Defence Security Asia - Asian Defence and Security Affairs

The 2026 Iran war is rapidly transforming the strategic balance in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia moves to develop its own Shahed-style long-range kamikaze drones after witnessing how low-cost loitering munitions exhausted advanced air-defence networks and altered the economics of modern warfare.

Indonesia has officially launched local construction of its Scorpène Evolved lithium-ion attack submarine at PT PAL, positioning Jakarta as ASEAN’s first indigenous submarine-building power while reshaping Indo-Pacific undersea deterrence, maritime force projection, and regional naval-industrial competition.

Serbia’s demonstration of the Chinese FH-95 combat drone firing FT-8 missiles during a large-scale military exercise highlights Beijing’s growing influence in Europe while intensifying NATO concerns over Balkan force modernization and electronic warfare capability.

The Philippines is advancing negotiations for up to 20 KF-21 Boramae multirole fighters under a US$1.9 billion South Korean-backed financing package that could reshape South China Sea airpower and Indo-Pacific strategic deterrence.

Russia is reportedly accelerating Su-35 fighter production for Iran, with nearly 20 aircraft already completed, signalling a major Middle East airpower transformation with strategic implications for Israel, Gulf states, and Indo-Pacific security calculations.

India has requested urgent French technical and logistical support for its Rafale fleet, reinforcing combat readiness and signalling deeper India-France strategic defence cooperation amid intensifying Indo-Pacific military competition.

Singapore is acquiring additional AGM-114R Hellfire missiles under a US$22.3 million US defence package supporting AH-64D Apache operational readiness, precision-strike capability, and Indo-Pacific deterrence amid escalating regional military competition and strategic tensions involving China and Southeast Asia.

The Philippine Navy’s third Tarlac-class LPD launch signals a major expansion of Manila’s amphibious warfare, strategic sealift, and disaster-response capability amid intensifying South China Sea tensions and Indo-Pacific military competition.

The United Kingdom’s decision to build up to 12 SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered attack submarines transforms AUKUS into a full-scale undersea deterrence alliance, dramatically strengthening NATO and Indo-Pacific maritime strike capabilities against rising Chinese and Russian military pressure.

Bangladesh’s reported US$2.2 billion acquisition of Chinese J-10CE fighters is triggering major strategic concern in India over a potential two-front Chinese-origin airpower ecosystem involving PL-15 missiles, Lalmonirhat airbase, and growing Chinese military influence surrounding the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor.

Japan has commissioned JS Nagara (FFM-10), the 10th Mogami-class stealth frigate equipped with Mk41 VLS, advanced AESA radar, and network-centric warfare systems, significantly strengthening Indo-Pacific maritime deterrence against expanding Chinese naval power and submarine operations.

Turkey’s consideration of Patriot and SAMP/T air defense systems ahead of the NATO Summit reflects a major geopolitical and military-technical shift designed to strengthen NATO interoperability, counter regional missile threats, and accelerate Ankara’s Steel Dome air defense architecture.

Fresh high-resolution satellite imagery from Bahrain is intensifying global scrutiny over the survivability of U.S. military infrastructure after Iranian missile and drone strikes targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, exposing potential weaknesses in Gulf missile defence architecture.

The United States has publicly revealed a new B-2 Spirit maritime strike capability after a live AGM-158C LRASM launch during Valiant Shield 2026, reshaping Indo-Pacific deterrence and intensifying strategic pressure on China’s expanding naval presence.

India and Russia are advancing negotiations over the Su-57E stealth fighter with Moscow offering unprecedented access to source codes, radar systems, local manufacturing, and a future twin-seat Su-57D combat variant.