Raw Intel

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command issued a formal warning after an Australian military aircraft allegedly entered Chinese-controlled airspace without authorization over the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. According to a statement released by Senior Colonel Li Jianjian, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Air Force, the incident occurred on October […] The post China warns Australia after airspace violation first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Embraer Defense & Security has formalized a strategic partnership with India’s Mahindra Group to promote the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program. The agreement, signed in New Delhi, deepens cooperation between the two firms and aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to increase domestic defense production. According […] The post Embraer targets Asia for C-390 expansion first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Germany is preparing to order an additional 15 F-35 fighter jets from U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, according to Spiegel. The deal, reportedly valued at around €2.5 billion (approximately $2.9 billion), is expected to be presented to the Bundestag’s budget committee for approval. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius plans to expand Germany’s F-35 fleet beyond the […] The post Germany plans to buy 15 more F-35 fighter jets first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

China may be exploring its own version of the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program, according to footage that recently surfaced on the Chinese social media platform Douyin (TikTok). The video shows a weapons collector examining what appears to be a Chinese experimental 6.8×50mm armor-piercing cartridge with a tungsten carbide core. While there […] The post China explores small arms upgrade with 6.8mm round first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

An exclusive report by Babel has revealed the operations of a Ukrainian strike unit that converts commercial ultralight aircraft into long-range unmanned combat drones capable of hitting Russian targets hundreds of kilometers away. The covert unit, part of the 14th Regiment of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, has carried out 102 missions, 78 of which were […] The post Ukraine converts ultralights into unmanned bombers first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

L3Harris Technologies has secured a contract to deliver modified Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft configured for airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) missions to the Republic of Korea Air Force. The program, valued at over $2.26 billion, is part of a strategic initiative to enhance South Korea’s air surveillance and command capabilities amid rising tensions in […] The post South Korea orders AEW&C aircraft in $2.26B deal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

China’s Eastern Theater Command Navy has conducted a series of realistic combat exercises involving coastal defense missile forces, focusing on rapid deployment, strike coordination, and multi-layered air defense against unmanned aerial threats. The drills, held in unfamiliar terrain, were designed to test and improve the unit’s battlefield adaptability under high-tempo conditions. According to Chinese military […] The post China conducts coastal strike drills in eastern theater first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense issued a sharp warning to Washington on Friday over provisions in the newly passed U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that include expanded military support for Taiwan, calling the move a provocative escalation that threatens regional stability. Speaking in Beijing, Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang criticized the Taiwan-related elements […] The post China slams U.S. over Taiwan defense bill first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

China has unveiled a concept model for what is described as the world’s largest unmanned cargo drone at the 7th China Helicopter Exposition in Tianjin. The heavy-lift drone, referred to as the Ibis Shadow 60, is based on the airframe of the Shaanxi Y-9 military transport aircraft and features a take-off weight exceeding 60 tons. […] The post China unveils 60-ton unmanned cargo aircraft concept first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Z-20T assault helicopter, developed by China’s Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), was featured in flight demonstrations at the 7th China Helicopter Exposition in Tianjin after making its first public appearance during a military parade on September 3. The aircraft, developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), combines airlift capabilities with integrated firepower in […] The post China shows armed Z-20T helicopter in action first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

China has presented a new hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) concept aircraft, dubbed the 6T H-VTOL, during the 7th China Helicopter Exposition in Tianjin, which concluded on Sunday. The aircraft was developed with high-altitude operational demands in mind and is being positioned as a future platform for logistics and utility missions in remote or […] The post China debuts hybrid tilt-rotor at Tianjin expo first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has deployed its latest JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan to participate in the bilateral air combat exercise Indus Shield Alpha, the service announced via its official channels on Sunday. The exercise, hosted in Azerbaijan, brings together air and ground crews from both nations for an intensive aerial training […] The post Pakistan deploys JF-17 fighter jets to Azerbaijan first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) chief Seok Jong-gun warned this week that Chinese sanctions targeting Hanwha Ocean’s U.S.-based shipbuilding affiliates could eventually affect the U.S.-Korea naval cooperation project known as MASGA (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again). During a National Assembly defense committee hearing on Thursday, Seok said, “While there is no immediate impact, […] The post Chinese sanctions cloud U.S.-Korea naval cooperation first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back confirmed that the country will begin operational deployment of the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile — known for its heavy warhead — by the end of this year. In an interview with Yonhap News, Ahn stated, “Hyunmoo-5 is currently in the force integration process and will enter active deployment starting at […] The post South Korea to field ‘monster missile’ by year-end first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea’s defense minister pushed back against a rare protest by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), stating that a July search by investigators at Osan Air Base did not require prior consultation with the United States under existing agreements. The U.S. military had protested the special counsel team’s July 21 entry into the base, citing that […] The post Seoul defends Osan Base search amid U.S. protest first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The European Union’s MarsEUs defense project has concluded its final round of demonstrations, showcasing integrated battlefield technologies aimed at enabling beyond-line-of-sight targeting using unmanned platforms, sensors, and advanced munitions. According to a release from Milrem Robotics, the trials were conducted at Belgium’s King Albert Camp and marked the culmination of the two-year initiative launched in […] The post Milrem showcases battlefield robotics in live demo first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that on October 17, Russian forces launched the highest number of guided aerial bombs in a single day since the beginning of their use in the war —268 in total. The primary delivery platform for the bombs was the Su-34 fighter-bomber, which conducted strikes from […] The post Russia launches record bombing campaign first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Let’s return to a topic we covered in a FbF last month: the U-Boat war in the Caribbean. Not just the Caribbean, U-Boats in the Gulf of America (nee Mexico). From a strictly professional point of view, you have to tip your hat to the men of the German U-boat fleet. They didn’t have the great fleet boats like we did - no, not even close. But what they did with what they had ... it is still amazing. In the summer of 1942, U-166 patrolled the Gulf of Mexico in searches for a new victim. Steamer Robert E. Lee appeared 70 kilometers from the Mississippi mouth on July 30. The passenger carrier of 5184 tons displacement was going from Trinidad escorted with a PC-566 cruiser. The…

The Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) has finalized a €4.5 billion ($5.2 billion) contract to procure 270 additional Boxer armored vehicles for Germany and the Netherlands, expanding the multinational Boxer program’s total value to more than €10 billion ($11.6 billion). According to OCCAR, the agreement includes new driver training and ambulance variants for the […] The post Germany, Netherlands buy 222 Jakal fighting vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Türkiye plans to allocate over $51 billion to defense and internal security in 2026, according to the Clash Report. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said in remarks to parliament that the government has set aside ₺2.155 trillion ($51.4 billion) for defense and internal security-related expenditures. The combined amount represents about 11.4 percent of Türkiye’s total projected […] The post Türkiye to raise defense budget in 2026 first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article