Raw Intel

A new version of China’s DF-26 ballistic missile system has been spotted during rehearsals for an upcoming military parade in Beijing. The DF-26, officially known as Dong Feng-26 and designated by NATO as CH-SS-18, is an intermediate-range ballistic missile operated by the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force. It is produced by the China Aerospace Science […] The post China develops new version of “Guam Killer” missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Senior U.S. Army sustainment leaders visited the Powidz Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 (APS-2) site in Poland on August 18 to review logistics capabilities and strengthen cooperation with Polish partners. According to the Army, top leaders from the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade and the 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade conducted a site tour and held discussions […] The post U.S. Army reviews prepositioned stocks in Poland first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Applied Visual Technology won a $28 million firm-fixed-price contract for Targeted Fidelity Apache Tactical Trainer simulators, the Tactical Control Centre, and the Network Simulation Environment. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida; and Kooiweg, Netherlands, with an estimated completion date of September 15, 2026. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. The […]View the full article

Atlanta-based Askari Defense has introduced a new hand-launched interceptor drone built to counter small unmanned aerial systems, bringing forward a compact platform aimed at short-range air defense against low-flying threats. The system, called Rift Alpha, is designed to engage Group 1 and Group 2 drones—categories that typically include small reconnaissance and attack UAVs operating at […]View the full article

U.S. Marines carried out reloading drills with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, on September 3, 2025. The exercise was designed to strengthen their ability to rapidly rearm the system in expeditionary conditions. According to the Marine Corps, the NMESIS is a ground-based offensive anti-ship missile system intended for […] The post U.S. Marines practice NMESIS reloads on Okinawa first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Despite acquiring hundreds of M1 Abrams main battle tanks over the past two years, Poland currently lacks the infrastructure to maintain the fleet’s gas turbine engines—a critical shortfall that defense officials now acknowledge was not fully addressed during the procurement process. In an interview with Gazeta Prawna, Dr. Jacek Goszczyński, Director of Military Aviation Plant […] The post Poland faces Abrams engine maintenance gap first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

As the UK Ministry of Defence prepares to replace its aging SA80 rifle family, Heckler & Koch UK is making the case for its participation in Project Grayburn. In a recent interview with Calibre Defence, company CEO Paul McDonald discussed the firm’s current work supporting the SA80 platform and its readiness to contribute to the […] The post Heckler & Koch pursues British Army rifle contract first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers from the 307th Bomb Wing, based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, arrived in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2025, to take part in Cobra Warrior 2025, a multi-nation air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Air Force. The large-scale exercise, designated CW 25-2, is led by […] The post U.S. sends heavy bombers for NATO drill first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Exercise UNITAS LXV, the 65th iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise, took place along the Pacific coast of South America from September 2nd to 12th. Hosted by Chile, the exercise challenged participating forces with unique terrain, pushing them to adapt and refine their skills in a new environment. The United States showcased its commitment to regional stability and security through a strong presence of Marine Corps and Navy assets, including F/A-18C Hornets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112), a KC-130J Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234), and a US Navy P-8 Poseidon marit…

Americas Lockheed Martin Space won a $109.3 million contract to support the integration of the Trident II (D5) Missile and reentry subsystems into the Common Missile Compartment for the US/UK Columbia/Dreadnought submarine construction programs. Work is expected to be complete by February 28, 2029. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin […]View the full article

The U.S. Army is training with a new class of tactical drone capable of performing both surveillance and strike missions, as part of its push to accelerate small unmanned aircraft systems integration across frontline units. According to imagery from Fort Hood, Texas, soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division conducted drone operations on September 17, 2025, […] The post U.S. Army fields new tactical drone at Fort Hood first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Kalashnikov Concern has delivered a new batch of SV-98 sniper rifles to Russian forces under a 2025 state contract, the company said in a statement this week. The rifles, chambered in 7.62×54R, are widely used in combat operations and were handed over on schedule, the manufacturer noted. According to the company, the SV-98 is equipped […] The post Russia sends new sniper rifles to frontline troops first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Austal Team Trimaran LCS Design (click to enlarge) Exploit simplicity, numbers, the pace of technology development in electronics and robotics, and fast reconfiguration. That was the US Navy’s idea for the low-end backbone of its future surface combatant fleet. Inspired by successful experiments like Denmark’s Standard Flex ships, the US Navy’s $35+ billion “Littoral Combat Ship” program was intended to create a new generation of affordable surface combatants that could operate in dangerous shallow and near-shore environments, while remaining affordable and capable throughout their lifetimes. It hasn’t worked that way. In practice, the Navy hasn’t been able to reconcile w…

China is developing a new generation of armored vehicle technology that uses augmented reality (AR) headsets to enhance crew awareness and combat performance. The systems, linked to external cameras and sensors mounted on tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, provide crews with a real-time, 360-degree view of the battlefield. According to reports, the AR headsets project […] The post China develops AR headsets for tank crews first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Marvin Land Systems won a $14.7 million deal for M1 Abrams tank auxiliary power units. The ordering period end date is September 19, 2024. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2023 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan. […]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

From the better-late-than-never file: after waiting for well over a decade, this is simply the correct call here. U.S. President Donald Trump and Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb will meet on Thursday at the White House to sign a pact for the U.S. Coast Guard to buy up to four icebreaker ships from Finnish shipyards, the White House and Stubb said. … A White House official earlier said Trump would sign a memorandum of understanding with Finland to build four “Arctic security cutters” at shipyards in Finland, calling the plan a national security necessity to permit foreign construction. … The 11 Arctic security cutters - new medium icebreakers to be used by the U.S. Coa…

Americas Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $22.5 million contract change to continue its support for international partners in the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet program. The funding will go toward operating and maintaining special labs used by Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom to reprogram their F-35 systems. This includes providing supplies and on-site technical support. Most of the work (80%) will be done in Eglin, Florida, with the rest (20%) in Fort Worth, Texas. The project is expected to finish by April 2026. The full amount is being funded by the participating countries, not the US Department of Defense. The contract was a…

The Midrats Podcast is BACK LIVE this week with an ever-popular Midrats Melee format. We’ll cover the waterfront from the Pacific to the Caribbean and whatever else pops up in between. We’ll go LIVE at 5 pm Eastern this Sunday. You can join us LIVE at this link. The chat room is always open, so if there are questions you have for Mark and me, or a topic you’d like us to pontificate about…hop in the chat room and join the conversation. If you are reading this after the one-hour show, check back later on Sunday when I’ll update the Substack link with the links to the recorded podcast. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider be…

Dassault Rafale (click for cutaway view) Will Dassault’s fighter become a fashionably late fighter platform that builds on its parent company’s past successes – or just “the late Rafale”? It all began as a 1985 break-away from the multinational consortium that went on to create EADS’ Eurofighter. The French needed a lighter aircraft that was suitable for carrier use, and were reportedly unwilling to cede design authority over the project. As is so often true of French defense procurement policy, the choice came down to paying additional costs for full independence and exact needs, or losing key industrial capabilities by partnering or buying abroad. France has generally o…