2020s

As much as I'm interested in military equipment nomenclature, until today I was completely unaware that the United States Space Force has established a new designation system for its weapon systems. First published in October 2023, and amended/refined in July 2024, it is defined in Space Force...

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on June 2nd for the new shiplift at the BAE Jacksonville Ship Repair facility in Jacksonville, Florida. Built by Pearlson Shiplift Corporation, it is capable of lifting 25,000 ton ships. This is one of the 10 largest shiplifts in the world. The new shiplift...

https://newatlas.com/military/ramjet-engine-turns-artillery-rounds-supersonic-missiles/ https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/weapons/future-artillery-2025-tiberius-unveils-sceptre-ramjet-155-mm-munition (Subscription or registration may be required)...

The recent USN airstrikes on the Houthis and associated Signal leak debacle illustrates the recent US attitude that they are 'bailing Europe out' as the Red Sea and Suez Canal is far more important to the Europeans than the Americans. My question is with what could the Europeans use to keep the...

I thought I'd open this because it might interest members. Project Hail Mary is a novel by Andy Weir, author of The Martian and is hard-ish sf (though a critical element has a TRL of 0 or less). Filming has wrapped on an adaptation starring Ryan Gosling that is slated for release on March 20...

Via Slashdot: https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/31/china_disguised_tech_companies_taiwan/

Some of you may remember that in early November of 2023, multiple aviation news outlets reported that the Skunk Works had delivered a secret aircraft to the Air Force, that had also survived the threat of cancellation...

working off the artist renderings, we can get a general idea of the visible platform and shapes. I'm not exactly sure how swept the tailing edge of the canards are. Or of any anlges used here (I assumed 42deg a la f22). In reality, it may be stretched WAY further to accomodate a higher mach...

Between 2023-2025, Israel endured October 7th, a war with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon which in turn led to the collapse of Assad and rise of HTS in Syria, a naval siege in the Red Sea, and a ballistic missile exchange with Iran. During that time, Israel shifted from a failed (IMO)...

The Pale Ale designator refers to a U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) program that operates and maintains Bombardier Q200 (former De Havilland Canada Dash-8-201/202) reconnaissance aircraft as as "Transit Zone Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA)" to support counternarcotics detection monitoring...

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/02/bmt-and-jmu-awarded-landing-craft-contract-by-japans-atla/ Not sure if this planned new class will be operated by the recently established Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) Maritime Transport Group triservice unit or by the JMSDF. This article from...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/31/china-building-largest-military-command-centre-in-world/

Australian Defence Force to recruit Five Eyes personnel Are we going freelance................... Regards,

Via Financial Times. Thoughts?

Electra Aero based in Virginia, USA has been flying their EL-2 "Goldfinch" eSTOL prototype this year. View: https://youtu.be/esTykmreHuQ?si=kYyR5twOLkFumFiU Recent events include demonstrations for DoD and even giving the NASA administrator a ride View...

https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/12/24293598/waymo-los-angeles-robotaxi-no-waitlist

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/mark-phelan/2024/11/09/jaguar-car-brand-models-future-production/75974428007/

Things in the Pacific seem to be moving closer to a Sino-US war. View: https://youtu.be/Bck_CHmtWPI?si=lO_Glm0Ud3HFUCt7 View: https://youtu.be/CW1TYDVBSmI?si=7Cixue4hcIjrBSmU

Since there aren't any large threads for FREMM already, I figured I would create one specifically to discuss the background and development of the FREMM-EVO, a pair of interim frigates ordered for the Marina Militare Italiana. Background: Before we talk about the FREMM-EVO, we should talk...

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/10/elon-musk-hypes-a-30000-tesla-cybercab-robovan-at-robotaxi-event.html