Raw Intel

The Pakistan Air Force on January 3 conducted a successful flight test of the indigenously developed Taimoor Weapon System, confirming the missile’s performance during an air-launched trial, according to an official statement. The service said the Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile is designed to engage land and sea targets with precision at a range of up […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon, a business under RTX, a $205 million contract for continued production and support of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), a key point-defense system deployed across the Navy’s surface fleet. The contract, announced September 8, includes upgrades, overhauls, conversions, and the delivery of related equipment as part of a […] The post U.S. Navy awards Raytheon $205M contract for Phalanx systems first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United Kingdom expects to have taken delivery of its 75th F-35 Lightning aircraft by the end of 2033, the British government confirmed in a written parliamentary response published on January 5, 2026. In a response to a question from Lord West of Spithead, Defence Minister Lord Coaker said “the Department expects to take delivery […]View the full article

The Department of War and U.S. Space Force conducted an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, in the early hours of November 5. The launch took place at 1:35 a.m. Pacific Time and was designated GT 254, according to the announcement. The Department of […]View the full article

SummaryIn this episode, the host reflects on personal experiences growing up in Florida’s East Coast during the Space Age, discusses the current state of naval ships, and addresses geopolitical concerns in Venezuela and Nigeria. The conversation also touches on the situation in Sudan and the rise of South Korea in military production, concluding with re… Read more View the full article

French-German defense firm KNDS has showcased the second prototype of its next-generation main battle tank, the Leopard 2A-RC 3.0, during a demonstration at the Klietz military training area. The PT02 prototype was presented by KNDS, with footage released by the Militär- und Landtechnik Klaus Schröder YouTube channel, which described the event as part of an […] The post KNDS shows Leopard 2 tank with unmanned turret first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United States Department of War has approved a $53 million contract modification for Lockheed Martin to support increased production of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), according to an official contract announcement. The award modifies a previously issued contract and funds tooling and test equipment needed to expand manufacturing capacity. Expanding production infrastructure is […]View the full article

Thai military forces have captured multiple Chinese-made GAM-102LR guided anti-tank missile systems from Cambodian troops during fighting near Hill 677, according to recent reports from the area. According to the reports, Thai soldiers secured a significant quantity of GAM-102LR missiles after overrunning Cambodian positions on the contested high ground. The missiles are considered a modern […]View the full article

American and South Korean troops carried out counter-drone training at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on August 20, 2025, as part of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise. The training, conducted by the ROK-U.S. Combined Division’s 652nd Air Defense unit in coordination with the U.S. Army’s 5-17 Air Cavalry Squadron, focused on detecting and suppressing hostile […] The post U.S. and South Korean forces train to counter drone threats first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

When it comes to the A-1H Skyraider vs. MiG-17s, some are familiar with the story from 1966, but have you heard it first person right after it took place? This story, which I first covered back in 2009, is a classic and brings us back to a man we honored in another FbF last month: Lieutenant Pete Russell, USN. That’s him on the right in the picture above, with LTJg. Tom Patton, USN as they discuss the story below. LCDR Leo Cook and his wingman LTJG Wiley were the lead section of Skyraiders working to locate and hopefully rescue a downed US pilot in North Vietnam. While maneuvering at low altitude between ridges and cloud layers, they were jumped by what turned out to be t…

OK, hold on…you might have suffered the same yawn that I did when reading news about our old girl NIXIE… U.S. Navy budget documentation released last week is adding a series of new capabilities to the current AN/SLQ-25 Nixie countermeasures suite, including a new hard-kill capability via deck launchers, set to be deployed to over 168 different front-line ships in coming years. …until you got to the second clause. I know some of you are thinking, “Oh, we can talk about hard kill now?” Then, in the next paragraph by Carter Johnson at Naval News, this sexy little creature wanders on stage, The hard-kill weapon, known as the Mk58 Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW), is expecte…

The U.S. Army is evaluating a low-cost counter-drone system developed by SAIC in collaboration with Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, installed on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle chassis during Project Flytrap in Lithuania. The system, known as the Reconfigurable Air Defense system or RAD, is being tested as part of Project Flytrap, a counter-UAS exercise running […]View the full article

"Like who?" That is a tough question; it seems easy, but it isn't. What defines a leader and what qualities should a young leader emulate? Books have been and will be written about such things - but often it is better just to point at a man and say, "This." A dozen or so years ago when I first published this story, friend to the blog who sneaks into comments now and then, URR, reminded me that we lost one of "them." Someone who inspired people throughout his life. The core of his character is perhaps best discovered in one of his best-known acts. For the full story of The Warriors of Hill 881S, spend some time here. Like many of his generation - proper recognition of his …

The Royal Thai Army launched Operation “Trat Pikhat Pairee 1” in response to renewed aggression near Ban Chamrak in Trat Province. Thailand has declared martial law in key eastern provinces following a sharp escalation in border clashes with Cambodian forces, marking the third consecutive day of conflict. At 05:10 AM on July 26, Cambodian troops […] The post Thailand launches operation to repel border assault first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United States Army has finalized a $390 million contract modification with BAE Systems to upgrade and deliver additional Bradley A4 infantry fighting vehicles, expanding the service’s fleet of modernized armored platforms. According to the company, the upgraded M2A4 configuration will replace older Bradley variants and give Soldiers improved lethality, protection, and on-board systems across […]View the full article

India is considering local production of Israel’s long-range Rampage missile under the government’s “Make in India” initiative. The Indian Army first acquired the missile in 2020 following the Galwan clash with China. Since then, it has become a cornerstone of India’s long-range strike capability. On May 10, 2025, during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force […] The post India eyes local production of Rampage missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Motorola Solutions has completed its acquisition of Los Angeles-based Silvus Technologies, a company known for developing advanced mobile ad-hoc networking (MANET) systems used by defense and public safety agencies across the globe. According to a press release from Motorola Solutions, the acquisition will integrate Silvus’ low-latency, infrastructure-independent communications systems into Motorola’s existing suite of land […] The post Motorola Solutions buys Silvus for battlefield networking edge first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

BAE Systems has secured a new $198.4 million contract modification from the U.S. Army to produce an additional 240 Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles (AMPVs). The award is a fixed-price-incentive modification to contract W56HZV-23-C-0024, and brings the total value of the agreement to just under $2.48 billion. The Army Contracting Command at Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is managing […]View the full article

Archer Aviation says it is accelerating production of its Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with a near-term goal of achieving an output rate of 50 aircraft per year across roughly 700,000 square feet of manufacturing and test facilities. The company reported Tuesday that aircraft built during this new product introduction phase will […] The post Archer ramps up production of its electric aircraft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Pakistan’s Army has introduced the FATAH-IV, a new ground-launched subsonic cruise missile with enhanced range and precision, according to the Clash Report. The FATAH-IV has a stated range of 750 kilometers, a reported accuracy of five meters, and travels at approximately 0.7 Mach. The missile weighs 1,530 kilograms and carries a 330-kilogram warhead, making it […] The post Pakistan debuts new cruise missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article