As China races to catch up with the U.S. in artificial intelligence, it is doubling down on real-world applications to close the gap created by American chip export restrictions. At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Beijing showcased AI’s integration across hospitals, police departments, and public services, led by companies like DeepSeek. China’s government is pushing a top-down strategy, encouraging widespread adoption of AI to “empower the real economy,” while emphasizing open-source development and positioning itself as a responsible global AI leader. Despite economic challenges and limited access to cutting-edge chips, China’s approach contrasts with the U.S. focus on developing advanced models like GPT-5. Experts say the Chinese model may face scalability and ethical issues, but the country’s aggressive deployment aims to reshape global AI leadership. Click here to read more.

Following a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, U.S. military bases across the Pacific issued tsunami alerts and precautionary evacuations. Bases in Japan, Guam, Hawaii, and along the U.S. West Coast activated emergency protocols, with ships repositioned to avoid possible waves and personnel moving to higher ground. Though waves observed were minor—ranging from 8 inches to 2 feet—forces remain on alert until the threat fully subsides. No significant damage has been reported so far. Click here to read more.

Japan is set to deploy upgraded long-range Type-12 missiles on Kyushu by spring 2025 as part of its push to strengthen defenses in the Nansei Islands amid rising threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. With a new range of 620 miles, the missiles could reach parts of China and North Korea. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani emphasized the urgency of building standoff capabilities given Japan’s increasingly complex security environment. Additional deployments are planned for other sites in Kyushu and Okinawa. Click here to read more.

The U.S. Space Force’s secretive X-37B space plane is returning to orbit on August 21 for its eighth mission, launching from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. While much of the mission remains classified, officials confirmed it will test advanced laser communications and a “quantum inertial sensor” to enhance secure data transmission and GPS-free navigation — key for operations in contested environments. This marks a rapid turnaround from its last mission, which ended in March after 434 days in orbit. The X-37B continues to play a critical role in orbital experimentation and military space strategy. Click here to read more.

In a major step toward deeper naval integration, the U.S. Marine Corps used MV-22 Ospreys in an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission during the Atlantic Alliance 2025 exercise—dropping sonar-equipped sonobuoys to help detect enemy subs. Though not part of the Osprey’s usual mission set, Marine aviators and crew chiefs adapted quickly, reflecting a broader strategic pivot since 2020 to counter rising Russian and Chinese undersea threats. While ASW remains a secondary role for Marine aviation, officials say its value lies in expanding reach and awareness when traditional assets are stretched. Click here to read more.

In an 80-minute War Zone exclusive, Lt. Col. “I,” the Israeli Air Force’s first Druze F-16I “Sufa” navigator, details the jet’s long-range punch, intelligence tools and two-crew tactics, recounting sorties from Lebanon in 2006 to precision strikes during 2025’s Operation Rising Lion against Iran—where, he says, not a single SAM was fired at Israeli aircraft. The veteran describes how F-35s gathered stealthy intel for F-16Is and F-15s, why conformal-tanked Sufas haul heavier loads than Adirs, and his reliance on JDAMs, Rampage and other standoff weapons to hit Gaza targets while trying to spare civilians. He defends Israel’s conduct as uniquely restrained, praises ground–air integration, lauds maintenance crews keeping decades-old jets flying an intense tempo, and calls the Iran raids a textbook case of training and tech yielding “unbelievable” success. Looking ahead, he wants bunker-buster heft akin to America’s MOP and sees more F-35s and new F-15EX-style Eagles—not additional F-16s—as Israel’s future edge. Click here to read more.