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Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.
China's indigenously developed 10-tonne-class medium utility helicopter — a fly-by-wire, five-blade rotorcraft directly comparable to the UH-60, serving as the PLA's primary air-assault, transport, and naval shipborne platform.
China's purpose-built scout-attack helicopter — a light, Z-9-derived tandem-seat rotorcraft with mast-mounted radar that acts as the eyes and fangs partner to the heavier Z-10 in PLA Army Aviation.
China's medium attack helicopter — a tandem-seat, twin-engine design built around the indigenous WZ-9 turboshaft, fielded by the PLA since 2009 and exported as the Z-10ME.
The most produced twin-turbine transport helicopter in history, the Mi-8 Hip (Mi-17) has been the backbone of Soviet/Russian and allied medium-lift aviation since the 1960s, with over 10,000 built and dozens of military and civil operators worldwide.
The Mil Mi-24 Hind is a uniquely configured Soviet/Russian attack helicopter that combines a heavy gunship with an 8-troop transport compartment — the most combat-used rotary-wing type in history and still in production as the Mi-35M.
Russia's coaxial-contra-rotating attack helicopter — the heavily armed side-by-side two-seat Alligator has become the most prolific and most-attrited rotary-wing platform of the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Russia's dedicated tandem-seat attack helicopter — a heavily armored, night-capable anti-armor platform armed with the Ataka missile, now seeing modernized Mi-28NM variants with longer-range munitions in Ukraine.
Europe's standard medium multirole helicopter — a twin-engine, fly-by-wire platform in land (TTH) and naval (NFH) configurations, fielded by eleven nations for air assault, ASW, and search-and-rescue.
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is the West's premier heavy-lift tandem-rotor helicopter, in continuous service since 1962 — moving troops, artillery, and cargo across every major U.S. conflict and fielded by more than a dozen allies.
The United States' primary medium-lift utility helicopter since 1979, the UH-60 Black Hawk serves in air assault, MEDEVAC, special operations, and cargo roles across dozens of operators worldwide.
Europe’s multinational attack helicopter — the Airbus Tiger is a twin-engine, tandem-seat platform that combines a chin-mounted cannon, anti-tank missiles, and a mast-mounted sight to give France, Germany, and Spain an anti-armour, fire-support and reconnaissance capability.
The Bell AH-1Z Viper ("Zulu Cobra") is the US Marine Corps' marinized attack helicopter — a twin-engine, tandem-seat platform built for close air support, armed escort, and anti-armor missions from amphibious shipping and expeditionary airfields.
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is the United States’ premier attack helicopter — a twin-engine, tandem-seat anti-armor and close-air-support platform that has anchored U.S. Army rotary-wing combat power since Desert Storm.
Russia's heavily delayed attempt to modernize the MiG-29 into a 4++-generation multirole fighter, hampered by small production runs, missing AESA radar, and a near-absence from frontline operations.
The Su-30SM — Russia’s twin-seat, thrust-vectoring multirole Flanker — combines long-range strike and air superiority with a dedicated weapons-system officer, and forms the backbone of Russian and several allied air forces.
Russia's next-generation MBT — a radical unmanned-turret design with a crew armoured capsule, Afganit active protection, and a 125 mm gun, but the program remains mired in low-rate prototypes and has seen no meaningful frontline service.
China and Pakistan's lightweight, low-cost multirole fighter — a 4/4.5-generation export workhorse with AESA in Block III, and the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force.
China's homegrown heavy multirole strike fighter — a twin-seat, twin-engine Flanker derivative packing an AESA radar and very-long-range air-to-air missiles, and the PLAAF's primary deep-strike and standoff platform.
China's workhorse 4.5-generation single-engine multirole fighter — a delta-canard design with an AESA radar, active in PLAAF and Pakistani service, and credited with the type's first air-to-air kill in 2025.
Russia’s most advanced operational 4++ generation air-superiority fighter — a thrust-vectoring Flanker derivative with a powerful PESA radar and heavy weapons load, and the backbone of Russia’s air war over Ukraine.
Sweden's homegrown lightweight multirole fighter—a single-engine, canard-delta design built for dispersal operations and low operating costs, fielded in classic C/D and next-generation E/F variants.
France's omnirole 4.5-generation twin-engine fighter — operational from land and carrier decks, nuclear-capable, and a mainstay of French and several export air forces.
The US Navy's carrier-borne multirole workhorse — a twin-engine, supersonic strike fighter that succeeded the F-14 Tomcat and A-6 Intruder, with an extensive combat record and ongoing Block III upgrades.
The F-15EX Eagle II is a 4.5-generation heavyweight twin-engine fighter derived from the Strike Eagle / QA, built to haul extreme payloads of air-to-air and standoff munitions, and to serve as the USAF’s new homeland-defense and high-end missile truck.