Raw Intel

Ukrainian drone developer Wild Hornets has announced the serial deployment of its Hornet Vision Ctrl remote control technology, a system that enables operators to pilot the company’s STING interceptor drone from distances of up to 2,000 kilometers from the front line — including from ordinary civilian locations such as apartments or hotel rooms. The announcement […]View the full article

Americas Hamilton Sundstrand won a $135 million deal for C-130 production. The total estimated value of all the options is $573,028,284. The maximum ceiling value of the contract is $708,031,469. This contract provides for manufacturing and engineering support of the NP2000 eight-blade propeller, electronic propeller control system and procurement of initial spares under C-130 for […]View the full article

Americas General Dynamics Mission Systems has been awarded a $5.5-million contract to sustain the US Army’s Prophet Enhanced sensor systems. The agreement, which could grow to $481.6 million, was awarded by the Army Contracting Command on behalf of the Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC). The company will provide spare parts and obsolescence risk management for […]View the full article

Americas The United States Department of the Navy is seeking diver and unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) detection and tracking technologies. The department wants the technologies to augment seabed and port security, supporting detection, tracking, and fire control, a department solicitation notice stated. The department’s desired mission packages — including subsystems, equipment, and software — fall […]View the full article

Industrial capacity feeds logistics. Logistics win wars. Logistics is math. Math is unforgiving to the complacent. If you are looking for early lessons of the Russo-Ukrainian War, there are two that need to be underlined today. Lesson 1: Don’t Fall for the Short War Fallacy: This is a known fallacy throughout human history, but every generation must be reminded of it, sometimes more than once. At peace, people will find reasons – either phycological or financial – to promote the promise of a short war either through their superior ideas or exquisite weapons. Good people desiring good things are easily seduced by this peace-time siren’s song. The Russians thought that the…

Americas The US Army tested a remote landmine detect and diffuse system featuring a drone and a mortar-equipped land vehicle. The Ground Obstacle Breaching Lane Neutralizer (GOBLIN) concept was designed to neutralize a mine from a standoff range, reducing risk for breaching forces. It comprises a mortar-based launcher system integrated on a vehicle platform, a […]View the full article

P-8A Poseidon (click to view full) Maritime surveillance and patrol is becoming more and more important, but the USA’s P-3 Orion turboprop fleet is falling apart. The P-7 Long Range Air ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Capable Aircraft program to create an improved P-3 began in 1988, but cost overruns, slow progress, and interest in opening the […]View the full article

F-35B: off probation (click to view full) The $382 billion F-35 Joint Strike fighter program may well be the largest single global defense program in history. This major multinational program is intended to produce an “affordably stealthy” multi-role fighter that will have 3 variants: the F-35A conventional version for the US Air Force et. al.; […]View the full article

Americas Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft has received authorization to carry nuclear bombs. Russ Goemaere, a spokesman for the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), recently told Breaking Defense that the much-awaited certification was actually awarded several months ago but only announced now. The milestone will allow some F-35As to carry two B61-12 nuclear gravity […]View the full article

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $74 million contract modification for the production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ground equipment to support the US government. Under this contract modification, Lockheed Martin will provide six launchers, THAAD Fire Control and Communication (TFCC), and associated Peculiar Support Equipment (PSE) under firm-fixed-price and fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract line items. The THAAD terminal (formerly theatre) high-altitude area defense missile system is an easily transportable defensive weapon system to protect against hostile incoming threats, such as tactical and theatre ballistic missiles, at ranges of 200km a…

Americas Breeze-Eastern won a $8 million deal for the overhaul and upgrade of the Winch, Aircraft Mounted for the UH-60 Medical Evacuation Aircraft. HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter is a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) version of the UH-60M Black Hawk multi-mission helicopter. Built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the US Army, the helicopter is designed to evacuate wounded troops from the battlefield. Lockheed Martin Space won a $396.7 million contract modification for Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed systems support. The Trident II D5 is the latest generation of the US Navy’s submarine-launched fleet ballistic missiles, following the highly successful Polaris, Poseidon…

You can't grow a Navy if you can't find a place for the people you have today to work. You won't even be able to recruit them. People decide to join the military or a whole raft of reasons from the honorable to the random to the undefinable. A significant number of those reasons are word of mouth from friends or family who are already serving. Once in, keeping a productive climate where the demanding nature of the military adds enough stress and frustration is a hard balance. It is often based on the degree servicemembers feel their command/service "has their back" and is trying to provide the most basic support so the servicemember can do the job they joined to do. Ever…

Often we refer to WWII as being "....on the edge of living memory." We are reaching the point where we may need to start saying, "...just outside living memory." We reached an inflection point at the end of June; Medal of Honor Recipient and World War II Veteran Hershel “Woody” Williams, 98 has died on Wednesday. Williams was born on Oct. 2, 1923, and grew up in Quiet Dell in Marion County, West Virginia. Williams was the last living WWII Medal of Honor recipient. He joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the Battle of Iwo Jima with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division. Williams received the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1945, from President Harry S. Truman f…

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $606.8 modification, which procures long lead time materials, parts, components, and efforts in support of maintaining on-time production and delivery of 173, Lot 19, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas; […]View the full article

Americas BAE Systems has been awarded $25 million to provide the US Marine Corps with more Amphibious Combat Vehicle-Personnel units (ACV-P) under its fourth order for full-rate production. The deal is a follow-on order to a previously-awarded $181-million contract for the vehicles. The agreement also covers the vehicles’ fielding and sustainment costs, as well as support […]View the full article

Americas The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a $7.5-billion contract for Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits that convert air-launched, unguided bombs into guided munitions. The contract includes spares, repairs, technical, and Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition sensor kits with an expected completion date of February 29, 2030. Some JDAMs will go to the […]View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded FN America, LLC a $2 million Prototype Project Opportunity Notice (PPON) contract to further develop its Precision Grenadier System — a next-generation soldier weapon designed to deliver greater precision and lethality than current grenade launchers. According to the company, the FN Multi-purpose Tactical Launcher 30mm (MTL-30) will be designed in […] The post U.S. Army taps FN America for next-gen grenade launcher first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Bell Boeing won a $23.4 million modification, which exercises options to provide continued flight test support for the V-22 aircraft in support of the Navy, Air Force, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Fort Worth, Texas; and Hurlburt Field, Florida, and is expected to […]View the full article

All together now… (click to view full) Britain’s practice of “contracting for availability” for key equipment, rather than paying for spare parts and maintenance hours, may be its most significant defense procurement reform. In a world where older air, sea, and ground vehicle fleets are growing maintenance demands beyond countries’ available budgets, it’s an approach […]View the full article

Today is a great day; A hero pilot who shot down at least four Russian Migs in a classified dogfight at the height of the Cold War which saw his jet shot 263 times is to receive the Navy Cross. Retired Navy Captain Royce Williams was sworn to secrecy for more than 50 years over fears that his battle against seven Soviet fighters could spark war with Russia. Now the 97-year-old is free to tell his tale and is due to receive the Navy's second highest award for combat valor on Friday at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Captain Williams first graced the pages of CDR Salamander almost 11-yrs ago. In honor of his well deserved Navy Cross, let's bring it back. No one will…