Raw Intel

A new fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy has departed from Qingdao, a military port in eastern Shandong Province, to assume escort duties in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, according to Chinese state media. The deployment, announced by Xinhua on October 11, is the 48th such rotation since China launched […] The post China sends warships to Gulf of Aden first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Some strong words towards China from the CNO at the end of last week that isn't quite getting the play it would in a normal years. Almost Salamandereaque: America's military must be ready to respond to a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan that could come before the end of this year, the head of the US Navy has said. Admiral Michael Gilday, chief of US naval operations, was the latest senior US military official to indicate heightened alarm over Beijing's intentions towards the island. "So when we talk about the 2027 window in my mind, that has to be a 2022 window or potentially a 2023 window. I can't rule that out. I don't mean at all to be alarmist by saying that. It'…

Americas The US Marine Corps finished the first flight of its XQ-58A Valkyrie military aerial drone at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The test is part of the Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer – Portfolio (PAACK-P) initiative, a program seeking an “agile, expeditionary, and lethal” drone to support the marines and the joint force in austere […]View the full article

Americas The US Army will receive more next-generation thermal weapon sights from Leonardo as part of a new $134-million deal. According to the company, the device provides rapid target acquisition capabilities to soldiers, especially during missions in low-light environments. BAE Systems has landed a $5-million contract to develop electronic warfare solutions for the US Navy’s Common-architecture […]View the full article

French defense firm Arquus has begun delivering its new-generation light tactical vehicle, the PEGASE, to units including the 11th Parachute Brigade. In a statement posted September 8, Arquus said the vehicle represents a “major capability leap” for French forces. The company emphasized that the PEGASE was designed to meet the demands of elite units operating […] The post French elite forces receive first PEGASE vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas According to the Defense Post, the US Air Force is seeking a vendor to integrate the upcoming Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear missile on the B-52H Stratofortress bomber. The service expects the vendor to build and integrate the Bomber Weapon Interface Equipment (BWIE) on the aircraft in support of the LRSO. The US military remains […]View the full article

U.S. Soldiers from the Multi-Purpose Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) are field-testing an improvised, 3D-printed munition dropper dubbed the Widowmaker during Combined Resolve 26-1, the unit said. Mounted on a PDW C100 drone platform, the device is being evaluated for its ability to deliver […] The post U.S. troops test 3D-printed munition dropper for drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that the Chinese and Saudi Arabian navies will conduct a joint naval exercise, “Blue Sword-2025,” in Saudi Arabia later this month. At a press briefing on Oct. 10, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director of the Information Bureau of China’s Ministry of National Defense and ministry spokesperson, said the […] The post China, Saudi Arabia to hold joint naval drills first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Textron Aviation has delivered a Cessna Grand Caravan EX utility aircraft to the Belize Defense Force as part of a $7.84-million US Army foreign military sale. The handover was conducted at the Williamson Hangar Complex in Ladyville. The delivery includes spare parts, training support, and on-site maintenance services. The aircraft will be flown for maritime […]View the full article

Americas General Dynamics won a $9 million modification to exercise options on previously awarded contract N00024-23-C-4413 for the USS Arlington (LPD 24) fiscal 2023 docking selected restricted availability. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2024. Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC), Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. […]View the full article

L3Harris Technologies has showcased an upgraded version of its “Diamondback” unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) at the 2025 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., presenting a next-generation platform for autonomous reconnaissance and security missions. According to the company, the new Diamondback is “a rapidly configurable and highly mobile autonomous ground […] The post L3Harris shows improved robotic recon vehicle first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Housekeeping Note: As I mentioned earlier this month, as our British friends might say, this "blogspot" hosted part of the blog is "going in ordinary." The archived posts here back to the beginning in 2004 will remain, but all new posts will be going over to CDR Salamander on Substack. The reasons are simply, really. Google owns blogspot and for some reason has decided to turn it in to a very creator-unfriendly environment. As noted in my earlier post, they are going through and marking all sorts of posts going back over a decade and new as "SPAM" or worse, "dangerous" or a variation of the usual etc. Most of it derives, I believe, from some automated system that looks…

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $21 million contract for in-Service AEGIS combat system baseline sustainment, Baseline 10 System Integration and Fielding, and product documentation. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2024. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington DC, is the contracting activity. The US will receive a weapon next year designed to jam Chinese and Russian satellites in the early stages of a potential conflict, the US Air Force told Bloomberg. The technology — a L3Harris-developed electronic warfare system called “Meadowlands” — was originally scheduled for delivery in 2022. Meadowlands can jam transm…

Americas Thomas Instrument won a $43.7 million deal for overhaul of the B-2 weapons bay door power drive unit. This contract provides for the overhaul of five units per year for five years. Work will be performed in Brookshire, Texas, and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2029. This contract was a competitive […]View the full article

The U.S. Department of War has awarded Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) a $15 million contract to provide technical support, maintenance, and sustainment services for the Ukrainian Navy’s Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) program, according to a contract announcement. Under the agreement, Sierra Nevada will deliver product-based field services, including subject matter experts, to enhance the maintenance […] The post Pentagon contracts SNC for Ukraine’s counter-drone program first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russia has introduced a new light armored vehicle known as the “Legioner”, developed by the company Russkiye Boyevyye Mashiny (RBM). The 4×4 platform is intended to bridge the gap between unarmored military vehicles and heavier armored personnel carriers such as the BTR-82A, combining improved mobility, basic protection, and versatility in a compact design. The Legioner’s […] The post Russia develops new Legioner armored vehicle first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Boeing won a $210 million ceiling-priced delivery order under previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00383-22-G-YY01) for procurement of nine various configurations of flight control surface spares used on the F/A-18E/F and E/A-18G aircrafts. The delivery order does not include an option period. Work will be performed in Hazelwood, Missouri (85%); and St. Louis, Missouri (15%), and work is expected to be completed by July 2032 with no options. The announcement contains purchases under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Boeing has revealed the cons…

Americas General Dynamics won an $8.3 million modification for lead yard support and development studies and design efforts related to Virginia Class submarines. Work will be performed in the continental US and is expected to be completed by December 2024. The Virginia-Class new attack submarine is an advanced stealth multimission nuclear-powered submarine for deep ocean […]View the full article

Americas Northrop Grumman won a $15.6 million deal for the repair and overhaul of 270 power amplifier modules in support of the E-2D aircraft used in the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Weapon Systems Support (WSS) Integrated Weapon Support Team’s program. The delivery order does not include an option period. Work will be performed in […]View the full article

Remarks by Commander Salamander before the Congressional Research Service, Defense Breakfast Seminar, Wednesday, 22 March 2023 I appreciate the opportunity to discuss some of my views on current topics affecting our defense posture and the future of our country. The views I will express are my own from my perspective after 35 years as a naval officer, defense journalist, and student of history. I will not dwell on the specifics of the broad breadth of topics I’ve written on because they are available for anyone with access to a computer. I would like to share with you thoughts on the importance on one topic I’ve been writing about since 2004; the People’s Republic of Chin…