Raw Intel

Via Brian McElhiney and Keishi Koja at Stars and Stripes: Japan’s coast guard and military are helping the Navy battle a blaze that broke out aboard an amphibious transport docking ship off Okinawa’s southeastern coast on Wednesday evening. “Crews are responding to a fire aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) this evening, Aug. 20, (Japan time) which is in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan,” U.S. 7th Fleet wrote in an unsigned statement emailed to Stars and Stripes. “We will provide more details as they become available.” … The fire started in the front part of the 684-foot-long vessel, a coast guard spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday. “We do not know if it starte…

The British Army announced that its Boxer armored vehicle has successfully completed a Javelin integration trial, marking what it described as a major step toward providing its forces with the ability to fire the anti-tank missile from under armor. According to the Army, “Earlier this year, Boxer successfully completed its Javelin integration trial! This achievement […] The post British Boxer successfully fires Javelin missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The French defense supplier Arquus has confirmed a contract to deliver 61 Bastion armored vehicles to Ukraine. According to the latest Rapport de mission released by John Cockerill, Arquus, which operates as a subsidiary of the company, said it “has also signed a contract for the delivery of 61 Bastion vehicles for Ukraine.” The report […] The post Arquus to deliver 61 Bastion vehicles to Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Royal Navy has awarded the University of Plymouth a contract to supply a C-Enduro Unmanned Surface Vessel integrated with Robosys Automation’s VOYAGER AI software, enabling advanced over-the-horizon data-gathering operations. Robosys Automation, a developer of maritime autonomy systems, announced the agreement alongside the University of Plymouth, highlighting that the vessel—named Bauza—will be equipped with the […] The post Royal Navy awards contract for AI-powered unmanned vessel first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Navy has completed a two-week experiment in Alpena, Michigan, testing uncrewed aerial systems and unmanned surface vessels during Silent Swarm 25, an exercise that focused on swarming electronic warfare tactics and the use of autonomous platforms in future conflicts. According to the Navy, last month, participants used Silent Swarm to “experiment with emerging […] The post U.S. Navy tests fiber-optic drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

American and South Korean troops carried out counter-drone training at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on August 20, 2025, as part of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise. The training, conducted by the ROK-U.S. Combined Division’s 652nd Air Defense unit in coordination with the U.S. Army’s 5-17 Air Cavalry Squadron, focused on detecting and suppressing hostile […] The post U.S. and South Korean forces train to counter drone threats first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Department of Defense has deployed advanced optic and surveillance systems along the rugged U.S.–Mexico border to improve detection and monitoring in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Ground-Based Operational Surveillance System–Expeditionary (GBOSS-E), the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3), and the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) are now being […] The post Pentagon deploys high-tech optics to U.S.-Mexico border first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Navy has concluded an experimental port damage repair exercise in Gulfport, Mississippi, reflecting growing attention to the vulnerability of maritime infrastructure in large-scale conflicts. The limited objective experiment, held August 15, 2025, brought together multiple expeditionary combat units to simulate restoring a pier under hostile conditions. The Navy Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center (NEXWDC) […] The post U.S. Navy simulates combat port repairs after Ukraine lessons first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $97.3 million Foreign Military Sale to Australia for Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) and related equipment. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which delivered the required certification notifying Congress, the Australian government has requested to purchase 161 LwCLUs. These systems will be added to […] The post U.S. approves $97M Javelin launcher sale to Australia first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has approved a $1.5 billion program to increase the production of armored personnel carriers and tanks over the next five years, a move aimed at reinforcing the country’s ground forces after months of intense combat. According to a statement from the ministry, the plan “will increase the armored vehicle inventory […] The post Israel approves $1.5B plan to expand Merkava tank production first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Roshel Smart Armored Vehicles and Swedish steel producer Swebor have announced a new partnership to manufacture ballistic-grade steel in Canada, marking the first facility of its kind in the country. Maria Tkacheva, Chief Operating Officer at Roshel Smart Armored Vehicles, said in a statement: “Roshel and Sweden’s Swebor have signed a strategic partnership to establish […] The post Roshel, Swebor to build Canada’s first ballistic steel plant first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Italy has been a laggard in defense spending for a while. Although Italy claims, through some accounting tricks, to reach 2% of GDP, in reality, she is at ~1.5%, which still amounts to about $34 billion—right between Poland and Australia. Italy is not a 3rd-tier economy. So, let’s accept that Italy will be Italy. She won’t get to 5% of GDP on defense like some will (Poland for instance). We should give her some credit, and she decides to match the USA at ~3% of GDP. With the numbers we have on our cocktail napkin that would get us another …. $34 billion? A doubling? No, that is too optimistic. We can’t realistically expect that. We are talking about Italy here. We can’t …

Germany’s Defense Ministry has outlined procurement plans worth more than €350 billion ($409 billion) through 2041, reflecting Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s pledge to make the Bundeswehr Europe’s strongest conventional military force. According to the draft of the 2026 federal budget submitted to parliament on Monday, defense planners have mapped out a multi-decade framework for new weapons, […] The post Germany unveils $409B defense procurement plan first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Iran on Monday warned that a new war with Israel could erupt at any moment, raising concerns of a fresh escalation after a deadly 12-day confrontation in June. Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, stressed the need for full preparedness. “A new war with Israel may break out at […] The post Iran restructures forces after June defeat first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Raytheon, an RTX business, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany’s Diehl Defence to co-produce key elements of the Stinger missile in Europe. The agreement, announced by the companies, sets the stage for extending Stinger production at Diehl Defence facilities as part of the firm’s expansion plan. “Stinger is the surface-to-air missile of choice […] The post Raytheon and Diehl to build Stinger missiles in Europe first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Hypersonic missiles are forcing a rethink of global air defense, and Israel is urging South Korea to join the next phase of technological development. Yuval Baseski, Vice President of Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, told the South Korean outlet Maeil Business Newspaper that both North Korea and Iran are investing heavily in hypersonic missile programs. […] The post Israel pushes Korea to join hypersonic defense development first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani is in Turkey today, where he met with Defense Minister Yaşar Güler to discuss expanding cooperation in the defense sector. The Ministry of Defense said the talks on August 19 included the possible procurement of Turkish-made drones for the Self-Defense Forces. Japan is assessing Turkey’s well-established expertise in unmanned aerial […] The post Japan weighs Turkish drones after Ukraine combat success first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Gabon unveiled newly acquired Chinese armored vehicles during its Independence Day military parade on August 17, underscoring Beijing’s growing defense presence in Africa. The display featured the eight-wheeled VN-1 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and the WMA-301, a 105mm wheeled assault gun widely exported across the continent. The VN-1 IFV, manufactured by China North Industries Corporation […] The post Gabon receives Chinese-made VN-1 fighting vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

North Macedonia has expanded its fleet of U.S.-built armored vehicles with the delivery of 29 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), formally presented on August 15 at the “Jane Sandanski” Barracks in Shtip. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Minister of Defence Vlado Misajlovski, Chief of the General Staff Major General Sashko Lafchiski, […] The post North Macedonia receives 29 new JLTVs from U.S. first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Preparations are underway in Beijing for what is expected to be one of China’s most expansive military parades in years. While ground forces equipment has already impressed observers, analysts say the aviation segment may become the parade’s defining moment. Andreas Rupprecht, a leading expert on Chinese military aviation, told Defence Blog that the scale of […] The post Analyst: China’s air power display exceeds expectations first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article