HG S2 (Intel Bot)

Hanwha Aerospace has secured a new contract to deliver 24 additional K9 self-propelled howitzers to Norway, according to reporting by Asia Economy. According to a report by journalist Yang Nak-gyu of Asia Economy, Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il traveled to Oslo on September 18 to finalize the deal with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA). […] The post Norway signs third deal for South Korean K9 howitzers first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea has launched its second King Jeongjo-class Aegis-equipped destroyer, the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (DDG-996). The warship was floated out at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan on September 17, according to footage provided by Yonhap TV and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. It is the second unit of the 8,200-ton King Jeongjo-class destroyers—South […] The post South Korea launches new missile-defense warship first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

I think it is more than reasonable to be mad, frustrated, angry, or sad at this sad end, at least for now, to a story no one wants to hear. Via Salvador Rizzo over at WaPo. Retired Adm. Robert P. Burke, who was convicted of corruption offenses after a four-decade military career in which he rose to become the Navy’s second-highest-ranking officer, was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison, days after the trial of the tech executives who were accused of bribing him ended with a hung jury. Burke served as vice chief of naval operations from 2019 to 2020, overseeing personnel, training and education for the branch’s nearly 400,000 uniformed members. The Portage, Michigan, native retired in 2022 as the Navy’s commander for Europe and Africa after numerous postings around the world and over 17 years at sea. He is appealing his convictions. As a reminder, here is what he was found guilty of. …federal prosecutors said Burke capped his distinguished career as a four-star admiral with “a stunning abuse of power,” ordering his subordinates to award a no-bid contract worth $355,000 in the waning days of 2021 to a New York tech company whose executives had promised to make him a millionaire after retirement. Burke was convicted in May of bribery, conspiracy, acts affecting a personal financial interest and concealing material facts. “This is a sad day and a sad chapter for the Navy,” U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden said as he imposed the sentence, noting that Burke lied to law enforcement officials during the initial stages of the investigation, “promptly sought to destroy evidence” and had expressed no remorse. “This was blatantly unlawful, as you well knew from your role just months before as the Navy’s chief ethics officer,” McFadden said before repeating the warning Burke gave his subordinates when he issued the Navy’s standards of conduct: “A single poor decision could destroy a lifetime of service.” The last I touched on this was over a year ago on the Midrats Podcast. This will probably be the last time I comment on this specific case. Almost everyone here should be able to do the math on the investment the US Navy and the taxpayers who support her invested in Burke, and at the end of the day, this is where his story ends. It is helpful to remind everyone of the retirement pay for O-10s, full Admirals, at retirement. I tried to use the official US gov’munt websites to find this out, but they are the best 1998 could produce, so I asked Grok. It should give us +/- 10%. For a US military O-10 (four-star general or admiral) retiring with 40 years of service under the legacy High-3 retirement system, the retirement pay multiplier is 2.5% per year of service, resulting in 100% of the high-three average basic pay (the average of the highest 36 months of basic pay). Assuming the retiree has held O-10 pay grade for at least the final three years (common for those reaching this rank with 40 years total service), the high-three average equals the 2025 O-10 monthly basic pay rate of $18,808.20. Monthly retirement pay: $18,808.20 Annualized retirement pay: $225,698.40 That doesn’t include TSP, medical, and other benefits…or any other savings and investments any normal human would acquire by their mid-60s. Civilians would blanch at such a lifetime annuity. Military retirement is often described as a delayed compensation benefit, as most could have earned more in the civilian sector. Yes, ideally, no one joins the service for the cash, but here we are anyway. It has also been described to me since I was a Midshipman that it is also generous, especially for our most senior personnel, such that they won’t have to sell themselves to industry in order to live comfortably. I stopped believing that by the time I made LT. It may have been true once, but now such statement will just provoke laughter. It works for some, but not for all. It is very human for many to believe that too much is never enough, especially when they develop a very rich peer group in DC. While, at the end of the day, this is a personal failure, this also represents an institutional failure with regard to our General Officer and Flag Officer (GOFO) cadre. As the cohort is not good at policing itself, and the bad apples are left to sit in the bucket, spoiling the bunch, then Congress needs to step in to put in more guard rails. As I first proposed well over a decade and a half ago, it is well past the time for THE SALAMANDER BILL; For a period of no less than five years from their effective date of retirement, General Officers and Flag Officers shall not be employed by, be an independent or subcontractor to, an officer of, or a member of a board of directors - compensated or not - with any publicly or privately held company that does business with the Department of Defense. If the SALAMANDER BILL had passed, Burke would never have been drawn into this web, but it wasn’t and he was. As such, not only is he damaged, but the US Navy is damaged, and the entire GOFO cadre is as well. Layer on all the board hopping and mind-numbing politicization, the retired GOFO are almost demanding broad action. As a second step, should start at the incentives and disincentives that get people to the highest levels. We need to be much more selective about the number of people promoted to GOFO. As I outlined back in May about our 1:6,000 v.1:1,400 problem. No one can justify the bloated GOFO force. It isn’t just the people, it is the staffs and bureaucracy that come with each one of them. It is well past time for a root and branch reform of our General Officer and Flag Officer cadre. Change what is rewarded, and you will select a different type of person. Except for those who have benefited the most from today’s system, I know of few who will argue we are promoting our best. The product speaks for itself. Yes, we will hear all sorts of excuses why we can’t afford to cut GOFO numbers, that it is actually good that they are pimping out their contact list to industry, that there is no problem for them to work for the companies they were just weeks prior deciding if they would or would not get billions of dollars of contracts, that everything in our senior uniformed leadership is just fine and dandy. Sure, we can hear those excuses, but with each passing day, fewer people will buy them—and once respected institutions erode away. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Share Leave a comment View the full article

The Amiral Ronarc’h—France’s first Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI)—has departed the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient, heading to its homeport in Brest. According to a statement from the French defense procurement agency, Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), the departure follows the completion of sea trials and signals the beginning of the acceptance phase by […] The post French Navy welcomes new combat frigate first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Norwegian Armed Forces has signed a $4 million, four-year contract with Non-stop dogwear to supply specialized equipment for its military working dogs and handlers. The agreement will be executed through the company’s Non-stop professional division, which focuses on solutions for military, law enforcement, search and rescue, and other working professionals. According to a company […] The post Norway signs $4M deal for military dog gear first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Steadicopter, an Israeli-based developer of rotary unmanned aerial systems (RUAS), has introduced a new precision aerial resupply capability by integrating ParaZero’s DropAir system into its Black Eagle 50E unmanned helicopter. According to a September 17 press release, the system transforms the all-electric drone into an autonomous airborne logistics platform capable of accurately delivering mission-critical payloads—even […] The post Steadicopter drone gets precision airdrop upgrade first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Textron Aviation Defense has kicked off a nationwide demonstration tour to promote its Beechcraft M-346N advanced jet trainer as the U.S. Navy searches for a next-generation platform for undergraduate pilot training. According to a press release from Textron Aviation Defense, the M-346N took off from Beech Factory Airport in Wichita, Kansas, where it was assembled. […] The post Textron unveils M-346N trainer for U.S. Navy first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

MGI Engineering has officially unveiled its new long-range autonomous strike drone, dubbed TigerShark, at the DSEI 2025 defense exhibition in London. The system, built in the United Kingdom, is designed to offer cruise missile–level performance at a much lower cost, according to Calibre Defence. The drone is intended for deep-strike operations against high-value targets and […] The post UK unveils new deep-strike drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russian engineers have begun testing a new battlefield counter-drone system that blends FPV (First Person View) guidance with rocket propulsion, according to descriptions of recent field experiments. Developed by the “Vektor” group, the interceptor combines elements of a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) with first-person view drone controls. The concept centers on a tube-launched drone […] The post Russia develops FPV-guided rocket drone interceptor first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A Cold War-era Hawker Hunter aircraft was spotted participating in Gray Flag 2025 over Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, on September 8, 2025. According to the U.S. Navy, the MK-58 variant—operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC)—played an active role in the service’s premier large-force test exercise, providing a stable platform for multi-domain capability […] The post Cold War-era jet spotted during U.S. Navy combat simulation first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

U.S. Marines with the 12th Littoral Combat Team demonstrated the deployment of the Stalker VXE30 reconnaissance drone during Resolute Dragon 25, a bilateral military exercise held on September 14, 2025, at the Hijudai Maneuver Area in Japan’s Oita Prefecture. The Stalker VXE30, manufactured by Edge Autonomy, is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) small unmanned […] The post U.S. Marines field Stalker drone in Japan first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will carry out live-fire exercises involving its Hawk and Chu-SAM surface-to-air missile systems in the United States, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has announced. According to a statement from the JGSDF, the drills aim to improve tactical proficiency in air defense operations and enhance the readiness of participating units. The […] The post Japan to test air defense missiles on U.S. soil first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed plans to station new electronic warfare units in Okinawa and Kumamoto, aiming to enhance deterrence in the country’s southwestern region amid growing regional tensions. According to Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, speaking at a press conference following a cabinet meeting on September 16, the new units will be deployed to […] The post Japan sets up radar-jamming units on frontline islands first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Philippine Air Force Research and Development Center (AFRDC) has unveiled its first homegrown armed drones, marking a milestone in the country’s Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program. The newly revealed platforms — the Air Military Ordnance Carrier (AMOC) and the Military Air Ordnance Yielder (MAOY) — are locally developed and combat-ready, offering new capabilities to […] The post Philippines develops armed combat drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

China appears to be drawing further inspiration from Russian military design, as a newly observed Chinese armored vehicle bears a clear resemblance to Russia’s KamAZ Typhoon series. The vehicle, seen in a recent video, shares a nearly identical configuration to the Russian Typhoon, a modular, mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle developed by KamAZ for the Russian […] The post China copies Russian Typhoon armored vehicle first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels engaged in aggressive and dangerous actions against a Philippine government vessel in the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday morning, damaging equipment and injuring a crew member. According to PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, the incident occurred at approximately 9:14 AM while the BRP […] The post Chinese Coast Guard attacks Philippine vessel first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

At the Changchun Air Show, China publicly displayed for the first time a J-6 fighter aircraft that has been converted into a drone, marking a rare appearance of the retrofitted Cold War-era jet in unmanned form. “This aircraft is modified based on the J-6 fighter jet, with the removal of cannon weapon systems, external fuel […] The post China converts Cold War jet into combat drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Serbian Armed Forces have been spotted rehearsing with one-way attack drones developed by UAE-based EDGE Group, ahead of the “Unity of Strength” military parade scheduled for September 20 in Belgrade. Footage from the rehearsal reveals the presence of two loitering munitions, the Shadow 50 and Shadow 25, marking the first known public appearance of […] The post Serbia showcases UAE-made kamikaze drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Let’s catch up to an old topic we had a pleasant return to back in July, thanks to our friends the Japanese. Every little step gets you closer. According to ATLA, the railgun, mounted on the JMSDF’s test ship Asuka, successfully carried out long-range firings and the shooting at a target ship during the trials. The tests of the gun were conducted with the cooperation of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The photos show the moment of the target ship being aimed at, as well as that of the railgun firing, using the Asuka. The fire control system is also visible next to the railgun. ATLA said details of the tests will be reported at its “ATLA Technological Symposium 2025” to be held on November 11-12 in Tokyo. The pic at the top of the post is just the test gun. Here’s a half-scale model of what they see as the operational weapon. Here is what Mod-0 is expected to get you. In previous trials conducted by ATLA, a projectile fired from a 6-meter-long, 40-millimeter-caliber barrel reached a hypersonic speed of 2,297 meters per second—nearly Mach 7—surpassing the roughly 1,750 meters per second achieved by a tank gun, the fastest conventional artillery system. Railguns can do rapid-fire and fire at lower cost compared to conventional interceptor missiles, making them a promising next-generation defense system against hypersonic weapons exceeding Mach 5 developed by China, North Korea, and Russia. Yes, yes, yes…2025 has its limitations. One major challenge, however, is their enormous power requirement. A high-capacity power supply is essential, and miniaturization remains a hurdle for deployment on ships and other platforms. There are also concerns about barrel life, how do you change barrels, etc. However, I want everyone to remember this little bit of history of what we know today as the torpedo. Wiki has a solid summary, so let’s grab from there. The Whitehead torpedo was the first self-propelled or "locomotive" torpedo ever developed.[a] It was perfected in 1866 by British engineer Robert Whitehead…In 1868, Whitehead offered two types of torpedoes to the world's navies: one was eleven feet seven inches (3.53 m) in length with a diameter of 14 inches (36 cm). It weighed 346 pounds (157 kg) and carried a 40-pound (18 kg) warhead. The other was 14 feet (4.3 m) long with a 16-inch (41 cm) diameter. It weighed 650 pounds (290 kg) and carried a 60-pound (27 kg) warhead. Both models could do 8–10 knots (15–19 km/h; 9.2–11.5 mph) with a range of 200 yards (180 m)…In 1871, the Royal Navy bought manufacturing rights, and started producing the torpedo at the Royal Laboratories at Woolwich, England. The Royal Navy fitted the Whitehead torpedo on its earliest submarines, from HMS Holland 1 onwards.[4] The French, German, Italian, Russian navies soon followed suit and began acquiring the Whitehead torpedo. By 1877, the Whitehead torpedo was attaining speeds of 18 mph (29 km/h) with ranges of up to 830 yards (760 m). By the 1880s, more of the world's navies acquired the Whitehead and began deploying torpedo boats to carry them into battle and engineers began to envision submarines armed with Whitehead torpedoes. In 1904, British Admiral Henry John May commented, "but for Whitehead, the submarine would remain an interesting toy and little more".[2][4] The last known operational use of a Whitehead torpedo was during the Battle of Drøbak Sound on 9 April 1940. Two torpedoes were fired from a torpedo battery in the Oslofjord at the German cruiser Blücher. This finished the ship off after it had been severely damaged by cannon fire from Oscarsborg. The Whitehead torpedo answered a driving question of the day: “Mines (aka torpedoes) are an incredible weapon, but the targeted ship has to drive into them. How can we make a torpedo move to the targeted ship instead?” Railguns answer a long-standing question as well: “How do we put more ordnance downrange further, cheaper, and faster?” If railguns follow the Whitehead Torpedo path, then to make the math easy, let’s say the Japanese perfect it in 2026. In 16 years (2040), a whole host of navies will deploy with them. 12 years after that (2052) other nations will be building even better versions. 48 years after that (2100), it will be used for the last time in combat, saving a nation’s leadership from capture at the start of a war where both sides used the most modern development, still technically buggy, to devastating effect. 85 years after that (2185), it will still be considered one of the most deadly and hardest to defeat of any weapons a navy, or space force, could use in combat. So…how is the US Navy planning to leverage what our friends in Japan are doing? Hopefully as well as the Royal Navy was with the Austro-Hungarian Navy in their torpedo development. NB: If you want to learn more about the last use of the Whitehead Torpedo as mentioned above, click here. 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’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has delivered another batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) as part of ongoing efforts to meet the State Defense Order, according to statements issued by UAC and Rostec. The aircraft, which have undergone full ground and flight factory testing, were formally accepted by VKS crews. “As […] The post New Su-34 fighter-bombers delivered to Russian military first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine’s defense innovation platform Brave1 has completed final testing of new long-range one-way attack drones, best known as kamikaze drones, capable of striking targets over 40 kilometers away, even in the presence of Russian electronic warfare systems. According to a statement from Brave1, the newly tested loitering munitions are engineered to be “cheap, scalable, and […] The post Ukraine set to field new kamikaze drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A global outage of the Starlink satellite internet system has disrupted frontline operations in Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces along the entire line of contact reporting a sudden loss of connectivity. The interruption, which has also affected tens of thousands of users worldwide, has raised fresh concerns over the risks of depending on a single commercial […] The post Starlink outage disrupts frontline ops in Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Russian analysts and pro-military commentators are openly criticizing the country’s latest Zapad 2025 military exercises, accusing the country’s Ministry of Defense of staging unrealistic maneuvers that ignore hard-learned lessons from the war in Ukraine. Influential Telegram channel Voenny Osvedomitel, known for its ties to military insiders and OSINT groups, condemned the exercises as out of […] The post Russian large-scale exercises draw skepticism from analysts first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Danish Armed Forces are moving forward with a large-scale initiative to build a national ground-based air defense (GBAD) network, the Ministry of Defence announced this week. The decision includes the procurement of eight integrated systems designed to protect civilians, military installations, and critical infrastructure from aerial threats. The new effort follows the March 2025 […] The post Denmark buys new air defense systems first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian forces have successfully intercepted and destroyed a Russian Orion unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the Russian border using a drone-based interceptor system, according to a report from Militarnyi. The Russian combat-reconnaissance drone was brought down by the “Topot” team from the 414th Separate Brigade of Unmanned Systems. In a statement, Militarnyi noted that this […] The post Ukrainian drone takes down Russian Orion first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article