Raw Intel

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works advanced projects division has introduced its newest unmanned combat aircraft, unveiling an advanced collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) called Vectis, designed to support U.S. and allied air forces in the next generation of air power. According to the company, Vectis is a Group 5 survivable and lethal CCA that brings together Lockheed […] The post Lockheed unveils next-gen unmanned combat aircraft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

United States Marines from the 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, are operating Rheinmetall’s Mission Master Silent Partner autonomous ground vehicles during field operations at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, the service confirmed. The uncrewed systems, supplied by American Rheinmetall, are being integrated into training scenarios to support a range of logistics and casualty evacuation tasks, […]View the full article

On Monday, the Congressional Research Service came out with its latest, Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress. This is worth your time, as we need to get this right. We have to get this right because we have yet to cut steel on a successfully designed surface warship since Ronaldus Magnus was CINC. The same organizations, processes—and in some cases people—that failed on DDG-1000, LCS, CG(X), and are doing their best to scupper FFG-62, are working on DDG(X), so keep a weather eye on the program. I’m trying to be an optimist, but concerns have been growing roots for years. Low-trust is well-deserved. At first read, I thought we …

It has taken a while, mostly because of the memories of their grandfathers, but after years of hard work by people you may never hear of, one of the most powerful, important, and natural alliances in the Pacific is growing closer together—that of Japan, Australia, and the U.S. Senior U.S., Australian and Japanese flag officers agreed today to further enhance logistics interoperability among their maritime forces. Their intent is to enable deeper maritime cooperation among the three nations, building upon their enduring commitment to stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. Official seal of the Department of the Navy. Note: 18 United States Code, Part 1, Chapter 47, Sec…

U.S. fighter jets were scrambled Wednesday to identify and intercept four Russian military aircraft flying near Alaska, according to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). NORAD said that two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and two Su-35 fighter jets entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), an area of international airspace […] The post U.S. fighter jets intercept Russian warplanes near Alaska first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Poland’s Ministry of National Defence has signed a major contract worth more than 2 billion złoty ($550 million) for the delivery of mobile communications nodes to support the second phase of the country’s Wisła air and missile defense program. The agreement, signed on September 24, 2025, at the headquarters of Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności Nr 1 […] The post Poland signs $550M deal for mobile communications nodes first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Minco Technologies of Cookeville, Tennessee, a contract valued at up to $13.6 million to develop a next-generation unmanned aircraft engine designed to dramatically reduce fuel consumption and improve operational flexibility. The project aims to create a modular, fuel-flexible propulsion system that could cut the logistical fuel supply chain by […] The post Pentagon funds $13.6M project to make drones twice as fuel-efficient first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Textron Aviation has secured a contract to deliver seven Beechcraft King Air 260 multi-engine aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. The planes will replace the military’s Beechcraft King Air C-90B fleet that has been operating for flight practice since 2005. The new systems will be provided with a night vision-compatible cockpit, engineer monitoring, digital audio system, specialized wing angle, full-face oxygen masks, and observer, emergency, and passenger seats. The Pentagon’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets may not receive the full, combat-ready version of the TR-3 upgrade this year, Lockheed Martin executives ac…

Ram Professional has announced a new collaboration with Canadian defense manufacturer Roshel to build an updated variant of the Senator armored vehicle using the Ram 5500 Chassis Cab platform. In a statement, the company said, “With the Ram 5500 Chassis Cab’s outstanding payload capacity and exceptional durability, it’s no wonder the military defense vehicle company, […]View the full article

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

The U.S. Army is calling on defense contractors to propose solutions for the development of an extended-range 155mm projectile as part of its Next Generation Rocket Assisted Projectile (NGRAP) program. The request, issued through a sources sought notice by the Army Contracting Command-New Jersey (ACC-NJ), supports efforts led by the Project Manager for Combat Ammunition […] The post U.S. Army looks to expand artillery range first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed that it has completed the relocation of all 17 Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to Saga Camp in Saga Prefecture. The move marks the end of their provisional deployment at Kisarazu Camp in Chiba Prefecture. The redeployment is part of Japan’s ongoing “southwest shift” in force […] The post Japan moves entire Osprey fleet to southwest base first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

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

Americas The US has inked a deal with Italy to expand mutual collaboration in the space security sector. The agreement will strengthen interoperability between the US Space Force (USSF) and the Italian Air Force, bolstering its services and improving on its missions and activities through space security updates. USSF Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman and Italian Air Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Luca Goretti signed the statement in Rome, with the aim to protect and defend the space domain in shared recognition of its relevance to defense and deterrence. Lockheed Martin won a $742.2 million deal for production of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Sys…

Americas Roshel has introduced a new counter-drone version of its Senator vehicle, pairing armored mobility with advanced aerial threat detection to stay ahead of evolving threats. The system, built entirely in Canada, is based on the company’s field-tested Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and now comes fitted with Leonardo’s Falcon Shield, a sophisticated counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS). Able Aerospace Service won a $10,553,162 firm-fixed-price, requirements contract for UH-1N helicopter maintenance. This contract provides repair and overhaul services for the UH-1N helicopter’s main rotor hub assembly. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, and is …

Japan’s Joint Staff confirmed that three Chinese Navy vessels transited eastward through the Osumi Strait into the Pacific Ocean on November 11, continuing Beijing’s regular naval movements near Japanese waters. According to an official release from the Joint Staff of Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) identified a Renhai-class missile destroyer (hull […]View the full article

Italy has been a laggard in defense spending for a while. Although Italy claims, through some accounting tricks, to reach 2% of GDP, in reality, she is at ~1.5%, which still amounts to about $34 billion—right between Poland and Australia. Italy is not a 3rd-tier economy. So, let’s accept that Italy will be Italy. She won’t get to 5% of GDP on defense like some will (Poland for instance). We should give her some credit, and she decides to match the USA at ~3% of GDP. With the numbers we have on our cocktail napkin that would get us another …. $34 billion? A doubling? No, that is too optimistic. We can’t realistically expect that. We are talking about Italy here. We can’t …

Raytheon Missiles and Defense has received a $1.7 billion contract modification to continue production of the U.S. Army’s Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), the Pentagon announced. According to the Department of Defense, the $1,700,200,000 modification to contract W31P4Q-24-C-0024 will support the low-rate initial production of the LTAMDS program. The award raises the […] The post Raytheon to expand production of LTAMDS radars first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Philippines is in talks with South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for additional fighter jet acquisitions, as reported by South China Morning Post on Monday. The discussions come on the heels of the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2025, where KAI showcased its KF-21 Boramae multirole fighter. During the event, held October 19–23 […] The post Philippines looks to buy KF-21 fighter jets first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Elbit Systems has secured a $260 million contract from Airbus Defence and Space to deliver its J-MUSIC Directed Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) system for the German Air Force’s A400M transport aircraft fleet. According to a press release from Elbit Systems, the six-year contract follows a procurement decision by Germany’s Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology […] The post Germany taps Elbit for A400M missile defense deal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article