Raw Intel

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

As a kid, I grew up hearing about he exploits of the Wild Weasels from the Vietnam War. If you’re not familiar with their origin story, “First in, Last Out” is superb. From F-100s to F-105s to F-4s and now F-16s, they are still making the magic happen, giving the USA a capability unmatched by other nations. They’re still leading the way. In case you missed it, a great story from the strikes in Yemen. Parks, while commanding the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, was serving as the mission commander for a force package consisting of 21 strike aircraft while simultaneously leading four F-16 Fighting Falcons conducting Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses. Parks intentionall…

This is a very serious exchange, even discounting for the expected dramatic heavy breathing from the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China’s Permanent Mission to the UN @Chinamission2un sent a second letter to the UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres to reiterate China’s position on Japanese PM Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan. The letter once again expresses China’s strong opposition to the Japanese side’s wrongful moves, such as implying use of force against China, disrespect for UN Charter and international legal instruments and pushing military buildup—all of which signal the Japanese side’s desire to challenge the postwar internationa…

Poland has delivered the first batch of domestically produced Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to its military, with 15 units handed over to the 15th Mechanized Brigade. According to Defence24, the delivery is part of a contract signed in March 2025 for the production of 111 Borsuk IFVs. The agreement also includes training and logistics […]View the full article

Ukraine’s intelligence service has carried out another attack against Russian military aviation in occupied Crimea, targeting a MiG‑29 fighter jet and a radar installation during an overnight operation. According to the Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi, an armed Ukrainian drone struck a MiG‑29 stationed at the Kacha airfield near Sevastopol. The operation was conducted by the […]View the full article

South Korea has officially launched a 435.9 billion-won ($296 million) project to develop indigenous short-range air-to-air guided missiles for its domestically produced KF-21 fighter jets. According to a statement from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the missile development initiative is scheduled for completion by 2032. The effort aims to provide the KF-21 with domestically […]View the full article

South Korea has finalized its national defense budget for 2026 at KRW 65.8642 trillion (approximately $44.7 billion), representing a 7.5% increase over the 2025 allocation, the Ministry of National Defense said on December 3. Although the original budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly anticipated an 8.2% increase, lawmakers reduced the final figure by KRW […]View the full article

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has confirmed it will acquire 36 Rui Yuan II drones under a newly authorized special defense budget totaling NT$12.6 billion (approx. USD $402 million). The procurement is scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2029, with the platforms intended to support long-range surveillance, electronic intelligence, and maritime reconnaissance missions. The […]View the full article

The Australian Army has successfully conducted its first live-fire exercise of the AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzer, a next-generation artillery system based on South Korea’s K9 Thunder platform but customized for Australian battlefield needs. According to a release from the Australian Department of Defense on December 3, “This was the first time the new AS9 […]View the full article

Hanwha Aerospace has become the first South Korean defense company to officially own its own weapons systems, following a landmark change in national arms export regulations. According to a statement from the company, Hanwha held a rollout ceremony for a K9A1 self-propelled howitzer at its Changwon Plant 3 facility on December 2, intended for research, […]View the full article

SummaryIn this episode, Sal discusses various pressing topics including the ongoing drug war, military operations, the situation in Ukraine, and the recent controversy surrounding the Pentagon press pool. He expresses gratitude to his subscribers and reflects on the complexities of military decisions, the implications of the war in Ukraine, and the impo… Read more View the full article

First of all, as we do, let’s go to the chart room to look at one of the most geographically perfect places on this planet to have shipyards and naval bases: San Francisco Bay. As our nation faces again a challenge in the Pacific that necessitates an increased basing requirement on our West Coast, it is only natural we would look first at where nature provided us such a blessing. From top to bottom, San Francisco Bay used to be covered thickly with naval bases, shipyards and everything else you would expect from a world dominating naval power. However due to a political climate hostile to both the military and industry, grasping developers, and the domination of green-eye…

Germany has received its first Arrow 3 missile defense systems from Israel, making it the first country outside Israel to deploy the advanced anti-ballistic weapon. The delivery marks a major step in Germany’s missile defense posture as the country expands its role in European and NATO security. The Arrow 3, jointly developed by Israel Aerospace […]View the full article

The U.S. Southern Command has reported that U.S. Marine Corps forces recently conducted an air-to-air missile exercise in the Caribbean Sea, using an AH-1Z Viper helicopter armed with an AIM-9 Sidewinder. The live-fire training occurred on November 25, 2025, and was publicly announced by the command on December 3. According to the announcement, the helicopter […]View the full article

The Australian government is reviewing a Ukrainian request to transfer retired Tiger attack helicopters as it prepares a new round of defense aid to support Kyiv’s ongoing war with Russia. According to a report from ABC News Australia, the potential transfer of European-built Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters comes as Canberra finalizes an additional military support […]View the full article

Japan is moving forward with live trials of its new 100-kilowatt-class laser weapon system aboard a military test ship. The high-energy laser was recently installed on the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) testbed vessel Asuka and is now being readied for sea-based testing at Japan Marine United’s shipyard. The newly fitted laser system—developed by the […]View the full article

The U.S. military has activated its first one-way-attack drone squadron under a new task force based in the Middle East, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on December 3. The move comes four months after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered an accelerated push to field affordable unmanned systems capable of delivering decisive effects in contested […]View the full article

Electra announced on December 3 the creation of “Electra Defense,” a new business unit aimed at advancing the company’s work with the U.S. military through the development of the EL9, a hybrid-electric aircraft with ultra-short takeoff and landing (ultra-STOL) capabilities. The EL9 is a nine-passenger fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate from spaces as short as […]View the full article

U.S.-based defense technology firm CX2 has introduced Wraith, a lightweight airborne electronic warfare (EW) platform designed to detect, geolocate, and track jammers, radars, and other RF emitters in high-threat, GPS-denied environments. According to a statement from CX2, Wraith is “purpose-built to weaponize the RF spectrum for forward elements in contested environments.” The company describes the […]View the full article

Renegade UxS has confirmed that its Nightmare FPV drone platform is now officially listed on the U.S. government’s BLUE UAS Cleared List, making it available for use by American military units under the Department of War’s procurement frameworks. According to a company statement, the Nightmare FPV is available in both analog and digital configurations and […]View the full article