HG S2 (Intel Bot)

Finland-based arms manufacturer SAKO has announced the launch of its new Arctic Rifle Generation (ARG), a family of military rifles developed in close cooperation with the Finnish and Swedish Defense Forces. The company says the system is designed to replace aging assault rifles with a modular, next-generation platform tailored for Arctic warfare and tested to […] The post Finnish gun-maker debuts ARG next-gen rifle system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Germany’s Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) is set to debut a new armored vehicle concept at the DSEI defense exhibition in London. The new combat vehicle, named Condor, combines the role of a fire support tank with that of an anti-aircraft gun tank, offering a dual-purpose platform built on the proven Leopard 1 chassis. According to […] The post German firm develops Condor hybrid air defense tank first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The US Navy is deploying to the Caribbean? Been there, done that, came back disappointed. We’ve been doing these deployments since before we were even a nation, so pardon me if this didn’t raise too much of an eyebrow. On the 20th, The United States has ordered an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of President Donald Trump's effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels, two sources briefed on the deployment said on Wednesday. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the USS San Antonio, USS Iowa Jima and USS Fort Lauderdale could arrive off the coast of Venezuela as early as Sunday. The ships are carrying 4,500 service members, including 2,200 Marines, the sources said. At the end of last week, I saw a few breathless comments about this, but considered it just background noise. Since he took office seven months ago, sending the Navy to go after drug cartels has been a thing, so … shrug. What would one do with 2,200 Marines in the Caribbean besides beef-up a shore patrol? IDK. It isn’t like this is related to Tren de Aragua or anything…and again, we’ve been chasing drug runners in the Caribbean for decades. I spent a year of my life mowing that ocean in the 1990s. Then this showed up in my feed about the same time, The United States is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to the waters off Venezuela as part of President Donald Trump's effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels, according to a U.S. official briefed on the planning. The USS Gravely, the USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson are expected to arrive soon… A half-dozen ships? OK, now you have my attention. Oh, and we have a LCS and a SSN in the area too? Well, then Saturday came around. Who had Trinidad and Tobago on their Bingo Card? If you wonder how Guyana got wedged in on the topic, review the Guyana–Venezuela crisis (2023–2024). It was fun and all, but everyone is quite glad that is over…we think. Yes, let’s go to the chart room. Easy to see why T&T are concerned. The light green is what everyone is making a fuss over. …since the mid 1800s. Can everyone just chill? The international arena only has so much bandwidth…but…even China has to make a comment. Venezuela has a population of over 30 million. It is one-third again larger than Texas. A few thousand US Marines can do a lot, but they are not doing that. Show the flag, make a point, go home. That is where the smart bet is, and that’s what I’ll hope for. Then again, the socialist autocrats in Venezuela could do something stupid. Bleh. 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

One of Russia’s largest drone manufacturers, AO Kronstadt, is on the verge of bankruptcy after months of financial turmoil and mounting lawsuits, Russian media reported. According to CNews, the company has faced dozens of debt claims in recent months, with more than 600 million rubles ($7 million) sought since the beginning of summer. The largest […] The post Russia’s leading drone maker nears collapse first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Navy has opened a new facility at San Nicolas Island that doubles its capacity to launch supersonic targets for training and weapons testing on the Point Mugu Sea Range. Leaders from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), joined by counterparts from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division, Naval Facilities […] The post U.S. Navy enhances supersonic defense prep first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has undergone two decades of transformation, trading sheer numbers for advanced technology and shifting its force structure to confront new security challenges. A study from the National Defense University revisits earlier forecasts about the “right size” of China’s air force and evaluates how modernization since 2007 has reshaped […] The post China builds smaller but more capable air force first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Senior U.S. Army sustainment leaders visited the Powidz Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 (APS-2) site in Poland on August 18 to review logistics capabilities and strengthen cooperation with Polish partners. According to the Army, top leaders from the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade and the 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade conducted a site tour and held discussions […] The post U.S. Army reviews prepositioned stocks in Poland first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

India has conducted the first flight-tests of its new Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced. The trial took place on August 23 off the coast of Odisha, with the system engaging multiple targets simultaneously. According to a release from the Press Information Bureau, the IADWS combines several […] The post India tests multi-layered air defense system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine has publicly revealed a new long-range version of its domestically developed cruise missile, known unofficially as the “Long Neptune.” The missile, with a reported range of 1,000 kilometers, was shown for the first time, Defense Express reported. No official specifications have been released, but earlier statements indicated the missile is designed to strike land-based […] The post Ukraine unveils new long-range cruise missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

This summer, the fourth summer of the Russo-Ukrainian War that started in the winter of 2022, we find the first serious and determined effort towards a genuine negotiation to end this grinding war in Eastern Europe. The experiences and lessons of this war aren’t only changing how nations throughout the world prepare for their next war, it has forced even greater changes on both combatants how they fight now and plan structuring their national defense post-war. Returning to Midrats again to discuss this and related issues this Sunday at 5 pm Eastern will be Dr. Dmitry Gorenburg, a Senior Research Scientist in the Strategy, Policy, Plans, and Programs division of CNA, where he has worked since 2000. You can listen live and join the show chat at this link. Dr. Gorenburg is an associate at the Harvard University Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies and previously served as Executive Director of the American Association of the Advancement of Slavic Studies (AAASS). His research interests include security issues in the former Soviet Union, Russian military reform, Russian foreign policy, and ethnic politics and identity. Dr. Gorenburg is author of Nationalism for the Masses: Minority Ethnic Mobilization in the Russian Federation (Cambridge University Press, 2003), and has been published in journals such as World Politics and Post-Soviet Affairs. He currently serves as editor of Problems of Post-Communism and was also editor of Russian Politics and Law from 2009 to 2016. Dr. Gorenburg received a B.A. in international relations from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University. If you are reading this after the show, refresh the Substack page Sunday night when I update with the show notes and link to the podcast. 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 trailer linked to the U.S. Army’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system caught fire during transport on 15 August, sending seven soldiers to the hospital for evaluation. According to Fort Bliss, the incident occurred at about 1:20 p.m. on U.S. Highway 54 near mile marker 10. A military convoy belonging to the […] The post THAAD missile system catches fire in Texas first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Beijing has begun fielding a new air defense system designed to counter mass drone attacks, as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) adopts measures against the growing threat of low-cost, expendable unmanned aircraft. The FK-3000, first showcased at the 2022 Zhuhai Air Show, was seen during rehearsals for an upcoming military parade. According to Chinese sources, […] The post China fields new FK-3000 anti-drone system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Rumors surrounding China’s next-generation missile defense system have materialized into reality. During rehearsals for an upcoming military parade in Beijing, launch vehicles carrying the newly designated HQ-29 were observed for the first time. Until now, the HQ-29 existed only in speculation, fueled by scattered photographs and analysis on Chinese social media. A week ago, images […] The post China debuts HQ-29 “Satellite Hunter” system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A new version of China’s DF-26 ballistic missile system has been spotted during rehearsals for an upcoming military parade in Beijing. The DF-26, officially known as Dong Feng-26 and designated by NATO as CH-SS-18, is an intermediate-range ballistic missile operated by the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force. It is produced by the China Aerospace Science […] The post China develops new version of “Guam Killer” missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian forces have introduced a new naval drone designed for operations on the Dnipro River, according to a report from the defense news outlet Militarnyi. The system, named Barracuda, was developed by the special unit “Barracuda,” which operates under the 40th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade, part of the 30th Marine Corps. The report said the […] The post Ukraine’s Marines develop new naval drone for littoral warfare first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A Swedish-Estonian shipbuilder has unveiled a new modular rigid inflatable boat (RIB) designed to give defense and security operators the ability to reconfigure missions in minutes. XW Production, a startup operating across Sweden and Estonia, announced the launch of its XW Modular 750, an aluminum RIB platform tested by professional divers, border guards, and naval […] The post Swedish-Estonian team unveils modular combat craft first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

German-based ARX Robotics has introduced its first combat-capable unmanned ground vehicle, developed with Ukrainian partners and designed to increase soldier survivability on the modern battlefield. According to a press release from ARX, the new system, called Combat Gereon, is built around the company’s “Unmanned First Contact” concept. The approach places unmanned platforms at the front […] The post ARX and Valhalla develop armed ground drone for Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Footage broadcast on Chinese state television has revealed new training exercises featuring unmanned ground vehicles armed with rocket launchers. According to observer of Chinese military developments Jesus Roman, the exercises involved an armored infantry squad from the 83rd Group Army, part of the Central Theater Command. The unit conducted semi-urban assault drills using Type 08 […] The post China tests new ground drones with rocket launchers first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A Chinese company has begun producing mobile replicas of the U.S.-made HIMARS rocket artillery system, offering the mockups for training and limited export. Videos shared on Chinese social media platforms show a private firm demonstrating moving versions of the system, designed to resemble the American launchers. According to the company, the replicas are being produced […] The post Chinese firm builds HIMARS replicas first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

A dozen years ago when I first posted this, Mrs. Salamander managed to find a few more direct ancestors of mine who fought in the American Revolution on the American side, ahem, from militia "Private" to Colonel ... and even a LT on RANGER. At last, all that "Tory Militia" slander can fade into the background ..... It is helpful that we are careful about talking too much about our generation's wee "War" on Terror. Perspective is important. Look at what other generations endured, risked, what they suffered, what many never came back from. Little spots of horror many people look over and don't even know it. Do you know who Philip Freneau is? I didn't, though I wish I did earlier. Sure, as a passing paragraph I have heard of prison ships, but not paused to let it soak in. Via the National Humanities Center; The British Prison Ship as the first-person account of a six- week ordeal on British prison ships, on which an estimated 11,500 Americans died during the war. Although some facts in the poem conflict with ships’ records and Freneau’s own prose account, it is likely that Freneau was describing his own experiences as a young prisoner in his twenties. Presented here are the imprisonment sections of the first and least-known version, published only months after Freneau’s release in summer 1780. Having spent a fair bit of time on the water in calm and heat - one thing that comes to mind for me in what it must have been like in those ships ... the smell. CANTO II. The Prison Ship. THE various horrors of these hulks to tell, These Prison Ships where pain and sorrow dwell; Where death in tenfold vengeance holds his reign, And injur’d ghosts, in reason’s ear, complain; This be my talk - ungenerous Britons, you, Conspire to murder those you can’t subdue; Why else no art of cruelty untry’d, Such heavy vengeance and such hellish pride? Death has no charms - his empires barren lie, A desert country and a clouded sky; Death has no charms except in British eyes, See how they court the bleeding sacrifice! See how they pant to stain the world with gore, And millions murdered, still would murder more; This selfish race from all the world disjoin’d, Read it all .. and think that in time, hate between nations can fade - but the knowledge of the sacrifices of those who suffered to give us the comfort and freedom we have now should not. Our world was not granted, taken, given, or designed - it was earned, bought and paid for. We should be thoughtful about how poorly we steward or cheaply we give away those things others paid so dearly for in order that we may enjoy them. 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

The U.S. Air Force’s 500th F-35A Lightning II fighter jet arrived at the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing in Jacksonville on July 9, 2025, marking a milestone in the service’s transition to fifth-generation airpower. The aircraft is one of the first three F-35As permanently assigned to the wing, known as “the Thunder,” and […] The post U.S. Air Force marks 500th F-35A delivery first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded contracts to AeroVironment and Edge Autonomy to rapidly deliver the first Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR) unmanned aircraft systems. The systems selected — AeroVironment’s P550 and Edge Autonomy’s Stalker Block 35X — are Group 2 drones designed to provide Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) at the maneuver battalion level. According to […] The post U.S. Army taps AeroVironment, Edge for new recon drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Two German defense technology companies, STARK and Quantum Systems, have demonstrated a new integrated reconnaissance-strike capability in Ukraine, combining the VECTOR intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drone with the VIRTUS precision strike system. According to the companies, the concept allows operators to move from target identification to destruction within minutes, bridging the gap between surveillance […] The post German tech firms show drone-strike integration in Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Authorities in Colombia confirmed that a police Black Hawk helicopter was destroyed in a drone strike while carrying out a counternarcotics mission in the Antioquia region. According to officials, the UH-60 Black Hawk was transporting personnel to rural areas near Amalfi to eradicate coca crops, the raw material for cocaine production. As the helicopter hovered […] The post Colombian Black Hawk shot down by FPV drone first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukrainian officials have released new details about their ambitious FP-5 Flamingo missile program, confirming that the weapon was conceived, developed, and fielded in less than nine months. According to POLITICO, Iryna Terekh, CEO and Chief Technology Officer of Fire Point, said the rapid development underscores Ukraine’s ability to deliver advanced defense capabilities under wartime conditions. […] The post Ukraine reveals details of new long-range cruise missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article