Raw Intel

The Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday published footage claiming a successful drone strike on a Ukrainian An-26 transport aircraft parked at an airfield in Mykolaiv, far from the active front line. According to the released video, the aircraft was hit directly on the apron at an airfield approximately 80 kilometers from the line of contact. […]View the full article

The United Kingdom and Germany have signed a £52 million ($70 million) contract to jointly procure a new mobile artillery system capable of firing while on the move, the two governments confirmed this week. Under the agreement, the UK will receive one Early Capability Demonstrator (ECD) of the RCH 155 artillery system, while Germany will […]View the full article

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would support China in defending what he described as its state unity and territorial integrity if the situation in the Taiwan Strait were to escalate, according to an interview published by TASS. “Proceeding from the fact that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter of the People’s Republic […]View the full article

Türkiye has completed a flight test that demonstrated autonomous formation flying by two unmanned combat aircraft, according to information released by Baykar. During the test, the third prototype of the Bayraktar KIZILELMA, designated PT3, and the fifth prototype, PT5, took off consecutively and conducted a coordinated flight using intelligent swarm autonomy algorithms developed by Baykar […]View the full article

A Chinese naval amphibious ship group has carried out multi-subject, combat-oriented training in offshore waters, testing integrated air defense, electronic warfare, and amphibious assault operations, according to a report published by the PLA Daily. The report said multiple vessels, including the Type 075 Hubei ship, formed a task group and sailed to a designated sea […]View the full article

An official Chinese military media outlet has released footage showing a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile being launched from a Type 055 large destroyer of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, marking the first time a live firing of the missile from a warship has been shown publicly. The video was released Sunday by China Military Bugle, […]View the full article

The Israel Defense Forces have begun inducting a new self-propelled howitzer, the SIGMA 155 “Roem,” according to IsraelDefense magazine. The Roem, developed and manufactured by Elbit Systems, is intended to gradually replace the U.S.-made M-109 “Doher” howitzers that have served the IDF for decades. Israeli officials describe the transition not only as a platform replacement, […]View the full article

Finnish company Summa Defence Plc has launched production of Zeus FPV drones in several configurations, with the systems primarily supplied to Ukraine’s defense forces, according to reporting by Defense Express. The Finnish defense group Summa Defence Plc said in a press release dated December 23 that it delivered the first batch of Zeus FPV drones […]View the full article

Several Tomahawk cruise missiles failed to reach their intended targets during a recent American strike on Islamic State positions in Nigeria, according to reporting by Militarnyi. At least three missiles reportedly fell short, with local residents discovering debris and unexploded warheads the morning after the attack. Photos of the missile remnants were published by conflict […]View the full article

On December 19, 2025, Japanese Defense Ministry Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yohei Wakabayashi visited the Ship Equipment Research Institute of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency to inspect testing and evaluation facilities, including a large-scale water tank and a flow noise simulator. According to a statement released by Japan’s Ministry of Defense, Wakabayashi toured multiple experimental facilities […]View the full article

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on December 26 that equipment positioned in Belarus near the Ukrainian border is helping Russian forces guide Shahed-type drones toward targets in Ukraine’s western regions. According to Zelenskyy, this equipment enables Russian drone operators to bypass Ukraine’s interception lines and direct attacks deeper into western areas of the country, including […]View the full article

Russia appears to be moving closer to deploying its nuclear-capable Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system, also known as RS-26, on the territory of Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that, “The relocation of the Oreshnik system to the territory of Belarus is nearing completion. We understand where it will be deployed.” Zelenskyy […]View the full article

Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a government meeting to review the core parameters of Russia’s next state armaments program for 2027–2036, alongside a parallel program for the development of the defense-industrial complex. The meeting follows earlier sessions held on June 11 and 12, 2025, focused on shaping long-term military procurement and industrial priorities. Opening the […]View the full article

China’s Ministry of National Defense said Chinese and Emirati air forces have completed the “Falcon Shield-2025” joint air exercise in the United Arab Emirates, marking the first time the People’s Liberation Army Air Force deployed several frontline aircraft types to the Gulf state for combined training. According to a briefing held on December 25, Senior […]View the full article

China has carried out a flight of a third prototype of its heavy next-generation fighter-bomber known as the J-36, signaling steady progress in a program of future Chinese combat jets. Photos showing the aircraft in flight alongside a J-10C fighter were published on December 25. The images depict an airframe that differs in visible details […]View the full article

Russia’s state aircraft manufacturer has delivered the final batch of Su-35 fighter jets to the country’s air force for 2025, according to official disclosures, closing out another year of tactical aviation deliveries as the war in Ukraine continues. According to the United Aircraft Corporation, the company transferred the final batch of Su-35 fighters to the […]View the full article

With everyone all excited about the pics of the People’s Republic of China’s new auxiliary cruiser, I figured that it was time for a return to a classic two-part FbF series on the war performance of auxiliary cruisers. I’ll cover the latest news on the topic early next week. So, for regulars it would be worth another read, but for the thousands of new followers who were not with us when we ran this last three years ago…ENJOY (and ponder where the modern need for these “something beats nothing” warships fit today). You go to war with what you have or what you can quickly patch together, the end result of the decision of others who will not have to fight, not have to comma…

Japan’s Ministry of Defense said it has reviewed the latest progress and budget planning for its next-generation fighter aircraft program, as Tokyo continues close coordination with the United Kingdom and Italy on what is now known as the Global Combat Air Programme. According to a statement released on December 26, Japan’s Vice Minister of Defense […]View the full article

The U.S. Army said one of its forward-deployed artillery units in South Korea has carried out the first live-fire exercise of the modernized M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System on the Korean Peninsula, a move aimed at strengthening deterrence against North Korea. According to the U.S. Army, Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, assigned […]View the full article

Japan’s Ministry of Defense said it has imposed a 2.5-month suspension on Kawasaki Heavy Industries after confirming long-term misconduct in inspections of diesel generators used on submarines. According to a statement released on December 26, the Ministry of Defense of Japan will bar Kawasaki Heavy Industries from designated government contracts from December 26 through March […]View the full article