Raw Intel

Russia has sharply accelerated its use of jet-powered attack drones against Ukraine in 2026, with its forces already launching 1,400 such weapons since January, compared to just 180 recorded throughout all of 2025, according to Militarnyi, the Ukrainian defense outlet that reported the figures from a briefing by Colonel Alexander Zaruba, Chief Researcher at Ukraine’s […]View the full article

A torpedo-tube-launched robot built to secretly plant mines from American submarines just got another $14 million push toward becoming operational, as the U.S. Navy exercises new contract options with General Dynamics Mission Systems to keep developing the system. The Navy Sea Systems Command awarded the Massachusetts-based defense contractor a modification worth roughly $13.97 million on […]View the full article

The U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama published a notice on Aug. 4, 2026, announcing its intent to award a sole-source contract, meaning a deal negotiated with only one company rather than opened up to competitive bidding, to Boeing for the production of up to 12 new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, the […]View the full article

New satellite images have surfaced showing China’s largest known stealth drone undergoing testing at a secretive air base in China’s Xinjiang region, according to analysts tracking the program on social media. Aviation researcher Andreas Rupprecht posted on LinkedIn that two new images had leaked showing the aircraft, known unofficially as the WZ-X, at what appears […]View the full article

Ukraine’s F-16 pilots have shot down more than 3,150 Russian aerial targets, including 666 cruise missiles and about 2,500 drones, the commander of Ukraine’s Air Force said during a meeting with Lockheed Martin. Lt. Gen. Anatolii Kryvonozhko gave the figures when a Ukrainian Air Force delegation he led met with representatives of the U.S. company, […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory wants industry to build and fly a combined-cycle rotating detonation rocket engine, a type of propulsion that runs on a continuous chain of explosions, as a step toward cheap, high-speed weapons that could be built in large numbers. The lab’s Rocket Propulsion Division at Edwards Air Force Base, California, […]View the full article

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $4 billion contract modification, which consists of all work associated with the manufacturing, assembly, integration, test, and delivery of three Next Generation Geosynchronous (NGG) Earth orbiting space vehicles (SV), and delivery of ground mission unique software and ground sensor processing software. Additionally, this modification includes engineering support for launch vehicle integration and launch and early on-orbit checkout for all three NGG SVs. The Space Force is acquiring five Next-Gen OPIR (Overhead Persistent Infrared) satellites — the three geosynchronous orbit satellites made by Lockheed Martin and two polar orbit satellites …

Our Navy has a problem, or a series of problems, and everyone knows it. It is a problem of long standing that manifests itself in a variety of ways. Our inability to design warships, or properly maintain the ones we have, is one example. Our shrinking carrier airwings - in aircraft numbers and range - is another. Not unrelated to the issues on the pointy end is the groaning weight of staff bloat and a top-heavy leadership structure. Our self-selected elite - in uniform and out - have failed us. The system and structure that motivates, rewards, and encourages them share the blame, but mostly this is a people problem. As such, the cure will have to come from people. Cong…

Americas The United States intends to test-fire the Patriot air defense missile system in Palau on June 15, the island’s ambassador to Washington D.C. has disclosed. The 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, from Okinawa will be deployed to Palau for this event. The firing is part of Exercise Valiant Shield which will involve Palau and Micronesia for the first time this year. The Patriot unit is to be deployed at Airai, according to Island Times. Laurel Technologies Partnership won an $12 million deal for production of Launch Control Unit (LCU) MK 235 Mod 17 and Mod 18 and associated components in support of the MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). The LCUs a…

Americas The US Air Force has contracted Raytheon Technologies to produce new advanced propellers for its C-130 Hercules aircraft. Valued at $135 million, the agreement will require the company to deliver NP2000 propeller systems, including electronic control systems and spare parts. According to Raytheon, the eight composite-bladed propeller system will improve the performance of the […]View the full article

Americas The Naval Air Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $12.8 million modification, which adds scope to provide for the integration of the handheld imaging tool into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in support of establishing a baseline organic maintainer capability, as well as providing joint technical data, training and services required to allow for […]View the full article

Americas Huntington Ingalls Inc. won a $913,2 million deal for advanced planning and long-lead-time material procurement to prepare and make ready for the accomplishment of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Refueling and Complex Overhaul. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia and is expected to be completed by June 2026. The USS […]View the full article

Americas Lockheed Martin won a modification, which adds scope to provide engineering and program management support as well as test assets, testing, and solution development in support of the F-35 reliability and maintainability improvement program for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2028. This contract action was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Honeywell International won $10,965,150 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order under previously f…

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger says the German defense company anticipates receiving an order from the Bundeswehr later this year for additional Skyranger air defense gun systems worth between six and eight billion euros ($7-9 billion). Speaking during a conference call with analysts, Papperger declined to disclose specific quantities, citing agreements with the German Ministry of […] The post Germany plans to buy 500+ Skyranger air defense systems first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Beretta Defence Technologies UK (BDT UK) has launched its Land Industrial Strategy for Project GRAYBURN, presenting a proposal to replace the British Armed Forces’ aging SA80 rifle. The announcement was made on Wednesday at the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London. According to the strategy, BDT UK aims to create a long-term strategic partnership with the […] The post Beretta proposes UK-based rifle production to replace SA80 first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

North Korea unveiled a new version of its domestically produced Chonma-20 main battle tank during a military parade in Pyongyang, presenting the most modern iteration of its armored vehicle program to date. The tank, known outside the country as the M2020, was first introduced four years ago and has since undergone several rounds of modernization. […] The post North Korea parades new generation of Chonma tanks first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Latvia has delivered the final batch of Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, completing a previously agreed transfer of 42 vehicles. The announcement was confirmed in a statement cited by the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi, referencing remarks by Ukrainian Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal. According to the statement, the latest shipment included 21 armored vehicles. […]View the full article

Shield AI, a California-based defense technology firm, has begun construction on a new unmanned aerial systems (UAS) production facility in Hyderabad, India, as part of a $90 million joint venture with JSW Group. The move aims to bring full-scale local manufacturing of the V-BAT drone to the Indian defense sector under a long-term technology transfer […]View the full article

Israeli Elbit Systems has secured new contracts worth a combined $150 million to supply its Iron Fist Active Protection System for integration on CV90 infantry fighting vehicles operated by European NATO member states, the company confirmed. According to a press release from Elbit Systems, the contracts were awarded by BAE Systems Hägglunds, the producer of […]View the full article

Everyone and every institution has a role to play at a particular time and place. Sometimes it serves as an example to follow; at other times, as a warning to others. Virginia in general, and the Virginia Military Institution (VMI) specifically, are in 2026 firmly in the latter category. For over 20 years we have come back to many Thursdays for DivThu. In times when the forces of sectarianism and division were on the march almost unopposed, and then it times like we have seen since 2022—starting in the courts—where the final pushback arrived with reinforcements. The last year, especially on the military side of the house, we have gone from hope to joy as so much positive …