Raw Intel

A missile strike likely hit the Proton plant in the Russian city of Orel, a manufacturer of optoelectronic equipment whose components are used in Russia’s Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Pantsir-S1 air defense systems and Kh-71 cruise missiles, according to the monitoring channel Exilenova+. Local authorities declared an aviation and missile danger alert in Orel during the […]View the full article

As the U.S. decides who will be president for the next four years a review of procurement spending indicates that the Trump Administration has shown little difference in appropriations versus previous administrations, despite claims to have radically increased spending. The upshot is that the last four years saw about $2.9 in spending appropriated in inflation-adjusted dollars, which was larger than Barak Obama’s second term, but less than the Obama Administration’s first term. President Trump’s campaign speech claims of spending during his term relative to previous terms are incorrect. President Trump claimed this year that military spending in the 90s “used to be ‘mi…

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $15.9 million contract modification to develop a second source for the qualification and facilitization of the Electromechanical Control Actuation System for the Hellfire missile. Hellfire is an air-to-ground, laser guided, subsonic missile with significant anti-tank capacity. It can also be used as an air-to-air weapon against helicopters or slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft. Work will take place in Orlando, Florida. Estimated completion date is August 28, 2021. Rolls-Royce won a $72.9 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure 33 production AE1107C V-22 Osprey engines; 14 for the Marine Corps and 19 for the Navy for…

WaPo is using the exactly correct phrase, "State Sponsored Hijacking;" Earlier Sunday, Ryanair Flight 4978 from Greece to Lithuania was over Belarusian airspace, when it was contacted by local air traffic control. The controllers claimed that there might be a bomb on board and ordered the plane to land in Minsk, Belarus’s capital city. The evidence suggests they were concerned with a very different threat — to the regime of Belarus’s longtime autocratic ruler, Alexander Lukashenko. One of the passengers on the plane was an opposition journalist, Roman Protasevich, whom Belarusian authorities wanted to take into custody. According to reported eyewitnesses: “One guy…

Americas The Ross Group won a $10.6 million deal, which provides services for the phased demolition and construction of selected Ramp 200 and 300 fuel hydrants for KC-46A aircraft. The new work includes, but is not limited to, modify the current aircraft parking layout, demolish four existing aircraft direct fueling stations, demolish and replace six aircraft direct fueling stations suitable for KC-46A aircraft refueling operations, modify the existing fuel piping laterals, demolish and replace aircraft rated pavement on Ramps 200 and 300, as required, to demolish and install new hydrant pits and fuel piping, provide mooring points at all KC-46A parking spaces, and re-str…

Americas General Dynamics Land Systems won a maximum $145.5 million deal for multiple spare parts in the Abrams Main Battle Tank, Stryker Family of Vehicles, Light Armored Vehicle Family of Vehicles, Cougar, Buffalo and RG-31. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 US Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The M1 Abrams entered service in 1980 and currently serves as the main battle tank of the United States Army and formerly the Marine Corps. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion date is July 29, 2029. Booz Allen Hamilton won a $15.5 million contract modification to exercise Option Year Four for analysis…

Americas Sikorsky won an $8.4 million delivery order for the repair of 17 motor controls and five actuator mechanical control processors in support of the CH-53K aircraft. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut. This contract contains no options, and work is expected to be completed by March 2027. Annual working capital funds (Navy) […]View the full article

Americas Lt. Col. Joel “Thermo” Thesing, an F-15C instructor pilot from the 123rd Fighter Squadron of the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing, became the unit’s first aviator to take the controls of the highly anticipated F-15EX fighter jet. This inaugural flight marks a significant step forward as the 142nd Wing prepares to transition its […]View the full article

Americas Defense manufacturing firm X-Bow Systems has successfully launched its Bolt rocket in a test that showcased the company’s advancement in solid rocket motor (SRM) propellant technology. The launch gathered essential data for pre- and post-flight analysis, further validating the SRM’s performance. This data is crucial for evaluating the feasibility of large-scale SRM production for both commercial and military use. Defense tech startup Saronic Technologies has unveiled its third autonomous surface vessel (ASV). The 24-foot (7.31-meter) Corsair is the largest ASV launched by the Texas firm, followed by the 4.2-meter Cutlass and the 1.8-meter Spyglass, both unveiled …

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

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen testing of the country’s new series of tactical uncrewed combat aerial vehicles, according to state-run outlet KCNA. During the inspection, Kim reportedly directed defense and aerospace authorities to focus on integrating artificial intelligence into both the drone control systems and broader combat operations. While no technical details […] The post North Korea accelerates AI drone push first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

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

Peru has taken a major step toward building a modern defense industrial base, inaugurating a new assembly plant that will produce advanced armored vehicles under a long-term partnership with South Korea. Peruvian President Jose Enrique Jeri Ore officially opened the Special and Military Vehicle Assembly Plant of FAME S.A.C. in Lurigancho, Chosica, an event the […]View the full article

Thai military forces have captured multiple Chinese-made GAM-102LR guided anti-tank missile systems from Cambodian troops during fighting near Hill 677, according to recent reports from the area. According to the reports, Thai soldiers secured a significant quantity of GAM-102LR missiles after overrunning Cambodian positions on the contested high ground. The missiles are considered a modern […]View the full article

The Embassy of Japan in Ukraine announced that the final shipment of Japan Self-Defense Force vehicles designated for Ukraine arrived in Poland on January 12, completing Tokyo’s latest transfer of support equipment to the Ukrainian government. The delivery included 14 vehicles—1/2-ton trucks and High Mobility Vehicles—as part of an additional package approved in October 2024. […]View the full article

Recent photos and videos circulating on social media show that Iran has received Russian-made Mi-28NE attack helicopters, with aircraft spotted at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport and observed conducting flight tests over the capital in early 2026. Several images of Mi-28NE helicopters have appeared from within and around hangars at Mehrabad Airport, where assembly work was reportedly […]View the full article

Life is short. There is so much to learn with so little time. So many great men with so many stories—and yet, there stand their stories in the library, keys to understanding, just waiting for fate to grant you more time. There are some names that wander in and out of your reading. Often just for humorous moments like learning their nickname. For instance, a U.S. Army general known to his men as, of all things, “Old Iron Tits.” Of course, I’m speaking of General Matthew Ridgway, USA. /img/missing-image.pngA grenade, a first aid kit and … is that a battle ascot? Anyway, back to topic. I mostly remember his advice about Vietnam. He was instrumental in keeping us out in the…

Ukraine’s First Separate Medical Battalion said it completed six successful casualty evacuation missions in a single day using unmanned ground vehicles. The battalion said the missions were carried out over a 24-hour period and focused on extracting wounded troops from combat positions under constant pressure from Russian first-person-view attack drones. In a statement cited by […]View the full article

With the Falkland Islands War back in the news, thought ti would be fun to bring back a FbF from 2017 on a nice, tidy OP by our British friends. A great story via our friends at ThinkDefence about an exceptional side-show to The Falkland Island war. Pebble Island lies to the north of West Falkland and in 1982, its 25 inhabitants were mainly involved with tending 25,000 sheep. Its small airstrip was subject to a daring raid by the SAS. It did have an airstrip, though, or more accurately, four, three of grass, and the other on the beach. On the 24th of April, Naval Air Station Calderon (as it was called) was established there. ... HMS Hermes was detached along with HMS Gla…

Teledyne FLIR Defense unveiled a new throwable reconnaissance robot at SOF Week in Tampa that shares a common controller with the company’s Black Hornet 4 nano-drone, allowing a single soldier to operate both a ground robot and an aerial drone without switching equipment or relearning workflows. The FirstLook 125, announced at the special operations conference […]View the full article