Raw Intel

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

I think it is more than reasonable to be mad, frustrated, angry, or sad at this sad end, at least for now, to a story no one wants to hear. Via Salvador Rizzo over at WaPo. Retired Adm. Robert P. Burke, who was convicted of corruption offenses after a four-decade military career in which he rose to become the Navy’s second-highest-ranking officer, was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison, days after the trial of the tech executives who were accused of bribing him ended with a hung jury. Burke served as vice chief of naval operations from 2019 to 2020, overseeing personnel, training and education for the branch’s nearly 400,000 uniformed members. The Portage, Michigan,…

The Amiral Ronarc’h—France’s first Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI)—has departed the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient, heading to its homeport in Brest. According to a statement from the French defense procurement agency, Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), the departure follows the completion of sea trials and signals the beginning of the acceptance phase by […] The post French Navy welcomes new combat frigate first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Norwegian Armed Forces has signed a $4 million, four-year contract with Non-stop dogwear to supply specialized equipment for its military working dogs and handlers. The agreement will be executed through the company’s Non-stop professional division, which focuses on solutions for military, law enforcement, search and rescue, and other working professionals. According to a company […] The post Norway signs $4M deal for military dog gear first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Steadicopter, an Israeli-based developer of rotary unmanned aerial systems (RUAS), has introduced a new precision aerial resupply capability by integrating ParaZero’s DropAir system into its Black Eagle 50E unmanned helicopter. According to a September 17 press release, the system transforms the all-electric drone into an autonomous airborne logistics platform capable of accurately delivering mission-critical payloads—even […] The post Steadicopter drone gets precision airdrop upgrade first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Textron Aviation Defense has kicked off a nationwide demonstration tour to promote its Beechcraft M-346N advanced jet trainer as the U.S. Navy searches for a next-generation platform for undergraduate pilot training. According to a press release from Textron Aviation Defense, the M-346N took off from Beech Factory Airport in Wichita, Kansas, where it was assembled. […] The post Textron unveils M-346N trainer for U.S. Navy first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

MGI Engineering has officially unveiled its new long-range autonomous strike drone, dubbed TigerShark, at the DSEI 2025 defense exhibition in London. The system, built in the United Kingdom, is designed to offer cruise missile–level performance at a much lower cost, according to Calibre Defence. The drone is intended for deep-strike operations against high-value targets and […] The post UK unveils new deep-strike drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russian engineers have begun testing a new battlefield counter-drone system that blends FPV (First Person View) guidance with rocket propulsion, according to descriptions of recent field experiments. Developed by the “Vektor” group, the interceptor combines elements of a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) with first-person view drone controls. The concept centers on a tube-launched drone […] The post Russia develops FPV-guided rocket drone interceptor first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A Cold War-era Hawker Hunter aircraft was spotted participating in Gray Flag 2025 over Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, on September 8, 2025. According to the U.S. Navy, the MK-58 variant—operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC)—played an active role in the service’s premier large-force test exercise, providing a stable platform for multi-domain capability […] The post Cold War-era jet spotted during U.S. Navy combat simulation first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

U.S. Marines with the 12th Littoral Combat Team demonstrated the deployment of the Stalker VXE30 reconnaissance drone during Resolute Dragon 25, a bilateral military exercise held on September 14, 2025, at the Hijudai Maneuver Area in Japan’s Oita Prefecture. The Stalker VXE30, manufactured by Edge Autonomy, is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) small unmanned […] The post U.S. Marines field Stalker drone in Japan first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will carry out live-fire exercises involving its Hawk and Chu-SAM surface-to-air missile systems in the United States, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has announced. According to a statement from the JGSDF, the drills aim to improve tactical proficiency in air defense operations and enhance the readiness of participating units. The […] The post Japan to test air defense missiles on U.S. soil first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

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

The Philippine Air Force Research and Development Center (AFRDC) has unveiled its first homegrown armed drones, marking a milestone in the country’s Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program. The newly revealed platforms — the Air Military Ordnance Carrier (AMOC) and the Military Air Ordnance Yielder (MAOY) — are locally developed and combat-ready, offering new capabilities to […] The post Philippines develops armed combat drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

China appears to be drawing further inspiration from Russian military design, as a newly observed Chinese armored vehicle bears a clear resemblance to Russia’s KamAZ Typhoon series. The vehicle, seen in a recent video, shares a nearly identical configuration to the Russian Typhoon, a modular, mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle developed by KamAZ for the Russian […] The post China copies Russian Typhoon armored vehicle first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels engaged in aggressive and dangerous actions against a Philippine government vessel in the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday morning, damaging equipment and injuring a crew member. According to PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, the incident occurred at approximately 9:14 AM while the BRP […] The post Chinese Coast Guard attacks Philippine vessel first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

At the Changchun Air Show, China publicly displayed for the first time a J-6 fighter aircraft that has been converted into a drone, marking a rare appearance of the retrofitted Cold War-era jet in unmanned form. “This aircraft is modified based on the J-6 fighter jet, with the removal of cannon weapon systems, external fuel […] The post China converts Cold War jet into combat drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Serbian Armed Forces have been spotted rehearsing with one-way attack drones developed by UAE-based EDGE Group, ahead of the “Unity of Strength” military parade scheduled for September 20 in Belgrade. Footage from the rehearsal reveals the presence of two loitering munitions, the Shadow 50 and Shadow 25, marking the first known public appearance of […] The post Serbia showcases UAE-made kamikaze drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Let’s catch up to an old topic we had a pleasant return to back in July, thanks to our friends the Japanese. Every little step gets you closer. According to ATLA, the railgun, mounted on the JMSDF’s test ship Asuka, successfully carried out long-range firings and the shooting at a target ship during the trials. The tests of the gun were conducted with the cooperation of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The photos show the moment of the target ship being aimed at, as well as that of the railgun firing, using the Asuka. The fire control system is also visible next to the railgun. ATLA said details of the tests will be reported at its “ATLA Technological Sympos…

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has delivered another batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) as part of ongoing efforts to meet the State Defense Order, according to statements issued by UAC and Rostec. The aircraft, which have undergone full ground and flight factory testing, were formally accepted by VKS crews. “As […] The post New Su-34 fighter-bombers delivered to Russian military first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine’s defense innovation platform Brave1 has completed final testing of new long-range one-way attack drones, best known as kamikaze drones, capable of striking targets over 40 kilometers away, even in the presence of Russian electronic warfare systems. According to a statement from Brave1, the newly tested loitering munitions are engineered to be “cheap, scalable, and […] The post Ukraine set to field new kamikaze drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article