Raw Intel

A CIA-linked LM-100J Super Hercules operated by Pallas Aviation landed in Caracas on January 10. The aircraft, using callsign WDE08 and tail number N96MG, departed shortly afterward and returned to Puerto Rico. The aircraft belongs to Pallas Aviation, described as a private company that performs “specialized work worldwide that most others refuse.” The company operates […]View the full article

Somalia and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding on military cooperation on Feb. 9, 2026, on the sidelines of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, formalizing expanded defense ties as Mogadishu confronts rising regional pressure linked to Somaliland. Somalia’s Ministry of Defence said the agreement was signed by Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and […]View the full article

The United States Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $610 million contract to Mortenson for the construction of a Domestic New World Screwworm Sterile Insect Production Facility at Moore Airbase in Edinburg, Texas. The award was announced as part of federal contracting activity and involves funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for fiscal […]View the full article

American defense startup XDOWN has introduced a new compact drone aimed at frontline troops, positioning the STUD as a low-cost, rapidly deployable unmanned system built for multiple battlefield roles. Founder and chief executive Alexander Balan unveiled the platform alongside newly released images and footage showing a prototype in testing. In a statement posted with the […]View the full article

Textron Systems and its subsidiary Howe & Howe pulled the wraps off a new unmanned ground vehicle at Modern Day Marine on April 28, 2026 — a wheeled robotic platform built specifically around the Marine Corps’ vision of how autonomous systems should fight alongside its existing armored fleet. The vehicle is called the RIPSAW M1, […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy awarded Science Applications International Corporation, known as SAIC, a $112 million contract modification to continue producing components for the MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo, the primary submarine-launched weapon of the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy. The work covers production of torpedo components, spare parts, production support materials, engineering support, and […]View the full article

Washington has approved Brazil’s request to purchase 100 FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles to enhance the country’s short-range air defense capability, in a transaction valued at $330 million that upgrades South America’s largest military’s ability to protect its own airspace, with the State Department saying the sale would support Brazil’s territorial security and counter narco-terrorist […]View the full article

The Czech Army held a handover ceremony on July 10 at the 73rd Tank Battalion’s base in Přáslavice, a garrison town in the Olomouc region of eastern Czechia, marking the delivery of the final Leopard 2A4 in a fleet that now totals 42 tanks. The Leopard 2A4 is an earlier variant of Germany’s Leopard 2 […]View the full article

A Russian air defense battery that had been launching missiles at Ukrainian cities for days finally went up in flames, and Ukraine’s drone operators are taking credit for putting it there. Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, a dedicated branch of the country’s military built specifically around drone warfare, struck a Russian S-400 Triumf air defense position […]View the full article

Israeli satellite company ImageSat International unveiled a new Earth observation satellite on September 8 designed to capture imagery sharp enough to identify small objects on the ground from orbit, while processing some of that data in space before it ever reaches an analyst. The satellite, called EROS NOVA, will capture imagery at a native resolution […]View the full article

Latvia has signed a contract to buy Czech-made Morana 155 mm wheeled howitzers and rocket artillery systems for its armed forces, in a three-way deal with the Slovak government and Czech manufacturer Tatra Defence Systems, the Latvian Defense Ministry said. The ministry, the Slovak government and Tatra Defence Systems signed the contract on Sept. 30. […]View the full article

The Ottawa Police Service’s tactical unit has added a Roshel Senator armored vehicle fitted with a hydraulic assault ramp that can lift officers to second-floor windows and rooftops in seconds, giving Canada’s capital the same Canadian-built armored vehicle that Ukraine has used in large numbers on the battlefield. U.S. manufacturer Patriot3 announced that its LIBERATOR […]View the full article

Man I miss this guy. When I was in the Army and people asked me what I do, I used to say "I work for Ronald Reagan". He was glinting in the sun today and so I risked the ire of the airport cops to stand in the road and take this shot. He led from the front, and along with the Iron Lady and John Paul II stared down and shut down the Soviets, We could use some of that today. View the full article

Latest updates: Total rises to 68. Replacement required (click to view full) War takes its toll on equipment, as well as men. In some cases, it wears out. In other cases, enemy fire or accidents destroy equipment. The USA has recognized this fact by funding wartime replacement expenditures as supplemental funding, which is outside the normal budgetary process. The intent is that this money will be spent on replacing equipment that has been worn out, damaged or destroyed, or will be used to provide specialized capabilities like MRAP mine-resistant vehicles that are directly related to front-line demands. Admittedly, this hasn’t always been true. Politicians are what …

Americas The Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) carried out a captive carry flight on an F/A-18F on April 22 and the missile was able to communicate with the host aircraft for the first time. This flight is in support of the first live fire test of the AARGM-ER that is scheduled this spring. A series of aerial maneuvers done during the flight validated the compatibility of the missile with the F/A-18E/F. The first two F-15EX fighter planes of the US Air Force are participating in an Alaska training exercise, the Air Force said. Two of the new-model aircraft have been built, and both are elements of the Northern Edge 21 exercise underway un…

Time to pull out the Salamander wargame matrix. When I talk “wargame” I am not talking about something that is done with a board with a bunch of little pieces being moved around, that is a Tactical wargame. No, what I am talking about is a grey-matter wargame at the Operational and Strategic level. For those who don’t follow me on twitter, I outlined how this works a couple of weeks ago, For those not in "the guild" - "Blue" here are the good guys, the "Red" here are the bad guys. I'm only going to do 1 combination and 1 round. I'll define that for you; "1 combo" is how you run Blue vs. Red in the matrix you see here. You simplify Blue & Red in to two Courses of Act…

Americas Continental Maritime of San Diego won an $88 million deal for the execution of the USS Chafee (DDG 90) fiscal 2023 depot modernization period and the USS Momsen (DDG 92) fiscal 2024 depot modernization period. These availabilities will include a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair for both the USS Chafee and USS Momsen. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $204,493,154. Work will be performed in the San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by June 2025. Two aerial porters from the 87th Aerial Port Squadron were impressed when they were allowed to use a pneumatical…

As we ended last week's show with a whole list of topics we wanted to discuss, this Sunday we're going to pick up right where we left off with a Midrats Maritime Melee! From submarines to Australia to the opening of mud season in Ukraine, we'll cover the latest - or at least the more interesting - topics in the national security arena. As with all our free-for-all formats, we have open topic and the switchboard phone line is open. If you have a topic you would like to discussed or want to call in with a question for the hosts ... join us live from 5-6pm Eastern. No guests, no set agenda, just open phones, open minds, and open chat room for those who are with us live Sunda…

Americas Triumph Engine Control Systems won a $49.2 million deal by the US Army for CH-47 Chinook main fuel control overhauls and upgrades. 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 July 31, 2028. Raytheon won a $175 […]View the full article

Americas Raytheon won a $38.2 million order for the procurement of AEGIS modernization kits for Navy guided-missile destroyers and allied nations. This contract combines purchases for the US. Navy; and the governments of Japan and Australia, under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work is expected to be completed by February 2028. Naval Sea Systems […]View the full article