HG S2 (Intel Bot)

German shipbuilder NVL Group has announced the establishment of a joint venture with UK-based Kraken Technology Group to accelerate the development and production of uncrewed surface vessels for both military and civilian use. The new company, NVL Kraken, will operate from NVL’s Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg and complement existing facilities in the United Kingdom. According […] The post German shipbuilder, UK startup team up to build naval drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Raytheon Missiles & Defense, based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $52 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy for production of the AN/SPY-6(V) family of radars, the Pentagon announced this week. The fixed-price incentive (firm-target) contract option was issued under contract number N00024-22-C-5500. According to the Department of Defense, the funds come from […] The post Raytheon wins $52.9M U.S. Navy radar contract first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Ukraine’s largest private weapons manufacturer, Ukrainian Armor, has begun mass production of new VOLS military buggies in response to battlefield demand for a low-cost, versatile vehicle designed for logistics and frontline support. According to a report from Oboronka, the company identified a gap in the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ equipment compared to Russian units, which employ […] The post Ukraine’s private company begins mass production of VOLS buggy first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

East Timor. Over four centuries of neglectful Portuguese rule, a spat of 1970s violence, a few decades of Indonesian rule, and then independence shortly after the turn of the century. Is that all you really need to know about this small, poor, and generally forgotten part of an insignificant island? Is it insignificant? The People’s Republic of China (PRC) doesn’t think so. Follow the money. As always, let’s head to the chart room. There she is in the center. That red circle is the 360 nautical mile circle that meets where the USMC base is at Darwin, Australia. East Timor has a population of 1.3 million. Roughly the population of San Diego, CA or Estonia. In size, her part of the island not owned by Indonesia is roughly the same number of square miles as Connecticut. Her GDP is roughly that of Samoa. It isn’t its size or resources that are driving the below. It sure isn’t goodwill. An economic powerhouse? No. Strategic geography powerhouse? Unquestionably. It isn’t a Gibraltar, Singapore, or a Malta in that regard…but perhaps one echelon below that. Like the smaller nations in the Southwest Pacific we’ve covered before, it is long past time for the West and its friends to start paying attention. Again, the PRC has stolen a march on her opponents. Via The Telegraph UK on Sunday (you can read the whole thing on Press Reader here) Its strategic position in the contested Indo-Pacific and nearby shipping lanes make the country ripe for Chinese influence. “We do not view China as a threat, least of all as an enemy,” José Ramos-Horta, East Timor’s president, said, insisting his country remains neutral in the battle for control of the Pacific. Well, that may be his view. By their actions, the PRC believes differently. So do I. East Timor sits crucially near the Second Island Chain, a series of islands stretching from Japan through Guam—a US territory with a key military base—to Indonesia’s eastern islands. East Timor is also situated near the Ombai-Wetar Strait, a deep-water passage that’s critical for movement between the Indian and Pacific oceans. You cannot wish away geography and what, in the event of a Great Pacific War that bleeds over into the Indian Ocean, will make or break sea control or denial. China has attempted to increase its military presence on the island, proposing the construction of a radar facility in 2007, which it claimed would only be used to detect illegal fishing. Oh, that is rich. Yes, the PRC…well-known stalwart on the international stage opposing illegal fishing. East Timor relies mostly on security agreements with its neighbors: Australia and Indonesia. While open to participating in joint military drills with China, Mr Ramos-Horta said there was only so much East Timor could offer a country such as China when it comes to defense. Dude, it is your geography they want, not anything else. Chinese aid has funded East Timor’s presidential palace, foreign ministry and military headquarters, and Chinese state-owned companies build and currently control the national power. Do you need more? No. You don’t. Here is the real long game where you have to give a nod of respect to the PRC. Despite being one of the poorest countries in the region by GDP per capita, it earns close to half a billion dollars in petroleum revenue annually, which funds nearly 90 percent of the state budget. However, its main oil fields are predicted to be fully depleted within the next decade, meaning the country could be left bankrupt. We can all see the game four moves ahead, yes? Australia needs to step in and step up. No one else can or should lead here in a way that would benefit the interests of the West. The game is afoot all over the Indo-Pacific. Heck, also in the news on the other side of Australia is Manus Island. Nice update via Brent Sadler on an effort there I last wrote about almost four years ago. h/t PaulLeave 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

Show LinksGaza COA Decision Brief, 11 October, 2023 We're Burning Another Amphib: this time the USS New Orleans (LPD 18) The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century, by Kenneth F. McKenzie Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South Hardcover, by Elizabeth Varon (Author) SummaryIn this episode, Sal discusses various pressing top… Read more View the full article

Via Brian McElhiney and Keishi Koja at Stars and Stripes: Japan’s coast guard and military are helping the Navy battle a blaze that broke out aboard an amphibious transport docking ship off Okinawa’s southeastern coast on Wednesday evening. “Crews are responding to a fire aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) this evening, Aug. 20, (Japan time) which is in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan,” U.S. 7th Fleet wrote in an unsigned statement emailed to Stars and Stripes. “We will provide more details as they become available.” … The fire started in the front part of the 684-foot-long vessel, a coast guard spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday. “We do not know if it started on the outside or the inside of the ship; we are still investigating,” he said. Two tugboats and an unspecified Self-Defense Force vessel were participating in firefighting efforts at 6 p.m., the spokesman said. Camp Foster withdrew the firefighting request at 5:55 p.m. and asked all vessels to stay about a mile away, the coast guard said. The request was reinstated at 7:28 p.m. The coast guard initially dispatched one vessel and was preparing to join firefighting efforts as of 8:30 p.m., the spokesman said The video below is helpful to the timeline above. news.az_internationalA post shared by @news.az_internationalIt looks like the fire is not contained. Doing a last-minute check of the news, as of 11:30 am Wednesday Eastern (12:30 am Thursday Okinawa time), it is still burning. She has been on fire for almost seven hours so far. That is not good for any ship. In time, we will know more about what is burning (though lack of significant dark smoke gives me some hints), but we do have possibilities. As an amphibious ship, the layout is a bit different than a normal warship. This fire appears to be forward and below the main deck. That is where “stores” are in the above diagram. It is also where the MK-41 VLS void is, but no ships in the class were ever fielded with this capability. One saving grace is that we are being helped by the Japanese. When in trouble, you could not ask for better help. Say a prayer for the Americans and Japanese fighting this fire…and be careful as news comes out. First reports are often wrong…but what is happening is clear as day. I’ll update here for any significant updates. UPDATE: As expected, Sal Mercogliano has a solid video review. UPDATE II - Electric Boogaloo: She burned 12 hours. As per C7F: A fire aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), which is anchored near White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, was declared extinguished at 4 a.m., Aug. 21. The fire began at approximately 4 p.m., Aug. 20. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. New Orleans Sailors’ firefighting efforts were supported by the crew of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22), which is moored at White Beach Naval Facility. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force; Japan Coast Guard; and U.S. Navy commands from across Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa also provided critical support to the firefighting efforts. Two Sailors were taken to New Orleans’ medical for minor injuries. 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 British Army announced that its Boxer armored vehicle has successfully completed a Javelin integration trial, marking what it described as a major step toward providing its forces with the ability to fire the anti-tank missile from under armor. According to the Army, “Earlier this year, Boxer successfully completed its Javelin integration trial! This achievement […] The post British Boxer successfully fires Javelin missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The French defense supplier Arquus has confirmed a contract to deliver 61 Bastion armored vehicles to Ukraine. According to the latest Rapport de mission released by John Cockerill, Arquus, which operates as a subsidiary of the company, said it “has also signed a contract for the delivery of 61 Bastion vehicles for Ukraine.” The report […] The post Arquus to deliver 61 Bastion vehicles to Ukraine first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Royal Navy has awarded the University of Plymouth a contract to supply a C-Enduro Unmanned Surface Vessel integrated with Robosys Automation’s VOYAGER AI software, enabling advanced over-the-horizon data-gathering operations. Robosys Automation, a developer of maritime autonomy systems, announced the agreement alongside the University of Plymouth, highlighting that the vessel—named Bauza—will be equipped with the […] The post Royal Navy awards contract for AI-powered unmanned vessel first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Navy has completed a two-week experiment in Alpena, Michigan, testing uncrewed aerial systems and unmanned surface vessels during Silent Swarm 25, an exercise that focused on swarming electronic warfare tactics and the use of autonomous platforms in future conflicts. According to the Navy, last month, participants used Silent Swarm to “experiment with emerging […] The post U.S. Navy tests fiber-optic drones first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

American and South Korean troops carried out counter-drone training at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on August 20, 2025, as part of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise. The training, conducted by the ROK-U.S. Combined Division’s 652nd Air Defense unit in coordination with the U.S. Army’s 5-17 Air Cavalry Squadron, focused on detecting and suppressing hostile […] The post U.S. and South Korean forces train to counter drone threats first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Department of Defense has deployed advanced optic and surveillance systems along the rugged U.S.–Mexico border to improve detection and monitoring in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Ground-Based Operational Surveillance System–Expeditionary (GBOSS-E), the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3), and the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) are now being […] The post Pentagon deploys high-tech optics to U.S.-Mexico border first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Navy has concluded an experimental port damage repair exercise in Gulfport, Mississippi, reflecting growing attention to the vulnerability of maritime infrastructure in large-scale conflicts. The limited objective experiment, held August 15, 2025, brought together multiple expeditionary combat units to simulate restoring a pier under hostile conditions. The Navy Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center (NEXWDC) […] The post U.S. Navy simulates combat port repairs after Ukraine lessons first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $97.3 million Foreign Military Sale to Australia for Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) and related equipment. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which delivered the required certification notifying Congress, the Australian government has requested to purchase 161 LwCLUs. These systems will be added to […] The post U.S. approves $97M Javelin launcher sale to Australia first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has approved a $1.5 billion program to increase the production of armored personnel carriers and tanks over the next five years, a move aimed at reinforcing the country’s ground forces after months of intense combat. According to a statement from the ministry, the plan “will increase the armored vehicle inventory […] The post Israel approves $1.5B plan to expand Merkava tank production first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Roshel Smart Armored Vehicles and Swedish steel producer Swebor have announced a new partnership to manufacture ballistic-grade steel in Canada, marking the first facility of its kind in the country. Maria Tkacheva, Chief Operating Officer at Roshel Smart Armored Vehicles, said in a statement: “Roshel and Sweden’s Swebor have signed a strategic partnership to establish […] The post Roshel, Swebor to build Canada’s first ballistic steel plant first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Italy has been a laggard in defense spending for a while. Although Italy claims, through some accounting tricks, to reach 2% of GDP, in reality, she is at ~1.5%, which still amounts to about $34 billion—right between Poland and Australia. Italy is not a 3rd-tier economy. So, let’s accept that Italy will be Italy. She won’t get to 5% of GDP on defense like some will (Poland for instance). We should give her some credit, and she decides to match the USA at ~3% of GDP. With the numbers we have on our cocktail napkin that would get us another …. $34 billion? A doubling? No, that is too optimistic. We can’t realistically expect that. We are talking about Italy here. We can’t expect her to match three-fifths of Poland’s effort, even with better food. If we can’t get that full $34 billion doubling of defense spending, but perhaps can get a third of that to get between 2% and 2.5%, that would still get you ~$11 billion more. What would they best spend that money on? Well, let’s start with fundamentals…which means we need to look at a map. Italy, my friends, is not a land power. That lady right there is a maritime and aerospace power whose primary defense responsibilities, for herself and the NATO alliance, should be the Mediterranean Sea from Gibraltar to the Suez Canal, with the area from Sardinia to Crete as an uncontested Italian lake. Unlike her Roman predecessors, she has no concerns north of the Alps, only friends. Perhaps in the Balkans she might be needed, but again, she has mostly friends there. Due to her mild grasping in WWI and luck switching sides in WWII, she has no claim on others’ lands (residual grumpiness from the Plombières Agreement aside). She has no colonial concerns. Like the USA, she should have an army, but one that is expeditionary and when possible, in reserve. The present and future threat to Italian land and stability comes from the south, across the Mediterranean. She must control her sea approaches. With the Royal Navy but a sad shadow of herself and no longer capable of performing her duties in the Med as she once did and the French being…well…French, NATO needs a strong Italian navy and air force to secure NATO’s southern flank with other powers. She needs to be the center all power in the Med revolves around. Location and economic power make this a no-brainer. She has a superb, if not small, defense industry. What could she do with an extra $11 billion a year or so? Let’s play nice and let the Italian army have a quarter and change of that, $3 billion. That leaves $8 billion for Italian air and sea power. What should Italy spend that on? Well, it appears that they’ve already set the foundation for it…all they need is to know the number on the funding line. Luca Peruzzi over at Naval News has a superb summary of the Italian Defence Multi-Year Planning document (DPP, Documento Programmatico Pluriennale) for 2024-26. It is very much worth a full read. Where would I put the naval portion of the $8 billion I carved out above? Having already acquired and putting into service 15 F-35Bs each for the Italian Navy and Air Force, with the new DPP, the Italian MoD has allocated new funding for the planned procurement of an additional 10 aircraft (5 for each service), taking the total to 40 STOVL aircraft. … Another key programme announced by the new DPP is the long waited procurement of new long-range platforms under the joint Navy/Air Force Maritime Multi-Mission Aircraft (M3A) effort, as a replacement for the Atlantic Breguet 1, which last platform was retired in 2017. … The new DPP also confirmed the 2 billion funding for the procurement and in-service and logistic support of the two FREMM EVO… … Additional funding are also allocated to the new generation OPV & MMPC (Offshore Patrol Vessel & Multi-Modular Patrol Corvette) and MCMV programmes. The first regards both the OPV (PPX), of which the first four (out of six) are funded and steel cutting was celebrated in September 2024 for the first vessel… … With all four U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine) platforms under contract and the first two under construction under OCCAR management, the programme also surpassed another key milestone last June with the activation of the Engineering Change Proposal for the integration of a Lithium Battery System developed and built in Italy. As anticipated, NAVARM will launch the risk reduction studies for the U212A MLU and Fourth Batch Sauro-class boats in order to maintain an eight submarines fleet before expanding it with a larger platform, funding permitting. In addition to the LHD Trieste, which is expected to be delivered this month (November 2024) is becoming the largest vessel to enter into service with Italian Navy, the DPP also highlights continue support for the new three LPDs to be designed and built under the LXD programme. There you go. No need to appreciate the problem or take half a decade to think about where to spend the money. Fold the first bit of the pull-quote above with the last bit: buy more F-35B (a not insignificant percentage is built by Italian industry) and build carriers/large deck amphibs to fly them off of. Few things are more flexible in the Med. Get your long range maritime patrol and reconnaissance force back to where it needs to be. The P-8 line is hot. Buy in. Yes, the Airbus A321 MPA if you must, but get them. You have some of the best designed surface ships on the planet. Just build more. Submarines? Yes. Hard problems can be easy if the only hard part is finding the money and the political will to get it. The Italian defense industry produces on a per-capita basis, some of the world’s best product. Italy does not have to import much in kit or ideas. It is all right there. Just fund it. Italy will benefit. NATO will benefit. The West will benefit. 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 Defense Ministry has outlined procurement plans worth more than €350 billion ($409 billion) through 2041, reflecting Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s pledge to make the Bundeswehr Europe’s strongest conventional military force. According to the draft of the 2026 federal budget submitted to parliament on Monday, defense planners have mapped out a multi-decade framework for new weapons, […] The post Germany unveils $409B defense procurement plan first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Iran on Monday warned that a new war with Israel could erupt at any moment, raising concerns of a fresh escalation after a deadly 12-day confrontation in June. Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, stressed the need for full preparedness. “A new war with Israel may break out at […] The post Iran restructures forces after June defeat first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Raytheon, an RTX business, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany’s Diehl Defence to co-produce key elements of the Stinger missile in Europe. The agreement, announced by the companies, sets the stage for extending Stinger production at Diehl Defence facilities as part of the firm’s expansion plan. “Stinger is the surface-to-air missile of choice […] The post Raytheon and Diehl to build Stinger missiles in Europe first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Hypersonic missiles are forcing a rethink of global air defense, and Israel is urging South Korea to join the next phase of technological development. Yuval Baseski, Vice President of Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, told the South Korean outlet Maeil Business Newspaper that both North Korea and Iran are investing heavily in hypersonic missile programs. […] The post Israel pushes Korea to join hypersonic defense development first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani is in Turkey today, where he met with Defense Minister Yaşar Güler to discuss expanding cooperation in the defense sector. The Ministry of Defense said the talks on August 19 included the possible procurement of Turkish-made drones for the Self-Defense Forces. Japan is assessing Turkey’s well-established expertise in unmanned aerial […] The post Japan weighs Turkish drones after Ukraine combat success first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Gabon unveiled newly acquired Chinese armored vehicles during its Independence Day military parade on August 17, underscoring Beijing’s growing defense presence in Africa. The display featured the eight-wheeled VN-1 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and the WMA-301, a 105mm wheeled assault gun widely exported across the continent. The VN-1 IFV, manufactured by China North Industries Corporation […] The post Gabon receives Chinese-made VN-1 fighting vehicles first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

North Macedonia has expanded its fleet of U.S.-built armored vehicles with the delivery of 29 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), formally presented on August 15 at the “Jane Sandanski” Barracks in Shtip. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Minister of Defence Vlado Misajlovski, Chief of the General Staff Major General Sashko Lafchiski, […] The post North Macedonia receives 29 new JLTVs from U.S. first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Preparations are underway in Beijing for what is expected to be one of China’s most expansive military parades in years. While ground forces equipment has already impressed observers, analysts say the aviation segment may become the parade’s defining moment. Andreas Rupprecht, a leading expert on Chinese military aviation, told Defence Blog that the scale of […] The post Analyst: China’s air power display exceeds expectations first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article