U.S. Air Force RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drones provided real-time surveillance for Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. The drone, designed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, tracked targets and supported special operations forces just as it did during the Osama bin Laden raid.
The USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship deployed for Operation Southern Spear, was the vessel that transported captured leader Nicolás Maduro. The 844-foot “floating fortress” provided a secure, sovereign platform for the high-stakes mission.
A new video from China’s PLA Eastern Theatre Command has raised questions about whether a J-20 stealth fighter flew near Taiwan’s Pingtung airbase during the “Justice Mission 2025” drills. Analysts, former military officers, and officials remain divided on what the footage really shows — and what it means for Taiwan’s air defences.
Fincantieri’s subsidiary WASS has won a historic €200 million+ contract to supply Black Shark Advanced torpedoes to the Indian Navy. The deal, the largest in WASS’s 150-year history, will equip India’s Scorpène-class submarines, deepening strategic defence ties.
Chinese engineers have transformed a standard cargo ship into a drone carrier with a modular electromagnetic catapult (EMALS) in days, showcasing a rapid reconfiguration concept that could turn merchant vessels into auxiliary naval strike platforms.
Russia claims its forces shot down a record over 4,300 Ukrainian long-range drones in December 2025, a 29% monthly increase, as Ukraine ramps up a $35 billion drone production strategy to strike deep inside Russian territory.
The Chinese PLA Navy has commissioned the upgraded Type 052D destroyer “Loudi,” equipped with a new AESA radar and combat architecture for superior air defense and strike capabilities, continuing China’s rapid naval modernization.
Taiwan has been spotted moving its secretive Hsiung Feng IIE (HF-2E) land-attack cruise missile during major Chinese military drills. Reported by The War Zone, the rare sighting highlights a weapon believed capable of striking targets up to 1,500 kilometers away, reinforcing Taipei’s deterrence posture as tensions rise across the Taiwan Strait.
Iranian-made Mohajer-6 strike-surveillance drones are now operating in Venezuela, according to imagery and US sanctions disclosures. Reported by The War Zone, the drones offer 12-hour endurance, guided munitions, and long-range surveillance, signaling a major leap in Venezuelan drone warfare capabilities backed by Iran.
European aviation giant Airbus has secured a massive order for 148 A320neo aircraft from Chinese clients, including Air China. The deals, worth billions, mark a decisive victory over US rival Boeing, which hasn’t secured a major Chinese order since 2017.
Join our Premium Membership and unlock all content for unlimited access.
We uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity and ethical reporting, ensuring that truth and transparency prevail in all our content.
contact@modernmechanics.com
