For review:

1. IDF Probe on 7 Oct Hamas Attack. Israeli reporters were presented with the investigations conducted by the Southern Command, Operations Division, Israeli Air Force, and Israeli Navy. 

2.  US & Russian Diplomats Meet in Istanbul. A U.S. Embassy official in Ankara confirmed that the Istanbul talks focused on the issues affecting the operation of respective diplomatic missions.

3. South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said that North Korea appears to have sent additional troops to Russia, after its soldiers deployed on the Russian-Ukraine fronts suffered heavy casualties.

4.  Poland & Slovakia Collaborate on Defense Materiel. Poland and Slovakia have signed a letter of intent to jointly produce ammunition and cooperate on the procurement of armored vehicles, tank, and air defense weapons.

5. Senate Confirmation Hearings for Top Pentagon Positions.

- John Phelan (President Trump's Nominee for the Secretary of the Navy) testified today before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Mr. Phelan told lawmakers he’d be focused on correcting the course of problematic shipbuilding programs as well as replenishing dwindling munitions stockpiles.

- Stephen Feinberg (President Trump's Nominee for Deputy Defense Secretary) listed shipbuilding, aircraft development, nuclear modernization, cyber defense, hypersonics, counterspace capabilities and counter-drone platforms as key technology “shortages” needed to beat China, which he called the biggest and most challenging threat the United States.

For review:

1. Israel & Hamas Agree on Hostage - Prisoner Release as Phase I of Deal Closes. The first phase of the deal, which includes the ongoing ceasefire, ends on Saturday. 

2. French President Macron visits White House- "feasible" to talk about a truce in the war and the start of negotiations for a sustainable peace within weeks. 

3. Ukraine President Zelenskyy to visit Washington this week and possible agree on rare earth and mineral deal with US- in exchange for continued US support to Ukraine.

4. Competing resolutions in UN highlight daylight between US and European Leaders.

5. Norway continues aid to Ukraine with $312 million allocation of military equipment support. 

6. Latest Estonian military aid package to Ukraine is worth $104 million- including 10,000 rounds of artillery ammunition.

7.  US to Field Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon in '25.

8. US Senate Confirms new Army Secretary- confirmed on a 66-28 vote. 

For review:

1. Israeli Forensic Doctor Reports Bibas Family Murdered by Terrorists - Not Killed by Airstrike.

2. Israel to delay freeing of 600 Palestinian Prisoners after humiliating release ceremony of six Israeli Hostages.

3. IDF Warplanes conduct flyover of former top Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's funeral ceremony in Beirut. Defense Minister Israel Katz: “You will specialize in funerals, and we will specialize in victories.” 

4. Arab Leaders Meet in Riyadh to Discuss Gaza Reconstruction. The meeting – including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf Arab nations – took place ahead of a larger Arab summit on March 4, Saudi Arabia said. A meeting of Islamic countries is expected to follow, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry.

5. Polish President Duda met with President Trump in Washington to discuss Ukraine. 

6, US President Trump announced a second meeting for Ukraine negotiations will occur on 25 Feb in Riyadh.  

7. UK and French Leaders to visit Washington for Ukraine discussions with President Donald Trump. Mr. Macron, is due at the White House on Monday and Mr. Starmer is set to follow on Thursday.

8. US and Ukraine / EU send competing UN resolutions to General Assembly on 3d year anniversary of the war.

9. President Trump Removes Chairman of the Joint Chiefs & Navy CNO. In addition, the USAF Vice Chief of Staff and the Judge Advocate Generals of the Army, Navy and USAF have reportedly also been removed.

Short episode- For review:

1.  Bodies of Four Hostages Returned to Israel include Shiri, Ariel & Kfir Bibas.

2. President Trump & Leader of Ukraine Have War of Words.

President Trump: “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the US and ‘TRUMP,’ will never be able to settle.” 

3. Australia and Papua New Guinea negotiate defense treaty.

4. Australia Monitoring Chinese Warships Off the Continent's East Coast.  Three Chinese navy vessels — a frigate, a cruiser and a supply tanker — were spotted last week in waters off mainland Australia.

5. Australian UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters achieve Initial Operating Capability- 15 months after arrival. The IOC achievement follows extensive testing, evaluation, and training, along with the launch of a fleet support and maintenance system. In 2023, Australia signed a deal to procure 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters via the US Government foreign military sales program. 

For review:

1. Hamas to release six Israeli Hostages on Saturday.  

2.  IDF Strikes Weapon Sites in Syria. The strikes targeted Syrian tanks used to store weapons, according to the IDF.

3. IRGC General Threatens Israel with Third Missile Attack. “The True Promise 3 will be carried out in appropriate time,” said deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC Brigadier General Ali Fadavi.

4. US & Russia Establish Goals for Cooperation in Riyadh Talks. The two sides agreed broadly to pursue three goals: to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, to create a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and to explore closer relations and economic cooperation.

5. US President Trump said he would not oppose the Europeans if they wanted to send peacekeepers to Ukraine to provide security guarantees in the event of a peace deal. "Having troops over there would be fine, I wouldn't object to it at all," President Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.

6. Russian defense companies make comeback at the biennial 2025 IDEX Defense Show in Abu Dhabi- United Arab Emirates. The 2025 IDEX setting is noticeably different from the 2023 edition, when Russian companies were not even listed on the show’s official website. One of the top Russian exhibits is the Kalashnikov Group's Kub-2-E strike drone equipped with guided munitions as part of a drone-swarming concept.

7. UK begins competition for new 5.56mm light machine gun. Named “Project TROUBLER,” the initiative seeks to address capability gaps left by the decommissioning of the L110 A2, a 7.2-kilogram (15.8-pound) machine gun. The new weapon must be lighter and more modern than its predecessor, enhancing the mobility and combat effectiveness of Infantry Soldiers.

8. US Navy continues recovery of the EA-18G Growler that crashed in the San Diego Bay last week. The entire recovery operation could take up to two weeks, according to a US Navy news release. 

9.  US Tests Unarmed Minuteman III Ballistic Missile. A test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled for Tuesday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. The missile will likely be visible from Los Angeles and well beyond as is flies on a trajectory to the central Pacific Ocean. The launch might be visible from as far away as Oregon, Nevada, western Utah and Arizona, and northwest Mexico.

For review:

1. : IDF will Remain on 5 Strategic Hills in S. Lebanon. The US authorized the IDF to remain in the five points, though it was not clear how long troops would stay there.

2. Lebanon extend ban on flights from Iran. US advised Lebanon that Israel may shoot Iranian planes down. Israel asserts that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah.

3. Unconfirmed reports say that Hamas has agreed to allow the Palestinian Authority to lead Gaza after a permanent ceasefire.

4. US & Russian Officials Meet in Saudi Arabia. Senior American and Russian officials will hold talks on improving their ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

5.  Ukraine President Calls for 200k Soldier European Army.

6. Top European Leaders Meet in Paris to Discuss Next Steps in Ukraine.

6. US Indo-Pacific Combatant Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo say that Chinese military exercises around Taiwan are “not exercises; they are rehearsals” for forced reunification with the mainland.

For review:

1. Three Israeli Hostages Released after 498 Days in Captivity. In exchange for the three Hostages, Israel released 369 Palestinian detainees and security prisoners, including 36 terrorists serving life sentences for murder.  

2. Per Washington Post report- President Donald Trump and PM Benjamin Netanyahu discussed US support for a potential Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites during the Israeli leader's visit to Washington D.C. last week.

3. IDF strikes a prominent member of Unit 127- the Hezbollah formation in S. Lebanon responsible for aerial drone attack and surveillance flights over Israel.

4. Lebanon arrests 25 for attack on UNIFIL Convoy that wounded two Peacekeepers. UNIFIL = UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

5. From Politico: US & Russian Officials to Meet in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Peace in Ukraine. Representing the US are the National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Steve Witkoff, the president’s Middle East Envoy. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian government and the State Department didn’t respond to a request for comment.

6. On Friday, US Secretary of Defense Hegseth visited Poland where he held talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the country’s defense minister. Secretary Hegseth: "We see Poland as the model ally on the continent, willing to invest not just in their defense, but in our shared defense, and the defense of the continent.”

7. Due to long lead times for Lockheed Martin-made M142 HIMARS, Estonia is considering other long-range fires options for a second tranche order. Rocketsan’s Khan, from Turkey; the Elbit Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS), out of Israel; and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace-made K239 Chunmoo- are said to be in the running for selection. 

8.  Indonesia to Procure Bayraktar TB3 Drones. Turkish drone maker Baykar will supply Indonesia with 60 Bayraktar TB3 armed drones and nine Akinci surveillance drones, according to Indonesian firm Republikorp. 

9. US Army to deploy the ATHENA - R (Army Theater level High Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne ISR- Radar) to South Korea for a four-month Operational Test and Evaluation. The ATHENA effort is in support of the US Army's High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program- that is also integrated on the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet. 

For review:

1. Israel to Hamas - Ceasefire Continues if 3 Hostages Released Saturday.

2. IDF conducts airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapon stores, launchers, and facilities.

3. Iran to unveil and new indigenous, cruise missile in March- with a reported range of 2000 kilometers.  Quote from IRGC Rear Admiral Tangsiri: “We now have missiles that can be launched from the depths of the Iranian territory, eliminating the need for coastal launches.”

4. Speaking at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says no NATO Membership for Ukraine. Secretary Hegseth: "the war between Ukraine and Russia must end", that Kyiv joining NATO is unrealistic and that the US will no longer prioritize European and Ukrainian security.

5.  President Trump Speaks with Russian President - Directs Negotiations to End War.

6. US President Donald Trump wants to have nuclear arms talks with Russia and China. President Trump: “There’s no reason for us to be building brand new nuclear weapons, we already have so many,” Trump said. “You could destroy the world 50 times over, 100 times over. And here we are building new nuclear weapons, and they’re building nuclear weapons.” The US President continues: “One of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China, President Putin of Russia. And I want to say, ‘Let’s cut our military budget in half.’ And we can do that. And I think we’ll be able to.”

7. Japan to procure Boeing CH-47 Block II Chinooks. Beside the US, Japan will join Germany and the UK as operators of the latest Chinook variant.

8. Two Naval Aviators in good condition after their EA-18G Growler crashes during an attempted landing at the NAS North Island (San Diego, CA). 

For review:

1. US President Trump suggests that Israel end the ceasefire agreement with Hamas if all remaining Hostages are not freed by Saturday.

2.  Israel PM Warns Resumption of "Intense Fighting" in Gaza if Hostages Not Released on Saturday. In preparation, the IDF announced that it is “extensively” bolstering its forces in the Southern Command, and approving battle plans for the Gaza Strip in the event that the ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas collapses.

3. Egypt to Present Plan for Gaza Reconstruction. Egypt plans to “present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction” of the Gaza Strip that ensures Palestinians remain on their land, the Egyptian foreign ministry says in a statement.

4. Houthi Rebels in Yemen vow to launch attacks on Israel if fighting resumes in Gaza.

5. Belgium Promises to Increase Defense Spending. The government of Prime Minister Bart De Wever plans to set the Belgian defense budget on track to reach current NATO spending targets by 2029 (2% GDP).

6. Germany Selects PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) Rocket Artillery System. For Germany, a key PULS feature is that it can fire rockets of various calibers, ranging from 122mm to 370mm, produced by different manufacturers. 

7. Latest US Army update on the IVAS program. IVAS = Integrated Visual Augmentation System. Microsoft is seeking to transfer its entire IVAS contract over to Anduril (10-year - $22 billion contract).  

For review:

1.  IDF Withdraws from Netzarim Corridor After 5th Hostage Release Cycle. According to the ceasefire deal, Israeli forces had to withdraw after the fifth swap was carried out.

2. US President Donald Trump comments on the poor state of appearance of the three Israeli Hostages released on Saturday. President Trump: “They are in really bad shape, they have been treated brutally, horribly. Even the ones that came out earlier, they were in a little bit better shape, but mentally they were treated so badly. Who could take that? “You know, at some point, we’re gonna lose our patience.”

3. IDF continues strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Israeli fighter jets carried out several airstrikes in Lebanon on Sunday evening, including against a tunnel between Lebanon and Syria used by Hezbollah to smuggle arms. Additionally, the Israeli Air Force targeted several Hezbollah sites in other areas of Lebanon, which included weapons and rocket launchers that “posed an immediate threat” to Israel.

4. President Trump Reveals Conversations With Russian President Putin About Ending War in Ukraine. “I’d better not say,” said Trump when asked how many times the two leaders have spoken.

5. European Union Defense Spending in 2024 Expected be 326 Billion Euros.

6. US Secretary of Defense Hegseth pledges to prioritize cutting waster in the Department of Defense. Secretary Hegseth said that in addition to rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, the Pentagon needs to slash hierarchies and layers of bureaucracy that aren’t serving the military. That could also involve a reduction in the number of four-star generals and flag officers, he said. “We won World War II with seven four-star generals. Today we have 44. Do all of those directly contribute to warfighting success? Maybe they do. I don’t know, but it’s worth reviewing to make sure they do.”

For review:

1.  IDF Warplanes Strike Hezbollah Weapon Depots in Lebanon.

2. Three Israeli Hostages set for release on Saturday morning from Gaza Strip. Israel will release 183 Palestinian prisoners in return.

3. In a speech from Tehran, the Iranian Supreme Leader vows Iran will respond to any threat or violation of the country's security by the US.

4. Iran Unveils IRGC Navy Drone Carrier. According to an IRGC Navy Commander- the drone carrier is capable of carrying several squadrons of unmanned aerial vehicles, launching and landing unmanned fighter jets, deploying various reconnaissance and combat drones, launching and recovering various light and fast combat vessels, as well as carrying and deploying various combat and support helicopters.

5. US Special Envoy to Ukraine & Russia- Keith Kellogg- will participate in the Munich Security Conference from 14-16 February. Though he will speak at the event, Mr. Kellogg denied that he will release the US Peace Proposal to stop the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. Mr. Kellogg: "The person that's going to present the peace plan is the President of the United States, not Keith Kellogg."

6. Russian Army receives first batch of BMP-3 Fighting Vehicles. The BMP-3 is armed with a 100-millimeter gun launcher, a 30-millimeter autocannon, a grenade launcher, machine guns, and an optional remote weapon station with a 57-millimeter autocannon.

7. France Sends Mirage Fighters to Ukraine. Sébastien Lecornu, France’s Armed Forces Minister, said last year that the Mirage 2000 Fighters would be equipped with air-to-ground weapons and new electronic warfare equipment.

8. UK to Chair Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels. United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defense John Healey will chair the event as it gathers for its 26th time next week in Brussels, marking the first time an American defense secretary has not convened the meeting in its three-year history.

9. Dutch military renews focus on the strategic importance of rail transport for heavy military equipment and supplies.

10. Panama declines to renew Panama Canal infrastructure agreement with China after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit.

For review:

1.  President Trump's Idea Relocates Palestinians During Gaza Reconstruction. Asked how many Gazans he intended to relocate, the President said, “All of them.” Asked to clarify whether the White House was shifting away from President Trump’s talk of “permanent” to “temporary” relocation, the WH Press Secretary responded, “The President has made it clear that they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza for the rebuilding of this effort as it’s a demolition site right now it’s not a livable place for any human being.”

2. President Trump denies that the US is working in conjunction with Israel to blow Iran into "smithereens".

3. US Ongoing Negotiations with Russia & Ukraine. President Trump described the talks as “very good, very constructive” and hinted at “progress” on the Russia-Ukraine issue—though he did not offer specifics.

4. In 2024, Turkey's defense exports increased 29% from the previous year. Turkey’s biggest defense exporters include drone maker Baykar, Turkish Aerospace Industries, ASFAT, armored vehicle producer MKE and ARCA.

5. India to increase defense budget by 9.5% during the 2025-2026 period.

6. Philippines to increase defense budget by 12.3% in 2025.

7. US Navy Tests High-Energy Laser from Arleigh Burke Destroyer, USS Preble (DDG-88). 

8. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to host first foreign counterpart at the Pentagon- Mr. Richard Marles- the deputy prime minister and defense minister of Australia.

For review:

1. Israeli PM Visits Washington D.C.

2. Major General Eyal Zamir to be the new Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff. Major General Zamir’s background in the armored corps is unique for a Israeli Chief of Staff. 

3. New Iranian Ballistic Missile (Etemad) can reach Israel with a 1,700 kilometer range.

4. Saudi Arabia Increases Defense Spending in 2025. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has allocated $78 billion for defense spending in 2025, up from $75.8 billion spent in 2024.

5.  Ukrainian President Denies Receiving $177 Billion in American Aid. In an interview with the AP: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy noted during an interview that he does not know where $100 billion of the $177 billion that the US has given to Ukraine. 

6. US President Trump wants Ukrainian Rare Earth Materials as condition for continued American support to Ukraine. President Donald Trump: “We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earth and other things.”

7. German Army to Develop 120mm Turreted Mortar. Germany and Patria have signed a research and development agreement for the Common Armored Vehicle System (CAVS) NEMO mortar and mortar command & control variants for the German Armed Forces.

8. Estonia receives the first six of twelve Caesar mobile 155mm howitzers. The newly-established 3rd self-propelled artillery battalion operating under the command of the Estonian Division will be assigned the 155 mm truck cannons. 

9. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth travels to Fort Bliss, Texas and meets with US Troops operating on the Southern Border. Secretary Hegseth will also likely announce a further 400 to 500 troops heading to the area. Members of the 10th Mountain Division, stationed at Fort Drum in New York, will travel to Texas this week to set up a separate headquarters to command the military’s expanded role at the U.S.-Mexico border.

For review:

1. From DoD Release: US AFRICOM conducts airstrikes against ISIS operatives in the Golis Mountains of Somalia.

2. Three Israeli Hostages Released After 484 Days of Hamas Captivity.

3. Iran Threatens War in Region if Nuclear Sites Attacked.

4. US Wants Ukraine Presidential Elections Possibly This Year.  Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, told Reuters that presidential and parliamentary elections, suspended since the all-out war began, "need to be done." He argued that most democratic nations hold elections during wartime and that doing so would strengthen Ukraine’s democracy. 

5. Russia declines to comment of status of N. Korean Troops operating in the Kursk Region.

6. Denmark supports the Ukraine war effort by spending military aid funding on locally-made materiel, instead of foreign equipment. Buying local gets weapons to the front faster and at lower cost, and facilitates training and maintenance. 

7.  US Army Mobile 155mm Artillery Effort in 2025. The Army is planning to pick an unspecified number of companies to proceed and award Phase I contracts around the July to September timeframe. Those vendors will then participate in additional “competitive evaluation testing” that will run through fiscal 2026.

8. US President Trump directs building of the Iron Dome Missiles Defense Shield for America. 

For review:
1. US Army Black Hawk Collides with Passenger Jet Near Reagan National Airport.
The two aircraft crashed as the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, with 64 people aboard, was approaching the runway flying over the Potomac River. The Black Hawk was on a training flight from Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir. 
There were no survivors found. 
2. Eight Hostages released from Gaza after 482 days in captivity- 3 Israelis & 5 Thai citizens.
3. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visits Hamas leaders in Qatar.
4. Iran Unveils Long-Range & Long-Endurance Drone- Shahed-149.
5. Sweden's Latest Military Aid Package to Ukraine Worth $1.2 Billion.
Sweden will also provide financing for priority needs such as artillery, long-range strike capabilities, and drones. 
6. Netherlands to procure 22 x Skyranger Mobile Air Defense Systems protect the maneuver battalions of its medium and heavy infantry brigades. 
The Skyranger’s Oerlikon 30 mm revolver cannon has a firing rate of around 1,200 rounds per minute, and can fire programmable airburst munitions. 

For review:
1. Three Israeli and Five Thai Hostages Set for Release on Thursday.
In exchange for the three hostages to be freed on Thursday, Israel will free 110 Palestinian security prisoners.
2. In Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa is appointed President to lead the transitional phase.
 After cancelling the country's constitution passed in 2012 under the Assad regime, Mr. al-Sharaa will be authorized to form a temporary legislative council until a new constitution is drafted.
3. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin trade insults while war continues on. (Neither ready to commit to peace negotiations).
4. Denmark to invest $2 billion to strengthen Arctic defense capabilities.
Copenhagen said the spending pledge covers the purchase of three Arctic naval vessels capable of carrying helicopters and drones; two long-range drones with the “ability to conduct surveillance over large areas at great distances;” and increased situational awareness through additional satellite “capacity.”
5. Poland continues high-level modernization by signing a $745 million contract to purchase 200 x Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles – Extended Range missiles. The missiles- to be used on Poland’s fleet of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters- are scheduled to be delivered between 2029 and 2035.
6. US Navy MQ-25 Unmanned Tankers to Operate From Aircraft Carriers in 2026.
7. USAF F-35A Crash in Alaska - Pilot Safely Ejected.
The stealth fighter exploded on impact and is likely a total loss.
8. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revokes the security clearance and removes the security detail of Retired General Mark Milley - former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In addition, a second portrait of General Milley (Retired) was removed- one that marked his service as a former Army Chief of Staff. 
(This is the 2d portrait of him removed from the Pentagon. The first portrait- one that marked his service as a CJCS- was removed hours after President Donald Trump was inaugurated on 20 January 2025.)

1. After broken agreement & negotiations, Hamas to Release Three Hostages on Thursday- Gazans can begin moving north tomorrow. 
Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office says Israel reached an agreement with Hamas after “strong and determined negotiations,” and reiterates that it will “not tolerate any violation of the agreement.”
2. US President Trump to end delivery hold on 2,000 pound bombs to Israel.
President Trump said to reporters aboard Air Force One, “We released them (the bombs). We released them today. And they’ll have them. They paid for them and they’ve been waiting for them for a long time. They’ve been in storage.”
3. Syria Seizes Shipment of Weapons Bound for Hezbollah.
The shipment was heading to Hezbollah via smuggling routes on the Lebanon-Syria border, in the area of the border city of Sarghaya. Images showed several assault rifles, RPG launchers, and ammunition.
4.  Italy’s Leonardo and Turkish drone maker Baykar are discussing a team-up which could see Leonardo’s electronics and radar mounted on Baykar’s TB2 drones.
5. Trump Administration looking into future support for Ukraine war effort.
6.  President Trump Directs US Forces to Reinforce Southern Border.
There are already roughly 2,500 military personnel along the border supporting the US Customs and Border Protection mission- & today’s announcement brings the total up to around 4,000 troops deployed. Other assets, such as drones, are also under consideration to be sent to the border.

For review:.
1. Pete Hegseth Confirmed as US SECDEF.
2. Second Set of Israeli Hostages Released - Four Female IDF Soldiers Free After 477 Days in Captivity.
3. IDF to continue presence in S. Lebanon.
A ceasefire signed in late November, stipulated that Israeli forces should withdraw as Hezbollah's weapons and fighters are removed from the south and the Lebanese army deploys. The deal set a 60-day period which ends on Sunday. Israel said on Friday the terms had not been fully enforced by the Lebanese state, meaning Israeli troops would stay beyond Sunday.
4. Houthi Rebels release 153 conflict-related prisoners for humanitarian reasons.
5. Ukraine and Russia exchange bodies of Soldiers Killed in Action.
 Friday’s repatriation is at least the fifth involving 500 or more Ukrainian bodies since October.
6. Ukraine President Zelenskyy said any peace deal with Russia would require at least 200,000 European peacekeepers to oversee it.
7. UK Manufactured Boxer Combat Vehicle.
Variants on order from the UK include infantry carrier, specialist carrier, command post carrier and an ambulance type.
The local build of Boxer is the first time the UK has manufactured an armoured vehicle since the Terrier armoured engineering vehicle.

For review:
1. IDF Chief of Staff to Resign in March.
 Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and the head of the IDF Southern Command (Major General Yaron Finkelman) said they would both be resigning over their roles in the failures that led to the Hamas 07 October onslaught.
2. Iranian Vice President for Strategic Affairs (Mohammad Zarif) discusses conflict with Israel while at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
3. US President Donald Trump's first call with a foreign leader is  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
4. Houthi terrorist group finally releases the crew of the merchant vessel M/V Galaxy Leader. In an Executive Order, new US President Trump declares the Houthi group a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
5. During Russian Security Council videotaped meeting, Russian President Putin open to peace talks with US only if "root causes" of the conflict are addressed.
6. Sweden Deploys Mechanized Infantry Battalion to Latvia.
The six month deployment consists of 600 Soldiers, CV90 armored vehicles, and Leopard 2 main battle tanks. 
7. Latest Update on US Army IVAS Program.
IVAS = Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS).

For review:
1.  Israel Releases 90 Palestinian Prisoners As Part of Ceasefire Deal.
2. Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th American president at the US Capitol in Washington (2d Term).
3. Portrait of former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (General Mark Milley) taken down, hours after President Trump's swearing in. Whereabouts unknown.
4. UK and Ukraine Sign 100-Year Partnership Agreement.
Under the deal, the UK has committed to providing Ukraine with at least £3 billion ($3.7 billion) in military aid each year up until 2030-31, with a promise of additional support as needed.
5.  Ukraine To Reassign Air Force Personnel to Infantry Service.
However, there were no plans to transfer essential Air Force aviation [maintenance] personnel—those who service and repair aircraft—to infantry roles.
6. Polish General Officer removed from position after anti-tank mines were found in Ikea furniture warehouse.
7. Lithuania will increase defense spending 5 to 6 percent of GDP.
Lithuania’s State Defence Council, met and agreed on the new 2026-2030 spending plan today, according to public broadcaster Lithuanian Radio and Television.
8. Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth clears Senate Armed Service Committee vote. Hegseth’s nomination is set for the Senate floor later this week, where it is expected to pass along party lines. (Republicans hold the majority).

For review:
1. Hostage Deal Begins - Three Hostages Released After 471 Days of Captivity in Gaza.
The first three hostages freed under the deal were civilians Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31. Romi Gonen was abducted from the Supernova music festival, while Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were taken from their homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
2. Syrian leader (Ahmed Al-Sharaa) pushes for Israel to leave buffer zone between the two countries.
“Israel’s advance in the region was due to the presence of Iranian militias and Hezbollah. After the liberation of Damascus, I believe that they have no presence at all. There are pretexts that Israel is using today to advance into the Syrian regions, into the buffer zone,” said Sharaa.
3. Iran State TV Shows Secret Underground Naval Missile Base.
State television said the base was built at a depth of 500 meters, somewhere in the Gulf, showed tunnels with long rows of what it said were a new version of Taregh-class radar-evading speedboats which can launch cruise missiles, and said that some of the vessels were “capable of destroying US warships and destroyers.”
4. One and a half mile-long airstrip being built on Yemen's Abd al-Kuri island.
Abd al-Kuri is part of the Socotra Archipelago, separated from Africa by only 60 miles and from Yemen by some 250 miles.
5. Norway and France to increase defense cooperation.
Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram Gram welcomed his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu for talks in Oslo on Thursday, followed by meetings with the French and Norwegian defense industries, the government said in a statement.
6. First US Navy Destroyer Fitted with Hypersonic Missile Tubes.
USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is back in the water after the installation of four missile tubes that will eventually carry the Conventional Prompt Strike weapon. 
The tubes that will field three missiles a piece- for a total of up to 12 hypersonic missiles.

For review:
1.  Israel Cabinet to Vote on Hostage & Ceasefire Deal - Set to Begin on Sunday.
The deal is currently scheduled to take effect on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. Unconfirmed reports in Hebrew media said the release of the first three female hostages was expected at 4 p.m. that day. 
2. Palestinian Authority President (Mahmoud Abbas) said on Friday that the PA is ready to assume “full responsibility” in post-war Gaza, in his first statement since the Gaza ceasefire deal was announced.
3.  Russia & Iran Sign Strategic Partnership Treaty.
The agreement- “covers all spheres, including defense, counter-terrorism, energy, finance, transport, industry, agriculture, culture, science and engineering,” according to Russian news agency TASS.
4. Armor Not Dead: Slovakia Ready to Procure New Battle Tanks.
Two Options listed (CV-90120 & Leopard 2):
The CV-90120 would compete against new Leopard 2A8 tanks from German manufacturer KNDS or used 2A4s, an older Leopard variant that would be modernized. 
5. India's Prime Minister Modi launches new Submarine, Frigate, and Destroyer from State-run shipyard in Mumbai.
6. US Navy's Senior Requirements Officer for Surface Warfare (Rear Admiral Willian Daly)- skeptical about developing the Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle (LUSV).
“The Large USV has a great purpose, but it has it has walked that path towards exquisite, expensive [and] unpalatable,” Rear Admiral Daly said. “I’m skeptical about that landing in the fleet.”
7. President-elect Donald Trump nominates Troy Meink as the next Secretary of the Air Force. 
Mr. Meink began his career as a KC-135 tanker navigator in 1988. He went on to hold a variety of roles across the Air Force’s space enterprise, serving as a chief technical advisor to the Air Force Research Laboratory and later the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for space. If confirmed, Meink will lead both the Air Force and the Space Force 

For review:
1. Israel - Hamas Ceasefire & Hostage Talks Continue.
Key mediator Qatar it had presented both parties with a “final” draft of the agreement. Israel’s Channel 12 news reported Monday that Jerusalem considered it broadly acceptable. CNN cited an Egyptian official as saying the mediating countries — Qatar, Egypt, and the United States — had not yet received a response from Hamas.
2. NATO Secretary General (Mark Rutte) Wants Commitment for Increased Spending by Alliance Members.
Reuters reported on Monday that Secretary Rutte is of the view that new military capability targets could require members to commit to “as much as” 3.7 percent GDP.
3. Greece Adds Rafale Fighters to Warplane Arsenal.
The latest Rafale delivery supports Greece's goal to operate 200 x aircraft from the 4.5 and 5th generations comprising the F-16 Viper, F-35s, and the Rafales by 2030.
Greece now operates 24 x Rafale fighters.
4. USMC awards contract to integrate the Forterra autonomy package on JLTVs in support of the ROGUE Fires Vehicle & NMESIS program. 
NMESIS = Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System.
5. US Navy Vice Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral Jim Kilby) makes a statement at the annual Surface Navy Association symposium regarding the downing of the F/A-18 by friendly fire, in December 2024.
6. Secretary of Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth appears before the Senate Armed Service Committee for confirmation hearing. 

For review:
1. Israel Strikes Targets Amid Hezbollah Threat.
Israel says that before the strikes, it made the threats known to an international mechanism set up as part of the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but “the threats weren’t addressed.”
Israel struck several Hezbollah targets, including a rocket launcher, an unspecified military site, and “routes along the Syria-Lebanon border used to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah.”
2. Governance row between two main Palestinian groups- Hamas and Fatah- plays out in West Bank.
3. Russia Transferring Materiel from Syria to Libya.
On December 18- the Wall Street Journal, citing Libyan and American officials, said there had been a transfer of Russian radars and defense systems from Syria to Libya, including S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft batteries.
4. Russia claims advances in the Donetsk and Kharkiv Regions.
5. Ukraine claims that it has captured two wounded N. Korean Soldiers in Russia's Kursk Region.
6. After GAO Protest Ruling - US Army Restarts Work on Fixed-Wing ISR Program.
7. US Army Launched Effects (LE) program.
Launched Effects is the Army's term of art for an unmanned segment among its aerial platforms, capable of delivering a wide range of capabilities such as targeting, reconnaissance, surveillance, network extension or kinetic strike. 

For review:
1. Israel Responds to Houthi Drone & Missile Attacks - IDF Strikes Houthi Coastal Ports and Sanaa Powerplant. The Israel Defense Forces said over 20 IAF aircraft — including fighter jets, refuelers and spy planes — participated in the Israeli strikes.
2. Iranian Media: Military to Field 1000 Strategic Drones.
Reportedly the unmanned aerial vehicles to be delivered include Ababil-4 and Ababil 5, which serve multipurpose missions from reconnaissance, patrolling and combat operations. 
3. UK Defense Ministry Release: The Ukraine Defense Contact Group - Drone Capability Coalition (led by UK & Latvia), will deliver 30,000 drones to Ukraine.
These state-of-the-art, first-person view drones will help Ukraine fight against Russian aggression, allowing Ukraine’s Armed Forces to manoeuvre past Russian air defences to target enemy positions and armoured vehicles.
4. Serbia looks to countries other than Russia- for defense materiel (France, Israel, & China).
Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces: "When it comes to weapon deliveries from the Russian Federation, they are currently practically impossible."
5. France's Defense Exports are Second Largest in the World. In the 2019-2023 period- France was the second-largest arms shipper, after the United States, accounting for 11% of global arms exports, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
6. Indo-Pacific countries are taking steps to improve their amphibious capabilities (Japan; Philippines; Australia; & India).
7. An Amphibious Warship Industrial Base Coalition survey says that US Navy multi-ship buys lead to immediate benefits.
Under multi-ship buys, the Navy and defense shipbuilding industry agree on the prices of multiple ships years in advance and within the same contractual agreement. 

For review:
1. Lebanon's Lawmakers Elect New President. 
Lebanon’s lawmakers elected on Thursday army chief Joseph Aoun as president on Thursday. Under multi-confessional Lebanon’s power-sharing system, the president must be a Maronite Christian, as do military chiefs.
2. Iran's former top General Officer in Syria conducts Q & A session at Tehran mosque.
Brigadier General Behrouz Esbati provided information and answered questions about operations in Syria and attacks against the US and Israel. 
3.  Latest US Security Package to Ukraine Worth $500 Million.
The package includes missiles for air defense; air-to-ground munitions; and equipment to support Ukraine's use of F-16s.
4. In Germany, Ukraine's allies meet at the 25th Ukraine Defense Contact Group- notable as this is the last meeting with US Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) under the Biden Administration.
5.  Armor Not Dead: Sweden Procures New Leopard Tanks & Upgrades CV90 Combat Vehicles.
The armor deal covers 44 new Leopards and upgrades for 66 older Leopard 2 tanks. The new tanks are set to begin delivery in 2028, with all units expected to be in service by 2031.  In addition, Sweden has approved the renovation of 90 existing CV90 combat vehicles, set to be completed by 2030.
6. Australia procures 40 x Bushmaster Combat Vehicles for the 2d Long Range Fires Regiment. The new Bushmasters will provide C2 capabilities for the Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) or Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 contract, to be awarded by the end of this year. 
7. US President-elect Trump's nominee for the Secretary of Defense (Pete Hegseth)- goes to Capitol Hill next Tuesday to begin the confirmation hearing process before the Senate Armed Service Committee.  

For review:
1. Iran Conducts Air Defense Drills near Nuclear Site.
Iran’s military has begun drills focusing on air defenses near the Natanz nuclear enrichment plant in the center of the country as part of exercises planned nationwide, state media reported on Tuesday. 
2. US State Department moves $95 million of assistance designated for Egypt and $7.5 million dollars of assistance designated for Israel to Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces, in support of the ceasefire agreement.
3. Germany to Procure PULS Rocket Artillery System.
The German armed forces, can spend roughly €65 million, or $68 million USD, on five systems. PULS = Precise and Universal Launching System.
4. N. Korea Test Launches Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile into Sea of Japan.
Japan Defense Minister Gen Nakatani: “Further details, including whether the missile was a hypersonic weapon, are still under analysis.” 
5. The Pentagon awarded defense-technology firm Kratos a contract worth up to $1.45 billion in support of Hypersonic Missile development and testing. This effort is led by the Pentagon’s Test Resource Management Center and the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Crane Division.
6. During a radio interview- President-elect Donald Trump discusses requirements creep as related to the US Navy’s Constellation-class frigate program.

For review:
1.  Iran: Future Attacks by Israel Could Lead to Full War.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: “We are fully prepared for the possibility of further Israeli attacks. I hope Israel will refrain from taking such reckless action, as it could lead to a large-scale war.”
2. IDF May Extend 30 Days in S. Lebanon Based On Delayed LAF Deployment.
The IDF was gearing up for the possibility that troops would stay beyond the 60-day period (outlined in the ceasefire agreement) as the Lebanese army is currently deploying too slowly to the southern Lebanon area, allowing Hezbollah time to regroup.
3. Russia vows to retaliate after Ukraine ATACMS strike in Belgorod.
4. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet with President-elect Donald Trump soon after inauguration. 
5. US Army Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon Effort.
The Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office “has a requirement to develop and deliver a full Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) Battery no later than Q4FY27 followed by an operational demonstration in FY28.
A full MDACS battery consists of eight Multi-Domain Artillery Cannons, four Multi-Function Precision Radars, two Multi-Domain Battle Managers, and separately, no less than 144 Hypervelocity Projectiles.”

For review:
1. Israel to send Team to Qatar for Hostage Negotiations.
The Prime Minister’s Office said that “Netanyahu authorized a working-level delegation from the Mossad, Shin Bet and IDF to continue negotiations in Doha.”
2. IDF Releases Details from September 2024 Commando Raid in Syria.
 The raid — dubbed internally by the Israel Defense Forces “Operation Many Ways” —  was aimed at destroying an underground facility used by Iranian forces to manufacture precision missiles for Hezbollah in Lebanon and for the Assad regime in Syria.
3. Senegal to Remove Foreign Military Presence in 2025.
Senegal's President (Bassirou Dioumaye Faye): “I have instructed the minister for the armed forces to propose a new doctrine for cooperation in defence and security, involving, among other consequences, the end of all foreign military presences in Senegal from 2025.”
4.  Russian Navy Accepts 5th Yasen-class Nuclear Attack Sub.
The Attack boat Arkhangelsk was turned over to the Russian Navy on Dec. 27 in a ceremony at the Sevmash shipyard on the White Sea just south of the Arctic Circle. The 13,800-ton Yasen-Ms can field the 1,000-mile range 3M-54 Kalibir NK land attack cruise missile, the P-800 Oniks anti-ship missile, and the 3M-22 Zircon hypersonic anti-ship cruise missiles.
5. China sanctions US Defense companies over arms sales to Taiwan. 
They will be prohibited from import and export activities or making new investments in China, while their senior managers will be banned from entering the country, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.

For review:
1. US CENTCOM Forces Strike Houthi Rebel Targets.
On Dec. 30 and 31, US Navy ships and aircraft targeted a Houthi command and control facility and advanced conventional weapon (ACW) production and storage facilities that included missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). 
2. Israeli Ambassador (Danny Danon) to UN Gives Last Warning to Houthis.
 “To the Houthis, perhaps you have not been paying attention to what has happened to the Middle East over the past year. Well, allow me to remind you what has happened to Hamas, to Hezbollah, to Assad, to all those who have attempted to destroy us. Let this be your final warning,” Danon told the UN Security Council. 
3. Latest in Israel - Hamas Hostage Negotiations. Israel & Hamas disagree on number of living Hostages to be released.
4. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine worth $1.25 Billion.
In addition, the US Treasury Department meanwhile announced the disbursement of $3.4 billion in direct budgetary support for Ukraine. 
5. Greece to provide 24 x Sea Sparrow Missiles to Ukraine. 
The missiles are part of a broader defense package for Ukraine, including artillery shells, weaponry, and ammunition.
6. Russian Foreign Minister (Sergei Lavrov) on President-elect Trump Peace proposal: “Of course, we are not satisfied with the proposals being voiced by representatives of the president-elect to postpone Ukrainian NATO membership for 20 years and to send to Ukraine a peacekeeping contingent of ‘British and European forces,'” Lavrov said. 
7. Turkish Drone Maker Baykar purchases Italian aviation firm Piaggio Aerospace. 

For Review:
1. Details Released on the Haniyeh Assassination.
2. IDF Operations from Neztarim Corridor.
3. Finland Seizes Tanker from Undersea Cable Incident.
4. Finland to increase defense spending to 3.3% GDP by 2032. Currently, Finland spends 2.4% of GDP on defense- well above the NATO mark of 2%. 
5. China's Amphib Assault Ship Can Launch & Recover Fighters.

For review:
1. Another Round of IDF Strikes on Houthi Targets.
The targets included “infrastructure used by the Houthi terror regime for its military activities” at Sanaa International Airport, and the Hezyaz power plant just outside the Houthi-controlled capital. 
2. Mossad Chief: We Need to Go Head to Head with Iran.
3. Slovakia to Procure Barak Air Defense Systems.
4. Report: Russian Naval Vessels departing Syria for Libya. Italy concerned.
5. Netherlands to procure anti-drone systems to defeat small unmanned aircraft systems.
6. Australian Air Force Receives Final Batch of F-35A Warplanes.

For review:
1. Israel Opposition Leader: Target Iran Directly.
Faced with Houthi attacks from Yemen and dangers posed by other Iranian proxies, Israel “must target Iran directly,” opposition politician Benny Gantz declared on Monday. Mr. Gantz stated that “the solution to putting an end to the attacks lies in Tehran.”
2. US President-elect Donald Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a meeting to discuss Ukraine conflict soon after his (Trump) return to office.
3. Italy to procure 24 x Eurofighter Typhoons.
The new jets will be equipped with advanced avionics and enhanced weapon systems capable of operating Brimstone III and Meteor missiles.
4. Philippines Wants to Acquire US Army Mid-Range Fires Capability.
The system is intended to hit targets at ranges between the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) – and the developmental Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system.
5.  US & Japanese V-22 Ospreys Cleared to Fly After Required Inspections.

For review:
1. US Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen.
2. US Navy F/A 18F Super Hornet Downed by friendly fire over the Red Sea.
The Super Hornet, assigned to aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), was flying over the Red Sea when guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64) fired upon it, according to the CENTCOM statement. The two pilots ejected safely, and were recovered. 
3. Israel Turns Attention Toward Houthis.
The Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel in the past year. 
4.  US Authorizes $571 Million in Military Assistance to Taiwan.
The White House said in a brief statement that President Biden had authorized the drawdown "of up to $571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan."
5. USAF study supports manned-6th Generation fighter- potentially in support of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.
6. US Army Self-Propelled Howitzer (155mm) Modernization.

For review:
1. Israel Strikes Houthi Ports, Depots, & Power Stations.
Fourteen fighter jets, alongside refuelers and spy planes, flew some 2,000 kilometers in the early hours of Thursday morning and dropped over 60 munitions on Houthi “military targets,” the IDF said.
2. Russian President Putin addresses country during four-hour news conference- with broad range of topics.
The news conference saw Mr. Putin address a possible end to the war, as he said he is "ready to compromise" in possible talks with US President-elect Donald Trump.
3.  UK Troops in Ukraine for Training Mission?
 UK Forces could be sent to Ukraine to directly train soldiers there, the British defense secretary (John Healey) suggested — as he unveiled a further £225 million worth of weapons and other military gear for Kyiv. 
4. Slovakia to purchase 12 x UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters.
5. Hanwha (S. Korea) Purchases Controlling Stake in Philly Shipyard.
6. USAF Secretary (Frank Kendall) has public disagreement with Elon Musk over the future of manned fighter aircraft. Secretary Kendall said Musk’s idea of a drone Air Force that can take the place of the current crewed fleet is still years away from having the necessary technology to work.
7. Senate Armed Service Committee Chairman (Senator Roger Wicker) to introduce legislation designed to streamline and improve the Department of Defense's Acquisition process.

For review:
1. Israeli PM visits Mount Hermon on Syrian Side.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that Israeli troops would remain stationed inside Syria for the foreseeable future.
2. New Syrian Leader (Abu Muhammad al-Julani) speaks with journalists- presents moderate proposals and ideas for new Syrian State.
Speaking to journalists at the prime ministerial headquarters in Damascus, Julani said rebel factions in Syria would be disbanded, and their fighters placed under the defense ministry. He played down the prospect of a Syria run by Islamic law, and vowed to protect minority rights. He also called for sanctions to be lifted so refugees can return.
3. International Atomic Energy Agency: Iran has Enriched Uranium at Military Grade.
According to an IAEA report, Iran has begun dramatically expanding its production of uranium enriched to near-weapons grade levels, collecting enough material for several bombs already.
4. Top Russian General Killed by Explosive in Moscow.
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside an apartment building on along with his assistant. 
5. Armor Not Dead: Lithuania to procure 44 x Leopard 2 Tanks- with the goal is to have the tanks by 2030. The Lithuanian government is calling the procurement, the single largest defense acquisition project in the country’s history.
6. Portugal to procure 12x A-29N Super Tucano Aircraft in a deal worth $210 million.
7. US Navy & USMC LSM Program Stalled due to Cost.
After receiving bids from industry, the Navy canceled the request for proposals for the Landing Ship Medium. While the USMC has pushed for a more affordable ship- built to commercial standards- the Navy’s requirements for improved survivability have increased the cost.

For review:
1. Israel - Hamas Potential Hostage Deal in Two Weeks.
An unnamed Israeli official told the Israel Hayom daily on Sunday that a ceasefire-hostage deal will likely be completed by Hanukkah, which begins this year on the evening of December 25.
2. Hezbollah leader (Naim Qassem) acknowledges that the supply route from Iran- through Syria- to Lebanon, has been cut. “Yes, Hezbollah has lost the military supply route through Syria at this stage, but this loss is a detail in the resistance’s work,” Qassem said.
3. Kurdish-led forces in Syria (allied with the United States), accidently shot down a US MQ-9 Drone on Monday. Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces were conducting operations when they downed the MQ-9, a U.S. official familiar with the situation confirmed to Defense News.
4. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to procure more Avante 2200 Corvettes from Spanish-firm Navantia.
5. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warns European countries to prepare for war with a volatile Russia. Rutte listed a series of recent “hostile actions” by Russia against NATO allies, including cyber-attacks, assassinations, an explosion at a Czech ammunition depot, the jamming of radars in the Baltic region to disrupt air traffic, and the “weaponization” of migrants to destabilize Europe.
6. Japan to Purchase T-6 Texan Trainer Aircraft.
The Japanese government has selected the US-built basic trainer aircraft and associated ground equipment for its air force’s pilot training program.
7. Australia Test Fires Tomahawk Cruise Missile from Destroyer.
On Tuesday, Australia announced that destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) conducted a successful first firing of an RGM-109E Tomahawk cruise missile off the US West Coast.

For review:
1. With lowered air defense threat in Syria, "air road" to Tehran less dangerous to Israeli Air Force. According to the IDF, the IAF destroyed 86% of the former Assad regime’s air defense systems across Syria, totaling 107 separate air defense components and another 47 radars.
2.  IDF Will Remain on the Syrian Side of Mount Hermon During Winter.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday that he had ordered the military to prepare to stay atop the Syrian side of Mount Hermon during the coming winter months as Israel aims to prevent the border region from falling into the wrong hands following the ouster of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
3. Israel - Hamas Negotiations Show Encouraging Signs.
4. US President-elect Trump's national security team is meeting with Biden Administration as negotiations between Ukraine and Russia potentially appear on the horizon. President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has held several conversations with his named successor, Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla.
5. Trilateral Nations- Japan, UK, and Italy- establish Joint Venture to manage and develop the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
GCAP aims to replace UK Royal Air Force and Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-2 combat jets. It is slated for entry to service in 2035.
6. Poland Establishes Drone Force.
Starting on 01 January 2025, the Drone Force will comprise aerial, land, naval surface, and underwater unmanned systems.
7. US Army Successful Hypersonic Missile Test.
On Thursday evening, Army released two announcements:
- It successfully tested a conventional hypersonic missile (in partnership with the Navy).
- It successfully launched a pair of Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 1 weapons from a HIMARS launcher.

For review:
1. In 48 Hours - IDF Destroys 70-80% of Assad Regime's Strategic Weapons.
 The airstrikes destroyed many long-range projectiles, Scud missiles, cruise missiles, coast-to-sea missiles, air defense missiles, fighter jets, helicopters, radars, tanks, hangars and more.
2. Poland PM: Russia - Ukraine Peace Talks This Winter.
Peace talks to end the war in Ukraine could begin this winter, Polish PM Donald Tusk said on Monday before holding talks with Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw.
3. Biden Administration pushes Ukraine to lower the Draft age to 18- to increase manpower for Ukraine's armed forces.
White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett in a statement said the administration will continue sending Ukraine weaponry but believes “manpower is the most vital need” Ukraine has at the moment.
4. Dutch F-35s Intercept Russian Aircraft Near NATO Airspace.
Amsterdam said the Russian systems involved in the first incident were an Antonov An-72 Coaler transport aircraft and a Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer tactical bomber. The second report was received in the afternoon of the same day, this time with an Ilyushin Il-20M spy plane.
5. US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) reports successful intercept of ballistic missile during Guam test.
From MDA release: During the “experiment,” the Aegis air defense system used a new AN/TPY-6 radar to track the target and a Vertical Launching System to fire a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA at an incoming, air-launched medium-range ballistic missile flying over the ocean near Andersen Air Force Base (Guam). 
6. Opinion Article from Defense Post (Mark Fulton) concerning artillery lessons- learned from Ukraine.
Summary:
As militaries around the world rethink their artillery strategies, the lessons from Ukraine make one thing clear: success lies not in having the most advanced equipment but in striking the right balance between simplicity, efficiency, and sustainability.

For review:
1. IDF Deploys into Buffer Zone with Syria & Controls Strategic Mount Hermon.
On Sunday, the IDF captured the Syrian side of strategic Mount Hermon, along with a buffer zone that has existed between the countries since the 1970s. The 235-square-kilometer demilitarized buffer zone was established in the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria, which concluded the Yom Kippur War, and has been manned for decades by UN peacekeepers. 
2.  IDF Strikes Syrian Military Hardware Following Collapse of Assad Regime.
On Sunday, the IAF hit advanced missile storage sites, air defense systems, and planes, helicopters, and tanks that belonged to the Assad regime’s military. 
On Monday, Israeli planes bombed at least three major Syrian army air bases that housed dozens of helicopters and jets. 
3. US Strikes ISIS Targets in Syria.
US Central Command said that its warplanes conducted “dozens” of airstrikes on more than 75 sites, including known “ISIS leaders, operatives and camps.”
The attacks used B-52 bombers, F-15 fighters, and A-10 Warthogs.
4. Russia to provide warplanes to N. Korea in return for troop combat deployment.
 US Indo-PACOM Commander (Admiral Samuel Paparo): Russia has reached an agreement with North Korea to send MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter aircraft to Pyongyang in return for that nation deploying soldiers to help with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
5. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes rare comment on troop causalities.
The Ukrainian President said that some 43,000 Ukrainian Soldiers have been killed and 370,000 injuries had been reported, since the war with Russia began in February 2022. 
6. US Military pauses V-22 Osprey Fleet following near-accident at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.
The pause was recommended last week “out of an abundance of caution” by Vice Admiral Carl Chebi, the head of Naval Air Systems Command.

For review:
1. Qatar Returns as Mediator Between Israel & Hamas.
Unnamed source confirmed to The Times of Israel that Doha had quietly resumed its role as a mediator at the behest of officials from US President-elect Trump’s transition team.
2. Syrian rebel forces are closing in on the capital Damascus from the north, east, and south. CNN reported Saturday that the US was increasingly believing that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime could collapse within days.
3. Amid Fighting in Syria - IDF Reinforces Golan Heights.
IDF Chief of Staff (Lieutenant General Halevi): “We are very closely following what is happening. The main emphasis is to see the Iranian exit [from Syria]… and the second thing is to see the local elements taking over the area, what they are doing, how they behave, how they are deterred, and [making sure they] don’t get confused and turn in our direction."
4. US Sec of Defense Announces $1 billion in Security Aid to Ukraine.
This $988 million package will come from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, through which the US buys new equipment for Ukraine rather than shipping kit directly from American stocks. 
5. BAE wins contract worth $2.5 billion to build CV90 Fighting Vehicles for Denmark and Sweden. Denmark has ordered 115 new CV9035 MkIIICs, and Sweden is acquiring 50 new vehicles.
6. The US House and Senate today released their compromise version of the National Defense Authorization Act, with a $895.2 billion topline.

For review:
1. Egypt Proposals Hostage Deal to Hamas - Israel Open to Discuss.
Reportedly, the proposal is not for an end to the war, but an extended ceasefire that will allow the elderly, children, women, ill and badly wounded hostages to be released. 
2. Israel Cautiously Observes Fighting in Syria.
Statement from IDF: “The IDF will not allow a threat near the Syrian-Israeli border and will act to thwart any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel.” 
3. Argentina and Israel sign accord to increase defense ties.
The agreement will involve a focus on joint projects “in cyber defense, unmanned aerial vehicles, border protection, satellite communications, and future government-to-government (G2G) contracts in light arms, light munitions, radios, and related equipment.”
4. Latest US Assistance Package to Ukraine worth $725 Million.
Package includes air defense capabilities; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons.
5. Despite recent prospect of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news outlet in an interview published Wednesday that Russia sees "no grounds for negotiations yet." 
6. Australia down-selects two companies for development of general-purpose frigates- in program worth A$10 billion.
- Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) 
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 
7. Australian leaning toward development of sovereign produced maritime mobile strike platform based upon Bushmaster system- equipped with two Naval Strike Missiles (StrikeMaster). The StrikeMaster is similar to the USMC- Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), which pairs Naval Strike Missiles with a modified unmanned Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. 
8. President-elect Donald Trump selects Daniel Driscoll as the nominative Secretary of the Army. Mr. Driscoll served in the Army and deployed to Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division as a Cavalry Scout platoon leader. 
9. USAF kicks the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) can (Program) down the road for the next administration to solve.
USAF Statement: “The Secretary of the Air Force will defer the Next Generation Air Dominance way ahead decision to the next administration, while the Department of the Air Force continues its analysis and executes the necessary actions to ensure decision space remains intact for the NGAD program.” 

For review:
1.  Israel Alert for Iranian Weapon Transfers to Hezbollah.
The IDF on Monday said it would ensure Iran does not smuggle weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon as the Islamic Republic sends reinforcements to its ally Syrian President Bashar Assad to counter an ongoing rebel assault.
2. NATO Sec General Talks Ukraine Negotiations.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte: "The front is not moving eastwards. It is slowly moving westwards,” Rutte said. “So we have to make sure that Ukraine gets into a position of strength, and then it should be for the Ukrainian government to decide on the next steps, in terms of opening peace talks and how to conduct them.”
3. French-German defense form KNDS to get new CEO.
Formed in 2015, KNDS is a joint venture between France’s Nexter and Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMV), two of Europe’s largest land system manufacturers. The company makes the Leopard 2 main battle tank, Puma infantry fighting vehicle, and PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer (155mm).
4. US Army Autonomous Precision Strike Missile Variant.
 The US Army is developing a fifth Precision Strike Missile (variant), that it could potentially launch from an autonomous launcher to hit targets beyond 1,000 km.
5. USMC 3d Marine Littoral Regiment (Hawaii) receives over an unspecified amount of Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems (NMESIS).
In 2021, the Marine Corps identified the procurement of 14 NMESIS batteries, composed of 18 launchers each. These unmanned launchers are equipped with two low-observable Naval Strike Missiles capable of reaching targets 185 kilometers away.
6. GAO Reports Poor Condition of US Navy Amphibious Fleet.
Half of the Navy ships the Marine Corps would use to make amphibious assaults are in “poor condition,” and some of the vessels have been unavailable for operational or training use for years at a time, according to a pointed new watchdog report.
7. Indo-PACOM Combatant Commander (US Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo) concerned of strategic, long-range weapon transfers outside of US arsenal.
“Inherently, it imposes costs on the readiness of America to respond in the Indo-Pacific region, which is the most stressing theater … because [China] is the most capable potential adversary in the world,” he stated. 

For review:
1.  Israel Plans for Northern Border Communities Return.
Northern border residents will not be asked to return to their homes until February 1, 2025, despite the ceasefire. At that point, assuming the truce has been held, those who return immediately will receive a grant based on the size of their household.
2. Over Syria and Iraq, Israeli Air Force forces Iranian aircraft, with suspected arms for Hezbollah, to turnaround.
3. Ukraine President Pushes for NATO Membership of Kyiv-controlled Territory before Peace Negotiations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country needed security guarantees from NATO and more weapons to defend itself before any talks with Russia.
4. From Associated Press: Ukrainian Army faces desertion problems, particularly in front-line combat Brigades.
5. Lithuania & Poland Invest in 155mm Munition Production.
- German defense giant Rheinmetall and Lithuania on Friday signed deals to begin construction of a $190-million ammunition plant to make artillery shells.
-  Polish lawmakers have voted to allocate $740 million for investments in ramping up the country’s ammunition production capacities, with a particular focus on much-needed 155mm artillery shells.

For review:
1. US General to Beirut for Ceasefire Implementation.
US CENTCOM announced that Major General Jasper Jeffers, Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), would oversee the implementation and monitoring mechanism of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, alongside his co-chair, US Mideast envoy Amos Hochstein.
2. IDF Continues to Strike Hezbollah Targets in Syria.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck military infrastructure in Syria near border crossings with Lebanon on Saturday, which the IDF said were being “actively” used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons.
3.  Hamas Ready for Negotiations with Israel.
Hamas is displaying increased flexibility in long-stalled talks for an elusive ceasefire and hostage deal in the Gaza Strip, and may agree to the IDF temporarily remaining on the Philadelphi Corridor.
4. Hezbollah will cooperate with Lebanese Armed Forces during Ceasefire Agreement with Israel.'
5. Russia strikes anti-government forces in Syria in response to attack on Aleppo.
“The Russian air force is carrying out rocket-bomb attacks on the equipment and manpower of illegal armed groups, control points, warehouses and artillery positions of terrorists,” news agencies reported a spokesperson for the defense ministry’s Reconciliation Centre for Syria as saying.
6. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss military cooperation.
7. Russia & China Conduct Joint Bomber Flights Over Sea of Japan.
Statement from the Chinese Ministry of National Defense:
“According to the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, on Nov. 29, the two sides organized and implemented the ninth joint air strategic cruise in the relevant airspace of the Sea of ​​Japan.”

For review:
1.  IDF Strikes Hezbollah in S. Lebanon after Ceasefire Violation.
IDF Fighter jets struck a Hezbollah facility, which was used to hold medium-range rockets, after identifying activity there.
2. Israel warns Syria of allowing weapons transfers from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces has said that amid the truce it would continue to act to prevent all weapon deliveries to the Lebanese terror group, including by striking shipments anywhere in Lebanon or Syria.
3. President-elect Trump selects Retired Army General as Ukraine-Russia Envoy.
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Keith Kellogg, a former national security adviser and retired lieutenant general in the US military, to be special envoy to Ukraine and Russia in his second administration.
4.  Russian SU-27 Warplanes Intercept B-52H Bombers near Baltic Sea.
The B-52s were conducting a training flight when the Russian Su-27 fighters intercepted them near Kaliningrad. A US defense official said the interception was safe and professional, and the B-52s continued with their planned flight.
5. President-elect Trump selects businessman John Phelan as Nominative Secretary of the Navy.
If confirmed, Phelan would replace current Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, who is expected to step down ahead of Trump’s inauguration.

For review:
1.  Israel and Hezbollah Ceasefire to Begin at 0400 Local Time.
Israeli PM Netanyahu said there were three reasons for accepting the ceasefire now. “The first is to focus on the Iranian threat, and I won’t elaborate,” he said.
The second was to allow troops to rest and to replenish weapon stores.
The third reason, he said, is to delink the northern and southern fronts and isolate Hamas."
2. Le Monde Report: France & UK Discuss Support for Ukraine.
3. Top defense leaders from Germany, France, the U.K, Poland, and Italy met in Berlin on Monday to discuss continuing support of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

For review:
1. Israel Agrees to US-backed Ceasefire in Lebanon (In Principle).
2. Russian President (Vladimir Putin): Oreshnik Missile in Production.
The Russian President said that Moscow would carry out more tests of the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile in “combat conditions- and the missile will be put into serial production.
3. Russia equips quad-copter drone with flamethrower payload to counter Ukrainian First Person View (FPV) drones.
4. US and Allies discuss cooperation between Russia, China, N. Korea, and Iran at the Halifax International Security Forum (Canada).
5.  Finland Hosts NATO Artillery Exercise.
The 12-day military exercise (Exercise Dynamic Front 25) is considered the alliance’s largest-ever artillery exercise held in Europe, located in the Finnish Northern Lapland. The inaugural exercise in the series involved about 5,000 soldiers from 28 countries. 
6. US to Sign Basing Agreement with Fiji.
The US is negotiating two separate deals: 
- A status of forces agreement- allowing the stationing of US troops- either permanently or temporarily.
- an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA- that would allow the US to leave stores of military equipment on the island. 
7. Pentagon and Boeing contracts for KC-46A Pegasus & P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
The Pentagon this week awarded Boeing a pair of separate contracts for 15 x KC-46A Pegasus tankers and 7 x P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, deals that are collectively worth more than $4 billion. 

For review:
1. IDF kills Hezbollah Commander in Syria that participated in the attack on US Forces in Karbala, Iraq in 2007. 
2. US Rejects International Criminal Court (ICC) Warrants for Israeli PM & Former Defense Minister.
The White House said Thursday that it “fundamentally rejects” the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The warrants effectively bar PM Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant from entering the ICC’s 124 member states. Israel and the US are not members of the court.
3. IDF continues pushing into Southern Lebanon- searching & clearing a "second line of villages" of Hezbollah weapons and attack positions. In the second line of villages, the IDF is still finding Hezbollah staging grounds, along with fighting positions from which the terror group has launched anti-tank missiles directly at Israeli border communities and military posts along the border.
4. Russia Strikes Ukraine with Intermediate-Range Missile.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that Russia’s missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. The attack struck the Pivdenmash munition plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles (6 1/2 kilometers) southwest of the center of Dnipro.
5. Sweden to fund long-range missile and drone production inside Ukraine.
Swedish Defense Minster Pal Jonson: "This will be produced in Ukraine by the Ukrainian defense industry. It will be financed by Sweden. President [Vladimir] Zelenskyy has stated that there is an especially high demand for funding long-range weapons and long-range drones.” 
6. Romania Commits to Procure F-35A Warplanes.
 Romania has formally committed to the acquisition of 32 x Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets after signing a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) today. The procurement is valued at approximately $6.4 billion.
7. Australia and Canada to collaborate in hypersonic missile defense. 
The two nations plan to spend up to $474 million over the next five years developing a “range of solutions."
A press release noted that the Defence Research and Development Canada and the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group will work together researching the emerging missile threats- to develop detection, monitoring, targeting and counter-measure technologies.

For review:
1. Hamas officials have left Qatar for Turkey, but still maintain their office.
Turkey confirmed on Monday that Hamas’s key foreign leaders are in Ankara while insisting that it has not opened an office for them.
2. US Vetoes UN Security Council Ceasefire Resolution for Gaza.
“A durable end to the war must come with the release of the hostages. These two urgent goals are inextricably linked. This resolution abandoned that necessity, and for that reason, the United States could not support it,” said Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood.
All other members of the 15-seat council voted in favor of the resolution, which was sponsored by the panel’s 10 non-permanent members: Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
3. Argentina to leave Southern Lebanon UN Mission- UNIFIL.
The move by Argentina appeared to represent the first sign of cracks in the unity of the mission, which has been caught in the crossfire as Israel battles against Lebanese terror group Hezbollah.
4. In reaction to Ukraine's long-range missile strikes into Russian territory with US-made ATACMS missiles, Russia modifies nuclear weapon employment doctrine.
The new nuclear doctrine allows Moscow to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a “massive” air attack, even if it is only with conventional weapons.
5. US will send anti-personnel mines to Ukraine.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: “They’ve asked for these, and so I think it’s a good idea. Rather than advancing with a vanguard of tanks and armored vehicles, Moscow’s troops are now fighting will smaller, more spread out squadrons."
6. Latest US Security Package to Ukraine worth $275 Million.
Package includes munitions for rocket systems and artillery, and anti-tank weapons.
7. Turkey's Launch & Recovery of TB3 Drone from Ship (TCG Anadolu).
The flight, conducted at the convergence of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, lasted for 46 minutes before the aircraft successfully landed back on the same short runway, without the need for any landing support equipment.
8. India conducts hypersonic missile test. Few details.
The weapon, produced by the Defense Research and Development Organization, has a range of greater than 1,500 km, according to a government statement.
9. Chinese Defense Minister (Dong Jun) refuses to meet with US Secretary of Defense during the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Plus defense ministers meeting in Laos- citing objections over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
10. US Army Precision Strike Missile Test.
In a first, the US Army fired two new Precision Strike Missiles in a salvo test shot at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The test proved the missile's capability to be fired one after another, from the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Launcher.  

For review:
1. Hamas to leave Qatar for Turkey? 
An Arab Diplomat told the Times of Israel  on Sunday that senior members of Hamas’s leadership abroad left Qatar last week for Turkey, 
A Turkish diplomatic source on Monday dismissed reports that Hamas had moved its political office to Turkey, adding that members of the Palestinian terror group only visited the country from time to time.
2. Report: Hezbollah Accepts US-sponsored Ceasefire Proposal.
A top Lebanese official told Reuters Monday that Lebanon and Hezbollah have agreed to a US proposal for a ceasefire with Israel, but have some comments on the content. There was no immediate comment from Israel.
3. German Chancellor at G20: No Taurus Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.
The missiles could only be used if "responsibility for targeting" was shared, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, a move he has previously said would risk the perception of direct German participation in the war.
4. Germany to provide IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine.
Germany will deliver the sixth planned IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine by the end of this year, German Chancellor Scholz told Ukrainian President Zelenskyy last week.
5. Sweden joins Germany, Netherlands, Romania, and Sweden to procure 1000 Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles- in a contract worth $5.6 billion (US).
6. US Army & Lockheed Martin to increase Patriot Advanced Capability - 3 (PAC-3) Missile production to 650 units annually. This year, missile production increased by 30 percent, with projections indicating a further 20 percent rise next year.
7. Australia - UK - US Partner for Hypersonic Testing.
The agreement falls within the second pillar of the trilateral defense pact known as AUKUS, which is focused on technology sharing and advanced capability development. 
8. Japanese Marines to participate in annual Australian Exercise.
Japanese troops will become regular participants in the Talisman Sabre starting next year, as well as boost their participation in Exercise Southern Jackaroo.

For review:
1. Qatar suspends its' mediation role between Israel and Hamas. Hamas refrains from appointing a sole successor to the organization- instead choosing to use a 5-member committee approach, until leadership elections in March 2025.
2. Top Hezbollah Spokesman Killed in IDF Airstrike.
An Israeli airstrike on a building in a central neighborhood of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Sunday killed the top spokesman (Mohammed Afif) for the Hezbollah terror group.
3. US: Ukraine Can Employ Long-Range Weapons inside Russia.
The US Biden administration has allowed Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to strike deep into Russia. Ukraine plans to conduct its first long-range attacks in the coming days, the sources said. There was no immediate response from the Kremlin.
4. Saab (Sweden) awarded four year contract to provide maintenance and training support for the Australian Army's 84mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle.
Canberra procured the Carl Gustaf system in 2018 under a $15.46-million deal, and purchased more in 2023 under $36.8 million dollar contract.
5. US Navy: First Columbia-Class Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine Combat Ready in 2030. The first sub in the class is the USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826).
6. USAF Next Generation Ejection Seat (NGES) Program under review. 
By the end of the year, the Air Force plans to complete a review of the Next Generation Ejection Seat (NGES) program, whose contract is currently held by Collins Aerospace (who beat out Martin-Baker in 2019). Once the review concludes, the Air Force could still stick with its incumbent acquisition strategy, where Collins is already underway with work on the F-15E- or theoretically- result in some split of work between the two companies. 

For review:
1.  During 26 October Strike - Israel Hit Undeclared Iranian Nuclear Site.
The Israeli strike on Parchin, destroyed sophisticated equipment used to design the explosives that could surround uranium in a nuclear device, significantly damaging Iran’s efforts to resume its nuclear weapons research.
2. As IDF continues attacks in Beirut and Southern Lebanon, Iran signal support for ceasefire deal. Senior Advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader (Ari Larijani) said Friday- that it (Iran) would support any decision taken by the Lebanese government and Lebanon’s “resistance” in current talks on a ceasefire.
3. Ukrainian President Zelensky said that the war with Russia will “end sooner” than it otherwise would have done once Donald Trump becomes US president next year.
4. German Chancellor & Russian President Speak by Phone.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have spoken directly for the first time since 2022. The Kremlin said that despite differences of the two leaders, the dialogue was "extremely positive".
5. Turkey to (possibly) procure 40 x Eurofighter Typhoon Jets from Germany.
Turkey's Defense Minister (Yasar Guler) “We will acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Germany had been reluctant for a long time, but with the constructive contributions of our NATO allies Italy, the UK, and Spain, they finally gave a positive response.” The German Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment (to Breaking Defense).
6. Croatia to procure 6 x Bayraktar TB2 UAVs (Turkey) in deal worth $95 million.
The six aircraft will be equipped with electro-optical cameras for reconnaissance, an initial set of weapons, and have double radio coverage of the entire territory of Croatia in the stationary and mobile version.
7. Taiwan receives ATACMS and HIMARS systems from US.
The systems have been delivered to the 58th Artillery Command of the 10th Army Corps in Taichung.
8. US Navy Sub Launched Nuclear Cruise Missile Effort.
The Sea-Launched Cruise Missile – Nuclear (SLCM-N) was first initiated by the Trump administration. The Biden administration attempted to cancel the program but was overruled by Congress.  President-elect Trump’s return will likely fuel the effort.

For review:
1.  International Atomic Energy Agency Chief in Iran.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi traveled to Tehran on Wednesday, to negotiate with the country’s top nuclear and political officials, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.
2. Israeli Official (unnamed) denies Washington Post report concerning efforts to secure ceasefire in Lebanon as a "gift" to the incoming Trump administration (in January 2025).
3. Russia Open to Peace Negotiations Under Pres-Elect Trump Initiation.
Russia is open to negotiations on an end to the Ukraine war if initiated by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, but any talks need to be based on the realities of Russian advances, Moscow's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva (Gennady Gatilov), told reporters on Thursday.
4. US Navy & USMC Missile Contract with Kongsberg.
The company will provide its Naval Strike Missile, which is being installed on the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships and Constellation-class frigates, and for the USMC Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS).
5. Latvia selects the Ascod Infantry Fighting Vehicle (tracked).
Though the number of vehicles is not disclosed, the estimated worth is $265 million.
6. Australia down-selects to two vendors for a competition to build 11 x frigates to replace the aging ANZAC-class ships. The two vendors are Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
7. US-Canada-Finland Icebreaker Effort.
American, Canadian and Finish officials committed to the joint development, construction and maintenance of polar icebreakers with the signing of the Icebreaker Collaborative Effort (ICE) Pact.
8.  The USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Program continues progress.
Two vendors- Anduril and General Atomics have completed Critical Design Review for their respective offerings: Anduril Fury and General Atomics Gambit.
The CCA effort aims to initially field roughly 1,000 of the drone wingmen that are expected to fly and fight alongside USAF aircraft. 

For review:
1.  Israel's New Submarine.
 The Israeli Navy announced on Tuesday the name of its sixth submarines, dubbed “the Dragon”, in a ceremony in Germany with the naval vessel expected to be delivered to Israel later in 2025.
2. Israeli President Isaac Hertzog presents gift to US President Biden, on what is most likely, the last official visit by a Senior Israeli Official before his term ends in January 2025. 
President Hertzog presented President Biden with a gift, an archaeological finding from the foot of the Temple Mount inscribed with the name “Joseph,” an apparent reference to the Biblical figure.
3.  Iran to Increase Defense Budget by 200%.
The Iranian government plans to triple its military budget for the upcoming year amid an unprecedented escalation in attacks exchanged with Israel in recent months. Previously, Iran’s military budget was reportedly $10.3 billion, significantly lower than those of regional power such as Saudi Arabia, with approximately $70 billion.
4. President-Elect Trump Picks New Secretary of Defense and other key National Security Posts.
- Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth
- National Security Advisor: Mike Walz
- Secretary of State: Marco Rubio
- Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: John Ratcliffe
5. UK, Italy, and Japan continue forward in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) effort. 
Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton, RAF Chief of the Air Staff: “GCAP is very deliberately being designed to complement and enhance the capabilities of F-35, not replace it, but we also know that even a force of F-35 and GCAP will need to be augmented by what we call Autonomous Collaborative Platforms [ACPs] to defeat the threats that we see emerging.” (The acquisition of ACPs to sit alongside GCAP and F-35 jets as a way of increasing combat mass and allow crewed platforms to be less vulnerable to attack.)
6. Italian company Iveco joins Leonardo and Rheinmetall to develop combat vehicles (Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Main Battle Tanks).
Iveco said it would be looking to offer its capabilities in “advanced propulsion and drivetrain systems.
  

For review:
1. US & UK strike Houthi targets in in Yemen.
The Houthi-run Al Masirah television network reported three American and British raids that targeted the capital Sanaa’s southern Al Sabeen district.
2. US Strikes Iranian-backed Groups in Syria.
US CENTCOM forces attacked nine targets in two locations in Syria in response to several attacks on US personnel in Syria over the last 24 hours.
3. IDF Frontier Construction Along Alpha Line with Syria.
While Israel has not acknowledged the construction, it sent a 71-page letter in June to the UN outlining what it described as “Syrian violations of the Alpha Line and armed presence in the area of separation (that) occur daily.” 
4. Washington Post reported (on Sunday), that President-elect Trump held a phone call with Russian President Putin (on Thursday).
A Kremlin spokesperson said the reports were "pure fiction", while Trump's team told the BBC that it would not comment on the president-elect's "private calls".
5. NATO's Joint Capability Group for Maritime Unmanned Systems (JCGMUS) will deliver and test an anti-submarine warfare barrier project demonstrator, at the September 2025 experiment in Portugal. The project involves 12 other countries, including Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the U.S., Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Australia.
6. Sweden selects Embraer C-390 (Brazil) transport aircraft to replace 6 x C-130Hs. Sweden joins Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Netherlands and Portugal as European operators of the C-390 Millennium.
7. US Army to Build Domestic TNT Plant in Graham, Kentucky.
“For the first time in decades, America will produce TNT on its own soil, manufacturing the explosive material our military uses for everything from hand grenades to 155mm artillery,” outgoing Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY).
8. US SPACECOM HQ Back to Redstone in 2025?
Space watchers say the odds are high that President-elect Donald Trump will redirect US Space Command headquarters to Huntsville, Ala., once he is in office — reversing the July 2023 decision by President Joe Biden to keep the command based in Colorado Springs, CO.
In January 2021, then President Trump decided on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL as US SPACECOM’s home just before he left the Oval Office.

For review:
1. Newly appointed Israeli Defense Minister (Israel Katz) conducts first phone call with American counterpart- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
2. From US Formal Request: Qatar Directs Hamas to Leave Doha.
Qatar told Hamas that it must close its diplomatic office in Doha roughly ten days ago following a request by the US, senior Biden administration officials tell The Times of Israel. Qatar has hosted Hamas officials in Doha since 2012, amid requests from successive US administrations who felt it was important to have a communication channel with the terror group.
3. US to Allow American Contractors to Operate in Ukraine.
The Biden administration has lifted a ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine to help the country’s military maintain and repair US-provided weapons systems, particularly F16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems.
4. Saab (Sweden) develops "Autonomous Ocean Core" program.
Integration of this software enables surface and subsurface watercraft to function autonomously on various maritime missions, such as mine detection and clearance, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and rescue missions in remote locations.
5. Switzerland Selects RCH 155mm Mobile Artillery System.
The RCH 155 combines the firepower and the range of the operational PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer with an automated and remotely controlled gun module.
Increased automation also reduces the crew size to two (driver/operator, commander), which in turn enables a quick “shoot and scoot” capability.
6. US Navy extends life of 3 x Cruisers and 12 Destroyers.
- The Cruisers: USS Gettysburg (CG-64), USS Chosin (CG-65), and USS Cape St. George (CG-71) will now remain in service up until fiscal year 2029, rather than 2026.
- The Arleigh Burke Flight I Guided-Missile Destroyers:
One Year: USS Carney (DDG-64) and USS Stethem (DDG-63) will receive one-year extensions.
Three Years: USS Barry (DDG-52) USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) will each get extended three years. 
Five Years: USS Gonzalez (DDG-66), USS Cole (DDG-67), USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), USS Laboon (DDG-58), USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) and USS Stout (DDG-55) will each get extended for five years.
 

For review:
1. IDF conducts airstrikes north of the Litani River, targeting rocket launch sites.
2. Squadron of F-15 Strike Eagles Arrive in US CENTCOM AOR.
3. Israel to Procure 25 x F-15IA Warplanes from US.
The Israel Ministry of Defense has signed what it called a “landmark transaction” to acquire 25 more F-15 fighter aircraft in a deal worth $5.2 billion. The warplanes will be delivered beginning in 2031, and it will take around five years for them all to arrive.
4. Romania to purchase 44 x USMC Amphibious Assault Vehicles from US in deal worth $210 million.
5. Australian Officials are confident in secure AUKUS deal with new US President Elect Donald Trump. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles: "AUKUS is in the strategic benefit and interest of Australia, the United States and the UK. That’s the fundamental point here.” 
6. US Test Launches Minuteman III ICBM on Election Night.
The ICBM was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at about 11 p.m. Pacific time. It then flew about 4,200 miles, at roughly 15,000 miles per hour, to a ballistic missile test site in the Marshall Islands’ Kwajalein Atoll. Airmen from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron from Offutt Air Force Base in Nevada launched the missile using an airborne launch control system aboard a Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft. The U.S. has about 400 nuclear-armed Minuteman III missiles based in 450 silos across Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska. 
7. US Army Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) fuselages to be built in Wichita, Kansas. Bell will use an existing facility near Textron Aviation Defense and plans to start work there “in the next several months,” according to a statement.
8. US Army has successful test (White Sands Missile Range, NM), integrating both the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) and the Raytheon-developed Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radar.  
9. USMC Purchases Fire Control System for Crew Served Weapons.
The fire control system utilizes an integrated laser rangefinder and ballistic computer to provide enhanced accuracy, eliminating targeting errors such as range estimation and terrain angle.

For review:
1. Lebanon Army conducts probe concerning Israeli Navy’s Shayetet 13 commando unit raid.
A Lebanese judicial official said that the probe had found that operatives from the Israeli Navy’s Shayetet 13 commando unit entered Lebanese waters in a speedboat equipped with radar-jamming devices that evaded detection by Lebanon’s and UNIFIL’s naval radars during the raid in Batroun, south of Tripoli, some 140 kilometers (87 miles) north of Israel’s maritime border with Lebanon.
2. Israel PM Netanyahu Fires Defense Minister Gallant.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday evening, citing a lack of mutual trust during a time of war as his reason for doing so. He (PM Netanyahu) said that the two disagreed on the management of the war, and that Gallant had made statements and taken actions that contradicted cabinet decisions.
3. AP Report: N. Korean Troops in Combat with Ukraine Forces.
Ukrainian and North Korean troops engaged in “small-scale” fighting, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov told South Korea’s public broadcaster KBS in an interview.
4. France to field unmanned naval surface vessel.
The drone, dubbed Seaquest (needs better name) and measuring approximately 30 feet long and 10 feet wide, and can be equipped with payloads focusing on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting. 
5. France to Send Loitering Munitions to Ukraine.
The OSKAR (Opportunity Strike Kinetics Aircraft Ruggedized) platform integrates a 2.3 kilogram (5 pound) warhead and can fly for up to 45 minutes. The system is back-packable and is designed to strike fixed targets, light vehicles and personnel. 
6. Netherlands to procure 12 x H225M Caracal helicopters for Special Operations Forces.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced that a new unit, (300 Special Operations Squadron) based in the southern Netherlands, had been formally stood up to support the future rotary fleet.
7. Possible US Foreign Military Sale to S. Korea for 4 x Boeing E-7 Wedgetail surveillance and early warning aircraft.

For review:
1. IDF Strikes Hezbollah targets in Syria.
In a rare acknowledgment, the IDF confirmed launching airstrikes in Syria on Monday, targeting what it said were infrastructure and assets of Hezbollah’s intelligence division.
2. Hamas Rejects Egyptian Offer for Short-term Ceasefire.
The Egyptian proposal envisioned a 12-day ceasefire during which Hamas would agree to release four hostages and the sides would hold talks about a permanent ceasefire.
3. Update on Czech Republic Effort to Obtain Cannon Artillery Ammo for Ukraine.
Seven months into the Czech initiative, problems have surfaced, particularly regarding the concealment of shell imports and verifying their technical reliability. 
4. USAF to send bomber task force to Europe.
Details about the deployment are scant. USAF declined to say what type of and how many bombers would make up the task force, when they would arrive in Europe, and where they would be stationed. The deployment has been “long-planned,” the USAF said.
5. Latest variant of the famous Exocet Missiles unveiled.
Named the SM40, submarine-launched missile is designed to strike heavily protected naval vessels and other strategic targets.
6. Pakistan to purchase 100 x MRAPs from Thailand.
Pakistan has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Thai government to procure 100 x First Win Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The First Win system is currently employed across the Malaysian Army, the Indonesian Army, and other UN peacekeeping missions in the Eastern Himalayas.
7. US Foreign Military Sale of 34 x F-16s to Argentina is Worth $941 Million.
The package also includes Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, general-purpose bombs, and components for laser-guided weapons.

For review:
1. US CENTCOM Release:
- US Forces assigned to CENTCOM strike ISIS camps in Syria resulting in 35 operatives killed.
- B-52 Stratofortress Bombers arrive in CENTCOM AOR from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota from the 5th Bomb Wing.
2.  Israeli Commando Raid in Northern Lebanon.
According Al-Akhbar report, operatives from the Navy’s Shayetet 13 commando unit captured suspected Hezbollah Naval Official, some 140 kilometers (87 miles) north of Israel’s maritime border with Lebanon.
3. IDF captures Syrian man conducting surveillance for Iran.
Israeli commandos recently carried out a raid in southern Syria where they captured a Syrian man who was allegedly carrying surveillance operations on the border on behalf of Iran. The raid in Syria was carried by the Egoz commando unit, along with field interrogators of the Intelligence Directorate’s Unit 504.
4. Iran President (Masoud Pezeshkian) says that a ceasefire between Israel and Iranian allies- "could affect the intensity" of retaliation.
5. On the border with Lebanon, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu: "with or without an agreement” with Lebanon, restoring security in the north and returning residents to their homes requires pushing Hezbollah north of the Litani River, preventing the terror group from rearming and responding to any activity against Israel.
6. Axios Report: US tells Iran (through Switzerland), "We won’t be able to hold Israel back, and we won’t be able to make sure that the next attack will be calibrated and targeted as the previous one.”
7. US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine Worth $425 Million - Includes 200 Stryker Combat Vehicles.
8. Lithuania provides new military assistance package to Ukraine- including electricity generators, ammunition, and mortar rounds. The Lithuanian Defense Ministry said that the equipment is expected to reach Kyiv this week. Lithuania has already donated 155 mm ammunition, M113 armored personnel carriers,  anti-drone systems, and drones this year.
9. North Korea's Foreign Minister visits Moscow. 
NK FM Choe Son Hui:  “We will always stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day,” Choe declared in Moscow after talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
10.  India Procures 31 x US-Built MQ-9B Drones in deal worth $3.8 billion.
11. India to develop attack submarine fleet.
 India is now working on a new class of attack submarines (SSN) after the government approved US$4.8 billion for the construction of an initial two 6,000-ton boats, and that an eventual six SSNs in this class are planned for the Indian Navy.

For review:
1.  US Sends B-52s to CENTCOM AOR.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is sending additional bomber aircraft and Navy warships to the Middle East to bolster presence in the region, as an aircraft carrier and its warships are preparing to leave.
2. US and Israeli Officials continue discussions on ceasefire plans in Lebanon.
A US official told The Times of Israel that US special envoy Amos Hochstein and White House Mideast czar Brett McGurk’s meetings with top Israeli officials in Jerusalem on Thursday were “substantive and constructive."
3. Iran Supreme Leader Orders Retaliation Attack on Israel.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ordered plans be drawn up by his Supreme National Security Council, after being briefed on the extent of the damage from the Israeli strikes.
4.  Ukraine President: "Zero Reaction" Concerning N. Korean Troops in Kursk.
Regarding the reaction to the deployment of North Korean troops, Zelensky said, "Putin is checking the reaction of the West ... And I believe that after all these reactions, Putin will decide and increase the contingent ... The reaction that is there today is nothing, it is zero."
5. Turkey and Indonesia collaborate on Armored Personnel Carrier.
Manufacturing is set to begin in 2025. Deliveries are expected by the end of 2026, with the timing dictated by the Indonesian Army’s specific needs.
6. Japan launches amphibious warship planned for Maritime Unit.
The JS Nihonbare (LCU-4151) is an amphibious vessel that can transport a dozen vehicles or containers at speeds of 15.5 knots.
7. Taiwan to procure loitering munitions from the US in deal worth $360 million.
The US State Department approved the sale of 291 x Altius 600M-V and 720 x  Switchblade 300 loitering munitions 

For review:
1. Iran Threatens "Painful" Response to Israel.
Unnamed Source to CNN: Iran will deliver a “definitive and painful” response to Israel’s recent attack on its territory, likely before the US presidential election on 05 November.
2.  IDF Chief Warns Iran "Not to Pursue Further Attacks."
 Speaking to aircrews at the Ramon Air Base in southern Israel, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said that if Iran “makes the mistake and launches another barrage of missiles at Israel, we will once again know how to reach Iran.”
3. New Hezbollah Chief (Naim Qassem) threatens Israeli PM.
“Netanyahu survived this time, but perhaps his time has not yet come,” Qassem said. The pre-recorded speech, delivered from an undisclosed location, was his first address as the terror group’s leader. His appointment was announced on Monday.
4. Lebanon's PM Najib Mikati hopeful for ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We are doing our best… to have a ceasefire within the coming hours or days,” Mikati said adding that he was “cautiously optimistic.”
5. US Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) expects N. Korean troops to join combat against Ukraine. Secretary Austin said the administration is working with allies on how to respond to the deployment, though he wouldn’t specify how.
6. Ukraine to Mobilize 160,000 citizens. On Tuesday, the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security told Parliament that the army planned to recruit another 160,000 people. An AFP source said the recruitment would take place over three months.
7. Armor Not Dead: Croatia to Procure Leopard Tanks.
The government of Croatia has signed a letter of intent with Germany  to acquire up to 50 new Leopard 2A8s tanks for the country’s armed forces.
8. Armor Not Dead: German Leopards Receive Trophy Active Protection System.
The Trophy system has been integrated on the IDF’s Namer armored personnel carriers, on US M1 Abrams Tanks, and also on the UK's Challenger 3 tanks. 

For review:
1. Israel: Escalation Dominance Against Iran.
Israel’s attacks on Saturday crippled Iran’s ability to produce long-range ballistic missiles and rendered crucial energy facilities vulnerable to future attacks by destroying air defense batteries protecting them.
2.  Israeli PM: Stop the Iran Nuclear Program.
Israel is determined to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, the Prime Minister said Monday at the opening plenum of the Knesset’s winter session. 
3. Head of Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps: Israel had “failed to achieve its ominous goals” with its Saturday strikes on Iranian military sites. The attack was a sign of “miscalculation and helplessness.”
4. US security Council meets to discuss Israeli strikes on Iran.
 The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss the situation in the Middle East following Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iran.  Council president Switzerland said Iran requested the meeting with the support of Algeria, China and Russia.
5. Israel to field the Iron Bean air defense system.
Iron Beam systems will be integrated into the network of Israeli air defense weapons within a year, the Israeli Ministry of Defense said on Monday. Rafael is the main developer of the Iron Beam system, and Elbit supplies the laser cannon for it.
6. NATO Secretary General: N. Korean Troops Deployed to Kursk.
“I can confirm that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and that North Korean military units have been deployed to the Kursk Region,” Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a press briefing.
7. French & German collaboration on Future Combat Air System (6th Generation Fighter) and Main Combat Ground System (Main Battle Tank) experience delays.
8. USAF likely to award Northrup Grumman a second, Low Rate Initial Production contract for B-21 Raider Bomber.

For review:
1. Israel Strikes Military Targets in Iran.
After reports of explosions near Tehran began to emerge around 2:15 a.m. local time, the Israel Defense Forces released a statement confirming that it was attacking Iran in response to “months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel.”
2. Israeli & Egyptian Spy Chiefs Meet to Re-start Hostage Talks.
Mossad chief David Barnea met in Cairo, with newly appointed Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, ahead of the resumption of hostage deal negotiations in Qatar next week.
3. Latest group of Ukrainian Pilots complete Elementary Flying Training in UK. 
Training in the UK is Phase I out of three, where the pilots flew for about 80 hours on a GROB-115 general aviation aircraft.
Phase II is advanced flight training from the French Air Force using the Alpha Jet.
Phase III occurs at the European F-16 Training Center in Romania, where pilots will fly over 80 hours in the F-16 (& another 60 hours in simulator).
4. Russian President Putin comments on use of N. Korean troops in Russia: "This is our business." President Putin said on Thursday it is up to Moscow how to run its mutual defense clause with Pyongyang. Ukraine's military intelligence service said that the first North Korean units trained in Russia had been deployed in the Kursk region.
5. Poland's President Andrzej Duda visits S. Korea- rejects sending any new military hardware to Ukraine. "There is no scenario under consideration in which we transfer the weapons that we have acquired … with taxpayers’ money, to anyone.” 
6. Australia Donates 49 x M1A1 Abrams Tanks to Ukraine (17 October).
This came just weeks after a first batch of new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams replacements arrived in Australia from the U.S.

For review:
1.  IDF Confirms Death of Hezbollah Chief from 04 October Strike.
Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah’s executive council, was presumed to be the successor of Hassan Nasrallah following his assassination in late September.
2. Israeli Air Force prepares for combat over Iran.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday told pilots and air crews at Hatzerim base that “after we strike in Iran, everyone will understand what you did in the preparation and training process.”
3. US Sec Defense: 3000 N. Korean Troops Training in Russia.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and other U.S. officials announced for the first time Wednesday that North Korean soldiers were in Russia.
4. US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine is Worth $400 million.
Package includes: munitions for rocket systems and artillery; mortar systems and rounds; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.
5. Estonia tests defensive bunker prototypes.
One of the bunker prototypes was “made from smaller elements that the military can install themselves,” while the other two were both “one piece” type constructs.
6.  Australia to Produce 155mm Munitions.
Australian Defense Acquisition Minster Pat Conroy confirmed that the NIOA-Rheinmetall team pitched on the deal, with French firm Thales also competing. However, the minister indicated that there is a third, currently unidentified, competitor as well. Currently, Australia imports its 155mm shells from a South African subsidiary of Rheinmetall.
7. Australia to procure Raytheon SM-2 & SM-6 missiles, in a deal with the US worth $4.7 Billion. No reported delivery timeline or amount.
8. USMC F-35B lands on the Japanese Destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184).
The Kaga underwent several changes to allow for F-35B, the US Marine Corps’ short-take-off-and-vertical-landing variant, to land on the ship, including painting the flight deck with a heat-resistant material, installing lights for nighttime operations and reshaping the flight deck’s bow from a trapezoid to a rectangle.
9. US Navy announces the future Virginia-Class Submarine (SSN-813) will be named after the city of Atlanta, Georgia.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro: "Today, it is my honor and privilege to name the next Virginia-class submarine, SSN-813, USS Atlanta.”

For review:
1. Israeli Politicians: Drone Attack on PM Home - "Big Mistake."
Israeli politicians aimed their rhetoric in Iran’s direction, vowing Tehran would “pay a price” for a drone attack by Tehran’s proxy Hezbollah that struck the Israeli PM's home.
2. Nordic Countries to Collaborate on future Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
Major General Lars Lervik, Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Army said that the four nations are “currently investigating” the project, in the hope that it could lower procurement costs and make development and maintenance issues “easier.”
3. Breaking Defense Interview with Australian Major General Richard Vagg (Head of Land Capability).
4. AM General Ready for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) A2 production.
Full production = a maximum of 20,682 vehicles and 9,883 trailers.
5. US Army XM30 Mechanized Infantry Fighting Vehicle Progressing.
American Rheinmetall Vehicles and General Dynamics Land Systems were selected (by the Army) in June 2023, to continue into a detailed design phase of the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle. The first vehicles are expected to be fielded in fiscal 2029.

 
 

For review:
1.  Hezbollah Drone Strike On Israel PM Home.
A drone fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon that exploded in the central seaside town of Caesarea early on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private home, his office said. The premier and his wife were not present and no injuries were reported.
2. Iran United Nations Mission statement concerning drone strike on Israel PM home: “This action was taken by the Lebanese Hezbollah,” the mission says in response to a question about Iran’s role in the attack, according to the official IRNA news agency.
3. Axios Report: US-Leaked Online Documents Describe Israel Preparations for Iran Strike. The US is investigating a leak of highly classified US intelligence about Israel’s plans for retaliation against Iran, according to three people familiar with the matter. One of the people familiar confirmed the documents’ authenticity.
4. S. Korea National Intel Service Report: 1,500 N. Korean Troops in Russia Receiving Uniforms & Arms. N. Korea transported its special forces fighters on seven Russian ships earlier in October, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a press release on Friday.
5. AP Article on Russia's Nuclear Triad and future strategic weapons.
Like the U.S., Russia has a nuclear triad of ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, long-range bombers and ICBM-armed submarines.
6. United Arab Emirates Brokers Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Exchange.
Russia & Ukraine carried out a new exchange of prisoners of war on Friday, each side bringing home 95 prisoners in an agreement in which the United Arab Emirates acted as mediator.
7. Group of 7 Nations (G7) Defense Minsters meet in Naples, Italy to discuss Middle East and Russia-Ukraine, conflict escalations.
G7 = Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, UK, and US.

For review:
1. Top Hamas Leader Killed by IDF Tank Fire.
Israel on Thursday night announced that IDF troops had killed Hamas terror chief Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.. A force from the 828th Bislamach Brigade killed Sinwar and the other two terrorists.
2. Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Israeli citizens concerning Sinwar's death.
PM Netanyahu: "I stand before you today to tell you that Yahya Sinwar has been eliminated. Today, as we promised we would, we settled accounts with him."
3. US Strikes Houthi Targets with B-2 Bombers.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the B-2 bombers targeted “five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.”
4. North Korea Destroys Border Road and Rail Lines Connecting to South.
In the 2000s, the two Koreas reconnected two pairs of road and rail links across their heavily fortified border.
In response to the explosions, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military fired warning shots within southern sections of the border as it bolstered its readiness and surveillance posture. 

For review:
1. Israeli Defense Minister on Iran Strike: Targets Are Clear - It's a Matter of Time.
Israel has described its general attack plans to the US but has yet to give an update on specific targets- however, “the targets could also change at the 11th hour.”
2. Iran Foreign Minister: Iran Will Respond.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned UN chief Antonio Guterres that Tehran is ready for a “decisive and regretful” response if Israel attacks his country in retaliation to the ballistic missile attack- from Iran- on Israel (01 October).
3.  Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine worth $425 million.
Includes: air defense capabilities; air-to-ground weapons; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.
4. Ukraine Preside Zelensky outline Victory Plan to Ukrainian Parliament.
At the heart of the plan is Ukraine’s desire for an invitation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which would be a precursor to full NATO membership.
5. Russia captures (second) Ukrainian Leopard 2A6 Tank.
Germany has provided Ukraine with 18 Leopard tanks of the 2A6 variant, while Portugal has contributed three.
6. Armor Not Dead: Netherlands to Build Tank Battalion.
The Netherlands plans to buy 46 x Leopard 2A8 tanks for more than €1 billion- in order to rebuild a heavy armor capacity.
7. Australia to provide 49 x M1A1 Tanks to Ukraine.
This donation is possible since the Australian Army has begun receiving the first of its new fleet of 75 x M1A2 Tanks. 
8. 30mm Stryker Double V-Hull A1 Infantry Carrier Vehicles due for fielding in 2025.
269 x vehicles will be fielded across 3 x Stryker Brigades, with another 20 vehicles slotted for the training base.

For review:
1.  Israel PM & French President Discuss Lebanon Ceasefire.
The two leaders spoke by phone, with PM Netanyahu telling the French President he was opposed to agreeing to a “unilateral ceasefire” in Lebanon, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.
2. N. Korean Soldiers Supporting Russian Fight in Ukraine?
South Korea's Defence Minister Kim Yong-Hyun said on Tuesday that "there was a high possibility" North Korea could deploy troops to help Russia in the war with Ukraine. Defense Minister Kim also told a parliamentary hearing that news reports of North Korean military officers having been killed in a Ukrainian strike on territory controlled by Russian forces were likely true.
3. France to Increase Defense Spending in 2025.
The French government has proposed to lift the 2025 defense budget to €50.54 billion ($55 billion), up from €47.23 billion in 2024.
4. AUSA Speech: US Army Chief of Staff (General Randy George), outlines plan to continue modernization in 2025.
“Everything we do is about building lethality and cohesive teams, and given our current operating environment, we have to do it as fast as we can.” 
5. US Army to Develop Hypervelocity Air Defense Cannon.
RCCTO stood up a product office for the Multidomain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) in July 2024.  The goal is to get a prototype battery out in FY27, & an operational assessment in FY28- with a battery equipped with 8 x cannons.
6. US Army selects 5 x Companies for new self-propelled artillery effort.
The five companies are: Rheinmetall, BAE Systems, Hanwha, General Dynamics, and Elbit Systems.
7. L3 Harris protests US Army HADES Fixed-Wing ISR decision.
The protest was filed on 16 Sep, GAO said, and the oversight agency has a deadline to deliver its verdict by 26 Dec- to either to dismiss, deny or sustain the protest.

For review:
1. 2024 Defence Media Awards held in Washington D.C.. Congratulations to all Nominees & Winners (and those not Nominated as well).
2.  Israel PM Netanyahu - UNIFIL Forces Must Leave Danger Zone.
Addressing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, PM Netanyahu said in a Hebrew-language message, “It is time for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the areas of combat.”
3.  UNIFIL Chief - Peacekeepers Stay.
“The decision was made that UNIFIL would currently stay in all its positions in spite of the calls that were made by the Israel Defense Forces to vacate the positions that are in the vicinity of the Blue Line,” says UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
4. US Sends THAAD Battery and Troops to Israel.
The THAAD Battery will augment Israel's integrated air defense system. Each battery consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, radio and radar equipment, and requires 95 soldiers to operate.
5. Iran Foreign Minister - "No red lines" in response to Israel's potential attack.
Iran on Sunday said it has “no red lines” in defending itself.
6. Hezbollah Drone attack kills 4 IDF Soldiers at training base. 
In the wake of the deadly strike, the IAF has also set a goal of completely eliminating Hezbollah’s Unit 127, responsible for its UAV production, maintenance and operation. The effort to kill every member of the unit will now take priority, in terms of intelligence collection and airstrikes.
7. According to Walla outlet, Israeli Shin Bet leader met with Egyptian Intel Chief to restart Hostage Negotiations with Hamas. 
8. Towed Artillery Not Dead: Armenia to procure 6 x 155mm Towed Artillery systems from India. The Armenian Army has completed trials of its initial batch (6 systems) of 155mm Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) purchased from India in 2023.
9. Bell Textron breaks with Spirit AeroSystems following proposed acquisition announcement by Boeing (for Spirit) . Spirit AeroSystem was slated for fuselage work on the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) effort. 
Bell Textron will now produce fuselages in house after this decision.

For review:
1. No Israeli response to Iran. Discussions and coordination with US continues.
Among the challenges of an aggressive response is the potential for tit-for-tat strikes that will draw in other Middle Eastern countries. Tehran has threatened Western-backed Arab states that it will attack them next if an Israeli-US retaliatory action against Iran goes through their territory or airspace.
2. IDF Ground Offensive in S. Lebanon locates cached weapons stored in villages.
One house had three rooms packed with mortar shells, Kalashnikov rifles, RPGs, hand grenades, rain suits, and Kevlar vests.
3. IDF under protest for harming UN Peacekeepers during engagements with Hezbollah. France, Italy, Spain issue joint statement condemning IDF for harming UNIFIL forces.
4. Presidents of Russia & Iran Meet in Turkmenistan.
The two leaders hailed their countries growing economic ties and similar views on world affairs.
5. Russian Troops to withdraw from Armenian border with Iran in 2025.
Deal stipulates that by January 1, 2025, Moscow’s forces will transition control of the Armenia-Iran border checkpoint to Armenian border guards.
6. Rafael Lite Beam 10kw Laser Air Defense System.
The system has a reported range of around 2,000 meters.
7. Northrup Grumman Bushmaster 230LF counter-UAS system.
Integrated on a remote weapon system, the new 30mm medium caliber cannon can be equipped on 4×4, 6×6, or 8×8 land vehicles.

For review:
1. President Biden & PM Netanyahu Discuss Response to Iranian Missile Attack.
PM Netanyahu held a phone call with US President Biden on Wednesday for the first time in nearly 50 days, as Jerusalem aims to coordinate with Washington its' response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack.
2. IDF destroys Hezbollah tunnel crossing into Israel.
“Tonight we reported that we located and dismantled a tunnel of about 25 meters long, which crossed the border fence about 10 meters … into Israeli territory,” an IDF military spokesman said in a televised briefing.
3. France to Provide Ukraine Mirage Warplanes in 2025.
“The Mirage 2000s that will be delivered to Ukraine will be equipped with new equipment,” said the French Armed Forces Minister.
4. French Army combat brigade to evaluate rapid deployment to NATO's eastern flank during military exercise in Romania next year.
5. Romania selects Otokar (Turkey) Cobar II wheeled armored vehicle- ordering 1,059 vehicles. The planned sale is estimated to be worth around $940 million.
6. NHI Industries, is optimistic that the NH-90 Helicopter Block 2 upgrade will satisfy existing users, and attract new customers.
NH90’s Software Release 3 upgrade includes integration of a Electro-Optical gimbal, sonar equipment and additional weapons integration.
7. Royal Thai Army Pilots Fly Boeing AH-6 Little Birds in Arizona.
 

For review:
1. US Navy identifies vessels with faulty welds in Secretary of Navy letter to HASC & SASC. The impacted ships include the aircraft carrier George Washington and the brand-new attack submarines Hyman G. Rickover and New Jersey.
2. IDF Combat Data from One Year of War.
The Israel Defense Forces on Monday published new data on its operations in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
3. Hezbollah Chief Presumed Dead in Beirut Strike.  The chances that Hashem Safieddine  was killed by an Israeli strike in southern Beirut on Friday are increasing, an unnamed official told Sky News Arabia.
4. Iran Denies Quds Force Commander in Missing From Beirut Strike. 
5. Brasil pauses deal with Elbit Systems (Israel) for 36 x ATMOS 2000 155mm Howitzers- due to Israeli operations in Gaza.
6. Netherlands: Ukraine F-16s Can Strike Targets in Russia.
Dutch Chief of Defence General Otto Eichelsheim said Dutch leaders had placed no restrictions on how Ukrainian pilots can use them, including striking military targets in Russia.
7. Sweden & NATO Operations in 2025.
Based upon Swedish Parliament's approval- up to 1,200 ground troops; six warships complete with crew; and a fleet of up to 24 fighter jets — to back NATO deterrence operations in the North Atlantic.
8. Lithuania to procure more NASAMS Air Defense systems.
This is the Baltic nation’s third NASAMS purchase, following acquisitions in 2017 and 2023.
9. USAF lists possible basing locations for KC-46A Pegasus Tankers.
- Bangor Air National Guard Base in Maine
- Forbes Field Air National Guard Base (Topeka) in Kansas
- Key Field Air National Guard Base (Meridian) in Missouri
- McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base (Knoxville) in Tennessee
- Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio
- Scott Air Force Base in Illinois
- Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base (Birmingham) in Alabama. 

For review:
1. No Contact with Hezbollah Chief After Beirut Strike - No Statement from Hezbollah.
2. IDF says response to Iranian missile attack will be "serious and significant."
3. US CENTCOM Commander in Israel to Discuss Response to Iran Attack.
United States CENTCOM chief General Michael Kurilla landed in Israel this evening to meet with Israeli defense and military officials, amid preparations in the IDF for a response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack.
4. French President Emmanuel Macron urged a halt to deliveries of arms to Israel that can be used in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Responding to President Macron on Saturday evening, Israeli PM Netanyahu called his comments “a disgrace.”
5. Ireland's President reacts to IDF requests for UN Peacekeepers to leave positions in Southern Lebanon. 
“It is outrageous that the IDF have threatened this peacekeeping force and sought to have them evacuate the villages they are defending,” President Michael Higgins says in a statement.
Ireland accounts for 347 of the 10,000 soldiers serving in the UNIFIL forces.
6.  France Orders Uncrewed Deep Sea Vehicles.
The French Navy has ordered an autonomous underwater vehicle that will surveil critical infrastructure at depths of up to 6,000 meters.
7. Ireland to Increase 2025 Defense Budget.
The record” €1.35 billion defense budget for 2025, offers funding for air surveillance radar, subsea awareness, force protection equipment projects, and recruitment of 400 additional armed forces personnel.
8. North Korean Leader threatens use of nuclear weapons in event of attack from South.
9. US House Armed Service Committee directs US Navy to provide information concerning faulty welds, used on under construction aircraft carriers and submarines- from the shipbuilding company HII Newport News Shipbuilding.  

For review:
1.  IDF Targets New Hezbollah Chief in Beirut Strike - Status Unknown.
Hezbollah Leader Hashem Safieddine was meeting with other senior Hezbollah leaders in an underground bunker during the IDF strike. It remains unclear if Safieddine was harmed in the Israeli strike.
2. IDF Reveals Hamas Senior Leader Eliminated During July Airstrike.
Senior Hamas official Rawhi Mushtaha, the de facto prime minister of the Gaza Strip, was killed in an Israeli strike several months ago, the IDF and Shin Bet said Thursday, announcing that they had confirmed his death.
3. US and Israel to discuss response to Tuesday's Iranian missiles attack.
The United States on Wednesday signaled a willingness to support Israel in a potential response, with the White House promising “severe consequences for this attack,” and saying it “will work with Israel to make that the case.”
4. Recent IDF ground operation in S. Lebanon result in casualties. 
The IDF’s ground offensive began some two weeks into intensified fighting with Hezbollah, and after Operation Northern Arrows was launched earlier in September.
5. New Zealand and Australia participate in Senior (General) Officer Exchange.
The armed forces of New Zealand and Australia have swapped deputy commanders at their respective joint forces headquarters.
6. Queensland (Maryborough) Australia 155mm Munition Plant.
The plant, a joint venture between the Rheinmetall (51 percent ownership) and NIOA, a privately-held company, is the only plant capable of producing larger artillery shells in the country.
7. US Foreign Military Sale - Australia.
The Government of Australia has requested to buy up to 100 x Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) with global positioning systems (GPS), with an estimated cost of $405 million (US).

For review:
1.  Iran Targets Israel With More Than 180 Missiles - PM Netanyahu Reaction: "Big Mistake".
At a security cabinet meeting in the aftermath of the attack, PM Netanyahu warned that Tehran had made a “big mistake tonight” and vowed that “it will pay for it.”
2. Iran celebrates missiles attack on Israel.
Iran’s IRGC boasted of its ballistic missile attack on Israel and threatened to carry out “crushing attacks” against the Jewish nation if it retaliates.
3. IDF Cross-Border Raids into S. Lebanon.
The IDF said Special Forces have carried out more than 70 small raids, destroying numerous Hezbollah positions, tunnels and thousands of weapons. The IDF said the sites were located both inside Lebanese villages and in forested areas.
4. US Destroyers Intercept Iranian Missiles.
USS Bulkeley (DDG-84) and USS Cole (DDG-67) fired a dozen interceptors as part of the US response to Iranian missiles launched at Israel, the Pentagon announced Tuesday.
5. US augments forces in Middle East with additional troops and warplanes.
The US Central Command announced Tuesday that three additional squadrons of warplanes were arriving in the region, while one was already present.
6. New NATO Secretary General.
Mark Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister, officially took charge of NATO today, succeeding longtime leader Jens Stoltenberg as the alliance’s new secretary general. 
7. Netherlands will collaborate with Naval Group (France/Thales) to develop new submarine to replace the current Walrus-class.  
Naval Group is set to deliver the first two of the four submarines by 2034, with the new vessel a conventionally-powered variant of the Barracuda class.

For review:
(Episode mostly dedicated to the IDF strike that killed the Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah.)
1. US Foreign Military Sales:
- Australia: 100 x Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range and related equipment for an estimated cost of $405 million. 
- Egypt: 720 x Stinger Missiles for vehicle-based use on existing Avenger systems, and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $740 million.
- Bulgaria: 218 x Javelin FGM-148F missiles and 107 x Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLU). The estimated total cost is $114 million.
2. Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Confirmed Dead in Friday's Beirut Strike.
3. Senior IRGC Officer killed in Friday Beirut strike.
The deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, Abbas Nilforoushan, was killed in the strike.
4. Iran's senior leadership undecided on actions in response to the IDF strike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah Chief and Senior IRGC Officer.
While conservative Iranians want a strong response, including a direct attack on Israel, moderates are urging restraint.
5. Reactions concerning Hassan Nasrallah's death by leaders from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Russia, Houthi Rebels (Yemen), Hamas, Fatah, Cuba, and Venezuela.
6 Time of Israel Report: Hashem Safieddine will replace Nasrallah as Hezbollah Chief. 
As head of the executive council, Safieddine oversees Hezbollah’s political affairs. He also sits on the Jihad Council, which manages the group’s military operations.
7. IDF attacks Houthi targets at Yemeni ports in response to missile attack on Ben Gurion airport. The strikes targeted sites used by the Houthi regime for military purposes at the port city of Hodeidah and the nearby Ras Isa port in western Yemen, the IDF said.
8. US strikes targets in Syria.
US Central Command said it struck northwestern Syria on 24 Sep, targeting a senior terrorist from the al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen group and eight others.
It also announced a strike from 16 Sep, in which it conducted a “large-scale airstrike” on an Islamic State training camp in a remote undisclosed location in central Syria. 
9. NY Times Report: IDF (may be) conducting limited ground operations in Lebanon.

For review:
1. IDF Targets Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut Strike - Status Unknown.
- A US official told The Times of Israel that Israel notified the US about the airstrike after planes were already in the air and the operation was in motion.
- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called an emergency session of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Friday. Officials said the meeting was called following the Israeli strikes on Hezbollah headquarters in southern Beirut, targeting Hassan Nasrallah.
- Hezbollah launched some 65 rockets at Israel on Friday night, hours after the strike in Beirut.
- Hamas panned the strike, condemning “the brutal and ongoing Zionist aggression and escalation against the brotherly Lebanese people through savage air strikes.”
2. US to End CJTF Joint Resolve Mission in Iraq by 2025.
US Official: The US and Iraq have agreed “on a two phase transition plan for operations in Iraq.
In the first phase, we’ll be concluding the global coalition’s military mission in Iraq, the Combined Joint Task Force Inherent Resolve, and ending the presence of coalition forces in certain locations in Iraq as mutually determined. That phase will begin this month and finish by the end of September 2025.
The second phase involves an “understanding to allow the coalition to continue to support counter-ISIS operations in Syria from Iraq- until at least September 2026."
3. US Army Mid-Range Capability Missile System to remain in Philippines.
American and Filipino security officials have agreed to keep the missile system in the northern Philippines indefinitely to boost deterrence (against China).
4. Chinese Nuclear Submarine Sinks at Pier.
The Pentagon has confirmed the submarine that sank pierside at a Wuhan shipyard is a “new class” of nuclear vessels being developed by the Chinese navy.
5. USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Competition.
In April, the USAF awarded contracts for CCA prototypes to General Atomics and Anduril, which prevailed over larger defense aerospace companies-Lockheed Martin. Boeing, and Northrup Grumman. 

For review:
1. US Congress passes Continuing Resolution (CR) for continued Federal Government funding.
The CR now makes its way to the White House, which has indicated that the President will sign the bill well in advance of the 30 Sep deadline.
2.  IDF Prepares for Ground Combat in S. Lebanon.
Israel has continued to launch hundreds of strikes against Hezbollah targets and warned that a ground offensive was looming. IDF chief LTG Halevi told Soldiers they would likely soon find themselves in Lebanon.
3. France Proposes 21-Day Ceasefire in Lebanon. 
France outlined the proposal at an emergency UN Security Council session. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the two Western powers (France & US) were proposing a truce of 21 days "to allow for negotiations and a more sustainable ceasefire."
4. US Security Package to Ukraine worth $375 Million.
Capabilities include: air-to-ground weapons; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.
5. US approves $920 million Foreign Military Financing (FMF) loan to Romania.
FMF dollars have to be spent on US-made weapons and the loans come with interest that will have to be paid back to the US government. 
6. South Korean defense company Hanwha Ocean no longer pursues bid to purchase Australian ship building firm Austal. 
7. China fires ICBM into Pacific Ocean during test.
Chinese Defense Ministry reports that the ICBM carried a dummy warhead and fell into a designated area of the sea, and that the test complied with international law and was not directed against any country or target.
8. Northrup Grumman Selected to Build Hypersonic Glide Interceptors (GPI).
The fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act is pushing the US Missile Defense Agency to ensure initial operational capability (IOC) for the GPIs by the end of 2029 and full operational capability (FOC) by 2032, as well as to deliver at least 24 x GPIs by 2040. 

For review:
1. IDF Pounds Hezbollah Rocket & Missiles Sites in S. Lebanon.
The IDF said it struck some 1,600 targets across Lebanon on Monday, including many homes it said housed weapons directly threatening Israel.
2. Monday IDF airstrike in Beirut targets Senior Hezbollah Commander.
An Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Monday evening targeted Hezbollah commander Ali Karaki, fueling speculation as to whether the senior terror leader had been killed in the attack.
3. Iranian President accuses Israel of instigating a wider war after recent kinetic operations in Lebanon.
Masoud Pezeshkian told media representatives that Iran does not want to see the current war in Gaza and airstrikes across the Israeli-Lebanon border expanded, saying that while Israel insists it does not want a wider war, it is taking actions that show otherwise.
4. US Carrier Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) Departs Norfolk for CENTCOM AOR.
The Harry S. Truman Strike Group deployment follows the departure of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group from the Middle East. 
5. Japan lodges protest after Russian Aircraft violates airspace.
Japanese Defense Minister: “We confirmed today that a Russian Il-38 patrol aircraft has violated our airspace over our territorial waters north of Rebun Island, Hokkaido, on three occasions,” he said.
6. Australian Army's unmanned aircraft system strategy.
The Army has combined various efforts under the umbrella program DEF 129, divided into four size categories: nano-UAS, small drones (SUAS), SUAS-plus, and tactical drones (TUAS).
7. Australian Army Repurposes Armored Unit into Experimental Force.
LTC Jake Penley, its commanding officer, told Defense News that the unit will hand in its M1A1 Abrams tanks later this year, before achieving an initial operational capability in the experimentation mission on 1 Feb 2025.
The unit's mission is to evaluate new technologies such as unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), drones, robotics and counter-drone systems.

For review:
1. IDF Strikes Hezbollah's Radwan Force Leadership.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Saturday that it had eliminated many of the top commanders of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in the Friday strike in Beirut.
2.  Iraq to Procure Medium-Range Air Defense Systems.
Iraq’s Ministry of Defense announced Thursday that it signed a contract with a South Korean company to procure a number of advanced medium-range batteries.
3. Armor Not Dead: UK Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank.
Rheinmetall unveiled the UK's new Challenger 3 main battle tank to the public at a British Army event this week. With upgraded armor and a 120mm smoothbore cannon- Rheinmetall calls the Challenger 3, the most advanced tank in NATO.
4. Mistral Inc. (Bethesda, Maryland) protests the awarding of the US Army Lethal Unmanned Systems Requirement to AeroVironment Switchblade 600.
The protest has resulted in the Army filing a stop work order, while the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviews the case and makes a ruling. 
5. US Navy Chief of Naval Operations will issue guidance to the Fleet via "America's Warfighting Navy" plan. The plan outlines her priorities for the service, which include fixing maintenance backlogs, recruiting, and improving combat readiness and capabilities.
6. Anduril and Microsoft to team-up for the US Army IVAS effort.
Details about the two companies’ current and future IVAS arrangements remain under wraps, but spokespeople from both said Anduril’s Lattice platform has been “successfully integrated” into Microsoft’s hardware and software platform for both the IVAS 1.1 and 1.2 versions.

For review:
1. Israeli Defense Minister tells US Envoy that only "military action" can restore security and return residents to the border region.
2. Pager & Hand-Held Radio Explosions in Lebanon - Iranian Ambassador Wounded.
Thousands of Hezbollah group pagers exploded on Tuesday, killing nine people and wounding nearly 3,000.
In addition, a fresh wave of explosions ripped across Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting hand-held radios used by Hezbollah members.
Mojtaba Amani, the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, lost one eye and his other was seriously wounded in the Tuesday pager attack, according to The New York Times. Iran told the UN in a letter that “reserves its rights under international law to take required measures deemed necessary to respond.”
3. Sweden Increases Defense Spending to 2.4% GDP in '25.
Also, the Swedish Army is reportedly moving to three mechanized brigades and one infantry brigade by 2030; upscaling air defense capabilities to counter drones; and planning additional orders of air-to-air and cruise missiles.
4.  Italy Procuring More F-35 Warplanes plus new Tranche 4 Eurofighter Typhoons.
The F-35 order, is split between 15 x F-35A variants for the Italian Air Force and 10 x F35B variants for the Italian Navy.
24 x Tranche 4 Eurofighters will be procured as a replacement for 26 x older Tranche 1 models.
5. USAF B-21 Raider Program Progressing Well.
USAF Officials say that the flight test program for the B-21 Raider is moving along- with the bomber periodically flying up to 2 x times a week.
6. AFSOC Commanding General says that CV-22 Ospreys are 60% operational, with the remainder of the fleet following in late 2024 or early 2025.
 The CV-22 units in Japan and the United Kingdom “are almost back to full mission readiness.
7. Kongsberg to build missile facility in James City County, Virginia (between Richmond & Norfolk). The company’s new Virginia factory will focus on producing the Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile. 

For review:
1. US Foreign Military Sales:
- Japan: KC-46A Refueling aircraft.
- Israel: Heavy Duty Tank Trailers. 
2. Houthi Rebels Claim Downing of MQ-9 Reaper.
The U.S. military said it was aware of the Houthis' claimed downing of a drone over the country's southwestern Dhamar province, without elaborating.
3. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar congratulates Houthi Rebels for missile attack on Israel. In his letter, Sinwar congratulated Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi on his “success in reaching the depth of the enemy entity,” referring to Israel.
4. Israel PM - Large Scale Confrontation with Hezbollah in Future.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was said to have warned security chiefs during a strategic discussion on Thursday that Israel was facing a “large-scale confrontation” with Hezbollah in the north of the country.
5. USAF Secretary provides update on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) effort. 
6. USAF to consolidate AC-130J training at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico.
“Creating a consolidated training location will reduce travel costs and allow for training timelines to be accelerated,” a spokesperson for the 58th Special Operations Wing said.
7. US Navy Contracts Construction of John Lewis-Class Oilers.
The Navy today announced it has awarded General Dynamics NASSCO a contract worth up to $6.7 billion for the construction of up to eight John Lewis-class fleet oilers, a block buy deal the service anticipates will save $491 million.
8. US Army Orders Bradley A4 IFVs.
The US Army has awarded BAE Systems a $440-million production contract for over 200 x Bradley A4 infantry fighting vehicles. It is intended to replenish some of the over 300 combat vehicles sent to Ukraine, with an updated version.

For review:
1. US Secretary of the Navy Violates Hatch Act.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has apologized for comments he made to British reporters in January that the Office of the Special Trial Counsel found violated a US law that prevents federal employees from endorsing political candidates during their official duties.
2. IDF Tunnel Warfare in Khan Younis.
According to the Commanding General of Division 98 (Major General Dan Goldfus), the Gaza tunnels are a single giant network from which it was possible to enter around Erez in northern Gaza and come out at Rafah and Egypt – like the process of water seeping through and flowing down a mountain.
3. Russian President Putin of allowing Ukraine to strike targets with Western-provided long-range weapons. President Vladimir Putin said such a move would drag the countries supplying Kyiv with long-range missiles directly into the war since satellite targeting data and the actual programming of the missiles' flight paths would have to be done by NATO military personnel because Kyiv did not have the capabilities itself.
4. US President and UK Prime Minister met at White House on 14 September to discuss Ukraine "strategy".
In a separate briefing on Friday, ahead of the two leaders' meeting, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Washington was not planning any change in the limits it has placed on Ukraine's use of US-made weapons to hit Russian territory.
5. Ukraine pitches for 12 x Bell Viper Helicopters on offer to Slovakia.
Vadym Ivchenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker, told Defense News that Ukraine has shown interest in the 12 x Vipers since 2022. At that time, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces filed a letter of request to the US to obtain the aircraft through a foreign military sale.
6.  US Foreign Military Sale of F-35As to Romania.
The U.S. State Department on Friday announced it has approved the sale of 32 x F-35A Joint Strike Fighters to Romania in a deal worth roughly $7.2 billion.
7. Boeing’s machinists union in Washington state votes to strike on late Thursday evening, putting near-term deliveries of the KC-46 & P-8 military aircraft in limbo.

For review:
1. US Carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Departs CENTCOM AOR.
The Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is heading back home eight months into its deployment, Pentagon officials announced on Thursday.
2. IDF Reports 13 kilometers of Tunnels Destroyed in Rafah.
Brigadier General Itzik Cohen, 162d Division Commander said that his combat engineering forces located 203 separate, but interconnected tunnels in the Philadelphi Corridor, to about 300 meters away on the outskirts of the city of Rafah. “Most of them we have destroyed. We are operating at the other sites to investigate them, and when we will finish investigating, they will be destroyed.”
3. Israel Defense Minster Yoav Gallant reveals captured document reportedly written by Hamas Kahn Younis Brigade Commander to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Gallant said the document showed “a real hardship that affects Hamas and affects the most senior commanders.”
4. The UK’s National Audit Office (NAO) reports that the British Army's training mission of Ukrainian Soldiers has had an adverse affect on the training effectiveness of UK units. 
British Army units bidding for training areas were reportedly rejected eight times more often in 2023 than the previous years. The UK has trained more than 45,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its soil, according to the MoD.
5. Armor Not Dead: Rheinmetall Tank Destroyer Concept.
The 4×4 wheeled platform is equipped with the Israeli-designed Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missile as its main weapon system, featuring a range of 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles). The platform’s open architecture allows the integration of other guided missiles and HERO loitering munitions, according to Rheinmetall.
6. Poland continues defense modernization. Anticipates signing a contract with South Korea's Hyundai Rotem for 180 x advanced K2PL tanks (in November).
The upgraded K2PL tank will be equipped with a remote control weapons system, counter UAS jammer, and an active protection system.
7. Is the Australian Army interested in the Bell V-280 Valor?

 

For review:
1.  Israel Defense Minister - Hamas as Military Formation is Gone.
Hamas is no longer an organized military force in the Gaza Strip after Israel’s 11-month ongoing military campaign, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told foreign journalists on Monday.
2. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said US will present new formula for Hostage Deal between Israel and Hamas.
3. Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar issued a rare statement- congratulating Algeria’s incumbent President after he was declared the winner of an election whose results have been challenged by opposition candidates.
4. German Chancellor Calls for Peace Efforts in Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a renewed effort to bring peace to Ukraine adding that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had both agreed in recent talks on the need for a new peace conference that would include Russia.
5. Netherlands Defense Modernization.
The Netherlands plans to bolster its armed forces by reconstituting a tank battalion, buying more F-35 fighter jets, and adding anti-submarine frigates.
6.  Iran Provides Russia with Close-Range Missiles.
Iran has sent close-range ballistic missiles to Russia, which could start using them to attack Ukraine “within weeks,” Pentagon officials said Tuesday.
7. Russia and China conduct massive Naval Drill.
The “Ocean-24” exercise spans the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas and involves over 400 warships, submarines and support vessels, more than 120 planes and helicopters and over 90,000 troops.
8. Japan coordinates with Allies as it increases efforts to prepare for F-35B operations.
Japan’s largest warship, the carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184), is headed to California later this year to hold F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter developmental tests off San Diego, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) announced.

For review:
1. Israel - Hamas Hostage Deal Remote.
 The chances of a phased hostage-ceasefire agreement being achieved on the basis of Israel’s May proposal are “close to zero” and there is “very broad pessimism” among the Israeli negotiators.
2. Germany to Provide 155mm Howitzers to Ukraine.
Germany will deliver a batch of 12 x Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, the Defense Minister announced. 6 x howitzers will be delivered by the end of this year and the rest next year.
3. UK to provide 650 x Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to Ukraine as part of a 162-million-pound ($212 million) contract.
4. EU spends too much money on US defense items. 
A report on European Union Defense Competitiveness says that from mid 2022 to mid-2023, the 27-Member Nation contracted 63% of their defense orders with US suppliers. 
5. US Defense Security Cooperation Agency- Foreign Military Sale:
The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy two hundred forty-six (246) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles. The estimated total program cost is $691 million.
6. Poland offered Boeing CH-47F Block II Chinooks.
Boeing announced today at the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) that it has formally offered the heavy-lift helicopter to Poland.
7. Norwegian Army to upgrade Sniper rifle capability with the American Barrett M107A1.  The M107A1 is capable of delivering precision and rapid fire on targets up to 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) away.
8. Two USAF F-35As land on highways during exercise in Finland. 
The F-35s, which were from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in England, carried out the landings on the Hosio Highway Strip in Ranua, Finland.

For review:
1. Egypt's Army Chief of Staff Visits Gaza Border.
Egypt’s army chief of staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa made a surprise visit on Thursday to the country’s border with the Gaza Strip to inspect the security situation.
2. IDF Infantry Brigade Prepares for Combat in North.
The IDF’s Yiftah Brigade carried out a drill over the past week simulating fighting in Lebanon. The drill included fighting and maneuvering in complex terrain, advancing along a “mountainous route,” and using firepower in various scenarios.
3. Latest US Security Assistance to Ukraine.
The package has an estimated value of $250 million, and will provide Ukraine with capabilities that include: air defense missiles; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.
4. US denies claims that donated long-range missiles to Ukraine, such as ATACMs, will be effective at targets deep inside Russia.
5. Netherlands to procure Spike LR2 anti-tank missile systems (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems).
6. Germany military to employ first IRIS-T SLM air defense system.
The system delivered on Wednesday marked the first of six IRIS-T SLMs to be delivered to the Bundeswehr.
7. FY25 US Defense Budget Update.
8. US Army Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) update.
 The Army is aiming for one more major test of the LRHW by the end of 2024 in order to decide whether to field it to the first unit next year, Doug Bush, the service’s acquisition chief, said Thursday.

For review:
1. Israel PM - IDF Potentially Off Philadelphi Corridor in Phase 2 but Not Without Security Arrangements.
PM Netanyahu: “The conditions that we shall have for a permanent ceasefire must include a situation where the Philadelphi Corridor cannot be perforated.”
2.  Slovakia to Procure Barak MX Air Defense Systems.
The Slovak government has approved the purchase 6 x Barak MX air defense systems for an estimated €554 million ($615 million).
3. China & Russia present at Egypt International Airshow.
China and Russia are using the first-ever Egypt International Airshow to show off their military hardware for sale, in an attempt to cement their presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
4. USAF conducting "deep-dive scrub" of Sentinel ICBM program requirements.
The Air Force is now going “line by line” through Sentinel’s requirements to look for places to bring its costs down. The Pentagon originally expected to spend $77.7 billion on Sentinel, but the Pentagon said even a “reasonably modified” restructure would still probably cost $140.9 billion, or 81% more than the original estimate.
5. USMC to test Stern Landing Vessel (LSV) to help determine and inform requirements for the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program. The “foreign collaborative” tests would take place around Australia over the next several years in conjunction with the Australian Army.
6. US Army IVAS Update.

For review:
1. US White House reports that new Hostage Deal has Israel mvoing off populated areas of the Philadelphi Corridor.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby: “The deal itself, including the bridging proposal that we started working with… includes the removal of Israeli Defense Forces from all densely populated areas… in phase one… and that includes those areas along and adjacent to that corridor. That’s the proposal that Israel had agreed to.”
2. Israeli PM Makes Case for Maintaining IDF Presence on Philadelphi Corridor. 
Speaking with reporters during a press conference in Jerusalem, PM Netanyahu insisted that the 14-kilometer strip of land is essential for Israel to achieve its war aims and that retaining control there is “central” and determines Israel’s very future. 
3. UN Security Council Extends Peacekeeping Mandate in Lebanon.
Resolution 2749, adopted by the Security Council on Wednesday, extends UNIFIL’s nearly two-decade long mission of keeping peace between Israel and Lebanon through Aug. 31, 2025.
4. UK's Symbolic Sanction of Arms to Israel.
On Monday the UK’s new government announced it would suspend exports of 30 items out of a total of 350 current arms licenses.
5. USAF plans procurement of at least 56 MH-139 Grey Wolf Helicopters. 
The Air Force previously sought 80 airframes, but the FY25 budget reduced the procurement number.

For review:
1. According to final investigation report, the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May 2024, was caused by bad weather.
The main cause of the helicopter crash was the “complex climatic and atmospheric conditions of the region in the spring.” 
2. IDF Recovers Bodies of Six Hostages Murdered by Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the ongoing failure to reach a ceasefire deal that would have secured their release while they were still alive.
3. Ukraine President Fires Senior Air Force Commander.
The Air Force Senior Officer was removed on Friday, four days after an F-16 warplane crashed during a Russian bombardment, killing the pilot.
4. F-35Bs assigned to Italian aircraft carriers reach Initial Operating Capability (IOC). 
The F-35B fighter fleet achieved IOC four months ahead of schedule, and comprised a total of 2,600 flight hours and over 2,700 maintenance interventions. 
5.  Lithuania to Modernize Soldier Weapons & Equipment.
The Lithuanian government plans an investment of up to $1.33billion to equip its soldiers with modern weapons and equipment over the next decade.
The amount will be spent for the purchase of FN MINIMI 7.62 MK3 light machine guns, night vision devices, and laser sights.
6. Latvia's Ministry of Defense opens a new military facility that will support the NATO Multinational Brigade. 
The $7.7 million facility incorporates armored vehicle storage and sustainment facilities to house allied tanks and other platforms.
7. US Army conducting study to gain lessons-learned ffrom the Gaza JLOTS pier deployment. 
The mission's Senior Commander called the mission "the biggest organizational leadership challenge” he had ever experienced.

For review.
1. USAID Report on Gaza Pier- available at USNI News.
2. Israeli Security Cabinet Supports Remaining on Philadelphi Corridor.
Israel's security cabinet voted Thursday to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position in favor of maintaining IDF presence along the Gaza-Egypt border as part of any potential ceasefire and hostage release deal.
3. Qatar & Turkey Joint Air Force Squadron revealed on X by the Commander of the Turkish Air Force.
While the exact number and type of aircraft employed by the squadron were not publicized, a photo showed Turkish F-16s as well as Qatari Rafales and Eurofighter Typhoons.
4. Serbia to procure 12 x Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation to replace its MiG-29 fleet.
5. UK New Medium Helicopter Program Has Only 1 x Bidder - Leonardo Helicopters UK. Airbus and Lockheed Martin have both decided to withdraw from the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) program ahead of a deadline.
6. US Army continues increasing the production of 155mm artillery munitions.
7. US Army awards Javelin Joint Venture partners Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, the largest single year contract in program history- $1.3 billion.
8. After Fixed-wing ISR Program (High Accuracy Detection & Exploitation System) contract award to Sierra Nevada- and barring any protest from former competitors- the US Army expects that work on first HADES plane will be completed by the end of 2025, with an operational assessment in 2026.

For review:
1. Among Hostage Negotiations, Israel PM faces tough decisions on status of Philadelphi Corridor.
2.  IDF Says 80% Tunnels Destroyed on Philadelphi Corridor - Rafah Brigade Collapsed.
3. Israel & Hamas likely to agree to humanitarian truce for child polio vaccinations.
Unnamed Egyptian sources as expecting a truce to kick off within days, lasting through daylight hours for 3-5 days, excluding places in the Strip where the IDF is operating.
4. Russia reportedly facing challenges with SU-57 warplane production.
A new production plant has been opened aimed at scaling up the sluggish delivery tempo of these fifth-generation stealth warplanes.
5. Poland Preparing to Receive F-35s.
The first aircraft will then be delivered in-country in the 2026 timeframe, according to Lockheed Martin.
6.  Thailand Leans Toward Saab's Gripen E/F Warplanes. 
According to a statement posted to the Thai Air Force’s Facebook page, the Gripen has been identified as the “most suitable” option for modernizing its fleet. 
7. US Army procuring 6 x Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System (EAGLS)- counter UAS/Drone system. These systems will be fielded to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility. 
8. Retired USMC Officer's website discusses and shares Warfighting Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) among the Infantry enterprise- with recent focus on operations in Ukraine.

For review.
1. Hezbollah attacks Northern Israel with missiles and drones in retaliation for strike on senior commander.
2. US SEC DEF:  2 x US Carriers to Remain in CENTCOM AOR.
With the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), there will now be 2 x aircraft carriers and their warships available for US Central Command.
3. US Israel - Hamas Hostage Negotiations.
A US official says that the hostage talks held in Cairo the past several days have been “constructive.” 
Notably, US officials appear to be the only party in the talks who sound hopeful about their trajectory.
4. Norway and NAMMO collaborate to increase 155mm munition production domestically and in Ukraine. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Store: “This government has taken several measures to increase the production of artillery ammunition in Norway. At the same time, we see that it is important to strengthen the Ukrainians’ ability to produce modern artillery ammunition in Ukraine."
5. Turkey opens the world’s largest submarine floating dock with 3,000-ton lifting capacity. The dock is expected to be used as submarine maintenance and overhaul floating facility.
6.  North Korea Demonstrates Loitering Munitions that Curiously Resemble Israeli Design. Experts said the drones in the images released by state media looked similar to the Israeli-made “HAROP” suicide drone and Israeli “HERO 30.”
7.  Chinese Y-9 Aircraft Violates Japanese Airspace.
According to Japanese officials. a Chinese Y-9 electronic intelligence aircraft carried out a two-minute violation of the airspace over Japan’s territorial waters at the Danjo Islands in the East China Sea on Monday.
8. Hanwha (South Korea) opens new Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle production plant in Geelong, Victoria (Australia). 
The facility will also support the manufacturing of Huntsman AS9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles. Following its opening, the site is expected to support 2,100 jobs,  

For review:
1.  Israel & Hamas Negotiations Continue - No Deal Yet. Philadelphi Corridor still a sticking point. 
Egypt-based Alghad TV reported Saturday, citing citing an unnamed informed source, that Israel had notified Cairo it was prepared to withdraw under a deal from five security points out of eight discussed along the Philadelphi Corridor. There was no other confirmation of the report.
2. Latest US Assistance Package to Ukraine is worth $125 million.
Included in this package are air defense capabilities; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons.
3. Indian PM Visits Kiev - Encourages Dialogue.
India's Narendra Modi urged President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday to sit down for talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine and offered to help bring peace as the two leaders met in wartime Kyiv.
4. The Croatian Ministry of Defense has announced plans to acquire High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, for the country’s armed forces.
5. Germany to Station Combat Brigade in Lithuania by End of Decade.
Lithuania and Germany agreed in December 2023- to station 4,800 military and 200 civilian German personnel at the Rūdninkai Training Area in the country’s southeast.
6. Taiwan increase annual defense spending to 2.45% GDP.  Objective is to attain 3% GDP in the future.
7. US Army awards Fixed-Wing ISR contract to Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC).
Under the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program, SNC will now be charged with integrating sensing technologies aboard the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. SNC will largely carry out HADES work at the company’s facilities in Hagerstown, Md. 

For review:
1. US Carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Arrives in the Middle East according US Central Command. The Lincoln is set to relieve USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), which has been operating in the Middle East since June.
2. IDF Recovers Bodies of Six Hostage in Khan Younis.
3. Israel - Hamas Negotiations losing momentum.
4. Ukraine Kursk operation strengthens hand for potential Peace Talks. Russia not in the mood.
5. Germany lays out Ukraine war materiel for the remainder of 2024, and 2025.
Includes air defense systems, dozens of armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition.
6. Australia and Kongsberg to Build Joint & Naval Strike Missiles in New South Wales.
7. New Radar system (AN/TPY-6) heads to Guam in support of the strategic island's Air and Missile Defense Architecture.
8. Missile Defense Agency says the Long-Range Discriminator Radar (LRDR) to undergo further testing in 2025. 
Built by Lockheed Martin, LRDR was fielded at Clear Space Force Station in central Alaska in late 2021, though the radar has not yet been operationally accepted by the US Space Force. 

For review:
1.  Israel Accepts US "Bridging Proposal" in Negotiations.
Statement from Israeli Prime Minister's Office:
“The Prime Minister reiterated Israel’s commitment to the current American proposal on the release of our hostages, which takes into account Israel’s security needs, which he strongly insists on."
2. Ukraine Destroys Key Bridges in Kursk Region.
This weekend, Ukraine destroyed a key bridge in the region and struck a second one nearby, disrupting supply lines as it pressed the Kursk incursion.
3. China alarmed at deployment of US Mid-Range Fire Capability in the Philippines.
 Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, expressed China’s concern over the U.S. mid-range missile deployment to the Philippines.
4. China and Philippines continue to spar over disputed shoals in the South China Sea.
Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard vessels collided in the South China Sea near two disputed shoals on Monday morning in the latest encounter at sea between Manila and Beijing.
5. Latest US Foreign Military Sales:
- South Korea: 36 x AH-64E Apache Helicopters in deal worth $3.5 billion.
- Netherlands: CH-47 & AH-64 Helicopter training package in deal worth $305 million.
- Finland: M1156A1 Precision Guided Kits in deal worth $70 million.
- Australia: FGM-148F Javelin Missiles in deal worth $100 million.
6. USMC Marine-One Helicopter First Flight with President.
President Joe Biden on Monday took his first flight aboard the newest Marine One Helicopter (Sikorsky VH-92A Patriot) in Chicago, Illinois.
 

For review:
1. US Carrier (USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72) & Guided-Missile Submarine (USS Georgia SSGN-728) Moving Toward CENTCOM AOR.
2.  Israel - Hamas Negotiation Update.
The US “bridging proposal” does not provide for an ongoing Israeli presence along the Gaza-Egypt border or for a mechanism in central Gaza to prevent the return of armed Hamas forces to the Strip’s north.
3. Bulgaria to procure IRIS-T Air Defense Systems in support of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). The deal includes five additional IRIS-T SLM systems and one long-range IRIS-T SLX (Surface-Launched Extended-Range) system by 2032.
4. Australian Army Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles to receive vehicle display that hosts C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) applications. 129 x Redback IFVs ordered for the Army will be delivered by 2028.
5. French Navy Frigate FS Bretagne (D655) operates in the Indo-Pacific Region with naval forces from the US, Japan, and Philippines. 
Royal Australian and US Navy Sailors to cooperate during a Submarine Tender Maintenance Period (STMP) over the next several weeks during a US submarine port visit at Stirling Naval Base in Western Australia.
6. AUKUS Countries Lower Arms Export Restrictions.
The United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom have agreed to new rules for sharing arms — a major step to make their defense industries more accessible to one another.
7. US Navy to secure a Multi-ship procurement deal for 4 x amphibious ships. 
The four ships that will be purchased under the deal are 3 x San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks (LPD-33 in fiscal 2025, LPD-34 in FY27, & LPD-35 in FY29) and 1 x amphibious assault ship (LHA-10 in FY27).

For review:
1. US President: Significant Progress on Negotiations. 
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas were the most constructive that mediators had seen in months, a senior Biden administration official told reporters on Friday.
2. IDF Combat Engineers have destroyed over 50 tunnels along the Philadelphi Corridor. The IDF did not detail how many of the tunnels crossed into Egypt.
3. Israeli Air Force rehearse long-range strikes, employing F-35 and F-15 warplanes and Boeing 707 refueling Tankers.
4. Hezbollah release video showing lighted tunnel system with trucks, motorcycles, and missile launcher.
Titled “Our mountains are our storehouses,” the video shows a trapdoor opening and a missile launcher directed skyward.
5. New Iranian defense minister, Brigadier General Aziz Nazirzedah, has ambitious defense modernization strategy. 
Defense Minster's aim is to expand the aerospace, naval, missile and air defense sectors- as well as increase Iranian defense exports to neighboring countries, Latin America, and Africa.
6. US Foreign Military Sales include:
- Germany: 600 x Patriot missiles and related equipment worth $5 billion.
- Italy: 6 x Block 5 MQ-9 Reaper Drones worth $738 million.
- Denmark: 5,832 x M1156 Precision Guided Kits (for 155mm artillery munitions), worth $85 million.
7. Japanese Coast Guard to procure 2 x MQ-9B, Sea Guardian Drones from General Atomics. The Sea Guardian is a medium-altitude, long-endurance system that can fly for 24 hours or more. 
8. US Navy Installs Drone Control Room on Aircraft Carrier, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)- to support MQ-25A Stingray tanker and ISR Drones. 
The control system was developed by the Navy and includes capabilities from Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works.
9. Latest update in the US Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program. Over the past year, Army leaders have teased a “IVAS Next” initiative.
The Army could make a decision to recompete the prime contractor position- according to multiple sources.

For review:
1. President Biden hopeful that successful negotiations between Israel & Hamas will stave off Iran retaliatory strike.
President Biden was asked by reporters if he expected Iran to hold off on a retaliatory strike if a deal is reached. “That’s my expectation,” the President replied.
2. IDF 98th Division Commander Discusses Gaza Operations, including mission where the IDF was "minutes" from capturing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Brigadier Gen. Dan Goldfus said: “We were close. We were in his compound. We got to an underground compound. It was ‘hot.’”
3. US clears $20 billion worth of Foreign Military Sales to Israel. Includes:
F-15 warplanes, 120mm Mortar Rounds, and 120mm Tank Munitions, plus other materiel.
4.  China Urges De-Escalation after Kursk Incursion. China on Monday urged all sides in the Ukraine war to de-escalate as Kyiv's forces pierced deep into Beijing ally Russia's Kursk border region.
5. Norway to Procure M142 HIMARS. 
Norway has requested to buy 16 x Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems in a deal worth as much as $580 million.
6. Poland Signs Deal for 96 x AH-64E Apache Helicopters.
Once the 96 aircraft are delivered, the Polish military will be the Apache’s second largest user in the world, preceded only by the US military.
7. South Korea begins development of the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). This maritime capability will provide accurate target geo-location to enable mine neutralization procedures. The system can be mounted on a variety of helicopters and be deployed for day and night operations.
8. US Army continues mounted High Energy Laser effort. 
The Army is “encouraging” industry to use the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) for the prototyping effort.

For review:
1. Forbes Report: Ukraine Combat Brigades Digging In at Kursk. 
There’s growing evidence that some or all of the 5 x Ukraine Combat Brigades- have plans to stay. (The Russians are digging in, too.)
2.  Hamas Supports Negotiations But Will Not Send Delegation to Upcoming Talks.
It (Hamas) said it had asked mediators to present a plan based upon past negotiations, instead of engaging in new talks for a deal based on amended frameworks.
3. US making infrastructure improvements to Basa Air Base in the Philippines. 
Funded under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, Basa Air Base is set to receive a 625,000-square-foot parking apron capable of hosting up to 20 aircraft. 
4. US Navy launches final Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship- USS Pierre (LCS 38). Main sea trials begin in late-2024. 
5. Expert Pentagon Contract Broker (Shay Assad), to assist USAF with Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) contract talks (with RTX). Mr. Assad has previously assisted the USAF with Boeing E-7 Wedgetail negotiations. 
6. US Army 2d Multi-Domain Task Force MDTF (Effects Battalion) tests unmanned air and Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) systems during Morocco Exercise- Arcane Thunder 2024.
7. US Army reports successful End-to-End Flight Test of Hypersonic Missile. 
The first flight test took place in May 2024, at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii.
 

For review:
1. Ukraine Sends 5 x Combat Brigades into Russia's Kursk Oblast. 
 Russia declared a “federal-level” emergency in the region and sent reinforcements there on Friday.  Russia’s Defense Ministry said reinforcements were on their way to Kursk to counter Ukraine’s raid.
2. Ukrainian First Person View Drone takes down Russian MI-28 Havok Attack Helicopter.  “The future use of helicopters in combat can and should be rethought, especially with the growth of unmanned systems,” Serhii Kuzan, a former adviser to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, told Defense News. 
3.  Elbit to provide Iron Fist Active Protection System to unnamed European country- for  fit onto CV90 IFVs.
4.  UK Telegraph: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is reportedly disagreeing with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on level of retaliatory strikes (against Israel).
5.  Iran IRGC Claims Undetectable Naval Cruise Missiles.
IRGC said on Friday that its navy has new cruise missiles equipped with highly explosive warheads that are undetectable.
6.  US Army will develop a second interceptor for the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2) launcher.  The Army is still testing out the launcher and using the RTX AIM-9X Sidewinder as the first interceptor. 
7. US Army to evaluate a hypervelocity munition for 155mm artillery systems. 
Goal is to have the capability ready for operational testing in FY28.  
8. Defense News Annual Top 100 Defense Companies for 2023.

For review:
1. Secretary of National Security Sergei Shoigu, delivers Russian President Putin's message of restraint during his visit to Tehran on Monday.
2.  Organization of Islamic Cooperation Meets in Saudi Arabia.  Iranian and Palestinian officials called for Wednesday’s gathering of the 57-member OIC in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, saying the body needed to respond to the killing of the Hamas leader.
3. Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have rebuffed requests to contribute troops to a postwar peacekeeping force in Gaza. However, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have expressed willingness to participate in the effort.
4. Russia Malva 152mm Mobile Artillery.
A new batch of 2S43 Malva 152mm self-propelled howitzers has been shipped to Russian troops. The quantity of guns has not been disclosed.
5. The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded Raytheon a $478-million contract to deliver Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-Ts) to Germany.
6. US and Australia discuss future defense cooperation.
The two nations announced a series of joint initiatives including new “operating locations,” more frequent troop rotations and the formalization of plans to coproduce two key, long-range missile systems.
7. Thailand to Procure Chinese Assault Rifles.
Once delivered, the QBZ-195T (5.56mm assault rifle), will be distributed to the country’s special operations units to support a variety of missions.
8. USAF has received the first production MH-139 Grey Wolf Helicopter from Boeing.
The helicopter will be stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana- to patrol Minuteman III nuclear missile fields.

For review:
1. US Forces in Iraq Struck in Rocket Attack.
Several US personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack at a military base in Iraq, Defense officials said Monday. 
2. Russian National Security Council Secretary Shoigu Visits Tehran.
Russian state news agencies reported that Sergei Shoigu was scheduled to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian; the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Akbar Ahmadian; and chief of the Iranian military’s General Staff, Mohammad Bagheri.
3. IDF Locates Vehicle-Size Tunnel on Philadelphi Corridor.
According to the IDF, the tunnel is about three meters (10 feet) tall and will be investigated before it is destroyed. 
4. The Spanish army has signed a “framework agreement” with German defense firm Rheinmetall for an order of “around half a million modular propellant systems for 155mm extended-range artillery ammunition.”
 5. BAE Systems has been awarded a $493-million contract to continue producing the M109A7 self-propelled howitzer and M992A3 ammunition carrier for US Army Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs).
6. USAF B-52 Modernization (Radar and Engine) plans are running into schedule and cost troubles. 
7. USAF estimating costs to refit 30 x B-52s, from Conventional to Nuclear-capable.
The 30 B-52s in question had previously been equipped with the ability to carry nuclear weapons but were converted to conventional aircraft about 10 years ago to comply with a key US-Russia arms control treaty known as New START.
8. USAF relieves Commander after Accident Investigation Board report is released concerning the 04 January 2024, B-1 Bomber crash at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. 

For review:
1. Iran State TV reports that a short-range projectile was behind the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh- and not an explosive device planted in the building beforehand (as previously reported by other media). The televised statement says a rocket with a seven-kilogram warhead was used to target the residence of Haniyeh in the capital Tehran on Wednesday, adding it caused heavy devastation. 
2. New York Times Report: Iran has arrested dozens of suspects in the investigation of the Ismail Haniyeh assassination. The arrested parties included senior intelligence officers, military officials, and staff workers at the guest house where Haniyeh was killed.
3. US CENTCOM Commander Travels to Region.
According to a US official, General Michael Kurilla is expected to visit several Gulf countries, Jordan and Israel.
4. Article from Air & Space Forces Magazine: US Deploys F-22 Squadron to CENTCOM AOR.
5. During comments at the funeral for Senior Military Commander Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah promised a “new phase” of conflict with Israel.
6. Australia Invests in Collins-Class Submarines. 
A government statement reports that $2.2 billion (AUD) is for sustainment, and  part of a broader “$4 to $5 billion (AUD) commitment to keeping the Collins-class submarines as a potent strike and deterrence capability.” 
7. The Royal Australian Air Force has received the first MQ-4C Triton Drone. The MQ-4C Triton will be used for high-altitude and long-endurance maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting missions alongside the Royal Australian Air Force’s current P-8A Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
8. USAF anticipates annual foreign military sales to grow by 60% this fiscal year to more than $46 billion- up from $23 billion in FY23.  Projected increase is due largely to F-35 and F-16 purchases. 
9. Senate Appropriations Committee FY25 Spending Bill Info.
Senate appropriators have put forward a $852.2 billion defense spending bill for FY25. 

For review:
1. US to exit final installation (Air Base 201) in Niger next week.
Air Base 201 was the final US military site in the West African country after forces exited Air Base 101 in July. The US spent years building it to launch drone operations and has used its military presence to train Nigerien forces as well.
2. Getting Ready for Iran: US Increasing Presence in CENTCOM AOR. 
The US bolsters military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East following reports that Iranian military officials and proxy forces in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen will meet to discuss options to retaliate against Israel following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
3. UK Outlet Telegraph: Mossad hired Iranian security agents to plant explosives that killed Hamas Official Ismail Haniyeh. 
4. IDF confirms that the Commander of Hamas' Military Wing (Muhammad Deif) was killed during the 13 July strike in Southern Gaza. 
5. Ukraine President: Russia Invited at Next Peace Summit.
President Zelensky: "The majority of the world today says that Russia must be represented at the second summit, otherwise we will not achieve meaningful results. Since the whole world wants them to be at the table, we cannot be against it."
6. USAF Accident Investigation Board releases report for the fatal CV-22 crash that killed eight elite Air Commandos off the coast of Japan in November 2023.
7. US Army Making Progress With Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Program.
FLRAA Program goals:
1. Limited User Tests - FY27-28.
2. Low-Rate Initial Production - FY28
3. First Unit Equipped: FY31

For review:
1. Iran Supreme Leader Orders Direct Strike on Israel.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ordered a direct strike on Israel for the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. Israel has not commented on the incident.
2.  IDF Tough Response to Hezbollah. The IDF confirms that top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Shukr has been managing Hezbollah’s attacks against Israel, including the deadly strike in the Druze Village of Majdal Shams over the weekend that killed 12 children.
3.  US SECDEF: US Will Help Defend Israel.
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Washington would come to Israel's defense if needed, hours after Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran early Wednesday.
4. Associated Press Report: F-16s Arrive in Ukraine.
Ukraine has received the first F-16 fighters, a U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press.  A Ukrainian lawmaker also confirmed Ukraine had received a small number of F-16 fighter jets.
5. US to provide Ukraine advanced munitions for F-16 Fighters. A senior US official recently told The Wall Street Journal that the warplanes will feature the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Additionally, the Ukrainian F-16s will reportedly have AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles for air-to-air engagements. 
6. Russia considers deploying offensive missiles that can strike Western Europe. 
Move is in response to US announcement of “episodic deployments” of conventional missiles to Germany in 2026. 
7. USAF Secretary (Frank Kendall) announces formal “pause” in the effort to field a new stealth fighter. 
Secretary Kendall did not specify how long the pause will be to begin development on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Program.  
8. IDF procuring Iron Sting 120mm mortars in deal worth $220 million. 
Iron Sting 120mm rounds have laser and GPS guidance systems, that enable precision targeting, while minimizing collateral damage.

For review:
1. Diplomats Work to De-escalate Israeli Response to Druze Village Rocket Attack.
Israeli officials suggested that the response would be serious but not lead to an all-out conflagration (conflagration = an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property).
2. Spain to provide another Hawk Air Defense System to Ukraine. 
Spain will send another Hawk air defense system to Ukraine in September, Minister of Defense Margarita Robles told her Ukrainian counterpart (Rustem Umerov), last week.
3. UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) will expand the ability to produce gun barrels by partnering with Sheffield Forgemasters. 
The initiative will help maintain the flow of L119 Light Guns and AS90 self-propelled howitzers into Ukraine.
4.  Kyiv Post Opinion Article - Is Peace Coming to Ukraine? 
Opinion piece written by Timothy Ash on signs leading to potential peace talks before the end of the calendar year.
5. Royal Australian Navy to receive new Landing Craft Light (LCL) vessels.
The LCLs will transport up to 4.5 tons of payload or up to 30 personnel and will provide a ship-to-shore connector capability.
6. US Navy creates a new position for overseeing investments in the surface and submarine industrial bases. 
US Navy Statement: “The Direct Reporting Program Manager for the Maritime Industrial Base (or the DRPM for the MIB) will play an instrumental role in realizing Secretary Del Toro’s vision to engage in a whole-of-government effort to rebuild the Nation’s comprehensive maritime power." The US Navy announced Frederick “Jay” Stefany as the DRPM. 
7. US Army Fixed-Wing ISR Program Ready in 12-18 Months. 

1. Boeing to Purchase Spirit AeroSystems - Shaking Up US Army FLRAA Program.
Bell (winner of the FLRAA competition), intends to step away from Spirit AeroSystem as the fuselage provider for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft after the Boeing acquisition is finalized.
2. Israel PM: Hezbollah Will Pay Heavy Price for Druze Village Rocket Attack. 
Following the deadly strike, PM Netanyahu spoke to the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community Sheikh Muafak Tarif, the Prime Minister’s Office said, and vowed that Israel would not sit idly by.
3. Greece Joins F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Club.
Greece has officially signed off on the procurement of 20 x F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, becoming the 19th country to operate the Lockheed Martin-made fifth-generation jet, according to defense minister Nikos Dendias.
4. Royal Australian Navy Admiral is concerned about dry dock and port facilities in Western Australia for the AUKUS submarine effort.
The military and government needed to “get going” on crucial work to ready Western Australia for AUKUS submarines or risk falling behind, Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm said at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference.
5. US to announce a new Three-Star Joint Force Headquarters in Japan. 
US Defense Official: "Secretary Austin (US SEC DEF), plans to announce that the United States intends to reorganize US Forces Japan as a Joint Force Headquarters, reporting to the Commander of U.S. INDOPACOM." 
6. Latest update (23 July 2024) from the Congressional Research Service on the Navy Medium Landing Ship (LSM) (Previously Light Amphibious Warship [LAW]) Program - Background and Issues for Congress.

For review:
1. Israel - Saudi Arabia Normalization Still Possible. 
A normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is still possible before the US presidential election, a top Israeli official told reporters Friday, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the matter with US President Joe Biden during their Thursday meeting at the White House.
2. Germany to receive the Arrow-3 Air Defense System by 2025.
Germany will be the first country besides Israel to field the system. The $4 billion deal includes launchers, interceptors and the Green Pine radar system.
3. Armor Not Dead: Netherlands & Denmark are sending 12 x Leopard 2 Tanks to Ukraine, by the end of Summer. 
4. NATO to Develop Medium Lift Helicopter.
NATO has awarded three Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) contracts to Airbus, Leonardo and Lockheed Martin, to study “potential integrated platform concepts.”  NATO plans to have a new class of medium lift helicopters between 2035 and 2040.
5. Armor Not Dead: Italian Army to have new Panther Tanks & Lynx Armored Vehicles in three years.
6. In addition to ISR payloads, Australia to develop lethal capabilities for Boeing-made MQ-28 Ghost Bat Drone.
7. USAF releases accident report for the 04 January 2024, B-1 Bomber crash at Ellsworth AFB, North Dakota. 

For review:
1. Gaza Post-War Plan Discussions in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 
Officials from Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates reportedly held a secret meeting in Abu Dhabi last week to discuss plans for a postwar Gaza.
2. From Farnborough Air Show: Israel Aerospace Industries announces air-to-surface missile named Wind Demon. The missile can be launched from various aerial platforms such as helicopters or warplanes. The missile's warhead weighs over 20 kilograms and has a range of 200 kilometers. 
3. US to Broker Sudan Ceasefire Talks in Switzerland. 
The war in Sudan has continued for more than a year and is between the regular forces under Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by al-Burhan's former Deputy Mohammed Dagalo. 
4.  Ukraine's Foreign Minister Visits China. 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Guangzhou, China on Wednesday.
5. German-firm Rheinmetall received formal order to build an ammunition plant in Ukraine. Rheinmetall did not reveal the value of the contract beyond saying it was “in a low three-digit million euro range."
6. Canadian Army Procures Tactical Vehicles for Light Forces. 
Canada awarded GM Defense a contract to deliver 90 Light Tactical Vehicles- 54 personnel variant & 36 cargo variant.  
7. From Farnborough Air Show: Boeing will compete for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Increment 2 effort in support the USAF Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Fighter program- unless it is a "Fixed-Price Contract."
Under a fixed-price contract, a company agrees to create a system for the military at a set price tag. If the program busts its budget, the company is on the hook for cost overruns.

For review:
1. Royal Australian Navy Destroyer Employs Naval Strike Missile at RIMPAC 2024.
Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG-42) successfully fired a Naval Strike Missile and sank former amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA-1) in the waters off Hawaii during the biennial Rim of the Pacific 2024 exercise.
2. China & Philippines open a direct line of communication between respective presidential offices to prevent escalation of events during territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
3. Israel Prime Minister in Washington D.C. (Monday).
PM Netanyahu will address a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday and will meet with President Joe Biden in the White House on Thursday. 
4. At Farnborough Air Show, Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) partners (Italy, Japan, & UK), unveil a concept of the future crewed fighter. The concept design is a delta wing shape, with increased wingspan ,compared to previous iterations.
5. At Farnborough, USAF Secretary comments on the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program.
6. US releases Arctic Strategy document: 2024 National Strategy for the Arctic Region.
7. US Army Reports 6 Month Schedule Delay in JLTV Production. 
According to PEO Combat Support & Combat Systems Support Spokesperson: AM General’s initial delivery of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), has been delayed by six months- due to challenges starting up a new production line.

For review:
1. Israeli Response: IAF F-35s and F-15s Strike Houthi Port Facilities in Yemen.
At least a dozen IAF aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighter jets, F-15 fighters, reconnaissance aircraft and refueling planes were involved in the attack — the latter of which was due to the target being some 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) from Israel.
2.  Estonia Sends Mistral Air Defense Systems to Ukraine.
Estonia's Ministry of Defense confirmed on 06 July 2024, a shipment of French-made Mistral short-range anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine. Mistral (missile) has a speed of 900–950 meters per second (around Mach 2.7), allowing it to effectively target helicopters, UAVs, attack aircraft, and cruise missiles. 
3. Denmark to procure Wisent 2 armored support vehicles for the Royal Danish Army's 1st Brigade. The Wisent 2 has a lifting capacity of up to 32 tons and is designed for recovery operations for Leopard Tanks and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles.
4. USAF to Restructure Acquisition Plan for Sentinel ICBM Program. 
Due to severe program cost overruns, the Air Force is required by law to formulate a new acquisition strategy that could contain an alternate approach for developing Sentinel’s infrastructure.
5. USAF comes to terms with Boeing over E-7 Wedgetail Program. 
Andrew Hunter, (USAF top acquisition official), said Boeing and the Air Force were eventually able to hammer out a deal due to the service’s investment in upgrading mission systems aboard the Wedgetail that will ultimately make it more attractive to potential international customers.
6. Department of Defense (DoD) resumes receiving F-35 deliveries after one-year pause. 
The DoD halted deliveries due to software problems with an upgrade known as Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3). Consisting of features like a more powerful processor and greater memory, TR-3 essentially serves as the backbone for a suite of forthcoming upgrades known as Block 4.

For review:
1. Last Story on US-built Gaza Pier (I think).
2. Houthi-launched explosive drone hits Tel Aviv. 
The drone, identified by the IDF as an Iranian-made Samad-3, had been modified to have an extended range, had flown to the country for several hours at a low altitude.
3. Lebanon files complaint with the UN over GPS jammed Southern Lebanon. GPS jamming has taken a toll on Lebanese civil aviation. 
4. Manned Attack Helicopters Dead? Great article from Defense News (Elisabeth Gosselin Malo) on Drone Operations in Ukraine and their effects on future manned aviation- particularly rotary-wing aircraft.
5. UK all in on US-made Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM) for AH-64E Apache fleet. In 2023, the UK was cleared by the US State Department to buy 3,000 x JAGM munitions under US Foreign Military Sale (FMS) valued at $957 million-  in support of the British Army’s 50 x AH-64s.  
6. France to Train New Ukraine Combat Brigade. Brigade will be manned with 2,100 Soldiers and equipped with 128 x VAB armored personnel carriers, 24 x light tanks, and 18 x Caesar 155mm truck-mounted howitzers.
7. US Pairs Navy SM-6 with Army Radar in Indo-Pacific Test. 
A US Navy Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) guided by the US Army's Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTMADS), intercepted a target in a recent test during Valiant Shield 24 in the Indo-Pacific, Raytheon announced in a July 18 statement.
8. US Army 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF), Long-Range Fires Battalion (1 x Battery) participates in Navy Exercise- Resolute Hunter. 
The Battery practiced the deployment of a Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) transport erector launcher, including reloading and preparing to fire.
A LRHW battery includes four launchers with two missiles each, a battery operations command vehicle and a battery operations command support vehicle. 

For review:
1. IDF monitored Hamas' Khan Yunis Brigade Commander's residence for weeks before airstrike. Senior Hamas Commander was reported to have been at the compound for significant periods in recent months, 
2. Israel is a Real-Time Proving Ground for Layered Air Defense- Short, Medium, & Long-range systems.
3. US & Armenia Conduct Eagle Partner 24 Military Exercise (in Armenia). 
The Eagle Partner 24 Exercise is aimed at increasing the interoperability of units participating in international peacekeeping missions, according to Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan.
4. India Developing New Light Tank for use in mountainous terrain. The "Zorawar" combat vehicle runs on composite rubber tracks, and side-mounted sponsons indicate it is amphibious. It will apparently integrate drones and loitering munitions. The 105mm main gun features an autoloader, meaning only three crewmen are required. 
5. US & Australia collaborate on integration of hypersonic missiles on F/A 18F Super Hornets. Testing will occur at Woomera Test Range (WTR) in South Australia
WTR is the world's largest land-based weapons testing facility, covering 127,000 square kilometers (49,000 sq mi).
6. Boeing Working to Launch Hypersonic Missiles from C-17. 
The innovative system features an advanced electromagnetic catapult mechanism that enables the rapid launch of up to twelve (12) X-51A Waverider hypersonic cruise missiles.

For review:
1. US President and Secretary of Defense Statements on Former President Donald Trump assassination attempt.
2. Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) press conference at IDF Headquarters in Tel Aviv. Prime Minister discusses strike on Senior Hamas Commander and reasons for the Rafah operation.
3. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Herzi Halevi has no plans to resign. 
 Lt. General Herzi Halevi says he will make a decision once “the tasks are completed.”
4. US Navy Carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN- 71) arrived in CENTCOM Area of Responsibility on 12 July 2024- "to deter aggression, promote regional stability, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region.” 
5. Five Countries to Purchase US ATACMS. 
Morocco was among the five nations covered by a new $227-million contract for the missiles. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland were also included in this order.
6. Jordan and Croatia to purchase UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters (Sikorsky) in a deal worth $251.4 million.
7. Slovenia announces modernization plans during the 2024 NATO Summit. Plans include new artillery systems, air defense systems and armored vehicles.
8. Italy considers new aircraft tanker competition. Two potential contenders are Boeing's KC-46 and Airbus A330 MRTT. 
9. Retired CJCS General Mark Milley comments on future US Military organizational structure: “Ten to fifteen years from now, my guess is a third, maybe 25% to a third of the U.S. military will be robotic.” 
10. US to Close Down Gaza Pier. 
US Central Command tried to reattach the temporary pier to the beach in Gaza on Wednesday (10 July 2024),  but were unsuccessful due to bad weather and technical problems.

For review:
1. Israel PM (Benjamin Netanyahu) Denies IDF Withdrawal from Philadelphi Corridor as part of Hostage Negotiations.
Israeli PM statement:  “The prime minister insists that Israel remain in the Philadelphi Corridor.” 
2.  NATO to Open Liasson Office in Jordan.
3.  Northrup Grumman Ammo Co-Production in Ukraine. 
Northrup Grumman Spokesperson: “As part of the co-production agreement Northrop Grumman will provide the equipment and training to install an assembly line so that [Ukranian firm Ukroboronservice] can produce and test advanced medium caliber ammunition in Ukraine.”
4. Switzerland moves to formalize admission into the European Sky Shield Initiative (air defense). The ESSI project has grown from 15 to 21 participating states, with Greece and Turkey announcing their intention to join in February. Member nations now have two months to decide on Switzerland’s membership bid.
5. Slovakia's purchase of 4 x additional F-16 warplanes from US continues controversy between current and former government administrations over shuttered Bell AH-Z Viper deal and previous military aid to Ukraine. 
6. Long-presence of Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy vessels at the Ream Naval Base in Cambodia sparks worry in the US.
7. Sino-Belarusian Exercise Timed with NATO Summit. 
China Defense Ministry Statement: Exercise in Belarus with Chinese Army will work “improve combat techniques and deepen cooperation and communication between the two armies."

For review:
1. Hezbollah to cross-border Stop Attacks with Israel-Hamas Ceasefire. 
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said Wednesday his Lebanese terror group would accept Palestinian ally Hamas’s decision on Gaza hostage negotiations and would stop cross-border attacks on Israel if a ceasefire were reached.
2. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the NATO Summit in Washington D.C: 
The long-awaited first tranche of F-16 fighter jets are in the process of being transferred to Ukraine from their European owners. Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway have all agreed to supply around 80 F-16s under an air force capability coalition for Ukraine.
3. NATO: Ukraine Irreversible Path to Membership. 
NATO alliance statement: “We fully support Ukraine’s right to choose its own security arrangements and decide its own future, free from outside interference. Ukraine’s future is in NATO.”
4. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban travels to China- meets with President Xi Jinping. During his meeting with Xi, Orban described China as a stabilizing force amid global turbulence and praised its “constructive and important” peace initiatives. China has been promoting its own six-point peace plan, which it issued with Brazil in May (2024).
5.   Romania to Procure 54 x K9 155mm SP Howitzers & 36 x K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicles from Hanwha Aerospace (South Korea).
6. Canada working toward procurement of 12 x conventionally powered, under-ice capable submarines- in deal worth $44 billion. 
Canadian Government Press Release: “Canada’s key submarine capability requirements will be stealth, lethality, persistence and Arctic deployability — meaning that the submarine must have extended range and endurance.” 
7. US & Germany Agree to American Long-Range Fires Basing.
These systems will be assigned to the 2d Multi-Domain Task Force in Germany- and will include:
- HIMARS Battery: Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)- 500-kilometer range.

- Long Range Hypersonic Weapon Battery: Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon - 2,776-kilometers range.

- Mid-Range Capability Battery: Mid-Range Capability system with ground-based launcher for SM-6 & Tomahawk Missiles- between 500k & 2,776 k range.
 

1. Pitch Black Exercise in Australia will see 20 nations participating. Of these, 16 are contributing combat jets to the exercise, with more than 140 aircraft and over 4,000 personnel. The three-week exercise will run 12 July - 02 August 2024.  
2. US Navy vessel rundown in the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. 
3. IDF Hamas tunnel assessment in Gaza Strip.  
After nine months of war, much of Hamas’s tunnel network is still in a “good functional state” in many parts of Gaza. It could take years to dismantle the tunnels, noting that underground passages must be mapped and checked for booby traps and hostages before the IDF can destroy them. 
4.  Israel PM Nonnegotiable Demands for Hostage Talks.
- “Any deal will allow Israel to return to fighting until its war aims are achieved.”
- “Weapons smuggling to Hamas from the Gaza-Egypt border will not be possible.”
- “The return of thousands of armed terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip will not be possible.”
- “Israel will maximize the number of living hostages who will be returned from Hamas captivity.”
5. NATO Command to be created up to coordinate training and equipment for Ukraine. The command will have about 700 personnel from NATO countries and partner nations assigned.
6. NATO Summit Starts in Washington D.C.  Summit will take place from 09-11 July 2024. 
7. US provides $2 billion loan to Poland. The money is allocated through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, which stipulates the dollars have to be spent on American-made weapons. 
8. USAF Sentinel ICBM Program is reset due to severe cost overruns. 
Restructuring the program will delay it by several years.

For review: 
1. Reformist candidate (Masoud Pezeshkian) wins Iranian Presidential election. President-elect Pezeshkian advocates for improved ties with the West, "except for Israel."
2. IDF Strikes Key Figure in Hezbollah Air Defense Unit. Prominent Hezbollah member was killed by an IDF drone strike in Northeastern Lebanon, about 100 kilometers from the Israeli border. 
3. Latest on F-16 Fighters to Ukraine from the Kyiv Post. According to open sources, between ten and fifteen Ukrainian pilots completed training in Romania. The Netherlands formally approved the export of 24 jets to Ukraine, and Copenhagen announced a core cadre of 50 F-16 maintainers had completed training in Denmark.
4. Switzerland to procure air defense systems in support of their participation in the European Sky Shield initiative. Switzerland’s system criteria is that it must already be successfully in use and that the inclusion of Swiss industry in the contract is “of particular importance.” Diehl Defense's IRIS-T SLM system is the sole candidate for selection.
5. NATO eyeing a goal for all member states to achieve 2.5% GDP in defense spending. This goal will not be discussed at the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington D.C this month but at the 2025 Summit in Netherlands. 23/32 member states meet or are expected to mee the 2.0% GDP target this year.
6. Pentagon announces USAF Fighter modernization moves in Japan at two air bases- Kadena & Misawa. Kadena Air Base will replace 48 x 15C/Ds with 36 x F-15EXs. At Misawa, the USAF will upgrade 36 x F-16s with 48 x F-35As. 
7. USMC re-activates Light Helicopter Squadron (HMLA 269), under the 2d Marine Air Wing (Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina). The Squadron operates AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters & UH-1Y Venom Utility Helicopters. Reactivation brings the number of USMC Light Helicopter Squadrons to six. 

For review:
1. Israel - Hamas Negotiations Resume. Israel said the Friday talks were only an initial meeting, and their delegation will return to Doha next week to resume talks.
2. Report from Reuters: Masoud Pezeshkian leads rivals in Iran Presidential race.
Masoud Pezeshkian is reported to be moderate and has pledged to open Iran to the world and deliver freedoms its people have yearned for.
3.Hungarian PM Viktor Orban to Russia - Talks Peace.
Statement from Press Secretary: “The talks with President Putin at the Kremlin focused on the Ukraine settlement and bilateral relations, emphasizing Hungary’s unique position to communicate with both warring sides.”
4. Russia strikes Ukraine installations housing aircraft. Raises continued concerns over air defense protection of potential airfields basing F-16 fighters after their delivery. Russia claims 5 x Ukraine SU-27 warplanes were destroyed at a location 150 kilometers from Russian border.
5. Latvia & Estonia to receive advanced radars for IRIS-T SLM air defense upgrades as part of the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative. The European Sky Shield Initiative was launched by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in 2022. The initiative now counts 21 participating countries, including Austria and Switzerland.
France, Italy, and Spain are not participants.
6. German Arms Exports on Record Pace. The first half of 2024 saw Germany export more than $8 billion of military goods. Ukraine is #1 destination, with 65% of army going there.
7. Amphib Vessel USS Boxer (LHD-4) Prepares for Deployment Return. The amphib got underway on 03 July 2024, according to ship-spotters. Since April 2024, USS Boxer has been under repair at Pier 2 at Naval Station San Diego, California- following the damage to the starboard rudder. In a statement, Naval Surface Force said that the pier-side tests have been completed and the Boxer was preparing for sea trials.
 

For review:
1. IDF Strikes Senior Hezbollah Commander in Southern Lebanon. 
2. Lebanon's Foreign Minister (Abdullah Bou Habib) statement to Israel: "We are interested in peace, we do not want war.” Message to Israeli Foreign Minister (Israel Katz) was delivered via Azeri Foreign Minister (Jeyhun Bayramov).  Bayramov said that the Lebanese had chosen him to deliver the message because they knew of the good relationship that existed between Azerbaijan and Israel.
3. Quote from Commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Forces (Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh): “We await an opportunity for ‘True Promise II'. Iran’s next attack, “will lead to a complete victory for the Palestinian people.”” ('True Promise' is Iran's name for its 13 April 2024 attack on Israel, comprising more than 300 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and suicide drones.
4. Latest US Security assistance package to Ukraine is worth $150 million and includes air defense interceptors, artillery munitions, and anti-tank weapons. 
An addition $2.2 billion will purchase Patriot and NASAMS air defense missiles for Ukraine from US arms manufacturers under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
5. Hungarian President Visits Ukraine. Talks Ceasefire with President Zelensky.
6. Armor Not Dead: Leonardo & Rheinmetall team to develop and build new tanks and armored vehicles for Italy.  Rheinmetall will offer its prototype Panther KF51 and the Lynx tracked fighting vehicle as baselines.
7.  Boeing Delivers Block II CH-47 Chinook to US Army.
8.  US Navy & Army Test Hypersonic Missile.
Reportedly, the two-stage missile was launched from a ground stand in Hawaii more than 2,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, to a test range in the Marshall Islands, with the missile flying its intended course and releasing the glide body, which flew to the target. 

For review:
1. US Military raises security alert level of bases in European Command.  
2. Israeli Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant) visits Rafah. 
Defense Minister Gallant vowed the IDF will “continue and push until we reach a situation where we choke [Hamas’s] windpipe, and do not allow it to rebuild its strength. This is the goal of this operation.”
3. IDF locates and destroys the largest underground production site for long-range rockets site in the Tel-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah.
4. Financial Times Report: Unnamed sources say that the United States, Israel and Ukraine are in talks to provide Kyiv with up to eight Patriot missile air defense systems- currently owned and employed by Israel.
5. Russia Prepares Response to US Black Sea Drone Operations.
The Russian Defense Ministry noted a recent “increased intensity” of U.S. drones over the Black Sea, saying they “conduct intelligence and targeting for precision weapons supplied to the Ukrainian military by Western countries for strikes on Russian facilities.”
6. European Combined Development of Long-Range Strike Capability. 
A letter of intent is expected to be signed during the 09-10 July NATO Summit, laying the foundation of the European Long Strike Approach (ELSA).
7. Former top Estonian General (Martin Herem), describes the purpose and objective of the future Baltic defensive project that will consist of bunkers, obstacles, and fighting positions in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
 “So the idea is actually to shape [the invasion]...in order to strike the Kremlin’s forces wherever they’re funneled".
8. Defense News (Stephen Losey) interview with USAF Secretary Frank Kendall concerning the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Fighter Platform. 
Secretary Kendall:  “I can tell you that we are looking at the NGAD platform design concept to see if it’s the right concept or not. … We’re looking at whether we can do something that’s less expensive and do some trade-offs there.”

For review:
1.  Iran UN Mission Threatens "Obliterating War" if IDF Offensive in Lebanon.
2. IDF has 2 x Divisions and 1 x Mountain Brigade on Northern Border. These units are back-up by two more Divisions.
3. Finland to Procure Border Surveillance Aircraft (2).
Finland has selected Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Bombardier Challenger 650 (with sensor package), for its border surveillance jet program. Production will occur out of the SNC integration center in Hagerstown, Maryland.
4. Italy signs $535 million deal for the fourth U-212 Near Future Submarine- built by Italian Shipyard Ficantieri.
5. Construction starts on the New Royal Canadian Navy Destroyers- in support of the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) Project. The project will see the construction of 15 warships to replace the current fleet of Halifax-class frigates. The 15 new vessels will be classified as destroyers. The first ship will not be delivered until the early 2030s.
6.  The US Navy is conducting tests to integrate the Lockheed Martin Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), onto the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
7. USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in Mediterranean Sea.
The Wasp ARG consists of the USS Wasp (LHD-1), the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD-21), and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51).
Embarked is the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit consisting of a command element, Battalion Landing Team 1/8, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 24.

For review:
1. NATO Statement: Outgoing Netherlands Prime Minister set to become the new NATO Secretary General on 01 October 2024. The position is a four year term, which can be extended repeatedly.
2. Pentagon Inspector General (IG), in collaboration with US Agency for International Development (USAID), will investigate the effectiveness of the Gaza pier mission in delivering humanitarian aid.
3. Israel Prime Minister Visits Northern Border.
Speaking to the 55th Paratrooper Brigade, Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that Israel would achieve “victory” in the north in case of a full-blown war with Hezbollah.
4. Germany to Develop Super-Sonic Strike Missile with Norway.  
The "Tyrfing" Super Sonic Strike Missile (3SM), will replace the Naval Strike Missile and is forecasted to be ready in 2035. 
5. US Army continues development of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Extended Range (GMLRS ER) at the Camden, Arkansas facility.  The Extended Range version can reach 150-plus kilometers compared to the 70-kilometer range capability of GMLRS.
6. US Army Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Engagement in Pacific Exercise.  
US Army statement: During Indo-PACOM Exercise Valiant Shield, Soldiers from 3d MDTF & and 1-181 Artillery Regiment launched two PrSMs from the Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (AML) and “was able to engage a moving maritime target in conjunction with other joint assets.” 
7. Japan launches the ninth vessel from the Mogami Guided-Missile Frigate class.  
The future JS Natori is scheduled for delivery and commissioning in 2025, with the entire fleet of 12 warships planned for induction by 2028.
The warship is armed with a BAE Systems 127 mm naval gun and is equipped with a vertical launching system for Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile, and two launchers for anti-ship missiles.

For review:
1. USNI  posts the Memorandum of Understanding (11 June 2024), between the USMC & US Navy concerning amphibious warship readiness terms. 
2. US has fully cleared equipment from Base 101 in Niger. Work on Base 201 continues in order to meet the 15 September 2024 departure date of US Forces agreed upon by the US & Niger. 
3. US Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) has Call with Russian Defense Minister (Andrei Belousov).  Last call between Secretary Austin and Russian Defense Minister was 15 March 2023. 
4.  US & Israel Discuss Strategies for De-escalation in North with Hezbollah (Lebanon Border region).
5.  IDF to control all of Rafah with two weeks.  162d Division has operational control of 60-70% of Rafah (Division Commander, Brigadier General Itzik Cohen).
6. BAE Increases Production of AMPV at York, PA facility.  Goal is to produce up to 220 AMPVs per year- almost 2 x Brigades worth. 
7. Oshkosh has contract worth $27.3 to deliver Medium Equipment Trailers (METs) to the US Army. METs are used for loading and shipping Bradley armored fighting vehicles, Paladin turreted self-propelled howitzers, M992 field artillery ammunition support vehicles, and Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles. 
8. Germany is planning to order 105 additional Leopard 2 A8 battle tanks from defense firm KNDS. If approved, the tanks will be delivered from 2027 to 2030, with around 70 during the contract’s final two years. Estimated purchase is worth 2.9-billion euros ($3.1 billion).
9. Finland's Senop Unveils Carl Gustaf Day/Thermal Sight. 
The sight consists of a day camera, thermal camera, laser rangefinder, and ballistic calculation- which aids in first round probability of hit. The sight weighs 1.7 kilograms (3.74 pounds). 

For review:
1. Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu): Once the IDF completes its intense fighting in Rafah, “we will face north.” 
2. IDF locate and raid Hamas headquarters and training complexes in Rafah- find weapon depots, tunnel shafts, and intelligence materials. 
3. Israel Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant)  to Washington. 
The Defense Minister meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, CIA Director William Burns and Special Envoy Amos Hochstein.
4. Kongsberg (Norway) New Maneuverable Short Range Air Defense System (NOMADS) can defend against small, short-range targets such as drones and cruise missiles.
5. European Defense firm MBDA has developed a man-portable module (Ground Warden)- that utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and  beyond-line-of-sight technology to provide precise target detection capability.
6. Rheinmetall 155mm Munition Order is worth $9.1 Billion. 
The order is primarily intended to increase the stocks of the German Armed Forces, its allies, and to support Ukraine.
7.  At Eurosatory 2024 in Paris, US Army leaders discuss the right balance between precision fires and “dumb” mass deep attack capability.
8. South Korean firm Hanwha Systems, to Purchase Philly Shipyard for $100 million. 
(only 100 million?)

For review:
1. US Gaza Pier Operational Again. The pier was reattached to Gaza’s shoreline on 19 June 2024.
2. France signals support for a potential Lebanese Armed Forces security mission on its' southern border.
3. US re-prioritizes deliveries of Patriot & NASAMs air defense interceptors. Ukraine moves to front of line. Taiwan and Israel not affected. Countries affected by delay not mentioned.
4. Northrup Grumman makes plans to produce medium-caliber ammunition in Ukraine. Venture could expand into tank and 155mm artillery munitions.
5.  Romania to Procure K9 Thunder 155mm SP Howitzers (54) from Hanwha Aerospace (South Korea).
6. US Army to develop a second interceptor for the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2) program. The Army needs a second interceptor that is “more capable” against lower flying, supersonic cruise missiles.
7.  USAF to Open F-35 Training Site at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas. 
The site will  train foreign pilots across the global F-35 enterprise. 
8. US Carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) Departs Red Sea. 
A carrier currently on station in the Pacific is planned to head to the Middle East to continue a US presence mission in the region. 

For review:
1. In response to comments by NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg (concerning China's support for Russia), Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian urges NATO "to do something practical for the political settlement of the crisis (Ukraine-Russia conflict). "
2. Netherlands Prime Minister (Mark Rutte) expected to become the next NATO Secretary General in October 2024, replacing Jens Stoltenberg.
3.  Philippines & China Clash at Second Thomas Shoal. 
A Philippine sailor suffered injury after an "intentional-high speed ramming" by the Chinese Coast Guard.
4. US Foreign Military Sales of Loitering Munitions to Taiwan is worth $360 million. Includes 291 x ALTIUS 600M-V & 720 x Switchblade 300s systems.
5.  Hezbollah Leader (Hassan Nasrallah) Warns Israel about Conflict Escalation in Lebanon.  
6. French Army Chief of Staff, General Pierre Schill comments on French Army modernization and Ukraine operational lessons learned.
7.   Armor Not Dead: Advanced Tank Concepts at Eurosatory 2024. 

For review:
1. Update: Court rules that Israeli Military Companies can attend Eurosatory 2024 Exhibition in Paris.
2.  IDF Says Half of Rafah Brigade Dismantled. Of the four battalions in Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, two — Yabna (South) and East Rafah — are considered to be almost completely dismantled, while the capabilities of the other two — Shaboura (North) and Tel Sultan (West) — are somewhat degraded due to IDF operations.
3. Israeli Army Generals Approve Lebanon Offensive Plan. The head of the IDF’s Northern Command Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin and head of the Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk approved Lebanon battle plans on 18 June 2024. 
4. Shots Fired Across Korean DMZ. South Korea's military fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line in the border area between the two Koreas on 18 June 2024.
5. Russia President Vladimir Putin  to visit North Korea and Vietnam.
6. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says that China should face consequences for supporting Russia during the war in Ukraine. 
7. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Marine Corps Commandant General Eric Smith sign formal document, “Memorandum of Understanding on Amphibious Warfare Ship Terms of Reference.”  
Purpose: The new terms of reference serve as supplemental guidance to existing readiness reporting criteria and will ensure consistency and uniformity in Navy and Marine Corps amphibious force planning, assessment, and operational mission execution.
8. US Army to Remove Hellfire Launcher from M-SHORAD (Sergeant Stout). 
US Army will retrofit those existing M-SHORAD platforms by swapping out the Hellfire launcher and for a second Stinger pod — a move that would give the platform eight Stinger rounds.

For review:
1.  Despite a daily humanitarian pause- IDF Will Continue Rafah Fight.
IDF: The pause “for humanitarian purposes will take place from 8:00 am (0500 GMT) until 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) every day until further notice along the road that leads from the Kerem Shalom crossing to the Salah al-Din road and then northwards.” 
2. Israel and Hezbollah continue cross-border strikes, leading to fears of escalation in the conflict.
3. Ukraine Peace Summit Concludes in Switzerland. 
More than 90 countries and international organizations attended the summit. Russia was not invited, and its biggest backer China was not present, leading some to cast doubt on the summit's effectiveness.
4. USAF Chief of Staff (General David Allvin) coy about the future budgeting priority of  Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) stealth fighter. 
5. Defense News Interview with French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pierre Schill, concerning Force Modernization- by Rudy Ruitenberg.
6. US Army Names M-SHORAD Platform after Vietnam Medal of Honor Hero- Sergeant Stout.
On 12 March 1970, U.S. Army Sergeant Mitchell William Stout grabbed an enemy grenade thrown into his bunker and used his body to shield the blast from his fellow Soldiers. 
Sergeant Stout is the only Army Air Defense Artilleryman in US Army history to earn the Medal of Honor.

For review:
1.  US Gaza Pier Dismantled Due to Weather.
US CENTCOM Statement: "After the period of expected high seas, the pier will be rapidly re-anchored to the coast of Gaza and resume delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza." 
2. Washington Post Report: Since 07 October 2023, US has assisted Israel with intelligence via drone footage, satellite imagery, communications intercepts, and data analysis using advanced software, some of which is powered by artificial intelligence.
3. Russian President Offers Ukraine Ceasefire - with Conditions.  Russia ready to start negotiations if Kyiv begins withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounce plans to join NATO. 
4. Sweden Military to upgrade their Trossbat Light Cable Boat Fleet.
Trossbat logistic vessels utilize water jet propulsion to maintain ammunition, water, and good supplies between warfighters and corresponding vehicles in shallow waters and areas close to land. The vessels can also be configured to carry larger containers and amphibious vehicles.
5. Greece (Hellenic Army) Considers Procurement of Precision Strike Missiles for their MLRS platforms.
6. US V22 Osprey Fleet under Limited Flight Status until 2025.
US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) chief Vice Admiral Carl Chebi: 
“I will not certify the V-22 to return to unrestricted flight operations until I am satisfied that we have sufficiently addressed the issues that may affect the safety of the aircraft.” 
7. US Senate Armed Service Committee (SASC) FY25 NDAA is $911.8 billion: 
$878.4 billion for Department of Defense & $33.4 billion of defense-related activities for Department of Energy.
8. USAF (new) Air Force One platform (VC-25B) continues to run behind schedule. 
First flight not expected until March 2026. 

For review:
1. Houthi forces strike cargo ship with two anti-ship cruise missiles in Gulf of Aden.
US CENTCOM statement: “Both missiles struck MV Verbena, a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier."
2.  Hezbollah Rocket Assault in Response to IDF Targeted Strike on high-level commander.
3. Report from Saudi Arabian news outlets (Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath): 
Senior Hezbollah official killed in Southern Lebanon missile strike.
4. US - Ukraine Security Agreement provides for long-term cooperation on building up Ukraine’s current defenses, its future forces and its defense industry.
5. Germany Sends Patriot Missiles to Ukraine. 
Three x Patriot systems  are operational in Ukraine: two donated by Germany and one by the US.
6. Ukraine Main Directorate of Intelligence  Chief (Kyrylo Budanov): The Russian Armed Forces have moved its S-500 air defense system to occupied Crimea.
7. White House releases statement concerning the HASC FY25 NDAA. 
8.  Mobile Artillery Showcased at Eurosatory '2024 in Paris- featuring at least 10 artillery systems. 

For review:
1. Hamas Provides "Amendments" to Ceasefire Proposal. 
A Hamas spokesman said the response included “amendments that confirm the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction and [hostage] exchange.”
2. Ukrainian Air Force Aviation Chief: Ukraine will station a "certain number" of F-16s outside Ukraine to prevent Russia from targeting them. These F-16s are separate from those Kyiv plans to deploy, as they can be used to replace damaged aircraft or train more Ukrainian pilots abroad.
3. Russian Naval Action Group Operates off Florida's Atlantic Coast. The Naval Group is bound for the Caribbean Region, with port calls likely in Cuba and possibly Venezuela.
4. Norway to Assemble Leopard Main Battle Tanks. 
Under an agreement with Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, Norway’s RITEK will become a subcontractor for the German tank maker.
5. Leonardo (Italy) and KNDS (France-Germany) end their partnership effort for the development and production of Leopard 2A8 MBTs. 
6. Some information on the US House Appropriators FY25 Defense Spending Bill ($883 billion).
7. U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton (2) unmanned aerial vehicles deploy to Okinawa in support of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions around Japan’s southwest islands. 
The Triton UAVs will be operate from Kadena Air Base until October 2024.

For review:
1. IDF Operation Arnon Hostage Rescue Details.
2. UN Security Council Adopts US Sponsored - Israel - Hamas Ceasefire Proposal. 14 in Favor with 1 x Abstain (Russia).
3. Israeli Roem/Sigma Automatic 155mm Mobile Howitzer ready for fielding.
4. Around 90 Countries Will Attend Swiss Hosted Ukraine Peace Summit, (15-16 June).
Swiss officials say the conference aims to set a course toward “lasting peace” in Ukraine, to reach a “common understanding” toward getting there, and draw up the “roadmap” on how to get both sides involved in talks.
5. Ukraine helicopters to receive Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS), from Hensoldt.  System components include the Missile Launch Detection Sensor, a Control and Display Unit, and an active confirmation system.
6. Royal Australian Navy to equip Destroyers & Frigates with  Naval Strike Missiles.
7. US peer & near-peer threat are adroit at Electromagnetic Warfare (EW).
Great article from Breaking Defense on EW by Kollen Post: Inside Ukraine, Startups Try to Edge Russia in the EW Race.

For review:
1. US Gaza Pier Back in Operation.
2. IDF Rescues 4 Hostages (Alive) from Nuseirat, in Central Gaza.
3. Latest US Security Assistance to Ukraine is Worth $225 Million.
Includes air defense interceptors; artillery systems and munitions; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.
4. France to Provide Mirage 2000-5 Warplanes to Ukraine. In addition, France will begin training pilots, with completion by the end of year. France will also propose to train and equip a brigade of 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers, according to French President (Emmanuel Macron).  
5. Germany plans to procure 20 x Eurofighter Typhoon Jets- in an effort to fortify the European Defense Industry (German Chancellor Olaf Scholz). 
6. NATO-member Finland has no plans to permanently station US or NATO troops- but supports multi-national training events- Finland's President Alexander Stubb.
7. USAF test-fires 2 x Minuteman II Missiles (unarmed). Both tests successful.  Launched from Vandenburg Space Force Base in California, the reentry vehicle of each missile landed at the Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
8. Australian Navy to develop 11 x general-purpose frigates to replace eight existing Anzac-class frigates. 
Estimated commissioning of the first frigate is 2030.

For review:
1. Follow-up. More than 70 Israeli defense firms uninvited to Eurosatory Defense Expedition in Paris. Some defense firm executives shrug-off decision as unpleasant but note little effect on the bottom line.
2.   IDF Destroys 2k Tunnel Adjacent to Rafah Border Crossing.
3. Israel - Hamas hostage negotiations continue without sign of breakthrough.
4. IDF to Build a third F-35 Squadron.  First aircraft deliveries to begin in 2028, with final delivery estimated in 2036 for all 25 warplanes.
5.  Houthi Rebels Fire Solid Fuel Missile toward Israeli town of Eilat. No injuries or damage reported. Houthi rebels unveiled a new, solid-fuel missile that resemble one displayed by Iran that Tehran described as hypersonic.
6. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) affiliated news agency (Tasnim), reports that missile technology is at the disposal” of the militias (Houthi).
7. Large Baltic NATO Exercise runs from 07-20 June and will include warships from over 20 nations.  BALTOPS 2024 will include antisubmarine warfare, gunnery drills, amphibious operations, mine clearing and medical responses.
8. US B-1B Bomber Drops Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM),  at South Korean Range. 

For review:
1. IDF Prepares for Operations on Northern Border. 
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi : “We are approaching the point where a decision will have to be made, and the IDF is prepared and very ready for this decision."
2.   President Biden Will Not Attend Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland.
Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will represent the US.
3. Russia considers western military instructors inside Ukraine a legitimate target.
Kremlin spokesman (Dmitry Peskov): "Any instructors who are engaged in training the Ukrainian regime do not have any immunity. It does not matter whether they are French or not."
4.  Security package and NATO-member bilateral agreements will be offered to Ukraine during the NATO Summit in July (held in Washington D.C.).
5. Italy preparing to send 9th security assistance package to Ukraine. Package will include a SAMP/T air defense battery.
6. Finland strengthening coastal defense capabilities with mobile artillery procurement.
7. Chinese Defense Minister speaks at the Shangri La Dialogue and drives home disapproval of Taiwan Independence (repeatedly).
8. Japan enters Rail Gun development cooperation agreement with France and Germany.
9. US Army 155mm artillery modernization stirs defense industry opportunities and  competition.
10, Latest US Army Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) update. 
Microsoft reorganization will "prioritize" work on IVAS. 

For review:
1. Latest on Israel - Hamas Hostage Release Deal.
2. Israeli Defense companies uninvited to the 2024 Eurosatory Defense Show in Paris, France. More than 70 Israeli companies had been scheduled to participate 
3. Ukraine President surprise appearance at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Seeks the support of Asian governments and attendance at the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland later this month.
4. US and other NATO countries authorize Ukraine to conduct limited cross-border strikes into Russia with donated weaponry.
5. Sweden to arm amphibious assault boats with air defense weapons.
6. Sierra Nevada preparing to start development and build of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft. SNC plans to buy five Boeing 747-8 planes from Korean Air to convert into flying operations centers, with the last scheduled for delivery in September 2025. 
7. US Army M1E3 Abrams future developments include an active protection system, reduced weight (from 73 tons to under 60 tons), and autoloader capabilities among other modern features. 

For review:
1. US-UK Strikes Houthi Rebels with airstrikes.
2.  IDF Controls Philadelphi Corridor. Along the corridor, IDF said it has located so far some 20 tunnels that cross into Egypt. 
3. IDF finish operations in Northern Gaza city of Jabalya. In addition to destroying 12 kilometers of tunnels, the IDF finds the remains of seven hostages taken and killed by Hamas on 7 October.
4. Israel considers development of the M61 Vulcan for counter-drone use.
5. Sweden to provide Ukraine military equipment worth $1.3 billion. Includes 155mm artillery rounds, Medium Range Air-to-Air missiles, and PBV 302 Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
6. Sweden and Austria to procure 12 each, UH-60M Black Hawks helicopters- in a deal worth $900 million & $1.05 billion respectively.
7. Italy to Develop New Armored Fighting Vehicle (Tracked).  Italian Army wants a design by December 2024, prototypes between 2027 & 2028, deliveries starting in 2029. The goal is to build 1,050.
8. F35B Crash in New Mexico. Pilot injured.
9. US Defense Secretary (Lloyd Austin) meets with Chinese Defense Minister (Dong Jun) in Singapore. 

For Review:
1.  US Gaza Pier Needs Repair.  The pier will be pulled from the beach and sent to the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, where U.S. Central Command will repair it.
2. IDF continues investigation into the deadly fire that occurred after a strike on two Hamas commanders in Rafah. IDF suspects that munitions or some other combustible substance caused a secondary explosion and a fire to spread in a complex housing displaced Gazans.
3. IDF Pushes Tanks into Central Rafah. IDF tanks were spotted near Al-Awda mosque, a central Rafah landmark, the witnesses said.
4. Report: IDF Using Unmanned M113 APCs in Rafah ground campaign. 
5. Spain and Belgium provide commitments for future military aid to Ukraine.
6. Switzerland to host Ukraine Peace Summit from 15-16 June 2024. Russia not invited.
7. Sweden's Air Force wants long-range missiles and more personnel.
8. Sweden brings increased naval capability to NATO via vast submarine experience and an increased focus on sea bed warfare.

For review:
1.  Israel - Egypt Cross Border Shooting results in death of Egyptian Soldier.  
Spokesperson for Egypt’s military said it was carrying out an investigation “into the shooting incident in the border area in Rafah, which led to the martyrdom of one of the [security] personnel.”
2. In Rafah, IDF carries out strike that kills two Senior Hamas Commanders. As a result, Israel believes shrapnel from the strike ignited a fuel  tank near tents housing Palestinian, causing civilian casualties.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Despite our efforts not to hurt them, there was a tragic mishap. We are investigating the incident."
3. Sweden Permits Weapons Use in Russia.  Sweden has provided Ukraine Archer self-propelled howitzers (155mm), anti-ship missiles, and anti-tank weapons- as well as ammunition and spare parts.
4. Ukraine Senior General Oleksandr Syrsky: France Sending Military Instructors to Ukraine.
“I have already signed the documents that will allow the first French instructors to visit our training centers soon and get acquainted with their infrastructure and personnel."
5.  International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) announces military aid worth $190 million. 
Allows procurement of air defense systems and maritime equipment including small boats and loitering munitions.
6. Poland investing $2.5 billion into eastern border (with Belarus) infrastructure project called Shield-East.
7. USAF B-21 Raider continues flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
8. US Army seeking 155mm munitions to achieve 70k range. Munition must be capable of operating in GPS denied environments and compatible with current and future 155mm cannons.  Initial Operational Capability is FY30.

 

For review:
1.  US Gaza Pier Vessels Disconnect in Stormy Seas. 
Four vessels broke free from moorings, and efforts to recover the vessels were underway with assistance from the Israeli Navy.
2. IDF continues Rafah Operation despite ruling from International Criminal Court. Israeli officials said they consider the ICJ order to allow room for some operations in Rafah.
3. US Department of Defense Release from 24 May 2024, concerning SECDEF Health Status. 
4. US Department of Defense Release from 24 May 2024: 
Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine Worth $275 Million. 
Includes, HIMARS munitions, cannon artillery ammunition, and anti-tank weapons, among other materiel.
5. NYT Report via Defense Post: US to consider allowing Ukraine to employ American long-range weapons in Russian territory.
6. Opinion Article by Geoff LaMear via Defense News. Based upon Russian overmatch in personnel, artillery, and combat drones, the author argues that US should encourage Ukraine to begin negotiation with Russia.
6.   Ukraine F-16 Pilots Ready for Combat in Weeks.  
It is that the first F-16 combat sorties could take place in June or July.
7. Opinion Article by Chan Mo Ku & Jinwan Park via Breaking Defense.
Authors make case for a Quad of Northern Pacific Nations (US, Canada, South Korea, & Japan) to counterbalance Russian and Chinese collaboration (and expansion) in the Arctic Region.

For review:
1. Three US Soldiers Sustain Non-Combat Injuries during Gaza Pier Operations.
2. Iran claims that Turkey's assistance (via infrared capable drone) did not aid in finding Iranian President's helicopter wreckage site. 
Story calls into question the capabilities of Iranian drones and unmanned aircraft systems.
3. Hezbollah fires 30 munitions into Northern Israel (from Lebanon). This occurred after IDF strike that killed senior Hezbollah member responsible for weapons procurement.
4. IDF (Paratroopers and Engineers) Locate 4 Hostages in Tunnel Shaft Underneath House in Jabaliya.
5. Russian forces capture THeMIS robotic vehicle in Ukraine. 
The robotic vehicle has a two million ruble bounty ($22,000.00) from a Russian Think Tank (Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies ).
The THeMIS is made by Milrem Robotics and is used for equipment transport and de-mining operations in Ukraine. 
6. US House Armed Service Committee (HASC) Draft NDAA is $883.7 billion. 
Next step- the Draft NDAA goes to full House for vote.
7. China's Peoples Liberation Army conducts provocative drills around Taiwan. 

For review:
1. Follow-up: Iranian President (Ebrahim Raisi) dies in helicopter crash in bad weather and mountainous terrain. Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has named the first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, as interim President. The election for a successor will be held 28 June. 
2. IDF Controls Half of Philadelphi Corridor.  The IDF has estimated that some 950,000 Palestinians had evacuated the Rafah area, as ground forces operate in East Rafah.
3. Ukrainian President (Volodymyr Zelensky) wants NATO nations to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine from their own airspace.
 4. Spain's latest Security Package to Ukraine includes Patriot Missiles, Leopard Tanks, & 155mm Munitions.
5. The Czech-led initiative to procure 122mm & 155mm artillery ammo for Ukraine is progressing. 
Deputy Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic: The first 180,000 shells have been contracted and should arrive by June. 
6. South Korean Defense Firms sign two large deals in Peru:
- Heavy Hyundai Industries (HHI) for construction of one frigate, two landing craft units, & an offshore patrol vessel.  Deal is worth $460 million with delivery in 2029.
-  Hyundai Rotem for 30 x White Tiger Armored Vehicles for Peruvian Army. 
Deal is worth approximately $60 million. 
7. US Navy Successfully Fires Patriot Missile via Aegis System at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
8. US Army signs a $756 million contract with Lockheed Martin to support the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) effort.  
Lockheed Martin will provide LRHW Battery equipment, system & software engineering, and logistics support.

For Review:
1.  Iranian President's (Ebrahim Raisi) Helicopter Crashes in Mountainous Region. 
Condition of passengers unknown. Heavy fog and bad weather challenge rescue efforts.
2. Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) rejects normalization with Saudi Arabia at the cost of a two-state solution- (with Hamas in control- marginalized or not).
3. US Forces Begin Departing Niger. All US Forces will depart country by 15 September 2024.
4. Latest Denmark Assistance to Ukraine worth $813.5 million.
5. The European Defense Fund (EDF) to invest $1.3 billion on 54 multinational research and development military projects.
These include: future main battle tanks; new airlift capabilities; counter unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS); and directed energy weapons.
6. MBDA will lead multi-national group for a European Hypersonic Defense Interceptor Study. Project partners include France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. 
Project goal is to develop an endo-atmospheric hypersonic and ballistic missile interceptor by 2035.
7. Rheinmetall to open air defense repair facility in Ukraine. 
Facility will serve as a repair base for IRIS-T SL, Skynex 30, and Gepard systems. 
8. Germany and Slovakia negotiate to continue operating the KNDS repair hub for German & French manufactured combat vehicles damaged in Ukraine, 

For review:
1. US Gaza Pier ready for operation. Goal is for 500 tons of humanitarian assistance daily via the pier.
2. IDF airstrike in southern Lebanon potentially reveals that Hezbollah has Iranian-made Sayyad-2 surface-to-air missiles. 
3.  Report: Hezbollah has the capability to arm drones with 2 x S-5 rockets. 
The S-5 is a Soviet-era 57-mm unguided air-to-surface rocket equipped with a high-explosive warhead.
4. Israel: Nearly 700 tunnel shafts have been identified in Rafah, from which approximately 50 tunnels cross into Egypt. 
5. Ukraine President Zelensky on Russian offensive in Kharkiv Region: 
"We have about 25 percent of what we need to defend Ukraine (air defense systems). Ukraine needs 120 to 130 F-16 fighter jets or other advanced aircraft to achieve air parity with Russia."
6. Poland receives final Tranche Bayraktar TB2 combat drones.
The $270 million deal includes 4 x systems.  Each system has 6 x aircraft and 3 ground control stations. 
7. Defense News Article (Rudy Ruitenberg): France’s lower-house defense committee describes Germany as having a "self-interested approach" in European defense matters.
 8. China's Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Drone Carrier in development.
9. USMC MRZR Alpha will deliver tactical power via two Polaris products:
A 1-kilowatt exportable power system that can be added onto existing vehicles by installing a kit, and a 5-kilowatt system that can be built into new vehicles on the production line.
10. All Department of Defense V-22 Ospreys are operating with a "limited envelope" (flight). 
From Draft NDAA: ..."current CMV-22 operations are limited to flights and missions that stay within 30 minutes of a suitable divert airfield.” 
Osprey variants include the Air Force’s CV-22, the Marine Corps’ MV-22 and the Navy’s CMV-22B. 

For review:
1. IDF locating and destroying tunnels in Rafah operation.
Israel Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant): "many tunnels have already been destroyed and many more will be destroyed soon." 
2. Strange Story: US Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) visits Kyiv weeks after Washington approved a $61 billion package of aid for the country- and plays guitar. 
3. Finnish Leaders: No Appetite for Troops in Ukraine.
4. Australia defense budget for 2024-2025 is AU$55.7 billion.
5. US & Japan Collaborate on Hypersonic-Glide Intercept Effort. 
Initial Operational Capability estimated in late 2029.
Full Operational Capability in 2032, with at least 
24 x Hypersonic Interceptors by 2040.
6. US Army DE M-SHORAD Struggling in CENTCOM AOR.
4 x systems fielded in February 2024. 
7. US Army IVAS running out of time? Commander of Army Futures Command (General James Rainey): "if it (IVAS) does not work, then I think we would have to take a very hard look at whether we continue down that path or use that money for other critical aspects of our night-vision strategy...".
8. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter facing delivery delays from the Technology Refresh 3 
(TR-3) upgrade.
The TR-3 effort provides more computing power and memory to support a suite of planned upgrades known as Block 4. 

For review:
1. US - built Gaza Pier ready in one or two days.
US Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary (Sabrina Singh): "Improved sea conditions will allow the U.S. Army to anchor a causeway onto the beach this week."
2.  IDF Moves Further into Rafah. Israel's relations with Egypt strained.
3. Ukrainian Commander of Kharkiv Region Removed. 
Offensive in Kharkiv Region has given Russian forces control of an estimated 162 square kilometers of border territory and ten villages in a pair of 5-8 kilometer-deep salients projecting into Ukrainian defenses. 
4. Sweden Defense Minister: No Troops Planned for Ukraine.
5. Employment of First Person View (FPV) Drones in Russia-Ukraine War, force change of tactics on both sides including additional armor protection for combat vehicles and use of Electronic Warfare.
6. UK Hypersonic Missile developmental effort (Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework).
7.  UK Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS) program. This program plans a fleet of six amphibious support ships capable of carrying drones, larger aircraft and insertion craft for the Royal Marines.
8.  US Army Watercraft- the Maneuver Support Vessel - Light (MSV-L), to undergo operational testing in Hawaii. 
This vessel replaces the Landing Craft, Mechanized-8 (LCM-8) and has an improved capability to transport M1 Tanks, and Bradley & Stryker Vehicles. US Army plans to procure 13 x MSV-Ls. 

For review:
1. Report: Hamas leader (Yahya Sinwar) is not hiding in Rafah, but possibly in the Khan Younis area- some five miles away.
2. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine is Worth $400 million. It includes air defense munitions, artillery ammunition, and anti-tank weapons among other materiel.
3. Apparently referencing the AP report about US M1 Tanks pulled from frontline duty (due to targeting by Russian drones), the Netherlands Ministry of Defense states that it does not impose any conditions on donated equipment to Ukraine- other than obligations arising from UN Charter and international humanitarian law. 
4. German Defense Minister (Boris Pistorius) calls for future defense spending to 3% GDP and hints at possible conscription. Germany ended compulsory military service in 2011. 
5. Ukraine Defense Contact Group #2- Eight Capability Coalitions.
We discuss the last four (alphabetical order):
- Drones: Latvia, UK
- Integrated Air Defense: France, Germany 
- Information Technology: Estonia, Luxembourg
- Maritime Security: Norway, UK
6. UK Armed Forces Minister (Leo Docherty): UK DragonFire Laser Weapon under development. Will be ready in 2027. Not ready operational use in Ukraine. 

For review:
1. US Pauses Delivery of 2000lb & 500lb Bombs to IDF.
US President (Joe Biden): (if Israel goes into Rafah), “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.”
2.  Israel Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) reaction to US weapon pause:
 “We are determined and we are united to defeat our enemy and those who seek to destroy us… If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails. But we have much more than fingernails.”
3. Great Article from Breaking Defense (Tim Martin) concerning the Ukraine Defense Contact Group- Eight Capability Coalitions.
We discuss the first four (alphabetical order):
- Air Force: Denmark, Netherlands, US
- Armor: Germany, Poland
- Artillery: France, US
- Demining: Iceland, Lithuania
4. Estonia Senior Leaders discussed sending troops to Ukraine in "non-combat roles (medical or logistics)."
Prime minister of Lithuania (Ingrida Šimonytė): "open to sending Lithuanian troops into Ukraine to train Kyiv’s forces there."
5. US Army HIMARS Contract with Lockheed Martin is worth $861.3 million. 
Purpose: Replace US Army systems that were sent to Ukraine.
 

For review:
1. US Completes Gaza Pier, which will be emplaced in near future.
Delay is due to high winds and seas.
2. IDF conducting "Limited" Ground Operation in Eastern Rafah. Ground operation follows over 100 airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force.
3. Israel Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) denies sabotaging the latest round of talks between Israel and Hamas.
4.  From ABC: 3 x Unnamed US Officials tell ABC News that the White House Security Council has delayed the delivery of ammunition to Israel.
5. French Foreign Ministry denies a deployment of French Troops to fight in the Russia-Ukraine War.
6. US State Department claims Russia is pursuing a space-deployed, anti- satellite nuclear weapon.
7. Rheinmetall: Prototype 155mm Munition with 100k Range to be sent to Ukraine. 
8. USMC operationally deploys the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) to Balikatan 2024 Exercise in the Philippines. via the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49). 
 

For review:
1. US and Russian Forces co-located on same base in Niger, as US forces plan drawdown.
2. US construction of Gaza temporary humanitarian pier, part of the Joint Logistics Over-the Shore capability (JLTOS), is 50% complete. Once fully operational, the pier will facilitate the delivery of roughly 150 truckloads of aid per day.
3. No Israel - Hamas Hostage Deal Yet. Negotiations continue. 
4. Germany latest assistance package to Ukraine includes the Skynex Air Defense System- plus 10 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, medium-range missiles, a surveillance radar, and tank transporter tractors.
5. USMC Air Defense & counter Drone Efforts:
- Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC).
- Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS).
- Light MADIS.
6. US Navy Sailors and Marines injured during amphibious training off Jacksonville, Florida coast.
7. Settled F-35 lawsuit between Lockheed Martin and Subcontractor Howmet Aerospace involved titanium supply.  Case was formally dismissed on 02 April 2024. 
8.  USAF Creates Modernization Command. 

For review:
1. Israel Intelligence Agencies (Mossad, Shin Bet, & IDF Intelligence Chief) release unified public report- first since 07 October. 
2. French President (Emmanuel Macron) Discusses French Troops to Ukraine (Again).
3. Ukraine Strikes Russian Troop Concentration with ATACMS.
4.  US Army New M2A4EI Bradley Variant.  New Variant equipped with Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS).
5. USMC selects Kongsberg RT20 Remote Turret for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle - 30 mm Cannon (ACV-30) Variant. 
6. USMC Commandant (General Eric Smith) & US Navy Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral Lisa Franchetti)- sign letter directing study into requirements and certification of amphibious ships. 
7. Secretary of US Navy (Carlos Del Toro) testifies before House Armed Service Committee regarding FY25 Budget. 
Discusses Amphibious ship production, pauses, and required number.
8. Pakistan Navy Hangor II Submarines (8), launched at Chinese shipyard. 

For review:
1.  Israel Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu): Rafah Operation With or Without Hostage Deal.
2. Israel to Retire Patriot ADA Systems- in service since 1991.
3. International Court of Justice: No action against Germany for arms sales to Israel.
4. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) transit Suez Canal from Red Sea to Mediterranean Sea. Carrier deployed on 13 October 2023 to Red Sea. Expected replacement carrier will be the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
5. Russia displays captured M1 Tank in Moscow. Tank captured from combat operations near the city of Avdiivka.
6. Russia Says it Shot Down 6 x ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System).
7. USAF MH-139A Grey Wolf Helicopter breaches Nunn-McCurdy Act.
Helicopter purpose is to patrol USAF Nuclear Missile Silos.
8. USMC Force Design concept learning from Houthi anti-ship tactics in the Red Sea. 

For review:
1. Israel Awaiting Hamas Response to Truce Deal.
2. US Continues Work on Gaza Pier. 
The Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) system is estimated to be operational in early May.
3. Russia continues to make gains along Eastern Ukraine front.
Ukrainian Army Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi acknowledged Ukraine’s overall situation had deteriorated.
“The situation at the front has escalated. Trying to seize the strategic initiative and break through the front line, the enemy has concentrated its main efforts in several directions, creating a significant advantage in forces and in means."
4. Latest Australia Security Package to Ukraine worth $100 million.
Includes: $50 million for short-range air defense systems; $30 million for drones; & $15 million for high priority equipment such as combat helmets, rigid hull inflatable boats, boots, fire masks and generators.
5. According to statement by the UK Defense Minister (Grant Shapps), Italy has provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow Long-Range Missiles. 
"It’s the UK, France and Italy positioning those weapons for use, particularly in Crimea. These weapons are making a very significant difference.” 
6. From Spanish Defense Minister (Margarita Robles): Madrid "to provide a set of long-range Patriot anti-aircraft interceptor missiles (to Ukraine)." 
7. US Army Fixed-Wing High Accuracy Detection & Exploitation System (HADES) effort progressing.  Army has selected the fixed-wing platform: Bombardier Global 6500 jet, Army will hold competition and select vendor to integrate government furnished sensor package(s) onto the jet.  The Army will field 14 x HADES Aircraft by 2035. 
8. USAF Selects Sierra Nevada to Develop E-4B Successor, in program worth $13 billion.

For review:
1. Israel to Hamas: Make Hostage Deal or Rafah Operation.
2.  Latest US Security Package to Ukraine is Record $6 billion. Includes additional Patriot interceptors,  HIMARS munitions, cannon artillery munitions (152mm & 155mm), UAS, and UAS Components, among other materiel.
3. AP Report: Ukraine removes US M1A1 Abrams tanks from front line duty due to drone and UAV threat. 5/31 tanks have been destroyed since arriving in September 2023.
4. France and Germany officially sign agreement on Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). 
French Defense Minister (Sebastien Lecornu): “the future of the tank and not the tank of the future” had been “at the heart” of the negotiations “because we both need the same tank by 2040.”
5. German Defense Minister (Boris Pistorius): Russia is producing weapons and equipment beyond the need of frontline duty in Ukraine. 
UK Intelligence Report: Russia has the industrial capacity to produce at least 1,200 tank per year.
6. Sweden to increase defense spending to 2.6% GDP by 2030.  Proposal to create 3 x Mech Infantry Brigades, 1 x Infantry Brigade, & 1 x Infantry Regiment. 
7. What is the Army Aviation Strategy after the Future Recon Attack Aircraft (FARA) Program cancellation?
8. US Army continues development of Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) program. 
First Unit Equipped planned for 2026.
9. Sikorsky plans to compete in the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) effort.  Also in the mix:- Bell & Leonardo (teaming) and Airbus.

For review:
1. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine is worth $1 billion. Includes Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, air defense interceptors, artillery rounds (155mm & 105mm), armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons. 
2. US quietly shipped the long-range variant Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine in March 2024.  Range up to 300 kilometers.
3.  IDF Ready for Rafah Operation.  No timeline given. IDF ready at moment it receives approval.  Pre-positioning Brigades in support of operation.
4. Latest on the US Gaza Pier Effort. 
US Official: Gaza militants attack with mortars “marshalling yard area for humanitarian assistance that will soon be delivered by sea."  The attack does not delay efforts for the maritime corridor, and effort is still on schedule to begin initial operations in early May, the military official said.
5. US Army to Restructure Aviation Brigades.
6. US Army moving forward with CH-47 Chinook modernization. Army anticipates full rate production contract for CH-47 Block II aircraft in late 2025.
7. Textron Bell to deliver Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), V-280 Valor, to US Army in 2026. 
First Unit Equipped planned for 2031. 

For review:
1. IDF restructures Tank Battalions.
2. Iran claims the the latest variant of the Bavar-373 Long-Range Air Defense Systems can defeat Stealth Aircraft. The systems employs the Sayyad-4B as the missile interceptor.
3. Germany to deliver the 4th IRIS-T SLM (Medium-Range) Air Defense System to Ukraine later this month.
4. Netherlands to invest $224 million in Ukraine Air Defense initiatives.
Netherlands Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren: “Air defense equipment and artillery ammunition are desperately needed in Ukraine. The situation threatens to become critical.” 
5. Spain to procure a fifth NASAMS from Kongsberg in a $438 million deal.
NASAMS = National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems.
6. Lockheed Martin announces partnership with Spanish Firm (Grupo Oesia), to enable potential production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) components in Spain. 
7. UK to Increase Defense Spending to 2.5% GDP by 2030.
8. China's new H-20 Stealth Bomber to be unveiled soon.  Reportedly, the H-20 is similar to the USAF B-21 Raider Bomber. 
9. US Army Mobile Protected Firepower - M10 Booker - has been delivered for testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
10. The new Marine One Helicopter (VH-92 Patriot), scorches the White House South Lawn's  landing/pick-up zone. The V-92 is restricted from moving the President from this location.  The older, VH-3D Sea King helicopter still performs this duty.

For review:
1. 19 April- Iran backed Armed Group base struck south of Baghdad. US and Israel deny involvement.
2.   Follow-Up Report: Iran S-300 Radar System Damaged from 19 Apr Strike.
3. In address to Israel- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to strike Hamas- "with additional painful blows" - hinting at Rafah Operation.
4. US to Withdraw from Niger Drone Base. The base- in the city of Agadez- was used for manned and unmanned surveillance flights and other operations.
5. Russia increases presence in Eastern Libya.
6. Russian forces receive latest tranche of SU-35S warplanes from Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (United Aircraft Corporation). 
7. Poland to join German-led European Sky Shield Initiative. 
Initiative's objective: Improve the interoperability of air defense systems and streamline joint procurement of capacities across the continent.
8. US House Passes Military Aid Bills. Next step- US Senate.
Ukraine: $48 billion.
Israel: $14 billion.
Indo-Pacific: $4 billion.

For review:
1. Missile Strike on Air Defense Radar Site inside Iran. Reported location is town of Isfahan- 75 miles south of the Natanz nuclear enrichment complex.
2. After second meeting, US & Israel Still Apart on Rafah Operation. Third meeting planned.
3.  Breaking Defense article (Agnes Helou)- lays out Iran's Air Defense Long-Range, Medium-Range, & Short-Range capabilities.
4. Ukraine Reports Downing a Russian supersonic TU-22M "Backfire" Bomber.
5. General Atomics pitches Gray Eagle Short Take-off & Landing (STOL) combat drone as potential solution for the Army's now cancelled Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Program.  Still in development, the Gray Eagle STOL has the capability to carry a maximum payload of 16 Hellfire missiles
6. Pre-Decisional: The Army Names Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) Stations.
1st MDTF: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. (Indo-PACOM)
2d MDTF: Germany with some subordinate battalions at Fort Drum, NY. (EUCOM)
3d MDTF: Hawaii with some subordinate battalions at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. (Indo-PACOM)
4th MDTF: Fort Carson, CO. (Indo-PACOM)
5th MDTF: Fort Liberty, NC. (Global Response?)

For review:
1. Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu: "Israel appreciates advice and suggestions (from Allies), nevertheless- Israel will make our own decisions."
2.  IDF Strikes Hezbollah Air Defense Site in Northeast Lebanon.
3. US CENTCOM X:
16 Apr-CENTCOM Forces engaged two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas in Yemen.
4. US Secretary of Navy tells Senate Appropriations Committee that the Navy has fired over $1 billion in munitions during Middle East operations. These munitions include
SM-2s, SM-3s, and SM-6s (SM = Standard Missile).
5. US Navy Ship (USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo) returns to port in Jacksonville, Florida after catching fire enroute to Mediterranean Sea- in support of mission to build a temporary pier- to allow Humanitarian Aid into Gaza.
6. Czech Republic plan to provide 155mm artillery munitions to Ukraine continues progress. Czech government reports that it has secured 500,00 rounds, with first deliveries to Ukraine in June 24.
7. Lithuania & Rheinmetall Partner to Build 155mm Munition Plant.
8. Argentina Finalizes Purchase of 24 x F-16 Fighters from Denmark.
9. Lawmakers from Connecticut question Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky possible layoffs (400) due to the cancellation of the US Army Future Assault Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Program.
10.  US Army to procure more Enhanced Night Vision Goggle- Binocular (ENVG-Bs) from L3 Harris in contract worth $256 million.
 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
13-14 Apr: CENTCOM & EUCOM Forces engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen.
2. Israel Discusses Response to Iranian Attack & IDF Provides Target Options.
3. US CENTCOM & EUCOM Air, Ground, & Naval Assets assist Israel in repelling Iranian attack.
4. US Navy Guided-Missile Destroyers USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) & USS Carney (DDG-64) intercept Iranian ballistic missiles with SM 3s (Standard Missile) - first time these munitions have been used in combat.
5. Israeli F-35I Adir Fighters targeted at Nevatim Air Base in Southern Israel during Iranian strike.  No reported damage to warplanes.
6. Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, says the front-line situation is “deteriorating” along the frontier of the Eastern part of the country. Russian forces are moving toward the town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region. 
7. Russia reportedly creates new Corps-sized "Operational Strategic Group" named Sever (North in Russian) for operations in Ukraine.
This unit will join five other Strategic Groups- Center, South, West, & Dnipro. 
8. Germany to send Patriot Air Defense Artillery System to Ukraine.
9. US Missile Defense Agency Selects Next Generation ICBM Interceptor (Lockheed Martin).
10. US Army deploys the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) to Philippines (from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA). Unit is equipped with the Mid-Range Capability Launcher that employs the SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles. 
Mid-Range Capability fills ranges between the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) (500 kilometers) and the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) (2,776 kilometers). 

For review:
1. Navy Special Operations Forces from the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized a commercial vessel (container ship MSC Aries) with ties to Israel, near the Strait of Hormuz.
2. Iran Attacks Israel with Missiles & Drones. Retaliation for Damascus strike in early April.
3. Russian President (Vladimir Putin) comments on upcoming round of Peace talks in Switzerland- without Russian invitation or attendance. 
Quote from Russian President: "Moreover, they think there is nothing for us to do there, but at the same time they say that’s it’s impossible to decide anything without us. It would have been funny if it weren’t so sad.”
4. US European Combatant (EUCOM) Commander (General Christopher Cavoli): Ukraine is outgunned. For every artillery shell (round) it fires, Russia returns five.
5. Germany to send 20 x Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. 
The German 2024 Budget allows for $8.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine.
6. UK Navy to have Direct Energy Weapons by 2027.
7. US EUCOM Unfunded Priority List is $141 million. 
Main priority is US Air Force’s base defense network, allowing it “to detect and identify cruise missiles, large, and small unmanned aerial systems, and other incoming attacks.”
8. US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Unfunded Priority List is $500 million.
Main priority is $219 million to “support a layered base defense configuration” involving a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), interceptors, radars and other “short-range air defense equipment to counter” small- to medium-sized drones.
9.  Lockheed Martin says that their Hypersonic Missile (Mako) is ready now.  
Lockheed’s Senior Program Manager: this is a multi-mission, highly capable system, highly survivable, affordable, so you’re going to hold many targets at risk with one weapons system that’s ready now.” 

1. US CENTCOM X:
09 Apr- US transfers an Infantry Brigade's worth of seized arms and ammunition to Ukraine. It includes over 5,000 x AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s- and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
09 Apr- USS Mason (DDG 87) successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen over the Gulf of Aden.
10 Apr- CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
10 Apr- CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed eight UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
2. Israel Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant): IDF Ready to Respond Any Scenario.
Israel has been on high alert amid Iranian officials’ promises of revenge for a Damascus airstrike.
3. US believes a major Iranian attack on Israel is imminent and could happen in the coming days. Iran could launch strikes involving high-precision missiles and drones targeting military and government sites in Israel (Bloomberg).
4. Greece Prepared to Transfer 32 x F-16C/D Fighters to Ukraine- and possibly 24 x Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2 warplanes as well.
5. Russia is developing more lethal ammunition based on its study of NATO combat vehicles captured in Ukraine.
6. Serbia to Procure 12 x Rafale Warplanes from France.
7. Update on key USAF Modernization programs: B-21 Raider Bomber & LGM-35A Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)- (replacement for the LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM).
8. Follow-up on previous story about factors contributing to the US Navy's Columbia-Class Submarine (District of Columbia - SSBN-826) delivery schedule.

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
06 Apr- CENTCOM Forces destroyed one mobile surface-to air missile system in Houthi controlled territory of Yemen. CENTCOM Forces also shot down one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Red Sea. 
08 Apr- CENTCOM Forces destroyed an air defense system with two missiles ready to launch, a ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, and one unmanned aerial system.
2. Leaders of Egypt (President El-Sissi), France (President Macron), and Jordan (King Abdullah) call for cease fire, release of hostages, and increase in humanitarian aid in a Washington Post OpEd.
3. IDF Departs Gaza - Leaves One Brigade. 
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: "the point of withdrawing troops from the Strip was to prepare for the expected offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah."
4. IDF Creates New UAV Squadron. 
Purpose: Carry out tasks of intelligence gathering, recording aerial footage, and strikes in cooperation with the ground forces in ground operations. 
5. Poland creates Drone Component and plans to incorporate UAVs at all levels.
6. Canada to Increase Defense Spending. Increase still short of the 2% GDP encouraged by NATO.
7. US Navy & USMC Study. 
Purpose: "Study amphibious warship readiness and how the services can get ahead of ship maintenance challenges."
8. AUKUS Members ok for Japan to join as Pillar II Tech partner.
Pillar II tech partner "covers a collection of new defense technologies, as opposed to the nuclear-submarine portion of the security agreement."
 

For review
1. US Navy Report Identifies Ship Building Delays. Columbia-Class Submarine (12-16 month delay) and Constellation-Class Frigate (36 month delay) Programs are listed.
2. Iran Army Chief of Staff (General Mohammad Reza Zahedi) promises "maximum damage" in revenge for Damascus strike.
3. IDF destroys three Hamas tunnels- one of which entered hundreds of meter inside Israel.
4. Israel Opposition Leader (Yair Lapid) visits Washington to meet with US Senior Officials- Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and Senate Majority Leader. 
5. IDF Creates Mountain Brigade. Unit will operate in the Northern Border Area and fall under the 210th Division.
6. Ukraine Official- F-16 Fighter Jets no longer relevant for 2024 operations against Russia.
7. Poland and Italy not affected by F-35 deliveries. Poland to continue fighter purchases.
8. Norway to Double Defense Spending by 2036- from $8.75 billion in 2024 to over $17 billion in 2036. 
9. UVision (Hero 120) and SAIC join to increase production of Hero-120 Loitering Munition systems.

For review:

1. US CENTCOM X:
03 Apr- , USS Gravely (DDG 107) successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) and two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen towards USS Gravely in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships. Additionally, CENTCOM Forces destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi controlled territory.
04 Apr- CENTCOM Forces destroyed one anti-ship missile (ASM) in a Houthi-controlled territory of Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships.
2. Israel Readies for Possible Iranian Response to Damascus Strike.
3. US White House threatens change in support unless Israel changes approach to war against Hamas in Gaza. No details on what those changes might be.
4. Russia (Sergei Shoigu) - France (Sebastien Lecornu) Defense Ministers have phone call- first in almost two years.
5. During visit to India, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba discussed a possibility that Russia - Ukraine negotiations could be in the future.
6. US State Department Official, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kurt Campbell:
“We have assessed over the course of the last couple of months that Russia has almost completely reconstituted militarily.”
7.  Denmark Government relieves Chief of Defense due to unreported readiness problems with Frigate Iver Huitfeldt during Red Sea combat deployment. 
8. Germany to "overhaul" military command structure. Will combine two separate command centers into one operational command. In addition, Cyber & Information Domain will become a fourth arm of German defense- joining Army, Navy, & Air Force.
9. Estonia to purchase 12 x Caesar Mobile Artillery (155mm). Will be fielded to Artillery formation in the 1st Division. 

For review:
1. Army Fields Next Gen Squad Rifles & Automatic Rifles to 1-506 Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101 ABN Division (Fort Campbell, KY).
2. Strike in Damascus Kills 2 x IRGC Generals.
3. US and Israel continue to disagree on Rafah Operation.
4. Germany orders new 22 x Panzerhaubitze 2000 (155mm) from Rheinmetall in deal worth $145 million. First systems to arrive in mid-2025.
5.  French manufacturer KNDS Nexter says that Caesar Mobile 155mm Howitzers have greater survival rate in Ukraine than other self-propelled or towed systems. 
6. Guam Air & Missile Defense effort to have own Joint Program Executive Office- JPEO Guam Defense Systems. US Army's Rapid Capabilities & Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), will take lead.
7.  US Army requests and receives (from Congress) the ability to have multi-year contracts on Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and Patriot Advanced Capability - 3 (PAC-3) munitions. 
8. F-35A variant can now fly in lightning /thunderstorms after four year ban due to safety problem (now solved).

For review:
1. 1000 ton lift-capacity derrick barge Chesapeake- supporting Key Bridge salvage (Baltimore, Maryland)- linked to the Hughes Glomar Explorer CIA operation to recover Soviet submarine (K-129 sunk in 1968).
2. US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (General Charles Brown) discusses Alternatives to IDF Rafah Ground Operation. They are: Secure Gaza border with Egypt with technological advances to prevent the smuggling of weapons through the Philadelphi Corridor, the isolation of the city of Rafah and the launch of targeted raids, and the establishment of a joint control room to coordinate on the targeted operations.
3. US Arms Package to Israel includes 1,800 x MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, 500 x MK-82 500-pound bombs, &  25 x F-35s.
4.  Ukraine Top General Oleksandr Syrsky conducts interview- discusses munition shortages and consequences on military operations.
5. France & Denmark to deliver more Caesar 155mms (78) to Ukraine.
6. European Union to fund increased production of MBDA Enforcer shoulder-launched missile system.
7. With the addition of Sweden and Finland to NATO- US Army to study new Army Pre-positioned Stock locations in Europe. Current location are in Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, and Belgium.
8. Argentina to buy 24 x surplus F-16s from Denmark in deal reportedly worth $320 million.
9. US Army continues Directed Energy air defense weapons development.
10. BAE develops vehicle top plate for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). This allows the placement of various turrets on the vehicle. Examples: Counter-UAS model, 30mm gun model, and turreted 120mm mortar model.
 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
27 Mar- US CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen. 
28 Mar- US CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen. (2d Day in a row).
2. Lebanon News Outlet via Times of Israel: Per Egyptian sources- IDF will conduct Rafah operation in April or May.
3. US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (GEN Charles Brown) on military aid to Israel- "Although we’ve been supporting them with capability, they’ve not received everything they’ve asked for.  Some of that is because they’ve asked for stuff that we either don’t have the capacity to provide or not willing to provide, not right now ."
4. Pakistan Day Parade in Islamabad (23 Mar) displays military hardware including VT-4 Main Battle Tank and the HQ-9/P Surface-to-air missile.
5. Potential Ukraine F-16 Basing in NATO Countries "Legitimate Target" (Russian President Vladimir Putin).
6. UK to Conduct Future Force Design Review. There are three core elements of the review:  How Britain fights future conflicts; Any potential restructuring of the armed force; and Other “capability choices.”
7.  France's Defense Minister (Sebastien Lecornu) motivates the French Defense Industry. "Expects some effort from industrialists."
8. Is US Army Towed Artillery Dying? 
AFC Commander (GEN James Rainey): “I personally believe that we have witnessed the end of the effectiveness of towed artillery: The future is not bright for towed artillery.”
(is that yes?)
9.   US Army & Navy will Conduct Hypersonic Missile Test this Spring.

 

For review:
1. US announces that Israel is in compliance with new National Security Memorandum that assures all aid recipients act in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights laws. Announcement comes the same day as the UNSC Resolution 2728 Vote.
2. US Sec Def to Discuss Rafah Operation Alternatives with Israel Def Minister.
3. Canada House of Commons votes to pause exports of defense equipment to Israel.  Defence Minister Bill Blair told reporters that the issuing of export permits for military shipments to Israel has been temporarily put on hold. 
4. Pakistan employing "intel gathering ship" purchased from China in 2023. China is reported to instrumental in helping the Pakistan Navy modernize.
5. Lithuania Aid Package to Ukraine Worth $217 Million. Distribution will occur between 2024 through 2026. Includes ammunition, unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-drone equipment, and training and logistics support.
6. Saab to build new ground weapons and missile manufacturing facility in the US. Six unnamed locations are under consideration. Ground breaking in 2024 and production in 2026.
7.  Bradley Fighting Vehicles to receive the Elbit Iron Fist Light Decoupled Active Protection System.
8. US Army creates the new All Domain Sensing Cross Functional Team (CFT) at Redstone, Alabama. 
Will be created from the former Assured Positioning Navigation & Timing (APNT) CFT. 

For review:
1. US Security Council passes Resolution 2728- demanding an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and "the urgent need to expand the flow" of aid into Gaza. There were 14 votes in favor with the US abstaining. Ramadan ends o/a 09 April.
2. After UN Security Council Resolution passes, Israel cancels delegation to US for Rafah ground offensive discussions.
3. US CENTCOM X:
23 Mar- USS Carney (DDG 64), engaged six Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over the southern Red Sea. Five crashed into the Red Sea, and one flew inland into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
4. On 24 Mar, Houthi Rebels Engage Chinese Ship (M/V Huang Pu) in Red Sea. No casualties reported. Vessel continued voyage. Experts say likely a mistake.
5. Spain to provide 19 x Leopard 2 A4 tanks to Ukraine. Spain previously provided 6 x Leopards in 2023.
6. Estonia to provide a $22 million aid package to Ukraine. Package includes 155mm artillery munitions, anti-tank weapons, sniper rifles, and small-caliber ammunition.
7. UK developing sub-launched nuclear warhead to replace the Trident system. Program in parallel with US efforts.
8.  US Navy FY25 Unfunded Priority list worth $2.2 billion. Includes improvements to the submarine industrial base, Standard Missile-2s, MK-48 torpedoes, and other materiel.
9. US Army to build Next Generation Squad Weapon ammunition plant (6.8mm) at Independence City, Missouri.

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
21 Mar- Coalition aircraft successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned surface vessel (USV) launched by Iranian backed Houthi terrorists. Additionally, coalition forces successfully engaged and destroyed two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists.
22 Mar- US CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense. During this timeframe, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships. Additionally, CENTCOM forces conducted self-defense strikes against three Houthi underground storage facilities in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen.
2. US Navy incorporating lessons learned from Red Sea operations into technology and training.
3. Russia-China-Algeria Veto US Sponsored UNSC Resolution. Guyana Abstains.
Draft Resolution called for “an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides”, facilitating “essential” aid delivery and supporting ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas militants to create a sustainable end to the hostilities, tied to the release of hostages.
4. Morocco to Procure US Javelin Missile Systems (612), in a deal worth $260 million.
5. Armor Not Dead: Germany & France Move Forward with Main Ground Combat System. System will replace Germany’s Leopard tanks and France’s Leclerc fleet sometime in the 2040s.  Future system will incorporate level of innovation regarding connectivity, electronic warfare, drone integration, armor and self-defensive measures.
6. Armor Not Dead: Ukraine Defense Contact Group's Armor Coalition (led by Germany & Poland) officially launches on 26 March. Other partners include Italy, UK, and Sweden. One of eight capability coalitions. The other 7 are: Drone, Air Force, Artillery, Ground-based Air Defense, De-mining, Maritime Security, and Information Technology. 
7. Armor Not Dead: Australia Defense Industry achieves $660 million export deal featuring over 100 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carriers. Vehicle are made in Queensland under Rheinmetall Australia. 
8.  US Congress Finally Passes FY24 Defense Bill. President to sign today?
9. US Army and US CENTCOM FY25 Unfunded Priority List.

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
18 Mar- CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed seven anti-ship missiles, three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and three weapons storage containers in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense.
19 Mar- Coalition aircraft successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle and CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned surface vessel, both launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. 
20 Mar- US imposed sanctions on procurement networks based in Iran, Türkiye, Oman, and Germany that have acquired goods for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization, Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company, and other U.S.-sanctioned entities that are part of Iran’s military-industrial base.  
2. Work continues at Fort Eustis, Virginia on the causeway bound for the Gaza Humanitarian Support Mission (conducted by the US Army 7th Transportation Brigade).
3. IDF Rafah Operation Preparations Will Take Time (Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu).
4. Bahrain to Procure 50 x US M1Tanks in a $2.2 billion deal.
5. Czech-Led Artillery Munition Purchase Plan Making Progress , Several countries already pledging funds: Germany, France, Portugal, Sweden, Canada, Norway, and Netherlands.
6. US Indo-PACOM FY24 Unfunded Priority list is $11 billion. Priorities include Regional Infrastructure, Space-based capabilities, Long-Range munitions, and Guam Missile Defense.
7. Tranche 1 of the Pentagon's Replicator (All-Domain Uncrewed/Unmanned Autonomous System(s)) has at least 1 x Army submission (Switchblade 600?) and 1 x Navy- Uncrewed Surface Vessel.

For review:
1. Israel targets Hamas senior leaders in precision strike operations. Israel sends negotiating team to Doha. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Israel- meets with Prime Minister.
2. Russia-China-Iran Conduct Naval Drills in Gulf of Oman.
3. EU Plan to Increase Artillery Munition Production.
4. USAF Hypersonic Efforts.
5. US Army FY25 Budget discusses new Air Defense effort: 
the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS).
Description: MDACS will provide the Joint Force with defense of fixed and semi-fixed sites against cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft systems while significantly increasing magazine depth and reducing cost-per-engagement. 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X
16 Mar- Iranian-backed Houthis launched two unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAV) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. US CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed one UAV and the other is presumed to have crashed into the Red Sea. 
16 Mar- US CENTCOM Forces destroyed five unmanned surface vessels and
one UAV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense.
2. ABC Report via Times of Israel: Complaints of slowdown of military materiel (155mm & 120mm munitions) from US to Israel. US says there is no change to current policy. 
3. NATO Annual Report (2023).
4. Netherlands Selects Naval Group (France) to Build 4 x New Submarines. 
Vessel names already decided:  Orka (Orca), Zwaardvis (Swordfish), Barracuda and Tijgerhaai (Tiger Shark).
5. UK Army sends the 1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team (1 DRS BCT) to participate in Project Convergence 2024.
6. US Navy FY25 Budget— $203.9 billion for the US Navy and $53.7 billion for USMC. 
 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
14 Mar- Iranian-backed Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden and two additional ASBMs towards the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships. Additionally, United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed nine anti-ship missiles and two unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. 
15 Mar- Iranian-backed Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships.
2. Israel - Hamas Negotiations Continue While IDF Rafah Plan Set. Talks to continue in Qatar.
3. Leaders of Germany, France and Poland meet in Berlin to discuss Ukraine support. 
4. UK to Procure CH-47 Extended Range Chinooks.
5. UK Defense Minister Plane Jammed Flying near Kaliningrad.
6.  USMC FY25 Budget Request.
7. USMC Medium Landing Ship (LSM) (once called the Light Amphibious Warship),  makes the FY25 Budget Books.  Ship designed to fill the gap in capability between the Navy’s large, multipurpose amphibious warfare class ships and smaller landing vessels. Ship will deploy tailored logistics, select power projection and support strike capabilities via the embarked Marine Littoral Regiment.  

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
12 Mar- U.S. Army Vessels (USAV SP4 James A. Loux (LSV-6), USAV Monterrey (LCU30), USAV Matamoros (LCU26), and USAV Wilson Warf (LCU11) from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), departed Joint Base Langley-Eustis en-route to the E. Mediterranean to establish a roll-on, roll-off dock capability that allows ship to shore humanitarian assistance to Gaza. 
12 Mar-  Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon in the Red Sea. The missile did not impact the vessel and there were no injuries or damage reported. United States Central Command and a coalition vessel successfully engaged and destroyed two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. 
2. IDF reports over 4,000 targets struck during the war in the north (Lebanon) against Hezbollah.
3. US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine Worth $300M. Includes artillery ammunition (105mm & 155mm), Stinger missiles, Anti-tank munitions, and other materiel.
4. US Army and Lockheed Martin test the Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missile at White Sands, NM.  Range reported to be over 150k (nearly doubled from 70k).
5. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program achieves Milestone C (yay).
6. FY2025 USAF Budget Request from Breaking Defense (Michael Marrow).
 
 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
11 Mar- Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of into the Red Sea toward merchant vessel Pinocchio, a Singaporean-owned, Liberian-flagged ship. The missiles did not impact the vessel and there were no injuries or damage reported. 
Also on 11 Mar, United States Central Command conducted six self-defense strikes destroying an unmanned underwater vessel and 18 anti-ship missiles in Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. 
2. Politico Report: Unnamed US Officials say that President could establish conditions of US military support to Israel- in regards to potential Rafah operation.
3. France to Collaborate with Ukraine for Arms Production in areas of drone and land equipment sectors.
4. UAE Tests the Infantry Squad Vehicle. Test included 2 x day sustainment/recovery evaluation and over 2,000 kilometers of operation over varied terrain.
5. A report published by the Association of the US Army (AUSA) argues that Army should invest more in its wet-gap crossing capabilities to prepare for its role in future conflict.
6. US Army FY25 Budget Request is $185.9 Billion. Nice rundown by Ashley Roque (Breaking Defense).

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
09 Mar- U.S. and Coalition forces downed a total of at least 28 uncrewed aerial vehicles between 1600-2030 (local time). 
U.S. Army Vessel (USAV) General Frank S. Besson (LSV-1) from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, departed Joint Base Langley-Eustis en route to the Eastern Mediterranean less than 36 hours after President Biden announced the U.S. would provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza by sea. Besson, a logistics support vessel, is carrying the first equipment to establish a temporary pier to deliver vital humanitarian supplies.
2. US Army 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) will construct Joint-Logistics Over the Shore pier. The JLOTS military purpose: It allows a heavy force to be moved from ship to shore without the benefit of a modern deepwater port. 
3. When Ramadan arriving (10 Mar) and no Hostage deal- will IDF begin operations in Rafah.
4. Strong potential for (future) IDF incursion into Southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
5.  UK to Provide Large Numbers of First Person View Drones & Loitering Munitions to Ukraine.
6. V-22 Osprey Fleet flying again (08 Mar).
7. F-35A (variants) are now nuclear-capable fighters.

For review- (shorter episodes planned for next two weeks)
1. US CENTCOM X:
06 Mar- At approximately 11:30 a.m. (local time) an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) was launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen toward M/V True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier, while transiting the Gulf of Aden. The missile struck the vessel, and the multinational crew reports three
fatalities, at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition, and significant damage to the ship.
07 Mar- Central Command Forces and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza to provide essential relief to civilians in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict. 
07 Mar- CENTCOM Forces conducted self-defense strikes against four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) and one Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Additionally, CENTCOM Forces shot down three UAVs launched from Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden. 
2. President Biden says that the US will Build a Pier (temporary) for Gaza Humanitarian Support .
3. China 2024 Defense Budget increases 7.2%. 2024 budget is $236.1 billion.
4. China to develop a 4th Aircraft Carrier.
5. US Navy Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral Lisa Franchetti) is committed to the requirement of 31 Amphibious Ships. 
6. US Army defends change of Aviation Strategy as a result of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA).
7. US Army (Army Futures Command) to announce a "Deep Sensing" Cross-Functional Team. Time frame and location unknown. 
 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
04 Mar- Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired 2 x anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden at M/V MSC SKY II, a Liberian-flagged, Swiss-owned container vessel. One of the missiles impacted the vessel causing damage. Initial reports indicate there were no injuries; the ship did not request assistance and continued on its way. At 8 p.m. (local), CENTCOM Forces conducted self-defense strikes against 2 x anti-ship cruise missiles. 
2. Israel-Hamas Hostage Negotiations Continue as Ramadan gets closer.
3. Sudan rejects Iran’s bid for Red Sea naval base.
4. Iran Weapons at Doha (Qatar) Trade Show- include air defense systems, Naval Vessel Mock-ups, and rifles and machine guns.
5. Netherlands plans to order 4 x new air-defense frigates to replace current fleet (worth $3.8 billion).
6. Poland continues defense modernization. Signed deal for the US Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System- which will integrate with the Wisla (Patriot) & Narew Air Defense programs. In addition, will purchase 286 x light armored recon vehicles.
7. Canada & Germany Procure Boeing P-8 Poseidon Aircraft- Canada (14); Germany (3).
8. Thailand Air Force Modernization includes new Fighters, Air Defense Systems, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
9. US Army tests Next Generation Squad Weapon- XM7 Rifle and XM250 Automatic Rifle- plus the XM157 Fire Control (Optic)- at the Cold Regions Test Center (Fort Greeley, Alaska). 

For review:
1. Pentagon will Lift V-22 Osprey Grounding Next Week.
2. Army National Guard Grounds all Helicopters following fatal AH-64 Crash in Mississippi. 
3. US CENTCOM X:
29 Feb- between 1800-1915 hours (local), CENTCOM Forces conducted 2 x self-defense strikes against 6 x mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch towards the Red Sea. Earlier, at approximately 1710 (local), CENTCOM Forces shot down 1 x unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the southern Red Sea in self-defense. 
 4. US Army Sends DE-MSHORAD to CENTCOM AOR. In early Feb, US Army sent 4 x DE-MSHORAD to CENTCOM for testing.
The Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE-MSHORAD) integrates a 50-kilowatt laser onto a Stryker Combat Vehicle to down Group 1-3 (type) aerial drones, plus incoming rockets, artillery and mortars. 
5. Israel-Hamas Hostage Negotiations Falter.
6. US blocks UN Security Council resolution blaming Israel for deaths during Gaza aid incident. The text of the draft resolution was not available.
7. European nations source hundreds of thousands artillery rounds for donation to Ukraine.
8.  Netherlands orders 9 x DITA Self-propelled 155mm Howitzers from Czech Republic for donation to Ukraine. DITA rate of fire is six rounds per minute, reducing to five rounds per minute during prolonged firing. The system basic load 40 x rounds and can displace in 45 seconds.
9.  Pressure mounts on Germany ( and Chancellor Olaf Scholz) to provide Taurus long-range precision missiles to Ukraine.
10. From Canada Defense Minster (Bill Blair): 
Canada is open to sending a limited number of troops to Ukraine. 
Canadian troops will not take part in combat operations, but will train Ukrainian soldiers (far from the front-lines).

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
27 Feb- Between 2150 & 2255 (local), US aircraft and a Coalition warship shot down 5 x Iranian-backed Houthi one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the Red Sea. 
2. Israel and Hamas continue Hostage-Prisoner negotiations as Ramadan gets closer (10 Mar).
3.  Ukraine Considers Inviting Russia to Peace Summit in Switzerland .
4. France Considers Sending Troops to Ukraine? US, Italy, UK, and Germany say no. Spain, Czech Republic, and Poland also against the idea.
5. Ukraine Ambassador (Vasyl Myroshnychenko) visits Australia.  Makes appeal for Australia's unused MRH-90 Taipan Helicopters and aging M1 Tanks.
6.  Australia to dispose MRH-90 Taipan Helicopter fleet by removing and selling valuable parts- then burying remaining airframes. Controversy ensures at this disposal plan due to conflicts with other option of donating the helicopters to Ukraine for wartime CASEVAC missions.  
7. Digging deeper into the above story.  Article from Asia-Defence Reporter (Kym Bergmann) that accuses the Australia Army and Government of not wanting to provide the MRH-90 Taipan fleet to Ukraine- " to stop anyone else (Ukraine) from using them.  In their minds (Government of Australia & Army), the fate of Ukraine is far less important than covering up for their own incompetence and mismanagement (of not properly employing the Taipan fleet)." 
8. Australian Navy to more than double surface fleet- from 11 to 26 warships.
Future surface fleet will feature 9 x Tier 1 destroyers and frigates, 11 x Tier 2 frigates, and 6 x optionally manned vessels.
9. Singapore’ Air Force to buy 8 x F-35A Fighters- adding to the 12 F-35Bs already on order.  Singapore will become the 4th Nation to have both F-35 A & B variants- joining US, Japan, & Italy.
10. US Army new Force Structure released. 
Snapshot:
Reductions in Brigade Combat Team Engineer Battalions, Cavalry Squadrons, and Heavy Weapons Companies. 
Additions in Multi-Domain Task Forces (2); Indirect Fore Protection Capability Battalions, and Counter-UAS Batteries.
Read Defense News Article (Jen Judson) for full rundown. 
Or read the Whitepaper:
https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2024/02/27/091989c9/army-white-paper-army-force-structure-transformation.pdf


 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
26 Feb- CENTCOM Forces destroyed 3 x unmanned surface vessels (USV), 2 x mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM), and 1 x one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in self-defense. 
2. From Department of Defense statement (24 Feb): 
US and UK, with support from allied nations, struck 18 Houthi targets on 24 Feb.
Supported by Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand, the strikes focused on 8 x locations in Yemen that held underground weapons storage facilities, drone systems, air defense systems, and missile storage facilities.
3. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with American TV (CBS Face the Nation).  
Money quote: "A lot of things that we were told by the best of friends initially turned out to not be true-  they said you can’t enter the ground war without having enormous complications, they said you can’t enter Gaza City, you can’t go into the tunnels, it will be a terrible bloodbath.’ All that turned out to be not true."
4. Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: Israel would increase its strikes on Hezbollah in response to its daily attacks on northern Israel, including amid a potential temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
5. Reportedly (Jerusalem Post)- Post Israel-Hamas War-  Palestinian Technocratic Officials could take over (Palestinian) government management during an initial transitional phase until elections can be held at a later time.
6. Nice report on the Iron Sting- a 120mm Precision Mortar system (Mounted)- used by the IDF in combat.
7. Hungary Ratifies Sweden NATO Membership. Sweden becomes the 32d NATO Member state. (AT4s and Carl Gs for everyone!)
8. Russia-Ukraine War at Year 2: 155mm production, NATO Member GDP, Russia War Economy, & US support.
9. Canada's Defense Minister Bill Blair:  I’ve entered into the memorandum of understanding with the Czech Republic, with respect to perhaps acquiring munitions that they currently have in their possession that will enable us to … make them available more rapidly to Ukraine as we ramp up our own production.
In addition- Canada will send 800 x SkyRanger R70 Drones to Ukraine worth $70.3 million. 
10. US Department of Defense Inspector General: The US Defense Department (US Army) provided Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles, M1 Abrams Tanks, and Patriots Air Defense Systems to Ukraine, without a sustainment plan (for the future).

For review:
US CENTCOM X:
18 Feb- Iran-backed Houthi terrorists attacked the M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier. The attack caused significant damage to the ship, which caused an 18-mile oil slick. 
22 Feb- US aircraft and a coalition warship shot down 6 x Iranian-backed Houthi one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the Red Sea. Later, Houthis rebels fired 2 x anti-ship ballistic missiles from southern Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. The missiles impacted MV Islander a Palau-flagged, U.K.-owned, cargo carrier causing one minor injury and damage. The ship is continuing its voyage.
22 Feb- CENTCOM Forces conducted self-defense strikes against 4 x Iranian-backed Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and 2 x mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 
23 Feb- CENTCOM Forces shot down 3 x Houthi one-way attack UAV near several commercial ships operating in the Red Sea. There was no damage to any ships. 
23 Feb- CENTCOM Forces destroyed 7 x Iranian-backed Houthi mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch towards the Red Sea. 
2. Post-Gaza War plan put forward by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Plan includes IDF freedom to provide security inside Gaza and the establishment of a security buffer zone.
3. IDF Prepares for War in North (Lebanon) against Hezbollah.
4. Russia-Ukraine War entering third year. Braking Defense publishes list of articles- by Domain. We cover the Land Domain in this episode.
5. Hungary Orders More Gripen Warplanes from Saab (Sweden). Hungary's government could approve Sweden's NATO membership bid as soon as Monday, 26 Feb.
6.  US Army Maneuver- Short Range Air Defense (MSHORAD) system requirement preparing for Joint-level approval.
7. USMC Force Design Opinion Piece (Defense Post), by Gary Anderson.
Mr. Anderson served as the Chief of Plans (G-5) of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Force responsible for the Indo-Pacific area.
The title of the Opinion Piece is "How to Ruin the Marine Corps". 

For review:
1. CENTCOM X:
- 20 Feb: At 0030 (local), USS Laboon (DDG 58) identified a one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) headed in its direction. The USS Laboon shot down the ASCM. 
- 21 Feb: Between 1200 and 1845 (local), CENTCOM Forces conducted 4 x
self-defense strikes against 7 x mobile Houthi Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles and
1 x mobile Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile launcher that were prepared to launch
towards the Red Sea. 
2. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary concerning downed US MQ-9 Drone: 
“On February 19, a US MQ-9 was downed or went down off the coast of Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, in the Red Sea. Initial indications are that it was shot down by a Houthi surface-to-air missile."
3. The UN Security Council met again in emergency session in New York on Gaza Tuesday, where the United States vetoed a resolution put forward on behalf of Arab States by Algeria demanding “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties”. UK abstains. 13 other Council members vote in support.
4. Syrian State media reports two killed during airstrike in Damascus neighborhood.
5. Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz: Israel was prepared to launch offensive in Rafah (during Ramadan) if a hostage deal is not reached by the time the Muslim holy month starts around 10 March.
6. Unidentified problem with a British Trident II D5 unarmed missile launch (21 Feb), from Royal Navy HMS Vanguard Submarine.
7.  Turkey's indigenous 5th Gen Fighter (KAAN) makes first flight. Flight lasted 13 minutes with an altitude of 8,000 feet and speed of 230 knots. 
8. Indian Army releases tender for new towed 155mm howitzer. 
Desired characteristics: 
- No heavier than 15 tons.
- Fire existing 155mm rounds to a distance of 40-plus kilometers.
- Minimum service life of 20 years.
- Barrel life of 1,500 equivalent full charges.
9. Latest  second interceptor competition news for the US Army's  Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2) effort.

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
- 17 Feb: CENTCOM Forces conducted five self-defense strikes against 3 x  mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, 1 x unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and 1 x  unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began in October 2023.
2. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: Hamas has no leadership on the ground in Gaza.  Yahya Sinwar has reportedly been out of contact with the terror group’s leadership abroad since the end of January 2024. 
3. Israeli Cabinet Rejects International Diktats Pushing Palestinian Statehood. 
An accord, should it be reached, will only come through direct negotiations between the sides, without preconditions.
4. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Munich Security Conference: 
"Virtually every Arab country now genuinely wants to integrate Israel into the region to normalize relations… to provide security commitments and assurances so that Israel can feel more safe."
5.  Finland's newly elected head of state (Alexander Stubb), wants China to play a significant role in to peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
6. European Coalition Intends to Deliver 1 Million Drones to Ukraine. This Coalition is led by Latvia and the UK. UK will fund$250 million toward the effort and Latvia will invest $10.8 million.
7. Russian defense industry think tank (Center for Analysis of Strategies & Technologies) has increased the reward for a captured Milrem THeMIS Unmanned Ground Robotic Vehicle operating in Ukraine. Reward is $22k. The robotic vehicle is being used for de-mining operations and cargo transport.
8. At the Munich Security Conference, Prime Minister (Mette Frederiksen) announces that Denmark will deliver all the artillery rounds from its stockpiles to Ukraine. 
Amount not specified.
9.  Turkey and Greece will join the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), bringing the total number of participating nations to 21. The ESSI aims to streamline procurement of air defense capabilities across Europe- focusing on interoperability.

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
- 14 Feb: CENTCOM Forces conducted four self-defense strikes against 7 x mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM), 3 x  mobile unmanned aerial vehicles(UAV), and 1 x explosive unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Houthi controlled areas of Yemen,.
- 15 Feb: US Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr (WPC 1147), forward deployed to CENTCOM AOR, seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 28. 
- 15 Feb: At approximately 1630 local time, an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from Houthi controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. The missile was headed toward MV Lycavitos, a Barbados-flagged, UK-owned and operated bulk carrier. The ship reported no injuries but very minor damage, and continued its voyage.
-15 Feb:  Between the hours of 1510 & 2000 local time, CENTCOM Forces conducted two self-defense strike against 3 x mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. 
2. Strikes in Iran target major gas pipelines. Strike on chemical factory outside Tehran also reported. There has been no comment from Israel.
3. President Biden expresses hope for stopping (impending) IDF ground operation in Rafah during hostage release negotiations.
4. IDF has advanced plan for ground operation in Rafah. Awaiting approval from National Civilian Authorities.
5. Ukraine signs defense agreements with Germany & France. 
Germany to provide 1.1 billion-euro ($1.2 billion) package of military aid, including 36 x howitzers, 120,000 x rounds of artillery ammunition & 2 x air-defense systems.
6. US House of Representatives fail to advance (or address) Senate-approved defense funding bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. 
7. Ukraine Army faces difficulties in Avdiivka. Russian forces reportedly surround town on three sides.
8. Armor Not Dead: Greece Considers Upgrading Leopard I Tank Fleet (500 tanks). Prospective improvements include: introduction of a stronger engine and reinforced suspension; new fire control system; modernized turret; digital open architecture allowing adaption of systems such as an anti-drone weapon station, and the integration of loitering munitions.
9. US Army Javelin System: The Light Weight Command Launch Unit (LW-CLU) and the new G-model missile (to be designated the FGM-148G) continue modernization improvement efforts, despite delays.
10. US Army will upgrade Bradley Fighting Vehicles with Elbit Systems Iron Fist Active Protective System.  1,242 vehicles- assigned to 9 x  Armored Brigade Combat Teams- will receive the upgrade, during the 8-year effort.
11. North Korea test launches new surface-to-sea missile (Padasuri-6) into the Sea of Japan. The missile will enter service with the North Korean Navy. 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X: 12 Feb- Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired two missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Bab al-Mandeb. Both missiles were launched toward MV Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel transiting the Red Sea.  The ship reports being seaworthy with minor damage and no injuries to the crew.
2. IDF airs footage of Hamas leader (Yahya Sinwar) in Gaza tunnel. Footage is reportedly from 10 October 2024.
3. Jordan Kin Abdullah II visits with US President Joe Biden at the White House. The Jordanian King criticized Hamas’s 7 October onslaught in southern Israel, declaring that the massacre should be unacceptable to all Muslims. He also called for a “lasting” ceasefire and immediately to start working to create a political horizon that leads to a just and comprehensive peace, based on the pre-1967 lines.
4. Talks involving the US, Egypt, Israel and Qatar on a hostage release deal ended without a breakthrough on 13 Feb 2024. The Israeli delegation was led by Mossad head David Barnea and Shin Bet director Ronen Bar.  They met with US CIA director William Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and Egyptian officials for talks on a truce framework.
5. Netherlands Court Halts F-35 Parts to Israel (routed through Woensdrecht Air Base warehouse and distribution center.
6. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired a ballistic missile from its new Shahid Mahdavi warship. The ship is a converted cargo vessel- 240 meters in length- and able to reportedly carry missiles and air defense munitions.
7. Ukraine's new Chief of Armed Forces General Syrskyi, reveal top priorities- emphasizing the well being of Soldiers.
Quote: "The life and health of servicemen have always been and are the main value of the Ukrainian Army”.
8.  The Air Force still isn’t sure when it might resume flying the CV-22 Osprey.  Air Force investigators are continuing to probe the deadly crash off the coast of Japan on 29 Nov 2023.
9. US Navy C-2A Greyhounds Fill V-22 Osprey Gap. The last remaining US Navy Greyhound  squadron (VRC Squadron 40- Norfolk Virginia- with 15 aircraft) is supporting deployed aircraft carriers in US 5th and 7th Fleets.
10. , Lockheed announced it successfully fired 8 x  Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) rounds from AH-64E Apache V6 at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona- in support of the US Army's Long-Range Precision Munition (LRPM) effort.
11. US Army orders 600 x Coyote 2C kinetic drone interceptors from a rapid acquisition authority contract worth $75 million.
 

For review:
1. US Central Command (CENTCOM) X:
- 09 Feb- CENTCOM Forces conducted self-defense strikes against two mobile unmanned surface vessels (USV), four mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, and one mobile land attack cruise missile (LACM) that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
- 10 Feb- CENTCOM Forces conducted self-defense strikes against two unmanned surface vessels (USV) and three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) north of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. 
- 11 Feb-  USAF deployed Airmen participate in a Rapid Airfield Damage Repair exercise at an undisclosed location within US CENTCOM AOR.
2. German Navy Sends Air Defense Frigate to Mediterranean. The Air Defense Frigate Hessen's final destination could be the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden, once receiving mandates from the German Government and the EU.
3. Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc says International Military Operations in the Red Sa cannot guarantee commercial shipping in the region. 
4. IDF night time raid rescues two hostages in Rafah. The operation was carried out by the IDF, Shin Bet and the National Counter-Terrorism Unit.
5. IDF air strike kill senior Hamas security officials in Rafah. IDF finds Hamas Data Center underneath UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) complex. 
6. Senior Israeli Security Officials communicating with Egyptian counterparts ahead of looming Rafah operations. Israeli Officials told their Egyptian contacts that Israel would not make any unilateral moves and that they would work in coordination with Cairo.
7. Background on Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky- General Zaluzhny's replacement as Commander in Chief of Ukraine Armed Forces.
8. From Kiev Post: Five Challenges Facing Colonel General Syrsky as new Commander in Chief of Ukraine Armed Forces: 1. Foreign Aid; 2. Mobilization: 3. Defense Lines; 4. Ukraine Airspace (and Airspace Defense); & 5. Filling General Zaluzhny's shoes.
9. Op-Ed (Breaking Defense) on US Army Cancelling Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft  (FARA) Program-  by retired Major General John Ferrari. 
(spoiler alert- he is ok with it.)
10.  US Senate passes $95.34 billion aid package for Ukraine ($61 billion), Israel ($14 billion), and Taiwan ($4.83 billion). Next step- package moves to US House of Representatives.

For review:
1. USMC identifies five crewmembers killed in CH-53E Super Stallion crash.  The helicopter crashed over Pine Valley, California (about 50 miles east of San Diego).
2.  US drone strike in Baghdad kills high-ranking militia leader (Abu Baqir Al-Saadi), commander in charge of Kataib Hezbollah’s operations in Syria. 
Al-Saadi was linked to attacks on American troops in the region.
3.  IDF Preparing for Operations in Rafah. 
Statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office: "It is impossible to achieve the war goal of eliminating Hamas and leave four Hamas battalions in Rafah."
4.  Saudi Arabia Procures 10 x KM-SAM Block II Medium-Range Surface to Air Missile Systems from South Korea (LIG Nex 1 & Hanwha Aerospace) in a deal worth $3.2 billion. 
5. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Replaces Senior Armed Forces General. General Valerii Zaluzhnyi will be replaced by  Сolonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who is currently leading Ukraine's Ground Forces.
6. Baltic nations Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to build an anti-mobility defensive line across their collective borders in a $65 million effort. The line will have an estimated 600 bunkers, with emplacements beginning in 2025.  The bunkers will protect against artillery and mortar strikes and can house up to 10 Soldiers.
7. US Army Kills Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA)Program.- a once signature effort under the Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team. 
The Army will use freed funding for further investments in Black Hawk helicopters, CH-47F Block II Chinooks, the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program and research & development efforts for unmanned aerial reconnaissance capabilities. 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
06 Feb: Iranian-Backed Houthi Terrorists conduct Multiple Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Attacks in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden .
05 Feb: US CENTCOM Forces conducted a strike in self-defense against two Houthi explosive uncrewed surface vehicles (USV). 
04 Feb: US CENTCOM Forces conducted strike in self-defense against a Houthi land attack cruise missile. CENTCOM Forces struck 4 x anti-ship cruise missiles- which were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. 
2. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry rejects US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby’s suggestion that Riyadh is prepared to normalize relations with Israel, before a ceasefire in Gaza and without progress toward Palestinian statehood.
3. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations says Tehran is sending weapons, training and empowering Palestinian groups but denies any influence on Houthis in Yemen. 
4. US Foreign Military Sales to Netherlands:
- 386 x Hellfire Air-to-Ground Missiles ($150 million).
- 120 x Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range ($908 million).
5.  Netherlands to increase number of f-16 Fighters to Ukraine to 24.  Netherlands will cease operating F-16s in October 2024, and begin operating F-35s.
6. Armor Not Dead: Netherlands Wants a Tank Battalion - but needs to secure funding for this effort.
7. Should the European Union establish an Army? Some members countries say the proposal is unrealistic and unnecessary. 
8. Estonia Provides $88 Million in Military Aid to Ukraine. Package includes: Javelin anti-tank missiles, machine guns, assorted vehicles, vessels, and diving equipment.
9. Part of AUKUS - Royal Australian Sailors Aboard US Submarine Tender.  37 Officers and Enlisted Sailors will embed on the USS Emory S. Land (AS-39), located in Guam, for up to five months. Purpose: Integrate with US Sailors and build knowledge, skills and experience in how the US Navy conducts nuclear-powered submarine maintenance.
10.  US Army exploring ways to modernize operational units with new equipment. This effort includes learning what equipment those units will need and how they receive it, under the Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model (ReARMM). 

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X: 
- 03 Feb: US CENTCOM Forces & UK Armed Forces conducted strikes against 36 Houthi targets at 13 locations in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen. US CENTCOM Forces included  F/A18-E/F Super Hornets from the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) and US Navy Guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG-64) and USS Gravely (DDG-107).
-  04 Feb: UUS CENTCOM Forces conducted a strike in self-defense against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
2. US has deterrence problem in dealing with Iran and its' proxy forces in the region - from former US CENTCOM Commander (US Army General (R) Joseph Votel - quoted in Breaking Defense article).
3.  Hamas Resurfaces in Northern Gaza after IDF withdraws forces. Chief of the IDF Southern Command - MG. Yaron Finkelman -  told troops that the Army  will continue to battle Hamas in the area, despite having focused on other locations recently. An Israeli defense source blames the lack of plans for a civilian body to manage affairs in Northern Gaza as a major factor in Hamas being able to move in to refill the power vacuum. 
4. Norway orders National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) from Kongsberg in deal worth $134 million. Will replace system donated to Ukraine in 2023. 
5. Italy to receive 4 x SAMP/T New-Generation (NG) Air Defense System.  SAMP/T NG has a detection range of 350+ kilometers and an intercept range of 150+ kilometers.
6.  South Korea continues development of the KF-21 Fighter (Korean Aerospace Industries). The KF-21 is set to replace the F-4 and F-5 fleets.  South Korean Air Force plans to have 120 KF-21s  by 2032.
7. US Foreign Military Sale: India to buy 31 x MQ-9B Sky-Guardian Drones in $3.9 billion deal.
8. USMC receives the first test vehicle of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm Cannon (ACV-30) variant. USMC ACV variants (BAE & Iveco) will replace the Assault Amphibious Vehicles (in service since 1972).
9. US Army to receive additional M109A7 self-propelled howitzers (155mm) and M992A3 ammunition carriers, with delivery due by 2025 (BAE). Number of units is not disclosed. Deal is valued at $418 million.

For review:
1. US strikes Iran-backed militant targets in Syria and Iraq in response to the attack in Jordan that killed three US Army Soldiers. US CENTCOM Forces struck over 85 targets. B-1 Lancer long-range bombers, flying from the US, took part in the strikes.
2. Israeli Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant) announces Hamas forces in Khan Yunis have been defeated- however, the IDF has not announced full operational control of Southern Gaza.
3. US tries to broker Israel and Saudi Arabia normalization deal (before 2024 US Presidential election).
4. Report (NBC): Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy preparing to relieve General Valerii Zaluzhni as Commander of Ukraine Armed Forces.
5. The European Union (EU) has approved a $54 billion economic aid package for Ukraine. Funding is allocated to support reconstruction and boost immediate economic needs. 
6. France spends $21.9 billion on materiel procurement in 2023. Some items include: $5.5 billion on 42 x Rafale Fighters; $378 million on 109 x Next Gen Caesar MKII 155mm Mobile Artillery; $539 million on 420 x Serval multi-role lightweight armored vehicles; and 8 x NH90 Caiman Standard 2 Helicopters for French Special Forces. 
7. Australia Defence Force (ADF) to salvage and sell MRH-90 Taipan Helicopter parts from retired fleet. ADF retired the fleet in July 2023 after years of maintenance and reliability issues and a tragic fatal crash (also in July 2023).
8. Latest US Army Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) news. 
(Spoiler Alert: There is a Version 1.2 Phase 2 now)

For review:
1. US Soldiers (3) killed in Drone strike at base in Jordan. Soldiers assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion.
2. In wake of deadly drone attack, US CENTCOM to analyze counter-UAS needs and procedures at bases within the Area of Responsibility. 
3. Syrian state media reports Iranian advisers killed in strike near Damascus. Iranian Ambassador to Syria denies Iranian casualties.
4. IDF develops advanced subterranean tactics in Southern Gaza against Khan Younis Hamas battalions.
5. Denmark sends Air Defense Frigate (Iver Huitfeldt) to the Red Sea to protect international shipping. Vessel will join the US-led Prosperity Guardian.
6. Czech Republic signs deal to purchase 24 F-35 Fighters, becoming the 18th nation to employ the 5th Generation warplanes. First aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2031. Full Operational Capability in 2035. Deal is worth $5.6 billion.
7. North Korea (reportedly) launched 2 x cruise missiles (Pulhwasal 3-31) from submarine into the Sea of Japan.
8. US and Japan will partner on the future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The CCA will operate with manned platforms during electronic warfare, suppression of air defenses, and other missions (lethal).