HG S2 (Intel Bot)

The United States Air Force moved multiple special operations support aircraft north along the coast of the United Kingdom today, as three U-28A Draco intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft were tracked heading toward the North Sea amid rising tensions over the Russian-flagged crude oil tanker Marinera. Aircraft spotters observed U-28A aircraft using the callsigns AGREE32, AGREE34, […]View the full article

Video footage published on Facebook shows United States Air Force CV-22B Osprey aircraft from the 7th Special Operations Squadron conducting fast-rope and rescue training at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. The aircraft, stationed at RAF Mildenhall, carried out the drills using standard special-operations procedures. According to OSINTdefender, the training activity involved fast-rope insertion teams […]View the full article

Russia has revealed a new set of battlefield tactics for its tank units, describing coordinated maneuvers that pair armored vehicles with unmanned aerial systems in ongoing combat operations, according to statements released by the Russian Ministry of Defense and the state corporation Rostec. The Ministry said frontline units now employ a two-tank method in which […]View the full article

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Pentagon’s research and technology arm, released a new program solicitation on January 6, 2026, for the Frosty effort to develop technology that enables new radar-based sensing modes in the Arctic environment. The notice invites industry to submit proposals by January 30, 2026, for solutions that improve detection […]View the full article

The United States Navy has issued a new Sources Sought Notice seeking industry input for low-cost Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems intended for the United States Marine Corps, publishing the request on January 6, 2026, through Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). The announcement invites companies to submit detailed information on commercially available sUAS platforms with First […]View the full article

The United States Army has issued updated solicitation materials for a new second-source supplier to manufacture 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 caliber ammunition, releasing revised documentation. The updated announcement was published on January 6, 2026, extending the proposal deadline and issuing new guidance on production requirements. According to the notice, Amendment 0001 moves the proposal submission […]View the full article

The United States Navy has awarded Raytheon a $29 million contract modification to expand production tooling and test equipment for the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) program. According to contract details released by Naval Sea Systems Command, the award covers new supplier special tooling and special test equipment needed to increase output of the SM-6 All Up […]View the full article

It would be an understatement to say that I am not all that pleased with where we are in January 2026 with the Greenland question. This would not have been the productive path I would have recommended because, in the end, this is a very serious issue. Sure, in the first few months of 2025, the meme-ish nature of it all was fun and funny…but only to a point. In 2026, Denmark is not going to sell or otherwise transfer Greenland to the USA like they did with the now-U.S. Virgin Islands a bit more than a century ago. However, before we go further, if you have a knee-jerk reaction to support or oppose anything or any topic because DJT is involved, please repress that feeling until at least the end of the post. It isn’t productive, enlightening, or good for your health—so give it a rest for a bit until we are done, then you can carry on as before. Next, let’s do as we should in most things: let’s go to the chartroom. Object Zero’s crayon work on the Arctic Institute’s map is superb to illustrate that point. The Europeans have whipped themselves into an almost comical lather over it all. Having lived with their NATSEC nomenklatura for years, I’m not shocked. They tend to be very narrowly read, get their ideas about the USA from NYT, WaPo, and the usual suspects in East Coast Universitlandia and their nomenklatura is worm-ridden with the same people who opposed Cold War NATO efforts to counter the Soviet Union’s militarism and every anti-USA trend of the fiscal quarter, etc. Unhelpful has been an almost gleeful approach to triggering these people who never thought DJT would come back to power, and from 2020-24 acted like it. Behind that triggering and, at least from this side of the pond, trolling, is a very serious security concern in the high north that Greenland is, literally, right in the middle of. The great circle route from Russia’s nuclear weapon delivery platforms all go over the high Arctic over or around Greenland. It isn’t just Russia. Here is the great circle route from the center of Iran to the center of CONUS: Then you have the natural resources of Greenland being utilized by China and Russia. Yes, yes. I know. There is a better way. It isn’t as fun. It is slow, it is frustrating, but it is doable. Denmark is a small nation of almost 6 million souls in a space of land about 2/3 the size of West Virginia. In the last year she finally started spending her fair share on defense, but even before then, she had been a solid ally. She already lets us have bases there. If we need more we can sell it—along with Canada—as part of mutual defense. When it comes to keeping Russia and China at a distance, in backrooms we can work deals and twist Danish elbows. We won’t get all we want, but we should be able to get 80%. I don’t get antagonizing the Danes like this. I think it is unnecessary and counterproductive. $0.02. Yes, I would love to have American ownership of Greenland, but that isn’t a realistic option right now…especially after the last year. What we can have—if the Danes will let us—is expanded presence on the island as needed. I really wish that were what we were trying to do. Maybe we are, but we are not doing it in a productive way, and to be blunt, it is moving things in the wrong direction. It is time to try a different track. It won’t be as fun, but it has a better chance for success than the present plan. In the end, if maximizing Greenland’s geography for North American security is as serious as we say, we would change course. h/t NJ5.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

India publicly showcased its new Suryastra multiple launch rocket system during rehearsals for the Army Day parade in Jaipur, marking the first public appearance of the indigenous long-range rocket artillery platform. The system was displayed on a wheeled launcher carrying two 370mm Predator Hawk missiles and four 306mm extended-range rockets, highlighting its ability to fire […]View the full article

The United States Air Force has continued intensive reconnaissance flights near Venezuela’s coastline, deploying RC-135V/W intelligence aircraft over the Caribbean at activity levels comparable to those recorded in early January, according to open flight tracking data and regional monitoring reports. On the latest mission, an RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, tail number 64-14848, operated from Homestead […]View the full article

The United States Navy has awarded Collins Aerospace a $20.3 million contract modification to produce and deliver three high-power transmit set modernization kits for the E-6B “doomsday plane,” according to a Department of the Navy contract announcement. The award was issued to Rockwell Collins Inc., operating as Collins Aerospace Government Systems, under a firm-fixed-price and […]View the full article

The United States has reached a framework agreement with Lockheed Martin to sharply expand annual production of PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors, increasing output from about 600 missiles per year to roughly 2,000 over the next seven years, the company said. In a statement released on social media, Lockheed Martin said the agreement with the […]View the full article

U.S. forces used one-way attack drones during strikes on Caracas on January 3 as part of Operation “Absolute Resolve,” marking the first confirmed large-scale combat employment of kamikaze-style drones by the United States, according to sources and newly published visual evidence from Venezuela. Local residents in Caracas released videos recorded during the strikes that captured […]View the full article

Ukrainian Air Force pilots operating F-16 fighter jets were forced to revise NATO-taught air combat tactics after returning from training abroad, as the methods proved unsuitable for the realities of combat near the front line in Ukraine, according to a report published by Militarnyi citing official Air Force video footage. In comments shown in the […]View the full article

Denmark’s Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization has procured eight unmanned ground vehicles for testing by the Danish Army, marking the country’s first structured trial of robotic land systems for operational use. According to a statement published by Forsvarsministeriets Materiel- og Indkøbsstyrelse (FMI), the vehicles will be delivered to the Army’s Combat Troops Branch in Slagelse, […]View the full article

Israeli Elbit Systems has secured new contracts worth a combined $150 million to supply its Iron Fist Active Protection System for integration on CV90 infantry fighting vehicles operated by European NATO member states, the company confirmed. According to a press release from Elbit Systems, the contracts were awarded by BAE Systems Hägglunds, the producer of […]View the full article

The United Kingdom expects to have taken delivery of its 75th F-35 Lightning aircraft by the end of 2033, the British government confirmed in a written parliamentary response published on January 5, 2026. In a response to a question from Lord West of Spithead, Defence Minister Lord Coaker said “the Department expects to take delivery […]View the full article

Thai tank crews operating the VT-4 main battle tank have raised sharp criticism over the platform’s reliability during real-world operations, citing repeated mechanical failures and design shortcomings encountered during active use, according to multiple accounts from serving personnel. Soldiers and officers familiar with the tank’s operation report that the VT-4 has suffered from frequent malfunctions […]View the full article

If you didn’t get a chance to listen to Sunday’s Midrats Podcast with Mark and me, give it a listen to hear a broader discussion with some additional detail thrown in. Today is going to be a bit different. We are still just ~72-hours from the events, so there is an order of magnitude more of what we don’t know than we do, but some items are breaking out from the fog. On yesterday’s podcast, I briefly mentioned a framework for discussion that I think is helpful to flesh out here—an addendum to my comments on the podcast, so to speak. As we stand here the Monday after the events of Friday night/Saturday morning, what are some clear items of consideration at the Tactical, Operational, Strategic, and Political levels? Let’s do Top-3s at D+3: Tactical:No other military on the planet has the Joint/Combined Arms/Interagency capability to successfully execute this mission. None. This is a unique national capability that we should carefully nurture, steward, and improve on. The death of rotary wing (RW) aircraft has been greatly exaggerated. As I have written often over the last two decades, one has to examine closely the lessons of small and medium sized wars, as they will inform you what will be needed in the next large war. That is the gold standard…but you have to be careful. Some lessons look to have broader implications, but they may be muted or amplified by the location and venue you are looking at. Yes, flying large groups of RW in the Ukraine theater is a questionable proposition, but that is because they are Ukrainian and Russian RW being flown by Ukrainians and Russians. American RW aircraft have training, equipment, and capabilities that others do not have. It was not by luck that none of our RW operating deep in Venezuela were shot down. Make no mistake, without a diverse, robust, and numerous RW capabilities, the Maduro Raid would not have been possible. Unmanned systems are A tool, not THE tool. I agree, the use and utility of unmanned systems in the Russo-Ukrainian War has expanded at an astronomical rate, but in spite of what some may be trying to sell you, the future is not “All U_V All the Time”. Unmanned systems are like aircraft, submarines, and body armor—they get added to the tool box. The more diverse the toolbox, the more capable your military. That last comment refers to a lot more than unmanned systems. Operational: Sovereign Bases Matter: While we have seen other friendly nations let us use their facilities, the reanimation of Roosevelt Roads and the general Guamification of Puerto Rico over the last few months is a wake-up call to everyone. Serious policy makers need to put their accountants in the back of the room where they belong. A global power rides along support structures few see and understand at peace until they are needed at war but gone. Having a wide variety of inefficient and underutilized bases and facilities scattered around is a feature, not a bug. The future is unknown and an impatient lover. Do not test, taunt, or take her for granted. Reactivate more bases. Play hard ball with the UK about Diego Garcia. Pray for peace. America Must be the Dominate Maritime & Aerospace Power in Order to be a Global Power: I don’t mind saying, “I told you so.” so I will happily say, I told you so. Yes, we need land power, but most of it should be light, expeditionary and exemplary. The balance of heavy maneuver forces should be based on US territory and the balance in the Reserve and National Guard. Everyone who went feet dry in Venezuela came back home because the U.S.A. dominated the air, electromagnetic spectrum, and the sea to such a degree that any challenge to that dominance was a death sentence to the challenger. Few Things are More Useful Than a Large Deck Amphib: Let any person who poo-poos the USMC demanding more amphibious ships, or worse, bleats out how they are obsolete, be tarred, feathered, and run out on a rail. All hail the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7). IYKYK. Strategic:Punitive Expeditions Make Peace: Rightfully, coming on the back of the bombing of the Iranian nuclear program earlier this year, this decisive action has put bad faith actors on notice that the U.S.A. has the ability to act on her words, and will. All the usual suspects on the fail bus and the faculty lounge of The Smartest People in the Room™ will make the usual noises against taking firm action, or even a whiff of punitive expeditions being valid in the 21st Century. I’m sorry, we tried their methods, measured them, and found them wanting. We wanted punitive expeditions for Afghanistan and Iraq, but instead we wasted trillions of dollars borrowed in the name of children yet unborn and expended the lives, bodies, and blood of tens of thousands of America’s sons and daughters in the pursuit of a vanity driven mirage of no benefit to the nation. No more. America is a nation of action when she so desires. Sometimes our show of force is more than a show and just because we break it does not mean we will buy it. Clearing Out Our Backyard of Pests: Venezuela was allowed to be a basing point of China, Russia, Iran and their proxies in our hemisphere—and became a source of destabilization through narcotics, organized crime, and political bad actors. None of it promoted peace, prosperity, freedom, or the free flow of goods at market prices—just authoritarianism, terror, poverty, misery, corruption, and strife. She externalized her dysfunction to our shores, and so it became our business. America Must be Ready to Go Alone: Yes, some nations voiced support for our actions. The usual leftists did not. Many simply hedged their bets, but there are some things a nation must do for itself, by itself. It isn’t just operational security for us, or the question of capability by others to help. No, it is simply, will to take action and take risk. Sure, we have had some U.S. administrations who would never do what was done, but that’s part of being a democratic republic. However, we have one who will now. Let’s just hope that will is leavened with wisdom. Political:Who is Running Venezuela?: We have given the Venezuelan people an opportunity to put their nation on track to benefit its people. It is incredibly rich, large, and blessed with superb geography, but has spent the last few decades in socialist self-destruction. Will they go the way of Norway and Argentina, or Nigeria and Turkmenistan? Bad Neighbors are Negative Help: At the moment at least, Venezuela’s largest neighbors, Brazil and Colombia, are run by leftist governments led by Marxists. Will they help or hurt Venezuela during this time where governance is in flux? Friends Foreign and Domestic: All over the world where you see large concentration of Venezuelan expats, there have been outpourings of celebrations. Likewise, there have been those being unusually upset that South America’s worst despot is gone. From the UN to your local politicians, look at where they stand, and who they are standing with. Such events are clarifying. For the U.S.A., we should also look at the response to our “friends” to this event and take careful note of that as well. That’s the 72-hour quick look. A week, a month, a year from now, things may change…but there is great opportunity for the U.S.A., Venezuela, the Western Hemisphere, and the cause of responsible democratic self-governance. Are there the right people in the right place to take advantage of this opportunity in a positive manner? Known unknown. 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

Turkey has completed the acceptance test firing for a SİPER-1 air defense battery, confirming readiness of the nationally developed long-range air and missile defense system, according to official information released after the test conducted at the Sinop Test Center in northern Türkiye. The battery-level acceptance firing was carried out under a demanding operational scenario that […]View the full article

Elbit Systems Ltd. has been awarded new contracts worth a combined total of approximately $150 million to supply its Directed Infrared Countermeasures systems to European aircraft fleets, the company announced on January 5, 2026. According to a press release from Elbit Systems, the contracts include equipping the aircraft fleet of an unnamed European country with […]View the full article

China’s state broadcaster has revealed new footage showing People’s Liberation Army ground forces training with the Type 19 8×8 wheeled fighting vehicles, confirming their operational deployment within frontline units of the Western Theater Command. The footage was released by China Central Television and shows training activities conducted by the 149th Medium Combined Brigade of the […]View the full article

Japan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that Chinese military aircraft, including H-6 bombers, J-16 fighters, and a Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft, flew between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island into the Pacific Ocean on December 29, prompting an emergency response by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. According to a statement released by the Japan Ministry of Defense through […]View the full article

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for Turkish re-entry into the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program, saying the move would strengthen NATO security and help repair ties with Washington, according to written comments provided to Bloomberg. Erdogan said he raised the issue directly with Donald Trump during a White House meeting in September, describing Turkey’s […]View the full article

Russia’s Aerospace Forces received two modernized Tu-160M Blackjack strategic missile-carrying bombers in late 2025, ending a multi-year delay in the program, according to a statement by Russia’s defense minister reported by Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi. The delivery was disclosed during a year-end meeting of the Russian defense ministry, where Defense Minister Andrey Belousov confirmed the handover […]View the full article