Russia / Iran / China - The New Axis Megathread (Page 2031 of 2031)
Following two successful flight tests—including tests against moving and maritime targets—the U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.2 billion contract for the Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile (PrSM Inc 2 LBASM). Based on the standard PrSM airframe, the LBASM incorporates a multi-mode seeker combining an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) seeker with a passive anti-radiation capability to engage moving maritime targets. Its seeker concept is similar in some respects to that of Lockheed Martin’s Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). After the missile reaches the general target area, the anti-radiation seeker can initially detect and home in on radio-frequency emissions from enemy communications and radar systems. As the missile closes on the target, the EO/IR imaging function can then be used to further refine target identification and location for the terminal engagement. The U.S. Army initially developed this multi-mode sensing capability with the Pacific theater in mind, particularly for engaging Chinese naval vessels. However, the ability to track moving targets through their RF emissions also has significant applications against mobile radars, which are an important component of Russia’s integrated air-defense architecture in Europe. Using land-based fires to help create opportunities for joint air operations is a key element of the evolving Joint All-Domain Operations concept, making this mission an increasingly important priority for the Army. 
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MN, USA
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Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS3xpj9bwAATptf?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS9xlrgXsAAfWbb?format=png&name=small Do you know what the range on these are? |
2-3hr ago 
..."ground forces, naval capabilities, ammunition stockpiles and drones. Despite record increases in spending and industrial capacity, the agency said Europe still lacks sufficiently deployable, sustainable and interoperable forces and needs to move “substantially faster.”
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Originally Posted By Prime: 😂 MILEI UNLOADS ON UN: ‘USELESS ORGANIZATION’ RUN BY ‘ARROGANT PARASITES’ Argentina’s President Javier Milei tore into the UN General Assembly, saying it “has become a useless organization, serving only to feed a caste of fatally arrogant parasites disguised as well-intentioned bureaucrats.” Milei accused the UN of failing to protect collective security and human rights while allowing “chaos, violence and international terrorism” to flourish. He added: “Those who follow the rules receive no reward for doing so, while those who break them face no repercussions whatsoever.” https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS6ndHIW4AAjHXN?format=jpg&name=large
Is it just me, or does he look like Benny Hill in a bad wig? |
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Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS3xpj9bwAATptf?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS9xlrgXsAAfWbb?format=png&name=small Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest:
Following two successful flight tests—including tests against moving and maritime targets—the U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.2 billion contract for the Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile (PrSM Inc 2 LBASM). Based on the standard PrSM airframe, the LBASM incorporates a multi-mode seeker combining an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) seeker with a passive anti-radiation capability to engage moving maritime targets. Its seeker concept is similar in some respects to that of Lockheed Martin’s Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). After the missile reaches the general target area, the anti-radiation seeker can initially detect and home in on radio-frequency emissions from enemy communications and radar systems. As the missile closes on the target, the EO/IR imaging function can then be used to further refine target identification and location for the terminal engagement. The U.S. Army initially developed this multi-mode sensing capability with the Pacific theater in mind, particularly for engaging Chinese naval vessels. However, the ability to track moving targets through their RF emissions also has significant applications against mobile radars, which are an important component of Russia’s integrated air-defense architecture in Europe. Using land-based fires to help create opportunities for joint air operations is a key element of the evolving Joint All-Domain Operations concept, making this mission an increasingly important priority for the Army. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS3xpj9bwAATptf?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS9xlrgXsAAfWbb?format=png&name=small That thing is nasty. Nice. |
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Originally Posted By BigGrumpyBear: Is it just me, or does he look like Benny Hill in a bad wig? Originally Posted By BigGrumpyBear: Originally Posted By Prime: 😂 MILEI UNLOADS ON UN: ‘USELESS ORGANIZATION’ RUN BY ‘ARROGANT PARASITES’ Argentina’s President Javier Milei tore into the UN General Assembly, saying it “has become a useless organization, serving only to feed a caste of fatally arrogant parasites disguised as well-intentioned bureaucrats.” Milei accused the UN of failing to protect collective security and human rights while allowing “chaos, violence and international terrorism” to flourish. He added: “Those who follow the rules receive no reward for doing so, while those who break them face no repercussions whatsoever.” https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS6ndHIW4AAjHXN?format=jpg&name=large
Is it just me, or does he look like Benny Hill in a bad wig? Yeah, I can see that. |
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This morning, Ukrainian long-range drones attacked the "Permnefteorgsintez" Oil Refinery in the city of Perm, resulting in several large fires breaking out. The Perm Refinery is the 7th largest oil refinery in Russia, and can process up to 13 million tons of crude oil per year. 
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Baldassare Castiglione
https://t.me/arfcom_ukebros
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This Persian man asked one question: Do you unequivocally condemn the IRGC, the terrorists who’ve hanged and butchered Iranians for 46 years? He refused. His voters are IRGC and terrorist supporters. That’s why. He supports the enemies of America. That’s why. Terror supporters are taking over Michigan. RIP Michigan. https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2102894217970253955/video/1
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Baldassare Castiglione
https://t.me/arfcom_ukebros
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Baldassare Castiglione
https://t.me/arfcom_ukebros
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Originally Posted By Haub: 2-3hr ago https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HTA2G_HW0AA5j6q?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HTAr_cfXkAAliJn?format=jpg&name=small
..."ground forces, naval capabilities, ammunition stockpiles and drones. Despite record increases in spending and industrial capacity, the agency said Europe still lacks sufficiently deployable, sustainable and interoperable forces and needs to move "substantially faster."
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Originally Posted By Longshore87: Do you know what the range on these are? Originally Posted By Longshore87: Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS3xpj9bwAATptf?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HS9xlrgXsAAfWbb?format=png&name=small Do you know what the range on these are? Currently over 500km or 310 miles. But Increment 4 will be over 610 miles. Increment 5 will have even longer range, and be more flexible with targets. |
It's Russia's 7th-largest refinery, with a pre-2022 capacity of 13.3M tonnes of crude annually. 
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When people ask why Ukraine hasn't simply erased the launch sites, the answer is infrastructure. The first Iranian Shaheds arrived in autumn 2022, ready to fly “out of the box. ” Since then, the Russians have been building a distributed network of droneports. Military airfields were the obvious starting point. Closed perimeters, guards, air defense, established logistics. Long runways let them use pickups and trucks as mobile launch platforms. Light rails with solid-fuel boosters handled the rest. Now look at what satellite imagery shows at one facility: • 110 drone garages • 13 underground shelters • 16 Geran launch sites • 7 additional launch positions • 4 more under construction • 16 shelters under construction It covers multiple targets. This dispersed, hardened, redundant system is designed to absorb strikes and keep launching. You can hit one garage or one rail and the network continues. Destroying a dozen Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers had no effect on droneports. The bombers were concentrated and expensive. The droneports are cheap, modular, and replaceable. The real counter is not chasing every shed. It is layered air defense, mass production of interceptors, and strikes on production and storage deeper in the rear. Ukraine is already doing that. Western powers need to fund this as if their own security depends on it, because it does.    |
BREAKING: The U.S. military is now reportedly using high-energy laser weapons in the Strait of Hormuz to shoot down drones and incoming cruise missiles - with some systems operated using modified Xbox-style controllers. The New York Post reports the directed-energy systems are being deployed against Iranian threats at a fraction of the cost of conventional interceptor missiles. The controller technology itself is not new: U.S. laser systems have previously been demonstrated with gamepad-style controls designed to make them easier for soldiers to learn and operate. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally tested one of the systems during a June demonstration at White Sands Missile Range, where directed-energy weapons were used against aerial targets. The lasers are invisible to the naked eye and disable targets by concentrating energy on a small area until critical components overheat or fail. The confirmed deployment highlights the growing link between space and missile defense: U.S. satellites increasingly provide the warning and tracking data that helps terrestrial systems identify and engage incoming threats. |
An Israeli source to Saudi channel Al-Hadath: Another round of attacks against Iran is a matter of time. Iran is increasing the transfer and fortification of its nuclear project at Mount Mokush. Israel is tracking Iranian attempts to pre-empt a strike by activating the nuclear program. If Iran crosses the red lines, Israel will hit the nuclear facilities again, with or without the United States. The source added that Israel sees no real chance of an agreement between Washington and Tehran. |
Interesting.
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The U.S. Army has selected U.S.-based rare-earth magnet manufacturer Vulcan Elements to supply neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets for its SkyFoundry small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) initiative. According to the company, the magnets will be used in brushless DC motors, which power the Army’s small drones. SkyFoundry was announced in October 2025 as a pilot program for sUAS manufacturing, with an initial goal of producing 10,000 systems per month by the end of 2026. It was not clear whether the program remains on track to meet that target. The initiative is structured as an Army-industry-academic partnership, with the Army responsible for components including airframes, batteries and propellers, while industry provides software and payloads. Brushless motors were planned as the first major component the Army would manufacture itself. On June 30, Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania officially opened a brushless DC motor assembly line. Depot officials said earlier that month that the facility had a production capacity of up to 500,000 motors annually. Source: Vulcan Elements, Janes |
Yeah, having stealth and being able to drop 2000 lb cheap GPS guided bombs allows for a lot of destruction.
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Gulf states are split over how to handle a restart of U.S.-Iran talks. Qatar is lobbying the Trump administration for negotiations and has floated a seven day pause in fighting that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Oman is behind a phased reopening and a diplomatic solution. Saudi Arabia and the UAE want economic pressure and sanctions on Tehran maintained. Riyadh's position is that Iran should absorb more pressure before any agreement, citing attacks on Gulf shipping and Houthi actions in Yemen. WSJ Full WSJ article DUBAI—Efforts to rekindle talks to end the war between the U.S. and Iran are running into resistance from major Persian Gulf oil producers that have swung against any accommodation of Tehran, people familiar with the matter said. Mediators including Qatar are pressing for a fresh round of talks in Oman as soon as next week to try to get Washington and Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and start the process of winding down the war. President Trump said Tuesday he believed the two sides would meet again soon. Gulf countries generally agree that Trump shouldn’t escalate militarily against Iran. But oil kingpin Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are lobbying the Trump administration to keep up the economic pressure on Iran and not agree to concessions that would ease sanctions or the U.S. Navy blockade, the people said. Saudi Arabia, in particular, is facing new obstacles in getting its oil to market after Iran’s Houthi militia allies in Yemen began squeezing the kingdom’s shipments through the Red Sea. The pressure from the Gulf is adding to a host of other impediments to a deal. They include Trump’s own inclination to maintain the blockade, concerns in Tehran that any talks would just be a delaying action for the U.S. to get past the midterm elections before returning to the attack, and an increasingly belligerent tone from Iranian hard-liners as U.S. economic pressure bites down harder, the people said. “There may be no greater force pushing the GCC to conform with U.S. sanctions than the regime reactivating the Houthi threat to their south after months of having blocked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank, referring to the Gulf states. “These are the costs and consequences of Iran overplaying its hand.” A White House official said the sanctions and blockade had left the U.S. in a strong position with Iran. “While President Trump is open to talking with Iran under the right circumstances, he has no need to negotiate with the Iranians,” the official said. Arab states led by Saudi Arabia had pushed through the summer for negotiations with Iran and were even willing to countenance a deal that acknowledged some Iranian sway over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea lane for their oil exports. But Tehran’s attacks on Saudi ships in the waterway and its encouragement of efforts by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen to shut off an alternative route through the Red Sea have raised doubts in the Gulf that Iran could be serious about a deal, the people said. That view was shared by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who told American officials recently that the U.S. should continue with its blockade until Iran is compelled to sign a new agreement, some of the people said. U.A.E. officials who previously said their Gulf state was eager to end the conflict diplomatically have also poured water on expectations for talks with Iran and said the flare-ups in regional violence and attacks on ships show Tehran is in no rush to return to diplomacy. Gulf states shouldn’t be content with permanent Iranian control of the strait, they said. Other Gulf states, mainly Oman and Qatar, argue the region already has suffered significantly and say proposals for a phased reopening of Hormuz and a halt to attacks on Gulf states are the only viable way to end the conflict. Qatar has been working around the United Nations General Assembly to restart talks between Iran and the U.S. Iran’s foreign minister landed in Doha on Sunday to discuss new proposals including a seven-day pause in fighting that could pave the way to end Iran’s attacks on shipping in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade, people familiar with the matter said. That could be a nonstarter. The U.S. has regularly communicated to Qatar that Trump has no intention of lifting the maritime embargo, the people said. Also, while Arab mediators said Iranian diplomats have presented a number of proposals to end the war and acknowledged the deepening economic crisis in their country, they said they are getting a different message from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has said it won’t entertain new formulas for an agreement and that it is prepared for a long war. The Revolutionary Guard, which is tasked with defending the regime and dominates the power structure in Tehran, wants to return to the terms closer to the preliminary deal Trump struck with Iran in June. That agreement promised to provide relief from sanctions on oil sales, grant access to Iran’s frozen assets and acknowledge a role for Tehran administering the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for opening the waterway. The U.S. has told mediators it has no interest in returning to that deal and believes economic pressure will eventually force Tehran to sign an agreement with terms that are more favorable to Washington and Gulf states.
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Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
I was assured this was ineffective.  Yes, Operation “MoLoChKa” was part of Ukraine's broader 40-day drone and maritime campaign launched in mid-2026. The 40-Day Campaign: Approved by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on June 25, 2026, the 40-day deep-strike and drone offensive was designed to pressure the Kremlin into ceasefire talks by targeting Russian military logistics, fuel depots, and deep-interior oil infrastructure (such as refineries in Omsk and Salavat). Operation “MoLoChKa” (Maritime Interdiction): While the broader 40-day effort focused heavily on strategic land and long-range air strikes, Operation “MoLoChKa” served as the maritime and coastal arm—led in part by Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU)—targeting Russian naval assets, radar stations, and vessels associated with Russia's shadow oil tanker fleet in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
Overall, the main phase of the operation ended a month ago, when the number of vessels decreased by 90% over 30 days. As of now, the number of vessels has fallen even further — to just 8. It’s also worth noting that some of them were left at sea and are simply sitting dead at anchor (I did not count them). |
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Russia / Iran / China - The New Axis Megathread (Page 2031 of 2031)
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