Raw Intel

Airbus is preparing flight tests of an unmanned collaborative combat aircraft system based on the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie as part of a program aimed at providing the German Air Force with an operational Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) capability by 2029. The work is taking place at Airbus facilities in Manching, near Munich, where engineers […]View the full article

So, is this the time to make battleships great again? I would be hard-pressed to think of a better guest to help us explore that question than returning guest, Rob Farley. A starting point for our conversation will be his article from December, The Trump-Class Battleship Summed Up In 1 Word. You can listen at this link, subscribe to the podcast, or listen at the Spotify widget below. Show LinksThe Battleship Book, by Robert Farley’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Lawyers, Guns, and Money Dr. Robert Farley’s X Profile Dr. Robert Farley’s Blue Sky Profile My thoughts on SLCM-N SummaryIn this episode, Dr. Robert Farley discusses the concept of b…

Five companies posted the top scores in the close-quarters battle category of Gauntlet II, the latest round of testing under the U.S. Department of War’s $1 billion Drone Dominance Program, according to results the program released and companies confirmed this week. Neros topped that category with a score of 88.1, followed by ORQA US LLC […]View the full article

With everyone all excited about the pics of the People’s Republic of China’s new auxiliary cruiser, I figured that it was time for a return to a classic two-part FbF series on the war performance of auxiliary cruisers. I’ll cover the latest news on the topic early next week. So, for regulars it would be worth another read, but for the thousands of new followers who were not with us when we ran this last three years ago…ENJOY (and ponder where the modern need for these “something beats nothing” warships fit today). You go to war with what you have or what you can quickly patch together, the end result of the decision of others who will not have to fight, not have to comma…

The Royal Canadian Air Force announced that fuselage integration and production have begun on Canada’s first CP-8A Poseidon aircraft, marking a new phase in the country’s maritime patrol modernization program. The update was confirmed in an official service statement, while Boeing Defense said the aircraft with serial number 9627 is now taking shape as production […]View the full article

BAE Systems has delivered its 100,000th Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guidance kit, the company announced on February 23, reaching a production milestone as the precision munition continues to equip United States armed forces and allied militaries. The milestone comes as the United States Air Force moves forward with a related modernization effort focused […]View the full article

Pratt & Whitney has completed a fully digital assembly readiness review for its XA103 adaptive engine, clearing the last major design-phase hurdle before the company begins procuring physical hardware for the first test build of an engine it says will outperform anything currently flying. The review, conducted entirely within Pratt & Whitney’s digital engineering environment, […]View the full article

The United States Marine Corps has approved its first fully National Defense Authorization Act–compliant 3D-printed drone, marking a new step in fielding low-cost, adaptable unmanned systems built entirely by Marines for operational use, the service confirmed. The drone, known as HANX, was developed by the 2nd Marine Logistics Group and received interim flight clearance from […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force has issued a draft solicitation for the B-52J Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) Production Modification Kits and Interim Contractor Support, opening the door to industry competition for one of the most consequential bomber modernization efforts in recent memory. Published on April 16, 2026, through the federal contracting website, the presolicitation marks […]View the full article

According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian forces in recent weeks began using attack drones equipped with Starlink terminals to conduct strikes against military targets inside Ukraine. The issue was raised urgently with SpaceX after Russian drones using satellite connectivity were detected operating over Ukrainian cities. Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov said the defense team contacted […]View the full article

Boeing has been awarded a $11.95 million contract modification to install an Increment 3 retrofit kit on a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The award exercises an option under an existing cost-plus-fixed-fee order and covers both the retrofit kit installation and associated ancillary support to upgrade the aircraft’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Naval Air […]View the full article

With a few days now behind us, most of the general facts are in on our raid into Caracas, Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro and, it appears, his wife as well. Now that Maduro is a guest of the Southern District of New York, it is time to not just look at some of the details of the buildup and execution of this raid, but the initial lessons we can take from it, and what it means in the larger strategic environment. You can listen at this link or at the Spotify widget below. SummaryIn this episode of Midrats, Mark and Sal discuss the recent military operation in Venezuela, reflecting on its execution and implications for national security. They explore the potential for V…

Israel’s Ministry of Defense has signed an approximately $130 million agreement with Elbit Systems to integrate Israeli-made avionics, command-and-control, electronic warfare, and missile defense systems on the country’s future CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters, the ministry said on Tuesday. The contract, signed by the Defense Procurement Directorate within the Israel Ministry of Defense, covers the integration of […]View the full article

Russian forces used captured M113 armored personnel carriers during an assault on Ukrainian positions near the village of Hryshyne in eastern Ukraine, according to reporting by Militarnyi. The incident occurred amid dense fog, which allowed Russian troops to advance largely undetected. According to the report, two M113 armored personnel carriers and one infantry fighting vehicle […]View the full article

Denmark’s Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization has procured eight unmanned ground vehicles for testing by the Danish Army, marking the country’s first structured trial of robotic land systems for operational use. According to a statement published by Forsvarsministeriets Materiel- og Indkøbsstyrelse (FMI), the vehicles will be delivered to the Army’s Combat Troops Branch in Slagelse, […]View the full article

Chinese armored units have been observed operating Type 96A main battle tanks equipped with the active protection system, according to video footage circulating on Chinese social media. The footage shows several Type 96A tanks being transported while fitted with the APS equipment, suggesting the vehicles belong to an operational military unit rather than a factory […]View the full article

A Czech unmanned systems manufacturer with Ukrainian roots has entered the Indian defense market after signing a contract to supply unmanned aerial systems to a local aerospace firm, marking a new phase in defense-industrial cooperation between Europe and India. According to a report by CZDEFENCE, U&C UAS signed the contract on February 3, 2026, with […]View the full article

Just look at that big, beautiful girl! We just finished a pre-record Midrats Podcast with Mike Gallagher, Head of Defense at Palantir and Matt Babin, Head of Shipbuiding and Naval Programs at Palantir that will be published this upcoming Sunday evening. (BTW, if you do not already subscribe to the Midrats Podcast, now is the time to do so to make sure you don’t miss this great interview). Towards the second half of the show, Matt mentioned, I cannot drive past the Washington Monument without thinking like that is smaller than a Columbia class sub. Like if you took one out of the water and you stood it on its end, it is taller than that monument. First thing that came to …

India is moving toward approving a large-scale purchase of Rafale fighter jets, as New Delhi prepares for French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit next month, according to senior officials familiar with the process. Indian Air Force leaders have submitted a proposal to acquire what the service described as a “substantial” number of new aircraft under a […]View the full article

The Pentagon has awarded more than $2.35 billion in contracts for jet fuel and naval fuel distillates to 12 U.S.-based suppliers. The awards issued by the Defense Logistics Agency Energy were announced on April 3, with the contracts formally awarded on April 1. The package covers multiple types of aviation and marine fuels and runs […]View the full article