Dzirhan Mahadzir

Decommissioned amphibious transport dock USS Juneau (LPD-10) was sunk by the U.S. and partner nations on Saturday in the Philippine Sea during the ongoing Valiant Shield 2026 exercise. Juneau was sunk more than 200 nautical miles off the coast in the Mariana Islands Range Complex during a sinking exercise that brought together air, surface and subsurface assets for coordinated strikes. The ship entered service in 1969 and saw action in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm before decommissioning in 2008. “This SINKEX provided an outstanding opportunity for our joint team to integrate capabilities across domains, honing the lethal precision

Russia and China conducted joint bomber patrol flights on Saturday for the first time this year, prompting Japan and South Korea to scramble fighter aircraft. Two Chinese H-6 bombers flew from the East China Sea into the Sea of Japan where they were joined by two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Russian Tu-142 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, according to Japan’s Joint Staff Office. The Russian and Chinese aircraft then conducted a joint flight back to the East China Sea. Two Chinese J-16 fighters and one Russian Su-35 fighter also flew with the bombers during parts of the flight. The nine aircraft

The U.S. and partner nations on Wednesday wrapped up Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, which involved 10 days of training that saw anti-submarine warfare, cutting edge drone testing and a multinational maritime strike. “What we promised in preparation, we proved in execution,” said Rear Adm. Jay Clark, the VS26 Exercise Control Group Director, said in a U.S. Navy news release. “Over 10 days of intensive, high-end operations, Valiant Shield demonstrated that our alliance is not just a partnership on paper, but a formidable, unified force. By integrating our multinational allies and seamlessly executing complex maneuvers across every domain, we have proven our

The People’s Liberation Army Navy test fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile from the South China Sea to the Pacific Ocean on Monday, coinciding with the start of an annual naval drill with Russia. The Chinese strategic nuclear submarine launched the missile carrying a training dummy warhead around 12 p.m. Monday toward the Pacific Ocean as part of routine training, according to a statement from the PLAN. The test launch complied with international laws and practices and was not directed against any specific country or target, the statement reads. The Chinese military did not provide additional details of the launch, nor

The U.S. Marine Corps concluded two bilateral exercises last week in the first island chain, which overlapped to demonstrate the service’s “Two MEFs Abreast” strategy. Resolute Dragon 2026, a U.S. Marine Corps exercise with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, began June 20 in southwest Japan and wrapped up on June 30. The U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marine Corps also concluded KAMANDAG 10 on Wednesday, which occurred in the Philippines. “Resolute Dragon and KAMANDAG happening side-by-side is the latest manifestation of Two MEFs Abreast,” said Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, said in a service news

Two Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II fighters intercepted a Russian Tu-142 Bear F Maritime Patrol Aircraft over the Norwegian Sea after it repeatedly approached aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09), the U.K Ministry of Defence announced Monday. “The aircraft flew unnecessarily close to HMS Prince of Wales, dropped multiple sonobuoys nearby, and failed to respond on international safety frequencies. This activity was unsafe and unprofessional,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement shared to its official X account. On Thursday, two embarked F-35Bs intercepted and escorted the Tu-142 until it left the area. The U.K. Carrier Strike Group

The U.K.-led Joint Expeditionary Force will advance its integrated maritime enterprise and commit to a persistent maritime presence in the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic to counter Russia’s increasing activities in the region, the Royal Navy announced Thursday. The 10 countries in the JEF recently agreed to implement the Royal Navy’s Maritime Proposition – Joint Expeditionary Force, which outlines how the JEF nations can align doctrine, training, planning, sustainment and capability development to be better integrated. JEF is described by the U.K. as a shared maritime enterprise, with the Hybrid Navy concept as the organizing spine and progressed through

USS Essex (LHD-2) is the centerpiece of large-scale additive manufacturing tests during Rim of the Pacific 2026 exercise, as the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps lean on modern machine-made parts to hone self-repair capabilities. RIMPAC 26, which is being held in Hawaii through July 31, brings together military, government, academic, commercial and coalition partners in what the U.S. Navy has described as the largest advanced manufacturing demonstration conducted by the Defense Department. Throughout RIMPAC 2026, advanced manufacturing systems will be deployed aboard Essex and other ships and at locations across Hawaii to produce replacement parts, support distributed logistics, and evaluate

USS Essex (LHD 2) is the centerpiece of large-scale additive manufacturing tests during Rim of the Pacific 2026 exercise

The U.S. Coast Guard is transitioning its Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) to the Western Pacific, ending a more than 20-year forward-deployed mission in the Middle East. The Coast Guard’s Expeditionary Cutter Squadron that makes up PATFORSWA, which was previously forward deployed to Bahrain, will instead operate from Guam and the Pacific Islands, the service announced Wednesday. The transition from the Middle East to the Western Pacific is in response to national security requirements, reads the Coast Guard news release. “Coast Guard forces have always adapted to meet urgent national needs,” Adm. Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, said