Asia Pacific – Page 20 – The Defense Post

Mar- 2026 -

9 March

AVATAAR Debuts as India’s First Drone Capable of Both Flying, Diving Underwater

India is advancing its drone arsenal with a next-gen vehicle capable of operating in both air and underwater environments.

9 March

Ethan M. Encarnacion

Sentinel at Sea: India Rolls Out TRIDENT‑SAMUDRA for Real-Time Naval Awareness

The Indian Navy is beginning to lean towards artificial intelligence to impose a more commanding presence over its oceanic regions.

9 March

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Type 12 missile launcher vehicle.

Christine Casimiro

Japan Prepares to Deploy First Batch of Type 12 Long-Range Missiles in Kyushu

Launchers for the first batch of Japan’s Type 12 surface-to-ship long-range missiles have arrived at an army camp in the country’s southwest, signaling preparations for deployment.

9 March

A Chinese military helicopter flies past Pingtan island, one of mainland China’s closest points to Taiwan

Christine Casimiro

Chinese Warplanes Return to Taiwan’s ADIZ After Weeklong Absence

China has resumed military flights around Taiwan’s airspace after a seven-day absence, an unusual pause in Beijing’s regular aerial activity near the island.

8 March

Staff Writer With AFP

Sri Lanka to Treat Iranian Sailors According to ‘International Law’

Sri Lanka will treat Iranian sailors rescued from a torpedoed frigate according to international law, a minister said, following reports that Washington was pressuring Colombo to not repatriate them.

7 March

Staff Writer With AFP

Australia Says Chinese Military Helicopter in ‘Unsafe’ Maneuvers at Sea

Australia's military said a Chinese navy helicopter flew dangerously close to one of its aircraft during a routine passage through the Yellow Sea that Beijing criticized as a "provocation."

6 March

An Ilyushin Il-76 prepares to land at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, March 11, 2019. The U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s Air Mobility Division and Airlift Control Team orchestrate the utilization of commercial international heavyweight air tenders to move theater cargo providing the USCENTCOM theater an important airlift capability for cargo that cannot be load planned on military aircraft within the next 72 hours. This is the first time in more than two years the capability has been used at ASAB. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys)

Rojoef Manuel

India Greenlights Massive Buy of 60 Military Airlifters

India has moved forward with a major effort to modernize its tactical airlift fleet after the Defence Procurement Board approved a proposal to acquire 60 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

5 March

Soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) listen to a briefing in preparation for a search and extraction exchange during the 13th annual U.S.-China Disaster Management Exchange at Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center, November 17, 2017, in Warrenton, Ore. U.S. Army Pacific hosts the annual exchange with the PLA to foster mutual trust and understanding while sharing lessons learned to increase disaster response capabilities in the Pacific region. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class April Davis, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

Rojoef Manuel

China Adviser Warns AI Gap With US After Khamenei Killing in Iran Strikes

A Chinese political scientist and adviser to Beijing said the operation in Iran showed how deeply AI is now embedded in US combat power and noted why China needs to move faster.

5 March