U.S. Investigates How Much of Iran's Nuclear Program Was Destroyed—And How Much Remains
Analysts seek clues through satellite imagery, but beyond large holes and evidence of discoloration, comprehensive conclusion of strike success proves elusive for now.
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Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Marines and sailors are building trenches for the drone age
Picturing a sky full of drones over their head, American sailors and Marines teamed with troops from the Latvian Army this month to turn a clearing in the woods into a network of trenches designed specifically to survive attacks from above. Naval Combat Engineers, or Seabees, from Naval Construction Battalion 14 and Marines from the 8th Engineer Support Battalion took part in an exercise in Skrunda, Latvia, to quickly build and reinforce trenches. It was meant to hone their ability to make a defensive position capable of withstanding attacks from enemy drones. 'These field fortifications are built to reduce detection, limit exposure to unmanned systems, and enhance force protection across the battlespace,' said Lt. j.g. Wiatt Lewis, of Naval Construction Battalion 14, in a Navy release. The anti-drone training came during the large-scale annual Baltic Operations, or BALTOPS, a large-scale exercise held mostly at sea or in the air. However, the multi-unit drills around drone threats highlighted the role the machines now play on both battlefields and planning centers. Small, cheap, and easily modified, uncrewed aerial systems, or UASs, have quickly become a valuable part of modern warfare. They can quickly fly towards a target and either drop munitions or deliver a payload in a one-way attack. UASs can attack in large swarms meant to overwhelm a defensive position. Militaries, such as the Ukrainian armed forces, have tried several high- and low-tech ways to repel them, from radio jammers to rigging up several Kalashnikovs together as one big anti-air gun. In many ways, the construction in Skrunda looks — based on photos shared by the Navy — like the kind of trenches soldiers built during World War I. Wooden support beams dot muddy earthworks, with the occasional plank of wood or metal for stable footing for troops. There are some more intricate elements meant to deal with three-dimensional threats, including large overhead beams and a mesh of branches and brush for concealment. The BALTOPS exercise is primarily focused on naval tactics and skills, but combat engineering has long been a key specialty of both Navy and Marine units.. In this case, on-the-ground construction was sped up thanks to a mobile sawmill that Latvian engineers brought with them. In Ukraine, networks of trenches were built out and modified in part to deal with the danger of drones in its ongoing war with Russia. Nets are put up to try and snag small quadcopters coming in for attacks, and some earthworks are dug to avoid long linear patterns that could leave troops open to attack from a lateral direction. These modern warfare trenches have also shown how high-tech systems can be integrated into older defenses, with dugouts set up with wireless Internet routers, charging stations, and other tools for cyber and electromagnetic warfare. Ukraine's own attack on Russian airfields this month highlighted just how quickly small drones can devastate a fixed position. It also raised concerns about how the United States would be able to defend its bases and forward positions. Combat trenches in World War I were primarily designed to provide protection against artillery bombardments across No Man's Land, with enemy reconnaissance often dealing with the same elevation and visibility limits. In Latvia, U.S. troops outlined other challenges. The Seabees and Marines said that they now have to be aware of other ways positions could be detected. 'We are always thinking about our visibility from above, the effects of thermal detection, and how to keep the position secure from multiple angles,' Staff Sgt. Austin Leigh, a combat engineer with the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, said in a release. Sailors who can't deploy will be moved to empty jobs under Navy program Air Force relieves commander of pilot training squadron US military's highest ranking transgender officer says separation process is broken Army bringing in big tech executives as lieutenant colonels Trump reverts 7 Army bases to former names with new honorees, including Delta Force soldier
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Why does Mars look purple, yellow and orange in ESA's stunning new satellite image?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Despite being known as the Red Planet, Mars shows off its swirling yellows, oranges and browns in a new satellite photo from the European Space Agency (ESA). The Earth-toned surface also reveals an impact crater and four sneaky dust devils making their way across the region. The Rothko-like image was taken by a high-resolution camera on ESA's Mars Express orbiter and captures Arcadia Planitia, an area of Mars critical to research about the planet's past and its potential to house humans in the future. Northwest of the tallest volcanoes in the solar system, Arcadia Planitia is a region of intrigue. It's laden with solidified lava flows that are, at most, 3 billion years old. The area is also thought to host water ice close to the planet's surface, making it an area of interest when planning future missions to Mars, according to a statement from ESA. Arcadia Planitia is home to visiting "dust devils," short-lived columns of wind akin to small tornadoes. Dust devils form when the Martian surface warms the air just above it, leading the air to rise and pulling dust with it. The new image shows four dust devils as they snake their way across the plains of the region. Easy to overlook, you can spot them as whitish puffs of dust near the center of the image, straddling the boundary between the darker brown and lighter red parts of the plain. A large impact crater sits in the bottom right corner of the photo and measures 9 miles (15 kilometers) across, according to ESA. The formation of layered material around the crater is evidence that the ground encompassed notable amounts of water ice during impact, and lack of clear erosion of the crater dates it to relatively recently on the geological timeline. Related: Perseverance rover spots peculiar 'spider egg' rock on Mars — and scientists have no idea how it got there If you noticed that the image is blurry, you're discerning an effect of the wind on Mars. Gusts of air pick up and carry tiny particles of debris from the planet's surface, which creates a minor visual haze. RELATED STORIES —Mars rover captures first close-up photos of giant 'spiderwebs' on the Red Planet —Long, dark 'streaks' spotted on Mars aren't what scientists thought —NASA Mars satellite uncovers markings 'like paint dripping down a wall' on Martian surface The wind that causes the haze is also responsible for the reddish area at the top of the photo. The red region is covered in ridges called "yardangs," which are formed when wind erodes vulnerable rock and leaves the most resistant rock still standing. Below the red section is purplish-brown terrain, which has a high concentration of silicates and a low concentration of iron, the statement notes. The difference in colors also stems from properties of the sand, like density and size, which affect how the grains accumulate and travel across Mars.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Finland Ministry of Defense selects ICEYE for Space-Based Intelligence and Surveillance Capabilities
ICEYE will provide SAR satellites to the Finnish Defense Forces. HELSINKI, June 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ICEYE, the European leader in new defense technology and the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, and the Finnish Ministry of Defense have signed a Letter of Intent that enables the Finnish Defense Forces to acquire ICEYE SAR satellites. The cooperation aims to enhance the Defense Forces' intelligence and surveillance capabilities from space. The agreement outlines a preliminary delivery plan and timeline. It also encompasses the technical solutions and systems needed to establish an autonomous national capability for space-based surveillance. Data from these satellites will support real-time situational awareness for Finland's national leadership and relevant authorities. "We are proud to contribute to strengthening Finland's national security. Timely and reliable Earth observation data from space is a strategic asset that supports a wide range of decisions. With this capability, Finland will be well positioned to become a global leader in the field, and our collaboration with the Finnish Defense Forces is something our team deeply values. It also creates a vital environment for advancing capabilities that support the defense readiness of other NATO allies," says Pekka Laurila, Co-founder and CSO at ICEYE. "As space becomes increasingly critical, Finland is now taking a unique step forward in national defense. By acquiring our own satellites, we are strengthening our independent space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities, and at the same time, we are supporting the domestic high-tech defense industry and creating new opportunities to deepen cooperation with allies and partners," says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen. This cooperation offers the Finnish defense administration a rapid path to developing intelligence and surveillance capabilities and it plays a significant role in the overall development of the Defense Forces' space-based capabilities. ICEYE owns and operates the world's largest SAR satellite constellation, providing unlimited global access and the highest revisit frequency on the market. ICEYE SAR satellites provide 25 cm ground resolution, enabling accurate object detection and situational awareness in all weather and light conditions. To date, ICEYE has launched 54 SAR satellites into orbit for ICEYE's and its customers' use. About ICEYE ICEYE delivers unparalleled persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth, faster and more accurately than ever before. Owning the world's largest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, ICEYE provides objective, near real-time insights, ensuring that customers have unmatched access to actionable data, day or night, even in challenging environmental conditions. As a trusted partner to governments and commercial industries, ICEYE delivers intelligence in sectors such as defense and intelligence, insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring, and finance, enabling decision-making that contributes to community resilience and sustainable development. ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, the UAE, Greece, and the US. We have close to 900 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation. Media contact: press@ Visit and follow ICEYE on LinkedIn and X for the latest updates and insights. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE ICEYE Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
