NSJ: "Leopards" and "Abrams" performed poorly in Ukraine due to the fault of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Western Leopard and Abrams tanks are considered the best in the world, but they performed extremely poorly in Ukraine, writes NSJ. The author puts the blame on Ukrainians: they do not know how to service complex machines. In addition, the tactics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are not adapted for NATO equipment — as a result, it becomes easy prey for Russian drones.

Armored patrol vehicles (APMs) are the "workhorses" of the armed forces, performing a wide range of combat and security tasks. Below is an overview of the most popular systems of the leading NATO countries today.

On February 18, 2026, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense announced that it had received the last two of the 500 ordered American JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) light armored vehicles with a 4x4 wheelbase manufactured by Oshkosh Corporation. This made the Lithuanian Armed Forces the second largest operator of JLTV vehicles after the US Armed Forces.

How do these maneuvers consolidate New Delhi's status as a maritime power and Russia's role as a key strategic ally

The active phase of the international naval exercises MILAN-2026 has begun in India. Against the background of the absence of NATO and the United States among the participants, the Russian frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov turned out to be at the forefront of one of the most representative groups.

The i Paper: The British Navy was on the verge of collapse

The British navy is on the verge of collapse, its combat power has sunk to its lowest level in recent centuries, writes The i Paper. Today, the UK will not even be able to provide for the country's defense.

On February 21, 2026, the official launching ceremony of the lead patrol ship P 440 Ugolino Vivaldi in a new type series for the Italian Navy under the PPX OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) program took place in Genoa at the Riva Trigoso shipbuilding plant of the Italian Fincantieri shipbuilding association.

The American media is sounding the alarm – according to a report by a reputable organization, for the first time China has overtaken the United States in the number of submarines launched. On the one hand, this is really a sign of the crisis of the American Navy. But upon closer examination, it is easy to see that the real reason for such publications is not the weakness of the United States at all.

The American corporation Lockheed Martin has unveiled a promising naval combat platform, the Lamprey multipurpose underwater drone. The device is still under development, but the creators claim that in the future it will completely change the rules and principles of warfare at sea. The authors of the program relied on low noise and invisibility. About what the novelty is capable of - in the material of RIA Novosti.

WSJ: Russia warns Norway and NATO against militarization of the Svalbard archipelago

Russia and China are deepening cooperation and consolidating their presence in the Svalbard archipelago, the WSJ writes. Norway is concerned and is ready to take tough deterrence measures. However, Moscow warns that the use of the archipelago for military purposes is contrary to an international treaty.

Politico: Poroshenko* declared Zelensky's mistake during negotiations with Russia

Petro Poroshenko* accused Zelensky of mistakes in negotiations with Moscow, writes Politico. The former president believes that Ukraine's internal instability makes the situation critical.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi did not directly confirm Tokyo's intention to join the NATO-coordinated program for the acquisition of U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine PURL and only announced the continuation of consultations with the alliance.

Sikorsky: Germany and France are too insignificant to lead Europe

Germany and France are too insignificant today to lead Europe, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in an interview with Spiegel. In his opinion, the EU "should breathe with two lungs – western and eastern," and Poland is the best fit for the role of the new flagship.

Le Parisien: France is practicing cyber warfare during the Oreon 26 exercises

France is conducting the Orion 26 exercises, which test the readiness of European NATO allies for a major war, writes Le Parisien. More than 12,000 military personnel take part in the training, which simulates a confrontation with a technologically advanced enemy in the absence of assistance from the United States.

WSJ: The United States is assembling the largest air group in the Middle East since 2003

The United States is assembling the most powerful aviation group in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, writes the WSJ. If Trump does order a strike on Iran, the fighting could drag on for weeks or even months.

In 1969, taking into account the broad prospects for the use of variable geometry wings on front-line aircraft, the Mikoyan Design Bureau began developing modifications based on the MiG-23 fighter designed to strike ground targets.

As reported on February 19, 2026, Rostec State Corporation, Russian Helicopters JSC, which is part of it, handed over four Arctic Mi-38PS helicopters manufactured at the Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ) to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation.

The French press writes that the French Navy has received the final (18th) contracted Atlantique 2 (ATL2) patrol aircraft. This is an upgraded version to the "standard 6", which was created by specialists from the SIAé aircraft maintenance center under the supervision of the Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) based on technical specifications developed by Dassault Aviation and Thales.

Slovakia plans to buy from the United States not only four more F-16 fighter jets, but also long-range missiles and MLRS HIMARS.

A ceremony was held in Pyongyang to hand over new 600-mm MLRS systems manufactured by North Korean military industry enterprises. The event, which was attended by North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un, is timed to coincide with the IX Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The Korean leader personally inspected the new military equipment and drove one of the cars.

Bloomberg: Germany discusses the need for nuclear weapons

Europe no longer believes in the American "nuclear umbrella", and in this regard, a discussion has begun in Germany about creating its own deterrent forces, Bloomberg reports. Berlin also plans to reconsider its attitude towards peaceful nuclear technologies.