Raw Intel

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

BIRD Aerosystems has announced a major step forward in its airborne defense portfolio with the certification of a new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the KING AIR 350C platform, granted by the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority (CAAI). The certification enables a range of upgrades that expand the aircraft’s capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and […] The post BIRD Aerosystems certifies enhanced KING AIR 350C for spy missions first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian forces have carried out a precision drone strike on a Russian airbase in occupied Crimea, destroying two An-26 military transport aircraft and damaging critical radar infrastructure, the country’s defense intelligence agency said. According to a statement from the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR), Ukrainian special operations units conducted a raid on the peninsula, targeting […] The post Ukrainian drones destroy two Russian An-26 aircraft in Crimea first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian air defense units have shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber that attempted to strike the city of Zaporizhzhia in the early hours of Thursday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said. In a statement released by the military, officials reported that the aircraft was destroyed as it conducted bombing operations in […] The post Ukraine shoots down Russian Su-34, crew killed first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Show LinksTrump says he now thinks Ukraine can win back all territory taken by Russia Operation Granby and stockpiles SummaryIn this episode, the host discusses various pressing national security issues, including the implications of air-launched cruise missiles, the ongoing Gaza conflict, and the historical context of political violence. The conversation… Read more View the full article

The U.S. Army has approved a $14.2 million modification to a Barrett Firearms Manufacturing contract for additional MK22 barrel kits. According to the contract notice, Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc., Christiana, Tennessee, received modification P00009 to contract W15QKN-21-D-0028 for $14.2 million. The action raises the contract’s total cumulative face value to $64.1 million. Bids were solicited […] The post U.S. Army orders more MK22 multi-caliber kits first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Reports that India may seek to acquire Su-57 stealth fighter jets from Russia have sparked reactions across South Asia, where long-standing tensions continue to shape defense planning. In a conversation with Defence Blog, Pakistani military analyst Zarvan Ali described how such developments are viewed in Islamabad. “Everything India procures is considered a danger due to […] The post Pakistan analyst: India’s Su-57 interest is a catch-up move first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

AM General LLC of South Bend, Indiana, has secured a contract modification worth $50,974,838 for the production of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), the U.S. Department of War announced. According to the Pentagon, the modification covers the procurement of an additional 112 M1152A1B2 and M1165A1B3 Humvee variants. This action brings the total cumulative face […] The post U.S. Army buys 112 more Humvees from AM General first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded Global Military Products Inc., based in Tampa, Florida, a $640 million contract for the procurement of 155mm High Explosive complete rounds. The award was made under the Special Ammunitions and Weapons Systems (SAWS) program. According to the Department of War announcement, bids were solicited online and two offers were received. […] The post U.S. Army signs $639M contract for non-standard 155mm shells first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Germany is preparing to expand its future fleet of F127-class frigates, with current planning now pointing to as many as eight ships. Until recently, the expectation had been to procure five vessels with an option for a sixth. According to reporting from hartpunkt, sources familiar with the program now say eight ships are being considered. […] The post Germany set to buy eight new F127 frigates first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

United Aircraft Corporation has delivered new Su-35S fighter jets to the Russian Armed Forces after completing ground and flight testing, the company announced. The Su-35 is designed to establish air superiority in difficult weather conditions and at long distances from its home base. Russian industry presents the aircraft as a bridge to fifth-generation platforms, combining […] The post Russian military receives new Su-35 fighter jets first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

New Delhi is reassessing a plan to buy at least two squadrons of Russia’s Su-57 fighter, not primarily for stealth but to close a shortfall in long-range strike and beyond-visual-range engagement, according to reporting from The Print. The report says India is weighing a proposal from Russia that would follow the earlier MiG-series and Su-30MKI […] The post India eyes Su-57 for long-range strike role first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Anduril Industries says it has completed the first successful test of its prototype surface-launched Barracuda-500 missile. “To be blunt, existing solutions are too expensive, too exquisite, and too hard to produce,” the company stated in its announcement. “To deter our adversaries, the U.S. and our allies need an affordable, mass-producible way to project power over […] The post Anduril successfully tests surface-launched Barracuda-500 missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russian sources have released images showing destroyed and heavily damaged vehicles from the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile system, indirectly confirming the success of recent Ukrainian strikes. The photographs depict a launcher and several transport-loading vehicles, burned out after a strike on a hangar where the systems had been concealed. At least one launcher and five […] The post Ukraine destroys Russian Iskander missile system in drone strike first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Those who follow me on X know what is coming up. It predates by years the Russo-Ukrainian War for reasons we will dive into later. We are surrounded by error, but specifically here, the habit of NATO, Eurocrats, earnest North Americans, politicians, military personnel, media, and civilians trying to sound serious in the national security arena, constantly looking towards Russia in the east and calling it NATO’s eastern flank. I’m sorry, I don’t care how many times you say it, it simply isn’t. It is NATO’s eastern front. After an exchange earlier this month with The Economist’s (and Midrats Podcast alumnus) Defence Editor Shashank Joshi, I decided I needed to put this out…

Embraer and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced on September 23 that they have signed an agreement for the purchase of one A-29 Super Tucano light attack and reconnaissance aircraft. The deal, revealed at the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference, comes ahead of an anticipated U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case. […] The post SNC buys A-29 Super Tucano for future FMS case first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

China has released the first official footage of flight operations from its newest aircraft carrier Fujian, now in the final stages of sea trials before entering service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The images, published by the PLAN, show not only takeoffs and landings of the older carrier-based fighter J-15T but also the […] The post China’s carrier program enters new phase first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

His Majesty King Charles III formally welcomed the Royal Navy’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine, HMS Agamemnon, into service during a commissioning ceremony at BAE Systems’ yard in Barrow-in-Furness. The milestone event marked the sixth Astute-class submarine to join the fleet. The King, departing from naval tradition, personally read the commissioning warrant, declaring the vessel ready […] The post Royal Navy commissions Astute-class attack submarine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine’s latest generation of naval drones has made its debut on the international stage. According to the defense outlet Militarnyi, the modernized Magura v7.2, along with two other Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), participated in NATO’s REPMUS exercise in Portugal, a three-week multinational training event focused on maritime innovation. The REPMUS series, organized annually by […] The post Ukrainian naval drones spotted in Portugal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russia’s state-owned defense giant Almaz-Antey says it has sharply increased production of its advanced air defense systems, including the S-400 “Triumf” and S-350 “Vityaz,” amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a statement released by the company’s press service, Almaz-Antey said, “The commissioning of new production facilities allowed the company not only to deliver some […] The post Russia ramps up production of S-400 and S-350 systems first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article