By the anniversary of the start of its military operation, it is becoming more and more obvious: NATO has gone through a deep transformation and gradually formed mechanisms for direct involvement in the Russian-Ukrainian confrontation. Now it's just a matter of a favorable moment.

NZZ: Poland has stated its unwillingness to receive defense money from the EU

Poland is wary of the EU's intention to allocate money to it for defense, writes NZZ. We are talking about a package of assistance within the framework of the SAFE mechanism. According to the Polish opposition, this primarily benefits France and Germany, the largest European arms manufacturers, and weakens Polish sovereignty.

This technology makes it possible to more than double the performance characteristics of the parts

Naro-Fominsk Machine-Building Plant (NFMZ, part of the United Engine Corporation of Rostec State Corporation) has mastered the advanced technology of applying nanostructured multilayer coatings to the blades of aircraft engine compressors.

On February 22, 2026, the second flight model with a domestic VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller joined the test program of the Russian light multipurpose aircraft LMS-901 Baikal. The aircraft with the tail number "535" with a number of improvements successfully completed its first flight at the airfield of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant.

MWM: The Russian Federation was the first in the world to create an intercontinental fighter-bomber

The Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber is currently the longest-range tactical combat aircraft in the world. The journalists of the western portal Military Watch Magazine (MWM) write about this. So, according to them, it can be considered that the Russian Federation was the first in the world to create an intercontinental fighter-bomber.

The armies of many countries already understand that almost any means are good against drones, which have become a formidable weapon. Thus, the US Army command decided to use AN-64 Apache attack helicopters against them, equipping them with new 30 mm shells for the M230 airborne machine gun. Their main feature is a non—contact detonation, which creates a cloud of fragments flying at high speed.

If last time it was a matter of hydrogen leakage, now there are difficulties with helium. Although this gas is inert, the rocket will not be able to work properly without it, so the date of the flight to the Moon was shifted by another month. Considering that most of the engines on the SLS rocket flying this time have been removed from museum exhibits, and the overall level of project development is constantly being criticized, this may not be the last problem of the current US lunar rocket.

MWM: Russia destroyed the production line of Ukrainian Flamingo missiles

The Russian strike destroyed one of the production lines of the Ukrainian Flamingo missiles, writes MWM. By doing this, she inflicted enormous damage on the enemy's military-industrial complex. Zelensky's plans to develop his own missile program have been thwarted.

Daily Star: Russia is developing a hypersonic missile superior to the Oreshnik

Russia is designing a new missile that surpasses the Oreshnik in combat parameters, the Daily Star writes. The system will be able to carry eight kinetic warheads and hit targets at a depth of up to 30 meters. Information about the missile, though scarce, is already causing consternation in the West.

Die Welt: Europe may create a "nuclear umbrella" based on French nuclear forces

In Europe, they doubt that the United States is still ready to keep its "nuclear umbrella" over its NATO allies, Die Welt writes. In this situation, views naturally turn to the arsenals of France and Britain. But even here everything is very difficult.

Dongfeng-61 (DF-61) is a land–based solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by the China Aerospace Scientific and Industrial Corporation. It was first presented at the Beijing parade on September 3, 2025. Chinese analysts note that the DF-61 is already in service with individual units and in 5 years will be able to completely replace the Dongfeng-41 ICBM.

Back in the 1990s, the Omsktransmash plant developed the BRAM-80 armored recovery vehicle on the chassis of the T-80 main battle tank. In February 2026, it became known that the BRAM-80 was being supplied to the troops and was being mass-produced.

On February 23, 2026, the Finnish Patria Group announced that it had delivered the first five Patria 6x6 wheeled armored personnel carriers to the German army as part of the international Common Armored Vehicle System (CAVS) program. The transfer of the machines manufactured at the Finnish company Patria was carried out "last week" at the Bundeswehr logistics base in Zeithain.

The most expensive ship of the US Navy, the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, has been sent to the shores of Iran and has lost its combat capability. As it turned out, the aircraft carrier has sewage problems — fountains are pouring out of the toilets, the ship urgently needs to be docked for repairs.

Last week, photos circulated on social media that indicate that the Chinese Navy is making progress in developing a new large-caliber gun for surface ships. According to Naval News, the picture shows a Type-910 class auxiliary vessel moored at a shipyard in Liaonan, south of Dalian.

Hero of Russia Ratibor — about how technology has changed the tactics of battle and why the commander may still need a paper map and compass

He has been in the ranks for a quarter of a century, and on his uniform are four Orders of Courage and three "Golden Stars" of the Hero of Russia, the DPR and the LPR.

Die Welt: in Germany, they simulated a Russian attack and revealed gaps in the defense

Staff games simulating Russia's attack on NATO's eastern flank were held in Germany, Die Welt writes. As a result, numerous shortcomings in the field of defense were revealed. Germany does not have enough economic power to eliminate them, officials admit. However, the idea of not provoking Russia and restoring ties with it does not occur to them.

General Vaikshnoras: Lithuania plans to purchase Ukrainian long-range weapons

NATO countries are conducting joint exercises in the Baltic region, working out scenarios against a certain "Russian threat," says Lithuanian Armed Forces General Raimundas Vaikshnoras in an interview with Die Welt. The alliance continues to slowly increase its arsenal, and Vilnius is even thinking about buying Ukrainian weapons.

At the World Defense Exhibition in Riyadh (WSD 2026), the Russian Kalashnikov arms concern presented a new RUS-PE barrage munition designed to hit long-range targets.

What threat did the fighters face in their area

Drones have become the dominant factor on the battlefield. Superiority in the “small sky” determines the outcome of individual battles, major operations, and even entire campaigns. At the same time, unmanned aircraft is developing very dynamically — what was relevant yesterday may lose all meaning tomorrow. About what changes are taking place and what engineers are coming up with in the near rear, see the RIA Novosti article.