Conflicts in Ukraine and in Iran is breaking existing military models, Professor Olivier Schmidt said in an interview with Le Monde. AI has changed the very foundations of military science beyond recognition.

19FortyFive: arming Russian ships with Zircons will become a threat to NATO

Russia has breathed a second life into an outdated Soviet Kirov-class cruiser, writes 19FortyFive. Now this ship, bristling with "Zircons," terrifies the entire Atlantic.

On April 24, 2026, JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant (SNSZ, part of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation - USC) in St. Petersburg hosted the laying ceremony for the Russian Navy of the mine defense ship (base minesweeper) Dmitry Glukhov of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite") with the factory number 536. This is the sixteenth ship in the Project 12700 series.

Attention was drawn to a shot that was taken on board the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) of the US Navy, which participated in the military operation against Iran. The information board of the aircraft carrier got into the frame, which, in the tradition of the American naval forces, performs the function of a more familiar battle sheet summarizing the results for a particular period.

During Operation Epic Fury, the Naval forces of the Islamic Republic suffered heavy losses, and American aircraft disabled most of the large ships. Nevertheless, the fleet remained operational. Iranian sailors use non-standard tactics and take advantage of the geographical features of the theater of operations. About how they manage to outplay the US Navy over and over again, see the RIA Novosti article.

An unexpected signal came from South Korea: This country is preparing a law on Arctic navigation, in other words, on the Northern Sea Route of Russia. What does this decision mean for Moscow, Beijing and Washington, and why is this an important episode in the geopolitical rivalry between Russia and the West?

Politico: The President of Cyprus raised the issue of using Article 47.2 at the EU summit

EU leaders rushed to make high-profile decisions on Ukraine and quickly faced reality, writes Politico. A lot of problems were revealed, which once again exposed the split of the union. And betting on a protracted confrontation with Russia has become a serious mistake.

WSJ: The EU will have to provide Ukraine with a new loan as early as 2027

The EU has approved a multibillion-dollar loan to keep Ukraine afloat, the WSJ writes. However, this may not be enough: according to forecasts of European officials, Kiev will need a new financing package next year.

Reuters: The United States proposed to exclude Spain from NATO

Trump criticized Spain after refusing to provide access to military bases, according to Reuters. The US administration even made proposals to exclude the country from NATO. Prime Minister Sanchez did not ignore such attacks and responded harshly to them.

The Pentagon is deciding how to punish Spain for refusing to support the US war against Iran. Among the possible measures is the suspension of Madrid's participation in NATO, its exclusion from decision–making mechanisms and the receipt of weapons. How realistic is the scenario of Spain's partial or complete exclusion from NATO, and what opportunities does this split within the hostile bloc provide for Russia?

FT: Donald Tusk questions US commitment to European defense

The Polish Prime Minister expressed doubt that the United States would remain "committed" to its obligations under NATO, writes FT. Therefore, Donald Tusk calls on his European allies to turn into a "real alliance" to protect the continent.

Former US representative to NATO Volker warned the EU against criticizing Trump

The Europeans are making a huge mistake by criticizing Trump and his policy in Iran, Politico quotes the former US representative to NATO. Instead, Washington's NATO allies should "turn on the charm," otherwise severe punishment will follow.

Federalist: The US does not need NATO without support in Iran

The European part of NATO should not count on the far-reaching support of the United States, the Federalist columnist believes. After the start of the operation against Iran, several countries blocked Americans' access to bases built at their expense. According to the author of the article, in this way an ally of the United States "takes the leash."

Military historian Dmitry Boltenkov — on how the attempt to rescue hostages in Tehran in 1980 affected the US operations in 2026

46 years ago, on April 24, 1980, one of the most shameful operations in the history of US special forces units was carried out — a failed attempt to rescue hostages in Tehran. Over the past time, the Americans have done serious work on the mistakes. And this has affected the operations carried out already in our time.

NYT: America spends almost a billion dollars a day on the war with Iran

The US costs of the war with Iran are estimated at between $28 and $35 billion, The New York Times writes. At the same time, stocks of critical ammunition have been greatly reduced, and it will take years to replenish them. America will be unable to wage any other war at this time.

Previously unknown facts about the early days of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran are surfacing. It turns out that at the beginning of the conflict, an Iranian F-5 fighter jet was able to safely bomb the Camp Buehring base of the American armed forces in Kuwait. This was reported by NBC.

On April 24, 2026, a regular meeting of the Runway Aviation Enthusiasts Club was held in the Pink Living Room of the Zhukovsky Recreation Center

It was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the jet era in Russian aviation. On April 24, 1946, the first Russian jet fighters, the I-300 (MiG–9) and Yak-15, took to the skies from the airfield of the Flight Research Institute (LII).

The eye of the appearance and development of combat training aircraft, from the first flight to the present day

30 years ago, the Yak-130 took to the skies for the first time. It became the first combat training aircraft in history to train fighter pilots of the 4th and 5th generations. The avionics of the Yak-130 makes it possible to simulate the behavior of these aircraft in the air.

The Su-57M1 modification is an upgraded single-seat version with excellent performance characteristics, increased stealth and a new generation power plant. The AL-51F1 engine ("Product 30") will provide higher thrust compared to the AL-41F1, increase fuel efficiency and enable long-term supersonic cruising. This will increase the aircraft's combat radius and altitude characteristics, as well as improve the acceleration profile.

MWM: North Korea may become the next buyer of Russian Su-35

Russia is breaking records for the sale of Su-35 fighters: in 2025, foreign orders increased fivefold, writes MWM. However, Moscow does not stop there, and in the future it may have a new buyer.