Raw Intel

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) will conduct its largest-ever live exercise with the U.S. Marine Corps next month, simulating the defense of remote islands across multiple regions of the country. According to the GSDF, the exercise—known as “Resolute Dragon”—will run from September 11 to 25, taking place in Kyushu, Okinawa, Hokkaido, and on Iwo Jima […] The post Japan, U.S. Marines to hold record-size joint drill first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea has revealed the image of an AAM (Anti-Aircraft Missile) from the L-SAM system for the first time, offering a first public look at one of its newest ground-based air defense capabilities. According to details shared publicly, the L-SAM-I’s main feature is its ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) interceptor, designed for high-altitude defense. The AAM variant […] The post South Korea shows new L-SAM AAM interceptor first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

U.S. Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, are gaining hands-on experience with a new class of unmanned underwater systems designed to improve data gathering in coastal and littoral environments. On August 5, 2025, Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), I Marine Expeditionary Force, launched JaiaBot autonomous underwater vehicles during a familiarization […] The post U.S. Marines test new underwater bots first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

For those who’ve watched for a long time, especially over the last decade, our service academies and war colleges have drifted further toward academic leftist orthodoxy and away from their core competence as serious military organizations. The last eight months have been a whirlwind of change, as efforts are finally underway to refocus these institutions on their core competency. The two most high-profile Navy centers of higher education (with the Naval Postgraduate School a close 3rd, sorry fellas) are the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, MD and the Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, RI. We have covered the need for a depolarization and re-militarization at both …

North Korea has issued a sharp rebuke of Japan’s development and planned deployment of long-range missiles capable of striking enemy bases, calling the move “an extremely dangerous idea” in an editorial published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). According to the report, North Korea criticized Tokyo’s intentions to position 1,000-kilometer-range missiles in Japan’s […] The post North Korea slams Japanese long-range missile plans first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has taken delivery of its first F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter at Nyutabaru Air Base. The aircraft arrived at the base earlier today following delays linked to software development. Originally scheduled for delivery by the end of the last fiscal year, the handover was postponed due […] The post Japan receives first F-35B jets amid delays first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-2 fighter jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture during a training mission on 7 August. According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the aircraft went down approximately 150 kilometers northeast of Hyakuri Air Base. The pilot, a male first lieutenant in his 30s, successfully […] The post Japan’s F-2 jet crashes during routine training first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

An export-configured Su-34M fighter-bomber, painted in a distinctive camouflage pattern, has been spotted at Zhukovsky Airport outside Moscow, fueling speculation that Russia is preparing its first Su-34M deliveries to Algeria. The sighting, which surfaced earlier this week, points to potential progress on long-pending defense export contracts between Russia and Algeria. Back in December 2019, Algerian […] The post Russia may begin Su-34 deliveries to Algeria first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Motorola Solutions has completed its acquisition of Los Angeles-based Silvus Technologies, a company known for developing advanced mobile ad-hoc networking (MANET) systems used by defense and public safety agencies across the globe. According to a press release from Motorola Solutions, the acquisition will integrate Silvus’ low-latency, infrastructure-independent communications systems into Motorola’s existing suite of land […] The post Motorola Solutions buys Silvus for battlefield networking edge first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A Lithuanian defense startup has unveiled a new smart targeting module for air-dropped munitions, offering a domestically developed solution for precision strike operations even in environments where GPS signals are denied or degraded. According to Darius Antanaitis, a defense expert, the system is produced by Lithuanian deep-tech company PDKinematics and is designed to be integrated […] The post Lithuanian startup develops smart munition for drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian company Fulltime Robotics has presented a working prototype of its new anti-drone laser system, dubbed SlimBeam, designed specifically to engage and neutralize small FPV drones. The system was showcased during IRON DEMO 2025, where it drew attention for its compact size and directed-energy capabilities. According to an exclusive report by Oboronka, the SlimBeam laser […] The post Ukrainian startup develops lightweight drone-killer laser first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Taiwan has taken delivery of its first batch of U.S.-made Altius-600M purpose-built loitering munitions from defense firm Anduril Industries. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, Minister Wellington Koo met on Tuesday with Anduril founder Palmer Luckey in Taipei following the drone handover. The meeting took place amid ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and […] The post Taiwan receives U.S.-made Altius loitering munitions first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has secured a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contract for a U.S. Navy logistics support ship—its first such award following the recent U.S.-Korea shipbuilding tariff negotiations. According to a statement released by HD Hyundai Heavy on August 6, the company will carry out scheduled maintenance on the USNS Alan […] The post South Korean shipbuilder wins U.S. Navy repair contract first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

First things first, as it is the focus of the report, let’s go to the chart room and properly define the, “Central Arctic Ocean.” There it is, the horizontally shaded bit outside everyone’s EEZ. The chart comes from the report in question by RAND: The Future of Maritime Presence in the Central Arctic Ocean. Before we dive in—and the Front Porch knows exactly where I am going here—I need to point out again what we see at the very top where all the red, green, and blue lines intersect. You can’t miss it, and it should have you screaming to whatever direction The Pentagon is from where you sit. Yes kiddies, that is the Bering Strait, half of which is ours, and the other sid…

As the UK Ministry of Defence prepares to replace its aging SA80 rifle family, Heckler & Koch UK is making the case for its participation in Project Grayburn. In a recent interview with Calibre Defence, company CEO Paul McDonald discussed the firm’s current work supporting the SA80 platform and its readiness to contribute to the […] The post Heckler & Koch pursues British Army rifle contract first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Hanwha Systems has officially launched mass production of its active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system for South Korea’s next-generation KF-21 fighter jet. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), in partnership with Hanwha Systems, hosted a rollout ceremony on August 5 at the company’s Yongin Research and Development Center. The event was attended by more […] The post South Korea begins mass production of AESA radar for KF-21 fighter first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Ukraine for long-term sustainment and support services related to M777 howitzers, valued at up to $104 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified Congress of the decision, the agency said in a release. According to the notification, the Government […] The post U.S. clears $104M support deal for Ukrainian M777 howitzers first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Turkey’s leading defense electronics company, ASELSAN, reported robust financial performance for the first half of 2025, driven by sustained demand across core military sectors and rising export activity. According to the company’s financial report released this week, ASELSAN generated 53.7 billion Turkish Lira ($1.3 billion) in revenue during the first six months of the year—an […] The post Turkish defense giant lands $2.8B in defense deals first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Canadian defense manufacturer GSCI Advanced Photonics is gaining attention from military and law enforcement users for its electro-optical systems that emphasize precision, ruggedness, and modular integration. Known formally as General Starlight Company Inc. and based in Vaughan, Ontario, GSCI’s product line is increasingly used in operational environments where reliability under pressure is non-negotiable. At the […] The post Canadian tactical gear gains combat credibility first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Turkish-made Kirpi armored vehicle, once used in joint patrols alongside Russian forces in Syria, is now rolling through Ukrainian forests, serving on the front lines of a very different war. Originally developed by Turkish defense company BMC in response to growing demand for mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles, the Kirpi — meaning “hedgehog” in Turkish […] The post From Syria to Ukraine: Turkish Kirpis face a new war first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article