Raw Intel

A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel sustained heavy damage Monday following a collision with a Chinese Navy warship during a tense maritime encounter with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) near Bajo de Masinloc, also known internationally as Scarborough Shoal. According to the PCG, the incident occurred as it carried out its “Kadiwa Para sa Bagong […] The post Chinese warship, Coast Guard vessel collide near disputed shoal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Department of War is evaluating a reform concept that would sharply reduce or halt the purchase of new piloted helicopters for the U.S. Army beginning in the second half of the decade, according to individuals familiar with internal discussions. The concept under review focuses on maintaining and upgrading the current helicopter fleet while transitioning […]View the full article

South Korea has launched its second King Jeongjo-class Aegis-equipped destroyer, the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (DDG-996). The warship was floated out at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan on September 17, according to footage provided by Yonhap TV and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. It is the second unit of the 8,200-ton King Jeongjo-class destroyers—South […] The post South Korea launches new missile-defense warship first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas The Navy awarded a $536 million contract to NorthStar Maritime Dismantlement Service to dismantle, recycle and dispose of the former aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN-65), a four-year undertaking that will set precedents for future nuclear-powered ship disposals. “Under this contract CVN-65 will be dismantled in its entirety, and all resulting materials will be properly recycled or disposed of. Specifically, hazardous materials, including low-level radioactive waste, will be packaged and safely transported for disposal at authorized licensed sites,” according to a May 30 contract announcement. Hermeus has flight-tested its Quarterhorse Mk 1 remotely piloted drone …

Ukraine will receive eight SAMP/T medium-range air defense systems from France under a new bilateral agreement, according to a report by Militarnyi. The transferred systems will feature updated and enhanced performance characteristics, including the integration of new-generation Aster missiles. Each system will include six launchers, bringing the total number of launchers pledged to Ukraine to […]View the full article

Croatian robotics firm DOK-ING and Slovenian turret specialist Valhalla have unveiled a new integrated unmanned ground combat system, pairing the MV-8 Komodo robotic platform with the Mangart 25 AD remote-controlled turret. The joint system made its world debut this week during the SIDEC defense exhibition in Slovenia, backed by support from the Slovenian Armed Forces […] The post New robotic combat vehicle debuts at SIDEC show first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas The Pentagon has once again grounded its entire fleet of V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. This comes after a worrying incident at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico on November 20, where a CV-22 Osprey experienced a near-crash shortly after takeoff. Initial investigations suggest that weakened metal components in a critical part may have been a contributing factor. The decision to pause all Osprey flights came as a recommendation from Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, the head of Naval Air Systems Command, which oversees the Osprey program for the military. This incident bears a striking resemblance to a fatal crash off the coast of Japan in November of the previous year. In…

The Oklahoma National Guard confirmed Thursday that an OA-1K Skyraider II attack aircraft crashed during a routine training flight in southeast Oklahoma City. The aircraft, which had recently entered service with the U.S. Air Force, was carrying one civilian contractor and one Air Force member at the time of the incident. According to the Oklahoma […] The post U.S. Air Force newest attack aircraft crashes near Oklahoma City first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Footage released by Russia shows a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flying over the Black Sea equipped with a rarely seen intelligence-gathering system. The video, filmed from the cockpit of a Russian Su-35S fighter, highlights the Poseidon carrying the AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS), one of the Navy’s most secretive radar pods. The […] The post Russian fighter intercepts U.S. spy plane with secret sensor first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas The United States on Monday unveiled almost $6 billion in military and budget aid for Ukraine, as Washington races to provide assistance before Donald Trump takes office next month. The imminent return of Trump, who has repeatedly criticized aid for Ukraine, has cast doubt on American support continuing at similar levels as under outgoing President Joe Biden. With Trump’s swearing in just three weeks away, only a limited time window remained for billions of dollars in already authorized assistance to be disbursed. Raytheon won a $31 million modification, which increases the contract ceiling to procure long lead hardware for recertification and modernization of 25…

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday that General Alexus Grynkewich, the newly appointed NATO commander in Europe, confirmed U.S. assessments that Russia could be ready for a confrontation with Europe as early as 2027. “There is no reason to frighten each other, but we must be truly vigilant and focused,” Tusk said in a […] The post Poland warned: Russian confrontation possible by 2027 first appeared on Defence Blog.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

The U.S. Army has signed the largest contract in its history for the production of Patriot missiles, awarding Lockheed Martin a $9.8 billion agreement to manufacture nearly 2,000 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors through fiscal year 2026. According to an Army release, the contract covers the procurement of 1,970 missiles “and associated hardware for […] The post U.S. Army secures largest Patriot missile order first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a $139.6 million contract modification for continued production of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), a key platform replacing aging M113s across Armored Brigade Combat Teams. The award, announced under contract W56HZV-23-C-0024, brings the total value of the AMPV program to over $2.28 billion. According to the Department of […] The post U.S. Army buys more AMPV tracked vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Germany’s armed forces (Bundeswehr) have placed another order with Rheinmetall for 120mm tank ammunition. According to a statement from Rheinmetall, the new order falls under the extended framework agreement signed in July 2023. “The new order is worth several hundred million euros,” the company said, though it did not disclose the exact value or quantities. […]View the full article

Americas The US military’s effort to speed up how it builds and replaces vehicle parts is getting a high-tech lift thanks to a new $9-million research lab in Illinois. Announced Monday by the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the facility will focus on developing advanced 3D-printing techniques, specifically for large metal components used in military ground vehicles. Northrop Grumman System won a $20.4 million contract for the production and delivery of 63 H1- technical refresh mission computers (TRMCs) and 28 TRMC trays for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers to include 33 TRMCs and 28 trays in support of the Nigeria AH-1…

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed plans to station new electronic warfare units in Okinawa and Kumamoto, aiming to enhance deterrence in the country’s southwestern region amid growing regional tensions. According to Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, speaking at a press conference following a cabinet meeting on September 16, the new units will be deployed to […] The post Japan sets up radar-jamming units on frontline islands 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…

Pratt & Whitney announced the development of a new family of propulsion systems designed to power both Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and advanced munitions. The engines, ranging from 500 to 1,800 pounds of thrust, are intended to combine adaptability, affordability, and speed of delivery as the U.S. military and its allies expand investment in next-generation […] The post Pratt & Whitney develops new engines for future unmanned aircraft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Polish defense company MACRO-SYSTEM has unveiled its GNOM loitering munition during live demonstrations at DALO Industry Days and Uncrewed Innovation Day in Denmark. In a statement, the company said: “During the DALO Industry Days and the Uncrewed Innovation Day demonstrations in Denmark, we had the opportunity to showcase our GNOM loitering munition in action. We […] The post Polish firm showcases ground kamikaze drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article