HG S2 (Intel Bot)

Hanwha Aerospace has expanded its defense cooperation with Estonia through a new memorandum of understanding with local firm GoCraft OÜ, as additional details emerged about Estonia’s acquisition of South Korean Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher systems and related industrial investments. According to a press release dated Dec. 22, 2025, Hanwha Aerospace signed an MOU with GoCraft […]View the full article

History isn’t just about the past; it’s a guide for today! On this episode, we unravel the myths surrounding Pearl Harbor and what they teach us about current global tensions with returning guest, John Keuhn. Dr. John T. Kuehn is Professor of Military History at the Army Command and General Staff College. He served in the US Navy as a naval flight officer flying in EP-3s and ES-3s, retiring in 2004. He has authored or co-authored seven books and was awarded a Vandevort Prize from the Society for Military History in 2023 for his article “Zumwalt, Holloway, and the Soviet Navy Threat Leadership in a Time of Strategic, Social, and Cultural Change.” His latest book from is Strategy in Crisis (Naval Institute, 2023). You can listen here, or at the Spotify widget below. SummaryIn this episode, Sal, Mark and guest John Kuehn discuss the historical significance of the Pearl Harbor attack, exploring its lessons for modern military strategy and the importance of public support in warfare. They analyze the complexities of the attack, the role of logistics in sustaining naval forces, and the geopolitical implications of sea lines of communication. The conversation also touches on the current state of the U.S. Navy and the strategic calculations of China in the context of potential conflict over Taiwan. Chapters00:00: Introduction and Context of Pearl Harbor 04:22: Understanding the Surprise Attack 10:41: Lessons from Pearl Harbor for Modern Warfare 17:27: The Role of Public Support in War 25:12: The Importance of Selling Naval Power 31:08: Logistics and Sustaining Naval Forces 39:42: Geopolitical Implications of Sea Lines of Communication 46:00: China’s Strategic Calculations and Modern Warfare 56:40: Conclusion and Future Considerations 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

Egypt has reportedly signed a contract worth about $400 million to acquire 10 Chinese-made WJ-700 unmanned combat aerial vehicles. According to information circulating in Chinese and Arabic defense reporting, the agreement was signed in June 2025. If the deal is fully implemented, Egypt would become the second operator of the WJ-700 following Algeria, marking another […]View the full article

Germany has placed its first production order for the RCH155 wheeled howitzer, moving to introduce a new remote-controlled artillery system into service under a long-term framework agreement that could eventually reach 500 vehicles. According to the announcement, the German Armed Forces awarded the order to ARTEC GmbH. The contract covers the first 84 RCH155 systems […]View the full article

Raytheon has secured a United States Air Force contract to equip the autonomous X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft, known as VISTA, with its PhantomStrike fire-control radar, expanding the service’s testing of autonomous combat aviation technologies. According to a press release, Raytheon will integrate the PhantomStrike radar onto the X-62A as part of ongoing Air […]View the full article

L3Harris Technologies has been selected to provide assured communications support for the U.S. Air Force’s E-4C fleet as part of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center program, extending the company’s role in one of the military’s most sensitive command-and-control missions. According to a press release, L3Harris Technologies will serve as a subcontractor on the SAOC effort, […]View the full article

The United States Army is taking early steps to modernize and sustain its UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter fleet, signaling plans to keep the platform in service well beyond mid-century as operational demands and technology continue to evolve. According to the Army, the Capability Program Executive Aviation, working through its Utility Helicopters Project Office, has issued […]View the full article

Boeing has partnered with Anduril Industries in a bid to develop a future air defense interceptor for the U.S. Army, as the service moves forward with plans to address emerging aerial threats through its Integrated Fires Protection Capability program. According to a press release from Anduril Industries, the company will provide the solid rocket motor […]View the full article

Airbus Helicopters says it has reached a new stage in the Tiger Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) program with the activation of a full-scale ground test facility designed to reduce risk ahead of flight testing planned for 2026. According to a statement from Airbus Helicopters, the newly activated “Helicopter 0” test bed reproduces the complete Tiger […]View the full article

Lithuania has approved plans to acquire 100 Swedish-made CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles as part of a joint procurement with five other NATO allies, a move aimed at modernizing its ground forces and expanding regional industrial cooperation. The decision was approved by Lithuania’s State Defense Council, which also instructed officials to give special attention to […]View the full article

Ukraine’s Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has carried out a second strike in recent days against Russia’s Belbek air base in occupied Crimea, destroying Russian military aircraft and damaging critical airfield infrastructure, according to the SBU press service. In a statement, the SBU said its unmanned systems hit the Belbek facility, resulting in the destruction […]View the full article

An unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle has crashed in an empty field in the Manyas district of Balıkesir province in western Türkiye. According to open-source intelligence analysis, the drone was recovered largely intact and transferred to Ankara for detailed examination. Initial assessments suggest the aircraft may be a Russian-made Merlin-VR reconnaissance drone, a long-range, low-noise intelligence, […]View the full article

A Danish startup is entering the unmanned logistics market with a family of heavy-lift, high-speed autonomous cargo aircraft designed to move large payloads over medium distances. Acodyne says it is developing an unmanned electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft aimed at what it describes as the “middle-mile” logistics segment, a space between short-range drones and […]View the full article

UAE-based EDGE and Spain’s EM&E Group have signed a technology transfer contract that will allow the FEROX 6×6 armored vehicle to be manufactured in Spain. According to a statement dated December 19, 2025, the agreement is structured between EM&E Group and EDGE entity NIMR, a producer of wheeled military vehicles. Under the contract, EM&E Group […]View the full article

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited has secured a new order worth $21 million for its R400 Remote Weapon System, expanding the company’s international defense footprint and lifting its contract backlog above $400 million. According to a company announcement, the order covers the supply of R400 Remote Weapon Systems to a customer in North America. The […]View the full article

Slovakia has signed a long-term framework agreement with TATRA DEFENCE SYSTEMS for the supply of TATRA FORCE military vehicles across multiple configurations, establishing a procurement pathway valued at more than €1 billion ($1.17 billion). According to information released on December 17, 2025, the framework contract covers TATRA FORCE vehicles in 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 variants, […]View the full article

Poland has begun serial production of a new 6×6 armored tactical vehicle known as Heron, according to ZBiAM. The production launch is taking place at Huta Stalowa Wola S.A., one of Poland’s key state-owned defense manufacturers. The Heron vehicle is built on a chassis supplied by Tatra Defence, which is part of Czechoslovak Group. “Heron […]View the full article

Japan has signed a new follow-on contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to acquire additional Joint Strike Missiles for its F-35A fighter aircraft. According to information released on December 19, 2025, the agreement marks Japan’s fifth follow-on contract for the Joint Strike Missile, or JSM. The contract is valued at more than NOK 800 million […]View the full article

Korea Aerospace Industries has signed two new contracts to deliver Surion multirole helicopters to South Korean government agencies, extending the platform’s role in public safety, disaster response, and maritime security missions. According to K-DEFENSE NEWS, KAI signed separate agreements on December 15 and December 17 to supply one Surion helicopter each to the Korea Coast […]View the full article

Northrop Grumman has completed a successful static fire test of a prototype Mk 72 solid rocket motor, a step the company says supports efforts to deliver scalable propulsion systems for U.S. military programs. According to a company statement dated Dec. 18, 2025, the test was conducted at Northrop Grumman’s advanced propulsion production facility in Elkton, […]View the full article

One thing I’ve heard my whole life, from my father, my coaches, to my professional mentors, and now from me to my children: Always finish strong. She was commissioned on May 3rd, 1975, less than a week after the fall of Saigon. Nine more ships of her class would follow. If you’re looking for a ship that defined an era for her nation and Navy, I think the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) would be a perfect example. 1975-2025. This week, more than 50 years after her service began, she finished her last deployment. Nimitz departed Bremerton as the flagship of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG), Mar. 21, 2025. The nine months underway included three months in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility and nearly four months in U.S. Central Command. … In U.S. 5th fleet, Nimitz supported freedom of navigation in the Arabian Sea, completing four Strait of Hormuz transits. The strike group provided power projection for U.S. Central Command, setting conditions for regional stability and enabling the Iran-Israel ceasefire. Additionally, the strike group supported U.S. Africa Command operations by conducting strikes against ISIS targets in Somalia. … While in U.S. 7th Fleet, Nimitz supported operations to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific, providing credible deterrence and reassuring allies and partners of enduring U.S. commitment to the region. Nimitz participated in Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 25), strengthening relations with regional partners. The ship also conducted routine port visits in Malaysia and Guam, where the crew participated in key leader engagements, community relations, sporting events and cultural exchanges. “I am deeply proud of this crew for proving, over nine months of sustained operations at sea, that they are well-trained, fit to fight and ready to win,” said Capt. Joseph Furco, commanding officer of Nimitz. “These men and women, these world-class warfighters, truly exemplified our Navy’s warrior ethos through their honor, integrity, resilience and relentless commitment to the mission and to each other.” Nimitz Sailors completed more than 8,500 sorties and 17,000 flight hours, carried out 50 replenishments-at-sea aboard the carrier and sailed over 82,000 nautical miles combined. A half century of service, she ended strong. Her namesake would be proud. 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

Germany’s national parliament has approved a procurement order for Dutch defense manufacturer Defenture to deliver 49 mobile battlefield platforms to the Bundeswehr’s Special Forces Command, known as Kommando Spezialkräfte, or KSK. The vehicles are scheduled to enter service starting in 2027, according to information released on December 18, 2025. The order covers two variants developed […]View the full article

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and XTEND have completed a new integration effort aimed at improving command and control of uncrewed aerial systems across multiple classes, a development tied to evolving joint all-domain command and control concepts. According to information released on December 18, 2025, the two companies integrated XTEND’s Operating System, known as XOS, into […]View the full article

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) has emerged as the U.S. Navy’s first Flight III warship, introducing a new generation of surface combatant capability centered on advanced radar, power, and combat systems. Commissioned on October 7, 2023, Jack H. Lucas has been designated by the Chief of Naval Operations as […]View the full article

Portugal’s Air Force has taken delivery of its first A-29N Super Tucano aircraft, marking the introduction of a new training and light combat capability and making Portugal the first European operator of the platform in its NATO-configured version. The delivery ceremony took place on December 17 at the facilities of OGMA, Portugal’s aerospace company, in […]View the full article