KINSHASA - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is negotiating the acquisition of three Wing Loong 2 combat drones from China's Catic aerospace firm to bolster its military capabilities against the M23 rebel coalition which Kinshasa labels a terrorist group. This move comes amid an escalating conflict that has displaced 7.3 million people, with rebels seizing cities such as Goma and Bukavu since January 2025. The DRC already operates eight Chinese-made CH-4 drones, previously used against M23 fighters, although one was downed in January.

Wing Loong 2 drones offer precision-strike capabilities, a 480-kilogram payload, and 20-hour flight endurance, potentially providing tactical advantages in disrupting enemy operations. The acquisition underscores China's growing military influence in the DRC, complementing earlier drone deliveries, even as Kinshasa recently signed a mining deal with the United States. China remains the world's largest drone exporter, significantly outpacing U.S. sales in armed unmanned aerial vehicles.

Source: Military Africa
Associated URL: https://www.military.africa/2025/04/dr-congo-acquiring-wing-loong-ii-drones/

WASHINGTON - The Congressional Budget Office updates its projections of the 10-year costs of nuclear forces every two years. This report contains CBO's projections for the 2025-2034 period, which are based on the Department of Defense's (DoD's) and the Department of Energy's (DOE's) fiscal year 2025 budget requests, submitted in March 2024.

Costs of Current Plans

If carried out, DoD's and DOE's plans to operate, sustain, and modernize current nuclear forces and purchase new forces would cost a total of $946 billion over the 2025-2034 period, or an average of about $95 billion a year, CBO estimates.

That total includes $357 billion to operate and sustain current and future nuclear forces and other supporting activities; $309 billion to modernize strategic and tactical nuclear delivery systems and the weapons they carry; $72 billion to modernize facilities and equipment for the nuclear weapons laboratory complex; $79 billion to modernize command, control, communications, and early-warning systems; and $129 billion to cover potential additional costs in excess of projected budgeted amounts estimated using historical cost growth.

How Costs Have Changed

CBO's current estimate of costs for the 2025-2034 period is 25 percent (or $190 billion) larger than its 2023 estimate of $756 billion, which covered the 2023-2032 period. Of that amount, $157 billion comes from differences in CBO's current and 2023 estimates of budgeted amounts for nuclear forces, and $33 billion comes from differences in the agency's estimates of potential additional costs based on historical cost growth.

Of the $157 billion increase in budgeted amounts, 59 percent (or $93 billion) is projected to occur from 2025 to 2032-the span of years that overlap in both estimates. The increase during those overlapping years is the result of higher costs for some programs, primarily for developing and fielding the new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system, including modernizing silos and other infrastructure; modernizing DoD's command, control, communications, and early-warning systems; and modernizing DOE's production facilities. The remaining 41 percent (or $65 billion) of the $157 billion increase in budgeted amounts arises because the 10-year period covered by the current estimate begins and ends two years later than the period covered by the previous estimate.

Read the full report using the link below.

Source: CBO
Associated URL: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61224

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A US Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter has been lost in a non-combat related incident in the Red Sea. The mishap occurred aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman, which is currently deployed in the region as part of an ongoing air campaign against Houthi militants in Yemen.

This campaign intensified following escalating attacks by the Houthis on commercial and military shipping, actions that have been linked to the conflict in Gaza. While the USS Harry S Truman and its air wing have been actively involved in combat sorties, the loss of the Super Hornet appears to be due to a shipboard accident.

According to the US Navy, the single-seat fighter was being towed across the flight deck when ground crew lost control of the aircraft and the tow tractor, resulting in both going overboard. A sailor sustained minor injuries during the incident, and the Navy has initiated an investigation into the mishap. This event marks the second Super Hornet from the USS Harry S Truman to be lost in the Red Sea in recent months. Notably, unverified reports suggest that evasive maneuvers taken by the carrier to avoid potential Houthi fire may have indirectly contributed to the ground crew losing control of the aircraft.

Source: Flightglobal
Associated URL: https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-navy-super-hornet-falls-from-deck-of-aircraft-carrier-engaged-in-red-sea-combat/162776.article