#Defence Tech

With Russian T-90s just across the border, the US and UK lined up their heaviest armor this week on Estonian soil, putting Abrams and Challenger 2 tanks side by side in a choreographed show of  NATO unity and deterrence.

Dubbed after the Spartan king who held the pass at Thermopylae, Leonidas is a high-power microwave (HPM) system designed to “burn out” drone electronics. Kyiv—which has invited manufacturers to prove gear in combat conditions—sees systems like Leonidas as a potential game-changer against the waves of FPV and loitering munitions that have reshaped modern battlefields.

Russia has begun deploying upgraded BMPT Terminator armored vehicles to Ukraine, a rare battlefield reinforcement aimed at shielding its tank forces from drones and anti-tank teams after suffering heavy losses. The new variants feature reinforced armor, electronic warfare systems, and drone-countermeasures, underscoring Moscow’s push to adapt its formations for urban combat and attrition-heavy assaults.

China has begun construction of its fourth aircraft carrier, the nuclear-powered Type 004, a warship that analysts say could mark a turning point in the balance of naval power in the Indo-Pacific. The Type 004 may not be just another carrier. It’s the vessel that could turn China’s fleet into a global navy.

Anduril’s new Barracuda family of cruise-like missiles has emerged as a cheaper, longer-range alternative to scarce Tomahawks—but with small warheads and no mass-production line, let’s see how they stack up.