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US Navy Selects L3Harris VAMPIRE Systems for Littoral Drone Defense

Navy Selects VAMPIRE for Littoral Defense
The U.S. Navy has selected L3Harris Technologies to deliver VAMPIRE counter-unmanned systems for its integrated C-UxS defense architecture, the company announced Sept. 8, 2026. The system is intended to counter unmanned aerial systems, remotely piloted platforms and potentially other small threats in littoral environments.
L3Harris is ruggedizing the Navy configuration against maritime stresses including humidity, salt exposure and vibration. The company has not disclosed the number of systems ordered, contract value, delivery schedule, or exact configuration.
“VAMPIRE is a flexible and effective system that meets the unique requirements of the U.S. Navy for littoral C-UxS defense,” said Tony Calderon, president of Targeting & Sensor Systems at L3Harris.
Maritime Roles and Variants
VAMPIRE has developed into a family of modular systems combining sensors, precision weapons, electronic jammers and other effectors. Its maritime-focused Black Wake variant is designed for installation on crewed or uncrewed vessels and for lower-cost engagements against small drones and fast attack craft.
L3Harris has not confirmed that Black Wake is the version selected by the Navy. The announced system could be deployed as part of a wider detection and command network to protect forces, bases, logistics sites or other infrastructure near the coast.
Other VAMPIRE configurations include the land-based Stalker XR, airborne Dead Wing, containerized CASKET, BAT system for base protection, and Killcode electronic-warfare variant.
Sensors and System Architecture
The baseline VAMPIRE uses a self-contained, palletized design that can be fitted to different vehicles or platforms. According to L3Harris, two personnel can install the system in a vehicle cargo bed in about two hours using standard tools.
Its primary sensor is the stabilized WESCAM MX-10D RSTA electro-optical and infrared turret, mounted on a telescopic mast. The sensor supports surveillance, identification, and laser target designation.
VAMPIRE also connects to the Widow Mission Management System, which is compliant with the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control architecture. Widow integrates sensors, effectors, radios, and navigation functions, allowing individual launchers to operate within a broader counter-unmanned network.
Weapons and Engagement Range
For kinetic engagements, VAMPIRE can use the 70 mm AGR-20A Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser-guided rocket. A proximity fuze improves its effectiveness against small aerial targets by allowing an engagement without a direct impact.
Company documentation lists an engagement range of up to approximately six kilometers for the current configuration. The launcher can also accommodate other laser-guided munitions, depending on the selected configuration, host platform, and target.
The system is intended to provide an intermediate defensive layer between electronic warfare, automatic weapons and more expensive surface-to-air missiles. This gives naval forces another option for responding to repeated or numerous unmanned threats without relying exclusively on higher-cost interceptors.
Related Orders and Operational Use
The Navy selection follows a separate U.S. Army VAMPIRE order announced in June 2026 and valued at up to $106 million. L3Harris reports that VAMPIRE systems have accumulated more than 350,000 operational hours in Europe since 2023.
The company has also introduced Wraith Shield software, which uses radios as sensors to help defeat small drones. L3Harris says the software can be integrated with VAMPIRE and Drone Guardian systems as part of a layered defense against unmanned threats.
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Ukraine Says Russian Troop Losses Surpass 1.5 Million Since 2022

Ukrainian General Staff Reports 1.5 Million Russian Troop Losses
Russia has lost an estimated 1,500,870 troops since beginning its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, according to a Sept. 9 report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The total includes 1,480 Russian casualties recorded over the preceding day. Russia has not officially released comprehensive casualty figures or a casualty list.
Equipment Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff also reported that Russia has lost 12,338 tanks and 25,290 armored combat vehicles since the invasion began. Its figures include 146,008 vehicles and fuel tanks, 49,383 artillery systems, 2,105 multiple-launch rocket systems and 1,613 air-defense systems.

Reported aviation losses comprise 441 aircraft and 355 helicopters. The General Staff also listed 506,188 aerial drones, 2,534 unmanned ground systems and 5,103 cruise missiles.
At sea, Ukraine’s military estimates that Russia has lost 35 ships and boats, along with two submarines.
Estimates of Ukrainian Casualties
A January 2026 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that Ukraine likely suffered between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties from February 2022 through December 2025. The report estimated that between 100,000 and 140,000 Ukrainian troops were killed in action during that period.
Ukrainian officials rarely disclose military casualty totals. President Volodymyr Zelensky told France TV on Feb. 4 that at least 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in action since the start of the full-scale war. He added that many more service members remained missing in action.
Difficulties Confirming the Toll
The intensity of combat and Russian drone attacks has made it difficult for Ukraine to recover the bodies of fallen soldiers. Recovery is required before DNA testing can be used to confirm identities, complicating efforts to establish a complete count of those killed or missing.
The available Russian and Ukrainian figures come from differing official statements and estimates, with Moscow providing no comprehensive public accounting of its losses.
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Ukraine Plans 1,000 Patriot Missiles, Seeks Stockpile Transfers Before Winter

Ukraine Plans Contracts for About 1,000 Patriot Missiles
Ukraine is preparing contracts for roughly 1,000 Patriot air-defense missiles with partner support and financing from an EU loan, Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara said at the 36th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on Sept. 8, 2026.
Khmara cautioned that the contracted missiles will take time to arrive. Ukraine is therefore asking partners to transfer interceptors from existing stockpiles before winter, with those stocks later replenished by upgraded missiles delivered under the Ukrainian contracts.
The request follows continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. An overnight missile and drone strike on Kyiv on Sept. 8 killed at least five people, injured 29 and caused large fires across the city.
Additional Air-Defense Requirements
Ukraine is also seeking air-to-air missiles and man-portable air-defense systems to counter cruise missiles and, as an interim measure, jet-powered Shahed attack drones.
Khmara said dozens of Ukrainian companies are working on affordable systems that can be produced at scale to intercept jet-powered drones. Some interceptors are already undergoing combat testing, he added.
Ukraine presented stronger air defenses, additional drone financing and faster partner decisions before winter as its immediate priorities at the Ramstein-format meeting.
EU Loan and Defense Funding
The European Commission is expected to approve the final €28.3 billion ($33 billion) tranche of this year’s defense loans for Ukraine on Sept. 11. The financing package would authorize Ukraine to buy U.S.-made PAC-3 interceptors, which Patriot systems use against ballistic missiles. EU member states have backed the request, though one procedural step remains before formal approval.
According to Khmara, partners pledged €70 billion in security assistance for Ukraine this year at a meeting in Ankara. Ukraine currently accounts for €62 billion, including bilateral support and the EU loan, leaving an €8 billion gap against that commitment.
Khmara separately placed Ukraine’s overall defense funding shortfall at €23 billion, or $27 billion. He said the money is needed to finance drones and maintain stable supplies during the remainder of this year and the beginning of the next. Ukraine is requesting funding decisions by November so that resources can affect operations during winter.
War Plan and Battlefield Assessment
Khmara and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi attended the contact group meeting in their roles for the first time. The defense minister presented Ukraine’s war plan, which combines combat operations, personnel, defense-industrial production, cooperation with partners and a financial framework intended to provide predictable manufacturing volumes.
Khmara said Russia has not achieved strategic success on the battlefield and that Ukraine’s drone-based engagement zone is limiting Russian advances. He claimed it accounts for more than 30,000 Russian military personnel each month.
Ukraine estimates that Russia plans to mobilize about 300,000 additional soldiers by the end of 2026, beyond contract recruitment, and another 300,000 in 2027. Khmara said Ukraine intends to respond through technology, speed and expanded defense production rather than compete solely on manpower and resources.
Proposed Partner Cooperation
Ukraine is offering partners cooperation through joint defense projects, technology sharing, battlefield experience and new military capabilities. Khmara characterized continued assistance as an investment in shared security rather than a subsidy, while emphasizing that near-term transfers from partner inventories remain necessary until newly contracted weapons are delivered.
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Russian Missile and Drone Attack on Kyiv Kills 5, Injures 35

Five Killed in Overnight Attack
Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight on Sept. 8, killing five people and injuring 35. Explosions began around 3:30 a.m. local time and continued in several waves, igniting fires and sending smoke across the capital.
Residential buildings, a school, warehouses, garages and vehicles were damaged. Emergency crews reported destruction and fires in the Holosiivskyi, Solomianskyi, Darnytskyi, Podilskyi and Dniprovskyi districts.
Fourteen injured people were hospitalized, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who said three were in serious condition. Rescuers evacuated two people from a damaged 16-story apartment building and freed 10 others trapped in a five-story building.
Air raid alerts and explosions continued through the day as additional jet-powered drones targeted the city.
Missiles and Drones Target Kyiv
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 32 cruise missiles, 166 Shahed-type drones and an unspecified number of ballistic missiles. More than half of the drones were described as jet-powered.
Ukrainian forces intercepted two ballistic missiles, 31 cruise missiles and 142 drones, according to the Air Force. Missile or drone impacts were recorded at 29 locations. Monitoring channels reported that at least 12 ballistic missiles targeted Kyiv within about an hour.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack involved ballistic, cruise, and anti-ship missiles as well as jet-powered drones. He described the interception of nearly all cruise missiles as a positive result but said Ukraine needed additional interceptor missiles and a U.S. ballistic missile defense package.
TV Channel and Homes Damaged
A drone struck the building of the We-Ukraine television channel during a live broadcast, injuring at least five people. The broadcaster, part of Ukraine’s national telethon, said its newsroom and offices were hit.
In the Solomianskyi district, residents reported shattered windows, damaged furniture and debris entering apartments. Dariia Kolisnyk said she reached her child and husband after windows and a door broke during the blast. Her husband suffered minor cuts from glass.
Another resident, Liudmyla Akhremenko, said her home had been damaged for a second time and that no nearby shelter had yet been built.
“These attacks destroy people’s lives and livelihoods,” resident Yevhen Panchenko said. “They have nowhere to live or work.”
Kyiv Region Also Hit
Russian attacks also damaged residential areas and civilian infrastructure across Kyiv Oblast from the evening of Sept. 7 into the following morning. Three people were injured, including a 2-year-old girl who suffered a shrapnel wound to the eye and was hospitalized.
In Bila Tserkva, two apartment buildings, a house, a warehouse and a production facility were damaged. Homes, warehouses, businesses and vehicles were also affected in the Brovary, Boryspil, Fastiv and Obukhiv districts.
Air raid alarms sounded overnight in other parts of Ukraine, including Rivne Oblast, after the Air Force warned that Russia had likely launched cruise missiles from Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers.
Brief Aerial Truce Ends
The attack ended a short pause in aerial strikes on the two countries’ capitals. Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt such attacks for three days while U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Kyiv for peace talks.
Moscow announced the pause on Sept. 6 but did not clearly specify its starting time. Kyiv was not attacked during the envoys’ visit, but Russian drones began targeting the capital again after their departure on Sept. 7.
Before the pause, Kyiv had faced nine consecutive days of sustained Russian drone attacks.
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Japan, South Korea and US Begin Five-Day Carrier-Free Freedom Edge Drill

Five-Day Trilateral Exercise Begins
Japan, South Korea and the United States began Freedom Edge 2026 on Sept. 7, launching five days of air, maritime, cyber, logistics and Integrated Air and Missile Defense training.
The exercise runs through Sept. 11 in international waters and airspace east and south of Jeju Island, with Japanese activities also conducted west of Kyushu in the East China Sea. Military bases and command posts in Japan and South Korea are participating.

This is the fourth Freedom Edge exercise in 27 months. It is also the second consecutive iteration without a U.S. aircraft carrier, placing greater emphasis on destroyers, land-based tactical aircraft, aerial refueling and distributed command networks.
Ships and Aircraft
The naval component comprises six surface combatants, although five had been identified when the exercise began. South Korea deployed the Sejong the Great-class destroyers ROKS Yulgok Yi I and ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong. Japan contributed the destroyers JS Atago and JS Asahi, while the United States deployed the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold, which arrived in Busan on Sept. 3.
Four of the five identified ships use the Aegis combat system, providing shipborne air and missile defense capability.
Japan’s aircraft include P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, SH-60K helicopters, F-15 and F-2 fighters, E-767 and E-2D airborne early warning and control aircraft, and KC-46A and KC-767 tankers. U.S. F-16 fighters and KC-135 tankers are also participating. Aircraft quantities, the identity of the sixth ship, and the combined personnel total were not specified.
Japan committed approximately 560 personnel from six organizations, including joint, maritime, air, support and cyber commands. That is 140 fewer than its reported contribution to the 2025 exercise.
Training Priorities
Freedom Edge 2026 covers integrated air and missile defense, maritime missile defense, enhanced air defense, maritime interdiction, cyber defense, logistics and medical training. A central element is real-time data sharing among Japanese, South Korean, and U.S. command systems.
The carrier-free force distributes functions across ships, shore-based aircraft and tankers. Aegis destroyers provide air and missile defense nodes; maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters support surface and undersea surveillance; fighters conduct tactical aviation missions; and airborne early warning aircraft provide radar coverage and battle management.
Tankers extend fighter endurance and operating range, while shared sensor tracks support identification, interception and missile-defense decisions across the three national networks. U.S. Forces Japan commander Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost said it was “not safe to say” the absence of a carrier had become the new normal.
Shift From Carrier-Led Operations
The first two Freedom Edge exercises lasted three days and included U.S. carriers. USS Theodore Roosevelt participated in June 2024, while USS George Washington joined the November 2024 iteration. The latter involved approximately 7,000 personnel, seven ships, and more than 20 fighters, patrol aircraft, and tankers.
Freedom Edge 2025 expanded to five days but omitted a carrier, relying in part on land-based U.S. F-35A fighters and KC-135 tankers. The 2026 exercise retains that five-day structure and distributed aviation model. Across all four iterations, the series has accumulated 16 exercise days.
North Korean Missile Context
The exercise opened one day after North Korea commissioned the approximately 5,000-ton guided-missile destroyer Kang Kon at Wonsan. The ship partially capsized during its May 2025 launch, was recovered and relaunched the following month, and later underwent repairs, sea trials and weapons testing.
Kang Kon is the sister ship of Choe Hyon, commissioned in June, and carries the same weapons suite. North Korea has tested cruise missiles from the new destroyer and associates the class with conventional and nuclear-capable missile missions. Freedom Edge’s missile-defense and sensor-sharing drills also address threats from North Korean land-based ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft, and submarines.
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U.S. Warships Evade Iranian Missiles; Three Oil Tankers Struck

U.S. Warships Evade Iranian Missile Attacks
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired multiple ballistic missiles at a U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer in Middle Eastern waters on Sept. 5, 2026, according to U.S. Central Command. Both ships evaded the attacks, and no U.S. personnel were wounded.
CENTCOM did not identify the vessels, the number or type of missiles launched, or the defensive measures used. The USS George Washington and USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike groups, along with several independent Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, were operating in the Arabian Sea at the time.
On Sept. 6, the IRGC claimed it had damaged the carrier and destroyer and forced them to leave the engagement area. That account conflicts with CENTCOM’s statement and has not been independently confirmed.
Three Iranian Tankers Struck
U.S. forces responded by attacking three Iranian crude-oil tankers in and around the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said the M/T Downy, near Kharg Island, and the M/T Stark 1, near Jask, were permanently disabled. The unladen M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon ship.
Video released by CENTCOM showed the vessels struck by multiple munitions, including a large impact against Kylo’s hull near the waterline. The number of casualties, if any, from the tanker strikes was not clear.
CENTCOM described the tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar “shadow network” supporting the IRGC and its regional partners. “If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said. He added that U.S. forces would defend American personnel and, if necessary, target Iran’s “limited and exposed oil fleet.”
Iran Claims Further Maritime Attacks
The IRGC Navy subsequently said it attacked three oil tankers traveling through what Tehran called an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as three U.S.-linked vessels elsewhere. Iran also warned ships against using routes it had not approved.
Tehran separately claimed it struck an unmanned U.S. military vessel attempting to enter the strait. The United States had not immediately confirmed that attack, and the vessel’s identity, the weapon used, and any resulting damage remained unknown.
These claims broaden the confrontation beyond crewed warships to commercial shipping and unmanned systems used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and maritime awareness.
Strait of Hormuz Risks
The Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, while Kharg Island is a major Iranian oil depot. Jask and the approaches to the strait are also positioned along routes where Iranian coastal missiles, aircraft, drones and naval units can affect military and commercial traffic.
An anti-ship ballistic-missile attack requires forces to locate moving vessels, maintain an accurate track and update targeting information as ships change course and speed. Carrier protection also relies on the wider strike group: guided-missile destroyers provide radar coverage, missile defense, electronic warfare and offensive strike capacity, while carrier aircraft can extend surveillance and intercept airborne threats.
Earlier Operations in the Waterway
The tanker strikes marked an expansion of U.S. action against Iranian maritime assets. After imposing a blockade of the strait in April and reinstating it in July, U.S. forces had primarily redirected shipping and fired on vessels attempting to pass through. American forces later fired on two Iranian tankers during wider strikes on Sept. 1.
On Aug. 30, U.S. forces struck Larak Island, saying IRGC launchers were preparing to deploy mines. CENTCOM had reported clearing mines from shipping lanes two days earlier. Iran then launched missiles and one-way attack drones at U.S. bases in the Middle East.
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Ukrainian Units Reportedly Ordered to Halt Fighting Sept. 5-8

Ukrainian Units Reportedly Ordered to Halt Fighting
Units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces were reportedly ordered to stop fighting along the front from 12:00 a.m. on Sept. 5 through 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 8, according to Ukrainska Pravda, which cited personnel from several brigades on different fronts and a senior security official.
Ukrainian officials have not publicly announced a ceasefire, and it remains unclear which units are covered by the reported order. There was also no confirmation that Russian forces would observe a corresponding halt in hostilities.
US Envoys to Visit Moscow and Kyiv
The reported pause coincides with a diplomatic trip by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are scheduled to visit Moscow and Kyiv as part of Washington’s effort to negotiate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the envoys would travel to Kyiv on Sept. 6 after visiting Moscow. Other details indicated the visits would take place on Sept. 5 and 6. The trip will mark Witkoff and Kushner’s first visit to Ukraine in their roles as envoys.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the weekend mission, saying he had sent Witkoff and Kushner to determine whether progress could be made in negotiations.
“It’s got to get settled,” Trump said. “We sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we’ll do it.”
Ukraine Pledges Restraint During Visit
Zelensky said Ukraine would refrain from aerial strikes against Russia during the envoys’ visit to protect the U.S. negotiators. He urged Moscow to observe the same restraint.
The Ukrainian president described the measure as ensuring the “normal functioning of Russian airspace” during the Sept. 5-6 visits.
That temporary commitment followed a Sept. 1 warning from Zelensky to airlines, insurers and foreign governments about the risks of operating in Russian airspace amid Ukrainian drone activity.
“Today we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses key Russian airports — Russian skies are becoming completely dangerous,” Zelensky said. He added that Russian airspace would be “de facto closed.”
Air Alerts Continue in Ukraine
Despite the reported front-line order, air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv as the pause was due to begin at midnight on Sept. 5. Ukraine’s Air Force warned of attack drones in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions, and air-defense activity was heard in the capital after midnight.
The alerts underscored the absence of a publicly confirmed, nationwide ceasefire. No formal agreement between Ukraine and Russia was announced alongside the reported Ukrainian order, and the status of combat operations beyond the units said to have received it remained uncertain.
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Springfield Adds Three SG-100 Model 2020 Waypoint Rifles at $1,995

Three SG-100 Waypoint Rifles Added
Springfield Armory has added three Model 2020 Waypoint bolt-action rifles featuring a Super Grip SG-100 Cerakote treatment. The new variants are chambered in .308 Win., 7mm PRC, and .300 Win. Mag., covering both short- and long-action configurations.
Each rifle carries an MSRP of $1,995. The additions combine a textured carbon-fiber stock with black-finished stainless-steel components while retaining the Model 2020 line’s stated accuracy guarantee.
Stock and Finish
The rifles use bead-blasted carbon-fiber stocks sourced from AG Composites. Springfield applies SG-100 Cerakote, a non-slip ceramic finish with a rubberized texture intended to improve handling in field conditions.
The fluted barrel and stainless-steel action receive a subdued black H-164 Cerakote finish. This gives all three chamberings the same general exterior treatment, pairing the textured stock with black metalwork.
“The Model 2020’s combination of custom-grade features at production rifle pricing has established it as a premier bolt-action hunting rifle,” said Steve Kramer, Springfield Armory’s vice president of marketing. “Building on this tradition are these newest variants, featuring a subdued black finish on the metal paired with the enhanced grip of the SG-100 coating on the stock.”
Chamberings and Barrels
The .308 Win. model has a 20-inch barrel. The 7mm PRC and .300 Win. Mag. rifles use 24-inch barrels.
All three are equipped with fluted barrels made from 416 stainless steel. The muzzles are threaded and fitted with Springfield’s SA Radial Brake. Aside from their chamberings, action lengths, and barrel lengths, the rifles share the same listed barrel construction, muzzle equipment, and finish.
Action and Bolt Design
The Model 2020 Waypoint action is machined from pre-hardened stainless steel. It incorporates an integral recoil lug and electrical discharge machined, or EDM-cut, raceways.
A fluted bolt uses dual cocking cams and supports tool-free disassembly. The design allows the bolt to be taken apart for maintenance without requiring a workbench or separate tools.
Accuracy Guarantee and Specifications
Springfield backs the SG-100 models with a .75-MOA accuracy guarantee for three-shot groups. The guarantee applies when match-grade ammunition is used by a skilled shooter.
Key specifications include:
Chamberings: .308 Win., 7mm PRC, and .300 Win. Mag.
Barrel lengths: 20 inches for .308 Win.; 24 inches for 7mm PRC and .300 Win. Mag.
Barrel: Fluted 416 stainless steel
Muzzle: Threaded with SA Radial Brake
Metal finish: Black H-164 Cerakote
Stock: Bead-blasted AG Composites carbon fiber with SG-100 Cerakote
Action: Pre-hardened stainless steel with integral recoil lug and EDM-cut raceways
Bolt: Fluted with dual cocking cams and tool-free disassembly
Accuracy guarantee: .75 MOA for three shots with match-grade ammunition
MSRP: $1,995 for each model
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Marine Corps 2040 Plan Prioritizes Squad-Level Air Defense

Squad-Level Air Defense Prioritized
The Marine Corps released Ground Combat Element 2040 on Wednesday, outlining plans to expand air defenses and other advanced capabilities across its ground forces. A central priority is pushing layered ground-based air defense down to the squad level as small drones, pervasive sensors and precision weapons increase the risks facing infantry units.
The service has already begun fielding more than 80 new systems intended to help infantry squads detect and destroy small unmanned aircraft. The roadmap calls for capabilities able to detect, identify, track, and defeat small drones, helicopters, and low-flying fixed-wing aircraft at close and extended ranges.
Three-Phase Modernization Plan
The 40-page FY26 framework will guide investment and force-development decisions through 2040. From 2026 to 2030, the Corps plans to accelerate existing Force Design efforts, address the immediate drone threat, and invest in survivability, command and control, artificial intelligence, and unmanned systems.
Between 2031 and 2035, AI and autonomous systems are expected to assume larger roles in headquarters operations, logistics, reconnaissance, bridging and breaching. Drone formations would supplement rocket and cannon artillery, while active and passive counter-drone measures become increasingly important across the force.
For 2036 to 2040, the roadmap envisions dispersed formations using AI-enabled command systems, edge computing, and widespread human-machine teaming. Robotics could augment or replace personnel in some high-risk maneuver and logistics tasks.
Five Modernization Pillars
The plan organizes development around human-centered warfighting, lethality, endurance, decision advantage and modularity. Although it calls for greater use of AI, robotics, and autonomous platforms, the framework states that technology should enhance rather than replace human judgment. Units must remain effective when networks, sensors, or other technical advantages are disrupted or denied.
Lethality initiatives include improved organic direct and indirect fires, integration with Joint and allied sensors, and kinetic and non-kinetic effects across multiple domains. Endurance efforts cover resilient logistics, tactical deception, camouflage, and signature management. Modularity centers on scalable Marine Air-Ground Task Force formations tailored to particular missions and threats.
Mobility, Fires and Command Systems
The roadmap’s highest-priority capability areas are force structure, multi-domain lethality and targeting, and tactical and littoral mobility. Planned materiel priorities include long- and medium-range surface fires, anti-ship missiles, organic precision fires, small unmanned aircraft, modernized electronic warfare systems and all-weather infantry battalion and regimental fires.
Mobility investments include the Amphibious Combat Vehicle, Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, small patrol and coastal vessels, bridging systems and stand-off mine-clearing capabilities. The Corps also seeks resilient command posts, distributed sensing networks and compact command-and-control systems for dispersed units.
Logistics priorities include unmanned ground, air and surface distribution platforms, mobile power, forward-positioned supplies, advanced medical capabilities, expeditionary fuel and water systems, field feeding equipment and additive manufacturing.
Ground Forces in Contested Littorals
Ground Combat Element 2040 builds on changes begun under Force Design 2030, including development of the Marine Littoral Regiment. Those regiments are optimized for reconnaissance, sea denial, and integration with Joint targeting networks, but the roadmap says they do not replace formations needed to seize, hold, and defend terrain.
The future force is intended to operate in contested littoral areas while supporting sea control, amphibious operations and Joint forces. It will rely on dispersion, resilient communications and lower signatures to remain difficult to detect and target, while retaining conventional combined-arms capabilities for peer-level ground combat.
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USS Abraham Lincoln to Stop in Thailand After Extended Iran Deployment

USS Abraham Lincoln to Stop in Thailand
The USS Abraham Lincoln will visit Thailand next week for crew rest and recovery after an extended deployment supporting U.S. operations against Iran, according to Thai officials. The aircraft carrier is expected to return to its U.S. base after the brief stop.
“The stop in Thailand is a chance for the crew to go ashore and relax,” Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri said at a news conference in Bangkok.
Three-Ship Port Visit
The Royal Thai Navy said three vessels from the U.S. Navy carrier strike group are scheduled to stop in eastern Thailand. No military exercises will be conducted during the visit.
The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while the U.S. Navy declined to comment.
Deployment Strain and Supply Concerns
The Lincoln’s deployment included a record-setting uninterrupted period at sea of more than 250 days. Concerns about the extended deployment have increased following reports of deteriorating mental health among crew members and shortages of food, hygiene products and other supplies.
Long carrier deployments can place added strain on personnel who remain away from home for prolonged periods, as well as on the ship and its equipment.
Continuing Regional Mission
The Lincoln supported the U.S. war against Iran. Although renewed hostilities between the two countries have eased in recent weeks, the U.S. Navy continues to enforce a reimposed blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Trump administration has not provided details on how it plans to wind down the conflict.
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U.S. Green Berets Join Ecuadorian Anti-Drug Operations

U.S. Special Forces Operating in Ecuador
U.S. Army Green Berets are conducting joint operations with Ecuadorian forces against drug trafficking groups in Esmeraldas province, according to provincial governor Juan Jaramillo.
“We are with the 7th (Special Forces) Group of the U.S. Army…we are working together in the fight against narcoterrorism,” Jaramillo told reporters. He did not disclose the number of U.S. personnel involved or identify the groups being targeted.
Esmeraldas borders Colombia and has experienced violence linked to the drug trade. The 7th Special Forces Group, based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, is primarily responsible for operations focused on South America.
U.S. Southern Command and the Navy’s 4th Fleet declined to comment on the reported operations, citing operational security.
Additional U.S. Military Assets
Ecuadorian Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo said Aug. 20 that two U.S. warships equipped with interceptor boats would patrol from the Ecuadorian port city of Manta.
The amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio recently passed through the Panama Canal into the eastern Pacific. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Gridley also entered the Pacific under Joint Task Force-Western Hemisphere.
More than 1,000 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to Puerto Rico this spring as Littoral Combat Force-24. Their mission is to disrupt networks used by designated terrorist organizations and groups the U.S. government describes as “narco-terrorists.” Some of those Marines are aboard the San Antonio.
Maritime and Land Strikes
In the latest confirmed maritime strike, U.S. forces fired on a vessel in the eastern Pacific that officials alleged was trafficking narcotics. Two people were killed, according to Southern Command. It was the first reported strike on an alleged drug boat since June and the first confirmed under Joint Task Force-Western Hemisphere, which replaced Joint Task Force-Southern Spear.
The broader campaign has included attacks on small vessels the Trump administration says were transporting drugs. More than 220 people have been killed since the campaign began in September 2025, although the United States has released little evidence concerning the targeted boats.
In March 2026, the U.S. carried out an airstrike against an alleged training camp in Ecuador near the Colombian border. The strike, conducted days after Southern Command announced joint operations, was the first direct U.S. military action reported inside Ecuador. No further U.S. operations in the country were publicly reported before Jaramillo’s disclosure.
Southern Command also conducted what it called a “lethal kinetic strike” in Venezuela in June, allegedly killing Tren de Aragua leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores.
Training and Bilateral Cooperation
Members of the 7th Special Forces Group were already present in Ecuador earlier in 2026. In May, they participated with Ecuadorian troops in a five-week Joint Combined Exchange Training program.
The expanded activity follows closer defense cooperation between Washington and the government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Ecuador has agreed to permit U.S. Department of Defense personnel to enter the country without visas for up to 180 days per year.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in June that the United States was prepared to conduct additional land strikes. He later said U.S. forces in the region were focused on military capabilities against threats that “need to be deterred and defeated.”
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Taurus Adds 15-Round .380 Auto GX4 Carry

Taurus Adds .380 Auto GX4 Carry
Taurus has expanded its GX4 pistol line with a .380 Auto version of the GX4 Carry, scheduled to become available through authorized dealers on August 13, 2026. The optics-ready, striker-fired pistol has an MSRP of $340.99.
The new model retains the GX4 Carry’s 15-round magazine capacity and compact dimensions while offering a lower-recoil alternative to the existing 9mm versions. Each pistol ships with two 15-round magazines, providing a total capacity of 15+1 rounds.
Carry Features and Controls
The GX4 Carry .380 Auto measures 6.56 inches long, 5.16 inches high, and 1 inch wide. It has a 3.7-inch barrel and weighs 21 ounces unloaded. Its barrel is longer than the 3.06-inch barrel found on the standard GX4, although the overall package remains sized for concealed carry.
A flat-face, serrated trigger, reversible magazine release, and three interchangeable backstraps are standard. The grip and magazine well include cuts intended to help users manually strip a magazine if needed. Taurus also incorporates its Signature Indexing and Recoil Management Pad into the grip design.
The pistol includes an easy-takedown pin for disassembly and Teflon-coated operational control parts. Its safety equipment consists of a striker block, trigger safety, and visual loaded-chamber indicator.
Optics, Sights and Accessories
Taurus includes its T.O.R.O. optics-ready slide configuration as standard equipment, allowing compatible compact red-dot sights to be mounted. The pistol also has a Mil-Std-1913 Picatinny accessory rail for lights or other compatible equipment.
The sighting system combines a fixed steel front sight with a white dot and a fully adjustable rear sight. These features carry over the GX4 Carry format while broadening its configuration beyond earlier GX4 pistols that lacked an accessory rail.
Materials and Construction
The GX4 Carry .380 uses a stainless-steel frame with a matte stainless finish. Its alloy-steel slide receives a gas-nitride treatment and matte-black finish, while the stainless-steel barrel has a satin-black diamond-like carbon coating.
The pistol operates with a striker-fired, single-action-only system. Its listed item number is 1-GX4CRP38031, and its UPC is 725327638964.
Reduced-Recoil Alternative
The principal change from the 9mm GX4 Carry is the chambering. Taurus presents the .380 Auto model as a smoother-shooting option for users who prioritize recoil control, more comfortable practice, and quicker recovery between shots.
Its 15-round magazines give the .380 Auto model the same capacity as the 9mm GX4 Carry while preserving the platform’s slim profile, accessory compatibility, and adjustable grip fit. The result is an option for current GX4 users seeking familiar controls and ergonomics, as well as concealed-carry buyers who prefer the reduced recoil impulse of .380 Auto.
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U.S. Troops Wounded in Iran War Total 758, With 341 Since July 7

U.S. Wounded Total Passes 750
The number of U.S. service members wounded in the war with Iran has reached 758 since Feb. 28, according to an updated Department of Defense casualty report.
The latest data lists 341 troops as wounded in action since fighting resumed in early July, meaning nearly half of all reported wounded were recorded during the renewed conflict. The figures were current as of Friday, Aug. 21.
Eighteen U.S. service members have also died during the war. Four of those deaths occurred after July 7.
Army Accounts for Most Recent Casualties
Of the 341 service members wounded since July 7, 310 are soldiers. The Navy accounts for 21 wounded personnel, while the Air Force accounts for 10.
Three soldiers were among the four service members killed during the same period. They died in an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
The casualty data does not identify the locations or dates of individual injuries, nor does it describe their severity or type.
Pentagon Uses New Reporting Category
The Pentagon lists the 341 recent wounded under “Overseas Operations,” a category created last month and separated from Operation Epic Fury, the initial U.S. military campaign launched at the end of February.
The Defense Department considers Operation Epic Fury to have ended on July 7. Combining that campaign’s casualty figures with those reported under Overseas Operations produces the total of 758 wounded since Feb. 28.
Updates to the database do not necessarily indicate that injuries occurred on the date they were added. Some conditions, including traumatic brain injuries, can take time to detect, diagnose, and enter into official records. However, the placement of these cases under Overseas Operations indicates they were associated with the period following the end of Epic Fury.
Ceasefire Failed to End Fighting
The United States and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding in Islamabad on June 17 that called for a ceasefire and established a 60-day period to negotiate a peace agreement. That window expired on Aug. 17 without a peace deal.
Fighting resumed in early July amid disputes over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran subsequently targeted U.S. positions around the Persian Gulf and in Jordan, while the United States conducted several days of airstrikes against sites in Iran and reimposed its blockade of the strait.
Attacks have stopped this month, although U.S. forces have fired on ships attempting to break the blockade. The conflict otherwise remains at an impasse.
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Iranian Attacks Disrupted Supply Lines to USS Abraham Lincoln

Attacks Disrupt Carrier Supply Lines
Iranian missile and drone attacks on U.S. logistics hubs in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have disrupted established supply routes for Navy ships operating in the Persian Gulf, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, according to a Task & Purpose report.
Damage to the U.S. base in Bahrain and the closure of regional facilities have forced supplies to come from locations outside the Gulf, including Diego Garcia and Singapore, or through the Suez Canal. Some resupply ships must travel more than 4,000 miles, increasing delivery times while combat vessels continue to move and reposition.
The disruption has also limited the military’s ability to send supply ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Retired Navy Capt. Bradley Martin, a senior policy researcher with the RAND Corporation, said the vulnerability of ports and routes inside the Gulf had long been recognized but accepted.
Food Availability Aboard the Lincoln
Reports from crew families have described problems with the quantity and quality of food aboard the Lincoln. One sailor’s mother said her son reported limited food in March, though she said conditions later improved.
Defense officials have disputed reports that the carrier’s crew went without adequate meals. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said in an Aug. 14 statement that “meal plans were adjusted when fresh resupply was unavailable, without a single meal being missed.”
Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, wrote on Aug. 16 that concerns involving food, hot water and other conditions had been addressed and resolved. He did not provide details about the problems or corrective measures.
Retired Navy Capt. Brent Sadler said he believed the Lincoln’s food problems stabilized in about two weeks, roughly the time required to move supplies from Japan and Singapore to the Middle East.
Limits of Resupply at Sea
Aircraft carriers generally require resupply every three to six days, depending on operational demands. Ships typically carry substantial quantities of dry goods, frozen foods, and other durable provisions, but longer supply routes can interrupt deliveries of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other perishable items.
Aircraft can also deliver supplies, although their cargo capacity is limited. Resupply flights become less frequent as a carrier operates farther from shore, while moving closer to land in a combat zone can expose the ship and its crew to enemy weapons.
The Lincoln has remained at sea for more than 240 consecutive days, setting a new record during its deployment. The carrier has participated in operations against Iran and a blockade of Iranian ports since the war began. It is scheduled to be replaced this month by the USS George Washington.
Wider Strain on the Crew
The sailor’s mother said multiple families had reported similar conditions and argued that official statements had understated the crew’s difficulties. She emphasized that sailors continued to perform their duties despite the long deployment.
According to her account, her son said the extended period at sea had damaged morale. He also told her that one sailor had been stopped while attempting to jump overboard and that another crew member was rescued after entering the water. Those incidents were not detailed in official reports.
“The sailors aren’t the ones complaining,” she said. “They’re still doing their job. They are still proud to serve our country.” She added that although the food situation appeared to have improved after receiving national attention, the conditions reported by families were “not exaggerated.”
Logistics Lessons
Experts said the Lincoln’s experience reflects a broader strain on Navy logistics when regional ports and stockpiles become unavailable. Delays may be compounded by limited numbers of combat logistics ships and the need to support vessels dispersed across an active combat area.
Sadler said the Navy’s effort to establish alternate routes also illustrates the need for fallback supply chains in other potential conflicts, particularly in the Pacific, where distances and sudden attacks on logistics hubs could create similar constraints.
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Army Awards Hanwha $100.3M Contract for Six K9MH Howitzer Prototypes

Army Awards K9MH Prototype Contract
The U.S. Army awarded Hanwha Defense USA a $100.3 million contract on August 18, 2026, to deliver six K9 Mobile Howitzer prototypes for the Mobile Tactical Cannon program. The agreement includes options for 12 additional systems and has a total ceiling of $262.9 million.
The award begins a four-year period of rapid prototyping, operational testing and soldier experimentation. It is not a final selection or serial-production order. The Army will evaluate firing performance, reliability, automated loading and operational support before choosing a system for production.
The Mobile Tactical Cannon is intended primarily as a more mobile replacement for approximately 498 to 500 M777 155 mm towed howitzers in selected Stryker, Mobile and Infantry Brigade Combat Teams.
Wheeled Platform and Firepower
The K9MH combines an automated turret derived from the K9A2 with a Tatra Force 8×8 wheeled chassis. Unlike the tracked K9 variants already used by several countries, the K9MH is designed to move between firing positions without a separate towing vehicle.
Automation reduces the crew from five personnel in earlier K9 configurations to three by limiting manual ammunition handling. The system uses separate conveyors for projectiles and propellant charges.
Its baseline weapon is the CN98 155 mm/52-caliber cannon, compliant with the Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding standard. Hanwha states a range of 40 km with standard charges and more than 60 km with rocket-assisted or comparable extended-range ammunition. During an April 2026 demonstration, the K9MH fired nine rounds in 59 seconds. Firing-position preparation is stated to take less than 30 seconds.
Competition and Evaluation Schedule
The K9MH remains in competition with Elbit America’s SIGMA, BAE Systems’ Archer, an American Rheinmetall and KNDS RCH 155 proposal, and a Leonardo DRS and KNDS Caesar proposal. The candidates offer differing levels of automation, crew protection, ammunition capacity, road mobility and deployability.
The Army shifted toward evaluating mature wheeled systems after ending the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program in April 2024. Its current approach emphasizes existing platforms that can enter service with limited U.S.-funded development rather than another purpose-built American howitzer.
Soldier experimentation and integration testing are planned through fiscal 2027, with an Army senior-leader downselect scheduled for the fourth quarter of that fiscal year. The selected platform would then undergo engineering, ammunition integration, qualification and production preparation. First Unit Equipped is planned for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2030.
U.S. Production Requirements
Competitors must present a credible plan to establish U.S. production within two years of an award and reach an annual output of 24 to 48 systems. Production cost, domestic supply-chain capacity, ammunition compatibility, delivery schedules and data rights are among the evaluation criteria.
Hanwha Defense USA has leased an idle facility in Opelika, Alabama, for an initial three-year term and is investing about $2 million in K9MH integration and testing capacity. The first phase is expected to create approximately 40 jobs, but it is not a complete serial-production facility. Later manufacturing locations and production rates have not been disclosed.
Hanwha has also committed approximately $1.3 billion to a U.S. ammunition facility in Arkansas. Its broader localization concept includes domestic assembly, sustainment and potential future upgrades.
Potential Longer-Range Development
In December 2025, Hanwha Defense USA entered a cooperative research and development agreement with the Army’s DEVCOM Armaments Center to study integration of a government-designed 155 mm/58-caliber cannon into the K9 family.
That effort is separate from the prototypes entering testing. The current K9MH uses the 52-caliber CN98, while ranges around 70 km are associated with a possible future 58-caliber configuration. The Army’s prototype evaluation will therefore focus initially on the existing cannon, wheeled mobility, automation, reduced crew requirements and supportability.
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Russia Reportedly Ships Arms to Iran via Caspian Sea After Strikes

Russia Reportedly Resupplying Iran
Russia is transporting ammunition, drone components, explosives, and parts associated with missiles to Iran through the Caspian Sea, according to an Aug. 17 NBC News report citing a European government document and an unnamed Western official who verified it.
The shipments are intended to replenish Iranian weapons stockpiles following U.S. and Israeli strikes, the report said. More than two dozen Russian vessels reportedly traveled to Iran’s port of Amirabad, though the quantities and value of the cargo remain unclear.
The Kremlin has rejected allegations that it is supplying Iran, characterizing such reports as “fake news.”
Ships and Cargo
The reported deliveries include small-arms ammunition, drone components and TNT, as well as components related to missiles and other explosives. Many of the vessels involved are under U.S. or European sanctions, according to the report.
The ships were allegedly owned by MG-FLOT, a maritime company placed under Western sanctions in 2024. The Caspian Sea provides a direct maritime route between Russia and Iran that does not require passage through third-country waters.
Jim Lamson, a former CIA analyst, told NBC News that Iran’s reported procurement of drone parts and ammunition could indicate that U.S. and Israeli strikes damaged its domestic production capacity.
“Iran’s procurement of drone components and small arms ammunition from Russia strongly suggests that Israeli and US military strikes on Iran’s facilities that produce these items have degraded Iran’s domestic capability to produce them,” Lamson said.
Ukrainian Strike in the Caspian Sea
Ukraine’s Security Service, or SBU, said Ukrainian forces struck an Iranian ship on July 25 while it was transporting military cargo between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry disputed that characterization, saying the target was a commercial vessel. Tehran reported that one sailor was killed and another injured, and described the strike as “an act of aggression that could further inflame and expand the flames of war.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha held what he called a “frank conversation” with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on July 28, following Tehran’s condemnation of the attack.
Expanding Military Cooperation
Russia and Iran have strengthened military cooperation as Moscow faces international isolation over its war against Ukraine. Iran has supplied Russia with military equipment and drones, including the Iranian-designed Shahed platform.
Russia has since developed modified Shahed-type attack drones and regularly uses large numbers of them in strikes against Ukraine, including attacks affecting civilian areas. The reported flow of equipment to Iran would represent support moving in the opposite direction after years of Iranian assistance to Russia.
Russia has also been accused of providing Iran with upgraded drones and other assistance intended to improve Tehran’s ability to strike U.S. targets. Moscow denies those claims.
U.S. Response
President Donald Trump has downplayed reports of Russian support for Iran. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had assured him that Moscow was not selling weapons to Tehran.
Trump also said any Russian assistance had been “very unimpactful” after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of sharing satellite imagery of U.S. bases with Iran. No independently confirmed total for the reported Russian shipments has been disclosed.
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Springfield Launches 3.5-Inch Optics-Ready Prodigy 9mm With 18+1 Capacity

Springfield Adds 3.5-Inch Prodigy
Springfield Armory announced the 1911 DS Prodigy 3.5” AOS 9mm on August 18, 2026. The new double-stack pistol uses the shortest barrel and slide assembly offered in the Prodigy series while retaining a full-length grip module and optics-ready configuration.
The standard-capacity model holds 18+1 rounds and includes two 18-round magazines. Springfield also lists a low-capacity version for jurisdictions with magazine restrictions. Both configurations carry an MSRP of $1,582.
The standard model is SKU PH9114AOS, while the low-capacity version is PH9114AOSLC. The source material does not specify the reduced magazine capacity.
Optics and Controls
The pistol uses Springfield’s Agency Optic System, or AOS, which relies on interchangeable plates to support multiple optic footprints. Each pistol includes an AOS cover plate and a Docter/Noblex-footprint AOS plate. Buyers also receive a coupon allowing the purchase of another AOS plate of their choice for $49.
For use without an optic, the Prodigy is equipped with a tritium front sight and black serrated rear sight. Other features include an ambidextrous manual safety and a Picatinny accessory rail.
Springfield shortened the beavertail and recontoured the hammer to complement the compact slide assembly. The recoil system uses a captured guide rod.
Barrel, Slide and Frame
The 3.5-inch match-grade bull barrel is forged from stainless steel and finished in black diamond-like carbon. It has a 1:16-inch twist rate.
The optics-ready slide is forged carbon steel with a black Cerakote finish. The frame is machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum, hardcoat anodized and also finished in black Cerakote. Polymer grips complete the full-length grip module.
This combination keeps the firing assembly compact without shortening the grip or reducing the standard model’s 18-round magazine capacity.
Dimensions and Specifications
Chambered in 9mm, the Prodigy measures 7 inches long and 5.5 inches high. It weighs 29.3 ounces. The pistol’s listed color is black.
Key specifications include:
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.5-inch forged stainless-steel bull barrel
Barrel finish: Black DLC
Twist rate: 1:16 inches
Slide: Forged carbon steel, optics-ready
Frame: Billet 7075-T6 aluminum
Recoil system: Captured guide rod
Sights: Tritium front, black serrated rear
Standard magazines: Two 18-round magazines
Standard capacity: 18+1
Weight: 29.3 ounces
Length: 7 inches
Height: 5.5 inches
MSRP: $1,582
Included Equipment
Each pistol ships with a soft-sided, double-zipper handgun case. The case is intended to accommodate the firearm with mounted accessories and includes an interior pouch for an additional magazine.
The package also contains the two magazines, AOS cover plate, Docter/Noblex AOS plate, and the discounted-plate coupon. Springfield lists the pistol under UPC 706397000639.
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Benelli Unveils M2-G1 Shotgun With New Rear-Piston Gas System

Benelli Introduces the M2-G1
Benelli has announced the M2-G1, a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun intended for tactical, home-defense, and competition use. The series introduces the company’s Rear Piston Operated gas system and adds an enlarged loading port, extended controls and several stock and capacity configurations.
Five right-handed models are listed as new through Benelli’s dealer and online purchasing pages. All have 18.5-inch barrels and chambers compatible with 2¾- and 3-inch shells. No release date was provided.
Models and Pricing
The detailed model listings show prices from $1,949 to $2,149:
11610: Standard stock and grip, 18.5" barrel, 5+1 capacity, anodized gray receiver and matte blued barrel; $1,949.
11611: Standard stock and grip, 18.5" barrel, 7+1 capacity, anodized gray receiver and matte blued barrel; $1,949.
11612: Five-position telescoping stock, 18.5" barrel, pistol grip, 7+1 capacity, anodized gray receiver and matte blued barrel; $2,049.
11617: Five-position stock, pistol grip, 18.5" barrel, 7+1 capacity, and Flat Dark Earth Cerakote receiver and barrel; $2,149.
11622: Five-position stock, pistol grip, 18.5" barrel, 7+1 capacity, and MultiCam Black receiver and barrel; $2,149.
Specifications and prices are subject to change.
Rear-Piston Gas System
The M2-G1’s principal mechanical change is its Rear Piston Operated, or R.P.O., gas system. It uses dual short-stroke pistons positioned near the chamber, where gas is collected, while the recoil system is mounted in the stock.
Benelli says this layout reduces the pistons’ exposure to fouling compared with forward-mounted designs, supporting cleaner operation, simplified maintenance and sustained reliability. The company positions R.P.O. as a separate system from the A.R.G.O. gas operation used in the Benelli M4.
Controls, Loading and Sights
An enlarged, beveled loading port and ramped trigger guard are intended to improve loading speed and efficiency. Enlarged controls are designed for easier manipulation under pressure or while wearing gloves.
Every listed model includes ghost-ring sights, a Picatinny rail, and a receiver that is drilled and tapped for optics. The bolt has a Parkerized finish for corrosion resistance, while M-LOK slots on the forend provide accessory mounting points. Quick-detach sling mounting positions are also included.
Telescoping-stock models provide five length-of-pull settings spanning 9.25 to 14 inches. Their pistol grip is intended to provide additional control, and all three carry seven shells in the magazine plus one in the chamber.
Dimensions and Warranty
Standard-stock models measure 38.5 inches overall with a 13-inch length of pull. Model 11610 weighs an average of 7.4 pounds, while the higher-capacity 11611 weighs 7.6 pounds.
The telescoping-stock models measure 39.5 inches overall and weigh an average of 8 pounds. Their listed drop is 2.25 inches at the heel and 1.375 inches at the comb; standard-stock versions have a 2.5-inch heel drop and 1.75-inch comb drop.
The M2-G1 is covered by Benelli’s 10-year limited warranty against defects in metal parts resulting from materials or workmanship, beginning on the original purchase date.
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The U.S. Carrier Gap in Asia: What Happened, Why It Matters, and Why It Is Not a Crisis

The departure of the USS George Washington from the western Pacific has generated a wave of competing headlines, with some portraying the move as evidence that the United States is abandoning Asia while others dismiss the development as little more than a routine carrier rotation.
Neither description tells the full story.
The United States is indeed moving its only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Japan toward the Middle East, temporarily leaving the western Pacific without a U.S. carrier on station. The move is unusual enough to matter, particularly at a time of heightened tensions with China, but it does not leave the Indo-Pacific undefended or fundamentally change the regional military balance.
What it does reveal is something more practical: the continuing U.S.–Iran war is consuming enough naval capacity that the Navy is being forced to draw on forces normally assigned to one of Washington's highest-priority strategic regions.
That makes the current carrier gap less a story about an immediate Chinese opportunity and more a story about fleet availability, endurance, and the difficulty of sustaining major military commitments in multiple theaters at once.
George Washington Heads Toward Middle East
USS George Washington, the only U.S. aircraft carrier permanently forward-deployed to Japan, is moving toward the Middle East, temporarily leaving the western Pacific without a U.S. carrier on station.
The carrier departed Yokosuka in May for its 2026 patrol and operated across the western Pacific, including the South China Sea on July 22 and 23. After leaving Da Nang, Vietnam, George Washington, the cruiser USS Robert Smalls and destroyer USS Shoup passed through the Singapore Strait and entered the Strait of Malacca by August 13.
The strike group is expected to replace USS Abraham Lincoln, which has supported U.S. operations against Iran since January. The move reduces the Navy’s most visible form of forward presence in the Pacific but does not leave the region undefended.
Extended Deployment Drives Relief
Abraham Lincoln left San Diego on November 21, 2025, and was originally expected home in May. Its deployment was extended because of the U.S.–Iran war.
By August 13, the carrier had been deployed for about 265 days and spent more than 240 consecutive days at sea, exceeding the previous modern record of 206 uninterrupted days set by USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lincoln reportedly had not made a port call since visiting Guam in December.
Sailors’ families have raised concerns about mental health, supplies and shipboard conditions. The Navy said it had not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts, while acknowledging the effects of extended deployments on personnel and families. Disruptions at traditional Middle Eastern supply hubs have also required commanders to prioritize food, hygiene supplies and mail.
George Washington’s movement provides relief for Lincoln, its air wing, escorts, and crew, which require maintenance, training resets, and personnel recovery after the extended deployment.
Carrier Inventory Versus Availability
Although the United States operates 11 aircraft carriers, only two or three are normally deployed at a time. The remainder may be in maintenance, shipyard work, training, certification, crew recovery, or pre-deployment preparation.
USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Norfolk on May 16 after a 326-day deployment covering more than 57,000 nautical miles, making an immediate return unlikely. USS George H.W. Bush is already operating in the Arabian Sea alongside Lincoln.
USS Theodore Roosevelt remains in California while preparing for a possible deployment. It was in San Diego as recently as August 8 for a friends-and-family cruise. A future Roosevelt deployment could allow George Washington to return to the Pacific sooner.
Indo-Pacific Forces Remain in Place
The carrier gap does not amount to a U.S. withdrawal from Asia. American forces in the region include surface ships, submarines, land-based aircraft, Marines, Army units, special operations forces and logistics infrastructure. Major bases remain in Japan, Guam, South Korea, Hawaii and elsewhere, supported by treaty allies including Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Philippines.
U.S. forces also continue regional exercises and operations with Brunei, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and partners operating from Guam.
A carrier nonetheless provides a distinctive capability: a mobile airbase with combat aircraft, escorts, sensors, missiles, helicopters, electronic-warfare systems and command assets. Its visibility also supports deterrence and signaling around Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and the South China Sea.
Readiness and Maintenance Pressures
Temporary Pacific carrier gaps have occurred before. During the 2015 transition between George Washington and USS Ronald Reagan, George Washington left Japan in May, and Reagan did not arrive in Yokosuka until October 2. In 2018, the Navy also experienced a 22-day period without a fully certified carrier strike group deployed and available for national tasking under one assessment.
The current gap is notable because it results from an ongoing war rather than a planned homeport transition or routine maintenance. Ford has returned from a lengthy deployment, Lincoln has remained at sea beyond schedule, Bush is in the Middle East, and George Washington is being redirected from the Pacific.
Extended operations can create later maintenance and readiness costs for carriers, aircraft, escorts, and crews. The gap’s significance will depend largely on its duration and whether another carrier can relieve George Washington, allowing it to resume western Pacific operations.
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Russia Says It Intercepted Over 800 Ukrainian Drones; Six Killed

Russia reports more than 800 drones intercepted
Russia said its forces shot down or neutralized more than 800 Ukrainian drones overnight Sunday in what appeared to be one of Kyiv’s largest aerial attacks of the conflict. Russian authorities reported at least six deaths.
The Russian Defense Ministry said drones were intercepted across 17 regions, primarily in western and southern Russia. State-run news agency TASS described the operation as the largest Ukrainian drone attack since the beginning of the year.
Moscow region Governor Andrey Vorobiev said air defenses and electronic warfare units stopped 187 drones. An 83-year-old man was killed elsewhere in the region, while Rostov regional authorities reported five deaths.
Warehouses and industrial sites targeted
Geolocated footage showed a large fire at a 250,000-square-meter Wildberries warehouse in the Moscow region. Vorobiev said no one was injured there.
Ukraine says Wildberries, a major Russian online retailer, handles supplies for the Russian military. The Ukrainian military claimed it has struck seven of the company’s 10 largest logistics centers. Wildberries recently announced plans to build new warehouse capacity in neighboring Kazakhstan.
Ukraine’s military also said the Rostov attack struck a defense industry facility that produces solid rocket propellant for Russian weapons. The extent of damage was not independently detailed.
Russian strikes hit Ukrainian cities
Russia continued its own aerial attacks, targeting Kyiv with missiles and drones early Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said six people were wounded and that a book market was among the locations hit.
Ballistic missiles also struck Kremenchuk and Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, according to Zelensky. He reported two deaths in Kryvyi Rih and one in the northern city of Sumy. Steel producer ArcelorMittal said one employee was killed and 13 were injured at its Kryvyi Rih factory, with rescue and search operations continuing.
Ukraine’s Air Force said it did not intercept any of the ballistic missiles launched overnight. Zelensky said Russia had fired more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs and 62 missiles at Ukraine during the preceding week.
British drones reportedly used in deep strikes
Ukraine has used British-made drones for strikes deep inside Russia during the past six months, the Times reported on Aug. 15, citing Ukrainian military sources.
The weapons reportedly include BAE Systems’ jet-powered Nyan drone, previously tested by the British Royal Navy, and another British drone whose manufacturer was withheld for security reasons. Most Ukrainian deep-strike missions still use domestically produced systems.
According to the report, British drones have hit oil refineries near Moscow and in Yaroslavl and Volgograd, while the Nyan has also been used against Belgorod. Unnamed sources told the Times that Russia could respond by expanding cyberattacks, espionage and other hybrid activity against the United Kingdom.
Ukraine claims strikes in occupied territories
The Ukrainian Navy said it struck a Russian Bastion coastal defense missile system in occupied Crimea overnight on Aug. 16, hitting its launch positions and deployment site. Kyiv reported losses of Russian personnel and equipment but said the full damage was still being assessed.
Russia uses Bastion systems to launch Onyx supersonic and Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles. Ukraine’s General Staff also reported strikes on a railway bridge near Svitlodolynske in partially occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and on logistics facilities and ammunition depots in occupied Karlivka, Donetsk Oblast.
Drone intercepted over Romania
Romania’s Defense Ministry said an unidentified drone entering from Moldova was shot down Sunday by a Spanish F-18 operating on a NATO air-policing mission. Debris appeared to fall in an uninhabited area between two villages.
The ministry said it was the fourth drone downed over Romania this year. Romanian F-16 pilots shot down three Russian drones in July after repeated airspace incursions during the war.
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USS George Washington to Replace Abraham Lincoln in Middle East

George Washington to Relieve Lincoln
The U.S. Navy plans to send the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East to replace USS Abraham Lincoln after its extended deployment, according to a WSJ report. The move is described as a scheduled rotation, with George Washington reportedly set to deploy to the region in August 2026.
George Washington has been operating in the South China Sea and is forward-deployed at Yokosuka, Japan. A specific arrival date in the Middle East has not been announced.
Lincoln’s Extended Deployment
Abraham Lincoln left San Diego in November and has remained at sea for nearly nine months, or more than 250 days. It has spent most of that period in the Middle East supporting U.S. military operations against Iran, including combat operations, and has not made a port call since December.
Family members of crew members have raised concerns about the effects of the prolonged operational tempo, limited opportunities for rest, and reported quality-of-life problems aboard the ship.
Morale and Mental Health Concerns
Relatives have reported food shortages, deteriorating morale and growing concern about the crew’s mental health. Families also told Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao that the strain could increase the risk of sailors harming themselves.
Military Times and Stars and Stripes have reported incidents in which sailors attempted to jump overboard during the deployment. Separate reporting in April raised questions about the quality and quantity of food aboard Abraham Lincoln and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, which was also deployed to the Middle East at the time.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle denied the food reporting. Defense officials have also disputed accounts describing worsening morale and mental health aboard Lincoln.
Navy and Central Command Response
Navy officials said they have “not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts” aboard Abraham Lincoln. U.S. Central Command said no service members aboard the carrier had died and that a sailor who fell overboard on Aug. 3 was quickly recovered.
Central Command also cited an 84.4% crew reenlistment rate, describing it as among the highest for U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. The command’s statement did not alter the planned rotation or provide a timeline for Lincoln’s return.
George Washington’s Capabilities
USS George Washington, CVN-73, is the sixth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and the fourth U.S. Navy ship named for the first U.S. president. Commissioned on July 4, 1992, it is 1,092 feet long, can exceed 30 knots, and can carry approximately 90 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
The carrier is powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors and has a crew capacity of roughly 6,000 when its air wing is embarked. Its defensive systems include Sea Sparrow missiles, Rolling Airframe Missiles, and Phalanx close-in weapon systems.
George Washington became the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier forward-deployed to Yokosuka in 2008. It entered a Refueling and Complex Overhaul in August 2017 and was returned to the Navy in May 2023. After replacing USS Ronald Reagan in Japan, it arrived at its current Yokosuka home port in November 2024.
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Trump Opens Path to Foreign-Built Navy Ships With US Production Pledge

White House Opens Path to Foreign-Built Navy Ships
President Donald Trump has directed the United States to consider building limited numbers of Navy ships in foreign shipyards, provided the builders commit to shifting subsequent production to the United States.
The National Security Presidential Memorandum expands the “Finland model” used for the Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutters, under which initial vessels are built in Finland, and later ships are constructed domestically. Foreign companies could build up to two ships in each of three classes at their parent shipyards before transferring follow-on work to US facilities.
Eligible classes include surface combatants capable of anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and convoy escort; Consolidated Cargo Replenishment at Sea tankers; and roll-on, roll-off vessels.
Congressional Approval Remains Uncertain
The administration had already asked Congress to authorize four foreign-built vessels through the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. It also requested $1.85 billion in reconciliation funding to study foreign construction and potentially purchase an initial vessel from Japan or South Korea.
Congress has proposed restrictions. The House-passed NDAA bars foreign shipyards from constructing warships or combat logistics vessels. The Senate Armed Services Committee’s version also restricts overseas warship construction but permits up to two foreign-built auxiliary ships if their builders invest in the US maritime industrial base for later production.
The White House Office of Management and Budget said the House prohibition would limit the government’s ability to use specialized foreign technology and attract investment into domestic shipyards. Senate Democrats have prevented their chamber’s bill from reaching the floor, citing concerns about defense spending and the conflict with Iran.
US law generally limits construction of armed-forces vessels in foreign yards. A national security waiver could be used, as it was for the icebreaker agreements with Finland.
Design and Systems Integration
Analysts said foreign ships would need to be designed from the outset for US weapons, survivability standards, redundancy requirements and communications systems. Retrofitting those capabilities after construction could create delays and integration problems.
Allied ships already operate with US carrier strike groups, but their connections are not always seamless. Some NATO vessels lack networks such as Cooperative Engagement Capability, which shares missile-defense targeting data. Compatible networks and datalinks could be added, but combat-system differences would be more difficult to resolve.
Spanish, South Korean and Japanese ships use versions of Aegis, though their configurations differ from those aboard US ships. Undersea-warfare systems may also be entirely different. The Navy would additionally have to incorporate foreign hull, mechanical and electrical components into its logistics network.
Testing, Maintenance and Fleet Operations
Foreign-built ships would face decisions over US post-delivery testing and certification, including shock-resistance requirements. Because overseas yards may use different technical standards, the Navy, administration, and Congress would have to determine which US requirements to retain or revise.
Similar design adaptation complicated the Constellation-class frigate program, which was based on an Italian Fincantieri design. Fincantieri Marinette Marine received the initial contract in 2020, but the Navy said in December 2025 that it would end the program after accepting the two ships already under construction following delays, cost increases and design changes.
A class limited to two or three vessels could require costly, unique training, maintenance and spare-parts systems. Analysts recommended securing critical parts in advance. Foreign designs may offer maintainability benefits, but some are built around lower operating rates than the US Navy’s 36-month cycle, under which ships can spend about half their time at sea.
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Trump Orders Navy to Restore Steam Catapults on Ford-Class Carriers

Carrier Systems Ordered Back to Steam
President Donald Trump has signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum directing the Navy to return to steam-powered aircraft catapults and hydraulic aircraft elevators on Ford-class carriers. The order also calls for a fifth public shipyard and a new component repair center intended to reduce submarine maintenance delays.
The carrier provisions apply to ships such as the future Doris Miller, now under construction at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding. They would replace the class’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS, with traditional steam catapults and use elevator hydraulics similar to those aboard Nimitz-class carriers.
The USS Ford, the first ship in its class, currently uses EMALS to launch aircraft. Trump previewed the policy aboard the aircraft carrier George Washington in October, saying future carriers would use “steam for the catapults” and “hydraulic for the elevators.”
Cost and Schedule Concerns
General Atomics, which builds EMALS, said changing the Doris Miller’s launch system warrants reconsideration because production is nearly halfway complete.
“With nearly 50% of production complete, changing course now would introduce significant cost, schedule, and integration risks,” the company said. It also warned of broader effects on carrier readiness, technological capabilities, workforce stability and the supplier base.
Bryan Clark, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, said Ford-class carriers use electricity for functions that relied on steam aboard earlier classes, including cooking, heating and water purification, as well as catapults and arresting gear.
Restoring steam lines for the catapults would therefore require an extensive redesign, Clark said. He also noted that the Navy has not purchased a steam catapult in more than 20 years, meaning suppliers may need substantial investment and time to restart production.
Fifth Public Shipyard Proposal
The memorandum directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to submit a carrier and submarine readiness plan within 120 days. The proposal must examine expanded use of the private sector and the establishment of an additional public shipyard.
The fifth yard plan must provide enough drydock capacity to support projected growth in the fast-attack submarine fleet over the next two decades. Potential locations are to be near the U.S. Pacific Fleet and may include the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories.
Site options must consider as many as three new drydocks capable of accommodating every current and projected submarine class. The report must also address construction schedules, resource requirements, and financing options, including public-private partnerships.
Existing Maintenance Network
The United States currently operates four public shipyards in Virginia, Maine, Washington, and Hawaii. Although private yards also maintain military vessels, the public facilities typically conduct major overhauls and modernization work on the Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said in June that the administration was “pushing hard for an additional public shipyard” to support a growing fleet. He said private maintenance contracts would continue, but argued that sufficient public capacity was necessary to operate at scale.
Workforce and Repair Capacity
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said in April that the Navy had been examining a fifth public shipyard, while cautioning that construction alone would not resolve maintenance constraints.
“A new yard is expensive, and so is that infrastructure worth it if I can’t get the workforce there?” Caudle said, pointing to questions about recruiting and sustaining enough personnel to operate another facility.
The memorandum’s separate component repair center is also intended to address submarine repair delays, though further details about its location, cost, and timeline were not provided.
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Russian Attack Destroys WHO Warehouse Holding Front-Line Medical Aid

WHO Warehouse Destroyed in Dnipro
A World Health Organization warehouse in Dnipro was destroyed during a Russian attack on Aug. 7, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on Aug. 9.
The facility in Ukraine’s fourth-largest city stored emergency medical supplies intended for hospitals and communities near the front line. The destruction sent much of the remaining stock up in smoke.
No information about casualties was provided.
Staff Evacuated Part of Aid Stock
WHO personnel evacuated 130 of approximately 300 pallets of humanitarian aid before the warehouse was struck. The status of the evacuated supplies was not specified.
Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said the attack affected essential medicines meant for hospitals and people living closest to active fighting.
“This is a blow to essential medicines intended for hospitals and people closest to the front line,” Lubinets wrote on Telegram. He described the strike as a “cynical” attack intended to deprive vulnerable people of lifesaving resources.
WHO Calls for Protection of Health Care
Ghebreyesus condemned attacks on medical facilities and supplies, emphasizing that health care remains protected under the rules of war.
“I cannot say loudly enough: attacks on health care MUST STOP,” he wrote on X. “Even wars have rules. One of those is that health must be protected.”
Although WHO confirmed that the warehouse was destroyed during the Russian attack, Ghebreyesus did not identify Russia by name in his statement.
Previous Attacks on Humanitarian Operations
The Dnipro strike follows other attacks affecting United Nations humanitarian work in Ukraine. In May, a UN convoy delivering supplies to civilians in Kherson Oblast was severely damaged in two Russian drone strikes.
WHO has also documented heightened risks faced by ambulance drivers and health transport personnel during Russia’s full-scale war. These workers operate along routes and in communities regularly exposed to attacks.
On July 30, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs explicitly identified Russia when condemning an attack on Ukrainian civilian targets. An EU diplomat said colleagues in Brussels were considering whether that approach could signal a change in how UN organizations publicly attribute such incidents.
Investigations Into Alleged Crimes
Ukrainian authorities continue to investigate alleged violations of international law committed during the war. According to a European Commission webpage last updated in May 2026, Ukraine is investigating more than 200,000 incidents of alleged international crimes.
The commission said the actual number of potential atrocities is believed to be higher. Russian forces have been accused of repeated attacks on civilian targets and numerous war crimes in Ukraine.
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