Thursday, July 09, 2026

What is GlobalEye, the Swedish aircraft set to become NATO’s new ‘eyes in the sky’?

By Roselyne Min

Published on 07/07/2026 - EURONEWS

As NATO members discuss future defence capabilities in Ankara, Swedish defence company Saab announced its GlobalEye aircraft will become the alliance’s new “eyes in the sky”.

Swedish-made aircraft are set to replace NATO’s ageing US-built surveillance fleet.

At the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, NATO and the Swedish government announced that the military alliance had chosen GlobalEye, an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system made by Swedish defence company Saab, as the replacement for NATO’s current Boeing E-3A aircraft.

NATO plans to open negotiations with Saab to purchase up to 10 GlobalEye aircraft, according to an announcement by the Swedish government.

What is the Early Warning & Control System?

An Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system is a modified aircraft fitted with long-range radar, sensors and command-and-control systems.

Flying at high altitude, it can detect aircraft, ships, missiles and other threats at long distances, including low-flying targets that ground-based radars may miss. It can also help direct friendly forces during military operations.

“In a serious security situation, the ability to detect threats early and control operations in the air, at sea and on the ground is becoming increasingly important,” Pål Jonson, the Swedish minister of defence, said at the summit.

“GlobalEye provides precisely the kind of advanced situational awareness that modern defences need to combat everything from drones, missiles and other types of threats,” he added.

NATO calls its airborne early warning and control capabilities its “eyes in the sky”.

Unlike most military assets in the alliance, NATO’s current airborne early warning fleet is operated by NATO itself rather than by a single member state.

The military alliance currently operates 14 Boeing E-3A aircraft, which have been in service since 1982.

The selection marks NATO's second attempt to replace the ageing fleet: the alliance initially chose Boeing's E-7A Wedgetail in 2023, but that plan collapsed in 2025 after the US Air Force dropped the aircraft from its budget in favour of space-based surveillance.

Specs of the new reconnaissance aircraft

Saab says its GlobalEye is “the only AEW&C solution on the market that can provide long-range air, sea and land surveillance in real time, from a single platform.”

The advanced reconnaissance aeroplane uses a combination of long-range active and passive sensors. It is built on the Global 6500 aircraft family from Canadian business jet maker Bombardier.

The Swedish company says GlobalEye can detect, identify and track objects at distances of more than 550 kilometres, while its radar is designed to reach even farther in some conditions.

It can remain airborne for more than 11 hours and “combines excellent flight performance with low maintenance costs,” according to an announcement by the Swedish government.

For comparison, NATO says one Boeing E-3A can track aircraft and ships at distances over 400 km and fly up to 10 hours.

A single current NATO surveillance aeroplane can monitor an area roughly the size of Poland. Three coordinated aircraft can continuously scan the entirety of Central Europe.

Saab has not yet disclosed an equivalent area-coverage figure for GlobalEye.

The planned purchase is being backed by 11 NATO countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania and Sweden.

No contract has been signed yet. Saab says it will now proceed to formal negotiations with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency to secure a deal.

Saab’s CEO Micael Johansson told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter that the company could begin deliveries in 2030 if an agreement is reached soon.

UK to lead European initiative to fund next

generation of long-range missiles

The United Kingdom, France, Germany and other European countries will spend more than $50 billion over the next 10 years to develop long-range precision weapons in a boost to NATO's defence capabilities, the UK government announced on Wednesday.

Issued on: 09/07/2026 - RFI

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other British officials in front of a Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, on 24 April 2025. AFP - RICHARD POHLE

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to unveil details of the programme at the NATO summit in Ankara.

Backed by a dozen European partners, the UK-led initiative "is expected to announce that allies will spend $50 billion over the next 10 years to develop deep precision strike capabilities to bolster defence and deterrence across the alliance", Downing Street said in a statement.

The investment will deliver "the most advanced weapons NATO will have at its disposal in the future – with the ability to strike targets no less than 300km away and in some cases beyond 2000km, with pinpoint accuracy", it added.

Such missiles have proved crucial in the Ukraine war, allowing Ukrainian forces to hit targets far from the front line.

The partners, who are also expected to include Baltic nations, will work on several different missiles with a view to avoiding duplication.

The weapons will be developed without the involvement of the United States.

Europe’s defence dilemma: autonomy or dependence?

US President Donald Trump stands next to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as NATO leaders gather for a group photo at a summit in Ankara, Turkey, on 8 July 2026. © Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Closer European cooperation

Starmer on Wednesday urged leaders to "show the unity and the strength of NATO" against a background of the Ukraine conflict and the US war with Iran.

"We must continue to work together as allies to develop the capability of the future to bolster security and protect growth at home," he said in a statement.

The NATO leaders' summit comes at a fraught time for the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance, with US President Donald Trump lashing out at allies as Washington steps back from Europe.

The second day of the tense meeting in the Turkish capital saw Trump pose for the traditional group photo of 32 NATO leaders, before taking part in a working session and holding a highly anticipated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The summit is expected to see European allies make plans to take a bigger role in NATO, including by upping defence spending.

(with newswires)

China’s Pacific Missile Test Sends Message To U.S. Allies – Analysis

Submarines from China's Navy. Photo Credit: Mehr News Agency

July 9, 2026
RFA
By Taejun Kang

Key Takeaways

China Flexed Its Growing Military Reach — The test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile into the Pacific was intended to demonstrate Beijing’s advancing hypersonic and nuclear capabilities, sending a signal to regional countries including Australia and other Pacific states.

Strategic Timing and Message — The launch occurred shortly after Australia and Fiji signed a mutual defense treaty and amid major U.S.-led military exercises, interpreted by analysts as a deliberate political warning against efforts to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific.

It Risks Backfiring — While showcasing China’s ability to threaten deep into the Central Pacific (including routes relevant to Taiwan contingencies), the test has drawn sharp criticism from multiple countries and may push Pacific nations closer to the US and Australia.

China’s test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile into the Pacific this week was aimed at signaling its growing military reach to U.S. allies across the region, analysts told Radio Free Asia, as Beijing sought to frame the launch as a routine exercise.

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported Monday that a Chinese navy submarine launched a missile carrying a dummy warhead toward international waters in the Pacific at 12:01 p.m. local time, describing it as a “routine arrangement” in annual military training and not directed at any specific country or target.

Analysts said the timing and trajectory suggested Beijing was using the test to send a broad political and military message across the Asia-Pacific.

“China’s latest ICBM test serves several purposes,” William Yang, a Northeast Asia analyst at the Belgium-based International Crisis Group, told RFA. “It demonstrates the progress in China’s advanced missile capabilities, sends a signal to regional countries, including Australia and other Pacific states, about Beijing’s ability to respond resolutely to what it views as a challenge to its interests, and allows the People’s Liberation Army to maintain regular military drills across the Asia Pacific region.”

Though Yang referred to it as an ICBM, or intercontinental ballistic missile, Xinhua did not specifically use those words. The U.S. State Department called it an “intercontinental-range ballistic missile,” in a statement where it criticized the launch at a time when “the United States is working harder than ever to prevent nuclear proliferation,” and “China is doing the opposite.”

The launch also drew criticism from Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan, with several governments saying they had received only short notice.

The test touched a nerve across the region because it came against the backdrop of intensifying strategic competition in the Pacific, where China, the United States and its allies have been vying for influence over sea lanes, security ties with Pacific Island countries, and military access to the region.

For China, the Pacific islands have become an increasingly important diplomatic and strategic arena as Beijing seeks to expand its presence beyond East Asia. For Australia, New Zealand and the United States, the region has become a frontline in efforts to prevent China from translating economic influence into a deeper security foothold.

Australia-Fiji treaty

The missile landed in the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone only hours after Australia and Fiji signed a mutual defense treaty.

Yang said the timing was “also a political signal to Canberra and other U.S. allies that China will not be deterred by their efforts to undercut China’s interests in deepening its influence in the Pacific region.”

The defense pact, known as the Ocean of Peace, commits Australia and Fiji to assist each other if attacked. It was signed as Canberra has sought to rebuild security ties and trust in the Pacific after years of concern among island governments over climate change, development needs and outside interference.

China has meanwhile deepened engagement with several Pacific island states through policing, aid and infrastructure agreements, raising alarm in Washington and allied capitals over the possibility of a more permanent Chinese security role in the region.

The launch occurred during “a crowded window of allied activity” that included not only the treaty signing – but also on the heels of RIMPAC, Valiant Shield, and Resolute Dragon – U.S.-led bilateral or multilateral military exercises focusing on the broader Pacific region, Aadil Brar, a Taipei-based independent analyst and former visiting scholar at National Chengchi University, told RFA.

Message sent

Though the Chinese navy said that the launch was directed at no particular country or target, Brar said the distance and direction was deliberate.

“That trajectory alone shows the real aim was less about any single target and more about proving China can range deep into the Central Pacific, threading through waters used by the Philippines, Guam-based U.S. forces, and Pacific island states, all at once,” he said.

The route described by Brar, from the Chinese coast across the Philippine Sea and south of Guam before landing near the Marshall Islands and Nauru, would have taken the missile through a corridor that matters strategically to both Washington and Beijing. It passes through waters used by U.S. forces based in Guam, near routes that could be critical for moving reinforcements in a regional conflict, including one involving Taiwan.

Brar said Taiwan was not directly overflown this time, but the test still carried implications for the island because it demonstrated China’s ability “to hold reinforcement routes at risk well beyond the first island chain,” the arc of islands running from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines to Borneo, forming a key maritime boundary around China’s near seas.

Such abilities would complicate any U.S. intervention in a hypothetical Taiwan Strait crisis, he said.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has long warned that Beijing is stepping up military pressure on the democratically governed island through war games, air and naval patrols, and missile development. Chinese officials have not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control.

Still, Yang said he did not think the launch was directly related to Taiwan in this case, arguing that Beijing’s “target audience is the wider region rather than the Taiwanese government,” given its timing alongside the Australia-Fiji agreement and the missile’s launch and impact areas.

The test launch might not have been the best strategy for China, Gregory Brown, director of the Alliance Futures Initiative, a Washington-based think tank, told RFA.

“I don’t know that the intention from the Chinese is actually to threaten the Pacific Islands or Australia. It certainly got everybody’s attention,” said Brown. “It’s probably an own goal for China to have done this now, because now there’s reason to say this is the sort of thing and sort of behavior why Fiji would want to sign a treaty with Australia or maybe get closer to the United States.”

China last publicly conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test in 2024, in a launch that underscored the country’s growing strategic capabilities and prompted renewed scrutiny of the pace and opacity of its nuclear modernization.

About RFA
Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press. Content used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
View all posts by RFA →

Submarine missile test puts China's Pacific ambitions on display

A Chinese submarine test-fired a "strategic" missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, Beijing said, prompting immediate condemnation across the region.

Issued on: 08/07/2026 - RFI

Screenshot of the WeChat channel of China's Defence Ministry showing the launch of an ICBM that would land in the Pacific, 25 September 2024. © Screengrab WeChat via agencies

By: Jan van der Made

“It’s the first known submarine-based missile test since 1982,” according to Professor Michael Dillon, a China specialist affiliated with the Lau China Institute at London’s King’s College, and "the first ever from a nuclear-powered submarine."

According to Dillon, Beijing wants to demonstrate that "the Chinese Navy is here and it is in a position to fire missiles."

China’s state-controlled People’s Daily called the launch a “routine arrangement of the annual training of the PLA Navy."

But Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese, on a visit to the Solomon Islands called it a "provocative act by China which does destabilise the region,” during a joint press conference with the Solomon’s PM Mathew Wale, who remarked that he launched a “strong protest" with the Chinese ambassador.

The US State Department expressed concern. According to the Japan Times, Tokyo had “strongly urged” China to refrain from the test prior to the launch, and on Wednesday, Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo on condemned the test near its waters.

Clive Hamilton, the Australia-based author of Hidden Hand, a book that describes China’s growing influence around the world, points out that the missile launch comes immediately after Australia signed a mutual defence pact with Fiji.

"China is afraid that its push to gain more influence in and over Pacific nations is facing serious pushback,” he told RFI.

“This missile test has the appearance of a deliberate rebuke to Pacific Island states and Australia for undertaking more systematic military and economic cooperation,” he says.

A spokesperson for China's Minstry of National Defense (MND) announcing the launch of a ICBM into the Pacific, 25 September 2024. © Screenshot Chinese Ministry of National Defense website

The missile tests also shows the “urgent need for Australia to build its military capability” in the Pacific, according to Hamilton, and "far from intimidating Pacific island states out of military cooperation with Australia, it may well force them to become closer to Australia and by implication also New Zealand and the United States."

According to defconlevel.com, an organisation consisting of intelligence analysts and nuclear specialists, China currently disposes of some 600 nuclear war heads, and 6 Jin type 094 nuclear submarines, capable of launching strategic missiles.
'Drive the US out'

The Chinese missile test coincides with the “Joint Sea-2026” naval exercises that performed with Russia, that will continue through July 13.

The naval exercise are aimed at "complicating United States maritime superiority” in the Pacific theatre, according to defence watchdog Defence Security Asia, while intensifies "Indo-Pacific military competition surrounding Taiwan” with countries like Australia, Japan and the Philippines.

According to Hamilton, the “Joint Sea-2026” drills "reflect China's broader attempts, in its alliances with Russia and Iran and North Korea to project a more formidable and more threatening military capability.” and part of a "longer term strategy to drive the US out of the Western Pacific.”

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese naval frigate Binzhou takes part in a joint naval drills with Russian warships in the East China Sea on Dec. 27, 2022. AP - Xu Wei

However, Dillon points out that the relationship between China and Russia remains “complex,” and in spite of China’s covert support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, there has been “a lot of tension” between the two countries - including not fully resolved historical territorial claims and Russia’s concern about a growing influx of Chinese in eastern Siberia.

"China is wanting to demonstrate that it is ahead (of Russia) in missile terms,” according to Dillon.

Security pact

France, because of its territories New Caledonia and French Polynesia, is also a pacific power that worries about China’s growing military activities in the region; officially New Caledonia’s ocean territory borders that of the Solomon Islands, that currently enjoys a security pact with China.

China expands military might as far as French borders with Solomon Islands pact

But even for the Solomon Islands, the ICBM test was a step too far: “China's a good friend of Solomon Islands - but this is not something a friend does,” according to its PM Mathew Wale.

“We don't want to see any more countries, China, America, testing ICBMs in the Pacific Islands region. That's the bottom line,” he said.

While Australia is looking to improve ties with the island nation, Hamilton also stresses that ties with France can be improved. “It could be "beneficial if Australia decided to spend a substantial sum buying some armaments from France.”

Former admiral urges Australia to renege on Aukus deal and buy French subs

In 2021, Canberra joined the AUKUS military alliance with the US and the UK and cancelled a billion Euro submarine deal with Paris, leaving relations with France today “still fairly cool” in spite of a new government. Under the AUKUS deal, the US will sell nuclear submarines to Australia.

Buying French arms could "help repair the relationship” with Canberra, says Hamilton, which would be advantageous in the face of China’s growing military might in the region.

The U.S. Army And The Golden Dome Program – Analysis

US President Donald Trump announces plans for Golden Dome in the Oval Office. Photo Credit: White House, X

July 9, 2026
Congressional Research Service (CRS).
By Hannah D. Dennis and Andrew Feickert

Key Takeaways

Golden Dome is America’s New Integrated Missile Defense System — Led by the Army Space and Missile Defense Command (ASMDC) in support of NORTHCOM, it aims to protect the U.S. homeland from aerial and missile threats using a “system of systems” approach.

Key Army Systems Involved — Includes THAAD, Patriot (with IBCS and LTAMDS), and other air and missile defense capabilities. The Army is expanding Patriot battalions and integrating advanced sensors and command systems.

Significant Budget and Oversight Issues — The program is estimated to cost $185 billion through 2035 (or up to $1.2 trillion over 20 years per CBO). Congress has raised concerns about mandatory funding, lack of detailed requirements, stationing plans, and personnel implications.

What Is Golden Dome?

The Golden Dome for America (Golden Dome)—initially known as the Iron Dome for America—refers to an integrated homeland air and missile defense system being developed by the Department of Defense (DOD), which is “using a secondary Department of War designation” under Executive Order (E.O.) 14347, dated September 5, 2025. President Donald J. Trump introduced the program in E.O. 14186 of January 27, 2025. According to a May 2025 Pentagon press release, DOD plans to combine a range of capabilities to create a “system of systems” to protect the United States from “aerial attacks from any foe.” Golden Dome’s development is managed by DOD’s Office of Golden Dome for America, led by Senate-confirmed U.S. Space Force General Michael A. Guetlein, who reports directly to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (who is using “Deputy Secretary of War” as a “secondary title” under E.O. 14347). The system’s operational lead is the Army Space and Missile Defense Command (ASMDC) in support of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM).

Some Members of Congress have considered information released by DOD about Golden Dome to be insufficient and have requested additional information. In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, Congress required DOD to submit an annual report on Golden Dome efforts that is to include a threat assessment, system architecture, and cost and schedule estimate (P.L. 119-60, §1652). President Trump has said the system “should be fully operational before the end of my term.” General Guetlein has testified the system will cost $185 billion through delivery in 2035. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the system will cost $1.2 trillion to develop, deploy, and operate over 20 years.

Army Command and Control

On January 15, 2026, NORTHCOM established Joint Task Force (JTF)-Gold led by Army Lieutenant General Sean Gainey, who also serves as commanding general of ASMDC. JTF-Gold and ASMDC are co-located at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. Reportedly, in fall 2025, the Army approved the transfer of the 32nd and 263rdArmy Air and Missile Defense Commands from the then Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and Army Northern Command to ASMDC. By placing JTF-Gold under the ASMDC commander, the ASMDC commander reportedly becomes “the operational lead for Golden Dome activities in support of NORTHCOM, while also giving that headquarters control of the Army formations most directly tied to domestic air and missile defense.”
Selected Golden Dome-Associated Army Systems

During what a press report described as a Golden Dome “first look” on April 23, 2026, numerous Army systems that could be part of the initial iteration of Golden Dome were on public display at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia. According to the press report, program officials did not address the requisite number of systems or those systems’ potential locations and costs. Some of the major Army systems on display are briefly described in the following sections.

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)

THAAD is a mobile anti-ballistic missile system designed to destroy short-, medium-, and intermediate-range missiles in their terminal phase using hit-to-kill technology. The THAAD interceptor can intercept enemy missiles both inside and outside the atmosphere and reportedly defends targets at ranges of 150-200 kilometers (km). The Army currently has eight THAAD batteries in the Active Component and has no plans to field additional batteries, according to information provided to CRS by the Army. A September 2025 American Enterprise Institute (AEI) working paper estimates incremental costs to procure a single THAAD battery and 192 interceptors to be $2.73 billion.
Patriot

Patriot is an acronym for “Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target.” Patriot is a mobile air defense system capable of defeating both high-performance aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles. Patriot can also be employed against cruise missiles and certain types of uncrewed aerial systems and drones. According to information provided to CRS by the Army, 15 Patriot battalions are currently in the Active Component with planned growth for three additional battalions: one battalion each year from FY2029-FY2031. A four battery Patriot battalion, equipped with the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) and the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), costs an estimated $1.792 billion.
Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS)

IBCS is described as the centerpiece of the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) capabilities. It replaces legacy command and control (C2) systems in THAAD and Patriot units, providing 360-degree protection coverage and, according to the system’s developer Northrop Grumman, “expands battlespace for longer range intercepts and defense depth.”

Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS)

According to the Army, “LTAMDS is the Army’s next-generation radar designed to counter advanced and evolving threats, providing increased detection range, improved classification, and all-sector coverage.” LTAMDS is intended to replace legacy Patriot unit radars, and a prototype has been tested. According to its developer Raytheon, LTAMDS is “designed to defeat advanced and next-generation threats, including hypersonic weapons.”

Army Budget-Related Issues

In its FY2027 budget, DOD requested $17.5 billion for a “Golden Dome for America Fund,” including $434 million for Army Operations and Maintenance and Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation. The Army also requested $11.4 billion for THAAD procurement and $12.2 billion for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) procurement. DOD would be able to allocate these systems to homeland or theater defense. Of the $17.5 billion, $17.1 billion (98%) was requested as mandatory funding for Congress to provide in a reconciliation measure (as opposed to discretionary funding for Congress to provide in a regular annual appropriations act). Additionally, 92% of the amount the Army requested for THAAD procurement and 89% of the amount the service requested for PAC-3 MSE were mandatory funds. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Marc Berkowitz, who is using “Assistant Secretary of War for Space Policy” as a “secondary title” under Executive Order 14347 dated September 5, 2025, testified that mandatory funding provides speed and flexibility. An observer noted that putting the bulk of the request in mandatory funds puts the future of Golden Dome “on unstable footing.” The budget reconciliation process may also limit Congress’s opportunity for oversight if, for example, funds are provided for general purposes without specifying line-item amounts for DOD programs, projects, and activities as requested by the Administration.

Recent DOD budget requests and operational requirements indicate growing demand for missile procurement and replenishment. The department has increased funding for munitions, with requests for missile procurement nearly tripling in FY2027 to $95 billion as part of broader efforts to rebuild stockpiles and address operational demand. Taken together, these trends suggest scaling a layered Golden Dome architecture could require sustained investment in interceptor procurement, industrial base capacity, and long-term sustainment. DOD and industry have announced several joint agreements to increase production capacity. Congress may weigh these costs against competing priorities, including force readiness, modernization, and overall Army personnel requirements.

Potential Issues for Congress

Numbers of Army Systems and Units Required. Although the Army has identified some potential elements of the Golden Dome architecture, the service has not published how many systems or types of units will be needed to establish Golden Dome. As specific Golden Dome requirements emerge, Congress could examine the planned numbers of Army units and weapons systems that are to be dedicated to Golden Dome, including associated budgetary implications.

Time Required to Field Army Golden Dome Systems and Units. Congress could also examine the time requirements for industry to produce and field Golden Dome-dedicated systems and for the Army to establish associated units. This may include assessing resource needs for replenishing regional stockpiles, increasing homeland defense stockpiles, and filling foreign military sales orders. As system and interceptor production could take several fiscal years, such an examination could help future appropriations decisions.

Stationing of Army Golden Dome Systems and Units. Once the Army has established quantities and types of Golden Dome systems and units, Congress could review associated stationing plans, including when and where new units are planned to be stationed; funding requirements, including military construction (MILCON); and socioeconomic impacts on affected local communities.

Army Golden Dome Personnel Issues. Golden Dome could have implications for Army personnel requirements, particularly in air and missile defense, space operations, and command-and-control specialties. The Army’s current IAMD force relies heavily on specialized military occupational specialties (MOS) within the Air Defense Artillery (ADA) branch. Golden Dome could increase demand for these specialties, which have historically experienced high operational tempo and persistent global demand. In addition, Golden Dome could require greater integration of personnel from emerging fields, including space and cyber domains. Recruiting, training, and retaining personnel with these technical skill sets may present challenges for the Army. The Government Accountability Office has identified workforce gaps in cyber and other high-skill areas within the services. Expanding Army force structure to support additional Golden Dome requirements could require adjustments to training pipelines, soldier incentives, and force management policies.

Potential Role of the Army National Guard. At present, the Army National Guard (ARNG) has three ADA brigades: the 164th ADA in Florida, the 174th ADA in Ohio, and the 678th ADA in South Carolina. These brigades specialize in short-range air defense (SHORAD). In addition, the Colorado-based Army National Guard 100th Missile Defense Brigade operates the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) System, which defends the United States against intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). As a possible means to staff new Golden Dome-dedicated units without increasing Army end strength, Congress and the Army might examine the feasibility of converting some or all three ARNG SHORAD brigades to Golden Dome units, perhaps using the National Guard’s 100th Missile Defense Brigade as a model.

About the authors:

Hannah D. Dennis, Analyst in U.S. Defense Policy

Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces

Source: This article was published by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

About CRS
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for nearly a century.
View all posts by CRS →

Artemis II astronauts reunite with Orion after record-breaking Moon mission

Published on 09/07/2026 -

What comes next for NASA’s Artemis missions after a historic lunar fly-around?

Three months after their record-breaking flight around the Moon, the Artemis II astronauts were reunited with their Orion spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States, on Wednesday.

Launched atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in April, Artemis II was the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft and the first mission to send humans towards the Moon in more than 50 years.

The last time the four astronauts saw the launch pad, the towering rocket had stood on it.

“It’s a lonely place without that rocket on it,” said Reid Wiseman, the mission’s commander.

Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen spent the day thanking the teams who helped send them into space.

Their mission set a new record for the farthest distance travelled by humans from Earth, reaching 406,771 kilometres during the lunar fly-around.

The crew are now preparing to hand over to the next Artemis team. Last month, NASA announced the Artemis III crew, made up of three US astronauts and Italian European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano.

Set for 2027, Artemis III is expected to remain in Earth orbit, where the crew will practise docking with lunar landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.

The all-male Artemis III crew has drawn attention because Artemis II’s Christina Koch became the first woman to fly around the Moon.

But Koch said she was not concerned by the selection, saying it would have been worse for someone to overrule NASA’s process simply “to make it look a certain way”.

“I am so glad and so proud that that’s not the situation we have,” she told reporters.

Artemis IV is expected to follow as early as 2028, with NASA planning to land two astronauts on the Moon. The astronauts chosen for that landing have not yet been announced.

'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' singer Bonnie Tyler dies aged 75

By David Mouriquand

Published on 09/07/2026 EURONEWS

Legendary Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler has died at the age of 75. She achieved international fame in the 1980s, with the release of the hit single 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'.

Welsh music icon Bonnie Tyler has died aged 75. Best known for her songs ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’, ‘Holding Out For A Hero’ and ‘It’s A Heartache’, Tyler died after being hospitalised in Faro, Portugal, where she had owned a home since 1988.

She began to experience abdominal back pain in April and was rushed to hospital for emergency intestinal surgery. However, she began to suffer complications and a reported serious infection. She was placed in an induced coma and last month, Tyler’s spokesperson said she was out of the coma but remained “very unwell and in intensive care”.

A statement published on her official website today reads: “Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for. We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy.”

Bonnie Tyler AP Photo

Born on 8 June 1951, Tyler – whose legal name was Gaynor Hopkins – first shot to fame in the late 1970s thanks to singles like ‘Lost In France’ and ‘It’s A Heartache’.

She rose to international fame with her iconic 1983 power ballad 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' and the 1984 hit 'Holding Out For A Hero', featured in the Footloose movie soundtrack.

Both 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' and 'It's A Heartache' have estimated sales of over 6 million units each, and are among the best-selling singles of all time.

Tyler represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 and was awarded an MBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II for her services to music in 2022.

She said at the acceptance ceremony a year later: “I never ever thought I would have something like this, my mother and father would be so proud. To be nominated for a Grammy was wonderful, but to be given an MBE for something I absolutely love doing is a highlight of my career.”

Bonnie Tyler with her MBE after being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire AP Photo

Over the course of her lengthy career, she released 18 studio albums – her final one being 2021s ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’.

Tyler is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan, who she married in 1973.

RIP Bonnie Tyler 1951 - 2026

'Total Eclipse of the Heart' singer and 80s power ballad queen Bonnie Tyler dies aged 75

Issued on: 09/07/2026 -

Best known her power ballad “Total Eclipse of the Heart” that topped the charts in 1983, Bonnie Tyler, the gravelly voiced, Grammy-nominated Welsh pop star has died. She was 75 and passed away in hospital in Portugal from an illness, after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in May. Her signature voice was actually the result of an accident after not resting enough following an operation to remove nodules on her vocal cords.

Video by: Emerald MAXWELL

Ice baths, saunas and hypoxic chambers: inside Erling Haaland's routine

By Marta Iraola Iribarren

Published on 06/07/2026 - EURONEWS

“I feel tired, but I tell my body I’m not,” that’s a motto of Erling Haaland, who leads Norway towards a first World Cup quarter-final. He shared his great performance secrets that include ice baths, fatty steaks and enough sleep with fans on YouTube before the World Cup.

Over 1,200 players are participating in the men’s World Cup 2026, which is taking place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

With 92 games already played, however, some players are outshining others. This is the case with Erling Haaland. The Norwegian forward scored two goals against Brazil to book his country's place in the quarter-finals for the first time, one step closer to the final on 19 July.

“Maybe this will write history in Norway,” Haaland said after the game. “Everyone just needs to enjoy themselves. This is just an insane day. It’s one of the most insane days in Norwegian history. Just enjoy it, embrace it and enjoy the moment.”

He has been a key part of the national team since his debut in 2019.

What is his secret? Part of the answer may lie in his background: Haaland comes from a sports family and both his parents were professional athletes.

Alf-Inge Haaland is a former professional footballer with an extended career both in Norway's national team and at English clubs. Gry Marita Braut was a national champion heptathlete, competing at the top level in Norwegian track and field.

But genetics is only part of the story, Haaland points to a disciplined daily routine, built around training, recovery and nutrition, as the foundation of his form.

“You need to be a 24/7 athlete; it's not just the two hours of the game,” Haaland said on his YouTube channel.

“Our bodies can handle so much more than we think; a lot is in the mind,” he added. “I feel tired, but I tell my body I’m not. It’s a psychological thing.”

For Haaland, the 90 minutes of football are the end result of everything else he does during training.

“It’s how you sleep, how you prepare yourself for the next training, how you prepare yourself for the next game, how you recover from the game,” he added. “It’s a whole package.”

As with any professional footballer at such a high level, Haaland follows a tight routine designed to get the maximum out of his body.

Pro training conditions

Haaland lives in Manchester, where he plays for Manchester City and won the Premier League twice, in 2023 and 2024.

In between stretches, strength exercises and cardio, flexibility is a key factor in Haaland’s training.

“I have a natural good flexibility in my groins and hips, which is so important for me to keep, because how do you score these goals? We need to have good mobility or flexibility to score these crazy goals,” he added.

As part of his training at Manchester City’s facilities, he performs some of his exercises in a hypoxic chamber.

This chamber is designed to create a controlled low-oxygen environment that replicates higher altitudes. It can also increase heat and humidity levels.

According to Haaland, training in these conditions helps him recover faster between sprints during matches.

“You need to find what’s good for you, because everyone is different,” said Haaland. “The important thing is to move your body and stay active.

Even 10 or 15 minutes of stretching or mobility can make such a big difference, he noted.

Importance of recovery

The same way the game doesn’t start with the first kick, it doesn’t end with the final whistle.

For Haaland, recovery is essential to his routine. An ice bath and sauna are part of his post-training regime, something he tries to do four or five times a week.

Many athletes take ice baths as a way to soothe muscle pain and alleviate soreness.

In the video, Haaland also uses red light — a treatment that uses low levels of red light to reportedly improve your skin’s appearance, like reducing wrinkles, scars, redness and acne —which he says compensates for the lack of sunlight that he gets in Manchester.

There is ongoing research to determine whether red light treatment is effective. Some early studies suggest it might help certain skin problems such as acne and psoriasis, but the evidence is still limited.

Haaland has also stated in multiple interviews that sleep is the most important thing in the world and that a healthy sleep schedule is non-negotiable.

‘Simple nutrition’

Another important aspect of Haaland's daily routine is food and nutrition. In the video documenting a typical day, he begins the morning with a coffee containing raw milk and maple syrup.

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurised, a process that removes disease-causing germs by heating milk to a high enough temperature for a certain length of time.

It is not recommended by public health authorities and its sale is strictly regulated.

Good nutrition is essential for any high-performing athlete.

"I like to read and try out new things. Why not? For my life and also my career, why not try to optimise some easy small things as much as I can?" Haaland added.

He said that "nutrition is simple". He prefers a straightforward breakfast and fatty steaks. "I love food, and I said it before; I live to eat food no matter what happens in the day."

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment