Saudi Navy Pilots Graduate AKINCI Drone Training

Today’s defense brief covers military advancements and strategic developments across several nations. From drone training to enhanced defense capabilities, here’s a look at the latest in global military news.

Saudi Pilots Complete AKINCI Drone Training

Thirty Royal Saudi Naval Forces personnel, including 15 pilot trainees and 15 mechanical and electronic technician trainees, have completed training on the Bayraktar AKINCI unmanned combat aircraft in Türkiye, according to Naval News. This training prepares for the deployment of the AKINCI UCAV in maritime surveillance and stand-off strike operations. The AKINCI agreement, signed in July 2023, was described by Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar as Türkiye’s largest defense and aerospace export contract. The aircraft has over 24 hours of endurance, an operational altitude of 30,000 feet, and a payload capacity of up to 1,500 kilograms, marking a significant expansion of its operational settings.

China’s A2/AD Network Challenges US Naval Access

China has established one of the world’s most comprehensive anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) networks, significantly complicating US military operations in the First Island Chain, 19FortyFive reports. This network includes DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missiles and J-20 and J-35 stealth fighters designed to keep US aircraft carriers out of range and threaten US tankers and carrier-based aircraft. China’s mass-production capacity has enabled it to build a vast array of advanced, relatively inexpensive missiles, hypersonic weapons, and drone swarms. Analysis suggests that any US war with China would be expeditionary, fought at the end of long supply lines, while China would defend close to home with shorter lines of communication, giving the defender a prime advantage.

Japan Boosts Ammunition Storage After Ukraine Lessons

Japan’s Ministry of Defense will begin constructing at least 65 new ammunition depots for its Self-Defense Forces starting in fiscal year 2027, Defence Blog reports. This initiative adopts a standardized design to accelerate construction, a direct lesson from the conflict in Ukraine regarding the importance of stockpiles and supply line security. Japan currently operates approximately 1,400 ammunition depots nationwide and plans to add roughly 130 by fiscal year 2032. This push aims to address previous shortfalls, such as only holding 60% of required Patriot PAC-3 MSE and SM-3 interceptors, and only two months’ worth of artillery shells, enhancing Japan’s ability to sustain prolonged military operations.

US Army Tests C100X Drone for Threat Replication

The US Army’s Emerging Threat Replication Program recently flew Performance Drone Works’ C100X drone at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Defence Blog reports. Testing on September 25 aimed to evaluate the drone’s thermal camera, its ability to drop inert practice munitions, and its potential use in future training scenarios. The C100X is an evolution of the C100, a multi-role quadcopter used by the Army for scouting, munition drops, cargo transport, and launching smaller first-person-view drones. Fort Indiantown Gap has become a primary drone training site for the Army, working to make training more realistic to match the drones soldiers encounter in combat zones.

Yemeni Government Forces Intensify Attacks on Houthis

Yemen’s government forces have intensified attacks against the Iran-backed Houthi group, conducting multiple air and ground operations in the southwestern governorate of Taiz, Al Jazeera reports. The government’s military media center claimed several operations, including airstrikes on Houthi positions in five locations. These actions follow significant Houthi territorial gains, including the strategic Red Sea coastal city of Mocha and expanded control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait. More than 146,000 people have been displaced since fighting erupted in July, after a period of relative calm, with government forces claiming advances in southern Taiz.

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