Raw Intel

M1A2 SEP (click to view full) America’s M1 Abrams tanks come in a number of versions. In addition to the M1A1 that is now standard, the US Army is beginning to field its M1 TUSK for urban warfare. It also operates the M1A2 System Enhancement Program (SEP), currently the most advanced standard variant. This Spotlight […]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

For the first time in history, the United States Air Force has selected a NATO partner nation to provide pilot training. On August 22, the Italian Air Force and the U.S. Air Force signed an agreement that will bring American pilot trainees to the International Flight Training School (IFTS) in Decimomannu, Sardinia. The “Concept of […] The post U.S. Air Force pilots set for training in Italy first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Italian firearms manufacturer Fabarm S.p.A. has introduced a new variant of its widely used STF/12 shotgun specifically configured for counter-drone missions. The STF/12 Compact XL Range 22″, presented as a specialized upgrade of the platform already fielded by the German Bundeswehr as the Mehrzweckflinte 5 (MZF 5), is engineered to engage fast, low-flying aerial targets […] The post Italy’s Fabarm launches extended-range shotgun for drone defense first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Belgian defense manufacturer FN Herstal has released rare behind-the-scenes photos from its production line, showing the assembly process of its advanced FN DEFENDER Remote Weapon Station (RWS). In a caption shared by FN Herstal, the company stated: “Behind every FN DEFENDER stands the expertise of our production teams. Skilled. Precise. Relentless. Crafted in Herstal. Deployed […] The post FN Herstal highlights remote weapon station production first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Strategic Capabilities Office has issued a new solicitation for the Rapid Affordable Producible Torpedo, or RAPTOR, a next-generation concept for a single-use heavyweight torpedo designed to be produced quickly and at far lower cost than the U.S. Navy’s current inventory. The RAPTOR Solicitation, identified as SCO-PS-26-01, was released on November 17 and amended on […]View the full article

This was going to be a dual post about last Friday’s frigate announcement and the battleship announcement, but I decided that would be a bit too much and will split it in two. The greatest interest is in the BB news Monday afternoon, so we’ll cover that today and on Christmas Eve we’ll post on the frigate. Well, let’s start with the announcement on X. First of all, let’s put to the side the Trump branding aspect of this. Let’s put this in the “F-47A” folder and move on…but we can give a knowing wink to fans of Deep Space 9. Mike over at gCaptain got the detail sheet. Let’s look at it. BBG-1 What am I surprised the most about? The lack of nuclear power. The Ford Class CV…

Japan confirmed that a Russian IL-20 intelligence-gathering aircraft conducted a surveillance flight near the country’s western approaches on January 23, according to Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. In a statement released on Friday, Koizumi said the Russian aircraft flew from the continental direction into the Sea of Japan, proceeded southwest, then changed course off the coast […]View the full article

Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed two Russian military helicopters — a Ka-52 attack helicopter and a Mi-8 multirole helicopter — during a drone strike on the Pugachevka airfield in Russia’s Oryol region on the evening of February 20, 2026, according to reporting by Militarnyi. The attack highlights Ukraine’s continued use of long-range strike drones to target […]View the full article

The United States Air Force looks to buy additional Dronebuster 4 handheld counter-drone systems developed by DZYNE Technologies, launching a market survey through the 20th Contracting Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. The notice, published on March 19, 2026, calls on industry to confirm its ability to supply the systems, with responses due […]View the full article

Britain’s Ministry of Defence announced on April 15, 2026, that it will deliver at least 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year in the largest drone package the United Kingdom has ever provided to Kyiv. Deliveries have already begun this month, the ministry confirmed, with the package spanning long-range strike drones, intelligence and reconnaissance platforms, logistics […]View the full article

GM Defense took to social media to show off its Infantry Squad Vehicle’s sling load capability, posting footage of two ISVs being transported simultaneously by a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during training at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in March 29, as part of preparations for Operation Pathways 2026. The exercise involved soldiers from Alpha Company, 2nd […]View the full article

Ukrainian forces struck the Russian Baltic Fleet corvette Boyky at Kronstadt Naval Base on the night of June 2-3, 2026, in the same overnight operation that set the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal ablaze on the opening day of Putin’s annual economic forum, with Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine confirming the […]View the full article

Boeing secured a contract worth up to $2 billion from the U.S. Space Force on June 25 to build two new satellites that will extend the life of the military’s primary secure voice communications network, knocking out the constellation’s original builder, Lockheed Martin, in the process. The program is called the Mobile User Objective System […]View the full article

SummarySal reflects on 22 years of blogging and podcasting, discusses the Iran conflict, and explores strategic military considerations and future threats. TakeawaysThe importance of willpower in conflicts like Vietnam and Afghanistan The strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea The evolving threat of missile and drone technology The need … Read more View the full article

The U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory has completed technical acceptance of the first Ancillary Surface Craft prototype, moving the roughly 150-foot vessel into a new phase of testing at Quantico, Virginia, the laboratory said in a release. The ASC is a roll-on/roll-off landing craft designed to carry personnel, equipment, and fuel directly onto unimproved shorelines, […]View the full article

KC-390 refuels AMXs (click to view full) Global competition in the 20-ton air transport segment continues to intensify, with Brazil’s launch of its KC-390 program. Embraer figures reportedly place the global C-130 replacement market at around 700 aircraft. In response, it will develop a jet-powered rival to compete with Lockheed Martin’s C-130J, the larger Airbus A400M, Russia’s AN-12 and its Chinese copy the Yun-8/9, and the bi-national Irkut/HAL MRTA project. Smaller aircraft like the EADS-CASA C-295M, and Alenia’s C-27J, represent indirect competition. Embraer is extending its efforts and markets by crafting a jet-powered medium transport with a cargo capacity of ar…

Harpoon in flight (click to view full) The sub-sonic, wave-skimming GM-84 Harpoon is the US Navy’s sole anti-shipping missile, with the minor exception of small helicopter-borne AGM-119B Penguin missiles. The Harpoon has been adapted into several variants, and exported to many navies around the world. At present, the Harpoon family includes AGM-84 air, RGM-84 sea/land, and UGM-84 submarine-launched versions. Variants such as the Joint Standoff Land Attack Missiles and the upgraded AGM-84K SLAM – Expanded Response will also be covered in this DID FOCUS Article. It describes the missiles themselves, and covers global contracts involving this family. The Harpoon family’s …

Today we're going to build off of last week's DivThu that was focused on the CNO, Admiral Giday, USN. We are going to tie in the connection between Critical Race Theory, Antiracism, and Marxism - topics everyone is talking around for reasons best explained by them if you can get them to actually answer a question. If you missed last week, click here and read it, watch the videos, then come back, We'll leave last week at the House, and go to the CNO in the Senate in this remarkable exchange with Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR). The CNO did not answer the question. He just repeated talking points from last week. He brings up unrelated topics ... as if Kendi's work has anythi…

This may get lost in the background noise, but if you are concerned about the rule of law, democratic governance and security in the Pacific, you would be hard pressed to find more important news than this; Australia and Japan are set to sign a treaty to beef up defence and security cooperation at a virtual summit on Thursday, in the latest move to strengthen ties amid China's rising military power and economic clout in the Indo-Pacific region. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the two leaders will sign a Reciprocal Access Agreement, which will for the first time set out a framework for the two countries' defence forces to cooperate with each other. What do t…