I - On Defense Podcast - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

213: US Strikes Terror Leader in Iraq + Israel Defense Minister Post-War Gaza Plan + B1 Bomber Crashes in South Dakota: Crew Ejects Safely + BAE to Restart M777 155mm (Towed) Production + More Jan 06, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. US Strikes Terror Leader in Iraq (self-defense strike).
2. Analysis of assassination strike of Hamas Deputy in Beirut by Zoran Kusovac (Al Jazeera).
3. Israel Defense Minister Post-War Gaza Plan. Four "pillars": 1. Israel will coordinate and plan oversight in civil governance; 2. Multi-national task force will run civil affairs and economic rehabilitation; 3. Egypt (and Israel) will be responsible for civilian border crossing into Gaza; & 4. Administrative governing mechanisms will be maintained by Palestinians.
4. Indian Navy repsonds to pirate hijacking of commercial vessel in the Arabian Sea (off Somali coast).
5. B1 Bomber Crashes during attempted landing at Ellsworth Air Force Base (South Dakota): Crew Ejects Safely.
6. BAE Systems to Restart M777 155mm Artillery (Towed) Production. There are 1,250 M777 in service with: US, Canada, Australia, India, and Ukraine. (Interesting that UK Army does not employ the M777)
7. Pakistan Air Force to procure Chinese FC-31 Gyrfalcon fighters (Shenyang).
8. Finland to procure 40 (additional) Patria 6 x 6 armored vehicles- as option to previous contract.
9. New South Korean light-armed helicopter program (Korean Aerospace Industries) will feature GPS/communications anti-jamming solution.

212: New Stage for IDF Ground Operations? + USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) returning to Norfolk + US Navy to test Hypersonic Missile Launcher for Destroyer + Record High German Arms Exports in '23 + NATO Alliance Contracts for Patriot Missiles + More Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah warns Israel against war after the killing of Hamas #2 political leader (Salah al-Arouri) in Beirut. Israel has not spoken about the strike but is preparing for any scenario.
2. Israel shifting to a new stage in Hamas ground operations. Will new stage include raids and precision strikes based upon intelligence?
3. Joint Statement from 13 nations condemning Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in Red Sea. Countries are: US, UK, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Singapore.
4. USS Carrier, Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is heading to home port (Norfolk, VA), after 244 days of deployment and 2 x extensions by the US Secretary of Defense.
5. US Navy to test Hypersonic Missile Launcher for Zumwalt Destroyer.
6. US Army awards Bombardier Defense to provide 1 x Global 6500 aircraft for prototype airframe for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program (ISR). Aircraft delivery date is 01 October 24.
7. Record High German Arms Exports in 2023. Top countries (no particular order): Ukraine; Israel; Norway; Hungary; UK; US; Poland; France; South Korea; and Cyprus.
8. Germany delivers weapons package to Ukraine. Includes: 3 x Gepard Air Defense Systems; 155mm artillery ammunition; Mine Clearance vehicles, Reconnaissance Drones; plus other materiel.
9. NATO Alliance Contracts for Patriot Missiles. Missile production facility will be set-up in Germany.
10. Turkey blocks UK minesweeper vessel loans to Ukraine from entering Black Sea- as per 1936 Montreux Convention Treaty.

211: US Navy Helicopters from USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Sink Houthi Boats in the Red Sea + Ukraine Counteroffensive Analysis (Washington Post & Kyiv Post Articles - December '23) Dec 31, 2023

Show notes

For Review- last episode of 2023:
1. From CENTCOM X (Twitter) post: US Navy Helicopters from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), Sink Houthi Boats in the Red Sea.
2. Ukraine counteroffensive analysis from Washington Post article (December 2023.
3. Kyiv Post summary of Washington Post counteroffensive analysis (December 2023).
4. Happy New Year.

210: US Foreign Military Sale to Israel (155mm Ammunition) + IDF Ground Operation Update + Pakistan Tests New Long Range Precision Strike Missile (Fatah-2) + North Korean Modernization Goals for '24 + More Dec 31, 2023

Show notes

1. US Foreign Military Sale to Israel (155mm Artillery Ammunition) is worth $147.5 million.
2. US Central Command (US CENTCOM) releases 2 x statements via X (Twitter) announcing US Navy Destroyers downing Houthi drone and ballistic missiles over Red Sea. US Navy Destroyers are: USS Mason (DDG-87); 1 x drone; 1 x anti-ship ballistic missile & USS Gravely (DDG-107); 2 x anti-ship ballistic missiles.
3. Breaking Defense Op-Ed on Operation Prosperity Guardian written by 2 x V. Admirals (Retired)- Mark Fox & John Miller- both with CENTCOM experience.
4. Strikes in Syria target Iran proxies.
5. IDF Ground Operations Update in Gaza Strip.
6. Pakistan Tests New Long Range Precision Strike Missile (Fatah-2).
7. US Army organizational restructure coming in 2024.
8. Latest USAF B21 Raider news.
9. North Korea Defense Modernization Goals for 2024 include strengthening nuclear and missile forces; building unmanned drone fleet; expanding the submarine fleet; and developing electronic warfare capabilities.

209: IDF Destroys Tunnel Complex Under Gaza (Rantisi) Hospital + IDF Requests AH-64 Apache Helicopters + Russian Navy Commissions Hypersonic Missile Frigate + Latest US Security Assistance to Ukraine + More Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. IDF Destroys Tunnel Complex Under Gaza (Rantisi) Hospital.
2. IDF Requests (additional) AH-64 Apache Helicopters from the US, to reinforce two IDF (organic) Flight Squadrons. Requested amount is unknown.
3. Latest US Security Assistance to Ukraine is worth $275 million. Includes Stinger missiles, TOW & Javelin Missiles, and 155mm & 105mm artillery munitions, plus other materiel.
4. Biden Administration shifting strategy on Ukraine - Russia War. Pushing Ukraine to negotiations? Article from Politico (Michael Hirsh, 27 Dec).
5. Russian Navy Commissions Hypersonic Missile Frigate. Will launch the Zircon hypersonic missile (plus Kalibr & Onik missiles also).
6. Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee approves Sweden's NATO bid. Next step is the Parliament's General Assembly.
7. US Army to expand counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (c-UAS) capability. Wants to procure 6,000 Coyote Block II and 700 Block III interceptors plus fixed and mobile launchers, Ku-band radars, and mobile radars.
8. US Congress House Committee on Oversight and Accountability request V-22 Osprey safety records from US Department of Defense.

208: UK Leads F-16 Flight Training for Ukraine Pilots + Iran General Killed in Syrian Airstrike + US to Have Access at Finland/Philippine Installations + Operation Prosperity Guardian Analysis + More Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. US Foreign Military Sale: Flight training for Royal Saudi (Arabia) Air Force worth $1 billion.
2. US retaliatory airstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah after US Troops wounded in Erbil Base (Iraq) drone attack.
3. US Guided Missile Destroyer Laboon (DDG-58) and F/A 18E/F Super Hornet warplanes from the Carrier Strike Group USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), down drones, cruise missiles, and anti-ship missiles from Yemen in the Red Sea.
4. Indian Navy deploys Destroyers, P-8 Poseidon aircraft, and MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) to counter attacks on merchant vessels.
5. US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian analysis by Zoran Kusovac (Al Jazeera).
6. Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Killed in Syrian Airstrike.
7. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Op-Ed in Wall Street Journal, defines three requisites for peace in the region: 1. Destruction of Hamas; 2. Demilitarization of Gaza; and 3. Deradicalization of Palestinian society.
8. US to have access to military installations in Finland.
9. UK Leads F-16 Flight Training for Ukraine Pilots (in Denmark).
10. US to have basing access in Philippines.

207: Netherlands Preparing to Deliver F-16 Warplanes to Ukraine + IDF Destroys Tunnel Network Underneath Palestine Square (Gaza City) + US Coast Guard Grounds C-27J Spartan Fleet + US Army Readies for Project Convergence 2024 + More Dec 23, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. UN Security Council adopts Resolution #2720 calling for immediate delivery of humanitarian aid and to create conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities. 13 Nations vote In Favor; US and Russia Abstain.
2. IDF destroys tunnel network underneath Palestine Square in Gaza City.
3. IDF combat footage from the IDF Nahal Brigade engaging Hamas terrorists in multi-story building in Northern Gaza.
4. Latest in the US Army's Air and Missile Defense Modernization Priority: the Indirect Fire Protection Capability.
5. US Army Readies for Project Convergence 2024 at Camp Pendleton and Fort Irwin, California.
6. Netherlands preparing to deliver 18 x F-16 Warplanes to Ukraine.
7. Slovenia receives first multi-purpose C-27J Spartan aircraft.
8. US Coast Guard grounds entire fleet (14) of C-27J Spartan aircraft due to structural cracks.

206: IDF Close to Completing N. Gaza Ground Operations + International Naval Force to Operate in Red Sea + US Army to reduce UH-60 Black Hawks Numbers + Armor Not Dead: Czech Republic to Procure Leopard 2A8 Tanks + More Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. Russian President Vladimir Putin open to negotiations with Ukraine, US, and Europe. Adamant about no NATO membership for Ukraine.
2. Israel rejects Hamas demand for cease fire and Gaza withdrawal as preconditions for hostage(s) release.
3. IDF Update. Ground operations in Northern Gaza almost complete. Focus will shift to Southern Gaza.
4. International Naval Force to operate in Red Sea. Multinational Security Initiative called Operation Prosperity Guardian includes UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and Spain. Based in Bahrain under the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) & Task Force 153.
5. US Army to reduce UH-60 Black Hawks numbers- from 2,135 to 1,978.
6. Czech Republic tp Procure Leopard 2A8 tanks, F35 fighters, and C-390 transport aircraft.
7. Germany continues purchasing 155mm artillery munitions for Ukraine.
8. Spain orders Airbus C295 aircraft for maritime patrol and surveillance missions.

205: IDF Discovers Hamas Strategic Tunnel + Slovenia Procures 2 x IRIS-T Air Defense Systems (Germany) + Norway to Send NASAMS to Ukraine + USMC Squadron Operating in Red Sea Can Fly Ospreys + More Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. USMC Squadron Operating in Red Sea Can Fly Ospreys.
2. US and UK Naval Warships down drones launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen.
3. IDF discovers large (4k) Hamas tunnel near North Gaza crossing of Erez.
4. US Army 1st Cavalry Division with 36th Engineer Brigade- conducts wet gap crossing exercise at Fort Cavazos, Texas in support of modernizing the US Army Armored Division Force Structure (Armored Strike Division).
5. US Army continues development of Active Protection System (APS) for Stryker Combat Vehicle(s).
6. USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft program announces competitive vendors: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Anduril, General Atomics, and Northrup Grumman.
7. Slovenia Procures 2 x IRIS-T Air Defense Systems (Germany).
8. Norway to Send NASAMS (systems) to Ukraine.
9. Argentina's new President wants to modernize armed forces.

204: IDF Floods Hamas Tunnels with Seawater + Finland to Increase Artillery & Mortar Ammo Production + Saudi Arabia Negotiates Rafale Warplane Procurement + Germany Orders H145M Helicopters + More Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. US Senate & House of Representatives pass the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with topline of $886 billion. NDAA sent to President for signature.
2. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine worth $200 million. Includes Anti-tank weapons, Air Defense components, and Artillery ammunition.
3. IDF floods Hamas tunnels with seawater. Combat method proves successful.
4. Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) treat prepared by Japan, UK, and Italy. Effort will develop 6th Generation Fight for fielding by 2035.
5. Dassault Aviation CEO- Eric Trappier- provides comments on latest company efforts in defense acquisitions and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.
6. German Army orders 62 x multi-role H145M Airbus helicopters- with option for 20 more. Transaction estimated at $3.0 billion.
7. Finland to double heavy ammunition production (Nammo) by 2026-2027. Munitions include: 155mm artillery; 120mm mortar; and 81mm mortar.
8. South Korea scrambles jets to monitor Russian and Chines warplanes operating in the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ)- over the Sea of Japan.
9. US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) recommended to analyze force structure in support of procuring AT-802U Armed Overwatch Aircraft. USSOCOM plan to procure 75 aircraft through 2029.

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