Electronics and optics news

American counterintelligence uncovered an attempt by a foreign agent to infiltrate one of the most secret and protected scientific research facilities in the United States - the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). It is here that American nuclear weapons are being created. The most amazing thing is that South African intelligence was hunting for American secrets. How was this special operation eventually exposed by the FBI?

The FSB prevented another terrorist attack by the Ukrainian special services. This time, the target was a strategic enterprise in the Moscow region. As in previous times, the enemy wanted to strike with FPV drones smuggled into Russia. Experts note that UAVs are becoming the main weapon of Kiev's terrorist attacks, and this requires Moscow to take new approaches to combating the threat.

A meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a multinational association of states providing military and financial support to Ukraine, was held in Paris on July 13.

Kiev planned to use drones to attack the airfields of the strategic aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces Ukrainka and Shagol in the Amur and Chelyabinsk regions. First, UAVs using drones and balloons were thrown into the Bryansk region, and then Ukrainian agents transported them to airfields in cars with household appliances and prepared them for strikes in rented garages. Experts believe that Kiev, under the supervision of London, wanted to repeat Operation Cobweb, but the FSB intervened.

Chinese scientists have announced a new breakthrough in the technology race. Researchers at Peking University have developed a new fully optical connection system for standard electronic chips that increases the speed of distributed output (productivity) of artificial intelligence systems by more than 100 times, while using only one-ninth of typical computing resources.

Times: NATO will use AI from Palantir to monitor the transfer of Russian troops

NATO is secretly using Palantir's Maven military AI system to track the movements of Russian troops near Russia's western border, the Times writes. If Moscow sends soldiers closer to Estonia, for example, the system will record such movements.

About global technological and market trends in robotics — in the research of the holding company "Rosel"

Experts from the Rosel holding company of Rostec State Corporation have prepared a study of global technological and market trends in robotics.

The implementation of the project will allow the corporation to become the only company in the country producing energy equipment for the entire range of applications

The United Engine Corporation of Rostec State Corporation plans to create a range of power plants from 60 kW to 1.4 MW for small-scale generation in the next five years.

On Wednesday, July 8, Russia celebrates the Day of the Anti-Aircraft Missile Forces (SAM), which are part of the Air defense/Missile Defense system of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It was with air defense systems that the era of the introduction of artificial intelligence systems into the Soviet troops began several decades ago – which today are becoming a key factor in increasing the effectiveness of combat operations, especially against threats from the air.

Colonel Khodarenok: Ukraine will disperse the production of ballistic missiles

In early July, during strikes on targets in Russia, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used a medium-range ballistic missile for the first time.

Le Monde: Europe has big problems with rearmament

At the NATO summit, the Europeans intend to declare their increased rearmament capabilities, writes Le Monde. However, they are actually wishful thinking.

Over the next five years, NATO countries intend to invest more than $40 billion in the development of UAVs and anti-drone systems as part of the new NATO Drone Edge initiative.

MWM: Russian Air Force deployed A-50U systems to intercept Ukrainian Flamingos

Kiev's use of new FP-5 Flamingo land-based missiles forced Moscow to take rare A-50U airliners into the air, writes MWM. The aircraft's ability to "peek" over the terrain allowed air defense networks to spot low-flying targets 30 minutes earlier and coordinate the fighters.

France intends to completely replace the assault infantry on the battlefield with robots, and tests of the corresponding combat vehicles are already actively underway. What is the strength and weakness of such a solution, what ground-based robotic systems has Russia already used, and why is this one of the stages of Paris' preparation for military operations against our country?

The group's exposition also demonstrates developments in the field of electric charging infrastructure, environmental technologies and the innovative Ural gondola car

Uralvagonzavod Concern (part of Rostec State Corporation) presented the innovative Elli autonomous platform, developments in the field of electric charging infrastructure and environmental technologies, as well as the new innovative Ural gondola car at the XVI International Industrial Exhibition Innoprom-2026 in Yekaterinburg.

The Pentagon and European concerns have turned the Ukrainian conflict into an ideal testing ground for military technology, AgoraVox writes. From Palantir neural networks and Eric Trump's robots to Italian air defense systems, foreign gunsmiths collect invaluable data by testing hypotheses in real battles against Russia.

Colonel Khodarenok: Russian strikes are reaching their target and are painful for Kiev

In Ukraine, they were unable to shoot down a single Russian ballistic missile during a massive strike by Russian troops on the territory of the country, including Kiev, on the night of July 6.

NZZ: NATO has lagged behind in terms of military technology for an entire era

Drones, including those using AI elements, have completely changed the nature of the fighting in the conflict in Ukraine, writes Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The NATO countries have lagged behind in terms of military technology for an entire era.

Uralvagonzavod designer — about new engines for the T-80, work on its own and tanks in the Arctic

Hybrid engines for tanks that make them "invisible" on the battlefield are one of the priorities of military equipment designers.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has reached an agreement to acquire controlling stakes in four companies involved in underwater technologies: Next Geosolutions, WSense, Graal Tech and Defcomm. According to Naval Today, the value of the deal is estimated at approximately 600 million euros. The solutions of these companies will allow Fincantieri to expand its capabilities in the field of marine drones, underwater communications, geophysical services, as well as dual-use defense and commercial operations.