On Tuesday, October 31st, an Israeli F-35I, known as the "Adir," achieved the first known air-to-air kill for the F-35 fighter type on October 31. It shot down a cruise missile believed to have been launched by the Houthi militia in Yemen. The Israeli air force detected the incoming missile from the southeast and scrambled F-35Is to intercept it successfully. This marks the first time the global F-35 fleet has been involved in an air-to-air mission, as previous missions focused on striking ground targets. The video footage of the intercept shows the cruise missile being destroyed by a proximity fuse triggered by a second object entering the frame. This incident highlights the evolving threat posed by cruise missiles, which differ from the relatively small, short-range, and unguided rockets launched by other groups in the region.

On Tuesday, October 31st, the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Arrow 3, a ballistic missile interceptor successfully shot down a long-range ballistic missile over the Red Sea. This was the first combat usage of the Arrow 3 and is believed to be the first combat engagement to take place in space. While Israeli officials didn't confirm the source of the attack, the location and direction suggest it may have originated from Houthi-controlled Yemen. This achievement highlights Israel's advanced technology for defense against ballistic missiles at various ranges. The Arrow 3 was deployed by the Israel Defense Forces in 2017 to defend against long-range missile threats from Iran or its proxies. Israel has also agreed to export the Arrow 3 system to Germany.

On Sunday, November 5th, The Russian military announced a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile from a new nuclear submarine, the Imperator Alexander III. This missile, called Bulava, is designed to carry nuclear warheads. The test was conducted from an underwater position in Russia's northern White Sea and hit a target in the far-eastern region of Kamchatka. The Imperator Alexander III is part of the Borei-class nuclear submarines, each of which can carry 16 Bulava missiles. These submarines are intended to be a core naval component of Russia's nuclear forces in the future. This test launch is the final step in evaluating the vessel's capabilities, after which a decision will be made on its induction into the fleet. Currently, Russia has three Borei-class submarines in service, one undergoing testing, and three more under construction. This test occurs amid rising tensions between Russia and the West over the conflict in Ukraine, and Russia's recent decision to revoke its ratification of a global nuclear test ban.

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