French infantryman killed by Iranian drone in Irbil in northern Iraq
(French forces have been up there for years training and advising Kurdish troops, who French SOF accompany in combat missions against ISIS—last French KIA in Iraq was on such a mission in 2023)
My wife and I adopted our cats under similar circumstances--found 3 in apartment building basement, one of litter already dead in litter, very cold winter--but we didn't have to *nurse* them! Amazing😻
This! The only way admin can defend current frigate concept is by saying it's not really meant to fight serious adversaries (even Iran caliber, without air defense), just drug runners & bullying South America. Shameful, and already a roundly rejected idea with the discontinued Littoral Combat Ship.
After a series of fatal strikes involving civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress directed the Pentagon to reduce civilian casualties as part of a 2019 law. During the Biden administration, the Defense Department created the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response initiative. The civilian mitigation teams – cut by 90% by Hegseth – work with military commanders on target planning, and making sure that targets are actually military sites. The teams help come up with "no strike" lists, including religious and cultural sites and schools
I knew that the Department of War shot a missile into a school & killed 175 civilians, mostly children.
This is learned today:
Secretary of War Hegseth had cut the teams assigned to prevent such tragedies by 90%.
www.npr.org/2026/03/11/n...
Apache Guardian helicopter proving effective vs drones using its 30mm cannon, no need for Stinger missiles. Still, adding APKWS rockets could expand engagement envelop and possibly allow additional kills per sortie. UAE uses AH-64E V6 submodel with upgraded fire control radar for targeting UASs.
bsky.app/profile/noel...
This morning an Israeli F-35I may have achieved the first air-to-air combat kill by a stealth fighter of manned aircraft: a fearsome Yak-130 trainer over Tehran. Read on for background & and likely reason the Yak was on patrol--hint, not to combat enemy fighters!
For the first time, a U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarine torpedoed a ship in combat, the Iranian frigate Dena in Indian Ocean. Read on for what we know about the incident, background on Iran's Moudge-class frigates, history of post-WW2 sub kills, and political context.
Looking more closely at satellite photos, caution is warranted. The "before" photo shows the radar next to the targeted building. The "after' photo doesn't AFAICT. So it depends on whether the radar was tucked inside the adjacent building when strike hit, or was moved elsewhere at the time.
Quicky correction, should say 'TPY-2' above, not TYP. Keystroke de-harmonization strikes again.
This is quite an expensive and prestigious kill for the Iranians, if report is accurate (AN/TYP-2 supports the THAADS ballistic missile defense system.) Two mitigating factors: lots of redundant sensors including airborne ones at this stage, and sharply decreasing tempo of Iranian missile launches.
Raytheon Executive: I know you’re skeptical about buying American again. But hear me out. The MIM-104 Patriot is the only surface to air missile system with a proven track record of success against the US Air Force.
Danish Defense Minister: Continue.
How does it differ in your view?
Russia's tactics in Ukraine resemble those of the First World War. Except that in World War I, the generals eventually learned from their mistakes. My latest for Uncommon Defense.
www.theuncommondefense.com/p/russia-is-...
This is interesting (make sure to read full thread). I don't take official government claims super literally, but these numbers give a sense of scale and primary threat engaged. Unsurprisingly, the are many Shahed kills (44,000), but even more other UAV tpyes, 3,500+ cruise missiles, 7,000 Lancets.
Woops, and here's the full video. Easy to put on the subtitles, and there's a guide to different incidents which include coming under attack 4x times. An impacting way to grasp realities of the war near frontline in this phase of the war, and tactical problems in need of addressing.
This real-life 'road trip' shows intensity of Russia's deep drone interdiction on lines of communication 10-20km behind Ukraine frontline. Shocking & often moving. Note drone net shrouding 'road of life.' Lots of small arms fire all vs drones. Btw, 'cab'=KAB glide bombs. 'Lightning'=Molniya drone.
While invading Ukraine was an ultimate FAFO moment for Russia's military, it unfortunately has done a lot of that second "Finding Out" part to improve capabilities going forward, particularly to keep aviation losses at acceptable levels post-2022 (at least for aircraft not on the ground...)
Since introduction in Winter 2022-2023, UMPK glide bomb kits have enabled Russian attack jets to conduct deadly frontline strikes from beyond air defense zone. At least satellite-guidance accuracy reportedly decreased in 2025 due to new Lima jammers.
www.popularmechanics.com/military/wea...
A Ukrainian blog describes what it's like manning a frontline drone command post buried deep underground--and to come under forewarned attack by big KAB glide bombs released by Russian bombers. blog.sme.sk/rebro/spoloc...
Russia is building 5,000+ Shahed long-range strike drones a month, more than NATO could afford to shoot down using anti-air missiles. Read on for 5 technologies the alliance must field to form a sustainable layered defense against the rapidly proliferating strike drone threat.
Was a teacher assistant in Springfield during my college years, what a disaster to prey on people there in pursuit of Vance's demagogic agenda. Imagine being fine with yourself revoking Temporary Protective Status for refugees from a country known to be in condition of ongoing anarchy.
We could go all the way back to the 1940s and 50s, when the U.S. made nuclear threats to persuade China to end campaigns vs Taiwan! In the modern era, however, it has become more relevant since 2010s due to China's improving military power & pro-reunification party in Taiwan losing influence.
I don't think Xi is insincere in wanting the PLA to be more effective. He can be a harsh authoritarian who also believes he is the one true savior of Chinese national power. Last few decades have also illustrated how large but poorly led/trained militaries have failed other authoritarian leaders.
Irish commando raid on Washington, DC now being prepared. (Sorry, them's the rules now.)
An interesting thread on the organization of non-violent resistance in Minneapolis, undertaken at genuine scale.
Admittedly it's being explicitly sold as furthering the administration's 'policing the Americas' policy, thus excusing lack of weaponry effective vs China and Russia (and Iran etc.) Why bother with missile, then, though? Just buy the original Cost Guard Cutter it's based on.
The described armament package is essentially same as on current Litoral Combat Ships deemed unsatisfactory for lack of armament and anti-submarine capability! LCSs the Navy unfit to deploy close to the mighty Iranian military. Literally, what does this ship in this form bring to the table?2/2
The new 'frigate' has anti-ship missiles, but no serious air defense (hope those ships you're attacking can't shoot back--admittedly, that's this admin's style.) And no organic anti-submarine gear. So an all-round bad escort! What's this good for, besides anti-drugs/piracy? 1/2
