Raw Intel

South Korea has completed a major upgrade of its Cheongung-I air defense system, transforming it into the more capable Cheongung-II platform, which can now intercept both aircraft and ballistic missiles, the country’s arms procurement agency announced Monday. According to a press release from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the enhanced system has entered initial […] The post South Korea upgrades air defenses to hit ballistic missiles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Elbit Systems has secured a $260 million contract from Airbus Defence and Space to deliver its J-MUSIC Directed Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) system for the German Air Force’s A400M transport aircraft fleet. According to a press release from Elbit Systems, the six-year contract follows a procurement decision by Germany’s Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology […] The post Germany taps Elbit for A400M missile defense deal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Australia has test-fired its newest long-range missile for the first time, launching the U.S.-made Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) from the Mount Bundey Training Area in the Northern Territory. The missile traveled more than 300 kilometers in four minutes and three seconds, reaching speeds exceeding 4,000 kilometers per hour before striking its target with high accuracy. […] The post Australia tests long-range PrSM missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

We’re getting our first full look at Russia’s ‘Shturm’ robotic tank complex. The new combat system was first identified during recent field trials, where it appeared for the first time in its complete configuration—featuring both a remotely operated assault vehicle and a command-and-control vehicle based on a modified T-72 chassis. Developed by Uralvagonzavod for the […] The post Russia tests new robotic assault tank first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian drone operators with the Security Service’s “A” Center for Special Operations (CSO “A”) have intercepted a Russian Orion unmanned aerial vehicle in what appears to be the most advanced drone-on-drone engagement recorded to date. The intercept, reported by the Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi, was confirmed through video footage published by the SBU. The Orion […] The post Ukrainian drone intercepts Russian Orion first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Japanese Ministry of Defense is preparing to take disciplinary action against numerous members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), including Chief of Staff Admiral Akira Saito, over an illicit payment scheme involving submarine maintenance contracts. The decision follows revelations that Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) created slush funds through fictitious transactions and used the […] The post Japan to discipline Navy chief over bribery scandal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has, for the first time, identified a Chinese Navy submarine rescue vessel of the Type 926 Dakai-class operating near Japanese waters. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense on July 25, the vessel was first spotted around noon on […] The post Chinese new sub rescue ship spotted near Japan first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Türkiye and Indonesia have formally concluded a defense agreement for the procurement and local production of KAAN fighter jets. The Defense Industry Agency of Türkiye (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı) announced the signing of the commercial contract with Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense during the IDEF 2025 defense exhibition in Istanbul. The agreement covers the delivery of 48 […] The post Indonesia to buy 48 KAAN fighter jets first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday that General Alexus Grynkewich, the newly appointed NATO commander in Europe, confirmed U.S. assessments that Russia could be ready for a confrontation with Europe as early as 2027. “There is no reason to frighten each other, but we must be truly vigilant and focused,” Tusk said in a […] The post Poland warned: Russian confrontation possible by 2027 first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Thailand’s Air Force has conducted its first known combat use of South Korea’s KGGB precision guidance kits, adapting standard Mk.82 bombs for long-range strikes during ongoing clashes with Cambodian forces. According to reports, a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) F-16 fighter jet used the KGGB—a GPS-guided glide bomb kit developed by South Korea’s LIG Nex1—to […] The post Thailand uses South Korean precision bombs in border fight first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Thailand has captured a contested hill along its border with Cambodia amid intensifying fighting between the two countries, Thai media reported on Saturday. Thai troops took control of Phu Makkhuea hill, a ridge in the long-disputed frontier zone near the ancient Preah Vihear Hindu temple. The operation reportedly took place early on July 26, with […] The post Thailand captures strategic ridge in border clash first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Royal Thai Army launched Operation “Trat Pikhat Pairee 1” in response to renewed aggression near Ban Chamrak in Trat Province. Thailand has declared martial law in key eastern provinces following a sharp escalation in border clashes with Cambodian forces, marking the third consecutive day of conflict. At 05:10 AM on July 26, Cambodian troops […] The post Thailand launches operation to repel border assault first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine’s armed forces are facing a pressing need for armored vehicles capable of withstanding battlefield threats, with Ukrainian defense outlet Defense Express reporting that at least 20,000 units with STANAG 4569 Level 2 protection and around 3,000 units with Level 3 protection are required. According to the report, Level 2 armor under the NATO STANAG […] The post Ukrainian military needs 23,000 armored vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Turkey’s top defense and technology officials have confirmed the development of a long-range missile program with a declared range of 2,000 kilometers, signaling a new phase in the country’s ambition to become a regional military power with homegrown capabilities. Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, in a public statement this week, said, “We […] The post Turkey confirms 2,000km missile program first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

It is only fitting that we do an update this last Friday of July of one of my favorite FbF that I have referred to often over the years. I first mentioned the subject of the FbF on the OG Blog 19 years ago. Finally, a decade ago, I gave her story its own FbF. I’ll do that again today, but first things first. Earlier this month, Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan made the following announcement: During the Battle of the Coral Sea in World War II, Chief Petty Officer Oscar V. Peterson heroically saved 123 sailors aboard USS Neosho by manually closing critical steam-line valves while unprotected amid smoke and flames. He suffered severe burns and died six days later. He wa…

SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system suffered a major global disruption Thursday, knocking tens of thousands of users offline for more than two hours and affecting critical military communications across active warzones. According to Downdetector, the outage began on Thursday at approximately 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT), with more than 61,000 user reports flooding the crowdsourced […] The post Starlink breakdown reveals frontline weakness first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has taken a major step toward exporting its domestically developed supersonic jet trainer, HÜRJET, to Europe through a newly signed strategic partnership with Airbus. The agreement, which outlines plans to deliver up to 30 HÜRJET aircraft to Spain, was formalized during the 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul. According […] The post Spain to buy 30 Turkish Hürjet jet trainers first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has showcased ongoing maintenance and overhaul work on the Type 10 main battle tank at its Chitose facility in Hokkaido. The process, known as “overhaul and repair,” is a critical midpoint intervention in the vehicle’s service life, intended to restore the tank to its original performance level after years of intense […] The post Mitsubishi extends life of Type 10 battle tanks first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire on Friday as a rapidly intensifying border conflict entered its second day. The Royal Thai Army reported shelling in multiple areas, including Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces, and confirmed it had launched strikes in response to attacks from Cambodian forces. According to a statement from Thailand’s Second Army […] The post Thailand deploys tanks, jets in border showdown first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian military-affiliated sources report that Russia has begun using its newest air-to-air missile, known as Izdelie 180 or the K-77M, in combat operations over Ukraine. The missile, a modernized variant of the earlier Izdelie 170 (R-77), is believed to feature a two-mode propulsion system, enhanced aerodynamic control surfaces, and a new active radar seeker. According […] The post Russia fields new long-range air-to-air missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article