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303: Israel PM Denies IDF Withdrawal from Philadelphi Corridor + NATO to Open Liaison Office in Jordan + Northrup Grumman Med-Caliber Ammo Co-production in Ukraine + Sino-Belarusian Exercise Timed with NATO Summit + More Jul 12, 2024

Show notes

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."

302: Hezbollah to Stop Attacks with Israel-Hamas Ceasefire + NATO: Ukraine Irreversible Path to Membership + Romania to Procure K9 155mm SP Howitzers + US & Germany Agree to Long-Range Fires Basing + More Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

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.

301: Israel PM Nonnegotiable Demands for Hostage Talks + Pitch Black Exercise in Australia + NATO Summit Starts in Washington D.C + USAF Sentinel ICBM Program Reset + More Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

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.

300: IDF Strikes Key Figure in Hezbollah Air Defense Unit + Latest on F-16 Fighters to Ukraine + Switzerland Considers IRIS-T SLM Air Defense System + USMC Reactivates Light Helicopter Squadron in North Carolina + More Jul 07, 2024

Show notes

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.

299: Israel - Hamas Negotiations Resume + Hungarian PM to Russia - Talks Peace + German Arms Exports on Record Pace + Amphib Vessel USS Boxer Prepares for Deployment Return + More Jul 06, 2024

Show notes

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.

298: IDF Strikes Senior Hezbollah Commander in S. Lebanon + Hungarian President Visits Ukraine - Talks Ceasefire + Boeing Delivers Block II CH-47 Chinook to Army + US Navy & Army Test Hypersonic Missile + More Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

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.

297: Financial Times Report: Israeli Patriot Air Defense Systems to Ukraine? + Russia Prepares Response to US Black Sea Drone Operations + European Combined Development of Long-Range Strike Capability + More Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

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.”

296: Iran UN Mission Threatens "Obliterating War" if IDF Offensive in Lebanon + USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group in Mediterranean + Finland to Procure Border Surveillance Aircraft + New Royal Canadian Navy Destroyers + More Jun 29, 2024

Show notes

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.

295: Israel Prime Minister Visits Northern Border + Germany to Develop Super-Sonic Strike Missile with Norway + US Army Precision Strike Missile Engagement in Pacific Exercise + More Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

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.

294: US & Israel Discuss Strategies for De-escalation in North + US Sec Def has Call with Russian Def Minister + BAE Increases Production of AMPV + Finland's Senop Unveils Carl Gustaf Day/Thermal Sight + More Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

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).

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