Raw Intel

The U.S. Army has selected Fort Benning, Georgia, as one of five military bases that will host nuclear microreactors under a new Pentagon energy resilience initiative called the Janus Program, Army officials announced August 26, 2026. Fort Benning will pair with California-based Radiant Industries to install three of the company’s one-megawatt Kaleidos microreactors, adding a […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force has added $12.1 million to a contract with Scale AI to develop artificial intelligence agents for the E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center, the new “doomsday plane” meant to keep U.S. leaders in command of the military, including nuclear forces, if ground command centers are destroyed. The modification raises the total value […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force has published new details of its $20.7 billion contract with Raytheon for AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, confirming that the sole-source deal covers seven production lots and will keep the Tucson, Arizona, production line busy until mid-2033. An award notice posted on the federal contracting site on Oct. 23, 2026, shows the […]View the full article

Were they ever? I will stick with my quote that they are the best friend about $5 B a year will buy, except you can't buy friends. We have some tough decisions to make and whether we keep paying a bunch of corruptocrat weasels who have never played straight with us is first and foremost. I don't have an answer yet, and I don't think there are any good ones. View the full article

Today was the official casing of the colors for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. An awful lot of military folks have moved through there over the years and have received some of the best medical care in the world. There may have been some glitches, but all in all it was a safe haven for our wounded and sick. There was quite a going away party today and I attended w/ my girlfriend who is in the Wounded Warrior program there. The Golden Knights jumped in and started things off which is always fun. My girl went to introduce me to a double amputee skydiver who used to be a member of the Knights and actually returned to the team after losing both legs at the knee. F…

CH-47Fs take off (click to view full) DII FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record; this FOCUS Article covers the CH-47F/MH-47G Chinook helicopter programs, in the USA and abroad. These helicopters’ distinctive “flying banana” twin-rotor design stems from the brilliant work of aviation pioneer Frank Piasecki. It gives Chinooks the ability to adjust their positioning very precisely, while carrying a large airframe whose load capacity has made it the world’s most popular heavy-lift helicopter. The USA expects to be operating Chinooks in their heavy-lift role past 2030. The CH-47F looks similar to earlier models, but offers a…

HMS Nelson. One of the more curious, no, the most curious Battleship classes (2) ever built. The first thing that comes to mind is "Shipmate, where is your stern?" If it looks like a ship built by committee, well that is because it is. A product of The Washington Treaty, "compromises" were made. Though it was the only RN ship with 16" guns, the ship herself was a tad slow, and once the war was done - like the rest of the RN Battleships - off to the breakers she went. Best pictures here. Other sites here and here. Orig. posted 16JUN06. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http:/…

As most of you have noticed, we could do a DivThu twice a day every day for the last nine months or so ... but this is supposed to be a side-show and not a primary subject of cdrsalamander. As the Front Porch knows, when we started this almost a decade and a half ago, we were pretty much it in going after the diversity bullies, their commissariat and constellation of grievance driven rent seekers. We are no longer alone. The issue broke out above the ambient noise a few years ago, and now has some top-shelf advocates such as Christopher Rufo going at it full time. It is great to have company, but we still need to keep the drum beat going. I've decided to do the …

Your town isn't a small town at a bit over 34,000, but everyone knows each other more or less. It isn't so big that you are disconnected from your neighbors. You are always one degree away from having a connection to anyone. Maybe 2. Any American from New England would feel comfortable here. The weather is not that different, really - perhaps even a few degrees warmer. Trip Advisor does not give your off the beaten path home (even though you are a stop on the railroad line to Odessa) a big write up, but you have nice restaurants and pubs. You have shockingly beautiful parks. Again, you are poor, but you were, at least before the Russian Army came, a tidy and proud town i…

Americas The US Navy’s MQ-8C has tested the Single System Multi-Mission Airborne Mine Detection (SMAMD) system for the first time. Testing took place at Eglin Air Force Base in May, according to Naval Air System Command. “The team successfully demonstrated that the prototype SMAMD System effectively operates as designed aboard the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter in relevant real world environments,” said Capt. Thomas Lansley, Fire Scout program director. “This cutting-edge technology could really enhance Fire Scout’s capability going forward.” Carrying out the tests in day and night, the team gathered data on drifting, tethered, and moored mines throughout beach zone…

Americas Northrop Grumman won a $29 million modification, which exercises an option that provides five aerial refueling retrofit kits including installation onboard E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the Navy. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform. It features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems that will improve supportability and increase readiness. Work will take place in Florida. Expected completion will be in August 2025. On November 2, the 31st and final AC-130J gunship was delivered by Lockheed Martin to the US Air Force Special Operations Command. The warplane will …

Americas Lockheed Martin won a 841.5 million modification, which exercises options to provide non-recurring site activation, initial sustainment and associated administrative support, to include fleet management, support equipment, pilot flight equipment, post ejection survival training material, program management, and earned value management in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program of the Air Force, […]View the full article

DDG-110 Construction (click to view full) In April 2009 Bath and Ingalls agreed to the Navy’s surface combatant plans, thus heralding a significant restructuring within the American naval shipbuilding community. Under the agreements, the USA would end production at 3 Graf Spee sized DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class “destroyers,” but shift all production from the Congressionally-mandated joint […]View the full article

Americas California-based Aerospike has joined BAE Systems’ Mission Advantage technology partnership to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities for the US Army and other defense programs. Together with BAE, Aerospike will advance data mesh solutions using its real-time database to support the Army’s Unified Network, Army Data Platform, and other data-centric mission requirements. The Argentine government is moving closer to buying new submarines, eying the acquisition of three Scorpene boats from France’s Naval Group that could cost $2 billion, according to military sources in Buenos Aires. The latest development in the procurement saga is that a L…

Americas Oshkosh won a $792.4 million modification for a three-year extension to the family of Medium Tactical Vehicles A2 contract. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of February 4, 2029. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. A new satellite antenna from US-based Kymeta can connect to Ku- and Ka-band networks at the same time, highlighting a technical first that could reshape how military platforms stay connected in the field. Until now, operating across two bands typically requires separate antennas, adding wei…

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

Serbia has publicly displayed newly acquired Russian electronic warfare systems, including the Krasukha-2, during a recent military parade in Belgrade. The presentation marked the first public acknowledgment that Serbia had received the systems from Russia, despite ongoing international sanctions tied to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to information released during the parade, Serbia showcased […] The post Serbia receives Krasukha jamming systems from Russia 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

BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc., based in Radford, Virginia, has been awarded a firm‑fixed‑price contract valued at $20,348,798 to procure and store 6.4 million pounds of sheeted cotton linters, a primary raw material used to produce nitrocellulose for propellant manufacturing at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. The award was issued on November 7, 2025. According […]View the full article

China’s newest long-endurance stealth unmanned aerial vehicle, the CH-7, has completed its maiden flight. State broadcaster CCTV said on Monday that China’s new high-altitude, high-speed, long-endurance CH-7 had recently completed its first flight. The outlet reported that the aircraft demonstrated long endurance, stealth, and high cruising speed, and was designed to meet “the needs of […]View the full article