who trained Americans to fly it, and sent him to Beijing to teach Chinese pilots how to fight against it. First steal the machine. Then acquire the mind of the instructor.

Brown arrived in China in December 2023. Day one: three hours answering questions about the U.S. Air Force. Day two: a personal briefing to PLAAF officers. He stayed for twenty-six months. He only returned to U.S. soil in February 2026 and was arrested yesterday in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He is not an anomaly. Five Eyes intelligence issued a joint warning in June 2024 that the PLA is systematically recruiting Western fighter pilots through shell companies. At least 30 former British pilots identified. Former Marine Daniel Duggan arrested in 2022 on the same charges. His network connection? Stephen Su Bin. Same node. Different asset.

The question Washington does not want asked: How does a man with nuclear weapons experience and F-35 simulator access negotiate with a convicted Chinese hacker’s network, fly to Beijing, train enemy pilots for over two years, and only get arrested when he voluntarily walks home? You can arrest Brown. You can convict him. You cannot un-teach what he taught. That knowledge now lives permanently inside the PLAAF. It will be institutionalized. It will compound. The damage is done. The only question is whether Runner ran alone.

[Shameek]

Six US service members killed in plane crash over Iraq. Link

All six crew members aboard a U.S. military refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq are confirmed to have been killed, the U.S. military said on Friday.

A U.S. military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident the military said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
The deaths add to the seven U.S. service members who have already been killed as part of U.S. operations against Iran which began on February 28.

"The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," a statement from U.S. Central Command said.

A U.S. official told Reuters that the second aircraft involved in the crash, which landed safely, was also a military refueling aircraft known as the KC-135.

The 4th known loss in this conflict. 3 F-15E lost to 'friendly' fire and a KC-135 mid-air collision over uncontested skies. There is 0 rona dhona about this in the press or anywhere else. Compare to the whole 'how many Rafale shot down' farce that played out last year and still seems to raise its head on and off.