#STRATDELA

The Blackbeard Hypersonic weapon may have an interesting warhead. The FY27 USN budget mentions a “Reactive Material Warhead". Structural elements of the casing material itself could greatly enhance the effect of the otherwise small explosive payload of the Blackbeard. https://x.com/VirtualBayonet/status/2107160567156973629

The Department of War announced the directed-energy systems selected following the Joint Interagency Task Force 401's (JIATF-401) counter-unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) directed energy pilot program, marking the next phase of efforts to expand the operational use of high-energy laser (HEL) and high-powered microwave (HPM) capabilities across the homeland. ... Systems selected for the pilot include: AeroVironment Palletized High-Energy Laser system Epirus Leonidas High-Powered Microwave system Kord Firefly High-Energy Laser system Boeing Compact Laser Weapon system ... While these systems represent the first capabilities selected for the pilot program, the DoW and JIATF-401 will continue to evaluate additional directed-energy technologies. In December, the Department will host a directed-energy shoot-off at Dugway Proving Ground to assess additional high-energy laser and high-powered microwave systems to identify promising capabilities for future operational use. https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4619430/systems-selected-for-jiatf-401-directed-energy-counter-drone-pilot-program/

Philippines: The Coastal Defense Regiment 2026 BrahMos Update - Naval News https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/10/philippines-the-coastal-defense-regiment-2026-brahmos-update/

«Блокировка» российской спутниковой группировки «Рассвет» по просьбе киевского придурка означает только её уничтожение. А оно приведёт к полноценной космической войне. Это, надеюсь, понимают американцы. Ведь тогда их низкоорбитальные спутники «Старлинк» посыпятся вниз, как игрушки с засохшей рождественской ёлки. Космос – очень тесное место, нужно быть взаимно вежливыми.

France and Belgium held their first nuclear steering group meeting in Paris on Friday, 25th of September, involving representatives of the Elysée and the Belgian Prime Minister’s Office, and officials from Defence and Foreign Ministries. They discussed approaches to strengthening their bilateral cooperation, and strategic convergence between both countries. France and Belgium reaffirm their ambition for a stronger, safer, and better defended Europe. https://www.elysee.fr/en/emmanuel-macron/2026/10/01/france-and-belgium-held-their-first-nuclear-steering-group-meeting-in-paris

Some thoughts by a younger colleague on MRC Typhon at the Pacific: https://t.me/infromthecolddd/645 [In Russian]

Anduril, Castelion, Lockheed Martin, RTX and Mach Industries each received Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements to build prototype missiles, the service announced Tuesday. The Increment 4 missile is intended to hit moving maritime and land targets at ranges of at least 1,000 km (621 miles) — roughly double the range of the Army’s PrSM baseline. https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/army-taps-5-companies-for-prsm-inc-4-prototypes/

Lots of good stuff here in the latest issue: https://twq.elliott.gwu.edu/

1️⃣1️⃣ Who will shape the future of global security? 🤝 The IV Study Mission to international organizations and research centers based in Vienna has come to an end. For the first time, the program included participation in the IAEA General Conference. Russian students and young professionals attended the 70th session, gaining a firsthand look at the work of the Agency’s principal policy-making body. The Mission also took participants to: 🔵 Permanent Mission of Russia to the International Organizations in Vienna 🔵 IAEA and the Agency’s laboratories in Seibersdorf 🔵 Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO 🔵 United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs 🔵 United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs 🔵 Open Nuclear Network But behind treaties, institutions and complex procedures, they discovered what really keeps the system moving — people working every day to help make the world more secure. 🔵 Read more on the Primakov Center website. Today, they had a chance to see this work from the inside. Tomorrow, they may become part of it. The visit was organized by the Primakov Center with the support of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna. 1️⃣ Follow the Primakov Center

https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities/darpa-sn-26-93

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today successfully conducted a subsurface, non-nuclear chemical high-explosive experiment at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), increasing the United States’ ability to detect low-yield nuclear explosions. ... The experiment was conducted in the P Tunnel in Area 12 of the NNSS using chemical high-explosives and radiotracers. Data collected from the experiment will be used to validate scientific models and refine algorithms that are critical to U.S. nuclear explosion detection efforts. This experiment is especially focused on further enhancing the U.S. capabilities to detect a “decoupled” explosion... ... ...researchers gathered measurements using a broad suite of advanced sensors, including accelerometers, seismometers, infrasound sensors, electromagnetic sensors, chemical and radiotracer samplers, and meteorological sensors. https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/nnsa-conducts-nonproliferation-experiment-strengthen-americas-nuclear-explosion

U.S. space weapons probably aren’t what you think | Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-space-weapons-probably-arent-what-you-think/

A Tu-95 plane crashed while making a training flight in Russia’s Far Eastern Amur Region, killing six crew members, with one surviving, the Russian Defense Ministry said. “On September 29, a Tu-95 plane making a training flight crashed in an uninhabited area in the Amur Region. According to preliminary data, six crew members died, while one was injured and taken to a hospital,” it said. The aircraft was flying without any munitions onboard.

The updated Council Decision 2021/698 establishes a dedicated space security toolbox, the purpose of which is to give the EU a more structured set of options for responding to different types and levels of space threats. This is important because space threats are not uniform. A cyber-attack against a space-programme supplier, interference with satellite communications, a threatening manoeuvre in orbit and a destructive anti-satellite test may require different forms of response. The toolbox complements existing EU instruments and approaches, including the cyber diplomacy toolbox and the hybrid toolbox, while recognising the specific characteristics of the space domain. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/new-eu-space-threat-response-architecture-explained_en

Some thoughts on possible further cooperation between Russia and China at the strategic arms control: https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/the-new-troika-managing-confrontation

Мимимишное от китайских коллег. https://x.com/PLA_MilitaryUpd/status/2104099829299491092

On the subject of the rumours regarding the ‘DEAD HAND REACTIVATION’. 1) Nothing new is happening; the automated battle management systems for strategic nuclear forces are being developed and upgraded consistently and continuously, taking into account new technologies, new challenges and threats, and the need for redundancy and backup across all command circuits. 2) National report of the Russian Federation to the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: The Military Doctrine and the Basic Principles of State Policy clearly state that the decision to use nuclear weapons is taken by the President of the Russian Federation. Overall, the Russian Federation ensures decisive human involvement and judgment in the field of nuclear weapons on an ongoing basis, including strict control at the level of the country’s highest military and political leadership. Against the backdrop of technological progress, this approach remains an absolute constant. 3) If necessary, nukes will certainly reach their targets, under any circumstances.

The President advocated for trilateral arms control negotiations between the United States, Russia, and China. The two leaders agreed to use the term “super intelligence” rather than “artificial intelligence” to describe the applicable emerging technologies. The two countries established the U.S.-China Super Intelligence (SI) Dialogue to exchange views on risks and benefits related to SI. The next exchange will occur by November 2026. The United States and China also agreed to establish a bilateral communication channel for SI incidents. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/09/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-advances-a-fair-and-reciprocal-relationship-with-china-while-hosting-historic-state-visit/

Royal Air Force Secretly Jamming Adversary Satellites Over Past Year The Royal Air Force has been jamming satellites from adversary nations in order to defend British national interests, including its nuclear deterrent. Story: https://theaviationist.com/2026/09/25/raf-secretly-jamming-satellites/

N Korea's hypersonic test a check on Japan's nuclear ambitions - Asia Times https://asiatimes.com/2026/09/n-koreas-hypersonic-test-a-check-on-japans-nuclear-ambitions/