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The Defense Desk

Defense News and Military Analysis

Weapons, militaries and arms deals that shape the balance of power.

Top defense stories

Latest defense analysis

  1. Sea · Asia-PacificJapan Launches Seventh Taigei-Class Submarine Shogei: How Capable Is the Lithium-Ion Boat?5 min readJS Taigei, pennant 513, a black Japanese submarine with crew on deck, leaving Kobe harbor with shipyard cranes behind
  2. Land · AmericasUS Army Unveils the XM1776 Wheeled K9 Howitzer: Can It Really Replace the M777?4 min readA Finnish Army K9 Moukari tracked self-propelled howitzer fires among pine trees, smoke rising behind the raised barrel
  3. Missiles & Space · South AsiaPakistan Tests an Extended-Range Fatah-4 Cruise Missile: How Far Can It Now Reach?5 min readPakistan Army transporter-erector-launcher with raised Babur cruise missile canisters at a Karachi defence show

Head to Head

All Head to Head comparisons ›

Land · Asia-Pacific

K2 Black Panther vs Abrams and Leopard 2A7: Why Buyers Keep Choosing Korea’s Tank

The K2 Black Panther beats the Abrams and Leopard 2A7 for export orders on delivery speed, price and local production, not armour or gun. The numbers behind it.

Explainers

All defense explainers ›
A French Le Triomphant-class ballistic-missile submarine surfaced at sea off Brest, a second submarine on the horizonMissiles & Space · Europe & RussiaFrance Fires the M51.3 From Submarine Le Vigilant: How Capable Is Its New Nuclear Missile?Three Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s in desert camouflage fly beside the wing of a US Air Force KC-135 tanker over MoroccoAir · AfricaMorocco’s First F-16 Block 72 Flies: Can It Match Algeria’s Su-57E and Su-35?

Defense coverage by technology

Air

Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter seen head-on in flight, with two external fuel tanks, over farmland and coastlinePortugal Weighs the F-35 Against the Eurofighter Typhoon: Why Lisbon Hesitates on US Jets5 min readB-52 Bombers to Get the AGM-158C LRASM: Up to 20 Stealthy Ship-Killers per Aircraft5 min readMorocco’s First F-16 Block 72 Flies: Can It Match Algeria’s Su-57E and Su-35?5 min readEmbraer C-390 vs Lockheed C-130J: India’s 60-Aircraft, $10.5 Billion Airlift Decision5 min readBrowse Air ›

Land

A Polish Army K2 Black Panther tank in green and brown camouflage drives across a muddy firing range under grey skyK2 Black Panther vs Abrams and Leopard 2A7: Why Buyers Keep Choosing Korea’s Tank5 min readUS Army Unveils the XM1776 Wheeled K9 Howitzer: Can It Really Replace the M777?4 min readBrowse Land ›

Sea

Pete Hegseth looks up at rows of ship and drone silhouettes painted on USS Abraham Lincoln's island under the words Epic FuryUSS Abraham Lincoln Comes Home Claiming 64 Iranian Vessels Sunk: Do the Kill Marks Add Up?5 min readJapan Launches Seventh Taigei-Class Submarine Shogei: How Capable Is the Lithium-Ion Boat?5 min readBrowse Sea ›

Missiles & Space

A Patriot interceptor climbs out of a fireball and dust cloud after launch during a live-fire exerciseAnduril Steelfin Promises a Patriot Interceptor at a Fraction of PAC-3 Cost: Can It Deliver?5 min readIron Dome vs David’s Sling vs Arrow: Which Layer Actually Stops Iran’s Ballistic Missiles?5 min readFrance Fires the M51.3 From Submarine Le Vigilant: How Capable Is Its New Nuclear Missile?5 min readPakistan Tests an Extended-Range Fatah-4 Cruise Missile: How Far Can It Now Reach?5 min readBrowse Missiles & Space ›

Defense coverage by region

Asia-Pacific

A Polish Army K2 Black Panther tank in green and brown camouflage drives across a muddy firing range under grey skyK2 Black Panther vs Abrams and Leopard 2A7: Why Buyers Keep Choosing Korea’s Tank5 min readJapan Launches Seventh Taigei-Class Submarine Shogei: How Capable Is the Lithium-Ion Boat?5 min readBrowse Asia-Pacific ›

Europe & Russia

Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter seen head-on in flight, with two external fuel tanks, over farmland and coastlinePortugal Weighs the F-35 Against the Eurofighter Typhoon: Why Lisbon Hesitates on US Jets5 min readFrance Fires the M51.3 From Submarine Le Vigilant: How Capable Is Its New Nuclear Missile?5 min readBrowse Europe & Russia ›

Middle East

Pete Hegseth looks up at rows of ship and drone silhouettes painted on USS Abraham Lincoln's island under the words Epic FuryUSS Abraham Lincoln Comes Home Claiming 64 Iranian Vessels Sunk: Do the Kill Marks Add Up?5 min readIron Dome vs David’s Sling vs Arrow: Which Layer Actually Stops Iran’s Ballistic Missiles?5 min readBrowse Middle East ›

South Asia

Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft parked on a snowy ramp at Grand Forks Air Force BaseEmbraer C-390 vs Lockheed C-130J: India’s 60-Aircraft, $10.5 Billion Airlift Decision5 min readPakistan Tests an Extended-Range Fatah-4 Cruise Missile: How Far Can It Now Reach?5 min readBrowse South Asia ›

Americas

A Patriot interceptor climbs out of a fireball and dust cloud after launch during a live-fire exerciseAnduril Steelfin Promises a Patriot Interceptor at a Fraction of PAC-3 Cost: Can It Deliver?5 min readB-52 Bombers to Get the AGM-158C LRASM: Up to 20 Stealthy Ship-Killers per Aircraft5 min readUS Army Unveils the XM1776 Wheeled K9 Howitzer: Can It Really Replace the M777?4 min readBrowse Americas ›

Africa

Three Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s in desert camouflage fly beside the wing of a US Air Force KC-135 tanker over MoroccoMorocco’s First F-16 Block 72 Flies: Can It Match Algeria’s Su-57E and Su-35?5 min readBrowse Africa ›

Weapon files

All weapon files ›
  1. Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter seen head-on in flight, with two external fuel tanks, over farmland and coastlineAirF-35 Lightning IIStealth multirole fighter1 story
  2. US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress seen head-on at night with AGM-158 JASSM missiles on its wing pylons as crew boardAirB-52 StratofortressLong-range strategic bomber1 story
  3. A Polish Army K2 Black Panther tank in green and brown camouflage drives across a muddy firing range under grey skyLandM1 AbramsMain battle tank1 story
  4. A Patriot interceptor climbs out of a fireball and dust cloud after launch during a live-fire exerciseMissiles & SpacePatriotAir and missile defense system1 story