Diego Ramos, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

Why France Is Betting on Thundart to Replace MLRS and Expand Long-Range Strike

MBDA published the first photograph of its Thundart 227mm guided artillery rocket — a test round displayed on St. Barbara’s Day, the feast day recognized in France as the patron saint of artillery operators. The image arrived as European missile house MBDA

December 5, 2025

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alejandra Vega

Aircraft

HMS Prince of Wales Sets UK Record With 24 F-35Bs in Mediterranean Carrier Operations

HMS Prince of Wales has completed her Mediterranean work-up with 24 British F-35B Lightning II jets embarked, the largest number of the type yet fielded on a single ship and the biggest fifth-generation carrier air wing assembled by the United Kingdom. The

November 7, 2025

Naval Systems

Naval and Air Movements in Caribbean After Hurricane Melissa Landfall

Hurricane Melissa reached Category 5 strength near Jamaica and forced U.S. Navy units operating across the Caribbean to shift routes and stand clear of the forecast track. Defense officials confirm afloat and aviation elements executed storm-avoidance plans during mission tasking. “Despite these

October 27, 2025

AI & Autonomy

Air Force Maintains Collaborative Combat Aircraft Flight Testing Through Government Shutdown

An Air Force official said the Collaborative Combat Aircraft effort continued through the funding lapse with no direct program impacts. “Personnel supporting critical test and development activities were identified as excepted and returned from furlough to ensure continuity of operations and avoid

October 23, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Blake Wiles

AI & Autonomy

Northrop’s Model 437 Vanguard Advances to Flight Testing with Partner Software for Collaborative Autonomy and Mission Learning

Northrop Grumman’s Model 437 Vanguard flew again on September 20 after months of modification for the Beacon autonomy program. Company engineers installed the Prism autonomy stack, integrated new interfaces and prepared the aircraft for envelope expansion sorties at Mojave before partner software

October 10, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karissa Dick

Asia-Pacific

US Air Force reactivates 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron as MQ-9 Reaper unit at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea

The U.S. Air Force reactivated the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and assigned it an MQ-9 Reaper mission with permanent basing on the peninsula. A ceremony at Kunsan on September 29 marked the stand-up and assumption

October 1, 2025

Firmenzentrale Rheinmetall AG, Rheinmetall Platz

Contracts & Deals

Rheinmetall to Acquire Lürssen Naval Division and Expand into German Warship Production

Rheinmetall has agreed to acquire Naval Vessels Lürssen, the military division of the Lürssen Group, together with its subsidiaries. Closing is targeted for early 2026 and remains subject to antitrust approval. The companies have not disclosed a purchase price. NVL reported roughly

September 25, 2025

Defense Budgets / Policy

Pentagon Restructures Testing Office and Oversight List, Prompting Questions Over XM7 Testing

The Pentagon's testing watchdog has pared its official oversight list to 152 programs - down from 251 last year. Defense officials confirm the update removed operational test oversight for several efforts and limited review of others to narrower tasks. The timing matches

September 10, 2025

Cybersecurity & Electronic Warfare

MIVD and AIVD confirm router access by China-linked Salt Typhoon at Dutch internet service and hosting providers

Dutch military and domestic intelligence services report that a China-linked espionage group known as Salt Typhoon struck targets in the Netherlands and touched national critical infrastructure. The services identified activity against smaller internet service and hosting providers.

September 9, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jack Rodriguez Escamilla

Missiles / Drones / Directed Energy

GAO report shows Minuteman III may remain in service until 2050 as Sentinel faces major delays and cost growth

On September 10, 2025, a public report from federal auditors described options to keep the Minuteman III force in service into 2050, with specific risks tied to sustainment and testing during the transition to the LGM-35A Sentinel. The 2021 plan sent to

September 3, 2025

Diego Ramos

Why France Is Betting on Thundart to Replace MLRS and Expand Long-Range Strike

HMS Prince of Wales Sets UK Record With 24 F-35Bs in Mediterranean Carrier Operations

Naval and Air Movements in Caribbean After Hurricane Melissa Landfall

Air Force Maintains Collaborative Combat Aircraft Flight Testing Through Government Shutdown

Northrop’s Model 437 Vanguard Advances to Flight Testing with Partner Software for Collaborative Autonomy and Mission Learning

US Air Force reactivates 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron as MQ-9 Reaper unit at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea

Rheinmetall to Acquire Lürssen Naval Division and Expand into German Warship Production

Pentagon Restructures Testing Office and Oversight List, Prompting Questions Over XM7 Testing

MIVD and AIVD confirm router access by China-linked Salt Typhoon at Dutch internet service and hosting providers

GAO report shows Minuteman III may remain in service until 2050 as Sentinel faces major delays and cost growth

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer