Raw Intel

Russia has launched a new nuclear-powered submarine named Khabarovsk, which the Kremlin claims could serve as a carrier for the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone. The Russian Ministry of Defense said the submarine was launched at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, one of the country’s key naval construction facilities. According to the ministry, the ceremony marked […]View the full article

United States Army soldiers assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division conducted mounted maneuver operations on January 31, 2026, while serving as opposing forces during the NATO Winter Camp exercise near Tapa, Estonia, the U.S. Army said. The training took place at and around the Tapa Training Area and involved U.S. […]View the full article

Two United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers carried out another long-range patrol along the coast of Venezuela this week, maintaining a pattern of sustained American bomber activity in the southern Caribbean. The flight, tracked in real time by open-source aviation observers, took place at a distance of roughly 80 kilometers from Venezuelan airspace. The […]View the full article

Flyer Defense has unveiled a counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) configuration of its Flyer 72-HD ground mobility vehicle at this year’s Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The Flyer 72 – Heavy Duty (F72-HD), developed as a lightweight, multi-role platform for U.S. Special Operations Forces, was shown with a new […] The post Flyer unveils drone-hunting vehicle at AUSA first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) have signed a joint EUR 15 million ($17 million) agreement with Finnish communications company KNL for the delivery of Cognitive Networked HF (CNHF) Manpack radios. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025. According to the FDF, this order is […] The post Finland, Sweden boost interoperability with new HF radio buy first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Boeing and the Defense Logistics Agency have begun testing a new contract-and-delivery approach intended to shorten the time it takes for military aircraft parts to move from request to arrival. The model, known as Rapid Delivery Release, or RDR, is designed to cut the proposal and award cycle and enable immediate action once demand appears. […]View the full article

Russia has revealed a new factory-produced munition for FPV drones known as Kaplya, which Russian military sources say is intended to defeat armored vehicles fitted with cope cage armor and roof-mounted anti-drone canopies. The munition was presented by Dmitry Kulko, a military correspondent for Russia’s Channel One, who released video and images of the payload […]View the full article

The U.S. Army issued a Request for Information to support market research for the Red Sands Hard Kill Challenge 2026, focused on countering Group 1–3 small unmanned aerial systems, including activities at the Red Sands Integrated Experimentation Center 23.2 at Shamal-2 Range in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The notice seeks industry input to assist […]View the full article

South Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance has rejected the entire proposed budget for upgrading K1 tanks with air conditioning and positive pressure systems, despite internal temperatures reaching up to 50°C (122°F) during summer field evaluations. According to a briefing obtained by Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, during a test […] The post South Korean K1 tank crews endure extreme heat first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division completed a live-fire counter-drone exercise from April 7 through 9 at Fort Hood, Texas, evaluating a range of unmanned aerial system defeat capabilities under its “Golden Shield” counter-drone concept for armored formations. Among the systems tested was the Harpe missile, a micro-missile interceptor developed by Perseus Defense, a San […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a $198 million deal to extend the service life of its F/A-18 Block II Super Hornet fighter jets and integrate advanced Block III avionics capabilities, the Pentagon announced. The new contract increases the overall ceiling for a program aimed at modernizing and sustaining one of the Navy’s most widely […] The post U.S. Navy extends Super Hornet’s service life first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed Monday that its special operations unit “A” conducted a drone strike on the Russian-occupied Saky military airfield in Crimea overnight, damaging and destroying multiple combat aircraft and a stockpile of aviation munitions. According to an official statement released on August 4, unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the SBU successfully penetrated […] The post Ukrainian strike destroys Russian fighter jet first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Over 800 soldiers from the British Army’s 19th Light Brigade have completed what the Army describes as the largest overseas deployment of a reserve formation since the 1980s. The unit took part in Exercise Rhino Heart in Sennelager, Germany, training alongside Canadian and Estonian forces to test rapid deployment, combined operations, and NATO interoperability. According […]View the full article

Russian state media has revealed the creation of a new airborne unit tasked with intercepting Ukrainian drones using modified civilian aircraft. In a recent TV segment aired, Russian Central Television showcased a formation of Cessna 172 light planes outfitted with machine guns and onboard targeting systems, marking another adaptation in Russia’s response to continued long-range […] The post Russia turns Cessnas into drone hunters first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russia has resumed large-scale efforts to restore its aging fleet of T-62 tanks, sending the decades-old vehicles back into combat in Ukraine. Recent photos and videos circulating online show Russian military trains transporting T-62s from storage depots to industrial plants, where the tanks are being repaired and upgraded before deployment. The tanks, which first entered […] The post Russia revives more T-62 tanks amid battlefield losses first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Bulgaria has received the first batch of Stryker armored vehicles, with five combat vehicles arriving at the port of Burgas on Feb. 14, 2026, marking the start of deliveries under the country’s military modernization program, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense announced. The shipment represents the initial phase of a broader procurement effort conducted through international […]View the full article

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on January 22 that the Republic of Korea Marine Corps’ amphibious maneuver helicopters have maintained readiness levels above target requirements, following a review of operational performance and logistics support conducted in Daejeon. The meeting, held at DAPA headquarters, brought together representatives from the Marine Corps, Korea Aerospace […]View the full article

Coming up on seven months of the second Trump Administration, I think it is time to survey the services’ competition for attention, funding, and prioritization. Navalists need to take a deep breath and take a bite of humble pie…and perhaps try to learn something. Of course, I am talking about the U.S. Air Force. The boys (and girls) in blue are having a hell of a year, and it isn’t by accident. Yes, there is timing—but as the Roman philosopher Seneca reminded everyone a couple of thousand years ago: "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" This is more than just bragging rights. People are drawn to success and performance. So is money, influence, and th…

Satellite images have confirmed the destruction of Russian helicopters at an airbase in occupied Crimea following a Ukrainian drone strike. The attack targeted the airport near Simferopol on August 30, Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi reported. According to the report, satellite photos published by the AviaVector community showed two helicopters destroyed on the airfield. The images, comparing […] The post Satellite photos show Russian helicopters destroyed in Crimea first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Dutch defense contractor COBBS Industries BV announced on Monday that it is developing the Netherlands’ first anti-drone net system for the Ministry of Defence, specifically to enhance protection for the country’s PzH 2000NL self-propelled howitzers. The system is being introduced in response to growing threats posed by small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) in modern artillery […]View the full article