The T-72 Tank With Leclerc's Turret and China's T59 Project: Underappreciated Tank Experiments of the Past
Throughout the history of armored warfare, numerous experimental tank projects have quietly shaped the evolution of modern vehicles. Among them were ambitious attempts like fitting French Leclerc turret onto Soviet T-72 chassis and the obscure Chinese T-59 project, bold innovations that ultimately remained footnotes, yet offered valuable lessons for future designs.
Investigation Reveals: Most of Finland's Secret Arms Exports Go to Ukraine
A recent investigation has revealed that most of Finland's classified arms exports are being sent to Ukraine, marking a major shift in the traditionally transparent Finnish arms trade policy. Since russia's full-scale invasion, Finland has quietly increased secret arms shipments to aid Ukraine's defense, reflecting deeper security cooperation under the pressures of war.
Read more: Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Chemical Warheads on the Shahed Drones, Ukrainian Alligator-9 System, Ukraine’s Strategic Air Defense, and russia’s Failing Defenses
Confirmed Strike Damages Final Assembly Workshop at Plant in Alabuga Producing Hundreds of Combat Drones for russia Daily
On April 23, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a long-range strike on a high-value russian military-industrial facility located in the Republic of Tatarstan, a region deep inside the russian federation, more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The target was a drone manufacturing plant situated within the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, a key industrial cluster that has become increasingly involved in supporting russia's war effort.
Ukrainian Anti-Aircraft Drone Damages Rare russian-Israeli Forpost-R UAV at High Altitude
Operators from the 414th Separate Strike Unmanned Systems Brigade successfully damaged russian Forpost-R UAV at an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters. This high-altitude interception, captured in a video released on April 20, 2025, marks a notable achievement in targeting larger aerial threats. The Forpost-R, russian adaptation of Israeli Searcher II drone, boasts a wingspan of nearly 9 meters and a takeoff weight of about 500 kg. Despite the drone managing to glide back across the front line after the strike, the extent of the damage suggests a high likelihood of it being a total loss for russian forces.
russian Troops Invented Strange Armored Train, Already Hit by Ukrainian Drone
In a striking example of russia's unconventional military adaptations, Ukrainian forces have destroyed a peculiar armored rail vehicle deployed by russian troops in Donetsk region. The vehicle, possibly a repurposed SDPM snowplow or an armored railbus, was targeted by a drone strike from Ukraine's 152nd Brigade, effectively neutralizing it by hitting its undercarriage. This incident underscores the increasing reliance of russian forces on railway logistics in the region and highlights Ukraine's strategic focus on disrupting these supply lines.
Read more: Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Ukraine’s 2nd International Legion Eliminates russian Special Forces, Dassault Considers the FCAS Withdrawal, and russia Admits the M2 Bradley Vehicle Superiority
