Science, technology and the modern world!

  By Sherazur Rahman   Teacher and Writer, Singra, Natore, Bangladesh The Bayraktar AKINCI, created by Türkiye’s Baykar company, is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle. It is designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and direct strike missions, making it one of the most capable heavy combat drones in the world. On February 21, Türkiye’s state-owned news agency A News reported that the AKINCI successfully targeted an airborne object during a test flight over the Black Sea. It used a loitering munition to strike another drone mid-air. The test involved the high-speed EREN loitering munition developed by Roketsan, which can autonomously detect and engage targets. In 2024, open-source defense reports stated that the AKINCI successfully launched the Roketsan IHA-230 supersonic guided missile. This air-to-surface weapon has a range of around 150 to 160 kilometers. The HALE-class AKINCI measures about 12.5 meters in length, has a 20-mete...

As military tensions between the United States and Iran continue, a powerful U.S. naval force, the USS Gerald R. Ford nuclear-powered aircraft carrier strike group, is moving toward the Middle East. The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is already stationed in the Arabian Sea near the region. The United States may be preparing to deploy several hundred combat and logistical support aircraft around Iran's area. Currently, the United States has F/A-18, F-15, and F-35 stealth fighter jets at its 18 to 20 military bases across the Middle East and aboard aircraft carriers at sea. Along with these aircraft, many cargo planes, aerial refueling tankers, early warning systems, and surveillance planes have also been sent to the region. Multiple international sources report that the U.S. military has deployed or plans to deploy hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles on warships in the Middle East. Washington also seems to be strengthening its regional bases with THAAD (Terminal High Alti...

  By Sherazur Rahman Russia’s current strategic bomber fleet is diverse and robust, but it is mostly Cold War-era. During that time, the Soviet Union developed bombers to compete with American designs. For instance, the Tu-95 Bear was designed to rival the B-52 Stratofortress, while the Tu-160 Blackjack aimed to take on the B-1 Lancer. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, this competitive landscape shifted. When the United States introduced the fifth-generation B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, Russia struggled to produce a comparable aircraft. The U.S. Air Force has about 74 B-52H Stratofortress bombers, 44 B-1B Lancer bombers, and 19 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. The B-2 Spirit became operational in 1997 and remains a crucial part of America’s stealth strike capability. To tackle the challenges of the 21st century, the U.S. has already test-flown the sixth-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber. This aircraft is expected to enter service between 2026 and 2027. The B-21 will gradua...