Raw Intel

Peru has unveiled an ambitious plan to modernize its armored forces through a long-term partnership with South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem and STX, combining imports and local production of advanced military vehicles. The initiative will replace Peru’s aging fleet of tanks and armored vehicles, most of which date back to the 1970s, and lay the foundation […] The post Peru to locally produce South Korean combat vehicles 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

South Korea’s defense industry is setting its sights on the Middle East as its next major export destination, according to a senior analyst from Korea Investment & Securities. At a seminar hosted Monday in Seoul by Hanwha Asset Management, a firm known for its defense-focused exchange-traded fund PLUS K-Defense, analyst Jung Nam-hyun said the region […] The post South Korea sets sights on Gulf arms market first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea and Malaysia have signed a new defense cooperation agreement aimed at expanding their collaboration in arms development, procurement, and joint production, according to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Monday in Kuala Lumpur by DAPA Minister Seok Jong-gun and Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled […] The post South Korea, Malaysia expand military industry cooperation first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

U.S.-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced a new strategic partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) aimed at accelerating the development of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technologies for U.S. and allied forces. According to a press release, the collaboration will combine the company’s experience in autonomous tactical aircraft—including the XQ-58A Valkyrie, Mako, and Tactical Firejet—with […] The post Kratos taps Korean expertise for next-gen MUM-T aircraft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russia has lost another Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopter, with reports indicating that both crew members were killed in the crash. The incident, which occurred on October 27, was first reported by Militarnyi after analyzing multiple statements from pro-Kremlin military bloggers and unofficial Russian defense channels. Early in the morning, Russian Telegram channels began posting reports […] The post Russia loses another Ka-52 attack helicopter first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

With more news breaking since our BB-in-the-News Substack last week, we might as well start the week on the topic. In case you missed it, in Friday’s WSJ, Lara Seligman and Alexander Ward let us know there is more in the wind than just our friend John Konrad’s pleadings. Senior White House and Navy officials are in early discussions to replace the current mix of warships … The new fleet would comprise a number of large warships outfitted with more powerful long-range missiles, along with smaller ships such as corvettes, the people said. The Navy has 287 ships in its current inventory, mostly destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships and submarines. A new …

TAC Armored Vehicles LLC, a defense manufacturer based in the United Arab Emirates, has introduced a modular anti-drone protection kit for its Jedi armored personnel carrier, drawing directly from battlefield lessons emerging from the war in Ukraine. In a statement, the company said its new “Active Anti-Drone Net” is designed to counter explosive drone attacks […] The post UAE firm equips armored vehicles with anti-drone mesh first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from Commander, Task Force 72 (CTF 72) has joined an Indian Navy P-8I aircraft for a bilateral detachment and training near Diego Garcia and the broader Indian Ocean region from October 22 to 28, 2025. According to the U.S. Navy, the deployment featured joint operations […] The post U.S., India fly joint patrols near Diego Garcia first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian armored warfare specialist Mykola Salamakha says the current state of Ukraine’s and Russia’s tank forces is “roughly the same – grim,” with most frontline tank battalions operating at a fraction of their intended strength due to heavy attrition and drone threats. In an interview with Radio Svoboda, Salamakha explained that operational battalions rarely field […] The post Ukrainian tank units face shortage of combat-ready vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

President Donald Trump has downplayed recent claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a test of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, pointing instead to the proximity and capabilities of American nuclear submarines. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during his trip to Asia, Trump dismissed the relevance of the missile’s long-range performance. “They know […] The post Trump shrugs off Putin’s missile boast first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

How are naval shipbuilding, commercial shipbuilding, and commercial shipping linked together to create a healthy and effective national seapower ecosystem? What did the 1990s “Last Supper” get wrong, and what can be done to correct the error? This Sunday, LIVE from 5-6 pm Eastern, Hunter Stires will be returning to Midrats to discuss this and more. We will be using as a starting point for our discussion the recent article that he co-wrote with Steve Brock at CIMSEC, Maritime Statecraft and its Future. You can listen live at this link. If you are reading this after the show, reload this Substack page later Sunday as the podcast audio will be here. Hunter Stires served as…

Saronic Technologies has announced a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA aimed at accelerating the development of autonomous maritime systems and AI-driven shipbuilding. The partnership was disclosed on Friday in a company statement that outlined joint efforts to integrate NVIDIA’s advanced AI tools and compute platforms into Saronic’s naval technologies. “By combining Saronic’s deep expertise in maritime […] The post Saronic teams with NVIDIA on AI-powered ships first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

At the 2025 Army Presentation event (Présentation de l’armée de Terre 2025), held on October 15 and 16 at the École Militaire in Paris, the French Army’s 40th Artillery Regiment highlighted its evolving capabilities, focusing on new-generation unmanned aerial systems. The event, referred to as PAT25, is a major outreach initiative by the French Army, […] The post French artillery showcases new drones at Paris defense event first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Belgian defense manufacturer FN Herstal has released rare behind-the-scenes photos from its production line, showing the assembly process of its advanced FN DEFENDER Remote Weapon Station (RWS). In a caption shared by FN Herstal, the company stated: “Behind every FN DEFENDER stands the expertise of our production teams. Skilled. Precise. Relentless. Crafted in Herstal. Deployed […] The post FN Herstal highlights remote weapon station production first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) developers are accelerating battlefield innovation through hands-on testing with frontline troops, using feedback from the recent Strike UGV Crash Test to refine their platforms for real combat conditions. Organized by the Snake Island Institute, AB3 TECH, the 3rd Assault Brigade’s NC13 Strike UGV Company, and the 3rd Army Corps, the […] The post Ukraine puts UGVs through battlefield stress test first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russia has conducted a new test of its nuclear-powered cruise missile known as Burevestnik, or SSC-X-9 “Skyfall” in NATO designation, President Vladimir Putin confirmed following a briefing with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. According to Gerasimov, the test took place on October 21 and saw the missile cover 14,000 kilometers over a 15-hour […] The post Russia tests nuclear-powered cruise missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

After a lengthy hiatus, the U.S. Air Force has resumed high-altitude drone reconnaissance missions over the Black Sea, signaling renewed American intelligence-gathering activity in one of Europe’s most tense military zones. On October 25, a massive Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk, operating under the callsign FORTE 10, was observed conducting surveillance operations over the southern […] The post U.S. spy drone returns to Black Sea patrols first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Textron Aviation is promoting its AT-6 Wolverine as a purpose-built aircraft to counter long-range one-way attack drones, such as the Iranian-designed Shahed-136, which have been used extensively in Ukraine, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. These drones, launched in large numbers, have challenged the effectiveness and economics of existing air defense systems. Military forces in both Ukraine […] The post Textron pitches AT-6 Wolverine as drone interceptor first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Turkish defense firm STM Defense Technologies Engineering has delivered its domestically developed Alpagu loitering munition system to Turkish security forces. Known as a fixed-wing “kamikaze drone,” the Alpagu is part of STM’s broader initiative to supply locally engineered UAVs capable of enhancing national defense capabilities through lightweight, precision-guided strike systems. STM General Director Özgür Güleryüz […] The post Turkish forces field new indigenous kamikaze drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article