Raw Intel

New satellite imagery appears to show a stealthy adaptation of China’s Z-20 medium-lift helicopter, a platform long regarded as a near-clone of the U.S. H-60 Black Hawk. Defense analyst Andreas Rupprecht shared the image on social media, writing: “And maybe another surprise… this is rumoured to be the stealthy Z-20.” The newly surfaced image, which […]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-…

Austrian defense manufacturer Schiebel has introduced two new unmanned air systems — the CAMCOPTER S-101 and S-301 — purpose-built for armed operations. The announcement highlights the company’s push into the tactical strike drone market with dedicated aerial assault platforms designed for modern battlefield demands. In a statement, Schiebel said the new vertical take-off and landing […] The post Schiebel rolls out strike-capable VTOL drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Serbian Armed Forces have been spotted rehearsing with one-way attack drones developed by UAE-based EDGE Group, ahead of the “Unity of Strength” military parade scheduled for September 20 in Belgrade. Footage from the rehearsal reveals the presence of two loitering munitions, the Shadow 50 and Shadow 25, marking the first known public appearance of […] The post Serbia showcases UAE-made kamikaze drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

ImageSat International (ISI), an Israeli provider of space-based intelligence services, has been awarded a $9.1 million contract to supply satellite imagery and tasking services from its EROS-C constellation to a defense customer in Asia. The company announced the agreement on November 10, 2025, describing it as part of a long-term relationship focused on intelligence support […]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 …

Americas MilTrain II JV won an $84,.6 million contract for MQ-9 Aircrew Training Support. This contract provides for all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and all other items and services required to perform and support MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft aircrew academic instruction; courseware development; and air and ground intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance test and training support; and major command certified approaches/supplemental recovery procedures. Work will be performed at Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico; Creech AFB, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and 556 Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nevada; March Ai…

Americas Oshkosh won a $792.4 million modification for a three-year extension to the family of Medium Tactical Vehicles A2 contract. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of February 4, 2029. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. A new satellite antenna from US-based Kymeta can connect to Ku- and Ka-band networks at the same time, highlighting a technical first that could reshape how military platforms stay connected in the field. Until now, operating across two bands typically requires separate antennas, adding wei…

Americas General Dynamics Land Systems was awarded a $21,998,374 modification for Abrams systems technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 15, 2025. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test, and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $21,998,374 were obligated at the time of the award. Army […]View the full article

Russian military-linked Telegram channels have released the first images of what they claim is a new jet-powered glide bomb, marking a rare visual confirmation of a weapon type previously reported in battlefield use but never seen publicly. The release comes amid growing concerns in Ukraine over stand-off munitions targeting critical infrastructure and rear-area positions. For […] The post Russia shows new jet-powered glide bomb 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’…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Iranian-designed Shahed drones now pose a more persistent and unpredictable threat than ballistic missiles, forcing the Armed Forces to use a wide range of countermeasures under increasingly difficult operational conditions. “Shaheds have now become more dangerous in some cases than ballistic missiles,” Zelenskyy said during a press briefing, according to […]View the full article

China has displayed a new long-range hypersonic cruise missile for the first time, unveiling the Changjian-1000, or CJ-1000, during a major military parade in Beijing. The weapon represents a new class of precision-strike capability for the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, designed to penetrate advanced air defense systems. The CJ-1000 is a successor to the […] The post China unveils new hypersonic cruise missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russian sources have released footage showing the operational use of a new interceptor drone known as Lys-2 (Fox-2), a fixed-wing unmanned system designed to engage aerial targets. The footage, circulated on March 24, highlights the drone’s use as a counter-UAS platform with an autonomous target acquisition feature during the final phase of flight. According to […]View the full article

At Defence Blog, we asked armored vehicle expert and lead analyst Serhiy Berezutskiy, an analyst at the Ukrainian Strategic Initiative Center, to share his view on China’s newest tank concept and the future of armored warfare. The Russian-Ukrainian war has convincingly shown that the classical tank paradigm, which has dominated military thought since the Second […] The post Expert: China turns tanks into combat systems first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Collins Aerospace, a company based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has won a contract worth about $80 million to create a new avionics system for the Army’s H-60M helicopters. The new system will use a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), which means it will be easier to upgrade and modify in the future. The contract was awarded by the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. Only one company submitted a bid for this project, which was advertised online. The work is expected to be completed by March 7, 2029. The H-60M is a newer version of the Black Hawk helicopter, used by the Army for various missions. This upgrade will improve the helicopter’s elec…

At this year’s International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce, Polish defense company P.H.U. Lechmar and French firm H2X-Defense introduced a next-generation unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) known as Hermione. The platform, powered by a hydrogen propulsion system, was presented as a technology demonstrator aimed at meeting the evolving logistical and operational needs of modern armed […] The post Polish-French team unveils hydrogen-powered robot first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Armtec Countermeasures Co. won an $11.7 million deal for RR-196 countermeasure chaff for the F-22. This contract provides for the impulse cartridge program and is used by F-22 aircraft for combat and training purposes. Work will be performed in Lillington, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by September 30, 2027. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $500 million deal for program management support related to Medium Altitude Long Endurance Tactical MQ-9 and MQ-1C Special Operations Forces-peculiar modifications in support of US Special Operations …

The Chilean Army has expanded its fleet of South Korean-made Kia Light Tactical Vehicles (KLTVs) with the delivery of a new variant designed for communications operations. The latest transfer adds to Chile’s growing inventory of KLTVs, which have been in service with both the Army and Marine Corps since 2022. According to Chilean Army officials, […] The post Chilean army receives Korean-built KLTV vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article