Raw Intel

The U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 (VMFA-542) has returned from a five-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. Operating under CENTCOM’s Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), VMFA-542 flew over 1,099 combat sorties and logged 4,736 mishap-free flight hours, according to the Marine Corps. During the deployment, the […] The post U.S. Marine F-35Bs return after combat missions in Middle East first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Smartshooter has secured a $13-million contract to deliver its SMASH 2000L advanced fire control solutions for the US Army. The devices, also called the SMASH 3000s, are the company’s lightest handheld fire control product and use artificial intelligence, computer vision, and advanced tracking algorithms to assist users, particularly rifle units, in assault operations. It measures 164 millimeters (6 inches) long, weighs 740 grams (1.6 pounds), and is powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery pack for up to 72 hours of assisted shots. Saab has signed a contract to provide the Canadian Armed Forces with the Carl-Gustaf M4 man-portable, multi-role weapon system.…

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Poland of Javelin Missile Systems and related support, a package estimated at $780 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification to Congress on September 18, clearing the way for the deal. According to the agency, Poland has requested 2,506 […] The post Poland cleared to buy 2,500 Javelins first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas As Operation “Midnight Hammer” got underway on Saturday, a group of B-2 bombers took off from their base in Missouri and were noticed heading out toward the Pacific island of Guam, in what experts saw as possible pre-positioning for any U.S. decision to strike Iran. But they were a decoy. The real group of seven bat-winged, B-2 stealth bombers flew east undetected for 18 hours, keeping communications to a minimum, refueling in mid-air, the U.S. military revealed on Sunday. As the bombers neared Iranian airspace, a U.S. submarine launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles. US fighter jets flew as decoys in front of the bombers to sweep for a…

Americas A new layer of AI-powered security is coming to US military bases. Texas-based LINEV Systems is deploying its BV6045 Weapons Detection Scanners to spot concealed guns, explosives, and other contraband before they slip past base security. Using dual-energy X-ray imaging and an automated detection process, the system can flag threats in real time, helping security teams respond faster and more accurately. Sierra Nevada won a $471.5 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost reimbursement terms for production, sustainment, and contractor logistics support of Degraded Visual Environment Pilotage System units …

A Ukrainian drone unit has intercepted and destroyed a modified Russian “Gerbera” unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with optical sensors intended to detect and evade interceptor drones, Militarnyi reported. According to the report, the Russian reconnaissance drone was not only fitted with a downward-facing surveillance camera but also carried two additional optical sensors — one […] The post Russia equips its drones with anti-interceptor sensors first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has showcased ongoing maintenance and overhaul work on the Type 10 main battle tank at its Chitose facility in Hokkaido. The process, known as “overhaul and repair,” is a critical midpoint intervention in the vehicle’s service life, intended to restore the tank to its original performance level after years of intense […] The post Mitsubishi extends life of Type 10 battle tanks first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Air Force, working with Northrop Grumman, successfully completed a full-scale qualification test of the stage-two solid rocket motor for the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 20. The test was conducted by the 717th Test Squadron at Arnold Engineering Development Complex, a key site for high-fidelity propulsion and systems evaluation. The […] The post U.S. Air Force completes Sentinel rocket motor test first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Eycore, a Polish space defense startup specializing in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technologies, has announced an expanded strategic partnership with Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) aimed at delivering sovereign Earth observation capabilities for defense and governmental customers. According to a joint statement released on July 31, the two companies have signed a new Memorandum […] The post Poland’s Eycore teams with Kongsberg on sovereign ISR satellites first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

American Rheinmetall has been awarded an $31 million contract to develop and demonstrate a forward-deployed maintenance and repair capability for Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, supporting both the U.S. Army and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The contract, issued by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, Inc. (NCMS), will fund an 18-month program aimed at closing […]View the full article

China’s People’s Liberation Army on Monday publicly displayed H-6 long-range bombers armed with air-launched cruise missiles during Justice Mission-2025 exercises around Taiwan, according to official imagery and statements released by the PLA Eastern Theater Command. The aircraft shown during the drills were H-6 bombers equipped with two air-to-surface missiles assessed by open-source analysts to be […]View the full article

China and Egypt have agreed to cooperate on the local production of armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), signaling a new stage in bilateral defense ties. The deal was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed today between Egypt’s Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) and China’s NORINCO, officially known as the China North Industries Corporation. According […]View the full article

On September 3, 2025, during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the end of World War II, China’s state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) reported the successful deployment of its laser-based counter-drone systems in central Beijing. The company said in a statement […] The post China unleashes laser defenses over capital first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed development trials of its new-generation Zorawar light tank and will begin user trials in September 2025, DRDO chief Dr. Samir V. Kamat said. The Zorawar, developed jointly by DRDO and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is designed to meet the Indian Army’s requirement for a highly mobile, […] The post India prepares to field new Zorawar light tank first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Amiral Ronarc’h—France’s first Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI)—has departed the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient, heading to its homeport in Brest. According to a statement from the French defense procurement agency, Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), the departure follows the completion of sea trials and signals the beginning of the acceptance phase by […] The post French Navy welcomes new combat frigate first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

China appears set to debut a massive unmanned underwater vehicle during upcoming military parade rehearsals, with photos showing a large black torpedo-like drone being transported on a flatbed platform. The system, which has not been named or publicly described by Chinese authorities, has sparked speculation over its potential role and design. Observers noted that the […] The post China to showcase giant sea drone for first time first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

U.S. Marines and Swedish amphibious troops conducted joint island assault and reconnaissance drills this month as part of Exercise Archipelago Endeavor 2025, reinforcing their interoperability and advancing future littoral combat tactics. According to the U.S. Marine Corps, Marines from Alpha Company, 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, were inserted aboard Swedish CB90 fast […] The post U.S. Marines and Swedes train for island warfare first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Footage broadcast on Chinese state television has revealed new training exercises featuring unmanned ground vehicles armed with rocket launchers. According to observer of Chinese military developments Jesus Roman, the exercises involved an armored infantry squad from the 83rd Group Army, part of the Central Theater Command. The unit conducted semi-urban assault drills using Type 08 […] The post China tests new ground drones with rocket launchers first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Carson Industries Inc. has been awarded a five-year, $31.5 million contract to perform single battery compartment installations for the AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Device (MNVD). The award was announced by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Weapons Support office at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. The contract is structured as an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) agreement, with an ordering […]View the full article

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has deployed its latest JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan to participate in the bilateral air combat exercise Indus Shield Alpha, the service announced via its official channels on Sunday. The exercise, hosted in Azerbaijan, brings together air and ground crews from both nations for an intensive aerial training […] The post Pakistan deploys JF-17 fighter jets to Azerbaijan first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article