Raw Intel

Sweden has signed a contract to acquire sovereign Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites from ICEYE, establishing a national space-based intelligence capability, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration announced on January 12 in Stockholm. According to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the multi-million, multi-year agreement was formalized by Brigadier General Carl-Fredrik Edström, Director of the Air and […]View the full article

Ukraine’s experts have confirmed that Russia’s new “Oreshnik” intermediate-range missile relies on decades-old components, according to an analysis released by the Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi on January 11. The findings stem from debris recovered after the missile struck Dnipro in November 2024. Militarnyi reported that the discovery came after CNN broadcast a segment showing parts […]View the full article

SummaryIn this conversation, the hosts and Palantir’s Head of Defense Mike Gallagher and Head of Shipbuilding and Naval Programs Matt Babin discuss the integration of AI and advanced manufacturing techniques in shipbuilding, particularly focusing on the role of Palantir’s ShipOS in transforming shipyard operations. They explore the generational gap in expertise within the industry, the importance of optimizing workforce efficiency, and the collaboration between NAVSEA and the Maritime Industrial Base Program. The discussion also touches on legislative support needed for modern shipbuilding and the challenges faced in submarine maintenance and production. You can listen a…

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) deployed robotic quadruped drones during a January 2026 airborne assault exercise conducted by the 1st Airborne Brigade, marking the first time the unit integrated unmanned ground vehicles into its annual new-year descent training. According to the training footage broadcast in Japan, the exercise featured an assault element inserting from two […]View the full article

Türkiye announced on January 10, 2026, that its MKE BORAN 105mm lightweight howitzer has continued expanding its presence in international markets following recent live-fire trials and operational use, according to a newly released press statement from the state-owned defense manufacturer MKE. MKE said the BORAN system, which entered the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory in 2021, […]View the full article

Colombia announced on January 10 that it is launching a COP 6.2 trillion (approximately $1.6 billion) National Anti-Drone Shield, a move taken directly in response to the recent U.S. military strike on Venezuela, the Colombian government said in an official statement. According to the Ministry of Defense, the program creates a nationwide detection and interdiction […]View the full article

Iran issued a direct warning on Sunday that it will strike U.S. military assets, commercial shipping, and Israel if the United States launches any military action during the nationwide anti-government protests gripping the country. The threat was delivered by Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in a televised address. Ghalibaf told lawmakers that “in the […]View the full article

Israel placed its security apparatus on high alert on January 10 after senior officials assessed the possibility of direct U.S. intervention in Iran as nationwide anti-government protests there enter their most volatile stage in years, according to Israeli sources who spoke to Reuters. Three Israeli officials with knowledge of internal security consultations said the alert […]View the full article

Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) has confirmed that Russia used a new jet-powered strike drone, identified as the Geran-5, during combined air attacks at the start of 2026. The announcement, released today, states that Russian forces employed the platform for the first time against targets inside Ukraine. The Geran-5 has a length of around six […]View the full article

Castelion, a California-based defense technology firm founded by former SpaceX engineers, confirmed that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the company’s headquarters this week. According to the company, Hegseth met with engineers working on rapid-production missile technologies designed to restore industrial agility and increase the pace at which U.S. forces can field advanced weapons. During […]View the full article

The United States Commerce Department has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have imposed new restrictions on Chinese-made drones, according to a government notice posted Friday. The reversal ends a months-long review process and comes ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing this April. According to documents published on the federal website, Commerce […]View the full article

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have begun formal discussions to convert a $2 billion Saudi loan into a transaction for JF-17 fighter jets, Reuters reported. The talks center on a broader package valued at $4 billion, including an additional $2 billion allocated for related equipment. Reuters, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, reported that “the total […]View the full article

India is moving toward approving a large-scale purchase of Rafale fighter jets, as New Delhi prepares for French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit next month, according to senior officials familiar with the process. Indian Air Force leaders have submitted a proposal to acquire what the service described as a “substantial” number of new aircraft under a […]View the full article

Multinational naval exercises “Will for Peace 2026” began on January 10 in South Africa’s territorial waters, the Russian Embassy in South Africa confirmed in an official statement. According to the embassy, the drills are taking place from Simon’s Town, the headquarters of the South African Navy. The statement said the exercises involve naval forces from […]View the full article

A CIA-linked LM-100J Super Hercules operated by Pallas Aviation landed in Caracas on January 10. The aircraft, using callsign WDE08 and tail number N96MG, departed shortly afterward and returned to Puerto Rico. The aircraft belongs to Pallas Aviation, described as a private company that performs “specialized work worldwide that most others refuse.” The company operates […]View the full article

France’s Dassault Aviation announced that it delivered 26 Rafale fighter jets in 2025, surpassing its annual plan of 25 aircraft. The company said the deliveries included 15 jets for export customers and 11 for the French Armed Forces. According to Dassault Aviation, the 2025 output exceeds the previous year, when 21 Rafales were delivered — […]View the full article

The United States Air Force formally received its first T-7A Red Hawk on January 9, 2026, during an arrival ceremony hosted by Air Education and Training Command (AETC), marking the start of the service’s transition to a new generation of jet trainer aircraft. The event at Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph marked the first delivery from […]View the full article

Ungoverned, an Australia-founded mobility technology company, has developed a new self-propelled tracked platform designed to move across soft ground, mine-risk areas, and degraded terrain with less pressure than a human footstep. The company disclosed the development in a technical briefing and interview with Defence Blog, outlining the system’s performance characteristics and new field data measured […]View the full article

Russia faces a growing crisis over the state of its navy after prominent military analysts publicly acknowledged that the fleet is incapable of defending Russian-linked oil tankers from foreign interception. The assessment, made by pro-Kremlin analysts and amplified by the military channel Voyennyy Osvedomitel, comes as U.S. forces continue seizing sanctioned vessels around the world. […]View the full article

The last two FbFs, we’ve looked at some of our favorite stories about auxiliary cruisers and armed merchantmen, and I almost added a third this week, but then I saw that it was just 15 months or so ago that I posted the story about the Komoran and HMAS Sydney—so that is too soon for a repeat. However, I recently heard a side story about that last battle that had missed my scan before. It may seem an unusual story for FbF, which is usually a story of incredible ships, crews, or individuals—but it still rings true. I offer for your consideration Able Seaman Thomas Welsby Clark, Royal Australian Navy. Every navy is full of such men. Clark was born in Brisbane on 28 January …