Raw Intel

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

After a two-week availability period, the Midrats Podcast is back! SummaryIn this episode, we explore current geopolitical tensions, military readiness, and strategic challenges facing the US and its allies, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and international cooperation. You can listen at this link or via the Spotify widget below. Show LinksRussian restrictions on Estonia’s borders Curfew on Russia’s Border with Estonia, Holger Roonemaa on Substack Great Circle ballistic arcs over Greenland Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, by Michael B. Oren Operation Red Sea Regatta Shipfinder Hormuz Tracker Hormuz Strait Monitor Strait of Ti…

Czech air defense troops have test-fired a remotely operated twin machine gun mounted on SVOS’s Mars 4×4 armored vehicle against small drones, as Czech industry offers the vehicle as a cheaper counter-drone option alongside the missile-armed version the Army of the Czech Republic has already ordered. Soldiers from the 25th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment in Strakonice […]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…

RENK Systems won a $49 million deal, which is for the design, development, fabrication, and testing of three test stands to include: one for testing the main gearbox assembly, one for testing the tail/intermediate gearbox assemblies, and one for testing the nose gearbox assemblies, as well as associated logistics, calibration, maintenance, and sustainment support; equipment […]View the full article

Americas Lockheed Martin’s advanced projects division has demonstrated how artificial intelligence (AI) could aid air-to-air intercepts in a tactical environment. In a press release, Skunk Works said its AI agent was integrated into an L-29 Delfin aircraft to directly control the jet and execute tactical exercises. With the AI agent managing the aircraft’s heading, speed, […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force has showcased a new HQ-16 surrogate target vehicle, designed to support advanced pilot training against modern air defense threats. The mock system was displayed publicly for the first time during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual AirVenture event at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The HQ-16, known by its NATO designation […] The post U.S. trains pilots using HQ-16 SAM replica first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian defense industry plans to expand its artillery production with new variants of the Bohdana howitzer, one of the country’s most widely produced systems since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to journalist Mariusz Marszałkowski of Defence24, the Bohdana manufacturer intends to mount the 155mm system on South Korean and German chassis (may be […] The post Ukraine develops new Bohdana howitzer variants first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

European missile manufacturer MBDA has signed a production contract with Italy’s National Directorate of Naval Armaments for the TESEO MK2/E, a new-generation anti-ship missile that will become a core weapon system aboard the Italian Navy’s future surface fleet. The agreement covers the supply of TESEO MK2/E missiles, which will be deployed on new naval platforms […] The post MBDA to deliver new anti-ship missiles for Italy first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United Kingdom has confirmed a £5.4 billion ($7.2 billion) defense agreement with Türkiye for the sale of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, a move expected to enhance NATO airpower and sustain more than 20,000 high-skill jobs in the British defense industry. According to a government announcement, the full value of the deal is estimated at […]View the full article

Romania’s government has denied reports that it reached an agreement with Rheinmetall to purchase Lynx infantry fighting vehicles, following media claims suggesting the country had already chosen the platform for its future armored vehicle program. The clarification comes after comments from Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, who told Bloomberg that Romania had signed a contract for […]View the full article