Raw Intel

As Ukraine continues to use low-cost homemade drones to ignite Russian oil refineries, Moscow unleashed one of its most destructive missile and drone barrages on Kyiv in months, striking civilian neighborhoods in the heart of the capital. In the overnight assault of August 28, Russia fired hundreds of weapons — including ballistic and cruise missiles […] The post Ukraine’s cheap drones hit refineries, Russia bombs Kyiv first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Japan’s Ministry of Defense is considering an unprecedented move to use armored civilian vehicles as replacements for the Ground Self-Defense Force’s (GSDF) aging light armored fleet. Officials say the plan involves testing modified commercial models, including vehicles produced by major Japanese automakers, to determine their suitability for future military use. According to officials cited by […] The post Japan plans to use civilian SUVs to replace aging military vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Warfare Systems, based in Hudson, New Hampshire, has been awarded a $1,7 billion contract for the production and delivery of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS) rounds, the Pentagon announced. According to the Department of Defense, the contract covers up to 55,000 APKWS units under Full Rate Production Lots […] The post Pentagon awards $1.74B contract for APKWS rockets 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

Spanish Air Force EF-18M fighter jets intercepted Russian combat aircraft flying near NATO airspace over the Baltic region in late January, as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, according to Spain’s Defense Staff. The interception was carried out by F-18M aircraft from Spain’s Wing 15, currently deployed to Šiauliai Air Base in northern Lithuania […]View the full article

An unpainted, stripped-down hull of an M1 Abrams tank was recently seen being transported on a gooseneck trailer near Birmingham, Alabama, sparking speculation that it may be headed for an upgrade under the U.S. Army’s Abrams modernization program for Poland. The photographed tank hull, lacking a turret and covered by a tarp, drew attention online […]View the full article

Open-source intelligence analysts have noted unusual flight activity involving several Brazilian military and government aircraft, with multiple air assets tracked heading north toward areas closer to Venezuela’s border, according to data from Flightradar24 and posts by the monitoring group Aviation and Naval Assets. The observed movement, which includes Brazilian Air Force transport and patrol aircraft, […]View the full article

South Korea’s military is under investigation over allegations that armed Apache helicopters conducted provocative flight operations near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) last year, accompanied by false radio transmissions suggesting imminent strikes on North Korean territory. The operations, reportedly ordered by higher command, are now part of a broader probe into whether Seoul sought to […] The post Seoul accused of using Apache helicopters to provoke North Korea first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Aerospace giant Boeing has been awarded a $104 million delivery order by the U.S. Navy for the repair of advanced cockpit display systems used in F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft. According to a Department of War contract announcement, the order (N00383-26-F-0YY0) falls under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00383-22-G-YY01). The deal […]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

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the T-90 tank family in an interview with India Today, calling it one of the best main battle tanks in the world and highlighting India’s domestic production of the platform. “India produces our famous T-90 tanks. Believe me when I say these tanks are considered among the best in the […]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

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía announced on Feb. 12 in Madrid that it has partnered with Poland-based Ekolot Aerospace & Defense (EAD) to integrate its flight control system into the ZEUS fixed-wing VTOL unmanned aircraft platform. According to the company, the collaboration will see UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía’s guidance, navigation, and control systems embedded into ZEUS, Ekolot EAD’s […]View the full article

Goodrich, a Raytheon company headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $197.2 million delivery order for the production and delivery of MS-110 airborne reconnaissance systems under a Foreign Military Sales contract with Poland. The award was made by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The contract […]View the full article

China has released the first official footage of flight operations from its newest aircraft carrier Fujian, now in the final stages of sea trials before entering service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The images, published by the PLAN, show not only takeoffs and landings of the older carrier-based fighter J-15T but also the […] The post China’s carrier program enters new phase first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army has approved a $14.2 million modification to a Barrett Firearms Manufacturing contract for additional MK22 barrel kits. According to the contract notice, Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc., Christiana, Tennessee, received modification P00009 to contract W15QKN-21-D-0028 for $14.2 million. The action raises the contract’s total cumulative face value to $64.1 million. Bids were solicited […] The post U.S. Army orders more MK22 multi-caliber kits first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

DRS Sustainment Systems has been awarded a $12.6 million delivery order to provide engineering, logistics, and parts support for the Tunner aircraft cargo loader, a key asset in U.S. Air Force global mobility operations. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, has awarded DRS Sustainment Systems Inc., based in […]View the full article