Raw Intel

A formation of UH-1N Iroquois helicopters flew over Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, in August 2025, underscoring the enduring presence of the Vietnam-era aircraft in one of America’s most sensitive nuclear missions. According to the U.S. Air Force, the UH-1N’s primary missions include airlifting emergency security forces, conducting surveillance of off-base nuclear weapons convoys, […] The post Legendary UH-1s continue to guard America’s nuclear arsenal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have introduced a new logistics unit designed to deliver supplies, transport equipment, and even detonate enemy infrastructure — all without putting soldiers in harm’s way. The unit, named “Taltan,” integrates drones, robotic vehicles, and autonomous platforms into its operations to support troops in challenging environments. Created just four months ago, […] The post Israel deploys drone unit to supply frontline forces first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Sentrycs, an established developer of protocol manipulation-based counter-drone technology, and Omnisys, a specialist in mission optimization systems for defense and homeland security, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at improving how sensors are deployed across complex operational environments. According to a joint statement, the collaboration brings together Sentrycs’ passive drone detection and mitigation capabilities with […]View the full article

Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a nighttime strike on Tuesday that hit a rare Russian Beriev A-60 airborne laser aircraft stationed in Taganrog, according to a report from the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi. The aircraft, a laser-armed flying laboratory built from the Il-76MD platform, was developed to test directed-energy systems for the Russian military. Militarnyi reported […]View the full article

A Turkish technology company developed a compact anti-jam satellite navigation system designed to operate in contested signal environments, as electronic warfare and GPS jamming become more common in modern conflicts. In a message shared with Defence Blog, Sena Yiğit, representing EDGE Microwave, said the company was established about 1.5 years ago and is focused on […]View the full article

Israel’s Ministry of Defense has signed a multi-year contract worth approximately $183 million to procure air munitions from Elbit Systems, the ministry announced this week. The order was issued by the Defense Procurement Directorate (DPD) and formally signed by Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram. The agreement covers the supply of air-delivered munitions […]View the full article

The United States Air Force has released the first official image showing Anduril’s YFQ-44 Fury collaborative combat aircraft carrying an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), confirming the program has entered the next phase of developmental testing focused on weapons integration and captive carry evaluations. The image accompanied a recent Air Force press […]View the full article

Canada’s Defence Investment Agency has awarded Colt Canada a contract to deliver up to 65,402 assault rifle systems under the Canadian Modular Assault Rifle (CMAR) program. The rifles will replace the Canadian Armed Forces’ current C7 and C8 service weapons, which have been in use for more than 35 years. The CMAR program is part […]View the full article

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that allies remain committed to keeping military aid flowing to Ukraine, voicing confidence that additional support can be funded through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, before the end of the year. Speaking after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Berlin on April 15, […]View the full article

Satellite imagery published by the open-source intelligence community Exilenova+ has confirmed a successful Ukrainian strike on the research and production branch of the NTC Radar scientific center in Rostov, struck overnight between May 7 and 8. According to Exilenova+, the main building was completely destroyed, while a second structure partially burned out. Two additional drone […]View the full article

The U.S. Army awarded California-based AeroVironment a $117 million contract on June 3, 2026, to deliver 82 of the company’s P550 unmanned aircraft systems, giving ground commanders an organic reconnaissance and targeting capability that requires no runway, no catapult, and no launch crew beyond the soldiers already in the unit. AeroVironment (AV) is one of […]View the full article

South Korean Air Force fighters scrambled on June 27, 2026, after nearly 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft successively entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone over the country’s eastern and southern waters, prompting Seoul to lodge a formal diplomatic protest with both Beijing and Moscow the following day. China’s Ministry of National […]View the full article

The first publicly documented combat test of Russia’s upgraded anti-drone tank defense system ended in failure, with footage showing a Russian T-72B3A tank taking a direct hit from a Ukrainian FPV drone despite carrying the modified Arena-M active protection system specifically built to stop exactly that threat, Militarnyi reported. The video shows the FPV drone […]View the full article

Poland may be preparing to buy around a dozen Airbus A400M Atlas heavy transport aircraft through the European Union’s SAFE defense financing mechanism, according to Polish defense analyst Jarosław Wolski, who cited unnamed sources in an August 25 post on X. Wolski wrote that the numbers he has heard range from 8 to 15 aircraft, […]View the full article

From our point of view from the other side of the Pacific, Americans tend to focus on the points of first resistance from the People's Republic of China - Taiwan, South China Sea, etc. Is that really what China is worried about? Is she really building her huge Navy to challenge us somewhere west of Wake, or is she thinking of something else we are just too parochial to see? Did you notice that France, UK, and even Germany have decided they need to head east of Suez to spend some time in the Indo-Pacific theater? Connected? As with most things, it is helpful to take a deep breath and ask yourself - what does the map say? h/t The Other Sal. http://…

Americas The Long Range Stand Off Weapon (LRSO) has entered the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase with the award of $2 billion to Raytheon Missiles and Defense. The LRSO is a new air-launched cruise missile to replace the AGM-86. The missile will have a nuclear-armed capability and Raytheon will have to complete the development work by February 2027. Lockheed Martin won a $28.2 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure mission computers (MC) and flight management computers (FMC) retrofit kits to upgrade the MH-60R/S aircraft. The quantities are as follows: 205 Generation 3i/5i MCs to upgrade from Generation III/V/VI, to inclu…

As we covered here last month before the debacle at the gates of Kyiv knocked the Russians off their stride, the supply lines from NATO territory into the southwest of Ukraine and on to Odessa are incredibly delicate. Then northern route is an iffy 2-lane surface road that goes through Moldova and too close to the Transdniester. If you need anything heavy from the Danube ports to Odessa, you will need to go over the Zatoka bridge. When the Russian Navy shelled the coast there, I was frankly surprised the road and more importantly the rail line across the bridge at Zatoka was left intact, but they were. Things then got quite on that front, but not anymore. 📷More photos …

The Russo-Ukrainian War of the last six months is reminding everyone - I hope - that war in a large measure does not change. Yes, some new technologies and ideas comes in that no one appreciates the value of until proven on the field of battle, some established technologies and ideas no longer work, and that process of integrating battlefield lessons often determines who gets better results over time. At the end of the day, it is taking ground, keeping ground, and positioning yourself for more. Thinking of that reminded me of a FbF from 4.5yrs ago that I thought I would bring back this week. One of the enduring characteristics of WWI was the amount of blood that was shed …

Americas Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW), a naval aviation repair and maintenance facility based at the NAS North Island, is embarking on a significant transition in naval aviation maintenance as the Navy gradually phases out its legacy F/A-18A-D series. This shift marks the inclusion of the F-16 fighter as a major program for FRCSW’s Depot […]View the full article

Americas Sikorsky Aircraft won a $64 million order, which provides for updated logistics analysis and products required to support configuration changes on the CH-53K as well as provides for development and delivery of new intermediate and depot component repair capability for the Navy and Marine Corps. Work is expected to be completed in January 2030. Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $64,881,720 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. SkyAlyne and KF Aerospace have procured three De Havilland Dash…