Defense analyst 🇮🇱. Primary areas of focus: air power, Russian military affairs, and Asia-Pacific security. Also interested in NATO and MENA.
Joined November 2016
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Part one of my two-part chapter for @FPRI on Operation Rising Lion's air offensive is now available. The first part opens with a non-exhaustive chronology of IAF operations before proceeding to discuss strikes against Iranian nuclear sites in greater detail. It ends with a select overview of some of the fighter aircraft and air-to-surface weapons employed in the offensive.
The second part commences with a discussion of Israel’s OCA effort. It then proceeds to look at the challenges posed to IAF operations by the distances involved. Lastly, the second part concludes with a preliminary assessment of the air offensive's accomplishments and shortcomings.
fpri.org/article/2026/03/ris…
Guy Plopsky retweeted
Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, visited Covenant, one of Israel's fast-growing defense-tech companies, as part of the Director General's series of visits to leading defense companies.
Read More: linkedin.com/feed/update/urn…
🇺🇲 A U.S. Air Force F-22A assigned to the Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team and a privately-owned F-5 Tiger II prepare for an aerial demonstration at the Amigo Airsho on Fort Bliss, Texas, Oct. 25, 2026.
(📸/USAF photo by Staff Sgt. Mary Bowers)
Guy Plopsky retweeted
By "live" I meant it is not a mockup like during POKER. But there was not warhead inside, as it is forbidden to fly with nuclear weapons during peacetime.
Unlike POKER during which the action stops more or less when the aircraft reach the ASMPA-R launch points, events like DIOMEDE, DURANDAL ou EXCALIBUR go further with the actual launch of the missile over the Atlantic ocean, again, without its warhead, like on the screenshot below. Those events are called "Tir d'évaluation des forces" (TEF) something like "Forces evaluation shot" in 🇬🇧.
French Navy RAFALE M carrying a live ASMPA-R nuclear supersonic cruise missile, probably during last year DIOMEDE test.
As a reminder France is the only nuclear state having a carrier based component.
Credits: @MarineNationale link to the video ⬇️
Trial by Fire: The 2025 Thai-Cambodian Border Clashes and the Royal Thai Air Force
"In two outbreaks of war last year, the RTAF underlined its status as one of the region’s most effective and professional air forces."
thediplomat.com/2026/10/tria…
"U.S. and Japan leaders finalized an agreement to establish a production facility in Japan for the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, following a massive $20.7 billion Pentagon contract to expand production of the missile over the next seven years ... The location for the facility has not yet been announced."
airandspaceforces.com/us-jap…
Ethiopia is the third export client for the Su-35 after China and Algeria. While there will almos certainly be more, the Su-35's export record remains, for various reasons, a far cry from that of the Su-30 family.
Our comprehensive efforts to sustainably ensure our country's peace and security have reached a new milestone today. The state of readiness being built within Ethiopia's defense forces is endowing the nation with the capability to preemptively deter aggression.
In accordance with our prior agreement with the Russian government, we have today taken delivery of the first twelve Su-35 4++ Generation fighter jets. Additionally, Ethiopia will receive four S-400 air defense system batteries.
I would like to express my gratitude to my friend, Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his dedication in ensuring we received these warplanes a year ahead of our agreed schedule. By equipping itself with these fighter jets, Ethiopia has taken the lead among Sub-Saharan African nations.
This historic achievement further strengthens our nation's sovereignty, and it will serve as a massive capability boost that allows us to confidently continue our journey toward ensuring our collective security and regional stability in the future.
Would be interesting to know whether the Ethiopian Air Force will also receive wingtip ECM pods for its Su-35s, and what weapons will the jets be armed with.
🇺🇲🇰🇷 A U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon and U-2S Dragon Lady fly in formation with a Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) KF-21 Boramae, F-35A Lightning II and F-15K Slam Eagle during Freedom Flag 26-2, Oct. 23, 2026.
(📸/USAF photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ruano)
🇺🇸🇰🇷 A U.S. Air Force (USAF) U-2S Dragon Lady assigned to the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron and a USAF F-16CM Fighting Falcon assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing fly in formation over the Republic of Korea during Freedom Flag 26-2, Oct. 23, 2026.
(📸/USAF photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ruano)
🇲🇽🇺🇸 Two Mexican Air Force T-6C+ Texan IIs prepare to depart Joint Reserve Base Ellington Field, Texas, during Exercise AMALGAM EAGLE 26 to intercept a simulated Track of Interest (TOI) aircraft, Sep. 30, 2026.
(📸/Capt. Ryan Walsh)
🇺🇸 Airmen assigned to the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron simultaneously rearm* and refuel a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II while its engine remains running during a Hot Integrated Combat Turn (ICT) at Hill AFB, Utah, Oct. 23, 2026.
*For training purposes, the stores seen being used here are CATM-120C AMRAAM captive-carry rounds.
(📸/USAF photo by Staff Sgt Zachary Rufus)
Guy Plopsky retweeted
The U.S. government has selected Poland for a dedicated PAC-3® Missile Maintenance Facility. @LockheedMartin welcomes the decision, which will expand sustainment support for NATO allies operating PAC-3 interceptors and strengthen integrated air and missile defense across Europe.
Guy Plopsky retweeted
Part 2 of my conversation on the Russian military with Perun. Recommend his channel. youtube.com/watch?v=Hc2Wx-ag…
Guy Plopsky retweeted
In the end, the USAF’s 2020 decision to drop HCSW for the AGM-183A ARRW (high L/D boost glide) and AHM-4A HACM (Mach 5+ scramjet) looks validated. ARRW has cleared testing and entered production, and HACM has begun flight testing in 🇦🇺.
But ARRW reaches operational units 10 years after development contract award. HACM will do better, but still 6-8 years in the best case.
Among the new entrants in high-speed weapons, the promise of faster entry to service comes on the back of a much simpler weapon system. Even then, a formal production decision (not OTAs or leave-behind capabilities from operational prototyping contracts) is still a TBD.
Fielding ARRW enhances our ability to hold targets at risk anywhere around the world. This hypersonic weapon provides the Joint Force a flexible and rapid response option for highly contested environments. af.mil/News/Article-Display/…
"The Department of the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $694 million contract for the production and fielding of the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon [(ARRW)], Sept. 29, 2026."
af.mil/News/Article-Display/…
🇸🇪🇫🇮 A Swedish Air Force JAS 39C Gripen and Finnish Air Force F/A-18C Hornet conduct joint training over the Bothnian Bay, Oct. 2026.
(📸/@FinnishAirForce )
