Raw Intel

As the final post of 2025, let’s look at the warships the U.S. Navy commissioned this year. Carriers: None. Next scheduled in 2027. Amphibious Ships: None. Next LHA expected in 2026. Destroyers: None. Two expected in 2026. Frigates or Other Small Surface Combatants: USS Pierre, LCS-38 Attack Submarines: USS Iowa, SSN-797 So, a LCS and a SSN. 2026 should be a bit better, but it is what it is. Two. As Sal pointed out, we have had a few auxiliaries as well, but this is about warships. Meanwhile, how is the largest Navy in the world, the navy of the People’s Republic of China doing? Via SomePLAOSINT - some great graphics. Using the same format as we did for the U.S. Navy, w…

Vietnam’s Ministry of Defense has reportedly signed an agreement with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to equip the Vietnamese army with the “Maoz” drone, known as the Spike Firefly loitering munition, in a deal valued at approximately $250 million. According to a report by Intelligence Online, the agreement includes the establishment of a production facility in […]View the full article

Canadian defense manufacturer GSCI Advanced Photonics is gaining attention from military and law enforcement users for its electro-optical systems that emphasize precision, ruggedness, and modular integration. Known formally as General Starlight Company Inc. and based in Vaughan, Ontario, GSCI’s product line is increasingly used in operational environments where reliability under pressure is non-negotiable. At the […] The post Canadian tactical gear gains combat credibility first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

AM General, the maker of the legendary Humvee, says it will spotlight the agility and lethality of its light-force portfolio at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting, Oct. 13–15, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The company plans to show the restyled Hawkeye 105mm Mobile Howitzer System, the new and recently […] The post Humvee maker offers new pickup for U.S. troops first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army’s next-generation battlefield sensor system, known as Launched Effects, is one step closer to entering service after a live demonstration involving active-duty forces at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in August 2025. Launched Effects is a term the Army uses to describe a class of compact systems—such as the Atlas 600 from AEVEX Aerospace—that […] The post U.S. Forces simulate strike on Russian howitzer during trials first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has handed over new Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers to the Russian Ministry of Defense. According to UAC, the aircraft completed the full cycle of factory testing, were verified across multiple operating modes, and have already flown to their home airfield. The Su-34 is designed to strike ground, surface, and air targets — […] The post Russian Air Force receives new Su-34 combat aircraft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Royal Thai Army has launched a military operation to reclaim Thai sovereign territory in Sa Kaeo Province, following reports of increased Cambodian troop movements and heavy weapons deployments along the border. The operation was carried out by the Burapha Task Force under the First Army Region Command. According to a report from the Royal […]View the full article

Aerospace giant Boeing has been awarded a series of multiyear contracts valued at approximately $2.7 billion to manufacture more than 3,000 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) seekers through 2030, the company announced. The seekers are built by Boeing for Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the PAC-3 interceptor, and play a central role in enabling the […] The post Boeing boosts PAC-3 production in $2.7B deal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

As you all know, I love nothing more than quoting myself. So, Front Porch members of long standing by now can say things from memory: Plan Salamander for the U.S. posture toward Europe that I have been proposing in one form or another for a couple of decades+. Here is just one example from 15 years ago. …withdraw all maneuver forces from Asia and Europe except for what is needed at Combined Training and Logistics Bases with our most important allies. No, we don’t leave NATO. I’m a former NATO staff officer who used to give seminars on operational planning at war colleges all over Europe. We just need a 21st century reality check. We still have 80-100,000 personnel there. …

A new variant of China’s ZBD-04 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) equipped with an advanced active protection system (APS) has surfaced online, raising questions about the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) evolving approach to vehicle survivability and defensive countermeasures. Photos of the vehicle—reportedly the ZBD-04B—were released by the open-source monitoring group The Dead District. The images show […]View the full article

Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi defended the planned deployment of surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island, calling the move a protective measure aimed solely at strengthening the country’s air defense posture. His remarks came after Beijing accused Tokyo of escalating regional tensions. Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Defense, Koizumi said the missiles […]View the full article

The Israel Defense Forces have begun inducting a new self-propelled howitzer, the SIGMA 155 “Roem,” according to IsraelDefense magazine. The Roem, developed and manufactured by Elbit Systems, is intended to gradually replace the U.S.-made M-109 “Doher” howitzers that have served the IDF for decades. Israeli officials describe the transition not only as a platform replacement, […]View the full article

The U.S. Army is moving quickly to modernize its heavy-lift aviation fleet, authorizing rapid procurement and fielding of the CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopter beginning in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The decision will deliver the upgraded aircraft to two Combat Aviation Brigades, enhancing operational reach and readiness for large-scale combat operations. The CH-47F Block […] The post U.S. Army speeds up CH-47F Block II fielding 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

A video circulating on TikTok appears to show, for the first time, a modernized Zlin Z-137 Agro Turbo aircraft modified to carry and launch missiles. The clip was shared by the open-source intelligence community Tysk, which wrote: “Flight of a turboprop Moravan Z-137 Agro Turbo, converted to launch missiles, somewhere over Ukraine.” The footage has […] The post Missile-equipped farm plane spotted in Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian troops have intercepted a newly fielded Russian Zala KUB 10E strike drone on the Pokrovsk axis, according to a statement from the Sternenko Community charitable foundation, which supplies interceptor drones to front-line units. The group released video footage that it says shows the moment the drone was neutralized. In a statement, the foundation said: […]View the full article

The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense has introduced a new multi-role unmanned aerial system developed at the state-run Plant 202 in collaboration with private-sector manufacturers. The program, aimed at meeting the demands of asymmetric warfare, emphasizes mass production, low cost, and operational versatility. According to National Defense Online, the lineup includes a fixed-wing strike drone […] The post Taiwan develops plywood-built kamikaze drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Switzerland’s Federal Office for Defence Procurement (armasuisse) has awarded new contracts for multispectral camouflage systems to three European defense suppliers — SSZ Camouflage Technology AG (Switzerland), Saro GmbH (Germany), and Saab (Sweden). The decision followed an extensive testing and evaluation process based on performance capability, integration potential, and logistical and economic factors. The selected systems […]View the full article

Chinese military pressure around Taiwan intensified again this week after a People’s Liberation Army Navy warship used politically charged language during a radio exchange with a Taiwanese aircraft, prompting a firm response from Taiwan’s Air Force and drawing widespread attention online. According to reporting by Taiwanese media and recordings shared by the long-running military monitoring […]View the full article

Serbia has unveiled a new heavy rocket system, the Sumadija/Vila, during its recent “Strength of Unity” military parade. The system, developed by Yugoimport-SDPR, represents a modular long-range launcher designed to strike high-value targets deep behind enemy lines. According to information released at the event, the self-propelled launcher can be configured with different payloads depending on […] The post Serbia unveils new heavy rocket system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article