Arktis

 

FSB major general Vladimir Shchemelinin appointed to chief position at Russia’s border with ‘difficult Nordic neighbours’

The senior officer, who has been accused by Ukrainian military intelligence of involvement in criminal activities on European territory, has been appointed head of the FSB Border Guard Directorate for northern regions bordering Norway and Finland.

Warships begin missile drills in Barents Sea

Several of the Russian Navy’s most powerful warships are reported to have departed from the naval base in Severomorsk towards a sealed-off exercise area north of the Kola Bay.

Sjekk https://tinyurl.com/yc5va42c

Northern Fleet establishes helicopter regiment

Helicopters are vital for countering drones and protecting shipping, says Andrei Vrublevsky, commander of the Northern Fleet’s new helicopter regiment. According to the lieutenant colonel, a major refurbishment of the regiment’s air base on the Kola Peninsula is due to be completed in 2027.

Sjekk https://tinyurl.com/327rpfvd

Kina

 

Chinese warships sail through Japanese waters as regional tensions grow

By 

Brian McElhiney and Keishi Koja

Stars and Stripes • April 23, 2026

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A Chinese destroyer was spotted sailing between Japan’s westernmost island, Yonaguni, and Iriomote Island before sailing into Japan’s contiguous zone heading toward the East China Sea on April 22, 2026. (Japan Joint Staff)

Two Chinese naval vessels sailed between Japan’s southwestern islands this week, Japan’s military said, in a passage that follows training in the Western Pacific and comes amid heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted the guided-missile destroyer and frigate south of Hateruma Island around 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to a Joint Staff news release that day. Both ships were moving northwest.

Iran

 

The law sets a 60-day limit on unauthorized wars. Will Trump respect it?

Sjekk https://tinyurl.com/z4ya2ezs

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SISTE: Trumps beste menn, bl. a. svigersønn Jared Kushner, er på vei nå kl 1200.(Red.)

Irans delegasjon er kommet til Islamabad

Den iranske utenriksministeren og hans følge er på plass i Pakistans hovedstad. Det er fortsatt uklart om det blir direkte samtaler med USA.

Sjekk https://tinyurl.com/49jchy8v

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Pressure mounting to overcome mine fears for ship transit in Strait of Hormuz

By 

Alison Bath

Stars and Stripes • April 23, 2026

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A Navy explosive ordnance disposal technician swims toward an inert training mine during a neutralization exercise in this undated photo. While experts say Iran has laid few mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon estimates it could take about six months to clear the waterway, an effort needed to reassure shipowners and captains that the strait is safe. (Tyler Baldino/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy — Nearly two months into the war in the Middle East, the U.S. has yet to break Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz — and, increasingly, the world economy.

That’s due in part to concerns of shipping companies and insurers about Iranian sea mines lurking in the critical waterway, through which 20% of the world’s daily consumption of oil and petroleum products usually flows.

Nye fly

 

Air Force, Navy and Marines already jockeying for position on sixth-generation fighter of the future

By 

Gary Warner

Stars and Stripes • April 23, 2026

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An artist rendering of the proposed F-47 Sixth-Generation fighter. (U.S. Air Force)

The armed forces of the United States have competed amongst themselves for generations, so it would be surprising if they weren’t already heating up over the future sixth-generation fighter.

“Future” is the operative word: Even the most aggressive timelines predict a first flight unlikely before 2028, with an entry to service in the early 2030s. The project demands relatively small fiscal resources for now — just over $5.1 billion of the $1.5 trillion defense budget rolled out this week.

Ukraina

 

In first, Ukrainian unmanned vessel launches interceptor to knock out Shahed drone

Ukraine unleashed a powerful new defense against Shahed drones that could blunt Russia's ability to force concessions in future negotiations. Read More

NATO

 Iran war delays US weapons deliveries to Estonia, raising defense concerns

By 

Phillip Walter Wellman

Stars and Stripes • April 23, 2026

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An Estonian M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System unleashes a training rocket during a live-fire exercise in Undva, Estonia, July 11, 2025. The exercise marked the first time Estonian troops fired their U.S.-made HIMARS. (Rose Di Trolio/U.S. Army)

Delays in U.S. missile deliveries caused by the war in Iran are pushing NATO ally Estonia to look for alternative ways to maintain its defenses, a top official told the country’s public broadcasting network.

The United States has paused munitions supplies to Estonia until at least the end of the Iran war, according to ERR.

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Germany unveils strategy for becoming Europe’s strongest military by 2039

The Bundeswehr will move away from rigid hardware quotas − the number of tanks, aircraft or ships − toward a flexible, effects-based planning model. Read More

ArianeGroup studying ballistic-missile production in Germany: Les Echos

“Everyone in Europe is convinced that we need options for conventional ballistic missile for deep strike given the expansion of conflicts,” Bruneau said. Read More

Italy forgoes $14 billion deficit spending on defense amid wobbling economy

“Today we have other priorities. I have the priority of energy costs and the priority of responding to the needs of citizens," said the prime minister. Read More

NATO eyes Swedish-Canadian jet for AWACS role in shift away from Boeing

The political momentum behind the GlobalEye had been building for a while. Read More

The War Zone med oppdatering

 

Hellfire vil bli brukt mot små fartøyer som Revolusjonsgarden legger miner med. Det er også et effektivt anti-pamser missil. Jeg tror det der det missilet som brukes mot drug-kartellenes smuglerbåter. Kan Norges Bell 412SP ta disse? Jeg har aldri sett oppheng for missiler på helikoptertypen. Vi er som kjent ekstremt tilbakestående med militære helikoptre. (Red.)

A STRONG OFFENSE FOR THE WORLD OF DEFENSE

April 24, 2026 The Navy’s top leadership says they are working hard to avoid serious issues that have plagued previous shipbuilding efforts when it comes to the Trump class “battleship” program. Senior officials have focused, in particular, on the need to have a very firm design before any work on the large surface combatants, the first of which could cost a whopping $17 billion, actually begins. A lack of a finalized design, along with repeated changes to it along the way, contributed heavily to the demise of the Constellation class frigate last year. Read our full report here. As another U.S. delegation is headed to Pakistan to try to restart negotiations, be sure to check out TWZ’s rolling coverage for the latest on the conflict in the Middle East here.

Must Read Articles

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Ukraine’s Drone-Hunting An-28 Turboprop Is Now Launching Interceptor Drones The latest evolution of Ukraine’s rugged An-28 Cash turboprop counter-drone platform combines interceptor drones and Minigun armament. READ NOW

HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters To Take On Doomsday Evacuation Role In The Nation’s Capital The Jolly Green IIs will be modified for VIP airlift and continuity of government ops, replacing aging UH-1N Twin Hueys in these roles. READ NOW

Navy Rushing To Arm Carrier Strike Groups With Hellfire Missiles The Navy is pushing more counter-drone hard-kill capabilities to its fleet as it comes to terms with the growing threat of one-way attack drones. READ NOW

F-15EX Buy Was Just Doubled By The USAF, Which Makes Perfect Sense While it is initially replacing the F-15C, more F-15EXs will provide a ready successor to aging F-15E Strike Eagles and possibly other types. READ NOW

From the Archive

The Saga Of The AGM-129 Cruise Missile That Was Basically A Stealth Jet Designed Upside Down

The Advanced Cruise Missile was too far ahead of its time, so much so that it was eventually succeeded by the missile it was supposed to replace.

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Hot Shots

MH-60S Sea Hawk transports stores above guided missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) during a vertical replenishment-at-sea in the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Johnathan McCune

The tail flash of a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 308th Fighter Squadron displays the unit’s markings and tail code, LF, during a routine training flight over the Sonoran Desert. USAF photo by Senior Airman Belinda Guachun

U.S. Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct marksmanship training aboard amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean. USMC photo by Sgt. Trent A. Henry