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Saudi Arabia’s increasingly assertive pursuit of fifth-generation combat aircraft has taken a new turn as the Kingdom eyes up to 100 Turkish-built KAAN stealth fighters, a move widely viewed as both a response to the collapse of its F-35 ambitions and a strategic recalibration aimed at reducing reliance on the United States.

In a decisive move to elevate its maritime airpower and strategic deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, the Indian government has cleared the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine multirole fighter jets from France, a deal that underscores New Delhi’s intensifying focus on countering China’s expanding naval footprint in the Indian Ocean.

Algeria has officially joined the ranks of advanced airpower operators with the induction of the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E) multirole fighters, as confirmed by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on 8 April 2025—a milestone previously reported by Defence Security Asia and now corroborated by high-resolution satellite intelligence.

Probably impressed with the performance of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones and their effective deployment by the Bangladesh Army, there are now reports suggesting that the Bangladesh Navy is considering acquiring these same drones for operational use.

In a moment that marks a significant milestone in Malaysia’s naval modernisation, the keel-laying ceremony for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) three Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch II vessels was officiated today by Navy Chief Admiral Datuk Zulhelmy Ithnain, with the Ministry of Defence Secretary-General Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali witnessing the event at Türkiye’s prominent Istanbul Naval Shipyard.

The Philippine Navy has officially commissioned its newest surface combatant, the BRP Miguel Malvar, marking a critical leap forward in Manila’s maritime force projection capabilities amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

The Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder multirole combat aircraft is on the cusp of clinching another strategic export success, as Uzbekistan reportedly inches closer to selecting the platform to modernise its ageing air force fleet.

In a significant demonstration of maritime combat readiness, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has successfully conducted a live-fire test of an Aster surface-to-air missile from its stealth frigate, RSS Formidable, in the strategic waters off Toulon, France.

In a move laden with geo-strategic significance, India has deployed its cutting-edge Russian-built S-400 Triumf long-range air defence system to the Siliguri Corridor—a narrow, 20–22 kilometre-wide land bridge in West Bengal often dubbed the “Chicken’s Neck” due to its precarious geography.

The Philippines is actively pursuing a long-term financing agreement with the United States to fund a landmark acquisition of 20 brand-new F-16 fighter aircraft and related advanced weapon systems, an arms package valued at approximately US$5.58 billion (RM26.4 billion), as Manila sharpens its focus on military modernisation amid intensifying strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.

In a significant reinforcement of its overseas operational capabilities, the Malaysian Armed Forces will begin receiving 60 High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicles (HMLTVs) from mid-2026 to support its peacekeeping contingent under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

In a move reflecting deepening strategic coordination with Israel, the United States has reportedly deployed a second Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile battery to Israeli territory, as tensions with Iran spiral towards a new crescendo.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a sweeping "Fire-at-Will" directive to its air defence units, empowering them to immediately engage any aircraft violating Iranian airspace without prior approval from higher command.