Raw Intel

A formation of UH-1N Iroquois helicopters flew over Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, in August 2025, underscoring the enduring presence of the Vietnam-era aircraft in one of America’s most sensitive nuclear missions. According to the U.S. Air Force, the UH-1N’s primary missions include airlifting emergency security forces, conducting surveillance of off-base nuclear weapons convoys, […] The post Legendary UH-1s continue to guard America’s nuclear arsenal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Russian Aerospace Forces have taken delivery of a new Il-76MD-90A heavy transport aircraft as part of a broader program to equip the military with high-demand weapons and equipment, according to state media reports on September 2. The Il-76MD-90A is powered by the PS-90A-76 engine, rated at 16 tons of thrust and produced by Rostec’s […] The post Russia takes delivery of new Il-76MD-90A plane first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Japan’s cabinet has approved a record-high defense budget for the next fiscal year, underscoring Tokyo’s push to expand military capabilities amid rising tensions with China and sharp criticism from Beijing over Japan’s space and missile programs. The draft defense budget, approved Friday, exceeds ¥9 trillion ($58 billion), an increase of 9.4% from the current fiscal […]View the full article

X-Bow Systems, a U.S.-based defense technology company specializing in advanced manufactured solid rocket motors, announced an agreement with Astris AI, a Lockheed Martin company, to integrate secure artificial intelligence into its core manufacturing operations. The collaboration makes X-Bow the first defense contractor to adopt the Astris AI Factory platform. The agreement, disclosed by both companies […]View the full article

Shield AI is expanding its presence in Ukraine, where its autonomous systems are being tested under live combat conditions. In a recent message, James Lythgoe, Shield AI’s Ukraine managing director and a former U.K. Royal Marin, outlined the company’s efforts to support Ukrainian forces through on-the-ground operations, combat-driven innovation, and close cooperation with frontline units. […] The post Shield AI expands frontline role in Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Cambodia has begun withdrawing heavy weapons from its border areas with Thailand, marking the start of a joint disarmament plan aimed at reducing tensions following months of military standoff. Cambodian state media released footage showing the removal of rocket artillery and self-propelled guns from designated sites in Preah Vihear Province. According to Cambodian reports, the […]View the full article

The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation a firm-fixed-price contract to supply two new G700 Long Range Command and Control Aircraft (LRCCA), citing the company’s exclusive capability to meet mission and schedule requirements. The contract, authorized under FAR 6.302-1, bypasses open competition due to Gulfstream’s status as the only qualified manufacturer able to […]View the full article

North Korea presented a new multiple launch rocket system during its latest military parade in Pyongyang, a platform that observers say closely resembles the U.S.-made M142 HIMARS. The new system, seen moving through the capital’s streets in convoy formation, has not yet been named, and its performance characteristics remain undisclosed. A column of several new […] The post North Korea builds its own version of HIMARS first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United States Navy has issued a new Sources Sought Notice seeking industry input for low-cost Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems intended for the United States Marine Corps, publishing the request on January 6, 2026, through Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). The announcement invites companies to submit detailed information on commercially available sUAS platforms with First […]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

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…

Indonesia will acquire 42 Chinese-built Chengdu J-10C fighter jets in a deal valued at over $9 billion, marking the country’s first major non-Western aircraft procurement, according to top defense officials in Jakarta. Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin confirmed the move on Wednesday, stating that the aircraft, produced by China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, would soon be flying […] The post Indonesia buys Chinese J-10 fighter jets first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine has publicly revealed a new long-range version of its domestically developed cruise missile, known unofficially as the “Long Neptune.” The missile, with a reported range of 1,000 kilometers, was shown for the first time, Defense Express reported. No official specifications have been released, but earlier statements indicated the missile is designed to strike land-based […] The post Ukraine unveils new long-range cruise missile 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

We’re getting our first full look at Russia’s ‘Shturm’ robotic tank complex. The new combat system was first identified during recent field trials, where it appeared for the first time in its complete configuration—featuring both a remotely operated assault vehicle and a command-and-control vehicle based on a modified T-72 chassis. Developed by Uralvagonzavod for the […] The post Russia tests new robotic assault tank first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Polish Air Force fighter jets intercepted and escorted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on October 28, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces said in an official release. The incident involved a Russian Il-20M reconnaissance plane flying without a filed flight plan and with its transponder turned off, prompting a rapid response […]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

A new prototype aircraft spotted at Hongdu Aviation Industry Group’s facilities in Nanchang has fueled speculation that China is developing a naval variant of an advanced jet trainer modeled after the U.S.-built T-7A Red Hawk. Images and recently published design patents from China’s National Intellectual Property Administration indicate that the new jet, while externally resembling […] The post China develops new carrier-based jet trainer first appeared on Defence Blog.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

Ukraine’s 28th Mechanized Brigade has developed a robotic air defense platform that combines a 4×4 unmanned ground vehicle with a shoulder-fired Igla man-portable air defense system (MANPADS), according to a report from Militarnyi. The short-range air defense unit was developed independently by the brigade’s engineering team and is already credited with a combat success. “It […] The post Ukrainian soldiers develop robotic air defense system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article