Raw Intel

The U.S. Army has moved a step closer to fielding its next-generation main battle tank, the Abrams M1E3, by issuing a comprehensive market survey to American industry. The request, released by the Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS) through the federal System for Award Management portal, seeks detailed information on industrial capacity […] The post U.S. Army prepares for next-gen tank production first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Israel’s Elbit Systems Ltd. announced it has been awarded a contract worth approximately $120 million to supply its Hermes 900 unmanned aerial system (UAS) to an international customer for long-range maritime surveillance operations. The company described the deal as part of growing global demand for advanced unmanned capabilities as nations seek to strengthen their intelligence, […] The post Elbit sells Hermes 900 drone to mystery customer first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russia’s Su-57 Felon stealth fighter has been armed with hypersonic weapons, according to a senior military official. Speaking to the state-owned Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, Lieutenant General Alexander Maksimtsev, Chief of the Main Staff and First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, said the fifth-generation Su-57 is now equipped with “modern aviation strike systems and […] The post Russia arms Su-57 fighter with hypersonic weapon first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

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

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has begun testing two foreign-made unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) as part of its effort to enhance unmanned defense capabilities under its ongoing initiative for the “Fundamental Reinforcement of Japan’s Defense Capabilities.” According to an official post published by the JGSDF on October 3, 2025, the service is currently evaluating the […] The post Japanese military evaluates foreign robotic vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Armed Forces of Haiti have taken delivery of new armored vehicles intended to support mobility and security missions as the country continues efforts to counter gang violence and improve territorial stability. According to Haitian military officials, several Senator RAM MRAP armored personnel carriers were handed over on November 8 as part of a government […]View the full article

Americas Teledyne FLIR Defense’s Black Hornet 4 drone has been approved for the US military’s Blue UAS List after meeting cybersecurity requirements under the National Defense Authorization Act and passing verification by the Defense Innovation Unit. The listing grants Authority to Operate and allows government agencies to deploy the system for official use. Middle East & Africa There is speculation that Iran might retaliate for the US’s strikes on its nuclear facilities by closing the world’s busiest oil shipping channel, the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, and its most vital oil transit choke point. Bounde…

BAE Systems Land & Armaments, York, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $12,2 million contract modification to support ongoing Bradley A4 production for the U.S. Army. According to the Department of Defense announcement, the modification (P00001) to contract W912CH-25-F-0096 brings the total cumulative value of the contract to $668,442,599. The Army Contracting Command at Detroit Arsenal, […] The post U.S. Army extends Bradley A4 production first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) confirmed on January 20, 2026, that it has taken delivery of a newly developed small unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) designed for underwater defense missions. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Defense’s JMSDF public affairs office, which stated that the domestically developed UUV has now been formally inducted into […]View the full article

Americas The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) demonstrated the first at-sea refueling of the No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program. A pair of unmanned surface vessels (USV) — the Ranger and the Mariner — demonstrated the task originally designed for the program’s Defiant USV. A long-endurance NOMARS USV is intended to be designed from the ground up without the necessity for humans on board. Bollinger Shipyards has started the construction of the US Coast Guard’s initial vessel planned under the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program. The PSC effort will replace the service’s aging ships deployed for national, maritime, commercial, and economic securit…

Russian forces are converting Chinese-made all-terrain vehicles into remotely operated battlefield systems, including cable-laying platforms and logistics carriers, as they seek to reduce troop exposure and adapt commercial technology for use in the war against Ukraine. Troops from the 36th Guards Combined Arms Army of the “Vostok” grouping are now fielding a remote-controlled fiber-optic cable-laying […] The post Russia converts Chinese “golf carts” into battlefield robots first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Air Force has showcased a new HQ-16 surrogate target vehicle, designed to support advanced pilot training against modern air defense threats. The mock system was displayed publicly for the first time during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual AirVenture event at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The HQ-16, known by its NATO designation […] The post U.S. trains pilots using HQ-16 SAM replica first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United States Navy has awarded Pratt & Whitney a contract worth up to $1.6 billion to sustain the F135 propulsion system used across all variants of the F-35 fighter jet. The undefinitized contract covers a broad range of support activities through November 2026, including global maintenance, spare parts, software updates, and depot repair for […]View the full article

A top-secret US government body called the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched a new solicitation seeking proposals for a high-rate, energy-efficient method of producing nitric acid directly from air and water. The initiative, known as the High-Efficiency Nitrogen Oxidation, or HNO3 program, is aimed at protecting critical U.S. defense-industrial supply chains and […]View the full article

China’s hypersonic ambitions are taking shape in new ways as Lingkong Tianxing Aerospace marked its seventh anniversary with a promotional video highlighting several of its ongoing advanced projects — including next-generation hypersonic missiles and a high-speed aircraft designed to operate in near-space. The video, shared this week by the company, includes multiple glimpses of prototype […] The post China moves closer to operational hypersonic capability first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A U.S. Army intelligence aircraft was tracked flying over the Black Sea on Sunday, conducting a surveillance mission in support of U.S. defense operations, according to publicly available flight data. Data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft, operating under the call sign BRIO66, flying racetrack patterns off the coast of Romania near Constanța before heading southeast […]View the full article

Epirus unveiled a new high-power microwave counter-drone system mounted on a tracked robotic vehicle ahead of its formal debut at AUSA in Washington, the company said, presenting the combination as a mobile, software-defined option for defending bases and forces against swarming drones. “Introducing Leonidas Autonomous Robotic, powered by GDLS TRX: a mobile counter-UAS capability featuring […] The post Epirus unveils robotic Leonidas microwave weapon first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Sikorsky won a $13 million deal for the procurement of nine input module gearboxes in support of the CH-53K aircrafts. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut. This contract contains no options, and work is expected to be completed by December 2028. This announcement involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) from Israel. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace is building a new missile production facility in the US to cater to rising global demand amid conflicts in Eastern Europe and West Asia. The state-of-the-art facility in James City County, Virginia…

Americas Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $214-million contract for the continued upgrade of M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) into the latest A2 configuration. Work will take place in Texas and Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of December 30, 2030. Apart from the US Army, the upgrade has been funded by the UK, Finland, and Italy. The US Army wants to upgrade 225 existing M270A1 and 160 decommissioned M270A0 launchers to the A2 standard, extending their service life for another 30 years. Dragoon Technology has selected Teledyne FLIR OEM’s Prism Supervisor and Prism SKR software for its long-range unmanned platform prototypes. The software will suppor…

Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has unveiled new images showing domestic tests of the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP), a next-generation hypersonic weapon being developed for island defense. The photos, presented by ATLA’s Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Development Section under the Joint Systems Development Division, show the missile’s transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) system in a range […]View the full article