The US Air Force has successfully launched a Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the latest test on the Southern California coast. The unarmed missile was launched Wednesday morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The Air Force says the test was to check the readiness, effectiveness, and accuracy of the weapons system.

Minuteman missiles are regularly tested with launches from Vandenberg that send unarmed re-entry vehicles to a target area in the middle of the Pacific.

The recent assassination of Hamas-affiliated scientist Dr. Fadi Muhammad al-Batsh was part of an alleged Mossad operation, The New York Times reported on Thursday.

Chinese seismologists claim that a large part of North Korea’s underground nuclear test facility is unusable due to the collapse of a cavity inside the mountain after the latest test-detonation occurred, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

South Korea on Monday halted the propaganda broadcasts at the border town of Panmunjom, in a move to set a positive tone ahead of the expected inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The US Air Force is planning to put sensors on allies' satellites to boost deterrence, increase resiliency, and get them to orbit sooner.

USAF officials told Defense One that the move is intended to diversify the makeup of military spacecraft that circle the Earth, better protecting them from an enemy attack and persuading Russia and China to think twice before launching a war in space.

The 131st ("Knights of the Yellow Bird") Squadron is undergoing a unique modification process with its "Karnaf" (C-130 Hercules) aircraft. As part of the "Karnaf" modification project, the aircraft's lifespan is due to be extended by at least ten years. "The IDF and the IAF will be able to use the 'Karnaf' aircraft for many more years with the addition of new operational capabilities adjusted according to the dynamic theatre," said Lt. Col. A., Squadron Commander.

The Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed a partnership agreement for technical and marketing cooperation for the light combat L-159 aircraft. Under the agreement, IAI will integrate new avionics and other solutions in the L-159 platform, and the two companies will jointly market the aircraft.

The L-159 is a light multi-role combat aircraft designed for a variety of air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance missions. It is equipped with a multi-mode IAI/Elta radar for all-weather, day and night operations.

Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS), a joint venture between Kalyani Strategic Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has announced plans to expand its product profile.

The venture will now enter into missile systems with the new generation precision-guided munitions (NGPGM), air defense systems and capabilities for medium-range surface-to-air missiles (MRSAM), low-level quick reaction missile (LLQRM) system and quick reaction surface-to-air missile (QRSAM) programs. 

Russia may supply its S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile systems to Syria on a free-of-charge basis within the framework of military assistance to the Arab country, according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant.

The newspaper has cited diplomatic and military sources as saying that the issue of supplying the air defense systems to Syria "has practically been resolved."

Saudi Arabia is in the midst of revolutionary processes that aim to change the economic and social fabric in this conservative kingdom. In contrast to the bottom-up Arab revolutions that took place over the past decade, the Saudi revolution is guided top-down by Crown Prince and acting ruler Mohammad bin Salman from his palace in Riyadh.