Raw Intel

South Korea is pushing forward with sweeping enhancements to its KF-21 Boramae fighter program, aiming to transform the domestically built aircraft into a full fifth-generation stealth platform. The plan includes internal weapons bays, advanced radar-evading materials, and a next-generation engine developed entirely in-country. According to South Korea’s 2026 defense budget proposal, the government is allocating […] The post South Korea to turn KF-21 into 5th-gen stealth jet first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Korean Air is developing KUS-FX collaborative combat aircraft, a compact unmanned system that effectively functions as a lightweight cruise missile. Designed for both air- and ground-based launch, the KUS-FX is intended to strike high-value targets at distances up to 600 kilometers, while also supporting reconnaissance and deception missions in contested airspace. The KUS-FX combines features […] The post Korean Air develops KUS-FX drone for deep strike first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

For the first time, South Korea’s most secretive military intelligence unit, the Korea Defense Intelligence Command (KDIC), has gone public with a call for new recruits. On August 25, 2025, the Korea Forces Network (KFN), South Korea’s official defense media outlet, released a recruitment video announcing that KDIC is accepting applications for non-commissioned officers. The […] The post South Korea’s secretive spy force goes public first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Austrian defense manufacturer Schiebel has introduced two new unmanned air systems — the CAMCOPTER S-101 and S-301 — purpose-built for armed operations. The announcement highlights the company’s push into the tactical strike drone market with dedicated aerial assault platforms designed for modern battlefield demands. In a statement, Schiebel said the new vertical take-off and landing […] The post Schiebel rolls out strike-capable VTOL drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Swedish defense startup Nordic Air Defence and military vehicle manufacturer Volvo Defense have announced a joint effort to develop a new mobile counter-unmanned aircraft system (CUAS), aimed at protecting military vehicles against the growing threat of cheap, weaponized drones. According to the two companies, the system—called VIPRO—will integrate Nordic’s Kreuger 100XR drone interceptor into Volvo’s […] The post Volvo, Nordic Air Defence team up on new anti-drone pod first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

At this year’s International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce, Polish defense company P.H.U. Lechmar and French firm H2X-Defense introduced a next-generation unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) known as Hermione. The platform, powered by a hydrogen propulsion system, was presented as a technology demonstrator aimed at meeting the evolving logistical and operational needs of modern armed […] The post Polish-French team unveils hydrogen-powered robot first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Turkish defense giant ASELSAN unveiled its newest mobile short-range air defense system, the KORKUT 100/25 SB, at the DSEI 2025 defense exhibition in London. According to ASELSAN, the KORKUT 100/25 SB is engineered to neutralize the growing challenge posed by mini and micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including drone swarms. The system is armed with […] The post ASELSAN rolls out anti-drone vehicle at DSEI first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Poland has formally requested consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty following a night-time incursion by 19 Russian drones into its airspace, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told lawmakers on Wednesday. The drones, part of a wider Russian strike campaign against Ukraine, entered Polish airspace from the east, with several reportedly crossing directly from Belarus. […] The post Poland presses NATO for response to Russian drone breach first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

On Sunday’s Midrats Podcast, our guest Liz Buchanan mentioned an article out of Australia by Laura Tingle, China's parade of military might raises big questions about the AUKUS muddle. I gave it a read and thought it would be a good move to start the week with it. Yes, it is Tuesday and not Monday, but I’m having “a moment.” Bear with me for the next 10 days or so. Tingle covers a lot of ground here, and she suffers a bit of a foreigner’s incomplete understanding of Trump World, but I’d like to put that to the side and focus on a welcome Australian view of the present state of play WRT AUKUS. For an island nation roughly the size of the continental USA with a population b…

Israel-based defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems introduced the IRON BEAM 450 high-energy laser weapon system Tuesday at the opening of the DSEI defense exhibition in London. The system is designed to intercept and destroy a wide range of aerial threats with precision, near-zero per-interception cost, and minimal collateral impact. According to Rafael, the new […] The post Rafael unveils next-gen laser weapon at DSEI first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A top-secret US government body called the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched a new initiative aimed at transforming battlefield trauma care through the use of autonomous robotic systems. The Medics Autonomously Stopping Hemorrhage (MASH) program seeks to address one of the most lethal and complex medical challenges on the battlefield: non-compressible torso […] The post DARPA aims to build robotic combat surgeons first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232), known as the “Red Devils,” arrived at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, on September 8, 2025, as part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program (UDP). The F/A-18 Hornet squadron, based out of MCAS Miramar, California, is now assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st […] The post U.S. Marine Corps deploys Red Devils squadron to Japan first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded a new $26 million Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement to Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems and its consortium of non-traditional technology partners to accelerate development of its Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative. The project will deliver a data integration prototype for the 25th Infantry Division, currently operating […] The post U.S. Army taps Lockheed for next-gen command tech first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

More than 100 M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles are heading to Poland as the U.S. Army ramps up its latest rotational deployment in support of European allies. The 1st Cavalry Division is providing troops from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment for the mission, while logistics units across Europe have prepared the […] The post U.S. Army strengthens NATO frontier with Bradleys first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

At the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, Swedish fiber optics manufacturer Micropol introduced a new field-deployable solution designed to accelerate and simplify the testing of tactical fiber networks. The product, called OptiScan, is engineered specifically for rugged military and defense environments where communication uptime is critical. According to the company, OptiScan enables “fast […] The post Micropol debuts OptiScan for fast fiber testing first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

U.S. Marines with I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) have completed a 12-day testing period for commercial small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), working in close partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and private industry. The evaluations, part of Phase 2 of the DIU’s G.I. Challenge, were held from August 18 to 29 and are […] The post U.S. Marines field-test new combat drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger confirmed plans to deliver mobile drone defense systems to Ukraine before the end of 2025. In an exclusive interview with Germany’s ZDF-Magazin WISO, Papperger said the deal—valued in the “three-digit million” euro range—will be signed on Wednesday at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) show in London. The systems in […] The post Rheinmetall to supply Skyrangers to Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

French defense firm Arquus has begun delivering its new-generation light tactical vehicle, the PEGASE, to units including the 11th Parachute Brigade. In a statement posted September 8, Arquus said the vehicle represents a “major capability leap” for French forces. The company emphasized that the PEGASE was designed to meet the demands of elite units operating […] The post French elite forces receive first PEGASE vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

British defense engineering firm Supacat has secured its first export contract with the Czech Ministry of Defense for 18 HMT Mk3 Extenda high-mobility vehicles, a system known in the UK as the Jackal 3 Extenda. The platforms will be delivered to the Czech Army’s 601st Special Forces Group, a premier rapid response and special reconnaissance […] The post Czech military buys Jackal 3 vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon, a business under RTX, a $205 million contract for continued production and support of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), a key point-defense system deployed across the Navy’s surface fleet. The contract, announced September 8, includes upgrades, overhauls, conversions, and the delivery of related equipment as part of a […] The post U.S. Navy awards Raytheon $205M contract for Phalanx systems first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article