Iran’s strong condemnation of the torpedoing of one of its naval ships by a U.S. submarine, labeling it an “atrocity,” has ignited a contentious debate about the nature of warfare and the hypocrisy often embedded within international conflicts. The incident, which marks the first time a U.S. submarine has employed a torpedo against a vessel since World War II, has naturally drawn sharp reactions, particularly from Iran, highlighting the starkly different perspectives on what constitutes a legitimate act of war versus an unforgivable transgression.
At the heart of the matter lies the identity and purpose of the Iranian vessel. It was unequivocally described as a naval ship, intended for combat and likely on its way to engage in operations.… Continue reading
The distressing news of an Iranian warship sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka, with bodies recovered from the sea, paints a grim picture of escalating global tensions. This unfortunate event, occurring in international waters, immediately raises a multitude of questions and concerns, touching upon the complexities of regional conflicts and the devastating human cost of warfare. The very notion of bodies being recovered at sea underscores the finality and tragedy of such incidents.
The location, just off territorial waters, highlights the delicate balance of maritime jurisdiction and the potential for incidents to spill over into broader geopolitical disputes. For neighboring nations like India, the sinking undoubtedly sparks significant concern, prompting a re-evaluation of regional security dynamics and potential implications for their own interests.… Continue reading
A submarine attack off the coast of Sri Lanka has resulted in the sinking of the Iranian Moudge-class frigate IRIS Dena (hull number 75), with at least 101 people missing and 78 injured. Rescued sailors have been admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, and ongoing rescue efforts continue for the approximately 180 sailors who were aboard the vessel. The IRIS Dena, commissioned in 2021, was en route back from a naval exercise in India when the incident occurred. Sri Lanka’s navy and air force have deployed assets to aid in the rescue operation.
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It’s quite remarkable, isn’t it, the news about Iran’s purported “drone aircraft carrier” sinking? The headline itself, proclaiming it as the “First Since WW2,” certainly grabs your attention, though it immediately sparks a cascade of questions and, let’s be honest, a fair bit of skepticism. It seems this vessel, officially designated as a drone carrier, is really a converted cargo ship, outfitted with a runway specifically for launching drones. The scale and nature of it are vastly different from what we typically envision when we hear the term “aircraft carrier.” Think less of a colossal, multi-deck behemoth and more of a modified ship with a rather basic addition for its aerial endeavors.… Continue reading
Ukraine took out Russia’s only submarine-hunter aircraft before a historic Kilo-class sub strike, a sequence of events that highlights the evolving nature of modern warfare and Ukraine’s impressive strategic acumen. This wasn’t just any aircraft; it was a key asset for anti-submarine warfare, an Il-38, stationed in the Black Sea region. Its destruction, coupled with the subsequent successful attack on a Russian Kilo-class submarine, paints a picture of deliberate planning and a remarkable ability to leverage asymmetric warfare tactics. The precision and timing of these operations, especially, are the hallmarks of a well-executed strategy.
The removal of the Il-38, a critical platform for detecting and tracking submarines, likely created a significant vulnerability for the Russian naval presence in the Black Sea.… Continue reading
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) conducted a special operation resulting in a naval attack in the port of Novorossiysk. Underwater drones, “Sub Sea Baby,” were deployed to detonate a Russian 636.3 “Varshavyanka” class submarine, causing critical damage and rendering it inoperable. The submarine, which housed four Kalibr cruise missile launchers, is estimated to cost up to $500 million. This operation, a joint effort between the SSU and the Naval Forces of Ukraine, further hindered Russia’s naval capabilities.
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In a recent development, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces struck the Russian Buyan-M Grad small missile ship (hull number 575) on October 4, 2025, within Lake Onega in Karelia. The attack, targeting the power plant compartment, caused critical damage, severely impacting the ship’s operational capabilities. The Grad, a newer vessel commissioned in 2022, was en route from the Baltic Sea to the Caspian Sea, potentially to bolster the Russian fleet in the southern region. Further details regarding other damaged Buyan-M vessels and their deployment against Ukraine are available in a related article.
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At the Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition in Lviv, Ukraine publicly displayed its TOLOKA underwater drone, a platform with three variants designed to strike targets up to 2,000 kilometers away. The TLK-150 model is designed for stealth, while the larger TLK-400 and TLK-1000 offer increased range and payload capacity. The unveiling of TOLOKA aligns with Ukraine’s focus on precision strikes, particularly against Russian infrastructure, and may have even been involved in attacks on the Crimean Bridge. This development underscores Ukraine’s ongoing expansion of its naval drone fleet, which has already proven effective in targeting Russian assets in the Black Sea.
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Japan has successfully tested a ship-mounted electromagnetic railgun, firing at a target vessel at sea. The Ministry of Defense’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) announced the firing tests, which took place between June and early July. These tests, conducted on the JS Asuka test ship, bring Japan closer to deploying this next-generation weapon system. This achievement could make Japan the first nation to deploy such a railgun.
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On August 28, 2025, a Buyan-M class missile vessel, capable of carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, was targeted by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) in the Sea of Azov near occupied Crimea. The DIU reported that the Prymary Special Unit employed an aerial drone to damage the vessel’s radar system. Simultaneously, special forces from the Department of Active Operations struck the hull of the Russian corvette, causing it to sustain damage and withdraw from its combat duty location. This operation follows a recent DIU report of an uncrewed surface vessel attack in Novorossiysk Bay.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker