Raw Intel

AM General has introduced the next-generation version of its Hawkeye 105mm Mobile Howitzer System at AUSA 2025, showcasing a newly redesigned artillery platform that reflects direct combat lessons from Ukraine and advances in lightweight fire support mobility. The updated Hawkeye system integrates a restyled tactical truck chassis with a new powertrain and improved architecture, offering […] The post Combat-tested Hawkeye gets new look at AUSA 2025 first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, arrived at the Port of Ponce in Puerto Rico during the morning hours of November 8, 2025. The ship was seen mooring at Muelle de Ponce between 7:39 and 7:59 a.m., according to local observation of the vessel’s movement. The USS Fort Lauderdale is […]View the full article

South Korea has finalized a new production contract for its K600 Rhino obstacle-clearing combat engineering tank, marking the first time the vehicle will be supplied directly to frontline Army units and the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. According to an announcement carried by Yonhap News, Hyundai Rotem said on December 9 that it signed a […]View the full article

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have begun formal discussions to convert a $2 billion Saudi loan into a transaction for JF-17 fighter jets, Reuters reported. The talks center on a broader package valued at $4 billion, including an additional $2 billion allocated for related equipment. Reuters, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, reported that “the total […]View the full article

Armenia’s Ministry of Defense on Saturday publicly displayed newly acquired weapons procured under contracts with India’s defense industry, unveiling air defense systems, rocket artillery, tube artillery, and unmanned platforms during an official demonstration in Armenia. According to reporting by Militarnyi, the showcase included Indian-made Akash-1S medium-range surface-to-air missile systems, Pinaka multiple launch rocket systems, and […]View the full article

The United States Navy said early Friday that it has sunk more than 30 Iranian naval vessels since the beginning of its ongoing maritime campaign against Iran’s fleet. U.S. officials also confirmed that a large Iranian drone carrier operating at sea was struck late Thursday and left burning following the attack. The announcement comes as […]View the full article

Wreckage found near the city of Saveh in central Iran does not belong to a downed U.S. Air Force F-16, despite claims aired by Iranian television. The debris appears to be from an Iranian liquid-fueled ballistic missile, likely a Ghadr or Emad, that crashed after a malfunction. Images from the site show a large cylindrical […]View the full article

It is well past time that we had a frigate SITREP, specifically the gray-hulled version of the Legend-class Cutter we are going to build for our Navy. No reason to rehash my concerns and assumptions—click the frigate hypertext above if you need to catch up, but…let me just say…though I’m glad she’s on the way and we’ll find good use for her, I hope Flight I is a short run. I know hope is not a plan, but back in December, I had this little bit of hope: I suspect that already there is work being done on a Flight II, which will incorporate the multi-mission capability of the patrol frigate proposed over a dozen years ago … While looking over the FY27 budget request, it appea…

Monocrystal, once one of the world’s three largest producers of synthetic sapphire and a supplier of optical components used in Russian missiles and drones, has notified creditors of its intention to file for bankruptcy with the Arbitration Court of Russia’s Stavropol Krai, The Moscow Times reported. The collapse of the Stavropol-based manufacturer, a subsidiary of […]View the full article

The shoulder-fired missile that Ukrainian soldiers have used to destroy hundreds of Russian tanks is about to become the subject of one of the most significant American weapons procurement planning exercises in years, as the U.S. Army Contracting Command issued a sources sought notice on June 15, 2026, asking defense manufacturers to identify whether they […]View the full article

The Pentagon just opened the door for private companies to pitch prototype hypersonic weapons capable of flying more than five times the speed of sound, releasing a formal Request for Solutions on July 9 that gives industry until August 10 to respond. The opportunity, titled Next Generation Hypersonics for the Department of War, runs through […]View the full article

A small Indian defense company has built a weapon that looks like it walked straight off a battlefield in Ukraine, a portable, gun-shaped launcher that fires its own miniature drone to physically hunt down and destroy enemy aircraft in midair. Picraft Technology Pvt. Ltd., a private Indian defense technology company, developed the system, called Harpy […]View the full article

Axon Vision has received its first order for ForceField, an AI-powered counter-drone system it launched in July, with an Israeli defense organization placing a deal worth up to roughly 15 million shekels ($5.0 million), the company announced September 7. The order includes an initial payment of about 6 million shekels ($2.0 million), with the customer […]View the full article

Exciting news, well at least to me, of the growing presence of Japan in the security environment in the Western Pacific. It looks like one area she might be selling aircraft and related services will be in Vietnam of all places. I barely contain my joy over at USNIBlog. Come on by for the details! View the full article

See that beautiful bird on the right? That was the late-great Pershing II of the Reagan Era that helped the Soviet Union fall apart. It was exceptionally good for a nuclear weapon delivery vehicle with a very impressive accuracy. As it was nuclear only and we made agreements with an empire that eventually went away - we let that capability go. The Chinese and others have not. They have hundreds of conventional short/intermediate/medium range ballistic missiles in their inventory ready to go. We have ... well ... pictures. In the four decades since we decommissioned the Pershing II, a lot has happened. The Communist Chinese have - with our willing help - risen to challe…

Last week, you may have noticed this little jewel come across your scan; China is working with the tiny Pacific island state of Kiribati to explore the feasibility of improving an airstrip on one of its remote islands, China’s foreign ministry said late Friday. Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing Kiribati lawmakers, that China has drawn up plans to upgrade an airstrip and bridge on the tiny island of Kanton (also spelled Canton), a coral atoll strategically located midway between Asia and the Americas. This is just part of a pattern of China using a combination of economic promise to the poor, a little graft to grease the skids, and you have all sorts of acces…

No, not your liberty stories ... but the front line nations facing China that aren't all that concerned, directly, about the crisis in Kabul. Taiwan and Japan ... tiny step by tiny step ... are getting closer. A few updates over at USNIBlog. Come by and give it a read. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=lUHZfGepKDA:qOcc32tVzFc:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=lUHZfGepKDA:qOcc32tVzFc:-BTjWOF_DHI http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=lUHZfGepKDA:qOcc32tVzFc:V_sGLiPBpWU http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs…

Americas According to Bloomberg News, a Pentagon testing report dated September 28 for the VH-92A Marine One helicopter says the helicopter is not effective for “contingency operation mission,” which means the rotor craft cannot be used during an emergency. For administrative missions, the helicopter is still operational effective, the internal memo said. The Canadian government informed Boeing that its Super Hornet does not meet the country’s requirements for the fighter competition to replace the F/A-18 legacy Hornet. Three anonymous sources said that the American aerospace company was informed of the decision on November 24. Middle East & Africa NATO’s Operation …

Americas The US Air Force has selected Leidos Inc. to develop a $26 million prototype advanced high power microwave (HPM) weapon system to counter drones. “The new prototype will be called Mjölnir, the mythical Norse God Thor’s mighty hammer,” said Adrian Lucero, THOR program manager at AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. “Because THOR was so successful, we wanted to keep the new system’s name in the family.” Mjölnir is based on technology from the Tactical High-Power Operational Responder (THOR) program but with significant improvement in capabilities, reliability, and manufacturing capabilities. Leidos will deliver the prototype next year. G…

No well meaning, honest person can say that it is bad to desire a color blind society, to want everyone to be treated equally relative to immutable characteristics, or to be judged by the content of their character - and then tell you they oppose racism. No one who desire a free nation should want to compel speech to squash debate ... but here we are. The absolute worst people in public discourse cannot argue their position, cannot stand for their policies to see the light of day ... so they will instead strive to destroy any voice that runs counter to their own. Weak people with weak ideas are always the most vicious. Congrats, you are a racist...in Canada. The Canad…