I - On Defense Podcast - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

413: Israel PM Warns Resumption of "Intense Fighting" in Gaza if Hostages Not Released on Saturday + Egypt to Present Plan for Gaza Reconstruction + Belgium Promises to Increase Defense Spending + Germany Selects PULS Rocket Artillery System + More Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

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).

412: IDF Withdraws from Netzarim Corridor IAW Ceasefire Deal + President Trump Reveals Conversations With Russian President About Ending War + EU Defense Spending in '24 Expected be 326 Billion Euros + More Feb 09, 2025

Show notes

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.”

411: IDF Warplanes Strike Hezbollah Weapon Depots in Lebanon + Iran Unveils IRGC Navy Drone Carrier + UK to Chair Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels + France Sends Mirage Fighters to Ukraine + More Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

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.

410: President Trump's Idea Relocates Palestinians During Gaza Reconstruction + US Ongoing Negotiations with Russia & Ukraine + US Navy Tests High-Energy Laser from Destroyer + More Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

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.

409: Israeli PM Visits Washington D.C. + Ukrainian President Denies Receiving $177 Billion in American Aid + Saudi Arabia Increases Defense Spending in 2025 + German Army to Develop 120mm Turreted Mortar + More Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

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.

408: Three Israeli Hostages Released After 484 Days of Hamas Captivity + Iran Threatens War in Region if Nuclear Sites Attacked + US Wants Ukraine Presidential Elections Possibly This Year + US Army Mobile 155mm Artillery Effort in 2025 + More Feb 01, 2025

Show notes

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.

407: US Army Black Hawk Collides with Passenger Jet Near Reagan National Airport + Iran Unveils Long Range / Endurance Drone + Sweden's Latest Military Aid Package to Ukraine Worth $1.2 Billion + More Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

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.

406: Three Israeli and Five Thai Hostages Set for Release on Thursday + US Navy MQ-25 Unmanned Tankers to Operate From Carriers in 2026 + USAF F-35A Crash in Alaska - Pilot Safely Ejected + More Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

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.)

405: Hamas to Release Three Hostages on Thursday + Syria Seizes Shipment of Weapons Bound for Hezbollah + President Trump Directs US Forces to Reinforce Southern Border + More Jan 26, 2025

Show notes

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.

404: Second Set of Israeli Hostages Released - Four Female IDF Soldiers Free After 477 Days in Captivity + Pete Hegseth Confirmed as US SECDEF + UK Manufactured Boxer Combat Vehicle + More Jan 25, 2025

Show notes

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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

I – On Defense Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected