KYIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday appointed the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence as his new chief of staff, a move that comes as the U.S. leads a diplomatic push to end Russia’s nearly 4-year-old invasion.
Announcing the appointment of Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs to focus on security issues, developing its defense and security forces, and…
A year of strikes: US military operations surge under Trump
January 1, 2026
President Donald Trump has presided over a rapid surge of U.S. military activity abroad since returning to the Oval Office.
In the first year of his second term, he has authorized a series of strikes ranging from the unprecedented use of bunker-buster bombs against Iran’s…
Japan is barreling forward with efforts to significantly boost its military capabilities to stand up to China’s growing threats by doubling annual arms spending. The goal comes as Tokyo’s main ally, the United States, pushes for more military assistance in Asia and a…
PARIS — With Europe spending record amounts on defense in 2025 on everything from ammunition to battle tanks, air defenses and naval ships, local industry winners included Germany’s Rheinmetall, Sweden’s Saab and the United Kingdom’s BAE Systems.
France’s Naval Group had a less successful year, missing out on several contracts in 2025, while a joint effort by France, Germany and Spain to…
The U.S. Army’s first multinational drone combat competition held in Europe saw 10 teams wield first person view drones with stealth in a forest setting to test their skills.
Hosted by the 7th Army Training Command at Grafenwoehr, Germany from December 8-10, the U.S. Army…
The Department of Defense did not consistently hold Lockheed Martin accountable for F-35 poor sustainability performance in its 2024 contract, according to a Dec. 19 inspector general audit of the performance.
The F-35 Joint Program Office was found to not have adequately…
Nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles enter active service, Russia says
December 31, 2025
Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has entered active service in Belarus, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday, as the U.S. efforts to broker a deal to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine have entered a pivotal stage.
The ministry released a video showing combat vehicles that are part of the mobile intermediate range ballistic missile system driving across a forest as part…
Ukraine peace plan ‘scares the bejesus out of us,’ officials say
December 30, 2025
KYIV, Ukraine — A maximum of 800,000. That’s how many soldiers Ukraine’s military would be authorized to have under the current 20-point peace framework — a 20% cut from the roughly one million currently under arms, but a significant increase over the 600,000…
Trump says US ‘hit’ facility where alleged drug boats ‘load up’
December 30, 2025
President Donald Trump has indicated that the U.S. has “hit” a dock facility along a shore as he wages a pressure campaign on Venezuela, but the U.S. offered few details.
Trump initially seemed to confirm a strike in what appeared to be an impromptu radio interview…
China stages military drills around Taiwan to warn ‘external forces’
December 30, 2025
China’s military on Monday dispatched air, navy and missile units to conduct joint live-fire drills around the island of Taiwan, which Beijing called a “stern warning” against separatist and “external interference” forces. Taiwan said it was placing its forces on alert and called the Chinese government “the biggest destroyer of peace.”
Taiwan’s aviation authority said more than…
