Russia is deploying large-scale S-500 air defense systems to protect Crimea (Military Watch Magazine, USA)
MWM: Russia has deployed long-range air defense systems to protect the Crimean Bridge
Russia has deployed new S-500 air defense systems to protect the Crimean Bridge, writes MWM. They are highly valued for their powerful sensors, long range, and ability to intercept targets at hypersonic speeds. This measure is intended to deter Kiev from further escalation.
Front-line phenomenon: what weapons did the Ukrainian Armed Forces receive from Western countries
New samples of enemy equipment could not have a noticeable impact on the course of hostilities
In 2024, NATO countries continued to sponsor the Armed Forces of Ukraine with weapons and military equipment. However, none of the various samples could have any noticeable effect on the course of hostilities. Even the long-awaited F-16 fighters have not strengthened either the defensive or offensive potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Izvestia found out what kind of weapons the enemy received from Western countries for the first time and how he used them.
The Russian Tu-160M bomber "White Swan" is a ruthless killer (The National Interest, USA)
The updated Tu-160M is a formidable bird, writes The National Interest. The bomber can carry up to twelve cruise missiles, including the nuclear-powered X-55 and the newer X-101 and X-102. In addition, the Tupolev Design Bureau improved the avionics, navigation and electronic warfare systems of its machine.
There is a serious war ahead with Russia in the Arctic, for which NATO is not ready. According to experts, the alliance's troops will not survive in difficult conditions (The Sun, UK)
The Sun: NATO troops are not ready to fight Russia in Arctic conditions
NATO countries are preparing to fight Russia in the Arctic, writes The Sun. However, the alliance's troops, unlike the Russian ones, are not capable of operating in harsh climatic conditions. Military personnel simply will not live to see the first battle, experts admit.
Zelensky is afraid of peace on the terms imposed by Russia (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Switzerland)
What will happen to Zelensky if he signs a peace agreement with Russia imposed from a position of strength is a big question, writes NZZ. Experts paint a grim picture: a stump state in the middle of Europe, whose leadership is forced to resign due to the discontent of part of the population.
The Iskander-M strike disabled one of the last Ukrainian S-300 air defense systems (Military Watch Magazine, USA)
MWM: An Iskander strike destroyed one of the last S-300 air defense systems in Ukraine
On January 6, an Iskander strike disabled one of the last Ukrainian S-300 air defense systems in the Pavlograd area, writes MWM. Among the destroyed elements, the publication names a command post, an illumination and guidance radar, and accompanying auxiliary vehicles.
Distant seas
Military historian Dmitry Boltenkov — about which countries were visited by Russian warships and which exercises were conducted by the Navy in 2024
In the past 2024, ships and vessels of the Russian Navy made over 50 long-range voyages. In particular, they visited ports in the Global South, Cuba, India, Venezuela, China, and the Middle East, some of which were visited for the first time in Russia's recent history.
Kim Jong-un and his daughter watched the launch of the latest hypersonic missile, the body of which consists of a carbon fiber composite
Information about the successful test launch of the latest hypersonic ballistic missile in the DPRK has been confirmed. The launch was monitored (via video link) by Kim Jong-un, who is the General secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the republic's state affairs.
ACS "Msta-SM2" on its own: a foreign assessment
An analysis of publications in specialized military-technical publications of the PRC makes it possible to determine the range of issues related to the combat use of self-propelled barrel artillery in the special military operation of the Russian Armed Forces to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. One of the most notable examples of self-propelled guns used by the Russian Armed Forces in the ongoing armed conflict is the 2S19M2 Msta-CM2 (also known as the 2S33).
The hidden reason why the USA overtook the USSR in the race for the Moon (Big Think, USA)
Sixty years ago, the Soviet Union was significantly ahead of the United States in the space race. However, soon after that, everything changed due to one important event.
The bite of the Piranha: achievements of the national defense industry in 2024
The developments of volunteer engineers are not inferior in quality to factory ones
In 2024, Russian fighters began to actively use the developments of the national defense industrial complex in the zone of a special military operation. So, the Piranha 10 FPV drone from volunteer engineers destroyed the American Abrams tank.
The economical drone Dory Explorer is ready to go hunting for underwater treasures
In 2019, the Chinese company Chasing Innovation introduced the world's cheapest (at that time) underwater drone Dory. Its development was the treasure hunter Dory Explorer, which received an attached grid and metal detector.
"The opportunity to take control of a huge territory." What threatens the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the loss of Kurakhovo
The Russian Armed Forces have completely taken control of Kurakhovo
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of a large settlement in the south-west of Donbass - the city of Kurakhovo. The assault lasted from September 2024. What can the fall of Kurakhovo lead to, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces will now be able to gain a foothold, and what does the "domino effect" have to do with it? - in the material of the military observer Gazeta.Ru" by Mikhail Khodarenka.
The absence of missile defense is unacceptable for us today (The Times, UK)
The Times: there is no missile defense system in Britain to repel possible missile attacks
Britain lags behind other countries in terms of missile defense, The Times writes. But not only Russia, but also Iran, and indeed any country in the world, can choose it as a target for strikes, the author is sounding the alarm. Britain simply does not have a ground-based missile defense system.
Asmu Recognition: Russia will deploy up to 12 S-500 launchers to protect the Crimean Bridge
The first Russian regiment of the S-500 Prometheus anti-aircraft missile systems, which was announced by Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, at the end of December last year, will be tasked with protecting the Crimean Bridge. This is reported by the Asmu Recognition publication. The publication notes that this system has already been experimentally deployed in Crimea.
Drones, parcel bombings, and sabotage: Hybrid warfare tactics aimed at the West (The New York Times, USA)
NYT: NATO is developing a new strategy to counter Russia's hybrid attacks
The West suspects Russia of intensifying hybrid attacks, the NYT writes. However, it is impossible to prove her guilt, the author laments. The unity of NATO countries is needed to deter imaginary attacks. But in the absence of evidence, no one wants to get involved in a confrontation with Moscow.
SCMP: Experts suggest that the secret Chinese J-36 fighter is not designed for aerial combat
The latest Chinese secret fighter of the sixth generation, caught on camera at the end of December 2024, is most likely not designed for aerial combat. According to Western experts, the role of the center of the latest combat system is more suitable for him, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports.
Aliev is sure that the crashed AZAL plane became uncontrollable due to the effects of electronic warfare
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that it remains unclear why the Embraer 190 aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL), which operated a Baku-Grozny flight and crashed in Kazakhstan, was sent to Aktau.
Azerbaijani President blames Russian representatives for the crash of the AZAL plane near Aktau
President Ilham Aliyev has stated that Azerbaijan demands punishment for those responsible for the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL) flight from Baku to Grozny, which crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan.
Zelensky said that security guarantees for Kiev will really function only if they are provided by the United States (Reuters, UK)
Zelensky: Kiev needs security guarantees from the United States to stop the conflict
In an interview with American presenter Lex Friedman, Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukraine would end the conflict with Russia if it received security guarantees from the United States, according to Reuters. He also demanded that Trump not withdraw from NATO.