Raw Intel

A prominent Russian military analyst says Russia continues to face major technical obstacles in developing and fielding an effective active protection system (APS) for its armored vehicles, despite decades of effort and the growing use of drones on the battlefield. In a detailed technical commentary, Russian defense expert Viktor Murakhovsky described ongoing difficulties with 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

Russia has carried out a missile strike on the port of Odesa, with a Turkish-operated passenger and cargo ferry reportedly among the targets, according to initial reports circulating in regional media and online sources. According to the information provided, Russian forces launched an attack using an Iskander operational-tactical missile system against port infrastructure in Odesa. […]View the full article

United States Marine Corps aviation units are preparing for combat sorties in the Caribbean as part of ongoing missions directed by U.S. Southern Command and the Department of War. New footage released by the Marine Corps shows F-35B Lightning II aircraft being armed in Puerto Rico as U.S. forces continue efforts to disrupt illicit trafficking […]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

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…

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has been awarded a $68.3 million contract under the Department of War’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program to design and construct a next-generation facility for testing hypersonic materials, the company announced Thursday. The new facility—internally known as Project Helios—will feature a mid-tier arc jet system coupled with a high-powered […] The post Kratos wins $68M deal for hypersonic test site 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

New video footage circulating online appears to show a Sukhoi Su-57 Felon stealth fighter operating in Algerian Air Force service during a flight over Algeria, providing what observers describe as another visual indication of Russia’s export delivery of the fifth-generation aircraft. The emergence of the footage comes as reports continue to surface regarding Algeria’s acquisition […]View the full article

Ukrainian armored warfare specialist Mykola Salamakha says the current state of Ukraine’s and Russia’s tank forces is “roughly the same – grim,” with most frontline tank battalions operating at a fraction of their intended strength due to heavy attrition and drone threats. In an interview with Radio Svoboda, Salamakha explained that operational battalions rarely field […] The post Ukrainian tank units face shortage of combat-ready vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United States Air Force and Northrop Grumman are accelerating production capacity for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber as the aircraft advances through testing and early manufacturing, the company announced in February 2026. Final assembly of the next-generation bomber is underway at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Palmdale, California, with the first operational aircraft scheduled to […]View the full article

The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.5 billion contract to increase production of its AGM-158 series of long-range missiles. According to a company statement issued on July 31, the contract supports increased deliveries of both the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), two of the U.S. military’s most […] The post Pentagon awards $9.5B to Lockheed for long-range missiles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Japan’s Ministry of Defense and the Air Staff Office have issued a new round of formal requests for information and proposals as part of an accelerated effort to field next-generation uncrewed systems. The announcement, dated October 31, 2025, outlines three core technology areas: armed UAVs for naval attack roles, high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), and satellite […]View the full article

This is a very serious exchange, even discounting for the expected dramatic heavy breathing from the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China’s Permanent Mission to the UN @Chinamission2un sent a second letter to the UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres to reiterate China’s position on Japanese PM Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan. The letter once again expresses China’s strong opposition to the Japanese side’s wrongful moves, such as implying use of force against China, disrespect for UN Charter and international legal instruments and pushing military buildup—all of which signal the Japanese side’s desire to challenge the postwar internationa…

Polish prosecutors, counterintelligence, and tax authorities are investigating a Warsaw-based company that received nearly 100 million złoty (about $25 million) from a South Korean defense contractor shortly after multi-billion-dollar arms deals were signed between Warsaw and Seoul. The investigation, launched in June by the Warsaw Regional Prosecutor’s Office, is linked to Poland’s high-value defense purchases […] The post Poland launches probe into Korean arms contracts first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Republic of China Navy (Taiwan) has issued a public request for a naval suicide drone system and associated control infrastructure. The request, dated December 8, 2025, outlines the Navy’s interest in developing or acquiring unmanned surface vessels (USVs) capable of high-speed, long-range autonomous missions under contested conditions. According to the notice, the project falls […]View the full article

A CIA-linked LM-100J Super Hercules operated by Pallas Aviation landed in Caracas on January 10. The aircraft, using callsign WDE08 and tail number N96MG, departed shortly afterward and returned to Puerto Rico. The aircraft belongs to Pallas Aviation, described as a private company that performs “specialized work worldwide that most others refuse.” The company operates […]View the full article

I don’t publish new “Long Game” editions as much as I used to in the two decades since it started. The major reason is that the Long Game is here. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has the world’s largest navy. It could be argued that she is the greatest regional naval power in the Western Pacific. We are well past the point that the Pacific could be considered an American lake. Her challenge at the global scale is already well underway, pun intended. However, there is another Long Game that must be played out; it is changing the mindset and people in government, academia, and industry who refuse, for a whole host of reasons, to acknowledge the threat to the West from …