HG S2 (Intel Bot)

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces have announced a combat milestone with no documented precedent in modern warfare — operators from the Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) division of the 412th Nemesis Brigade successfully intercepted a Russian Shahed attack drone using an interceptor drone launched from an unmanned naval platform. The engagement took place within a maritime operational […]View the full article

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll publicly acknowledged before Congress that the American military is actively adopting lessons from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, calling Ukraine’s wartime innovations a fundamental transformation of how humans engage in armed conflict. Driscoll made the remarks during a congressional hearing, speaking directly to Ukraine’s battlefield performance since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. […]View the full article

The U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division has dropped a pointed teaser on social media, posting a close-up image of an armored vehicle turret alongside the phrase “Coming soon…” and a string of hashtags — #XM30, #M1E3, #PegasusCharge, #TiC, and #CavCountry — that together signal the division is preparing to publicly showcase trials of the Army’s […]View the full article

King Felipe VI of Spain visited the Spanish Army’s Third Tactical Experimentation Campaign — known as TEC 3 — at Base Álvarez de Sotomayor in Viator, Almería this week, where aerospace company Destinus conducted a live container-launched interception demonstration with its Hornet B1 counter-drone system and displayed its Ruta platform on static exhibit. The King, […]View the full article

Northrop Grumman announced Friday that its YFQ-48A Talon Blue autonomous combat aircraft completed its first engine run, a key developmental milestone achieved in collaboration with Pratt & Whitney and the U.S. Air Force. The announcement was brief but pointed. “YFQ-48A Talon Blue started its engine for the first time today, a significant advancement achieved with […]View the full article

U.S. Army soldiers from the Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division conducted Operation Arctic Tech at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, from April 7 to April 10 — a weeklong field exercise designed to fuse unmanned aircraft systems, electronic warfare, and counter-drone capabilities into a single, integrated reconnaissance force operating […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy has completed delivery of the 300th and final Harpoon missile under its Lot 91 multi-year production agreement with Boeing, closing out a significant chapter in one of the Western world’s most widely fielded anti-ship weapon programs. The milestone caps a production run primarily oriented toward Foreign Military Sales, extending the Harpoon’s global […]View the full article

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 was tempted to join the infantry, but his father suggested enlisting in the Navy and learning a useful trade. Becoming a Hospital Corpsman, Raffetto thought, seemed like the right course of action. A serious rating for serious Sailors doing a critically serious job. Underway time and pre-deployment training is, for a Sailor, a bit different. The convoy moved through dirt roads where mock IEDs exploded during an ambush. “This is to see our reaction after the explosion,” said Cpl. Michael Kempker, a point man with Co. B. “Someone in the convoy gets injured by the blast and we have to find a safe place to treat him.” Once at a safe location, Marines followed instructions from a Navy corpsman to treat common injuries seen from IED attacks. “It’s important for them to know what procedure to follow because if something were to happen to me whether I get killed, or injured in a way I can’t help, they will be able to treat me or anyone else who needs it,” said Seaman James Raffetto, a corpsman with Co. B. The recon Marines learned how to treat the specific injury each of their patients had during practical applications in a simulated combat zone. “The main thing is to acknowledge the life-threatening injuries and stabilize the casualty,” said Raffetto. Marines explained the importance of knowing what to do and doing it in a fast manner. “Every second counts in this type of situation, so we rehearse and rehearse to change any minor problems to help us in the future,” said Lance Cpl. Ben Eiden, an assistant radio operator with Co. B. You train hard for a reason. Your future can visit you quickly. Raffetto spent the bulk of his Navy career in training; he was wounded during his very first deployment. He was assigned to the Marines of 1st Reconnaissance and, while in Afghanistan in August 2010, he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) blast. The accident resulted in the amputation of both his legs above the knee, an amputation of his left arm at the elbow, and the amputation of three fingers on his remaining hand. There is something about a Corpsman, their view on life - and the women that they marry, often right before deployment. Though his recovery process was very difficult at first, Raffetto, who now is standing tall on prosthetic legs, feels very hopeful about the future. “Several factors help me stay positive: first and foremost, my wife – the best part about all of this is that she is with me and I can spend time with her,” Raffetto said. “Organizations like Navy Safe Harbor have made a big difference. And my physical therapists are extremely skilled. Had I been injured a few years ago, walking may have been impossible. But, considering the future of prosthetics, it is hard to not be optimistic.” Navy Safe Harbor has helped the Raffetto family address a number of non-medical issues, from helping the family get to Raffetto’s bedside immediately after his injury to fixing pay and personnel problems. “Navy Safe Harbor has been very helpful,” said Raffetto. “They strike the perfect balance of being there when you need them, but not hanging around when you don’t. [My Non-medical Care Manager] CDR Hamilton is phenomenal. She gets results, she checks in often, but she’s not overbearing in any way.” “From day one James has maintained a positive attitude that sort of says: ‘This is where I fell; I’m going to stand where I am and move forward from here,’” said Hamilton. “He faced many trials in his recovery and rehabilitation but has never given up. He sets goals and strives to achieve them. He’s a champion.” When they can, Raffetto and his wife Emily like to visit other wounded warriors; they generously offer their company, share their experiences, and offer an ear to listen if needed. “The most important thing I can do is show the wounded warriors what they can accomplish during their recovery – by seeing me, they learn that so much is still possible,” said Raffetto. “I try to give them a realistic look – but a hopeful look – at what’s to come.” His Marines didn’t forget him either. He lost his legs, his left arm and part of his right hand to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in August, but Navy Medical Corpsman James Raffetto says that’s not what’s been worrying him. “I just wanted to know my guys would make it home OK,” he said. When the 220 troops from Camp Pendleton’s 1st Reconnaissance Battalion he served with in the Helmand province arrived home on Wednesday, they were equally concerned for Raffetto. Dozens of Marines rushed up to the Pennsylvania native, hugging him and asking him how he was doing in a remarkable display of Marine Corps’ brotherhood. “I’m great,” he assured them as he stood in a corner of a gymnasium filled with parents and families of the returning troops. “It’s a relief to know everyone is now home and all right.” Raffetto explained to his buddies how he’s able to get around on prosthetic legs and use the portion of his hand that remains. He flew from Washington, D.C., to California to welcome the battalion back to Camp Pendleton. After all, he said, it was those he was assigned to protect who saved him, making sure he didn’t bleed to death when he was blown up. “They’re the reason I’m still alive,” he said. “They used the training that I helped give them, and that’s why I’m here today.” Then Seaman now Petty Officer Raffetto; BZ and Fullbore. First posted in OCT 2011.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

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