Venezuela’s Russian‑supplied Kh‑31 (AS‑17 Krypton) high‑speed anti‑ship missile, launched from its aging Su‑30MK2V fighters, poses a genuine threat to U.S. warships operating near its coast, with a Mach 3.5 ramjet‑propelled flight, 18‑mile active‑radar lock‑on, 31‑mile range and a hardened warhead capable of piercing a ship’s hull; while the U.S. Navy has trained against the missile (using captured MA‑31 targets) and equips its surface combatants with layered air‑defense systems, the missile’s supersonic speed and low‑altitude maneuverability leave little reaction time, especially when vessels operate close to the Venezuelan shoreline, making the Kh‑31A a serious concern that the Pentagon monitors alongside broader regional deployments of amphibious groups and destroyers. Click here to read more.

Microsoft’s latest digital‑threats report reveals that Russia, China, Iran and North Korea have dramatically ramped up AI‑driven cyber campaigns against the United States—identifying over 200 AI‑generated malicious incidents this summer alone, more than twice last year’s count and ten times the 2023 level. Adversaries are leveraging generative AI to craft convincing phishing messages, deep‑fake officials, and automated attacks on critical infrastructure such as hospitals and transport systems, while criminal groups partner with nation‑states to steal data and demand ransoms. With many U.S. organizations still relying on outdated defenses, Microsoft warns that robust cybersecurity fundamentals are now essential to counter this accelerating AI‑enabled threat landscape. Click here to read more.

The U.S. Marine Corps held its first-ever Thunderstruck Communications Competition, a service-wide event designed to test the tactical, technical, and physical skills of Marine communicators under field conditions. Fifteen teams from across the fleet competed in the six-mile challenge at Camp Pendleton, which included high-frequency radio, satellite communications, and data networking tasks alongside weapons handling and navigation drills. Hosted by Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, the event highlighted the vital role of resilient command and control in modern operations. A team from the 1st Marine Logistics Group headquarters regiment took top honors in the inaugural contest. Click here to read more.

U.S. and NATO special operations forces have launched Exercise Adamant Serpent in Norway, a two-week Arctic training operation involving about 400 elite troops from the U.S., Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The drills, based at Rygge Air Base, aim to strengthen rapid-response capabilities and joint readiness in the increasingly strategic High North, where melting sea ice has heightened interest in new trade routes and resources. The exercise coincides with NATO’s new Combined Air Operations Centre opening in Bodo and its annual nuclear readiness exercise, Steadfast Noon, underscoring the alliance’s focus on deterring aggression in the region. Click here to read more.

San Francisco’s Fleet Week is proceeding despite the federal government shutdown, thanks to international support from Canada and Colombia. While the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels were grounded, the Canadian air force’s Snowbirds will headline the air show, and Colombia’s three-masted tall ship, the ARC Gloria, will dock at the Port of San Francisco. Mayor Daniel Lurie emphasized the event’s tradition, begun by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 1981, as a tribute to military service members. The festival, drawing over a million visitors, features ship tours, live music, and exhibits on disaster preparedness. Colombian Consul General Sonia Marina Pereira Portilla highlighted the event as an opportunity to strengthen ties between nations. Click here to read more.