Raw Intel

South Korea’s military is quietly preparing for what it sees as a deeply troubling possibility: that North Korea could use a future conflict over Taiwan as an opportunity to attack the South or destabilize the Korean Peninsula while U.S. forces are engaged elsewhere. In a conversation with Defence Blog on condition of anonymity, a senior […] The post South Korea prepares for possible Northern attack during Taiwan war first appeared on Defence Blog.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

Ukrainian long-range strike drones hit targets overnight at the Smolensk Aircraft Plant (SmAZ), Russia’s major producer of air-launched precision-guided munitions. According to Ukrainian defense sources, the attack was carried out by long-range unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The strike reportedly targeted facilities within the Smolensk Aircraft Plant complex, which is operated […] The post Russian missile plant damaged in drone attack first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s defense industry has significantly expanded its armored vehicle output, with one manufacturer confirming record deliveries to frontline units. On September 10, Vladislav Belbas, director of the company Ukrainian Armor, announced that his firm has supplied more than 1,000 Novator armored vehicles to Ukraine’s Defense Forces. […] The post Ukraine ramps up production of armored vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas BAE Systems has entered into a teaming agreement with Norway’s Kongsberg to introduce the Integrated Combat Solution (ICS) to the US military. The ICS is designed to significantly improve the battlefield situational awareness of combat vehicles, thereby increasing the survivability of soldiers on board. It allows the crew to share target information, slew-to-cue commands, and video streams of the surroundings to streamline threat response and decision-making. August Schell Enterprises won a $29 million deal, which procures tool requirements to include software licenses and commercial software applications to construct secure and reliable IT systems to facilitate …

Ukraine has released footage of its F-16 fighter jets in combat, marking the new demonstration of their operational use against Russian missile and drone attacks. The Ukrainian Air Force said the aircraft played a decisive role in intercepting cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles during a large-scale Russian strike on September 20. According to the […] The post Ukraine shows F-16s in combat footage first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will dispatch a team to Kuwait in September to evaluate 38 retired F/A-18 Legacy Hornet fighter jets as part of a possible acquisition program, according to Malaysian defense officials. General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris, the newly appointed Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, confirmed that the U.S. […] The post Malaysia to inspect Kuwait’s retired F/A-18 Hornets first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russia has sharply increased its production of Garpiya-A1 attack drones despite Western sanctions, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and cited by European security officials. The documents show that Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol (IEMZ Kupol), a sanctioned Russian defense manufacturer, boosted its annual output of the Garpiya-A1—Moscow’s domestically produced version of the Shahed-class drone—from 2,000 […] The post Russia ramps up kamikaze drone production with Chinese help first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

If you haven’t had a chance to read the new Chief of Naval Operations’ (CNO) opening comments upon taking the job earlier this week, take a moment to give it a read. We all like bulleted lists, so let me pull this out of the middle By the time my tenure ends, I want to be judged by the results we achieve together, plain and simple. Platforms delivered and repaired on time. Fully manned and combat ready ships. Ordnance production meeting contracted demand. Backlogs in repair parts eliminated. Sailors trained to the highest levels of mastery. I’d like to focus on the second bullet, “Fully manned and combat ready ships“. The CNO’s duties are defined in 10 U.S. Code § 8032 - …

The U.S. Coast Guard is preparing to issue a new procurement contract to Sikorsky for the production of advanced helicopters based on its Jayhawk and Seahawk platforms, potentially reshaping the service’s rotary-wing fleet over the next decade. As reported by CT Insider, the Coast Guard intends to replace its aging Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopters, originally […]View the full article

Americas General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been selected as the Lead Systems Integrator for Project Red 5, a US. Department of Defense initiative aimed at developing advanced autonomous air-to-air capabilities. The $98 million contract will see GA-ASI utilize two MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft systems to prototype full-profile autonomous air-to-air missions. GA-ASI will equip the MQ-20 Avengers with cutting-edge sensors, data links, and mission systems to enable complex air-to-air maneuvers. BlueHalo, a leading provider of counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) solutions, announced a significant milestone in the development of its Freedom Eagle (FE-…

Americas Defense Maritime Solutions won a $16 million contract for the manufacture of 12 main shaft seal assemblies in support of the submarine main propulsion system on Virginia-class submarines. The contract has no options. All work will be performed in Havant, Hampshire, United Kingdom, and is expected to be completed by June 2026. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Sikorsky won a $11 million deal for the procurement of 30 main generators, 54 stators, 58 rotors, 31 power distribution panels, and five generators in support of the CH-53K aircrafts. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connect…

A critical navigation component used in Shahed-series attack drones is now openly available for purchase on a major Chinese e-commerce platform, according to Ukrainian electronic warfare specialist Serhiy Beskrestnov, widely known by his callsign “Serhiy Flesh.” Beskrestnov wrote that a Chinese-made, 11-element anti-jamming antenna — long identified as a core part of the Shahed’s guidance […] The post Shahed drone navigation brain now sells online first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

As the regulars know, my love of the naval gun is unmatched. Not just the ones we should have had. That is why I’ve enjoyed the tempest of the last few weeks about “bringing back battleships” that I fully credit to our friend John Konrad, with a little help recently from President Trump. As for me, in the end I am trending towards a rather cold analysis of the situation. We are well past the point of reactivating the IOWA Class BB for a whole host of reasons. I won’t summarize them here, they are too numerous. I also don’t think we can build new ones, even if there were the money and will to so so. To be blunt, we would first have to build a foundry to make the barrels. N…

Americas The US Navy has introduced a tethered capability to accelerate experiments for tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Called the Tethered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Experimentation Payload System (TULEPS), the solution supports the evaluation of drone software and mission equipment under real-world conditions. Users can attach the machine’s cord directly to a generic UAV airframe without requiring flight authorizations, under all weather conditions, and with various power payloads for endurance trials. The Pentagon’s Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has contracted six small businesses to expedite the construction of Virginia-class submarines. The $5-billion Maritim…

Ukrainian officials have released new details about their ambitious FP-5 Flamingo missile program, confirming that the weapon was conceived, developed, and fielded in less than nine months. According to POLITICO, Iryna Terekh, CEO and Chief Technology Officer of Fire Point, said the rapid development underscores Ukraine’s ability to deliver advanced defense capabilities under wartime conditions. […] The post Ukraine reveals details of new long-range cruise missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Northrop Grumman will collaborate on the US-Japan counter-hypersonic missile system development program. Along with the US Missile Defense Agency, Northrop will team up with the Japanese Ministry of Defense and its industry partners to develop elements of the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI). This stems from the 2023 US-Japan bilateral memorandum of understanding for research, […]View the full article

Americas After years of testing and refinement, the US Air Force’s microvane program is nearing full implementation across it’s C-17 fleet. These small, strategically placed devices are set to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase fuel efficiency by redirecting airflow around the aircraft’s fuselage, proving that even the most mature aircraft designs can be enhanced. Air Force Operational Energy and Air Mobility Command are now in the final stages of evaluating the microvane technology. The microvanes themselves are deceptively simple: small, 3D-printed devices, measuring approximately 4 x 16 inches, and shaped like a thin blade. These are attached to the rear of the C-17’…

The U.S. Air Force’s newest light attack and reconnaissance aircraft, the OA-1K Skyraider II, is undergoing developmental testing at Eglin Air Force Base as part of its path toward operational service within Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). According to the Air Force, the aircraft is being evaluated by the 96th Test Wing in partnership […] The post U.S. Air Force tests new Skyraider II attack aircraft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Russian military has ordered two battalions of the new Sarma mobile precision-guided multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), according to leaked procurement documents obtained by Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi. The 300mm Sarma, developed by Motovilikha Plants and mounted on a KamAZ-63501 8×8 chassis, was officially unveiled earlier this year as part of Russia’s effort to […]View the full article