A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The Trump administration is racing to contain a spike in energy prices brought about by Iranian attacks on shipping in the Gulf, examining a range of options including escort missions in the Strait of Hormuz and even easing sanctions on Russian oil to ease price pressure.
Oil Price Spike Tests Trump Administration’s Iran Strategy Read More
Iranian security strategy largely rests on the country’s short- and medium-range missile arsenal, developed as a national means to deter Tehran’s rivals and, in the event of conflict, impose unacceptable costs. Thus Iran fired multiple salvoes at Israel in 2024, as part of its ‘True Promise’ I and II operations, and launched more this past June during the ‘Twelve-Day War’. Iran also hit the Gulf during these missions, and with renewed hostilities breaking out, appears to be more heavily targeting its littoral neighbors.
Iranian Missile, Drone Strikes Target Gulf Countries Read More
Following the “12-Day War” with Israel in June 2025, the Iranian government accelerated negotiations with Russia and China to procure advanced missile systems. According to recent reports from the Financial Times and Reuters, these talks persisted even after the international arms embargo was reinstated in September.
Iran Turned to Russia, China for Missiles After 12-Day War Read More
Throughout the month of December and into January, Reuters and other news sources dropped a steady drum-beat of news on potential Pakistani arms export deals, most of which center around …
Pakistan’s Flurry of Arms Sales Read More
Throughout this past year, Dassault and Airbus have been locked in an increasingly public battle over the direction of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a program to deliver a …
New Year Bringing Big Changes to FCAS Fighter Program Read More
Hot on the heels of Ukraine’s negotiations for the Saab Gripen fighter jet, Kyiv has now inked a letter of intent with France that could see the eastern European country …
Ukraine, France Announce Rafale LOI Read More
Soon after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the U.S. and E.U. moved to freeze Russia’s access to its central bank reserves held in their financial systems, …
E.U. Eyes Frozen Russian Funds for Ukraine Read More
As many as 19 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace in the early morning hours on September 10, prompting Poland to scramble F-16s to react to the breach. Working together …
Poland, NATO Allies Shoot Down Russian Drones Violating Airspace Read More
Just over a week after Israel began Operation Rising Lion, a major air campaign against Iran, the U.S. carried out its own series of strikes on Iran on Saturday night, …
Operation Midnight Hammer: U.S. Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites Read More
Ukraine’s intelligence services conducted an unprecedented attack over the weekend on the Russian Aerospace Forces, striking dozens of parked Russian strategic bombers with first-person view (FPV) drones launched from modified …
Ukraine Strikes Russian Bomber Fleet in Elaborate Drone Plot Read More