Articles tagged with "missile-systems"
15,000-ton warship with stealth design, missile tubes completes trial
The USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), a 15,000-ton Zumwalt-class destroyer featuring stealth design and advanced warfighting technology, has successfully completed its first sea trial following extensive modernization at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. This modernization included integrating the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic weapon system and replacing the original twin 155mm Advanced Gun Systems with new missile tubes. The Zumwalt-class destroyer boasts a state-of-the-art electric propulsion system, a wave-piercing tumblehome hull, and stealth capabilities that make it difficult to detect both near shore and at sea. The Zumwalt-class is designed for a broad range of missions including deterrence, power projection, sea control, and command and control, while maintaining adaptability for future technological upgrades. Its advanced systems provide the U.S. Navy with enhanced survivability, computing capacity, and multi-mission versatility, enabling sustained operations in littoral zones, land attack, special
energystealth-technologyelectric-propulsionmissile-systemsnaval-technologywarship-modernizationdefense-technologyWorld's smallest drone-killing missile to get new European launcher
British defense firm Babcock International and Estonian startup Frankenburg Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a containerized missile launcher system aimed at countering low-cost, one-way attack drones threatening ships and coastal infrastructure. Engineering will be led from the UK, with the goal of creating a sovereign, rapidly deployable maritime air defense capability. The system will combine Babcock’s naval integration expertise with Frankenburg’s low-cost missile technology, featuring a modular design that can be quickly installed on various vessels or fixed sites without major modifications. At the core of the project is Frankenburg’s Mark 1 missile, touted as the world’s smallest guided missile at about 60 cm in length. Designed for mass production using commercial components, the solid-fuel rocket-powered missile is optimized for short-range air defense and can be produced up to 100 times faster and at roughly one-tenth the cost of conventional alternatives. Frankenburg demonstrated a successful “hard-kill” intercept of a fast-moving aerial
robotdefense-technologydrone-countermeasuresmissile-systemsunmanned-aerial-vehiclesmaritime-securitymilitary-innovationWhy the largest-ever US arms sale to Taiwan has Beijing seeing red
On December 18, the United States finalized its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan, valued at over $11 billion. This unprecedented deal includes a mix of defensive and offensive weaponry, such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), kamikaze drones like the Altius-600 and 700M, and MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems capable of striking targets up to 190 miles away. These advanced systems surpass previous arms deals, including the $9 billion package in 2019, and notably provide Taiwan with capabilities that could reach mainland China, crossing Beijing’s declared “red line” related to its “One-China” principle. In response, China imposed sanctions on 20 major US defense firms and 10 executives involved in the arms trade, including companies like Northrop Grumman, Boeing’s St. Louis defense unit, and Anduril Industries, whose founder Palmer Luckey was personally sanctioned. China’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that Taiwan is a core interest
robotmilitary-dronesdefense-technologymissile-systemstactical-weaponsunmanned-aerial-vehiclessolid-fuel-missilesNew 7,000-ton nuclear submarine could choke 60% of China’s sea trade
India is nearing the induction of its third indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, which is in the final trial phase. Following INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, Aridhaman will significantly enhance India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent by carrying more long-range K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with a range of about 3,500 kilometers. At roughly 7,000 tons and 125 meters long, it is larger than its predecessors, offering greater missile capacity, improved survivability, and advanced sonar and defensive countermeasure systems. A fourth SSBN is also under construction to further strengthen India’s continuous at-sea deterrence capability. The commissioning of Aridhaman advances India’s strategic goal of a credible nuclear triad—land, air, and sea-based nuclear delivery systems—by improving the survivability and stealth of its nuclear forces. The submarine fleet expansion has strategic implications for regional maritime security, particularly in the
energynuclear-energysubmarine-technologydefense-technologymissile-systemsnaval-engineeringstrategic-deterrenceUS eyes new generation of warships to restore dominance at sea
The United States Navy and the Trump administration are exploring the creation of a new generation of warships, tentatively dubbed the “Golden Fleet,” aimed primarily at countering China’s rapidly expanding naval power. This concept envisions larger, heavily armed capital ships in the 15,000–20,000 ton range—bigger than current destroyers and approaching cruiser size—equipped with long-range and hypersonic missiles, advanced propulsion, hardened hulls, and modular combat systems. Complementing these capital ships would be numerous smaller support vessels such as corvettes, light frigates, and unmanned platforms, enabling a distributed, resilient, and long-range strike capability rather than relying on the traditional carrier-centric model. The initiative also reflects former President Donald Trump’s personal influence, blending national defense objectives with branding and aesthetic considerations, including a desire for more visually imposing ships. While still in early conceptual stages, the plan faces significant challenges, including industrial capacity constraints—U.S. shipyards are already
robotunmanned-systemsnaval-technologymissile-systemsdefense-technologymilitary-roboticsadvanced-materialsUS finishes initial trials of 10,200-ton nuclear super submarine
The US Navy has successfully completed the initial sea trials of the Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798), a 10,200-ton vessel and the 25th in its class. Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division, the submarine underwent a series of tests including its first submergence and high-speed maneuvers both on the surface and underwater. These trials mark a significant milestone before the submarine’s formal delivery to the Navy. Massachusetts, christened in May 2023, will soon join the Navy’s fast-attack fleet, enhancing its operational capabilities. Virginia-class submarines are highly advanced, versatile platforms designed for a wide range of missions such as anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, Tomahawk missile strikes, intelligence gathering, mine warfare, and Special Operations Forces deployment. Powered by nuclear reactors, they offer superior stealth, mobility, and endurance compared to conventional submarines. The class replaces the aging Los Angeles-class submarines and incorporates modular
energynuclear-propulsionsubmarine-technologynaval-engineeringVirginia-class-submarinesmissile-systemsstealth-technology'Arab NATO'? Could China replace US as Gulf’s main weapon supplier
The article discusses the potential shift in military alliances and arms suppliers in the Gulf region following recent Israeli airstrikes on Qatar, which killed Hamas operatives and triggered emergency meetings among Arab and Islamic leaders. These meetings, held in Doha, included representatives from the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iraq, Palestine, and Gulf states. One key proposal under consideration is the formation of a joint military coalition, sometimes referred to as an “Arab NATO.” This coalition aims to enhance regional defense cooperation and could mark a significant move away from traditional Western military suppliers like the US and Europe, toward greater reliance on Chinese-designed weapons systems and technical support. China has increasingly become a prominent arms supplier in the Middle East over the past decade, offering a range of military hardware including ballistic missiles, armed drones, artillery, radar systems, and missile corvettes. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt have incorporated Chinese military technology into their forces.
robotdronesmilitary-technologymissile-systemsdefense-systemsunmanned-aerial-vehiclesChina-arms-exportsRussia to redeploy 28,000-ton nuclear battlecruiser after 3 decades
Russia’s nuclear-powered battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov, a 28,000-ton Kirov-class warship originally laid down in 1983 and launched in 1986, has returned to sea trials after nearly three decades. The ship, renamed in 1992 after Admiral Pavel Nakhimov, has been undergoing an extensive modernization since 2014 at the Sevmash shipyard. This overhaul, described as the most comprehensive refit of any Russian surface combatant in decades, aims to transform the vessel into the future flagship of the Russian Navy. The ship’s two nuclear reactors were restarted earlier in 2025, and it recently began factory sea trials in the White Sea, marking a significant milestone after multiple delays that pushed the project’s completion from an initial 2018 estimate to now expected around 2024-2025. Key upgrades include the installation of 174 vertical launch cells, surpassing the missile capacity of comparable surface combatants like China’s Type
energynuclear-powernaval-technologymissile-systemsmilitary-modernizationshipbuildingdefense-technology