Raw Intel

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $22.7 million modification to exercise an option for industrial post-delivery availability support for the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Cleveland (LCS 31). Work will be performed in Marinette, Wisconsin, and is expected to be completed by March 2025. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Green Expert […]View the full article

Americas Airbus Defence and Space has recently concluded a successful two-week flight-test campaign for its A400M Roll-on/Roll-off firefighting prototype kit. The campaign, conducted in south-western and central Spain, showcased the prototype’s ability to drop 20,000 liters of retardant, creating high concentration lines over 400 meters long on the ground. Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air […]View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded Dynetics Inc., based in Huntsville, Alabama, a new $264.6 million contract to advance its Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) weapon system, which is designed to counter a growing range of aerial threats including drones, cruise missiles, and rocket attacks on U.S. and allied infrastructure. According to a release from the […] The post US Army awards Dynetics new contract for IFPC air defense system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Kratos Defense & Security Solutions demonstrated a trolley-based launch system for the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial system recently. A Kratos Trolley Launch System (KTLS)-assisted XQ-58A can take off from runways or traditional roads without reducing its payload or the fuel required for conventional retractable launching gear. Bell Textron has completed the first flight of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s modified CH-146 Griffon multirole utility helicopter as part of a 2022 modernization contract. The Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) project is a continuing effort to deliver upgrades for the aircraft, which has been in service since the early 1990s. Th…

Russia is increasingly fielding its Su-57 Felon stealth fighter jets in combat operations against Ukraine, according to multiple sources, including the aviation-focused community “Sonyashnyk,” which is closely linked to Ukrainian military observers. The reports suggest a shift in both the intensity and sophistication of Su-57 employment. Russian forces are reportedly refining armament options and testing […] The post Russia expands use of Su-57 fighter in Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

RQ-4A Global Hawk (click to view full) Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV has established a dominant position in the High Altitude/ Long Endurance UAV market. While they are not cheap, they are uniquely capable. During Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the system flew only 5% of the US Air Force’s high altitude reconnaissance sorties, but […]View the full article

Americas Huntington Ingalls Industries – Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, has received an $81.2 million contract modification from the USNavy. This funding continues previous work to support and maintain several types of Navy ships, including amphibious transport docks (LPD 17), amphibious assault ships (LHD 1 and LHA 6), dock landing ships (LSD 41 and 49), and an amphibious command ship (LCC 19). Most of the work (75%) will take place in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Additional technical support will be provided in Norfolk, Virginia (24%), with very small portions in San Diego, California, and Sasebo, Japan. The project is expected to be completed by May 2026.…

Americas The US Air Force has successfully flown an F-16 fighter jet equipped with a new electronic warfare system designed to counter advanced threats on the modern battlefield. The landmark first flight took place last month at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, marking a significant milestone for the Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) program. IVEWS provides the F-16 with advanced electronic warfare capabilities, including digital radar warning and active jamming capabilities, enabling it to detect, identify, locate, and neutralize potential threats. This sophisticated suite of technologies elevates the F-16 to a “fourth generation plus” status, ensuring i…

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence announced that its special unit “Phantoms” struck Russian aircraft in occupied Crimea on September 21, hitting two Beriev Be-12 amphibious planes and a Mi-8AMTSh-VN helicopter. The operation was carried out with strike drones, marking the first recorded destruction of Be-12 aircraft in history. “On September 21, 2025, in the territory of temporarily […] The post Ukrainian drones destroy Russian Be-12 flying boats first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas The US Army’s Apache helicopter is once again facing public scrutiny after a crash Monday night at a military base in Washington state. A Boeing-made AH-64E attack chopper assigned to the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade plunged to the ground while participating in a routine training exercise, injuring its two pilots. A spokesperson at the […]View the full article

Americas The US Missile Defense Agency has successfully conducted its first flight test of the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) at the Clear Space Force Station in Alaska, around two years after its original schedule. In the Flight Test Other-26a (FTX-26a), the LRDR and the Upgraded Early Warning Radar tracked a live intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) representative target that traveled over 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) off Alaska’s southern coast. Saab has selected Anduril to produce solid rocket motors (SRMs) for the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), a system developed in partnership with Boeing. Anduril’s new solid rocket motor will replace t…

Lockheed Martin has introduced its newest unmanned aerial system, Vectis, at the 2025 ADEX defense exhibition in South Korea. Developed by the company’s Skunk Works advanced projects division, the Vectis platform is intended to operate as part of a Family of Systems alongside fifth-generation aircraft, including the F-35. According to the company, the new drone […] The post Lockheed Martin debuts Vectis combat drone at ADEX 2025 first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The French Army’s 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (35e Régiment d’Artillerie Parachutiste) carried out its first live-fire demonstration with the new PROTEUS counter-drone system at the Canjuers training area on October 18. According to the regiment, it is the first French Army unit to receive PROTEUS systems configured to the latest Standard 1 version. The 4th […] The post French paratroopers test new PROTEUS anti-drone system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

U.S.-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced a new strategic partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) aimed at accelerating the development of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technologies for U.S. and allied forces. According to a press release, the collaboration will combine the company’s experience in autonomous tactical aircraft—including the XQ-58A Valkyrie, Mako, and Tactical Firejet—with […] The post Kratos taps Korean expertise for next-gen MUM-T aircraft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Turkish defense company Uludoğan has completed development of a new nano-class unmanned aerial system, the NanoAlp, designed to deliver close-range reconnaissance in contested environments. With an overall length of just 25 centimeters, the helicopter-type micro drone is scheduled to enter serial production in the third quarter of 2025, the company confirmed. According to Uludoğan, the […] The post Turkish firm develops micro recon drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Germany has officially taken delivery of its first P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing, marking a new phase in the modernization of the German Navy’s long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The handover ceremony took place in Seattle, Washington, and is seen as a milestone in strengthening Germany’s maritime defense posture and NATO’s collective deterrence […] The post Germany receives first P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $19.9 million contract for PATRIOT missile software support services. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2028. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $4,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Airtronics LLC in Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $7,941,037 contract to overhaul UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter modulating valves. The Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, awarded the …

The Department of the Navy awarded an $86.2 million contract to L3Harris Technologies on Jan. 30 for the Precision Attack Strike Munition, a new weapon intended to enhance the lethality and survivability of U.S. Marine Corps rotary-wing aircraft. The Precision Attack Strike Munition, or PASM, will provide Marine Corps AH-1Z attack helicopters with a longer-range, […]View the full article

British unmanned systems developer Evolve Dynamics has introduced a new tethered drone solution designed to deliver continuous, jam-resistant aerial surveillance for up to 48 hours. The new system, called Infinity Tether, is compatible with the company’s Sky Mantis 2 and Wolfe unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and is engineered to provide persistent overwatch, perimeter security, and […] The post UK drone maker introduces jam-resistant surveillance system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas The Mayor of Iwakuni, Yoshihiko Fukuda, has agreed to the US Navy’s deployment of CMV-22 Osprey aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, marking the first stationing of this tilt-rotor variant in his city. The decision aligns with a broader realignment of U.S. military assets in the region, which includes the rotation of aircraft carriers and the introduction of F-35C stealth fighter jets. This deployment will add to the existing Osprey presence in Japan, complementing the Marine Corps’ MV-22s at Futenma air base in Okinawa and the Air Force’s CV-22s operating from Yokota base near Tokyo. Mayor Fukuda’s acceptance comes amid lingering safety concerns surroun…