HG S2 (Intel Bot)

United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has handed over new Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers to the Russian Ministry of Defense. According to UAC, the aircraft completed the full cycle of factory testing, were verified across multiple operating modes, and have already flown to their home airfield. The Su-34 is designed to strike ground, surface, and air targets — […] The post Russian Air Force receives new Su-34 combat aircraft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Alas, poor American icebreakers! I knew them, Shipmate: a fellow of infinite use, of most excellent capability: he hath borne me honor, commerce, and discovery a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it! -Apologies to the Bard When you have the world’s largest navy, you soon realize you can be everywhere, all at once, because you want to. We all had fun at the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) navy and coast guard’s expense yesterday in Operation Bumper Boats, but now it is time to get back to serious things. As we discussed six months ago, the PRC is not an Arctic nation. It has, at best, a tertiary concern with the Arctic. Just look at the chart at the top of last week’s post, no PRC coastline to be seen. That isn’t stopping her. While we continue to try to figure out a way to catch up in the icebreaker game, the PRC is already there. They are not doing this for pure research; they are looking at how to leverage every corner of the planet for military and economic gain for themselves. They have no other reason to be there. Via Malte Humpert at gCaptain: In a significant show of Arctic prowess, China has dispatched five icebreaking research vessels to the region. This is the first time the country has operated more than three icebreaking vessels in the Arctic simultaneously. The flotilla is led by China’s largest domestically-built icebreaker Xue Long 2. The Polar Class 3 vessel departed from Shanghai on July 5. It has since been operating in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas adjacent to Alaska and Russia. Its ultimate destination is not currently known. Last summer the vessel concluded its Arctic sailing with a port visit to Russia’s largest Arctic city Murmansk. Both the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian military have shadowed Xue Long 2’s activities in recent weeks. Xue Long 2 was joined in the Arctic on July 30 by Shen Hai Yi Hao, an ice-class research vessel specialized on ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) owned by China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association (COMRA). It carries the submersible Jiao Long designed for dives down to 7,000 meters. Shen Hai Yi Hao departed from Qingdao on July 16 and is currently operating in proximity of Xue Long 2 to the northwest of Alaska at the edge of Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. As with so many problems in the maritime domain that were appreciated for decades, and action deferred to someone else’s PCS or election cycle, the “out years” are now. More, faster, better, and while we are at it…make sure they are armed. The Arctic will be a war zone, and we will need to be ready at D+0. 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

Russia has built a rapidly growing and effective drone industry in a short period of time, despite facing international sanctions and political pressure from Europe and the United States. By focusing on proven, low-cost, and serially produced designs, the Kremlin has been able to quickly increase output of a wide range of systems, including loitering […] The post Russian drone industry gains speed first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Israeli defense technology firm SMARTSHOOTER has secured a new order for hundreds of its SMASH 3000 fire control systems from an undisclosed Asia-Pacific customer, the company announced. The systems will be used for counter-small unmanned aircraft systems (C-sUAS) missions and precision engagement of ground targets. The contract follows what SMARTSHOOTER described as a period of […] The post Mystery Asian customer buys Israeli-made computerized rifle sights first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

It was only a matter of time until there was a serious incident involving Chinese bullying in the South China Sea, but I didn’t have a Red-on-Red on my betting card. “The [Chinese coastguard vessel] CCG 3104, which was chasing the [Philippine coastguard vessel] BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the [Philippine] vessel’s starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] Navy warship,” spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement. “This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel’s forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy,” he said. The incident occurred as the Philippine coastguard escorted boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area, Tarriela added. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship hull number 164 is the 7,500-ton Type 053D (Luyang III class) destroyer Guilin. She’s just four years old. It’s interesting to see that the US Navy isn’t the only navy that seems to want its navy to do coast guard functions. While neither Chinese ship makes a Sailor proud, the PLAN is clearly the issue here. The Sun has the best video summary I’ve seen, and it tells the story better than a bunch of my typing, so give it a watch. Final note: BZ to the calm professionalism of the Philippine Coast Guard. 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

This fall, the U.S. Army will launch a new online marketplace for purchasing unmanned systems — an “Amazon-like” platform that will allow units to select vetted solutions by price and performance, bypassing the lengthy bureaucratic acquisition process. The U.S. Army will roll out a new online platform designed to classify and purchase unmanned aerial systems […] The post U.S. Army to launch ‘Amazon-like’ drone marketplace first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $160 million Foreign Military Sale to Canada for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and associated equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced. The agency has delivered the required certification to Congress, clearing the way for the proposed transfer. According to the DSCA, the Government of Canada […] The post U.S. approves $160 million sale of JLTVs to Canada first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The United States Coast Guard has officially brought the medium icebreaker USCGC Storis (WAGB-21) into service at its Juneau, Alaska, base, marking the first acquisition of a new polar icebreaker in more than a quarter century. The ship was commissioned on August 10 as part of the Coast Guard’s effort to expand its polar fleet, […] The post USCG commissions first new polar icebreaker in 25 years first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russia’s defense industry has been rocked by another corruption scandal, with federal security agents detaining a former senior manager at the country’s primary infantry fighting vehicle manufacturer, AO “Kurganmashzavod.” According to the Federal Security Service (FSB) branch in the Kurgan region, the former head of the plant’s metals department is suspected of abuse of official […] The post Russian defense industry hit by new corruption arrests first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed development trials of its new-generation Zorawar light tank and will begin user trials in September 2025, DRDO chief Dr. Samir V. Kamat said. The Zorawar, developed jointly by DRDO and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is designed to meet the Indian Army’s requirement for a highly mobile, […] The post India prepares to field new Zorawar light tank first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel sustained heavy damage Monday following a collision with a Chinese Navy warship during a tense maritime encounter with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) near Bajo de Masinloc, also known internationally as Scarborough Shoal. According to the PCG, the incident occurred as it carried out its “Kadiwa Para sa Bagong […] The post Chinese warship, Coast Guard vessel collide near disputed shoal first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

There is no better way to stay out of the summer heat than to take an hour to join us for a Midrats Podcast melee! Mark has my list of maritime and national security issues he wants to chat about, I have mine, and while we’re live you can join us in the chat room and propose your own. The best hour in national security returns live at 5pm Eastern this Sunday. You can join us at this link. If you miss the live show, check this page later Sunday on Substack and I’ll update with the podcast audio. See you soon! 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 British Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning II fighter jet made an emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport in southern Japan on Saturday morning after the pilot reported a potential technical issue. No injuries were reported, and the airport has since resumed normal operations. According to Kagoshima Airport officials, the incident occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. […] The post British F-35B makes emergency landing in Japan first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The British Army has received its first domestically built Boxer armored vehicle, marking a key milestone in the United Kingdom’s £5 billion ($7 billion) program to deliver 623 units across multiple variants. Produced by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) at its Telford facility, the vehicle has been transported to Bovington, where it will serve as […] The post First UK-made Boxer joins British Army first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Polish prosecutors, counterintelligence, and tax authorities are investigating a Warsaw-based company that received nearly 100 million złoty (about $25 million) from a South Korean defense contractor shortly after multi-billion-dollar arms deals were signed between Warsaw and Seoul. The investigation, launched in June by the Warsaw Regional Prosecutor’s Office, is linked to Poland’s high-value defense purchases […] The post Poland launches probe into Korean arms contracts first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger says the German defense company anticipates receiving an order from the Bundeswehr later this year for additional Skyranger air defense gun systems worth between six and eight billion euros ($7-9 billion). Speaking during a conference call with analysts, Papperger declined to disclose specific quantities, citing agreements with the German Ministry of […] The post Germany plans to buy 500+ Skyranger air defense systems first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

India’s Air Force chief has publicly claimed that the country’s air defenses shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one airborne early warning aircraft during clashes in May, marking the first official statement from New Delhi on Pakistan’s reported losses in the brief but intense exchange. Speaking in the southern city of Bengaluru on Saturday, […] The post India says six Pakistani warplanes downed in May first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

French-German defense firm KNDS has showcased the second prototype of its next-generation main battle tank, the Leopard 2A-RC 3.0, during a demonstration at the Klietz military training area. The PT02 prototype was presented by KNDS, with footage released by the Militär- und Landtechnik Klaus Schröder YouTube channel, which described the event as part of an […] The post KNDS shows Leopard 2 tank with unmanned turret first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Indulge me a bit to bring back one of my first FbF from 2006 about one of my favorite ships....and it is German. The Graf Spee. She had a short but glorious history, an epic wartime cruise, and fought a classic battle against an enemy as honorable as she was, and to this day she calls people to her grave. She still calls to some; well at least me. Look again at her stats. Range: 8,900 nautical miles at 20 knots (16,500 km at 37 km/h), or 19,000 nautical miles at 10 knots (35,000 km at 18.5 km/h). Plant: Eight 9-cylinder double-acting two-stroke MAN diesels two screws, 52,050 hp (40 MW). Guns: Six 11 inch (280 mm) guns in two triple turrets, eight 5.9 inch (150 mm) guns six 150 mm guns eight 37 mm anti-aircraft guns ten 20 mm anti-aircraft guns eight 21 inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes in 2 quadruple mounts All this in a ship 186 m long. Yep, you know where I am going with this. Imagine, using modern (not PPT or "in development") technologies to build a modern Pocket Battleship. Just think about it. Even if you don't want to spend what it takes to put titanium firemains like we first did in the LPD-17 or re-create the foundries to build the 11" guns, I will give you 4 MK-71s instead, two forward two aft. Give her four Leonardo OTO Melara 76/62 mm Super Rapid, two forward like you find in the French Horizon Class frigates, and a similar configuration aft. Throw in a few dozen MK-41 VLS cells in a center section....and you know where I am going. Now think about the LCS and DDG-1000 that we wasted so much time and treasure in…when we could have built this. It would have been, with an order or magnitude less technology risk, what DDG-1000 was supposed to be. My idea was great 19 years ago. It is even greater today. Back to my Graf Spee. Two great sites for info are here and here. There was some news in 2006 I’d love to get an update on, the Graf Spee Project, and folks taking bits of her up one piece at a time. The one I want is already gone. The stern eagle. Here she is now, here is what she she looked like when attached. Bronze rulz. The latest I have heard is that for some reason, the Uruguay government is having the vapors over the swastika held by the eagle’s feet. It is historical, and Uruguay was not part of Nazi Germany. Get it out of the warehouse and put it on display. It is the 21st century and that symbol does not have magic powers. Here she is in the ideal, the actual (like the false bow wave camo), and her final cruise to meet her end. To round out the story, you should review her Skipper, Kapitän zur See Hans Wilhelm Langsdorff. IMAO, an honorable, conflicted man - who in the end - loved his Sailors more than anything else. There are worse things that can be said about a man. As is my habit, I’ll ask the question; "What would you do?" There is a recent German language book on him that I wish were in English. 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 video circulating on TikTok appears to show, for the first time, a modernized Zlin Z-137 Agro Turbo aircraft modified to carry and launch missiles. The clip was shared by the open-source intelligence community Tysk, which wrote: “Flight of a turboprop Moravan Z-137 Agro Turbo, converted to launch missiles, somewhere over Ukraine.” The footage has […] The post Missile-equipped farm plane spotted in Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian forces have reportedly destroyed a rare Russian radar associated with the country’s newest S-500 “Prometey” air and missile defense system, according to the defense outlet Militarnyi. The report, citing the open-source intelligence community CyberBoroshno, said this was revealed in video footage released by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) showing drone strikes by the special […] The post Ukrainian forces take out S-500 air defense radar first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A U.S. defense contractor has revealed a high-fidelity replica of China’s HQ-22 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, part of an expanding program to create realistic threat targets for American military training. Torch Technologies’ Integration and Prototyping Center (TIPC) is producing the decoy systems, which are designed to replicate the equipment, capabilities, and operations of foreign air […] The post U.S. firm creates replica of Chinese HQ-22 air defense system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Navy has officially named its next-generation TACAMO aircraft, designating the E-130J as the Phoenix II. The announcement came from the Navy’s Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) and Strategic Communications Wing 1 (SCW-1). TACAMO—short for “Take Charge and Move Out”—is a central element of the nation’s nuclear deterrence posture. Its […] The post U.S. Navy reveals name for future ‘Doomsday plane’ first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

At RAF Lakenheath, England, a U.S. Air Force F-15B Eagle fighter jet has been taken out of service in a process that leaves the aircraft permanently unusable. Last month, a contractor carried out the demilitarization on behalf of the 48th Maintenance Group, using heavy equipment to crush and shred the airframe. The aircraft had been […] The post U.S. Air Force destroys F-15 jet at base in Britain first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army has unveiled what it describes as a scalable and low-cost production effort for first-person-view (FPV) drones. On August 7, 2025, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR) displayed a mass lineup of drones at Balli Army Airfield in Germany, underscoring how rapidly deployable unmanned systems are becoming integral to battlefield operations. According to the […] The post U.S. Army displays FPV drone production in Germany first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article