Raw Intel

Russian pro-war Telegram channels and later Ukrainian sources reported the loss of a Su-30SM fighter jet from the Black Sea Fleet’s naval aviation near Ukraine’s Zmiinyi (Snake) Island on August 14. According to these reports, communication with the twin-seat aircraft was lost in the vicinity of the island. Hours later, Russian military-linked bloggers and channels […] The post Russian Su-30SM crashes in Black Sea first appeared on Defence Blog.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

The United States State Department has approved a possible $800 million Foreign Military Sale to Kuwait covering sustainment and follow-on technical support for the country’s Patriot air-and-missile defense program, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on January 14. The agency confirmed that it has delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the proposed transaction. According […]View the full article

Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire on Friday as a rapidly intensifying border conflict entered its second day. The Royal Thai Army reported shelling in multiple areas, including Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces, and confirmed it had launched strikes in response to attacks from Cambodian forces. According to a statement from Thailand’s Second Army […] The post Thailand deploys tanks, jets in border showdown first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

KNDS France has renewed its commitment to Les Forges de Tarbes under a new long-term agreement aimed at supporting the accelerated production of 155mm artillery ammunition, as France continues to adapt its defense industry to a wartime economic footing. According to a press release from KNDS France, the company signed a three-year Long Term Agreement, […]View the full article

Romania’s government has denied reports that it reached an agreement with Rheinmetall to purchase Lynx infantry fighting vehicles, following media claims suggesting the country had already chosen the platform for its future armored vehicle program. The clarification comes after comments from Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, who told Bloomberg that Romania had signed a contract for […]View the full article

Ukrainian forces have detected and destroyed several Russian soldiers wearing unusual snow camouflage suits known as “Penguin” during recent fighting, according to Ukrainian military sources and battlefield footage released this week. The 120th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that its fighters eliminated at least two Russian soldiers equipped with the […]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

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

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

The United States Army has placed new orders for MAWL-X1 and DAGIR-V1 weapon-mounted laser systems from B.E. Meyers & Co., the company confirmed in a press release. The contract includes more than 1,000 MAWL-X1 units already delivered in 2025 and an additional order of more than 1,000 MAWL-X1 and DAGIR-V1 systems scheduled for delivery in […]View the full article

The U.S. Marine Corps has operated the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) in Japan during Resolute Dragon 25. According to the Marine Corps, the system was employed after a notional fire mission on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, on September 21, 2025. The exercise marks another step in strengthening bilateral defense cooperation between U.S. forces and […] The post U.S. tests unmanned launcher vehicle in Japan drill first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN )’s newest aircraft carrier, Fujian (CV-18), transited the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, marking the second time the carrier has passed through the sensitive waterway, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense. The Taiwanese military said they monitored the carrier’s movement and responded in line with established procedures. The […]View the full article

The United States Army is taking early steps to modernize and sustain its UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter fleet, signaling plans to keep the platform in service well beyond mid-century as operational demands and technology continue to evolve. According to the Army, the Capability Program Executive Aviation, working through its Utility Helicopters Project Office, has issued […]View the full article

Ukraine’s defense technology incubator Brave1 has launched a renewed grant program aimed at accelerating the development of advanced weapons, including ballistic and surface-to-air missiles. The initiative, announced at the recent event “Decisive Innovations: Ukraine’s Next Steps in the Technological War”, provides up to 150 million hryvnias ($3.6 million) for projects focused on explosives, missile systems, […] The post Ukraine targets new HIMARS-style weapons with $3.6M grants first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Lockheed Martin has received a $2.06 billion contract modification to produce additional Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors for the U.S. government, the Department of Defense announced. The new award raises the total value of the current production contract from $8.35 billion to over $10.4 billion, with work set to continue through December 1, […] The post Lockheed secures $2B deal to rebuild THAAD stockpile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. military has unveiled a new small unmanned aircraft system during multinational drills in Egypt. According to the U.S. Air Force, the 1st Special Operations Wing launched the Edge 130 Blue small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) during BRIGHT STAR 25 at Talet Al Keif, Egypt, on August 30, 2025. The demonstration highlighted the drone’s […] The post U.S. unveils futuristic tricopter during Egypt drills first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

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

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is actively negotiating with France over a possible acquisition of Dassault Rafale fighter jets. Speaking with reporters, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is pursuing parallel talks with three nations—Sweden, France, and the United States—regarding the future of its tactical aviation fleet. “I am conducting three parallel conversations regarding aircraft—with the Swedes, […]View the full article