Raw Intel

The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency on March 2, 2026, published new details of its Nimble Options for Buying Layered Effects, or NOBLE, announcement, establishing a five-year acquisition framework running through March 27, 2030. The announcement consolidates multiple contracting authorities under a single structure to support missile defense research, prototyping, and rapid capability development. The NOBLE […]View the full article

Germany’s Bundeswehr intends to submit a budget request in the second half of 2026 to conclude a framework contract with KNDS for the procurement of up to 500 MARS 3, also known as EuroPuls, multiple launch rocket systems, according to reporting by hartpunkt journalist Waldemar Geiger. Roughly half of the systems included in the framework […]View the full article

German analyst Julian Röpcke renewed his criticism of European defense procurement systems after Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system at a distance of more than 100 kilometers in the Zaporizhzhia region. In a post on X, he cited the combat performance and cost of a Ukrainian-made kamikaze drone used in the strike. […]View the full article

The United States Navy on March 2, 2026, awarded Northrop Grumman a $225,1 million contract modification to support the E-130J aircraft under the Take Charge and Move Out recapitalization program. The award exercises options for the design, development, and delivery of all E-130J weapons systems training materials and courseware. The modification (P00011) is issued under […]View the full article

Jackson-based AdlerAerospace, in partnership with its Czech R&D affiliate TRL Drones, has developed the TALOS-J and TALOS-E interceptor drone systems — a new fixed-wing counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) family designed using operational lessons drawn from battlefield conditions in Ukraine, the company confirmed during an exclusive interview with CEO and Chairman Wilhelm Meya. TRL Drones brings […]View the full article

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said on March 2, 2026, that Qatari air defenses shot down two Iranian Su-24 Fencer swing-wing attack jets and intercepted multiple ballistic missiles and drones targeting the country, according to an official statement released in Doha. The ministry stated that Qatar Emiri Air Force and naval air defense units successfully neutralized […]View the full article

As we are at D+2 and spent a full hour yesterday discussing Operation Epic Fury on the Midrats Podcast, I’m not going to review what we know so far—if you’d like Mark and my take, give the episode a listen. What I would like to do is dive into a topic that I hinted at in the show: my historical support for the punitive expedition. The target is valid, and the method has been underused for way too long. I support the strikes on Iran because it firmly fits into a view I have held on the use of national military power for decades, based on thousands of years of military practice. If you are not up to speed with the thousands of Americans dead and maimed by the Islamic Repub…

Ukrainian forces are increasingly employing German-made HX-2 one-way strike drones along multiple frontline sectors, according to reporting by Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi. Militarnyi reported that HX-2 drones developed by German defense technology company Helsing are now being used on several operational axes to conduct strikes inside Russian-controlled rear zones. According to the outlet, the drones […]View the full article

United States Central Command confirmed that three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait late March 1 during what officials described as an apparent friendly fire incident while supporting Operation Epic Fury, according to an official command statement. In a statement released from Tampa, Florida, U.S. Central Command said: […]View the full article

The United States Army has awarded Textron Systems Corporation a prototype agreement for the Low Altitude Stalking & Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program, the company announced last week. The agreement supports the Army’s effort to provide Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) with an organic precision strike capability designed to engage armored vehicles, hardened targets, and concealed […]View the full article

Former Russian deputy energy minister Vladimir Milov has published an analysis assessing the current condition of Russia’s defense-industrial sector, concluding that production growth is slowing while financial pressures across military manufacturers are increasing. The assessment, built on publicly available industrial statistics, corporate disclosures, and official statements, challenges the narrative that wartime spending has produced a […]View the full article

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that several United States Air Force combat aircraft crashed during morning hours, stating that all aircrews survived and were safely recovered following emergency search and rescue operations, according to an official government statement identified as Statement No. 7. In its official announcement, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense spokesperson said: “This […]View the full article

Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Aramco shut down operations at its Ras Tanura refinery following a drone strike that triggered a fire at the major Gulf coast facility, an industry source said Monday, as verified video footage later confirmed flames at the site after the incident. According to an industry source cited in reporting, Aramco […]View the full article

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded RTX’s BBN Technologies a contract under the X-ray Extreme-range Non-imaging Analysis (XENA) program to develop advanced long-range X-ray sensing tools designed to improve battlefield situational awareness, according to program details released alongside the award announcement. Under the XENA program, BBN Technologies will develop a new class of […]View the full article

Ukrainian defense-linked sources report that Russia has begun limited operational use of a new subsonic cruise missile, identified as “Izdeliye-30,” during strikes against Ukraine following testing activities that started in late 2025. According to the Ukrainian OSINT community “Polkovnyk HSh,” which maintains close ties with Ukrainian military sources, Russia initiated isolated testing and early combat […]View the full article

United States Central Command said Sunday that U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck hardened ballistic missile facilities in Iran overnight, employing 2,000-pound bombs against what officials described as fortified military targets. The command announced the operation in an official statement, declaring, “No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve.” The strike comes amid ongoing U.S. military efforts […]View the full article

The United States Army integrated Israeli-made computerized rifle sights into multinational counter-drone training at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany on Feb. 12, 2026, where American and allied troops conducted weapons qualifications using the SMASH 2000 system. The activity took place during the Air Force’s Joint Multi-Domain Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator Course, according to […]View the full article

An open-source intelligence tracker has published a detailed accounting of military equipment losses following large-scale airstrikes exchanged between Israel and Iran on February 28, 2026, offering one of the first consolidated battlefield assessments tied to the latest escalation across the Middle East. The losses were compiled by OSINT specialist Elmustek, who monitors equipment destruction across […]View the full article

Hard to think of a better time to have a Midrats Podcast Free-for-All. 2026 continues to produce more content than we know what to do with, but we’ll give it our best. Join Mark and me this Sunday LIVE from 5-6pm Eastern at this link. As always, we’ll have the show chat going if you’d like to join the conversation or ask us a question. If you’re reading this after the show, refresh the Substack later tonight for the uploaded podcast. 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

The United States Army plans to spend $250 million to procure 50 Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles (AMPVs) to replenish combat vehicles transferred to Ukraine, according to a Pentagon reconciliation spending plan recently submitted to Congress. The planned contract award is expected before April and is intended to restore armored vehicle inventories after large-scale security assistance deliveries. […]View the full article