Raw Intel

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded RTX’s BBN Technologies a contract under the X-ray Extreme-range Non-imaging Analysis (XENA) program to develop advanced long-range X-ray sensing tools designed to improve battlefield situational awareness, according to program details released alongside the award announcement. Under the XENA program, BBN Technologies will develop a new class of […]View the full article

Ukrainian defense-linked sources report that Russia has begun limited operational use of a new subsonic cruise missile, identified as “Izdeliye-30,” during strikes against Ukraine following testing activities that started in late 2025. According to the Ukrainian OSINT community “Polkovnyk HSh,” which maintains close ties with Ukrainian military sources, Russia initiated isolated testing and early combat […]View the full article

United States Central Command said Sunday that U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck hardened ballistic missile facilities in Iran overnight, employing 2,000-pound bombs against what officials described as fortified military targets. The command announced the operation in an official statement, declaring, “No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve.” The strike comes amid ongoing U.S. military efforts […]View the full article

The United States Army integrated Israeli-made computerized rifle sights into multinational counter-drone training at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany on Feb. 12, 2026, where American and allied troops conducted weapons qualifications using the SMASH 2000 system. The activity took place during the Air Force’s Joint Multi-Domain Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator Course, according to […]View the full article

An open-source intelligence tracker has published a detailed accounting of military equipment losses following large-scale airstrikes exchanged between Israel and Iran on February 28, 2026, offering one of the first consolidated battlefield assessments tied to the latest escalation across the Middle East. The losses were compiled by OSINT specialist Elmustek, who monitors equipment destruction across […]View the full article

Hard to think of a better time to have a Midrats Podcast Free-for-All. 2026 continues to produce more content than we know what to do with, but we’ll give it our best. Join Mark and me this Sunday LIVE from 5-6pm Eastern at this link. As always, we’ll have the show chat going if you’d like to join the conversation or ask us a question. If you’re reading this after the show, refresh the Substack later tonight for the uploaded podcast. Leave a comment Share This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. View the full article

The United States Army plans to spend $250 million to procure 50 Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles (AMPVs) to replenish combat vehicles transferred to Ukraine, according to a Pentagon reconciliation spending plan recently submitted to Congress. The planned contract award is expected before April and is intended to restore armored vehicle inventories after large-scale security assistance deliveries. […]View the full article

The United States Air Force has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify contractors capable of sustaining the life support systems of the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, one of the longest-serving intelligence platforms still in operational use. The notice, published February 26, 2026, by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, launches market research […]View the full article

The United States Air Force has awarded a $32.4 million contract to KIHOMAC to provide contractor logistics support services for the AN/FPS-117 long-range radar system, according to an official award notice published February 27, 2026. The contract was issued by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The award covers sustainment services for the Atmospheric […]View the full article

Russia’s state defense conglomerate Rostec said its latest Krasnopol-M2 guided artillery shell has demonstrated accuracy exceeding Western analogues. According to Rostec’s press service, the use of guided ammunition allows self-propelled and towed artillery systems to shift from area suppression roles toward precision engagement missions. The company said the Krasnopol-M2 projectile is designed to deliver point […]View the full article

The Israel Defense Forces said Israeli Air Force aircraft struck Iranian F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Tiger II fighter jets prepared for takeoff at an airbase in Tabriz, western Iran, as part of ongoing operations targeting Iranian military infrastructure. The strikes were presented by Israeli officials as part of a broader campaign aimed at degrading […]View the full article

U.S. Central Command released new footage from Operation Epic Fury showing a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launching a missile visually consistent with the United States Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), suggesting the system may have been used in combat for the first time during strikes against Iranian targets. The footage has drawn attention […]View the full article

Israel’s defense minister said the Israeli military will continue conducting “powerful” air strikes against Tehran, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed ongoing operations targeting Iranian military infrastructure during the current conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the continuation of the campaign in a public statement, saying Israeli forces are “carrying out intensive strikes […]View the full article

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula criticized U.S. policy on military assistance to Ukraine during a Substack Live podcast hosted by military historian Phillips P. O’Brien, arguing that Washington delayed providing key combat capabilities early in the war because American leaders were deterred by Russian rhetoric. Deptula said “one of the biggest mistakes […]View the full article

Iran carried out a large-scale missile and drone attack across multiple Gulf countries and Israel on February 28, following the reported elimination of senior Iranian political and military leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strikes targeted the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Israeli territory, marking one of […]View the full article

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released new operational details on Feb. 28 about Operation Epic Fury, confirming that United States and partner forces conducted large-scale strikes against Iranian military targets beginning at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time under orders from the President of the United States. According to the CENTCOM statement, the operation targeted elements of […]View the full article

United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth concluded the first phase of the Department’s nationwide “Arsenal of Freedom” tour on Feb. 27, 2026, with visits to defense industry facilities operated by General Dynamics and L3Harris in Camden, Arkansas, where he delivered remarks focused on expanding production capacity and accelerating weapons manufacturing. The tour, organized by […]View the full article

The Israel Ministry of Defense confirmed that a cargo ship carrying military equipment, including dozens of Humvees, trucks, and additional military gear, arrived and was unloaded at the Port of Haifa over the weekend as part of ongoing logistical support for Israel Defense Forces operations under Operation Roaring Lion. According to a statement from the […]View the full article

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that it has launched a large-scale military operation targeting strategic sites across Iran, marking a coordinated offensive carried out alongside United States military forces. In a national address delivered shortly after the operation began, Israel’s Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, announced that Israeli Air Force aircraft […]View the full article

Iran launched a new wave of ballistic missiles and attack drones toward Dubai on Saturday, triggering explosions across the city and prompting emergency security measures by authorities in the United Arab Emirates, according to official statements and regional reporting. The attacks targeted one of the Middle East’s largest urban and tourism centers, with air-defense systems […]View the full article