Raw Intel

The Czech Army has begun testing its first CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicle in Sweden, placing the new armored platform through demanding trials in harsh Nordic terrain and winter conditions. The official X account of the Czech Army confirmed that the vehicle is undergoing extensive testing designed to verify that the platform meets the military’s […]View the full article

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/6, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), recently employed the Vector unmanned aerial system during UAS operations at Camp Santiago in Puerto Rico in support of United States Southern Command missions aimed at disrupting illicit trafficking and safeguarding the homeland. Germany-based defense technology company Quantum Systems […]View the full article

Aerostat platforms—often seen as an archaic technology that many readers associate with the Second World War—are gaining renewed relevance on the battlefield in Ukraine as they combine with drones and modern reconnaissance systems. In a war shaped by unmanned aircraft, electronic warfare, and rapidly evolving battlefield technology, these tethered platforms are finding a new role […]View the full article

The United States Department of War is moving to integrate the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor onto U.S. Navy destroyers equipped with the Aegis combat system, according to defense budget documents and reporting by Inside Defense. The plan directs $65 million in fiscal year 2026 reconciliation funding to support integration of the […]View the full article

You have to be careful about assumptions, especially those you grew up with that are comforting, convenient, and once seemed so real, so solid, that they just were part of the landscape. They just, were. For over a century, there was one jewel in the special relationship between the United States of America and her mother country, Great Britain. That jewel was the Royal Navy. From the convoys and battleship divisions of the Great War, to Five Inch Friday off the Al Faw almost 90 years later, we always knew that there was another highly capable navy out there we could rely on—the Royal Navy and her Commonwealth. During the interbellum, when the U.S. Navy was on par with th…

The United States Army has approved the M111 Offensive Hand Grenade for Full Material Release, clearing the weapon for operational use and marking the first new lethal hand grenade approved for service since 1968. The decision allows the Army to begin replacing the aging Mk3A2 grenade series, which has remained in limited use due to […]View the full article

The United States has begun relocating Patriot and THAAD missile defense assets from South Korea to the Middle East, according to South Korean media reports. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung acknowledged the movement of United States Forces Korea (USFK) air defense equipment during a cabinet meeting, stating that the redeployment reflects U.S. military requirements tied […]View the full article

Iran has used a modified version of its Shahed-101 loitering munition, featuring structural changes and an electric propulsion system, according to reporting cited by the Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi. The development reflects ongoing evolution of Iranian one-way attack drones, which have been used in regional conflicts and in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Analysts say design […]View the full article

British radar manufacturer Blighter said on March 9 that it signed a contract to supply its ground surveillance radar systems and AI-assisted software to an undisclosed Eastern European army for border protection missions. The agreement will see the company deliver its B400 series ground surveillance radars together with the BlighterNexus AI-assisted software platform, which will […]View the full article

Israeli drone developer Aero-Sentinel confirmed on March 9 that it received a new silent unmanned aerial vehicle order from a returning customer in the United States, according to a statement posted by the company’s chief marketing officer. Ofir Avram, chief marketing officer at Aero-Sentinel, announced the order in a public message, saying the company’s systems […]View the full article

Israeli Steadicopter announced on March 9 that it signed a services agreement with the U.S.-based company flyAlchemy to support operational deployment and evaluation of its Black Eagle 50E rotary unmanned aerial system in the United States. The agreement is intended to enable flight demonstrations, customer evaluation programs, and mission development activities aimed at introducing the […]View the full article

Two newly built Type 055 large destroyers, identified as hull 109 Dongguan and hull 110 Anqing, made their first official appearance during naval training operations, increasing the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s fleet of the 10,000-ton-class warships from eight to ten. The vessels were shown conducting joint training at sea alongside other naval ships in footage […]View the full article

A report published by the Chinese newspaper Global Times says China is seeking to expand exports of military aircraft following what the publication described as the first combat success of the export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet during an overseas air battle in 2025. The report indicates that the aircraft’s performance generated increased international attention toward Chinese […]View the full article

While the once-great Royal Navy continues to scour the piers for enough duct tape and bailing wire to get a destroyer underway, it appears that—literally—the entire French Navy is getting underway. As she has done before, she is moving east in response to another crisis in Lebanon where there are a lot of French citizens and the general disquiet in the Eastern Mediterrenean. This time, as a side-show to the Israeli-American conflict with Iran, as it appears a final move is going to be made against Hezbollah by the Lebanese. How much of the fleet? Well, it appears that if it can leave the pier, it is going. Via Cap-Hornier, Nearly the entire fleet is at sea: 19 of the 23 m…

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense said on March 9 that a ballistic missile launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was intercepted by NATO air and missile defense systems deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean. The ministry confirmed that the missile was neutralized before it could reach its intended destination, with debris falling onto unoccupied […]View the full article

The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces released footage showing its air defense systems intercepting Iranian strike drones targeting the country. The announcement comes as tensions in the region continue to involve missile and drone attacks targeting military and civilian infrastructure. The UAE government said the interceptions demonstrate the country’s ability to detect and defeat multiple […]View the full article

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Monday that its air defense systems intercepted 754 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones within a 24-hour period, describing the number as one of the largest reported drone engagements since the start of the war. The statement was released through official Russian military channels and included additional claims that other incoming weapons had […]View the full article

Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system near Melitopol after a long-range strike by a domestically produced FP-2 attack drone, Ukrainian officials said. The strike occurred near the village of Nove, several kilometers from Melitopol, after the drone traveled approximately 90 kilometers to reach the target. According to Ukrainian defense media outlet Militarnyi, […]View the full article

The United States military has been observed transporting a detailed mockup of the Russian Buk-M3 air defense system in Alabama, according to images recently circulated online. The replica, mounted on a semi-trailer rather than a self-propelled chassis, appears to be a training asset used to simulate modern Russian surface-to-air missile systems during military exercises. Military […]View the full article

The first quarter of 2026 still has three weeks to go, but the assumptions and friend group of the People’s Republic of China has changed dramatically. Recent changes in the assumptions concerning Venezuela, Iran, Japan, and other nations will impact the national security concerns of the West’s greatest challenger on the world stage. Returning to the Midrats Podcast today from 5-6 PM Eastern to discuss will be Dean Cheng. You can listen LIVE at this link, but if you are reading this after the show, just check the substack later Sunday night for the podcast upload. Dean is a Senior Advisor, United States Institute of Peace; Non-resident Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for…