Raw Intel

A Ukrainian Mirage 2000 Pilot described the aircraft’s performance and the growing need for additional Western support during a rare on-camera interview from an operational airfield. With only a small number of Mirage 2000 fighters now serving in the Air Force, the appearance of the French-built jet during an active combat sortie provided a direct […]View the full article

With everyone all excited about the pics of the People’s Republic of China’s new auxiliary cruiser, I figured that it was time for a return to a classic two-part FbF series on the war performance of auxiliary cruisers. I’ll cover the latest news on the topic early next week. So, for regulars it would be worth another read, but for the thousands of new followers who were not with us when we ran this last three years ago…ENJOY (and ponder where the modern need for these “something beats nothing” warships fit today). You go to war with what you have or what you can quickly patch together, the end result of the decision of others who will not have to fight, not have to comma…

The United States Air Force’s 92nd Air Refueling Wing announced that Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington will conduct an active threat response exercise on January 29, 2026, as part of routine emergency readiness training for personnel across the installation. According to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, the exercise will involve base-wide participation and is […]View the full article

The Royal Canadian Air Force announced that fuselage integration and production have begun on Canada’s first CP-8A Poseidon aircraft, marking a new phase in the country’s maritime patrol modernization program. The update was confirmed in an official service statement, while Boeing Defense said the aircraft with serial number 9627 is now taking shape as production […]View the full article

From the “Strongly Worded Letter” department of the Rules Based International Order school, there are more nations signing up to so something to keep the free flow of goods at market price through the global Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC), of which the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important. Several more countries on Friday joined leading European nations, Japan ​and Canada in signing a joint statement, opens new tab saying they were ready to join appropriate efforts to ‌ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and would take steps to stabilise energy markets. This is the full text of the statement from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, J…

One of the original member of our front porch passed away a few days ago, Byron Audler. A yard bird and great supporter of our Navy. Good friend to the blog through the years. I had no idea he was so sick. I should have checked in more often. Thank you Byron. You left a great legacy. 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

Russia commissioned its eighth Project 22800 Karakurt-class missile corvette into the Baltic Fleet on May 8, 2026, in a ceremony at Baltiysk — one day after Ukraine struck a vessel of the same class at a naval base on the Caspian Sea some 2,000 kilometers away. The new ship, named Burya with hull number 257, […]View the full article

Russia’s defense industry is claiming a milestone on one of its most closely watched aviation programs, and this time the claim carries slightly more weight than usual. The United Aircraft Corporation, Russia’s state-owned aircraft manufacturing conglomerate, confirmed this week that physical construction of the first flying prototype of the Su-75 Checkmate, a single-engine fifth-generation stealth […]View the full article

Britain has abandoned plans to build a conventional successor to its Type 45 destroyers, instead ordering at least six new warships designed to command networks of autonomous drones across the air, surface, and subsurface, as reported by UK Defence Journal. The new class, called the Common Combat Vessel, will be the Royal Navy’s first hybrid […]View the full article

A landmark nuclear deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia is already unraveling into confusion, less than 24 hours after it was signed with fanfare in Washington. The agreement, laying the groundwork for American companies to help Saudi Arabia build a civilian nuclear power industry, immediately sparked concerns about a Saudi path to enrichment […]View the full article

Satellite images showing a stealth fighter-shaped object at a former Chinese airport turn out to depict a fire-fighting trainer mock-up, according to Chinese aerospace analyst Andreas Rupprecht. Rupprecht made the assessment in an August 25 post on X, sharing images that show Chinese military firefighters conducting a live training exercise around the mock-up, including one […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy is asking defense companies to pitch designs for a carrier-launched combat drone that could fly, fight and land on aircraft carriers alongside manned fighters, according to a request for information released August 31 by Naval Air Systems Command. The RFI covers the first increment of the Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, run […]View the full article

A former Italian Navy mine warfare officer has launched Sentiq Defence, a company based in Bordighera on Italy’s Ligurian coast that will supply navies, coast guards and port and energy operators with uncrewed boats, underwater surveillance sonars, remotely operated submersibles and aerial drones, the company announced on Oct. 13. Sentiq starts out as an integrator, […]View the full article

Let's hit a first principal out of the gate here: if you are serving in the military for the money - get out. Your nation does not need or want you here. Thank you for your service and enjoy your civilian career. Now that this is out of the way, let's hit a topic in the Salamander Top-10: we have a glut of General Officers and Flag Officers in the US military. We have more than we know what to do with, so we keep making up jobs for them - bloating the tail while starving the teeth. That bloat means that we have a lot of very talented people who are underemployed. Trust me on this, with one or two exceptions, take any 4-star right now, and there are a few dozen 3 or 4 …

Americas Northrop Grumman won a $12.9 million contract modification, which exercises an option to provide continued support for integrated test team operations in executing advanced development experimentation flights and development testing in support of future delta system software builds for the Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) is the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform. It features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems that will improve supportability and increase readiness. Work will take place in Patuxent River, Maryland. Estimated completion will be in July 2022. …

The news isn't that they have 60-days to get out, the news is they've been allowed to operate here for two decades. Washington has revoked the US licence of one of China's biggest telecoms companies citing "national security" concerns. China Telecom must stop providing services in America within 60 days. Officials said the Chinese government's control of the company gave it the opportunity "to access, store, disrupt, and/or misroute US communications". This in turn could allow it "to engage in espionage and other harmful activities against the US", they said. China Telecom, which has provided telecoms services in the US for nearly 20 years, called the decision "disappoin…

Remember my oft used phrase "otherwise unemployable people?" Remember how we've discussed here many Thursdays over the last two decades how the worst of academia was being invited in to our service academies and war colleges - and it would manifest itself throughout the fleet? Remember how - still to this day - the Diversity Industry's nomenklatura grows and shapes all to serve itself and its interests? We tried to warn folks back to when it started getting real bad in the Bush43 Presidency. We were - and still are - called all sorts of nasty names by people who cannot defend their secular religion. A solid confessional by Professor Russell Jacoby who, while the fetid wa…

Americas Boeing won a $9.3 million deal for the AH-6 Light Attack Helicopter. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of November 27, 2027. The AH-6 Light Attack Helicopter is a small and agile military helicopter designed for quick and precise […]View the full article

Americas Boeing won $81 million modification, which definitizes the order and adds scope to provide continuing non-recurring engineering in support of configuration efforts for the Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS), to include the Harpoon Block II Update Grade B Canister Launch All Up Round Missiles, the HCDS launch system, and Harpoon weapon station test and production equipment in support of the HCDS for Taiwan. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri; Randolph, Vermont; Baltic, South Dakota; Pontiac, Michigan; Black Mountain, North Carolina; St. Louis, Missouri; Norcross, Georgia; various locations within the continental US; and various locations below and …

Americas The US Marine Corps’ 3d Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) has executed a successful live-fire exercise of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), conducted at the Pohakuloa Training Area on January 25. This event, marking the first live-fire of MADIS on a Hawaiian island since its introduction in December, underscores a critical step in the Corps’ Force Design modernisation efforts. The MADIS, a mobile, short-range, surface-to-air defence system, is designed to counter a range of aerial threats, particularly the growing menace of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). As a key component of the Marine Corps’ modernisation strategy, MADIS enhances the 3d MLR’s tacti…