Chinaβs military purge pushes back Taiwan operation plans
China has placed its top operational military commander, General Zhang Youxia, under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law, a move that is expected to disrupt command continuity and delay any near-term plans for a military operation against Taiwan, The Telegraph reported. Chinaβs Ministry of National Defense confirmed on Saturday that Zhang, vice chairman [β¦]
Several Pakistan Air Force Ilyushin Il-78 aircraft were spotted at an airfield in Chinaβs Sichuan province on January 19β20, according to photographs that surfaced online and were reviewed by regional observers. The aircraft, including one carrying the registration number R11-003, were seen on the ground and during departure from the base, indicating a temporary presence [β¦]
China has launched an investigation into two of its most senior military officials, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, on suspicion of serious violations of discipline and law, the Chinese government announced on Saturday, in a move that reaches the highest levels of the Peopleβs Liberation Army command structure. According to the official announcement, Zhang Youxia, [β¦]
Japan confirmed that a Russian IL-20 intelligence-gathering aircraft conducted a surveillance flight near the countryβs western approaches on January 23, according to Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. In a statement released on Friday, Koizumi said the Russian aircraft flew from the continental direction into the Sea of Japan, proceeded southwest, then changed course off the coast [β¦]
A Taiwan security expert has called on Ukraine to apologize for past transfers of military equipment and advanced technologies to China, following recent remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that criticized the flow of Taiwanese electronic components into Russiaβs military industry. Mei Fu-hsing, director of the Taiwan Strait Security Research Center and a U.S.-based analyst, [β¦]
The Indian Army has flagged off the first batch of Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) repaired at its newly established Tank Medium Repair Facility in Ladakh, marking the start of frontline maintenance operations at the worldβs highest armored repair site. The facility, located in the high-altitude Ladakh region, is designed to provide on-site repair and restoration [β¦]
India is set to publicly unveil its Long Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile (LRAShM) during the Republic Day parade on January 26, marking the first official presentation of the countryβs longest-range hypersonic strike weapon developed for maritime operations. The missile, formally known as the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, is a boost-glide hypersonic system developed by the [β¦]
Japanβs Ministry of Defense reported a sharp increase in Air Self-Defense Force emergency fighter scrambles in December 2025, with aircraft launched 79 times to intercept foreign military aircraft approaching Japanese airspace, according to data released by the Joint Staff Office on January 16, 2026. The total represented an increase of 46 scrambles compared with November [β¦]
Japanβs Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) confirmed on January 20, 2026, that it has taken delivery of a newly developed small unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) designed for underwater defense missions. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Defenseβs JMSDF public affairs office, which stated that the domestically developed UUV has now been formally inducted into [β¦]
Japanβs Board of Audit revealed in January 2026 that military equipment worth approximately 1.1 trillion yen ($6.9 billion) purchased from the United States under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program has not been delivered to the Japan Self-Defense Forces despite more than five years passing since contracts were signed. The finding is detailed in an [β¦]
South Korea has begun deploying its Hyunmoo-5 surface-to-surface ballistic missile to frontline military units, military officials said Sunday, confirming that the countryβs most powerful conventional strike weapon has entered operational service as part of efforts to deter North Korea. According to South Korean military officials, the missile began entering frontline units in late 2025 and [β¦]
A Chinese-made VN22 6Γ6 wheeled armored vehicle was spotted at the Military Scientific and Technical Institute of Uzbekistan, confirming the presence of Chinese armored platforms at a key Uzbek defense research facility. Images show the VN22 positioned inside the institute alongside other military vehicles, indicating that the platform is undergoing technical evaluation. The VN22 is [β¦]
A new variant of Chinaβs ZBD-04 infantry fighting vehicle has been spotted during transport at an undisclosed location, showing the platform fitted with an automated, unmanned weapon turret, indicating a possible shift in the Chinese Armyβs approach to infantry vehicle design. Images circulating online show a modified ZBD-04 chassis equipped with a lighter, remotely operated [β¦]
China moved three newly built Shuiqiao-class Landing Platform Utility barges, also known as invasion barges, through the Pearl River Estuary and into the South China Sea between January 11 and 15, 2026, according to new imagery and tracking data released by SynMaxβs maritime awareness platform, Theia. Theia said the second batch consists of three self-propelled [β¦]
The Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed that a Russian Navy Vishnya-class intelligence collection ship entered the contiguous zones around Yonaguni Island and Miyako Island between January 13 and January 15 before sailing into the Pacific Ocean. According to the Joint Staff Office, the vesselβhull number 535βwas detected moving northeast through the Yonaguni Island contiguous zone [β¦]
Chinaβs State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense confirmed on Jan. 12 that the export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet achieved its first combat victory last May, stating that the aircraft downed several adversary aircraft in an aerial engagement without suffering losses. The agency described the operation as the J-10CEβs first confirmed combat result. [β¦]
Japanβs Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) deployed robotic quadruped drones during a January 2026 airborne assault exercise conducted by the 1st Airborne Brigade, marking the first time the unit integrated unmanned ground vehicles into its annual new-year descent training. According to the training footage broadcast in Japan, the exercise featured an assault element inserting from two [β¦]
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have begun formal discussions to convert a $2 billion Saudi loan into a transaction for JF-17 fighter jets, Reuters reported. The talks center on a broader package valued at $4 billion, including an additional $2 billion allocated for related equipment. Reuters, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, reported that βthe total [β¦]
India is moving toward approving a large-scale purchase of Rafale fighter jets, as New Delhi prepares for French President Emmanuel Macronβs visit next month, according to senior officials familiar with the process. Indian Air Force leaders have submitted a proposal to acquire what the service described as a βsubstantialβ number of new aircraft under a [β¦]
Chinaβs state broadcaster has revealed new footage showing Peopleβs Liberation Army ground forces training with the Type 19 8Γ8 wheeled fighting vehicles, confirming their operational deployment within frontline units of the Western Theater Command. The footage was released by China Central Television and shows training activities conducted by the 149th Medium Combined Brigade of the [β¦]