Raw Intel

Frankly, this should have started in earnest years ago, but I have a theory. We’ll get to that in a moment, but here’s the summary of developments since we all fell into a turkey coma. Ukrainian naval drones hit two oil tankers from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” as they travelled through the Black Sea, Ukrainian officials have said. Footage verified by the BBC shows waterborne drones speeding through the waves into the vessels, before detonating into a ball of flame, sending black smoke into the air. The targeted tankers were named by Turkish authorities as the Kairos and Virat, both flagged to the Gambia. Both were hit off the Turkish coast on Friday, with the Virat …

A Ukrainian military specialist has published photographs of a downed Russian reconnaissance drone allegedly equipped with a Starlink satellite terminal and a locally manufactured onboard systems. The images, shared by Serhiy Beskrestnov—also known by the callsign “Serhiy Flesh”—provide further evidence that Russia may be using civilian satellite internet services to conduct battlefield surveillance. “Now I […]View the full article

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV-7 has released footage of a previously unseen air defense system during a recent live-fire training exercise in the Gobi Desert. The system, likely a short-range air defense platform, was shown launching surface-to-air missiles in what appeared to be high-precision strike tests. The new complex features a modular launcher mounted on a […]View the full article

The ADS Group, the United Kingdom’s trade association for aerospace, defense, security, and space, has formally opened its membership to Ukrainian defense companies for the first time. Calibre Defence reports that the announcement was made during DSEI 2025 in London and coincided with a Taskforce KINDRED-led briefing marking the “UK/Ukraine 100-Year Partnership.” Within 48 hours […] The post UK opens ADS Group to Ukrainian defense industry first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Croatia has formally signed a contract to acquire 18 CAESAR 6×6 MkII self-propelled howitzers and 15 Serval armored vehicles from French defense manufacturer KNDS, the company announced on December 9. The agreement is part of Croatia’s ongoing efforts to modernize its artillery and mechanized forces. According to a statement from KNDS France, the signing took […]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 United States Navy confirmed plans to increase production of the Hammerhead anti-submarine mine system through a contract modification expected to be awarded to General Dynamics Mission Systems, according to a presolicitation notice released by Naval Sea Systems Command on March 13. The notice states that the Navy intends to modify an existing contract to […]View the full article

The United States Army has awarded Rolls-Royce Solutions America Inc. a $73.5 million contract to procure Merkava tank power pack kits and related engineering services under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement supporting Israel, according to a Feb. 17, 2026 contract announcement released by the U.S. Department of War. The contract covers the delivery of […]View the full article

Ukrainian military pilots have again raised concerns that the service life of their flight equipment may expire before the operational lifespan of their aircraft, particularly across MiG-29, Su-27, and L-39 fleets. The issue was highlighted by the “Sonyashnyk” (Sunflower) community, a group closely linked to Ukrainian military aviators, which pointed to ongoing reliance on legacy […]View the full article

U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division are conducting intensive armored training in Poland under late-autumn conditions that mirror the challenges of Eastern Europe. On November 18, 2025, crews maneuvered an M1A2 Abrams tank through a water obstacle and mud fields at the Bemowo Piskie Training […]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 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

Oshkosh Defense has secured a $49.2 million contract to convert and deliver upgraded cargo vehicles for the United States Marine Corps, the Department of War announced. According to a release, the contract calls for Oshkosh Defense LLC of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to convert an undisclosed number of Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) Extra Long Wheelbase cargo […]View the full article

MatrixSpace, a Massachusetts-based developer of compact radar systems, has announced the launch of its Portable 360 Radar, a low-power counter-drone radar system designed to rapidly deploy in diverse operational settings ranging from public event security to military environments. In a release dated December 9, 2025, MatrixSpace said the system provides 360-degree panoramic surveillance coverage for […]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

Schiebel has completed the first flight test campaign of its CAMCOPTER S-300 unmanned helicopter in France, a step forward in the development of the next-generation rotary-wing unmanned air system for military and government use. According to a statement from the company dated December 18, 2025, the flight activities were conducted at the CESA Drones test […]View the full article

Divergent Technologies and Mach Industries announced on Feb. 17, 2026, in Los Angeles that they have jointly launched Venom, an autonomous strike aircraft prototype developed and brought to flight readiness in 71 days, demonstrating rapid hardware development enabled by digital manufacturing and modular system design. According to a joint announcement from the companies, the Venom […]View the full article

ThinKom Solutions has won the U.S. Space Force’s “Fight Tonight” competition for 2026, beating out competing entries with a containerized satellite ground station designed to replace the kind of fixed dish antenna infrastructure that makes military communications vulnerable to detection and attack. Space Systems Command announced ThinKom as the overall winner on May 6, 2026, […]View the full article

Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force are accelerating development of the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, with the program now targeting a first flight test in 2027 and initial operational capability in the early 2030s. The Sentinel program is intended to replace the Minuteman III, the aging ground-based leg of America’s nuclear triad that […]View the full article

Aeon conducted a test launch of its new Zeus shoulder-fired missile system at a ranch in East Texas, according to Rochefort Ventures CEO Kyle Bass, who announced the milestone on Friday. Bass wrote that the launch marked a milestone for the program, crediting developer Naweed Tahmas and his team for rapid progress. The test comes […]View the full article