Raw Intel

Iran’s military has reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, closing the critical waterway to shipping just hours after briefly allowing transit, according to Iranian state media. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced Saturday that control of the strait had returned “to its previous state,” placing the passage back under what it described as strict […]View the full article

Russia’s state defense conglomerate Rostec announced that the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has delivered another batch of new production Su-35S multirole fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces. Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy Director General of Rostec, praised the aircraft’s battlefield record in remarks accompanying the announcement. “These fighters today are the most effective modern combat aircraft […]View the full article

Ukraine expects its pilots to begin training on Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets as early as 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, signaling a new step in efforts to rebuild the country’s air force during the war. In remarks cited by Militarnyi, Zelenskyy pointed to a growing partnership with Sweden focused on strengthening Ukraine’s future […]View the full article

Bell Textron Inc. said Friday it has set up a subsidiary in Ukraine and is preparing to open a dedicated office, laying the groundwork for a long-term partnership with the country’s defense industry. The new unit, Bell Textron Ukraine, will act as the company’s base for work inside the country. While a final office location […]View the full article

Indra Land Vehicles and IDV, a Leonardo Company, signed a strategic agreement on April 17, 2026, to deliver the new Marine Infantry Amphibious Combat Vehicle — known by its Spanish acronym VACIM — to the Spanish Armed Forces under a Special Modernization Program commissioned by the Spanish Ministry of Defence. The contract covers the supply […]View the full article

The German Army is moving to equip its corps-level artillery formations with long-range loitering munitions capable of striking targets between 200 and 300 kilometers away, according to remarks delivered by Lieutenant General Heico Hübner, Deputy Inspector of the Army and Commander of the Military Basic Organization, during a keynote address at the parliamentary evening of […]View the full article

U.S. President Donald Trump amplified the news within minutes, stating on social media that Iran had announced the strait “is fully open and ready for full passage.” Yet Trump simultaneously made clear that the American naval blockade of the waterway would “remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a broader agreement with Washington to end […]View the full article

Looking back at some of the things I wrote about 15 years ago, and this caught my eye. The first decade of GWOT, everyone was reminded of the heart of a Corpsman. Almost decade into a war that a decade later would end in national disgrace, we had men raising their hand and saying, “Send me.” Time to revisit. E3 and below. Non-PO. Seaman/Airman/Fireman. Huh. Ponder. Unqual. “Hasn’t paid his dues.” etc. Well, there’s a then-Seaman in the upper-right hand corner. Where did he come from? When he decided to join the U.S. Navy, (Raffetto) was living at home and working in construction, and he craved a more structured lifestyle. His brother had been a Marine and Raffetto w…

A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone carried out a more than 12-hour reconnaissance flight off the coast of Cuba, flying repeated patterns over the Gulf of America and the northern Caribbean, based on flight tracking data and open-source reporting. The aircraft, using the callsign BLKCAT6, operated at high altitude and made multiple passes near […]View the full article

The Israel Defense Forces has used its new Ro’em self-propelled howitzer in combat for the first time, firing the system during artillery strikes in southern Lebanon. Units from the 282nd Artillery Brigade brought the wheeled system, also known as the SIGMA 155, into action to support ground operations near the border. The howitzers were used […]View the full article

Spain’s EM&E Group has carried out live-fire trials of its Aunav robotic ground vehicles equipped with Guardian Aspis remote weapon stations during a Spanish Army experimentation campaign, showcasing their ability to engage targets while on the move. The testing took place from April 7 to April 17 at the Álvarez de Sotomayor training base in […]View the full article

AeroVironment, better known as AV, has introduced a new launched effects system, expanding its portfolio of loitering munitions with the debut of the MAYHEM 10, a multi-role platform built for use across air, ground, and maritime operations. The system builds on the company’s Switchblade family but moves into a broader mission set. Rather than focusing […]View the full article

Washington-based investment syndicate Pravo Ventures has invested in Ukrainian aerostat developer Aerobavovna, backing a company already supplying airborne platforms to Ukrainian forces for communications and sensing tasks. In a statement, Pravo Ventures said Aerobavovna is “building critical aerostat-based capabilities for Ukraine and its allies,” adding that it is “excited about the team’s continued growth and […]View the full article

Atlanta-based Askari Defense has introduced a new hand-launched interceptor drone built to counter small unmanned aerial systems, bringing forward a compact platform aimed at short-range air defense against low-flying threats. The system, called Rift Alpha, is designed to engage Group 1 and Group 2 drones—categories that typically include small reconnaissance and attack UAVs operating at […]View the full article

Florida-based aerospace company AIR says it has begun flight operations with its new heavy-lift cargo unmanned aircraft, marking the first public confirmation that the platform has moved into active flying status. The aircraft, which the company describes as one of the largest in its category, is built to carry payloads of up to 550 pounds […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force and Anduril Industries completed the first experimental testing of the YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft with the Air Force’s newly stood-up Experimental Operations Unit last week, conducting a series of daily flight operations at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The exercise marked the first time Air Force personnel — not Anduril […]View the full article

The U.S. Army awarded a contract to German drone distributor DRONIVO GmbH on April 2, 2026, for 15 EAGLE NXT eBee VISION small unmanned aerial systems, six ground control stations, and a pilot training package to equip the 2nd Cavalry Regiment ahead of the Saber Strike 26 exercise. The contract, valued at €870,810 — approximately […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force has issued a draft solicitation for the B-52J Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) Production Modification Kits and Interim Contractor Support, opening the door to industry competition for one of the most consequential bomber modernization efforts in recent memory. Published on April 16, 2026, through the federal contracting website, the presolicitation marks […]View the full article

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

It’s funny how some things stick in your head. Remember what was at the top of the list yesterday for the: “1 x special mission ship of unknown capability“ … UPDATE: the special mission ship is probably a replacement for this. It keeps popping into my head. In case you were too busy to follow the link, here she is. A leased civilian ship advertised as: …Kellie Chouest is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. OK, it has a helo pad, 4th Fleet is the maker of smuggler’s blues: sure, fine. I’d move on to other t…