https://www.scmp.com/rss/270893/feed Lockheed Martin is a US global aerospace, defence, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta, and employs 123,000 people worldwide. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The United States’ first firing of its Philippines-based Typhon missile launcher last week marked the “worst provocation” in years in the South China Sea and Beijing should ramp up air defence and stealth strike drones in response, according to Chinese military observers. Beijing has opposed the Typhon deployment since the Lockheed Martin system arrived at its Luzon base in the Philippines two years ago, claiming it has destabilised regional security. The ground-based vertical launch system can... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3353551/typhon-launch-tomahawk-missile-worst-provocation-us-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3353551/typhon-launch-tomahawk-missile-worst-provocation-us-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 09:58:22 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang The United States has “no defence against hypersonic weapons or cruise missiles”, a senior Pentagon official told Congress on Monday, as US President Donald Trump’s US$185 billion Golden Dome missile shield faces continued scepticism. “The Golden Dome will strengthen deterrence by denying adversaries the ability to achieve their objectives through coercion or aggression,” Marc Berkowitz, the assistant secretary of defence for missile defence and deterrence policy, told a Senate hearing on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351626/trumps-golden-dome-will-combat-chinas-hypersonic-weapons-cruise-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351626/trumps-golden-dome-will-combat-chinas-hypersonic-weapons-cruise-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:28:59 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Washington is pulling most long-range cruise missiles from the Pacific for redeployment to the Middle East amid its war on Iran – a move analysts say signals possible supply constraints and tells Indo-Pacific “friends and foes alike” that US priorities lie elsewhere. According to US media reports, the Pentagon ordered nearly the entire inventory of its JASSM-ER air-launched cruise missiles to be moved from the Pacific, and even from the continental United States, to US Central Command bases in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349263/what-us-telling-its-pacific-allies-removing-missiles-use-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349263/what-us-telling-its-pacific-allies-removing-missiles-use-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:20:23 +0000 dpa dpa Iran on Friday said it shot down an F-35 fighter jet. A statement by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite military force, said the fighter jet was shot down over Iranian airspace by a new, advanced defence system. There was no initial confirmation of the incident from the United States, which has been waging war against Iran alongside Israel since February 28. The IRGC said the F-35 was the second to have been shot down. “Due to the complete destruction of the aircraft,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348936/iran-says-shot-it-down-f-35-fighter-jet-new-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348936/iran-says-shot-it-down-f-35-fighter-jet-new-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:56:58 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong China is developing a revolutionary air-breathing engine for next-generation fighter jets and hypersonic missiles. Designed to operate continuously from a stationary start-up to over Mach 6, the “contra-rotary ramjet engine” could replace the combined turbine-ramjet systems currently used in high-speed flight. After more than three decades of work, the engine prototype has been completed and experimentally verified, marking a potential step towards engineering applications. The next steps... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348078/mach-0-6-engine-may-power-chinas-future-fighter-jets-and-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348078/mach-0-6-engine-may-power-chinas-future-fighter-jets-and-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters A Colombian military plane crashed in a take-off disaster on Monday, killing 66 people as rescuers shuttled dozens of survivors to nearby hospitals and searched for four who were still missing, according to a top official. The Lockheed Martin-built Hercules C-130 transport plane was carrying 128 people, including 11 Air Force members, 115 army personnel and two national police officers, according to ‌Hugo Alejandro Lopez, head of the nation’s armed forces. The death toll was nearly double that... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3347639/dozens-soldiers-feared-dead-after-colombian-military-plane-crashes-take?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3347639/dozens-soldiers-feared-dead-after-colombian-military-plane-crashes-take?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:58:24 +0000 Alcott Wei,Seong Hyeon Choi Alcott Wei,Seong Hyeon Choi The first known combat damage to an F-35 fifth-generation fighter aircraft from a likely Iranian attack suggests that stealth jets can be detected by electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems, according to Chinese analysts. US Central Command reported that the stealth fighter was forced to make an emergency landing during a combat mission over Iran on Thursday. “We are aware of reports that a US F-35 aircraft conducted an emergency landing at a regional US airbase after flying a combat... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347383/iran-detected-and-damaged-us-f-35-stealth-jet-combat-chinese-experts-map-out-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347383/iran-detected-and-damaged-us-f-35-stealth-jet-combat-chinese-experts-map-out-how?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:26:16 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The increasing military use of drones has raised questions about the future role of helicopters as countries such as China and the United States increasingly pivot towards the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Traditionally, helicopters have been used for a wide range of functions ranging from transport to surveillance, but these functions are now increasingly being taken over by pilotless aircraft. Both the Chinese and US armed forces are increasingly building up their UAS fleets –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346602/how-are-military-helicopters-evolving-adapt-age-drone-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346602/how-are-military-helicopters-evolving-adapt-age-drone-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Nasa is shaking up its Artemis mission to the moon, cancelling a multibillion-dollar Boeing upgrade to the centrepiece SLS rocket and slotting in a test flight closer to Earth as the programme remains beset by delays and cost overruns. The changes announced on Friday mean that Nasa is essentially swapping the actual moon landing for an additional test mission staged closer to Earth – while insisting the 2028 deadline for a lunar touchdown remains unchanged. Artemis III, which was supposed to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344936/nasa-overhauls-artemis-mission-amid-setbacks-moon-race-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344936/nasa-overhauls-artemis-mission-amid-setbacks-moon-race-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:18:17 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Washington’s contempt and even hostility has led to a fundamental rethink among its European and Canadian allies. Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ottawa is rapidly reorienting its defence, security and economic policies against an openly predatory United States. Even the ever compliant Europeans are starting to openly articulate a more independent defence posture and to fortify their economies in the face of Donald Trump’s universal tariff war and financial threats. And yet, Australia, which... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3343922/forget-canada-real-51st-american-state-appears-be-gullible-australia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3343922/forget-canada-real-51st-american-state-appears-be-gullible-australia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:00:16 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang With jets forming complex formations overhead and displays on the ground of the world’s most advanced fighters, manufacturers from the US, China, South Korea and Turkey gathered in Riyadh to pursue deals of financial and strategic weight. China exhibited model J-10CE and J-35A fighter jets at the World Defence Show, along with Wing Loong and Rainbow series drones which have been making inroads into the Middle East. Analysts noted that while Chinese drones were continuing to attract buyers,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343272/chinas-middle-east-arms-edge-overshadowed-turkey-and-south-korea-riyadh-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343272/chinas-middle-east-arms-edge-overshadowed-turkey-and-south-korea-riyadh-show?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:15 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The US is converting Cold War-era helicopters into drones, a move defence experts say could play a “critical role” in any conflict with Beijing over the Taiwan Strait. The PLA has also been retrofitting outdated aircraft to act as uncrewed drones, with both militaries unveiling similar systems within a month of each other last year. The S-70UAS U-Hawk, a fully autonomous helicopter based on the UH-60 Black Hawk, was first showcased last October at an annual American military event, where it was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342774/black-hawk-drone-new-frontier-us-rivalry-beijing-over-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342774/black-hawk-drone-new-frontier-us-rivalry-beijing-over-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Bryan Luk,Leonard Luk Bryan Luk,Leonard Luk If the years 2020 to 2025 were defined by the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution – a period where algorithms helped create tech titans such as Nvidia, OpenAI and Oracle – then 2026 represents a far more exciting and expansive paradigm shift. We are now pivoting from the digitisation of the Earth to the capitalisation and domination of low-orbit space. The golden age of the space economy has arrived, signalled by last month’s announcement that SpaceX is preparing for a June initial public... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342254/us-china-orbital-arms-race-forging-trillion-dollar-space-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342254/us-china-orbital-arms-race-forging-trillion-dollar-space-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Lockheed Martin expects to have around 300 of its fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets operating in the Asia-Pacific by 2035, one of the US aerospace giant’s senior executives said at the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday. Steve Sheehy, aeronautics vice-president of international business development, made the prediction during a media briefing in which he cited the “emergence of threat” in the region and the “game-changing” interoperability achieved by US allies. Lockheed Martin’s appearance at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342328/record-f-35-deliveries-muscle-american-allies-asia-pacific-region?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342328/record-f-35-deliveries-muscle-american-allies-asia-pacific-region?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:32:26 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Two Western defence companies appear to have Chinese warships in their sights, with promotional videos of their weapons systems targeting vessels that look a lot like those belonging to the PLA Navy. London-based BAE Systems posted videos on social media on Wednesday for “game-changing naval weapons and launching systems” it said it was showcasing at a US defence industry conference last week. One animated video simulated a naval base under attack. The base then launches missiles from containers... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340329/are-western-defence-firms-aiming-chinese-navy-their-promo-videos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340329/are-western-defence-firms-aiming-chinese-navy-their-promo-videos?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 11:30:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The army has once again missed its own deadline for fielding the first US hypersonic weapon, in a sign that one of the Pentagon’s top priorities is still running late. The unit responsible for using the advanced weapon is trained and ready, but the missile – part of a US$10.4 billion hypersonic programme – is not ready for use. And while the army as recently as last month said that it planned to field the weapon by the end of 2025, the army acknowledged this week that it missed that... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340291/us-blows-past-another-deadline-field-its-first-hypersonic-missile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340291/us-blows-past-another-deadline-field-its-first-hypersonic-missile?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 03:30:16 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), its next-generation fighter project in collaboration with the United Kingdom and Italy, may be given a boost now that the development of a similar aircraft has been put on hold. Germany, France and Spain have indefinitely postponed the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), prompting suggestions that some or all participants may instead turn to the rival GCAP. On December 30, German defence media outlet Hartpunkt reported that the “faltering” project, long... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3340031/japans-next-generation-fighter-jet-project-set-boost-european-rival-stalls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3340031/japans-next-generation-fighter-jet-project-set-boost-european-rival-stalls?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi America’s top defence official declared that the US must achieve unquestioned AI “dominance” to prevent adversaries from gaining a technological edge, as he unveiled a strategy that includes integrating Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s announcement did not mention China by name, but it came a month after a report to the US Congress in which the Pentagon warned of Beijing’s accelerating use of AI to reach its military modernisation goals. On Monday, Hegseth said the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339743/us-moves-ai-dominance-outpace-china-new-overwhelming-military-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339743/us-moves-ai-dominance-outpace-china-new-overwhelming-military-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:14:14 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s latest military crash involving an upgraded F-16 fighter jet has sparked fresh scrutiny of the readiness of the island’s ageing arsenal amid the sustained high-tempo demands of cross-strait tensions. The episode on Tuesday has sharpened debate over whether upgrades and new armament purchases can realistically keep pace with increasing wear, maintenance constraints and the rapid modernisation of mainland China’s forces, according to lawmakers and analysts. The incident involved an F-16V... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339444/f-16-fighter-jet-crash-brings-fresh-scrutiny-taiwans-ageing-military-equipment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339444/f-16-fighter-jet-crash-brings-fresh-scrutiny-taiwans-ageing-military-equipment?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump on Wednesday proposed setting US military spending at US$1.5 trillion in 2027, citing “troubled and dangerous times”. Trump called for the massive surge in spending days after he ordered a US military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and spirit him out of the country to face drug trafficking charges in the United States. US forces continue to mass in the Caribbean Sea. The 2026 military budget was set at US$901 billion. The United States was already... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3339108/trump-calls-us15-trillion-military-spending-citing-dangerous-times?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3339108/trump-calls-us15-trillion-military-spending-citing-dangerous-times?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:52:06 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung F-16V fighter jets ordered by Taiwan are undergoing ground tests in the United States, as Washington and the American contractor come under pressure to speed up deliveries following criticism of repeated delays. Photos circulating online in recent days showed at least one Taiwan-bound F-16V Block 70 two-seat aircraft during taxi and systems checks at a US airfield, offering the clearest public indication yet that the long-delayed programme had entered a substantive testing phase. Images of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337372/f-16v-fighter-jet-ground-test-taiwan-presses-us-and-lockheed-martin-delivery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337372/f-16v-fighter-jet-ground-test-taiwan-presses-us-and-lockheed-martin-delivery?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:00:11 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen When a full-scale model of the world’s first independent submarine hunter drone was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow last month, it offered a glimpse of the latest in a series of advances in China’s development of a modern integrated anti-submarine system. The Wing Loong-X export variant unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has anti-submarine capabilities that are reportedly superior in some respects to the United States Navy’s Boeing P-8 Poseidon and other manned aircraft. The full-scale model drone’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335086/chinas-rapid-progress-anti-submarine-drones-adding-concerns-japan-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335086/chinas-rapid-progress-anti-submarine-drones-adding-concerns-japan-us?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s second fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35, could find buyers in the Middle East as demand grows for advanced stealth aircraft in the region – though its capabilities remain unknown, according to analysts. China, the United States and Russia are the only countries making fifth-generation fighter jets, and all three showcased their aircraft at last week’s Dubai Air Show. A model of the J-35 – made by China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (Catic) and with a design... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334494/china-takes-us-and-russia-it-touts-j-35-fighter-jet-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334494/china-takes-us-and-russia-it-touts-j-35-fighter-jet-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong A private Chinese aerospace company has become the first in the world to start mass production of a low-cost, high-performance hypersonic missile, suggesting a seismic shift in military technology and defence industrial dynamics. On Tuesday, Beijing-based Lingkong Tianxing Technology released a video on its official social media account showcasing the YKJ-1000 hypersonic missile in flight and how it struck a real target in a desert testing range. A company representative said the missile was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3334140/90-cost-cut-chinese-civilian-firm-enters-mass-production-mach-7-hypersonic-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3334140/90-cost-cut-chinese-civilian-firm-enters-mass-production-mach-7-hypersonic-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:08:53 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald Trump said on Monday he plans to approve the sale of US-made F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, speaking a day before he hosts Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a day of diplomacy. “I will say that we will be doing that,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We’ll be selling the F-35s.” A sale would mark a significant policy shift, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East and testing Washington’s definition of maintaining Israel’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3333179/trump-says-planning-sell-f-35-fighter-jets-saudi-arabia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3333179/trump-says-planning-sell-f-35-fighter-jets-saudi-arabia?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 01:16:04 +0000 Reuters Reuters Turkey on Wednesday said 20 of its soldiers were killed when a military transport plane crashed in Georgia a day earlier, marking the Nato member’s deadliest military incident since 2020. The C-130 cargo aircraft left Azerbaijan for Turkey and crashed in Georgia on Tuesday, leaving chunks of twisted metal strewn across a grassy knoll. Ankara has not provided a reason for the crash, but said Turkish and Georgian authorities have started inspections at the site, located in the Sighnaghu... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3332396/turkish-military-plane-crashes-georgia-least-20-board?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3332396/turkish-military-plane-crashes-georgia-least-20-board?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:48:10 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Half a century after the fall of Saigon, the United States and Vietnam are edging towards deeper defence cooperation built on shared anxieties about China and Washington’s desire to wean Hanoi off its historical dependence on Russian arms. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Hanoi last Sunday for a two-day visit, declaring that establishing stronger security ties would be a win-win. “Deeper [military] cooperation will benefit both of our countries,” said Hegseth, who had travelled to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3331983/avoiding-strategic-suicide-vietnams-us-russia-china-diplomatic-dance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3331983/avoiding-strategic-suicide-vietnams-us-russia-china-diplomatic-dance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 05:30:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters The United States wants deeper military ties with Vietnam, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday at the start of a visit to Hanoi amid prolonged talks for the potential supply of military equipment to Washington’s former foe. Hegseth was expected to meet Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam, President Luong Cuong and Defence Minister Phan Van Giang, a Vietnamese official briefed on the visit said. “Deeper [military] cooperation will benefit both of our countries,” Hegseth, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3331229/pentagon-chief-hegseth-wants-closer-vietnam-ties-amid-arms-dealings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3331229/pentagon-chief-hegseth-wants-closer-vietnam-ties-amid-arms-dealings?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 09:49:33 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo “Hydraulic or magnets?” US President Donald Trump asked some baffled American troops stationed in Japan during his visit this week, and demanded to know which was better. That was during a speech aboard the USS George Washington, before hundreds of American servicemen and women who appeared to have no idea what their commander-in-chief was talking about. “You know, the new thing is magnets. So instead of using hydraulic that you can be hit by lightning and it’s fine, you take a little glass of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3330862/trumps-rare-earths-rant-us-soldiers-find-weary-world-policeman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3330862/trumps-rare-earths-rant-us-soldiers-find-weary-world-policeman?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:30:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters Nasa said on Monday it was opening the marquee US moon landing contract to other bidders because Elon Musk’s SpaceX has experienced mounting delays with its Starship lunar lander. The move paves the way for rivals such as Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin to snatch a high-profile mission to land the first astronauts on the moon in half a century. “I’m in the process of opening that contract up. I think we’ll see companies like Blue get involved, and maybe others,” the US space agency’s acting chief Sean... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3329715/us-seek-rival-bids-artemis-3-moon-landing-spacex-lags-nasa-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3329715/us-seek-rival-bids-artemis-3-moon-landing-spacex-lags-nasa-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:58:53 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A Taiwan-built submarine has missed its September sea trial deadline, raising fresh concerns over the future of the high-profile project as Beijing’s military pressure increases. The Indigenous Defence Submarine (IDS) programme, seen as a centrepiece of the island’s efforts to strengthen its asymmetric naval capabilities, is facing its biggest test yet. Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung admitted last week that delivering the prototype submarine Hai Kun, or Narwhal, to the navy by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328025/deep-trouble-taiwan-made-submarine-delays-raise-new-doubts-over-projects-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328025/deep-trouble-taiwan-made-submarine-delays-raise-new-doubts-over-projects-future?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 11:04:05 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang A Chinese military magazine has shed light on the mysterious laser weapon unveiled at the country’s Victory Day parade in Beijing this month, and argues that its output exceeds that of its American counterparts. According to Ordnance Industry Science Technology, a Chinese military journal, the Liaoyuan-1 (LY-1) shipborne laser weapon displayed in the military parade on September 3 will be tasked with “close-range interception of incoming missiles and drones”, serving as the “last line of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327271/last-line-defence-military-journal-sheds-light-chinas-new-ly-1-shipborne-laser-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327271/last-line-defence-military-journal-sheds-light-chinas-new-ly-1-shipborne-laser-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:00:10 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has used its advanced electromagnetic catapults to launch all three types of fixed-wing aircraft developed for the vessel, passing another major test before commissioning. Quoting the navy, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday that J-15T fighters, fifth-generation J-35 stealth jets and carrier-based KJ-600 early warning and control aircraft completed catapult launch and arrest landing tests on the carrier. The J-35 is the world’s second... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326424/landmark-launch-chinas-j-35-stealth-jet-fujian-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326424/landmark-launch-chinas-j-35-stealth-jet-fujian-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:42:15 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei A popular mainland Chinese military magazine has detailed plans to counter Taiwan’s most advanced weapons in a conflict – including its newly acquired US-made Himars multiple rocket launcher – a weapon it says does not change the battlefield. Ordnance Science and Technology published an analysis article in August that focused on the performance of three weapons showcased by Taiwan during the annual Han Kuang military exercises – and potential countermeasures that could be used by the People’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325355/mainland-chinese-military-magazine-details-plans-counter-taiwans-most-advanced-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325355/mainland-chinese-military-magazine-details-plans-counter-taiwans-most-advanced-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong America’s upgrade programme for its F-35 stealth fighter jet is facing further delays and China’s control of rare earths and metals could be a contributing reason, according to industry assessments. The F-35 has consistently improved its combat capabilities through upgrades named blocks, ranging from 1A to 3F. In 2019, the US Defence Department launched its Block 4 upgrade initiative to improve the aircraft’s detection range, air-to-air engagement and precision strike abilities. However, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325020/chinas-rare-earths-policy-frustrating-us-upgrades-f-35-stealth-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325020/chinas-rare-earths-policy-frustrating-us-upgrades-f-35-stealth-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Mock-ups of Himars rocket launchers – which Taiwan has ordered from the US – have been spotted in a car park in mainland China, suggesting a PLA simulation of a cross-strait conflict. A video circulating on mainland Chinese social media this week showed three trucks resembling the US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars). The replica trucks appeared to be lighter than genuine Himars units and, according to the video, lacked rocket launchers. The footage showed the vehicles... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323477/what-does-mock-us-rocket-launcher-mainland-china-car-park-say-about-taiwan-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323477/what-does-mock-us-rocket-launcher-mainland-china-car-park-say-about-taiwan-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:00:18 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi As tensions intensify across the Taiwan Strait, Beijing has ramped up its firepower capacity to prepare for a possible war in the region. One of the weapon systems key to these efforts is the PHL-16, a truck-mounted self-propelled multiple rocket launcher (MRL) that incorporates modular design and long-range precision-strike capabilities. The system is often described as the mainland Chinese version of Lockheed Martin’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) that Taiwan has bought and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322516/phl16-multiple-rocket-launcher-chinas-answer-us-himars-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322516/phl16-multiple-rocket-launcher-chinas-answer-us-himars-system?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:00:30 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Lockheed Martin is set to establish an R&D facility in Manila in partnership with a major Philippine university, in a move analysts say will both strengthen the nation’s technological foundations and enmesh it further into Washington’s regional security framework. The American defence giant announced on Tuesday a collaboration with Southern Methodist University (SMU) aimed at boosting innovation, developing advanced technologies and nurturing local talent in partnership with Philippine academic... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321952/why-lockheed-martins-philippine-rd-hub-will-be-chinas-radar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321952/why-lockheed-martins-philippine-rd-hub-will-be-chinas-radar?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Trump administration’s flagship Golden Dome missile defence system will include four layers – one satellite-based and three on land – with 11 short-range batteries located across the continental US, Alaska and Hawaii, according to a US government slide presentation on the project first reported by Reuters. The slides, tagged “Go Fast, Think Big!”, were presented to 3,000 defence contractors in Huntsville, Alabama, last week and reveal the unprecedented complexity of the system, which faces... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3321671/new-details-emerge-about-trumps-us175-billion-golden-dome-missile-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3321671/new-details-emerge-about-trumps-us175-billion-golden-dome-missile-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:45:08 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran With Poland bracing for potential Russian aggression and the Philippines contending with sustained tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea, analysts say the two countries may find strategic common ground – not just in their geopolitical outlooks, but also in their shared aspirations as “emerging middle powers”. Warsaw’s dramatic ramp-up in defence spending and its uncompromising stance against Moscow’s provocations have drawn the attention of Filipino security analysts, some of whom see... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321282/philippines-poland-find-common-ground-deterring-china-russia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321282/philippines-poland-find-common-ground-deterring-china-russia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:11 +0000 Reuters Reuters Australia’s army fired a truck-mounted long-range rocket system that has become a priority for US allies in the Indo-Pacific for the first time on Monday, alongside US and Singapore forces firing the same system in joint military exercises. Armoured trucks with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars) that can reach 400km (250 miles) are in high demand in the Ukraine conflict and are also being acquired by US allies in the Indo-Pacific, including Australia, which is reshaping its forces... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3318156/australia-fires-its-first-us-made-himars-rocket-system-military-exercise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3318156/australia-fires-its-first-us-made-himars-rocket-system-military-exercise?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:34:09 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Genocides committed or sponsored by the West have often been a highly profitable business. Whether it was against the native American population in the United States throughout much of the 19th century, the colonisation of the Congo by King Leopold II of Belgium, or the Nazi Holocaust, many individuals and companies have profited greatly from humanity’s worst crimes – through direct participation or by providing services and support. A new report by Francesca Albanese, the courageous UN special... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3317502/its-time-business-stop-profiting-israels-economy-genocide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3317502/its-time-business-stop-profiting-israels-economy-genocide?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 01:00:11 +0000 Elina Noor Elina Noor A day before the controversial military parade in Washington celebrating the US Army’s 250th anniversary (which, coincidentally, fell on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday), a more discreet yet significant event took place. On June 13, the US Army swore four C-suite technologists into its reserve ranks with the launch of Detachment 201, its executive innovation corps. The newly commissioned lieutenant colonels are Shyam Sankar, Palantir Technologies’ chief technology officer; Andrew... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3316416/why-silicon-valley-signing-nationalism-puts-asia-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3316416/why-silicon-valley-signing-nationalism-puts-asia-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The Philippines must acquire more advanced fighter jets – and soon – to build a “niche air force” capable of credible deterrence against Chinese intrusions, its air force chief has said, as Manila weighs whether to pursue US-made F-16s or Sweden’s Gripen. Manila last month signed a US$700 million deal to acquire 12 additional FA-50 light combat aircraft from South Korea, expanding the Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s fleet to 24 by the end of the decade. These upgraded models will come with enhanced... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3316547/philippines-eyes-multirole-fighter-jets-credible-deterrence-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3316547/philippines-eyes-multirole-fighter-jets-credible-deterrence-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:56:35 +0000 Reuters,Agence France-Presse Reuters,Agence France-Presse The High Court in London rejected a legal challenge on Monday, brought by a Palestinian rights group, seeking to block the UK from supplying components for Israeli F-35 fighter jets. Israel has used the jets to devastating effect in its bombardment of Gaza. Both sides have been accused of atrocities during a conflict that has killed tens of thousands – the vast majority of them Palestinian civilians, according to figures the United Nations deems reliable. The UK government suspended some export... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3316403/high-court-rejects-rights-groups-claim-uk-illegally-arming-israel-f-35-parts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3316403/high-court-rejects-rights-groups-claim-uk-illegally-arming-israel-f-35-parts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:23:32 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Britain will reintroduce fighter jets capable of carrying atomic weapons to support Nato’s nuclear mission, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said, as he prepares for a Nato summit Wednesday. The country will purchase 12 nuclear weapon-capable F-35A fighters, expanding the country’s deterrence arsenal, which is currently limited to submarine-launched missiles. “These F-35 dual capable aircraft will herald a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and deter hostile threats that threaten... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3315744/uk-reintroduce-nuclear-weapon-capable-aircraft-under-nato?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3315744/uk-reintroduce-nuclear-weapon-capable-aircraft-under-nato?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:06:12 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi For European fighter jet buyers looking for ways to spend growing military budgets, the Paris Air Show offered no shortage of aircraft options. Dassault Aviation was out in force with the Rafale, one of France’s bestselling military aircraft, as were US aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin with their offerings. Away from the main exhibition venue, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation gave a glimpse of its country’s advanced military aircraft, presenting scale models... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315472/chinas-fighter-jets-line-paris-air-show-can-they-win-over-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315472/chinas-fighter-jets-line-paris-air-show-can-they-win-over-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Jun 2025 10:00:16 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a large increase in defence spending to meet Nato’s target this financial year, saying it’s necessary in “a darker, more competitive world” where US dominance is receding. “The long-held view that Canada’s geographic location will protect us is becoming increasingly archaic,” Carney said in a major foreign policy speech in Toronto. “We have been jolted awake by new threats to our security and sovereignty – including from emboldened Russia and an... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3315403/canada-raises-defence-spending-hit-nato-targets-amid-tariff-row-carney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3315403/canada-raises-defence-spending-hit-nato-targets-amid-tariff-row-carney?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 12:05:52 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall At an airbase outside Tokyo, engineers inspect the ageing F-2 fighters that have patrolled the Japanese skies for decades. But with China’s newest stealth jets roaming ever closer, and the promised future of air defence still years away, Japan is growing restless. Its partnership with Britain and Italy to build a next-generation fighter has hit turbulence – and Tokyo may no longer be willing to wait. The sixth-generation fighter, part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), is slated to enter... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3313407/japan-clamours-new-fighter-jets-uk-italy-gcap-delays-test-tokyos-patience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3313407/japan-clamours-new-fighter-jets-uk-italy-gcap-delays-test-tokyos-patience?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:00:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Meta Platforms is partnering with defence contractor Anduril Industries to develop new products for the US military, including an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered helmet with virtual and augmented reality features. Anduril is working with Meta “to design, build, and field a range of integrated [extended-reality (XR)] products that provide warfighters with enhanced perception and enable intuitive control of autonomous platforms on the battlefield,” according to a company blog post published... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3312398/meta-partners-us-military-contractor-anduril-develop-ai-powered-vr-combat-helmets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3312398/meta-partners-us-military-contractor-anduril-develop-ai-powered-vr-combat-helmets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 04:45:11 +0000