Breaking Defense: " Lockheed limbo in Lima? Firm says Peru is buying F-16s, but questions remain "

 

"Lockheed limbo in Lima? Firm says Peru is buying F-16s, but questions remain"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Breaking Defense

24 April, 2026

Published: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/schrodingers-f-16s-lockheed-says-peru-is-buying-fighters-questions-remain-in-lima/

Peru's interim president indicated the deal was on hold, as the US Embassy in Lima insists at least part of it has already been signed.

WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin has claimed victory in a longstanding competition to sell fighter jets to Peru, though senior officials in Lima appear to be at odds with each other over the fate of the deal.

Lockheed “welcomes the Government of Peru’s announcement to purchase 12 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft to modernize the nation’s fighter fleet and strengthen its national defense capabilities,” the American aerospace giant said in a press release on Thursday.

 

Future Warfare Magazine: " SAS 2026: BlackSea Tech unveils new COMET USV "

  

" SAS 2026: BlackSea Tech unveils new COMET USV "

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Future Warfare Magazine

24 April, 2026

Published: https://www.fw-mag.com/shownews/1035/sas-2026-blacksea-tech-unveils-new-comet-usv 

 

At the Sea Air Space expo in Washington, D.C., BlackSea Technologies unveiled its new COMET Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV). Additionally, the company showcased Gen II of its Global Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) called the CHASER, a small USV (sUSV). BlackSea spokesperson Jason Salata spoke with FW MAG at SAS about how modularity makes both systems ideal for a variety of missions, as many of their systems are already field- and combat-tested.

COMET is a large USV with multiple capabilities. The USV is 13.1 meters (43 feet) long, with a max speed of over 45 knots and the capability to carry 4,535 kg (10,000 pounds) in payload. At SAS, the platform displayed had two HELLFIRE missiles, two M-9X SIDEWINDER missiles, a Leonardo DRS RADA radar system, and even a second payload bay for a gun system. “The missile capability makes COMET ideal for air defense missions,” Salata told FW MAG.

 

CSIS: "Beyond Venezuela and Cuba: The U.S. Military’s Future Operations in the Western Hemisphere "

 

 "Beyond Venezuela and Cuba: The U.S. Military’s Future Operations in the Western Hemisphere"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Americas Program

Center for Strategic and International Studies

23 April, 2026

Published: https://www.csis.org/analysis/beyond-venezuela-and-cuba-us-militarys-future-operations-western-hemisphere 

After Operation Absolute Resolve, which resulted in the extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the White House is increasing pressure on Cuba for some type of political change. Whether the U.S. military will also be deployed in some capacity to the Caribbean island remains to be seen; much will depend on a potential renewed conflict with Iran.

While these three hotspots continue to make headlines, the U.S. military is also expanding its presence across Latin America and the Caribbean. Combating drug-trafficking will continue to be a priority for Washington, and the U.S. military will be heavily involved in this mission.

 

Future Warfare Magazine: " SAS 2026: MARTAC announces upcoming USV delivery to the Philippines, new projects "

 

 

" SAS 2026: MARTAC announces upcoming USV delivery to the Philippines, new projects "

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Future Warfare Magazine

23 April, 2024

Published: https://www.fw-mag.com/shownews/1032/sas-2026-martac-announces-upcoming-usv-delivery-to-the-philippines-new-projects 

At the Sea Air Space expo at the National Harbor, outside of Washington, DC, FW MAG spoke with Seamus Flatley, Chief Growth Officer at the Florida-based MARTAC Systems. The company discussed with FW Mag its upcoming deliveries and projects to expand its family of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for new missions.

The company delivered one DEVIL RAY T-38 and four T-12 USVs to the Philippine Navy in July of 2024. Two additional T-38s will be delivered in May of this year, MARTAC confirmed exclusively to FW MAG. Flatley added that his company has “ongoing discussions about future opportunities with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.” The T-38s are equipped with the launch-and-recovery system manufactured by the Israeli company Sealartec.