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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel's billion-dollar laser weapon could dominate global defense – or be killed by politics
Israel's laser weapons debut in combat as NATO eyes next-gen defenses. Low-cost, battlefield-proven tech—but geopolitics may block export deals. The Defense Ministry's confirmation that Rafael's laser interception systems were used during the ongoing Swords of Iron war comes at a pivotal moment. NATO countries are preparing to raise their defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), a shift expected to generate some €800 billion in procurement. With Israeli companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems already embedded in NATO supply chains, their next-generation laser systems could become Israel's next multi-billion-dollar defense export—if diplomatic friction doesn't block the path. Despite more than 10,000 successful interceptions since 2011, Israel's Iron Dome air-defense system—developed by Rafael—has never been sold as a full system to any foreign country. While the United Kingdom purchased its battle management center and the United States Marine Corps acquired its interceptors, no nation to date has received the complete platform. This contrasts with the international success of other Israeli air-defense systems. The Arrow 3, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), was sold to Germany in a $3.5 billion deal. David's Sling, another Rafael system, was sold to Finland for €317 million. Rafael's Barak MX system has racked up roughly $10 billion in global sales. Despite Iron Dome's strong brand recognition, it has lagged behind these systems in terms of foreign adoption. Meanwhile, other Israeli-made weapons have already become NATO standards. Rafael's Spike anti-tank guided missiles have been sold in the billions of dollars and are produced in Germany, with previous manufacturing in Poland. In recent years, Elbit's PULS rocket artillery system has gained momentum, with confirmed sales to Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark—alongside several undisclosed NATO members. Ukraine's successful use of comparable systems against Russian targets has only added to the demand. Israel now hopes its laser-based interception technology will be next in line for global adoption—and it's betting billions on it. The Defense Ministry recently disclosed the existence of two laser systems: Magen Or (Iron Beam), a high-powered 100-kilowatt laser developed jointly by Rafael and Elbit Systems, and Lahav Barzel (Iron Sting), a smaller 30-kilowatt system designed by Rafael. Magen Or has intercepted short-range rockets at distances of up to 10 kilometers in tests. The IDF is expected to deploy an operational version by the end of the year. Lahav Barzel, which was used in combat for the first time during Swords of Iron, is more compact and energy-efficient. Rafael and Israeli vehicle manufacturer Plasan have already developed a mobile version mounted on Plasan's SandCat armored vehicle, enabling rapid redeployment between combat zones. Footage released by the Defense Ministry showed Lahav Barzel successfully intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Hezbollah. The laser doesn't obliterate the drones in dramatic fashion—rather, it focuses heat on the drone's wing or fuselage until the structural integrity fails and the UAV crashes. The cost per interception is just a few dollars, limited to the electricity required to power the laser. By contrast, using interceptor missiles or air-to-air munitions can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per engagement. For American readers, that cost-efficiency could resonate strongly, particularly given current U.S. debates over defense budgets and aid allocations. As warfare becomes increasingly reliant on drone technology—seen most visibly in Ukraine and Russia's tit-for-tat strikes involving hundreds of UAVs each week—Israel's laser defense systems offer something rare: proven battlefield results at a fraction of the price. The case for Israel's laser technology is not only tactical but financial. However, Rafael CEO Yoav Turgeman acknowledged that export success also depends on geopolitical considerations—particularly growing European criticism of Israeli operations in Gaza. France, for example, reportedly attempted to dissuade Germany from purchasing the Arrow 3 system, and other European countries have downplayed their acquisitions of Israeli-made systems in response to domestic political concerns. While some European defense ministries are eager to procure Israeli technologies, officials are increasingly constrained by the political environment. Nevertheless, the security rationale remains persuasive. NATO states such as Finland, Sweden, Poland, and Germany—countries increasingly concerned about potential Russian aggression—view laser interception systems as a vital new layer of defense. While the United States has deployed 60-kilowatt laser systems on naval vessels, Israel appears poised to be the first country to field a land-based laser system in operational service.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taiwan, Late To The Drone Boat Game, To Hold Major Capability Test
Faced with the growing threat of an invasion by the People's Republic of China (PRC), Taiwanese military and industrial leaders will hold a two-day demonstration of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). Scheduled for June 17 and June 18, the demonstration is designed to help speed up the island nation's maritime drone production, a spokesman for the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said. The move comes amid a surprising dearth of Taiwanese USVs, also known as drone boats, despite warnings from U.S. and Taiwanese officials that China could feel confident in its ability to launch a successful armed intervention against Taiwan by 2027, if not earlier. Such a conflict, as we previously reported, 'would likely become a huge drone war, with China also having made its own substantial investments in loitering munitions and swarming technologies in recent years. Chinese drones are proliferating in the air, on the ground, and at sea, and everything points to the mass use of uncrewed systems being a deciding factor in a conflict between Taiwan and China, something that has been enforced by the lessons of influential war games.' The drone boat demonstration will be hosted by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), Taiwan's top military research organization. It will take part in two phases, according to NCIST. 'Participating companies will first showcase their technologies through static displays featuring models, video presentations, and equipment exhibits at Lungteh Shipbuilding's Plant No. 6 facility,' the Taiwanese TVBS news outlet reported. 'The program will then transition to live operational demonstrations at the Jiugongli Viewing Platform, where manufacturers will establish shoreline control stations to direct unmanned vessels through real-world missions including surveillance operations and long-distance navigation tests.' The goal is to inform future military procurement specifications to expand Taiwan's drone boat fleet, the outlet noted. 'The initiative represents a significant milestone in Taiwan's broader strategy to modernize its naval defense capabilities amid regional security challenges,' TVBS posited. Spurred in part by the success of Ukraine's drone boat development, Taiwan is starting to build its own USVs. In March, we reported that Taiwan unveiled a domestically produced drone boat called the Endeavor Manta. Somewhat surprisingly, this was said to be the first of its kind to have been developed. Endeavor Manta's existence was disclosed by Taiwan's China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSBC Corp.), which produces ships and submarines for military and civilian use, during a launch event held in the port of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan. The event included a demonstration of the USV's at-sea capabilities. You can read more about that USV and its specifications in our original story here. NCSIST is also developing its own attack drone boat called the Kuai Chi. Details about its specifications are sparse. 'Although appearing similar to USVs being produced by private manufacturers, the Kuai Chi attack drone boat's internal guidance and control systems as well as other core technologies, are developed and produced entirely in-house by the NCSIST, ' Taiwan's CNA news agency reported. The Kuai Chi will not take part in the NCSIST demonstration. That's 'due to the sensitive nature of the project,' Sun Chun-ching, an official with the Systems Development Center at the NCSIST, told reporters during a Ministry of National Defense (MND) briefing on Wednesday. The Kuai Chi will likely undergo separate combat evaluations next month, according to CNA. Following that, the USV will be 'demonstrated to the military during a precision live-fire missile drill at Jiupeng Base in Pingtung County in August,' CNA suggested. The planned demonstration 'will simulate a battlefield scenario where the NCSIST drone boat engages various surface targets.' If those trials are successful, the Kuai Chi could be introduced to the public during the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition in September, Sun added. The NCSIST demonstration will feature several drone boats being developed by private industry, Sun explained. 12 firms will enter the June USV demonstration in Yilan, Taiwan, with 4 live demonstrations (Thunder Tiger, Carbon-Based Technologies, Corum, and Lung Teh) and 8 additional static displays (JetSea AI, GEOSAT, Robuff, Ocean Aero, MARTAC, DSRG, Auterion, and HII).(Up Media) — Taiwan Defense News Tracker (@TaiwansDefense) May 28, 2025 All this comes as Taiwan is planning to build out its first-ever army drone units later this year, The Wall Street Journal reported. It is part of a broader push to modernize its forces amid escalating threats from China. The move builds on a similar initiative by the country's Marine Corps, which has already converted several tank and artillery battalions into drone units, Defense Minister Wellington Koo told the Journal. The step reflects Taiwan's growing focus on asymmetric warfare, leveraging smaller, more innovative, and more agile systems to counter the overwhelming scale of Beijing's military in the event of an invasion. 'It would be best if China wakes up every day feeling like 'today's just not the day to invade,'' Koo stated. Beyond concerns about a full-on invasion of Taiwan in the next two years, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recently suggested that the PRC could also try to squeeze Taiwan by attacking two small islands close to the mainland. 'China possesses a variety of military options to coerce Taiwan, including increasing the frequency and scope of China's military presence operations, air and maritime blockades, seizure of Taiwan's smaller outlying islands, joint firepower strikes, and a full-scale amphibious invasion of Taiwan,' the DIA said in its 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment released earlier this month. Ukraine has proven the value of asymmetrical weapons like drone boats, having largely pinned down Russia's Black Sea Fleet and taken out fixed and rotary aviation with its fleet of USVs. You can see a documentary about Ukraine's sea drone effort below. While Ukraine has a very well-developed drone boat fleet, Taiwan has yet to field any operationally. It remains to be seen whether Taipei's growing urgency about its own drone boat development will provide a viable threat to China within the projected timelines of a potential PRC attack. While these small explosive-laden drone boats have their tactical disadvantages, they are uniquely well suited to making an invasion of Taiwan much harder for the Beijing's forces. Defending against them is possible in many circumstances, but doing so takes resources and attention, and can limit a ship's maneuvering. They also pose a threat to shore targets, like ships at dock and harbor facilities. When working in numbers, the proposition of stopping them becomes much harder. Taiwan could flood the channel with these weapons as one measure to at least slow a cross-channel invasion operation and increase its 'cost,' which serves as a different. While line-of-sight and satellite datalinks to control these boats can be disrupted via electronic warfare, which China's is increasingly adept at, and can help in an enemy's detection of their presence, the infusion of basic artificial intelligence will make those communications unnecessary in the near future. That is if the user is willing to accept the moral implications of allowing autonomous weapons to choose their own targets. This would make defending against these types of vessel much more challenging, leaving hard kill as the only option once they are deployed. Taken as a whole, it is somewhat concerning that Taiwan hasn't done everything possible to procure lethal drone boats, especially considering their relevance in a cross-strait conflict and their area-denial performance in the Black Sea. It also fits directly with the U.S. vision of turning the strait into a kamikaze drone 'hellscape,' not just to inflict damage on China's Navy in a war there, but to deter one from starting. So, this seems to be a case of better late than never, and this exercise should help spur further growth in this sector. But even then, Taiwan needs to get very serious about procuring these capabilities quickly, potentially including from external sources. Contact the author: howard@
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine war latest: Russia reports 2nd consecutive day of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow
Russia reports 2nd consecutive day of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow, building damaged on the outskirts Rubio, Lavrov discuss next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul 'No one has seen it yet' — Zelensky slams Russia for stalling on ceasefire memorandum ahead of Istanbul talks Russia amassed enough troops to attack Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, Border Guard warns Next Ramstein summit to take place on June 4 in Brussels A building was reportedly damaged on the outskirts of Moscow following a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian capital overnight on May 29, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported. This marks the second consecutive day of attacks on Moscow Oblast, with multiple industrial facilities targeted by Ukrainian drones and several unmanned aircraft reportedly downed on approach to the capital on May 28. Videos and photos posted on social media by local residents purportedly show damage sustained by a residential building on Vernadsky Avenue in Southwest Moscow. Explosions were heard in the area around 1:40 a.m. local time. Sobyanin claimed that no one was injured in the attack that occurred as a result of falling drone debris. The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear. Ukraine's military has not commented on the reported attack. Russian air defenses shot down 48 Ukrainian drones overnight, including three over Moscow Oblast, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed. The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify reports or claims made by Russian officials. The previous night on May 28, Russian air defenses shot down 296 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions overnight, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed, potentially marking one of the heaviest drone attacks against Russia during the full-scale war. Read also: How much does a Russian drone attack on Ukraine cost? The question is more complicated than it sounds Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov presented to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Moscow's "specific proposals" for the next round of peace talks with Ukraine, Russia's Foreign Ministry announced on May 29. The two diplomats held a phone call on May 28, the day when Russia proposed holding negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2 in a follow-up to the first round on May 16. Lavrov also "informed Marco Rubio about implementing the May 19 agreements between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the United States Donald Trump," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Trump and Putin held a phone call on May 19, during which the Russian leader again rejected a truce and pushed for maximalist demands, but also voiced his readiness to negotiate a "memorandum regarding a potential future peace treaty." During the call with Lavrov, Rubio stressed Trump's "intention to quickly bring the Ukraine conflict to an end and expressed Washington's readiness to help the sides to bring their positions closer together," according to the Russian readout. While initially reluctant to criticize Putin, Trump adopted an increasingly critical tone toward the Russian leader in recent days as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities intensify and the Kremlin continues to reject calls for a ceasefire. Kyiv and its European partners have urged the U.S. to impose additional sanctions to pressure Moscow to agree to a truce. Trump has refused to take the step so far, saying he is "close to getting a deal" and does not want to "screw it up" by fresh sanctions. Read also: Europe's 'Trump shock' is opportunity to forge 'new West,' Timothy Garton Ash says President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 29 accused Russia of stalling the peace process by failing to deliver a promised negotiations memorandum, warning international partners that Moscow is trying to deceive those still relying on diplomacy over pressure. "Even the so-called memorandum they promised and claimed to be preparing for more than a week — no one has seen it," Zelensky said. "Ukraine hasn't received it. Our partners haven't received it. Even Turkey, which hosted the first meeting, hasn't received the updated agenda." Russia's Foreign Ministry previously claimed its delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, would present the ceasefire framework at the June 2 talks, proposed by Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed on May 29 that the same Russian delegation, led by Medinsky, will attend the new round of peace talks in Istanbul. Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Ukraine has already shared its position paper with Russia. Speaking after a high-level meeting with Umerov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and presidential chief of staff Andrii Yermak, Zelensky said Ukraine is maintaining daily coordination with allies ahead of another round of talks in Istanbul. Zelensky called for renewed international pressure on Russia, saying, "Words don't work with Moscow. They are doing everything to make these meetings meaningless. That is why sanctions and real pressure on Russia are essential." Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, whose country hosted the May 16 negotiations, said Ankara expects Ukrainian and Russian positions to come closer. "If there's a diplomatic achievement here, it's not just thanks to Turkish diplomacy, but to the fact that both sides have been willing to talk and that these talks have led to tangible outcomes," Fidan said on his way to Kyiv, where he is expected to meet Sybiha and Zelensky. Read also: 'Shooting Russia in the back' — Serbian companies supplying ammunition to Ukraine, Moscow claims Russia has concentrated a sufficient amount of forces in Kursk Oblast to potentially launch an attack on Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on May 29. The statement comes amid warnings of a new possible Russian offensive this summer as U.S.-mediated peace efforts have failed to produce a ceasefire deal. Russia has become increasingly active in Sumy Oblast after mostly pushing out Ukrainian forces from Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian authorities recently confirmed that Russian forces captured four Sumy Oblast villages close to the border: Novenke, Zhuravka, Veselivka, and Basivka. Speaking on national television, Demchenko said Russia began amassing forces when it attempted to push Ukrainian troops out of Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine launched its operation in August 2024. Russia continues to maintain a force in Kursk Oblast, and Ukraine periodically detects a "certain change in the number of both soldiers and equipment in this area," the spokesperson said. Russia "has enough forces there (in Kursk Oblast) to carry out operations against our border and attempt to attack the territory of Ukraine," he continued. The remarks came days after President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia is accumulating 50,000 troops near Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast, seeking to create a 10-kilometer buffer zone in the area. Read also: Infighting around EU rearmament undermines grand ambitions for European defense The upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting in the Ramstein format will be held on June 4 in Brussels under the chairmanship of the U.K. and Germany, NATO announced on May 29. The Ramstein summit will take place as Washington is trying to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia to end Moscow's full-scale war. In the meantime, Russia is amassing forces for a new offensive against Ukraine while continuing its attacks on civilians across the country, straining Ukrainian air defenses. The last Ramstein-format meeting took place in Brussels on April 11 under the chairmanship of London and Berlin — a position previously held by the U.S. Leadership over Ramstein transitioned following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. During the previous meeting, NATO allies committed more than 21 billion euros ($23.8 billion) in long-term military aid to Ukraine. The move came amid growing uncertainty over U.S. support for Ukraine and efforts by European allies to close the gap as Kyiv resists Russia's ongoing war. Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Footage Shows China and Ally Flexing Military Muscles
The Chinese military released footage showing it and Cambodia, one of Beijing's closest partners in Southeast Asia, conducting a military drill near the contested South China Sea. The bilateral exercise, code-named Golden Dragon 2025 and held in Cambodia, enhanced both sides' capabilities in "jointly maintaining maritime security," said the Chinese navy on X, formerly Twitter. The drill demonstrated both countries' militaries "have been well aligned in partnership for responding to all kinds of security threats," the Cambodian Defense Ministry said. China has described its relations with Cambodia as "unbreakable and rock-solid," with both sides maintaining close military cooperation, including the construction of a joint logistics and training center at Cambodia's Ream naval base, which was put into service in April. The center, which is China's second publicly acknowledged overseas base, enables the East Asian power to project and sustain its military presence in the South China Sea, where its territorial claims cover most of the waters and overlap with those of neighboring countries. In a video released on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the Chinese navy announced that a "combined joint field training exercise" was conducted at sea and in the air near Port Sihanoukville in Southwestern Cambodia, as part of Exercise Golden Dragon 2025, on Monday local time. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels were seen sailing in formation, the footage shows, while military personnel boarded a ship, subdued suspected hijackers, and rescued hostages. A Chinese Type 056A corvette, CNS Panzhihua, fired its gun at sea targets during the drill. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, stated on Thursday that the seventh iteration of the Exercise Golden Dragon series, which commenced on May 14 and concluded on Wednesday, focused on counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance operations. The exercise marked the first time the recently inaugurated joint center at Ream naval base was used to support drills at sea, the Chinese spokesperson said, claiming that the war game enhanced the two militaries' "command coordination and emergency response capabilities." Meanwhile, the Cambodian Defense Ministry stated that the joint exercise achieved "excellent results," noting that the two militaries overcame obstacles and difficulties and are now ready to contribute to maintaining peace and security in the region and worldwide. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said on Thursday: "China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends with rock-solid relations. The Chinese and Cambodian militaries will work in concert to act on the important consensus between leaders of the two countries." Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on April 12: "I highly appreciate China, which is an important partner supporting Cambodia's development in all sectors in all circumstances and without complicated conditions." It remains unclear whether China will conduct further military exercises in Cambodia as tensions in the South China Sea remain high, with the United States having deployed an aircraft carrier to the region. Related Articles China Reacts to Trump Tariffs BombshellChinese Bombers Seen in South China Sea Amid US Aircraft Carrier PatrolHow China Became the World's Largest Debt CollectorChina Learns New Lessons From Russia-Ukraine War: Report 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
15 hours ago
- General
- Newsweek
Footage Shows China and Ally Flexing Military Muscles
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chinese military released footage showing it and Cambodia, one of Beijing's closest partners in Southeast Asia, conducting a military drill near the contested South China Sea. The bilateral exercise, code-named Golden Dragon 2025 and held in Cambodia, enhanced both sides' capabilities in "jointly maintaining maritime security," said the Chinese navy on X, formerly Twitter. The drill demonstrated both countries' militaries "have been well aligned in partnership for responding to all kinds of security threats," the Cambodian Defense Ministry said. Why It Matters China has described its relations with Cambodia as "unbreakable and rock-solid," with both sides maintaining close military cooperation, including the construction of a joint logistics and training center at Cambodia's Ream naval base, which was put into service in April. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels sail in formation during Exercise Golden Dragon 2025 near Port Sihanoukville in Cambodia on May 26, 2025. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels sail in formation during Exercise Golden Dragon 2025 near Port Sihanoukville in Cambodia on May 26, 2025. Wang Jianwei/Chinese military The center, which is China's second publicly acknowledged overseas base, enables the East Asian power to project and sustain its military presence in the South China Sea, where its territorial claims cover most of the waters and overlap with those of neighboring countries. What To Know In a video released on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the Chinese navy announced that a "combined joint field training exercise" was conducted at sea and in the air near Port Sihanoukville in Southwestern Cambodia, as part of Exercise Golden Dragon 2025, on Monday local time. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels were seen sailing in formation, the footage shows, while military personnel boarded a ship, subdued suspected hijackers, and rescued hostages. A Chinese Type 056A corvette, CNS Panzhihua, fired its gun at sea targets during the drill. On May 26 (local time), China and Camboida conducted combined joint field training exercise (FTX) at sea and in the air near Port Sihanoukville, Cambodia, as part of Exercise'Golden Dragon-2025', enhancing both sides' capabilities in jointly maintaining maritime security. — ChinaNavy (@China_Navy) May 28, 2025 Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, stated on Thursday that the seventh iteration of the Exercise Golden Dragon series, which commenced on May 14 and concluded on Wednesday, focused on counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance operations. The exercise marked the first time the recently inaugurated joint center at Ream naval base was used to support drills at sea, the Chinese spokesperson said, claiming that the war game enhanced the two militaries' "command coordination and emergency response capabilities." Meanwhile, the Cambodian Defense Ministry stated that the joint exercise achieved "excellent results," noting that the two militaries overcame obstacles and difficulties and are now ready to contribute to maintaining peace and security in the region and worldwide. What People Are Saying Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said on Thursday: "China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends with rock-solid relations. The Chinese and Cambodian militaries will work in concert to act on the important consensus between leaders of the two countries." Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on April 12: "I highly appreciate China, which is an important partner supporting Cambodia's development in all sectors in all circumstances and without complicated conditions." What Happens Next It remains unclear whether China will conduct further military exercises in Cambodia as tensions in the South China Sea remain high, with the United States having deployed an aircraft carrier to the region.
