As air forces explore fighter-like drones, operational costs and logistics suggest simpler, runway-independent and expendable designs—used in high numbers—may provide greater capability and resilience. The U.S. Air Force plans large-scale drone acquisition.

This article asserts that beyond the upheaval of the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran, a strategic shift will likely benefit China; potentially redefining security, diplomacy and economic alliances in the Indo-Pacific.

While undeniably a victory, Cannae serves as a grim reminder of the supremacy of the strategic over the tactical, and the difficulty of translating even the most tremendous tactical successes into new strategic realities.

Rapid advances in low-cost, uncrewed and multi-domain systems are transforming how air capabilities are used—demanding faster adaptation, smarter planning and more scalability. Heterogeneous forces allow broader, decentralised operations while mixed threat defence complexity grows.

Delays in delivery of US Navy’s next generation submarine are expected. These delays are not only a capability concern for US, but also for Australia, anxiously dependent on US ship building capacity to deliver its new submarine.

The plan includes Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar, joint counter-drone program, joint support ships, long-range precision strike capability, increased domestic ammunition production, additional logistics utility vehicles, light utility vehicles, armoured vehicles, improved pay, recruitment and retention.

The US experiment saw an increase in the quantity of decisions, without a decrease in quality. The AI doubled the number of operational dilemmas humans were able to address and generated three times the solutions.

US Armed Services Committee is concerned that its acquisition system incentivises compliance over capability, process over speed and certitude over innovation. Future conflict needs to be won with acquisition at speed and scale without compromising transparency and accountability.

This comprehensive article looks at all the options in detail. Alliances need clear interests in common, some shared values or political will to provide a foundation for trust and, mutual capability. Coalitions could discourage coercive behaviour.

Edgewing, a new joint venture involving BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd., will be responsible for the design and development of the next generation combat aircraft.