Raw Intel

Russia has begun equipping its 152 mm 2S19M2 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers with improvised protective cages and electronic warfare antennas in an effort to extend the battlefield survivability of its artillery. The modifications were observed on howitzers deployed by the “Center” grouping of forces in the Pokrovsk direction. Images circulating from the front show the howitzers […] The post Russia equips new 2S19M2 howitzers with cages and EW gear first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas In an effort to attract US customers, Anduril Industries recently showcased the capabilities of its Dive Extra-Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) off the coast of California. The autonomous submarine reportedly completed a 100-hour single voyage — the “longest for a vehicle of this class.” While the company views it as a significant milestone, it emphasized that this achievement is just a precursor to an upcoming demonstration, where the Dive-XL will attempt to complete a 1,000-nautical-mile (1,852-kilometer) mission in a single trip. Northrop Grumman has secured a contract to integrate advanced tactical data links into the US Marine Corps’ F/A-18 Super H…

Americas Alabama Shipyard won a $22 million deal for a 123-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry docking of the Military Sealift Command’s dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2). This contract includes a base period and options, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $22,163,078. Work will […]View the full article

Russia will equip a new batch of T-90M main battle tanks with the Arena-M active protection system featuring an “anti-drone” mode, a Russian Defense Ministry officer said during a broadcast on Russia‑24. The officer said work on updating the Arena-M software was completed in 2025, adding a dedicated sub-mode designed to intercept drones as they […]View the full article

A rare U.S. Air Force RQ-170 “Sentinel” stealth surveillance drone was spotted returning on Saturday morning to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in eastern Puerto Rico, following U.S. military strikes conducted overnight against targets in Venezuela. Video circulating on social media shows the flying-wing aircraft on approach and landing at the naval air station, now used […]View the full article

Americas Anduril has clinched a $642-million contract to supply counter-drone technology for the US Marine Corps (USMC). Under the 10-year deal, the defense tech company will install, deliver, and sustain installation-counter small unmanned aircraft systems and related services to USMC bases worldwide starting this year through 2035. The California-based firm bested nine other unnamed competitors in the solicitation issued in February last year. It is expected to provide a network of defenses to detect, track, identify, and defeat small drones and other threats against USMC installations and personnel. The US Air Force 53rd Test and Evaluation Group’s Detachment 3 recentl…

China’s Eastern Theater Command Navy has conducted a series of realistic combat exercises involving coastal defense missile forces, focusing on rapid deployment, strike coordination, and multi-layered air defense against unmanned aerial threats. The drills, held in unfamiliar terrain, were designed to test and improve the unit’s battlefield adaptability under high-tempo conditions. According to Chinese military […] The post China conducts coastal strike drills in eastern theater first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas AAR Government Services won an $87.4 million modification, which exercises an option to provide P-8A Poseidon aircraft depot scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, depot in-service repair/planner and estimator requirements, technical directive incorporation, airframe modifications, aircraft on ground support, and removal and replacement of engines in support of the Navy, the government of Australia, and Foreign […]View the full article

Americas According to Jane’s, the littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Charleston (LCS 18) completed the first set of overseas mine-countermeasures (MCM) training missions during a 26-month forward deployment in the Western Pacific. The LCS MCM mission package and AN/AQS-20 sonar mine detection sets achieved initial operational capability (IOC). Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, is the service’s top […]View the full article

Americas Northrop Grumman won a $10.7 million contract, which procures a lifetime quantity of 4-inch silicon carbide transistor wafers. The end-of- life buy is required to maintain production, spares, and repairs for the APY-9 RADAR’s primary power supply, power amplifier module in support of the E-2D aircraft. Work will be performed in Durham, North Carolina (90%); and Baltimore, Maryland (10%), and is expected to be completed in February 2027. Fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,768,532 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was not competitively procured. Naval…

I think it is more than reasonable to be mad, frustrated, angry, or sad at this sad end, at least for now, to a story no one wants to hear. Via Salvador Rizzo over at WaPo. Retired Adm. Robert P. Burke, who was convicted of corruption offenses after a four-decade military career in which he rose to become the Navy’s second-highest-ranking officer, was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison, days after the trial of the tech executives who were accused of bribing him ended with a hung jury. Burke served as vice chief of naval operations from 2019 to 2020, overseeing personnel, training and education for the branch’s nearly 400,000 uniformed members. The Portage, Michigan,…

Americas Airbus US Space & Defense Inc., Arlington, Virginia won a $315,043,393 modification for UH-72 Lakota contractor logistics support and engineering services. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2025. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $85,621,324 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. The US Navy has declared initial operational capability (IOC) for the Next-Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system, taking a major step in providing the E/A-18 Growler an edge in electromagnetic spectru…

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $92 million modification for AEGIS combat system configurations. This contract combines purchases for the governments of Japan, South Korea and Australia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by December 2025. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. L-3 Harris Technologies won an $8.8 million for the procurement of spares for the MK 20 Electro-Optical Sensor System (EOSS), MK 46 Optical Sight System (OSS), and associated the MK 48 and MK 34 Gun Weapon Systems. Work will be performed in Northampton, Massachusetts; Orland…

The French defense procurement agency, Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), has conducted a new series of trials aimed at validating software upgrades to the MURIN battlefield surveillance radar developed by Thales. According to a public release by DGA, the testing campaign took place at the DGA Maîtrise de l’information test center and utilized the mobile […] The post French military tests upgraded Murin radar first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Pentagon’s No.1 weapons supplier Lockheed Martinis rapidly expanding production of some of the most critical missile and launcher systems in the U.S. arsenal — from PAC-3 and GMLRS to HIMARS, Javelin, PrSM, and JASSM/LRASM — as demand for precision strike capabilities grows amid rising global security challenges. The company said the scaling effort reflects both […] The post U.S. missile production surges as Lockheed ramps up for future wars first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas A Utah National Guard AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter involved in a landing exercise crashed at the South Valley Regional Airport on Monday, February 12, at approximately 1:20 PM. While both pilots (one is from the 419th Fighter Wing) onboard sustained injuries, they are reported to be in stable condition. No other casualties were reported. […]View the full article

Americas The US Army is developing a new off-road, high-speed unmanned ground vehicle prototype for urban reconnaissance and natural disaster relief missions. Called the “Deep Orange 14,” the robotic vehicle will be produced in collaboration with South Carolina-based research institution, Clemson University. According to the university, the prototype will be able to navigate through unknown and […]View the full article

Americas India’s Cochin Shipyard Limited has signed a maintenance and repair agreement with the US Navy. The third Master Shipyard Repair Agreement with an Indian company follows agreements with Larsen & Toubro in 2023 for Mazagon Dock and Kattupalli Port. The US Navy’s effort to expand maintenance and repair centers in the Indo-Pacific stems from the […]View the full article

Russia has introduced a new tactic in its drone campaign against Ukraine, using modified Shahed kamikaze drones equipped with cameras to attack a moving train. According to footage released by Russia’s Ministry of Defense, several Shahed drones were launched at a train in motion. The first struck the locomotive, immobilizing the entire convoy, after which […] The post Shahed drones with cameras target moving train in Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Germany’s Bundestag Budget Committee has approved a multi-project defense package to equip the Bundeswehr’s Special Forces with new air-transportable light combat vehicles, mid-range operational boats, and high-frequency radios. The acquisitions aim to strengthen the mobility, communication, and maritime capability of Germany’s elite units, according to hartpunkt. Both the Budget Committee and the Defense Committee endorsed […] The post Germany approves new FTS/IAI ZD vehicles for Special Forces first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article