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A gunner aboard a Ukrainian Yak-52 aircraft fires on a Russian Shahed drone with small-arms fire over the Odesa region. (Credit: Ukraine's 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade)

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

Video Shows Ukrainian Gunner Shooting Down Russian Shahed Drone From Open Cockpit

Footage released by a Ukrainian brigade shows a Yak-52 gunner shooting down Russian Shahed attack drones from the aircraft’s open cockpit. The video was reportedly recorded over the Odesa region.

The Yak-52 is a Soviet-designed, two-seat piston-engine aircraft originally built for military pilot training. Ukrainian forces are also using modified Mi-8 helicopters armed with machine guns to intercept and destroy Russian drones. (Read More)

U.S. and Iran Hold Fire as Oman Pushes to Reopen Hormuz

The U.S. and Iran have paused military operations after nearly two weeks of strikes as Oman leads talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and prevent further escalation.

Reports citing U.S. officials said the U.S. delayed further airstrikes over concerns about dwindling weapons supplies, including Patriot interceptors, though the Pentagon has not confirmed the reports. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump was “giving the talks some space” before deciding on next steps. (Read More)

Ukraine Strikes Iran-Linked Vessels in Caspian Sea; Tehran Vows Response

Ukraine carried out long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea targeting vessels it said were supporting Russian-Iranian military shipments. The SBU identified the targeted vessels as Port Olya 2 and Begey.

Iran confirmed that one commercial vessel was hit, killing one sailor and injuring another. Tehran condemned the strike as a “hostile and criminal” act and said it may take “appropriate action” in response. (Read More)

Built for Better Storytelling

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This September, we're running Staccato Vegas, a four day production that trades the flat range for real environments: neighborhood streets, residential homes, storefronts, construction zones, and a drive-in movie set, built around Special Operations-inspired scenarios including CQB, UTV operations, live-fire sequences, sniper/spotter teams, and ready room setups.

Brands can join by sending products for placement. Instead of staging scenes around a range, your gear becomes part of environments built to feel authentic from every angle, giving you photography and video that stands apart from anything shot on a standard range.

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QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ A Romanian F-16 shot down another drone over the country’s territorial waters, marking the third such incident in three days. Romania said it would summon Russia’s ambassador over “repeated violations” of its airspace, after an investigation found a drone downed Friday was a Shahed model used by Russia in its war against Ukraine. (Read More)

➤ U.S. forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Friday after it allegedly ignored warnings related to the Iran blockade. CENTCOM said its forces fired into the engine room of the Mozambique-flagged tanker M/T Lavine, preventing it from continuing toward Iran. (Read More)

➤ An oil tanker exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after striking a naval mine, Iran’s IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency reported. The outlet said the tanker hit the mine after leaving a route designated by Iran. (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ A federal appeals court ruled that U.S. border agents can manually search travelers’ phones without a warrant or suspicion, classifying such searches as “routine” border inspections. Privacy groups that urged a warrant requirement called the decision a blow to travelers' rights. (Read More)

➤ A Russian-linked hacking group targeted U.S. and NATO nuclear researchers and defense organizations in a yearlong cyber-espionage campaign aimed at stealing sensitive nuclear, defense, and military intelligence, including information that could support Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to a joint advisory from U.S. and allied governments. (Read More)

➤ The suspect in the deadly vehicle attack during Berlin’s LGBTQ+ celebrations was shot and killed by police after a confrontation in Spandau. Police said the suspect allegedly approached officers with a stabbing weapon, prompting them to open fire. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ The Pentagon announced a nearly $7 billion agreement with Oracle that consolidates the department’s Oracle software, services, and licenses under a single contract vehicle. The five-year agreement, with an additional five-year option, is intended to streamline IT procurement and save at least $441 million in taxpayer costs. (Read More)

➤ Ukraine's Magura sea drones will be built in the U.S. for the first time, under a deal between maker UFORCE and Oregon boatbuilder ReconCraft. The Magura family helped drive Russia's fleet from the Black Sea, sinking more than a dozen warships. (Read More)

➤ Russia has released footage showing Su-34 fighter-bombers carrying four bombs fitted with upgraded UMPB/UMPK glide bomb kits. The system reportedly extends the weapon’s range to roughly 60–125 miles, increasing the standoff capability of Russian strike aircraft. (Read More)

Four Days of Dynamic Content

Staccato Vegas trades the flat range for real environments: neighborhood streets, residential homes, storefronts, construction zones, and a drive-in movie set, built around Special Operations-inspired scenarios like CQB, UTV operations, live-fire sequences, sniper/spotter teams, and ready room setups.

Brands can send products for placement and walk away with photography and video that feels authentic, not staged. Instead of a generic backdrop, your product lives inside scenes built to look and feel real.

Spots are limited, brands looking to get involved click more below to get involved.

Learn More →

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ A vigilante movement is smashing, taping and paint-bombing Flock license-plate cameras, with The Guardian identifying 33 such attacks across 23 states. One masked Minneapolis influencer has downed more than a dozen, and state fusion centers are now directing police to monitor anti-Flock activism.

➤ Tick populations are surging across the U.S. and U.K. as warmer winters allow them to survive and spread into new areas, contributing to rising cases of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Experts recommend using repellents and permethrin-treated clothing to help reduce the risk of infection.

➤ Scientists have identified the first known likely transmissible cancer in a wild fish species, after studying brown bullhead catfish in Lake Memphremagog, which spans the U.S. and Canada. Researchers found that cancer cells may be spreading from one catfish to another, causing melanoma-like skin lesions in 23% to 37% of sampled fish.

On this day in history: On July 27, 1953, commanders signed the Korean War armistice at Panmunjom, ending three years of fighting that killed millions and left about 36,000 Americans dead. The deal set the demilitarized zone near the prewar border, and no peace treaty has ever replaced it.

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Should the U.S. government take equity stakes in strategic technology companies?

Yes

Unsure

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you think the AI companies can effectively implement a "kill switch" into their systems?

No (57.7%)
Yes (31.4%)
Unsure (10.9%)

n=743

If you have something you'd like polled, email us at editor@sofx.com.

Staccato Vegas: four days of immersive, Special Operations-inspired production. CQB, UTV ops, live-fire, sniper/spotter, and more. Send your product, get authentic content that stands apart. September 15–18. Ready to participate in Staccato Vegas see more details here.

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About SOFX: We are an independent media and communications technology company reporting on the conflicts, security, and technology issues impacting your lives and businesses. SOFX was founded by former special operations & intelligence professionals, not career journalists or Big Tech / Big Media.

Have feedback for us? We want to hear any and all comments you may have. Contact us at editor@sofx.com.

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