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Russian President Putin Open to Bilateral Talks with Ukraine + IDF Ground Operations in Rafah Continue + US & Canada Over the Horizon Radar Effort + More Apr 21, 2025

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For review:

1. Latest US airstrikes target Farwa neighborhood in Sanaa. US Central Command declined to answer questions about the strike.

2. Israeli Air Force conducts drills that simulate Iranian missile attack on IAF bases. IAF bases were targeted in previous Iranian strikes in April and October 2024.

3. IDF Ground Operations in Rafah Continue. The IDF has not only cut off Rafah from Khan Younis overground, but also located two major Hamas tunnels connecting the two cities.

4. IDF experimenting unmanned D9 bulldozers.

5. Russian President Putin Open to Bilateral Talks with Ukraine.

6. US & Canada Over the Horizon Radar (OTHR) Effort. The OTHR effort is envisioned as a partnership with Canada to modernize NORAD’s defenses, where original plans would reportedly see the US procure four radar systems and Canada two systems.

7. US Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) achieves Low Rate Initial Production. Raytheon plans producing eight LTAMDS per year- and based on international customers- the company said it wants to ultimately be able to produce 12 radars per year.

US & Iran Meet in Rome + Israel Has not Ruled Out Strike On Iran's Nuclear Sites + Russian President Putin Declares Easter Truce + Japan Installs Rail Gun on Test Ship + More Apr 19, 2025

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For review:

1. US Strikes Houthi Oil Terminal.

The US military said it had destroyed Ras Isa terminal "to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue".

2. WSJ Report: Anti-Houthi militias are planning ground offensive against the terror organization. American officials said the United States is “open to supporting a ground operation by local forces” but “a decision on whether to back the effort hasn’t been made yet.”

3. US & Iran Meet in Rome. A second round of negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program ended Saturday after several hours of talks, Iranian and American officials said.

4. Israel Has not Ruled Out Strike On Iran's Nuclear Sites. Attack plans include a mix of airstrikes and commando operations that vary in severity and could set back Tehran’s ability to weaponize its nuclear program by just months or a year or more, sources said.

5. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio: US may move on from trying to secure a Russia - Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress in the coming days.

6. Russian President Putin Declares Easter Truce. “Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order that all military actions be stopped for this period,” the Russian President said.

7. Serbian Leaders plan to attended Russian Victory Day Parade in Moscow, despite warnings from EU Foreign Affairs and Security Representative Kaja Kallas. Ms. Kallas: “Any participation in the May 9th parades or celebrations in Moscow will not be taken lightly on the European side".

8. UK Army defeats drone swarms using radio-frequency, direct energy weapon. Radio-frequency directed energy weapon systems can defeat airborne targets at ranges of up to 1 kilometer.

9. Japan Installs Rail Gun on Test Ship.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) released an image of its state-of-the-art railgun currently undergoing testing aboard the test ship JS Asuka. The railgun systems are expected to be employed as naval or land-based artillery.

NYT Report: President Trump Suspended Attack on Iranian Nuclear Sites Planned for May + US Secretary of State Traveling to Paris to Discuss Ukraine & Middle East + Turkey Hosts Black Sea Security Talks in Event of Ceasefire + More Apr 16, 2025

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For review:

1. NYT Report: President Trump Suspended Attack on Iranian Nuclear Sites Planned for May.

2. IDF continues pressure on Hamas during Gaza Strip operations with three Divisions. No deadline for major offensive yet.

3. US Secretary of State Traveling to Paris to Discuss Ukraine & Middle East. Separately, on Thursday, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu will travel to Washington to meet with his counterpart, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

4. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani will discuss efforts to find a possible peace deal (Russia - Ukraine), when they meet in Moscow tomorrow.

5. Turkey Hosts Black Sea Security Talks in Event of Russia - Ukraine Ceasefire.

According to an official statement by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence, the meeting includes military representatives from several countries, including Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom and Turkey.

6. Opinion Article via Breaking Defense. In order to defend its' air and sea approaches more effectively, Australia should invest in long-range strike systems via air power- more specifically USAF B-2A Spirit Bombers.

7. Latest on US Space Command Headquarters final location- either Colorado Springs or Huntsville.

President Trump On Iran's Nuclear Ambition: "I'll solve that problem" + New Ukraine Capability Coalition: Electromagnetic Warfare + Armor Not Dead: US M1E3 Tank Variant in 24 - 30 Months + More Apr 14, 2025

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For review:

1. President Trump On Iran's Nuclear Ambition: "I'll solve that problem." US President Donald Trump vowed Monday to “solve” the issue of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, even if it means taking “very harsh” actions to thwart them.

2. Israel - Hams Hostage Negotiations. The Haaretz daily, citing Palestinian sources involved in the talks, reported that Cairo and Doha are working with the US toward a potential additional stage of the ceasefire-hostage release deal reached in January that would also include talks to end the 18-month war.

3. New Ukraine Capability Coalition: Electromagnetic Warfare. The goals include protection of friendly communication and disruption of the enemy’s, persistent reconnaissance, drone defense, and effectiveness of weapon systems.

4. Ukraine troops provide feedback on German weapons employed in war with Russia.

5. Switzerland plans to buy four or five IRIS-T SLM medium-range air-defense systems from Germany’s Diehl Defence, as part of the European Sky Shield Initiative.

6. Armor Not Dead: US M1E3 Tank Variant in 24 - 30 Months. Desired characteristics for the new variant included making it lighter, better protected and giving it an autoloader.

7. President Trump on April 9 signed into law, a policy aimed at revitalizing the American shipbuilding industry. Navy officials in March 2024 stated the service’s goal is to grow the fleet of battle force ships to 381 over the next 30 years.

US & Iran Talks in Oman: "Productive and Positive" + Germany & UK-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group Pledges $23.8 Billion + US Senate Confirms New Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff + More Apr 12, 2025

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For review:

1. US & Iran Talks in Oman: "Productive and Positive". Both countries agreed to hold a second round next week.

2. Rafah cut-off from rest of Gaza between two IDF Security Corridors. The IDF said Rafah was now surrounded by its forces, with the 36th Division holding the Morag Corridor and the Gaza Division operating in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border area.

3. US Envoy Steve Witkoff met in St. Petersburg with Russian President Putin for more than 4 hours on Friday. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev as described the talks as "productive".

4. Former US intelligence official (unnamed) told Reuters that Chinese military officers have been present behind Russian lines with Beijing’s approval to observe and draw tactical lessons from the war.

5. Germany & UK-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group Pledges $23.8 Billion.

6. US Senate Confirms New Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Dan Caine's experience includes numerous roles in the special operations community, director of joint operations and training on the Joint Staff, and — most recently — three years as the CIA’s associate director for military affairs before his retirement in 2024. General Caine is also a former F-16 pilot.

7. US Secretary of Navy John Phelan pledges a focus on shipbuilding and expanding the industrial base.

8. Upcoming US Navy Submarine and Aircraft Carrier efforts are facing delays.

The lead Columbia-class submarine vessel (USS District of Columbia SSBN-826), is 12-18 months behind schedule.

The future aircraft carrier (USS Enterprise CVN-80), is estimated to be 28 months behind schedule, with delivery now anticipated to be in the 2028-29 timeframe.

Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Arrives in CENTCOM AOR + Israeli and Turkish Delegations Meet in Azerbaijan to Discuss Syria Deconfliction + President Trump's Executive Order Calls for Modernization Review of Programs & Processes + More Apr 10, 2025

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For review:

1. Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Arrives in CENTCOM AOR. The USS Carl Vinson — which is armed with F-35C stealth warplanes — is now working alongside the USS Harry S. Truman in the region, US Central Command says.

2. The Commander of Iran’s Army Ground Force revealed plans to set up the new unmanned-focused facilities in country's border regions.

3. Israeli and Turkish Delegations Meet in Azerbaijan to Discuss Syria Deconfliction.

4. France and UK Co-lead "Coalition of the Willing" Discussion in Brussels.

5. France to develop tactical (150 kilometer range) rocket artillery system and test by mid-2026.

6. Speaking at SASC Hearing on Thursday, US Forces Korea Commander (Army General Xavier Brunson) supports current US Troop levels on the Korean Peninsula.

7. President Trump's Executive Order Calls for Modernization Review of Programs & Processes.

US DoD: No Plans to Relinquish NATO SACEUR Post + US and Iran Nuclear Talks in Oman + President Trump: $1 Trillion Defense Budget (FY26) + More Apr 08, 2025

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For review:

1. US DoD: No Plans to Relinquish NATO SACEUR Post. The Pentagon does not have plans to relinquish the post of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), said Katherine Thompson, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.

2. Suspected US airstrikes pounded the area around Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeida on Tuesday night.

3. US and Iran Nuclear Talks in Oman. Negotiations are to be mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi and led by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

4. The US military will deploy long-range surveillance drones (Northrup Grumman MQ-4C Triton) in the Japanese region of Okinawa near Taiwan, Tokyo’s defense minister said Tuesday.

5. US Secretary of Defense Hegseth visits Panama- meets with Panama's President José Raúl Mulino. Secretary Hegseth said the U.S. will not allow China or any other country to threaten the (Panama) canal’s operation.

6. NATO Supreme Allied Commander and EUCOM Commander. General Christopher Cavoli (US Army) told US House of Representative lawmakers that current force levels in Europe should remain.

7. President Trump: $1 Trillion Defense Budget (FY26). Defense Secretary Hegseth seemed to confirm that Trump was referring to the fiscal year 2026 request, saying on X, “COMING SOON: the first TRILLION dollar @DeptofDefense budget.”

8. US Navy's F/A XX program could be last manned fighter. US Navy officials would not say when an announcement on F/A-XX would be made, but it could come soon.

Breaking Defense reported last month that Lockheed Martin had been eliminated from the running for F/A-XX, leaving Boeing and Northrop Grumman as the remaining competitors.

US Sends 2d THAAD Battery to Israel + US Army Mobile 155mm Artillery Effort + US Navy Commissions Virginia-class Attack Submarine (USS Iowa SSN-797) + More Apr 06, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Iran willing to engage in dialogue with US as equals. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian: “The Islamic Republic of Iran wants dialogue on equal footing.”

2. US Sends 2d THAAD Battery to Israel. The THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System, is an advanced anti-missile system- capable of hitting targets at ranges of 150-200 kilometers (93-124 miles).

3. Norway plans to nearly double its fleet of self-propelled artillery, proposing to buy an additional 24 K9 Thunder howitzers from Hanwha Aerospace (South Korea). The added 155 mm howitzers will equip a new artillery battalion within the planned Finnmark Brigade.

4. India to procure 100 x South Korean Hanwha Aerospace K-9 Vajira-T 155mm SP Howitzers. The contract calls for more than 60 percent of local (India) materials and parts during manufacture of the systems.

5. US Army Mobile 155mm Artillery Effort.

6. US Navy Commissions Virginia-class Attack Submarine (USS Iowa SSN-797).

US CENTCOM Commander Visits Israel + Russian Envoy: "Some (Ukrainian) security guarantees, in some form, may be acceptable" + US Combatant Command Restructure? + More Apr 04, 2025

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For review:

1. US CENTCOM Commander Visits Israel.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), held an assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the IDF said Thursday.

2. UK Telegraph Newspaper Report: Iran has reportedly ordered its military personnel to leave Yemen and is pulling back its support for the Houthis amid extensive US airstrikes on the rebel group.

3. Russian Envoy: "Some (Ukrainian) security guarantees, in some form, may be acceptable." Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev held two days of talks with American envoy Steve Witkoff, as part of President Donald Trump’s push for a ceasefire and peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

4. US Combatant Command Restructure? NBC Report: The Defense Department is considering relinquishing the role atop the NATO chain of command, which has always been held by an American four-star, historically by the head of US European Command, since the alliance’s founding.

5. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group sailed through the Malacca Strait on Friday as it makes its way to U.S. Central Command. The PLA Navy’s Shandong CSG sailed back into the South China Sea on Thursday after participating in drills against Taiwan.

6. Japan's Self-Defense Force to develop new long-range, precision-guided missiles to “prevent and eliminate invading troops.”

7. Australian military leaders are scrambling to cobble together fresh air defense capabilities.

US Sends More F-35s to CENTCOM + IDF Creates New Security Corridor in S. Gaza + Finland to Increase Defense Spending to 3% GDP by '29 + US Army Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon Test in Dec '25 + More Apr 02, 2025

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For review:

1. US Army identifies the four Dogface Soldiers (3d Infantry Division) who perished during training exercise in Lithuania. All assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, they were identified as: Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez; Staff Sgt. Edvin F. Franco; Pfc. Dante D. Taitano; and Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins.

2. US Sends More F-35s to CENTCOM. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dispatched the extra air wing of F-35 fighters to Jordan.

3. IDF Creates New Security Corridor in S. Gaza. The route, which separates Rafah from Khan Younis to its north, will likely cut off Rafah from the rest of the Strip.

4. Hamas is prepared to release all of the remaining hostages at once in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the ongoing truce talks told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.

5. A top Russian official (Kirill Dmitriev) is in Washington this week for meetings with the Trump administration, as negotiations continue on a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

6. US SECDEF Pete Hegseth skips the latest Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels.

7. Finland to Increase Defense Spending to 3% GDP by '29.

8. Greece will spend 25 billion euros ($27 billion) over the next decade to adapt its military to evolving high-tech warfare technologies. The plan also includes new programs such as next-generation soldier gear equipped with sensors and communication systems, and the development of dedicated satellite capabilities to ensure secure communications.

9. US Army Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon Test in Dec '25. The Army is forecasting that the first unit to get the hypersonic capability will begin receiving the rounds at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in the May time frame.

10. The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale of 20 F-16 fighters to the Philippines, with an estimated price tag of $5.58 billion.

The approved package, which covers 16 F-16C Block 70/72 jets and four F-16B Block 70/72 fighters, comes just days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Manilla.

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