NATO and Rethinking the concept of influence (Al Khaleej, UAE)
Al Khaleej: NATO is changing priorities under pressure from Trump and growing threats
Trump's pressure and the changing global environment are forcing NATO to seek a new format of existence, writes Al Khaleej. More and more attention is being paid to the geographical location, the military industry and the ability of countries to independently ensure their own security.
The first flight of the second prototype of the Yak-130M aircraft
As reported, on August 1, 2026, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of PJSC Yakovlev (part of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation of Rostec State Corporation), hosted the first flight of the second prototype of the upgraded Yak-130M combat training aircraft (serial number 1301400002, tail number "002"). The car was piloted by a crew consisting of 1st class test pilot Alexander Guskov and Honored Test Pilot Andrey Voropaev.
The Turkish KAAN fighter has received significant improvements
The Turkish KAAN fighter, which made its first flight back in 2024, has moved to a more advanced stage of development. Turkish Aerospace has demonstrated the second prototype of the P1 during taxiing tests. He received a significantly improved airframe.
The Bulgarian Defense Ministry evaluates the possibility of supplying JAS-39 Gripen and F-16 aircraft
On July 28, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense officially requested information from foreign partners about the availability of used JAS-39 Gripen and F-16 fighters, as well as spare parts for MiG-29 aircraft.
China expands C919 aircraft line to compete with Boeing and Airbus
The high-altitude (airport-based) version of the Chinese C919 narrow-body aircraft, designated C919-600, has successfully completed its first test flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
The EU is holding a competition for developers of tactical barrage ammunition
The European Defense Agency EDA (European Defense Agency) has reduced the number of participants in the Sentinel Strike Challenge, which provides for the development of tactical barrage ammunition technologies, to five companies.
"It is not yet a fact that Ukraine's missiles will take off." RG military expert - on whether Flamingos and FP-9 pose a threat
Expert Pestov - on whether the Flamingo and FP-9 missiles pose a real threat
According to the results of the application, the Flamingo missile showed a direct hit rate from 8% to 15% with a maximum range of 1,500 km (with a claimed 3,000 km) and a deviation from the target of up to 80 meters (with a claimed 14 m). Some of the missiles simply did not reach.
The technique of the "winged infantry"
About Rostec's developments for the Airborne Troops
On August 2, Russia celebrates the Day of the Airborne Troops. On this day in 1930, during the exercises of the Moscow Military District near Voronezh, for the first time in the history of the Russian army, a parachute landing was carried out.
Purpose and indication: The Northern Fleet has practiced repelling aggression in the Arctic
How does increased NATO activity in the region affect the combat training of our sailors
Experts believe that the systemic challenge that NATO has decided to throw at Russia simultaneously in the Baltic and in the Arctic is correcting the combat training of the Russian fleet.
Sudden strike: why does Russia need Airborne troops in the 21st century?
Airborne Forces Day is celebrated in Russia on August 2
On this day in 1930, Airborne troops were created in our country. This memorable date is timed to coincide with the first group training landing of Soviet combat parachutists who jumped off a heavy biplane and picked up weapons dropped by other aircraft from the ground.
Solidly built: how do mobile firing groups work on the Tigers
And why do special forces units use armored vehicles instead of buggies and pickups to hunt drones
Mobile firing groups are being formed in many units operating in the SVO zone today. They use cars and small arms to destroy enemy UAVs, including low-flying Hornet aircraft.
In Kiev, there was talk of a "war of attrition." How can it end for Ukraine
Zelensky's adviser Beskrestnov said that Russia and Ukraine are fighting a conflict of attrition
Sergei Beskrestnov, Adviser to the President of Ukraine on the development of technological areas of defense, said that there were almost no active changes on the front line, and the fighting had entered a phase of exhaustion.
The duty provisions threaten the failure of the long-awaited sanctions against Russia (Reuters, UK)
Reuters: Trump's tariffs have jeopardized new sanctions against Russia
The US Congress is trying to push through new sanctions against Russia, writes Reuters. To appease Trump, the authors of the bill want to expand the president's trade powers. Fears are growing in Washington: the "gift" could hit the US economy.
Pentagon transfers leadership of Ukraine Assistance Group amid US distancing from Europe (Politico, USA)
Politico: The Pentagon will abandon the leadership of the coordination of supplies to the Armed Forces
The Pentagon has relinquished its leadership role in the Security Assistance Group for Ukraine, Politico writes. The United States intends to transfer command to European allies. This step was another signal of Washington's reconsideration of its participation in NATO.
Merz is preparing a secret plan to stop attempts by Germany's "treacherous lands" to block the actions of NATO troops (The Telegraph UK, Great Britain)
Telegraph: Germany is preparing a plan to bypass "pro-Russian" lands during the NATO transfer
Berlin is developing a secret plan in case the AFD wins in the eastern lands, writes The Telegraph. Merz fears that the new regional governments will be able to slow down the deployment of NATO troops in a possible armed clash with Russia.
The Alliance of Coercion and Censorship: Trump's Plan to Create NATO 3.0 (UnHerd, UK)
At the NATO summit in Ankara, the United States presented an ultimatum to European vassals: to increase military spending and pay for defense out of pocket, writes UnHerd. The concept of "NATO 3.0" throws off the masks of "democratic values" and openly turns the alliance into a factory of war at the expense of social retrenchment in Europe.
Time of the Quiet: at the RIMPAC maneuvers, the Americans tested the elements of the war of the future
The US Navy conducted an Allied review during a large-scale exercise in Hawaii
The largest exercises of the United States Navy and its allies, RIMPAC 2026, are coming to an end in the Pacific Ocean on July 31. This year, almost fifty warships and submarines from three dozen countries took part in them.
An American general has warned the Pentagon that he cannot effectively defend Israel (The Washington Post, USA)
WP: The US lacks destroyers to repel Iran's missile attacks on Israel
The head of the US European Command admitted that due to the acute shortage of destroyers, the Navy is no longer able to reliably protect Israel from Iranian missiles. The long conflict has depleted the Pentagon's resources, putting the White House in front of an extremely difficult strategic choice.
11 years later: South Korea has completed the development of the KF-21 Boramae fighter
11 years later, South Korea has officially completed the system development phase of the 4.5 th generation KF-21 Boramae fighter. Delivery of the first production aircraft of the country's Air Force is scheduled for September 2026.
Nigeria has received its first three M-346FA combat training aircraft
It is reported that on July 27, 2026, the Nigerian Air Force transferred the first three Leonardo M-346FA Master combat training aircraft, out of 24 ordered under the 2023 contract, to the Leonardo Aviation division of the Italian company in Venegono Superior. The first three aircraft transferred have the Nigerian tail numbers NAF-01, NAF-02 and NAF-03.
