Raw Intel

Two newly built Type 055 large destroyers, identified as hull 109 Dongguan and hull 110 Anqing, made their first official appearance during naval training operations, increasing the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s fleet of the 10,000-ton-class warships from eight to ten. The vessels were shown conducting joint training at sea alongside other naval ships in footage […]View the full article

A report published by the Chinese newspaper Global Times says China is seeking to expand exports of military aircraft following what the publication described as the first combat success of the export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet during an overseas air battle in 2025. The report indicates that the aircraft’s performance generated increased international attention toward Chinese […]View the full article

While the once-great Royal Navy continues to scour the piers for enough duct tape and bailing wire to get a destroyer underway, it appears that—literally—the entire French Navy is getting underway. As she has done before, she is moving east in response to another crisis in Lebanon where there are a lot of French citizens and the general disquiet in the Eastern Mediterrenean. This time, as a side-show to the Israeli-American conflict with Iran, as it appears a final move is going to be made against Hezbollah by the Lebanese. How much of the fleet? Well, it appears that if it can leave the pier, it is going. Via Cap-Hornier, Nearly the entire fleet is at sea: 19 of the 23 m…

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense said on March 9 that a ballistic missile launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was intercepted by NATO air and missile defense systems deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean. The ministry confirmed that the missile was neutralized before it could reach its intended destination, with debris falling onto unoccupied […]View the full article

The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces released footage showing its air defense systems intercepting Iranian strike drones targeting the country. The announcement comes as tensions in the region continue to involve missile and drone attacks targeting military and civilian infrastructure. The UAE government said the interceptions demonstrate the country’s ability to detect and defeat multiple […]View the full article

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Monday that its air defense systems intercepted 754 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones within a 24-hour period, describing the number as one of the largest reported drone engagements since the start of the war. The statement was released through official Russian military channels and included additional claims that other incoming weapons had […]View the full article

Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system near Melitopol after a long-range strike by a domestically produced FP-2 attack drone, Ukrainian officials said. The strike occurred near the village of Nove, several kilometers from Melitopol, after the drone traveled approximately 90 kilometers to reach the target. According to Ukrainian defense media outlet Militarnyi, […]View the full article

The United States military has been observed transporting a detailed mockup of the Russian Buk-M3 air defense system in Alabama, according to images recently circulated online. The replica, mounted on a semi-trailer rather than a self-propelled chassis, appears to be a training asset used to simulate modern Russian surface-to-air missile systems during military exercises. Military […]View the full article

The first quarter of 2026 still has three weeks to go, but the assumptions and friend group of the People’s Republic of China has changed dramatically. Recent changes in the assumptions concerning Venezuela, Iran, Japan, and other nations will impact the national security concerns of the West’s greatest challenger on the world stage. Returning to the Midrats Podcast today from 5-6 PM Eastern to discuss will be Dean Cheng. You can listen LIVE at this link, but if you are reading this after the show, just check the substack later Sunday night for the podcast upload. Dean is a Senior Advisor, United States Institute of Peace; Non-resident Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for…

The United States Navy officially began Operation ICE CAMP Boarfish in the Arctic Ocean on March 7, 2026 after the construction of a temporary base on drifting sea ice and the arrival of two fast-attack submarines, USS Delaware (SSN‑791) and USS Santa Fe (SSN‑763). The three-week operation is designed to test submarine operations and evaluate […]View the full article

The Naval Air Systems Command confirmed that it awarded a contract to Rockwell Collins to repair and reconfigure TacNet 1.0 datalink radios used on the Joint Standoff Weapon and Harpoon Block II+ missile systems. The delivery order was issued on September 30, 2025 and listed in a federal award notice published March 6, 2026. The […]View the full article

The Drug Enforcement Administration plans to acquire Skydio R10 indoor drones for operational use, according to a special procurement notice published by the U.S. government. The agency intends to purchase the systems through a sole-source contract with Atlantic Diving Supply, a Virginia-based defense equipment supplier. The planned purchase reflects a growing need among law enforcement […]View the full article

The United States Army National Guard has launched a procurement effort to acquire several small unmanned aerial systems for training and operational support, according to solicitation documents published March 7, 2026. The request comes from the Tennessee Army National Guard and focuses on lightweight drones that meet the U.S. military’s Blue UAS security certification requirements. […]View the full article

Ukraine will send a group of military specialists to the Arabian Gulf on Monday, March 9, to share battlefield experience in countering unmanned aerial vehicles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in remarks to journalists while awaiting the arrival of Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in Ukraine. The deployment will involve Ukrainian military personnel and defense […]View the full article

An analysis published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies outlines Japan’s expected deployment of domestically developed long-range missile systems as part of an emerging “counterstrike” posture. The report describes plans for fielding systems such as the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP) and the upgraded Type-12 anti-ship missile between fiscal years 2025 and 2027. The […]View the full article

United States missiles, drones, and Israeli fighter jets began striking targets inside Iran on Feb. 28 at approximately 9:45 a.m. Iran Standard Time (1:15 a.m. EST), launching a coordinated military campaign aimed at degrading Iranian military infrastructure and air defense networks. The operation was conducted under the Israeli codename Operation Roaring Lion and the U.S. […]View the full article

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bombers conducted strikes on Iranian ballistic missile facilities and command-and-control positions during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury, according to official statements. The confirmation came alongside newly released footage from United States Central Command Public Affairs showing airmen preparing a B-52H Stratofortress for […]View the full article

The United States Department of War has approved a $53 million contract modification for Lockheed Martin to support increased production of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), according to an official contract announcement. The award modifies a previously issued contract and funds tooling and test equipment needed to expand manufacturing capacity. Expanding production infrastructure is […]View the full article

The United States Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $610 million contract to Mortenson for the construction of a Domestic New World Screwworm Sterile Insect Production Facility at Moore Airbase in Edinburg, Texas. The award was announced as part of federal contracting activity and involves funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for fiscal […]View the full article

The United States has approved a possible $151.8 million Foreign Military Sale to Israel for air-delivered munitions and related support, according to a congressional notification released March 6 by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. The proposed package includes 12,000 BLU-110A/B 1,000-pound class munition bodies along with engineering, logistics, and technical support services. […]View the full article