Raw Intel

We owe HM3 Maxton W. Soviak, USN, the thousands who died the two decades before he did, and their families the truth. The uncomfortable, blunt, clear truth. Frankness. Directness. The respect that comes with honesty, honesty to the man who was in diapers when the first US forces crossed into Afghanistan, and with 12 others wound up as one of the last to die there during our retreat. We’re still not coming to terms with our defeat. Fear, shame, and humility—these are strong gods of a superior military. With each passing year, this becomes clearer and clearer to me. As all three were drained from our military, we increasingly relied on the weak gods of false-bravery (wearin…

German defense company Rheinmetall has been commissioned to supply a large volume of artillery ammunition to an Eastern European customer under a U.S. government program, underscoring the growing transatlantic demand for heavy munitions amid the ongoing conflict-driven rearmament push in Europe. As a subcontractor to Global Military Products (GMP), a U.S.-based defense supplier awarded a […] The post U.S. taps Rheinmetall to supply artillery shells for Eastern Europe first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russian defense manufacturer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) has released new footage of its BMPT Terminator armored fighting vehicle in action. The promotional video, intended to highlight the platform’s firepower, instead reignited controversy after viewers noticed visible vibration in the twin 30mm 2A42 autocannons during firing, prompting questions about accuracy and stabilization. The Terminator, developed to support tanks […]View the full article

In a rare diplomatic turn, Chinese leader Xi Jinping initiated a call with President Trump on Monday, raising Taiwan and Ukraine as Washington, Kyiv and Moscow explore options for ending the war in Europe. The outreach comes as Beijing sharpens its position on Taiwan and new friction with Japan adds pressure to the regional landscape. […]View the full article

Elbit Systems confirmed on January 26 that it has received a $228 million contract to supply Iron Fist Active Protection Systems for the U.S. Army’s Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle upgrade program. According to the company, the contract expands ongoing deliveries of the Iron Fist system as part of the Army’s effort to improve survivability of […]View the full article

U.S.-based autonomous aviation company Pyka on Feb. 23, 2026, announced development progress on its DropShip autonomous cargo drone, unveiling a new unmanned aircraft designed to conduct logistics transport and casualty evacuation missions in contested environments without risking pilots or high-value aircraft. The announcement comes as military planners seek alternative logistics platforms capable of operating in […]View the full article

Images circulating on social media show the apparent aftermath of an Israeli strike on Iranian Navy assets at a naval facility in Bandar Anzali on the Caspian Sea, with visible destruction of multiple vessels at the port. The Israel Defense Forces said on March 19, 2026, that its Air Force, guided by naval and military […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy has awarded Platform Aerospace a $12.9 million contract modification for its Vanilla long-endurance unmanned aircraft system, backing continued work on a drone built to stay airborne for days at a time. The award, valued at $12,893,010, goes to Platform Systems Inc., which operates as Platform Aerospace and is based in Hollywood, Maryland. […]View the full article

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin a $407 million contract modification to continue engineering and development work on the Aegis Guam System, pushing the total value of the underlying Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Weapon Systems contract past $1.9 billion. The modification covers work running through December 2029. Lockheed Martin’s Moorestown, New Jersey […]View the full article

An Israeli armor company is heading to Eurosatory later this month with three new vehicle protection systems, each targeting a category of threat that has grown sharply more lethal on the modern battlefield: mines, top-attack munitions, and shaped charge warheads that conventional armor struggles to stop. Plasan, the Kibbutz Sasa-based survivability specialist with more than […]View the full article

Estonian soldiers successfully tested a signals intelligence system mounted on a lightweight FPV racing drone during Exercise Spring Storm, the country’s largest annual military exercise, detecting hostile electronic emitters at ranges that ground-based sensors could not reach, the companies behind the system announced June 29. The technology pairing combines Sky Spy’s SkyAgent 001 autonomous passive […]View the full article

Lockheed Martin’s second quarter looked almost nothing like the same three months a year earlier, when the world’s largest defense contractor posted a jarring $1.6 billion in program losses. The company reported second-quarter 2026 net earnings of $1.8 billion, or $7.94 per share, a swing of more than $1.5 billion compared to the $342 million […]View the full article

Rows of black, Shahed-shaped airframes stretch across a production floor in newly released footage marking Ukraine’s Independence Day, offering the clearest public look yet at how many Behemoth “mid-range” one-way attack drones the country is now building at once. The video shows dozens of the drones mounted on wooden and metal stands, wingtip to wingtip, […]View the full article

One of the highest forms of the military arts is to use your enemy's habits against them. Not forcing them, but simply opening a door for them they are simply too willing to enter out of habit. Anyone who has lived in Europe - especially around or with Germans, French, Dutch, and Scandinavians, will enjoy this FbF. This story is short, but it is important in a couple of ways. First, the French military was never really given a chance in WWII. Beset with spotty leaderships and in some cases just bad luck, the incredible martial example of WWI just two decades earlier was as if it never happened. They had a few bright spots against the Germans ... and this was one. Seco…

She doesn't care. This scenario isn't IAW the CONOPS. She doesn't care. This ship will never be part of a major feet engagement on the high seas. She doesn't care. This ship is designed for a single mission. She doesn't care. War never cares. War called on the crew of the sloop of war HMAS YARRA (U77) in March of 1942, and the YARRA and her crew did what needed to be done. Hat tip John Perryman, First posted MAR17. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=hW46Vuppb-s:wT6m48UCnmU:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspo…

Americas Two F-15EXs that were delivered to the US Air Force have carried out the first operational test mission at Nellis Air Force Base. The evaluation involved F-15Cs and F-15Es as well. Running from October 18-25, the pilots were also evaluating the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System while there. German company Rheinmetall will export a Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) Test Chassis to the United States of America from its factory in Redbank Queensland. The Lynx vehicle export order will be delivered to Rheinmetall in the United States supporting the business’s worldwide activities currently underway in the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle competi…

A few quick items of good news where we have some strong messaging coming out. First a report of SECNAV making the right stand against a weak organization;China’s increasingly muscular efforts to isolate Taiwan internationally have paid off in Washington after a foreign naval association caved in to Chinese pressure and reversed course on letting Taiwanese officers join the group. Several people familiar with the dispute said the Washington-based Naval Attachés Association rescinded an invitation for Taiwan to join the group, which includes officers from American allies, after China strongly objected.What did SECNAV Del Toro do?The US navy has banned officers from attendi…

Americas Northrop Grumman won a $24.7 million contract modification, which exercises options to provide in service and technical support in support of E-2C/D aircraft common and unique requirements for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will take place in Florida, Japan, Ohio and various locations within the continental US. Expected completion will be in April 2023. HMLA-367 was deactivated at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on April 22. All 27 AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters will be relocated to California and the squadron will be reactivated by end of the year at MCAS Camp Pendleton. Middle East & Africa According to Jane’s, the Iranian military displayed a previou…

Americas Tyonek Global Services won an $11 million deal for the B?1B Advanced Digital Test Station. The B-1B Lancer, also known as “The Bone”, is the US Air Force long-range strategic bomber developed by Rockwell International, now Boeing Defense And Space Group. The deal provides contractor logistics support services. Work will be performed in Warner Robins, Georgia, and is expected to be completed by August 7, 2027. Sierra Nevada won a $9.6 million contract modification, which provides for the integration of a temporary Line of Sight Data Link-16 capability on HC-130J aircraft using portions of the Airborne Mission Networking. Work will take place in Colorado, Arizona,…

Americas Canada has tasked Leonardo with executing the CH-149 “Cormorant” Mid-Life Upgrade (CMLU) Project by awarding a contract $736 million to the Italian aerospace giant. The mid-life upgrade of the CH-149 search and rescue helicopters will enhance the aircraft’s systems and technologies, ensuring compliance with emerging airspace requirements and extending the life expectancy of the fleet to 2042+. In addition, the upgrade will enable the return of the Cormorant helicopters to the Main Operating Base (MOB) Trenton. The upgrades will include the installation of state-of-the-art avionics, a new glass cockpit, more powerful digitally-controlled engines, wireless in-cabin…