Raw Intel

Lockheed Martin has secured a $177.5 million contract modification to design and build three new F-35 flight science aircraft — one for each variant of the jet — as the U.S. military moves to prevent a testing capability gap and prepare the program for its next major upgrade block. Naval Air Systems Command awarded the […]View the full article

AimLock and FN America unveiled a joint counter-drone weapon system at SOF Week 2026 in Tampa on May 19, combining AimLock’s artificial intelligence targeting technology with one of the most widely deployed remote weapon stations in the Western military market to create a system capable of detecting, tracking, and automatically calculating firing solutions against small […]View the full article

The U.S. Marine Corps operates the most powerful helicopter in the American military inventory, a machine capable of lifting 16,329 kg (36,000 lb) of cargo externally and hauling 12,247 kg (27,000 lb) of payload to a destination 203 km (110 nautical miles) away under demanding hot and high-altitude conditions. Keeping that helicopter not just flying […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force jet meant to finally retire a training aircraft older than most of the pilots flying it is running years behind schedule, even as the service quietly started shopping for companies to upgrade the replacement before it has fully entered service. The Air Force posted a notice on July 8 seeking companies […]View the full article

A small Israeli defense startup has put a mystery device through a brutal round of real-world stress testing, and the company is being unusually candid about exactly which parts still need work. Erez Defense Solutions, a company based in Hod HaSharon, a city in central Israel roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Tel Aviv, […]View the full article

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $750 million sale of 60 AGT-1500 tank engines to Saudi Arabia, notifying Congress of the deal on September 4. The engines, along with spare parts and years of contractor support, would go toward sustaining Saudi Arabia’s existing fleet of M1 Abrams tanks rather than funding new tank […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy has picked Boeing to build F/A-XX, its first sixth-generation carrier-based strike fighter, choosing the company over Northrop Grumman and awarding a development contract valued at more than $20 billion. The U.S. Department of War announced the award on Sept. 29. The contract covers the full-scale development phase and buys multiple test aircraft […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $332.8 million contract to help its cyber defenders collect, store and analyze network data where it is gathered, so the information can be shared across the military’s common cyber warfare system instead of sitting in separate tools. Enlighten IT Consulting, a Columbia, Maryland-based subsidiary of shipbuilder and defense […]View the full article

Americas Raytheon won a $34.3 million contract, which provides engineering and test support services for the ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) currently in development for the Navy EA-18G aircraft. The scope includes H16/H18/H20/H22 software support for NGJ pod and integration including requirements analysis, design, development, integration, testing, training and tools related to and in support of ALQ-249 and advanced electronic warfare initiatives for Navy and Foreign Military Sales customers. The NGJ is an external jamming pod. The AN/ALQ-249 utilizes the latest digital, software-based, and Active Electronically Scanned Array technologies in order to address advance…

SBX-1, Pearl Harbor (click to view full) As rogue state proliferation by the likes of North Korea made missile defense a growing priority for nations including the USA, Japan, and Israel, the USA began to look at the linchpin of any defense: powerful radars that could both track ballistic missiles, and guide interceptors. The USA has its BMEWS tracking system, but that would not serve. America’s Safeguard ABM system was dismantled long ago – though Russia still maintains its counterpart System A-135 network around Moscow. Something new would be needed. Enter Raytheon’s new XBR radar, based on an SBX-1 platform that looks a lot like a mobile oil drilling rig. Basing the…

Americas Bath Iron Works won a $54.6 million contract modification to exercise options for accomplishment of lead yard support for the DDG 51 class guided missile destroyer program. The DDG 51 class guided missile destroyers are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. The majority of work will take place in Maine. Estimated completion will be by June 2023. Vice Adm. John B. Mustin, chief of US Navy Reserve, told the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Defense subcommittee that the Reserve’s number one equipment priority is to buy the C-130J to replace the aging C-130T. The Reserve now operates 19 C-130Ts and 11 KC-130Ts in five fleet logis…

Americas USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) departed Naval Station Norfolk October 5 for its first deployment. Accompanying the first-in-class aircraft carrier are fighter squadrons VFA-213, VFA-31, VFA-37, and VFA-87. USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188), USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5), and USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) are the rest of the ships that will form the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG). The last F-16 that was assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing has departed Truax Field and the wing will now transition to the F-35. The sendoff ceremony for the aircraft also marks 30 years …

Americas The US Navy awarded Gibbs & Cox a $39.6 million future surface combatant force (LSCF) design and engineering contract. The contract, through February 2024, supports the next-generation guided-missile destroyer (DDG(X))and other emerging ship concepts. It also includes feasibility studies in support of the broader navy fleet. President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Moscow would suspend its participation […]View the full article

Americas Boeing won an $11.6 million modification, which adds scope to provide continued aircraft integration and engineering manufacturing development software development in support of Engineering Change Proposal 6472, integration of Next Generation Jammer on EA-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (90%); Whidbey Island, Washington (8%); and Patuxent River, Maryland (2%), and […]View the full article

Americas Raytheon won a $13.4 million deal to exercise options for design and engineering support services for the Rolling Airframe Missile on January 25, 2024. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona and is expected to be completed by March 2028. The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a lightweight, quick-reaction, fire-and-forget missile system designed for […]View the full article

Americas Canada’s procurement of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) is showing signs of advancement following earlier setbacks. The $406 million purchase, initially announced in January 2023, is now on track for delivery in early 2025, marking a significant step forward in bolstering Ukraine’s defensive arsenal. Defense Minister Bill Blair recently provided an optimistic update on the situation, highlighting that despite initial delays in fund transfer, the procurement process is now moving ahead steadily. The minister emphasized that the four-month lag between the announcement and the execution of funds did not materially impact the overall timelin…

Americas Raytheon won a $117 million modification to exercise an option and provide funding for manufacturing, assembly, test and delivery of Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Tactical All-Up Rounds in support of full rate production requirements. Work is expected to be completed by April 2029. Fiscal 2025 weapons procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $117,066,704 was obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. The US Space Force announced more than $13.5 billion in launch contracts Friday to SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin for missions that will …

It was only a matter of time until there was a serious incident involving Chinese bullying in the South China Sea, but I didn’t have a Red-on-Red on my betting card. “The [Chinese coastguard vessel] CCG 3104, which was chasing the [Philippine coastguard vessel] BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the [Philippine] vessel’s starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] Navy warship,” spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement. “This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel’s forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy,” he said. The incident occurred as the Philippine coastguard escorted boats distributing…

Russia’s National Guard (Rosgvardiya) has been observed operating new armored vehicles manufactured by the UAE-based Streit Group, confirming deliveries of foreign-built platforms to Moscow despite ongoing sanctions and export restrictions. During recent training exercises, Rosgvardiya units fielded multiple Spartan SUT armored vehicles, some of which were fitted with additional protection systems designed to counter drone […] The post Russia receives UAE-made armored vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine’s state-owned defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom announced earlier this week that it has signed a new cooperation agreement with the U.S.-based company LeVanta Tech Inc. The deal focuses on the joint development of “float-and-fly” systems — vehicles capable of operating both on water and in the air. In a statement, Ukroboronprom CEO Herman Smetanin said, “LeVanta […] The post Ukraine could get revolutionary naval drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article