1. Fresh border clashes erupt between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants have died in clashes near the border with Afghanistan, the Pakistan military said on October 26, as delegations from both countries met in Turkiye to try to defuse tensions after the deadliest fighting in years.

The militants tried to cross over from Afghanistan on October 25 and  October 26 in Kurram and North Waziristan districts, rugged areas along Pakistan’s north-western frontier, the Pakistani military’s media wing said.

2. US Navy helicopter, fighter jet crash in South China Sea

A U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, went down in the waters of the South China Sea. The helicopter was conducting routine operations from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11 safely recovered all three crew members, according to a post on X by the US Pacific Fleet.

Following the incident, after half an hour, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 also went down in the waters of the South China Sea. The aircraft was conducting routine operations from Nimitz. Both crew members successfully ejected and were also safely recovered by search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11. This marks the fourth F/A-18 Super Hornet crash in 2025.

3. UK-Turkiye to finalize Eurofighter Typhoon deal

The UK and Turkiye are expected to finalise a multibillion-dollar Eurofighter Typhoon deal during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first official visit to Ankara on October 27, according to a report by Middle East Eye. Ankara has been in talks with the UK, the lead country in the Eurofighter consortium, since 2023 over the purchase of the fighter jets.

In 2024, Turkey cleared a key hurdle by overcoming Germany’s veto, which had blocked the sale. The two countries signed a provisional agreement in July for 40 jets and have since continued negotiations over technical specifications and pricing, which Ankara reportedly found relatively high.

4. Russia test fires Burevestnik missile

Russia has tested the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, Moscow's top general has said. “We have launched a multi-hour flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000km (8,700-mile) distance, which is not the limit," Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin in a televised meeting, according to a report by the BBC.

The low-flying experimental weapon, first announced in 2018, has been hailed as having a potentially unlimited range and the ability to evade missile defences.

5. Ukraine to receive Gripen-E jets from Sweden

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine expects to receive up to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets, with the first deliveries planned for next year, according to a report by The Kyiv Post.

Writing on Telegram, he said that together with Sweden, Ukraine will significantly strengthen its combat aviation. He called the deal an ambitious but necessary task.

“Now a historic step - the agreement with Sweden on Gripen combat aircraft - and this is a good choice. We are counting on 150 such aircraft for Ukraine, and the first ones should arrive next year. There has never been such a large-scale agreement on combat aircraft for Ukraine. A historic achievement. We are working to fully implement it. Thank you, Sweden,” Zelensky wrote.

6. US warships arrive in Trinidad and Tobago near Venezuela

The USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, reached the Trinidadian capital Port of Spain on October 26 with members of the US Marines on board, ahead of planned joint military exercises.

The standoff between the US and Venezuela escalated further on October 24, when the Pentagon confirmed that it was deploying the Carrier Strike Group-12 (CSG-12), which is led by the 100,000-ton aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford.

Arjun Dev Singh

Arjun Dev Singh has a deep interest in defence, security, and strategic affairs. With a strong analytical lens and a passion for military and geopolitical developments, Arjun strives to bring clarity and context to complex national and international issues.