Raw Intel

Poland and South Korea have entered into a new defense partnership to localize missile production, underscoring Warsaw’s efforts to strengthen self-reliance and modernize its armed forces. On September 2, during the opening day of the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce, Hanwha Aerospace and WB Group signed an agreement to establish a joint venture […] The post Poland, South Korea start joint missile production first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Turkey has moved a large convoy of armored vehicles into Syria through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, according to overnight footage circulating online that shows dozens of military vehicles entering Syrian territory from Turkey. The footage, which emerged overnight, shows a sustained flow of armored vehicles crossing into northern Syria via Bab al-Hawa, one of […]View the full article

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger confirmed plans to deliver mobile drone defense systems to Ukraine before the end of 2025. In an exclusive interview with Germany’s ZDF-Magazin WISO, Papperger said the deal—valued in the “three-digit million” euro range—will be signed on Wednesday at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) show in London. The systems in […] The post Rheinmetall to supply Skyrangers to Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

It was only a matter of time until there was a serious incident involving Chinese bullying in the South China Sea, but I didn’t have a Red-on-Red on my betting card. “The [Chinese coastguard vessel] CCG 3104, which was chasing the [Philippine coastguard vessel] BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the [Philippine] vessel’s starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] Navy warship,” spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement. “This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel’s forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy,” he said. The incident occurred as the Philippine coastguard escorted boats distributing…

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

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) deployed robotic quadruped drones during a January 2026 airborne assault exercise conducted by the 1st Airborne Brigade, marking the first time the unit integrated unmanned ground vehicles into its annual new-year descent training. According to the training footage broadcast in Japan, the exercise featured an assault element inserting from two […]View the full article

The Royal Navy has formally cleared the Malloy T-150 uncrewed air system (UAS) for operational deployment, concluding a two-year test campaign involving Royal Marines and 700X Naval Air Squadron. The aircraft is now ready to support front-line missions, according to ukdj report. The T-150 will be used to transport ammunition, weapons, food, medical supplies, and […] The post Royal Navy clears heavy-lift drone for front-line use first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Sweden is evaluating the purchase of South Korea’s K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer as it reassesses its artillery mix and considers adding tracked platforms alongside its well-known wheeled Archer systems, according to reports citing internal documents and regional defense coverage. Swedish defense planners are studying options for acquiring tracked self-propelled artillery to operate in deep snow […]View the full article

Leonardo DRS, Inc. announced it has signed a contract with Thailand-based Chaiseri Defense Systems to provide its advanced Battle Management System (BMS) and related integration support to the Royal Thai Army’s Stryker armored vehicle fleet. According to a release from Leonardo DRS, the agreement expands the company’s footprint in Southeast Asia and strengthens its long-term […]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

Ukrainian defense robotics company Air3F has launched full-scale production of its VARKHAN unmanned ground platform, designed for logistics, evacuation, and frontline support under extreme battlefield conditions. Ihor Berehovenko, Co‑founder and CPO of Air3F, announced that the company’s latest robotic ground system, known as VARKHAN, has entered serial production following a demanding period of development and […]View the full article

Turkish defense firm STM Defense Technologies Engineering has delivered its domestically developed Alpagu loitering munition system to Turkish security forces. Known as a fixed-wing “kamikaze drone,” the Alpagu is part of STM’s broader initiative to supply locally engineered UAVs capable of enhancing national defense capabilities through lightweight, precision-guided strike systems. STM General Director Özgür Güleryüz […] The post Turkish forces field new indigenous kamikaze drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

BAE Systems is advancing a new vision for combat air support where autonomous drones fly ahead of helicopters, identify threats, and execute electronic or kinetic strikes — a model the company says could become operational in the near term. In a recent article, Robert Merryweather, Group Technology Director at BAE Systems, outlined the company’s roadmap […] The post BAE Systems maps future where drones lead the fight first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United States Army has reopened its effort to identify companies capable of developing ground-based counter surveillance and reconnaissance systems designed to address space-based threats, issuing a new Sources Sought Notice under number W58SFN-25-R-0001-1. The notice was reposted on November 21 and remains open until December 5. According to the Army Contracting Command at Redstone […]View the full article

Russian forces are adopting a new infantry doctrine that places greater reliance on drones and robotic systems due to manpower challenges, according to an analysis by the DeepState OSINT project in cooperation with the Telegram channel Mannerheims son. The report said the Russian military is increasingly turning to unmanned ground systems, loitering munitions, and heavy […] The post Russia adopts new infantry doctrine amid manpower strain first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

There has been a growing awareness over the last couple of years—and especially the last year—about the “rare earth element” challenge. It is more than a challenge, it is a problem. Why a problem? Global supply systems, etc... Those who know the industrial history of WWII will know that despite of their technological skills, the Germans could not produce the number and quality of the weapons they wanted to because they could not source sufficient critical “exotic” raw materials—not to mention just fuel. As a result, they could produce only a few and those they could produce, such as jet engines, had to use lesser materials and did not last as long. The Japanese, as an isl…

The open-source intelligence community DeepState has released new data on Russian offensive operations in Ukraine, showing a decline in the intensity of attacks during August compared with previous months. According to the group, Russian forces conducted approximately 5,027 assault actions in August, a reduction from July, June, and May. The decrease was attributed primarily to […] The post OSINT report: Russian offensive activity declines in August first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Sweden is moving ahead with another major investment in its ground-based air defense network, announcing new spending totaling 3.5 billion SEK ($365 million) as part of a renewed push to strengthen protection against drones, helicopters, missiles, and fast-moving aircraft. The announcement was made on November 25 at the Air Defence Regiment in Halmstad (Lv 6), […]View the full article

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that 50 of its domestically produced Clouded Leopard 8×8 armored vehicles developed structural cracks due to poor welding and metal fatigue. The issue, first raised during a legislative committee hearing by lawmaker Wang Ting-yu, prompted an internal investigation and corrective measures. The announcement came during a National Defense […] The post Cracks found in dozens of Taiwanese-made armored vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Canada of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related equipment valued at an estimated $1.75 billion, according to a notification delivered to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Under the proposed deal, Canada has requested 26 M142 launchers and a […] The post Canada approved to buy HIMARS in $1.75 billion deal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article