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IDF Prepares Return to Rafah + Russia Launches Submarine Armed with Hypersonic Zircon Missile + Egypt in Talks for S. Korea's FA-50 Light Attack Aircraft + US Army Contracts Lockheed Martin for Precision Strike Missiles + More Mar 31, 2025

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1. US President Trump threatens Iran with bombing and tariffs over nuclear program. If they (Iran) don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” President Trump said in a telephone interview. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”

2. In response to US President Trump's threat of bombing and tariffs, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday the US would receive a strong blow if it acts on President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb unless Tehran reaches a new nuclear deal with Washington.

3. IDF Prepares Return to Rafah. The Israel Defense Forces issued an evacuation warning on Monday for Palestinians in the entire Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip, saying the military was “returning to fight with great force to eliminate the capabilities of terror organizations in these areas.”

4. President Trump reportedly "disappointed" in President Putin but thinks the peace negotiations "are making progress, step by step."

5. Russia Launches Submarine Armed with Hypersonic Zircon Missile. The Zircon has a reported range of 500 to 1,000 kilometers, depending on its trajectory.

It can fly at Mach 8, making it nearly impossible to intercept with current air defense systems, according to the US-based Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA).

6. Egypt in Talks for S. Korea's FA-50 Light Attack Aircraft. Egypt's Ambassador to Seoul, stated that discussions between the two countries are progressing positively after months of negotiations for an initial order of 36 aircraft.

7. US Army Contracts LM for Precision Strike Missiles. With an operational range exceeding 499 kilometers (310 miles), a PrSM launch pod is capable of carrying and firing two missiles.

8. The Army's Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor ready for low-rate production.

US Continues Strikes Against Houthis + IDF Strikes S. Lebanon & Beirut in Response to Rocket Fire + Ukraine President Warns - Russia Preparing for Offensive + USMC to Deploy Unmanned Missile System (NMESIS) to Philippine Exercise Balikatan in April + More Mar 29, 2025

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1. US Continues Strikes Against Houthis. Suspected U.S. airstrikes pounded Yemen overnight into Saturday, as the American military acknowledged earlier bombing a major military site in the heart of Sanaa controlled by the Houthi rebels.

2. Israel receives Hamas Hostage proposal from mediators and returns counterproposal. The Israeli statement came after media reports on Saturday said Hamas had agreed to an Egyptian proposal to release five living hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire in Gaza

3. IDF Strikes S. Lebanon & Beirut in Response to Rocket Attack.

After the rocket attack, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Friday morning that “the fate of Kiryat Shmona is the same as the fate of Beirut,” in a threat to the Lebanese capital. He said that without peace in Israel’s northern border communities, “there will be no peace in Beirut either.”

4. Ukraine President Warns - Russia Preparing for Offensive. "I can confirm that Putin is trying to get time and is preparing for a spring offensive. We see preparations for this upcoming operation," President Zelensky said on March 27.

5. USMC to Deploy Unmanned Missile System (NMESIS) to Philippine Exercise Balikatan in April. US SECDEF Pete Hegseth pledged anti-ship missile deployments, increased military training and defense industrial base cooperation to the Philippines under steps to “re-establish” deterrence in the Indo-Pacific Region.

6. USS Nimitz (CVN-68) departed San Diego, California for what is expected to be its last deployment. Following the carrier’s deployment, the USS Nimitz is set to shift homeports- from Bremerton, Washington to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, in 2026- ahead of its planned decommissioning.

7. USAF Secretary Nominee drills down on Nuclear Modernization during US SASC hearing.

Iran: US Bases not safe if Americans attack + UK and France to Meet in Ukraine to Discuss "Reassurance Force" + US to Fire Mid-Range Capability Missile System During Upcoming Australian Exercise Talisman Sabre + More Mar 28, 2025

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1. Hamas open to negotiate release of small number of Hostages for a truce during Eid al-Fitr holiday period. The Kan public broadcaster acknowledged that it was still unclear what Hamas will ask in return for those it releases, though it did say that the freed hostages would include American-Israeli IDF lone soldier Edan Alexander.

2. Iran: US Bases not safe if Americans attack. Tehran would strike US bases in the region if Washington follows through on its warning of military consequences for Iran in the absence of a new nuclear deal, the speaker of the Iranian parliament said on Friday.

3. White House Releases: Outcomes of the US-Russia & US-Ukraine Expert Discussions on the Black Sea (23-25 March 2025).

4. UK and France to Meet in Ukraine to Discuss "Reassurance Force". Ukrainian, British and French general staff representatives will hold a meeting in Ukraine within a week to discuss the potential deployment of foreign troops to the country, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 28.

5. US Army considers "sunsetting" the afloat Army Preposition Stock (APS) - 3. If Pentagon leaders ultimately sunset the floating APS, the Army is eyeing plans to distribute the equipment sets throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

APS =Sets of equipment, such as all the tanks and wheeled vehicles of an armored brigade combat team, that are strategically prepositioned in climate controlled facilities worldwide.

6. US Army to deploy mature air and missile defense equipment prototypes to selected locations in Europe and Ind-Pacific.

- Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensors, or LTAMDS, to Guam

- Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) platoon with prototype launchers to South Korea

- Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) capability to Europe to modernize a Patriot air defense battalion

7. US to Fire Mid-Range Capability Missile System During Upcoming Australian Exercise Talisman Sabre in mid-July 2025.

US Airstrikes on Houthi Rebels Continue + Iran Open to "Indirect Talks" with US + Australia Receives First Delivery of M142 HIMARS Launchers + US Senate Confirms John Phelan as SECNAV + More Mar 24, 2025

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1. US Airstrikes on Houthi Rebels Continue. The Houthis described American airstrikes targeting sites around the city of Saada, a Houthi stronghold, the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, and Marib province, home to oil and gas fields still under the control of allies to Yemen’s exiled central government.

2. IDF strikes over 100 white pickup trucks used by Hamas during the 07 October attack as well as propaganda ceremonies for the release of Israeli Hostages.

3. Iran Open to "Indirect Talks" with US. “The way is open for indirect negotiations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, dismissing the prospect of direct talks “until there is a change in the other side’s approach toward the Islamic republic.”

4. From Riyadh: Monday's talks between the US and Russia lasted 12 hours. Russian news agencies said a joint statement would be released on Tuesday. Ukrainian and US delegations will meet on Tuesday for talks to follow Russia-US negotiations.

5. Estonia to provide Ukraine with $108.4 million in assistance. The assistance will incorporate unmanned aerial and ground systems, watercraft, medical solutions, and related supply sources from Estonian industry partners. Tallinn has not revealed the timeline of the potential donation, quantities, or other specifics due to security reasons.

6. Switzerland joins the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) Patriot Support Partnership (PATRIOT SP). The initiative aims to enhance security and improve the availability of spare parts for the country’s Patriot ground-based air defense systems. Bern emphasized that the initiative aligns with its neutrality policy, with the option to withdraw from the partnership if any member country becomes involved in an international armed conflict.

7. Australia Receives First Delivery of 142 HIMARS Launchers. The first two of a planned 42 HIMARS launcher vehicles had already arrived from the US, the government said in a statement, describing the system as a “game changer” that would bolster security in Australia and the region.

8. US Senate Confirms John Phelan as SECNAV.

US-Russia-Ukraine Talks Begin in Riyadh + Iran Deploys Missile Systems on Persian Gulf Islands + US Secretary of Defense to Visit Indo-Pacific + More Mar 23, 2025

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For review:

1. Senior Hamas Political Official killed during IDF Gaza Strike. Ismail Barhoum, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, was killed on Sunday evening in a targeted Israeli airstrike on a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz in a statement hailed the killing of Barhoum, saying he was “the new Hamas prime minister in Gaza, who replaced Issam Da'alis, the previous prime minister who was eliminated a few days ago.”

2. Iran Deploys Missile Systems on Persian Gulf Islands. The weapons were deployed on Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa near the Strait of Hormuz, a globally vital shipping lane.

Naval Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: “We are capable of attacking enemy bases, vessels, and assets in the region. The new systems can completely destroy any target within 600 kilometers (370 miles).”

3. US-Russia-Ukraine Talks Begin in Riyadh. The talks — with American representatives mediating — are expected to iron out details of a possible limited cease-fire in what could be a crucial step toward a full cessation of hostilities in the war.

4. Turkish Defense Firm (Aselsan), claims successful test of mobile laser weapon system designed to track and kill (hard & soft) First Person View Drones. The firm distributed a video showing the system- composed of a laser system, and camera (Thermal)- mounted on a vehicle and eliminating multiple types of drones.

5. Australia procures MK-48 heavy torpedoes in deal worth $125 million. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin and SAIC, the MK-48 is a joint program between the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and United States Navy. The weapons can be used and maintained both by nations’ maritime services.

6. US Secretary of Defense to Visit Indo-Pacific- first visiting the Philippines. Secretary Hegseth will be in Manila on March 28-29 to meet his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

7. The U.S. Army will not conduct a live-fire operation of its Mid-Range Capability missile system during exercises in the Philippines this spring. The Mid-Range Capability consists of a vertical launch system that uses the Navy’s Raytheon-built Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk missiles, and can strike targets in the 500- to 2,000-kilometer range. The complete system has a battery operations center, four launchers, prime movers and modified trailers.

Boeing Wins USAF Next-Gen Air Dominance Fighter (F-47) Contract + US Sec Def Extends USN Carrier USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) in CENTCOM AOR; USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Enroute + IDF Strikes Airfields in Central Syria + More Mar 21, 2025

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1. Boeing Wins USAF Next-Gen Air Dominance Fighter (F-47). Boeing has won the contract to develop the first ever sixth-generation fighter, dubbed the F-47, President Donald Trump announced today. The fighter will be expected to operate with the service’s forthcoming fleet of drone wingmen known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril are in competition for the separate CCA contract.

2. US Sec Def Extends USN Carrier USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) in CENTCOM AOR; USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Enroute. The Truman will stay in CENTCOM AOR for another month, according to a U.S. official. The Carl Vinson, which was operating in the East China Sea this week, has been tasked to the Middle East region to make for an overlapping two-carrier presence as the Trump administration ramps up its aggression against the Yemen-based Houthis.

3. IDF Strikes Airfields in Central Syria. The IDF confirms carrying out airstrikes on the Palmyra military airport and the nearby T-4 airbase in central Syria. The strikes targeted “remaining strategic military capabilities” at the two sites.

4. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday that Israel would annex areas of the Gaza Strip should the terror group Hamas refuse to release the remaining hostages it is still holding. It was unclear if Israel would follow through on its threat to annex parts of Gaza, a move that would likely draw a massive international backlash.

5. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Friday that the Houthis act on their own motivations, after US President Donald Trump said he would hold Tehran accountable for the group’s actions.

6. EU releases joint statement on Ukraine- minus Hungary.

"The European Council reaffirms its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," leaders wrote in a statement signed off by 26 countries.

7. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer comes off ground troops in Ukraine- stresses air and sea power instead.

Speaking to journalists at Northwood UK Military HQ, Sir Keir insisted the priority had to be to support Ukraine in defending itself, “They’ve got the capability, they’ve got the numbers and they’ve got the frontline experience. So we’re not talking about something that replaces that capability — we’re talking about something that reinforces that and then put around it capabilities in relation to air, water and sea and land.”

IDF Starts Ground Operations in Gaza + President Trump and President Zelenskyy Phone Call Described as "Very Substantive" + Ukraine Receives Shipment of F-16 Warplanes + More Mar 19, 2025

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For review"

1. IDF Starts Ground Operations in Gaza. The IDF said Wednesday it had launched “pinpoint” ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip. The IDF said its operations were aimed at expanding the security zone near the border and creating a partial buffer between northern and southern Gaza.

2. Captured documents from Gaza show that in the years leading up to 07 October attack, Hamas developed a concrete plan to destroy the Jewish state, in full coordination with Hezbollah and Iran.

3. President Trump and President Zelenskyy Phone Call. President Donald Trump has held what he described as a "very good" hour-long phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. President Zelensky described his conversation with President Trump as "positive", "frank", and "very substantive".

4. Ukraine Receives Shipment of F-16 Warplanes. The Ukrainian President stated that several F-16s had arrived but did not reveal the exact number of jets delivered.

5. The Ukrainian Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces claims fielding of a laser (direct energy) anti-aircraft system. Known as the Triton (English), the system was first publicly mentioned in mid-December 2024- and in February 2025, the Commander confirmed that the weapon was operationally deployed.

IDF Aerial Offensive in Gaza + President Trump & Russian President Phone Call + F-35 Joint Program Office Assures Allies that the Warplane Has "No Kill Switch" + More Mar 19, 2025

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1. The Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile at Israel from Yemen Tuesday evening, marking the first attack from the Iran-backed group since the ceasefire came into effect in the Gaza Strip two months ago.

2. IDF Aerial Offensive in Gaza. The Israeli PM- Benjamin Netanyahu- said that the military campaign was launched on the recommendation of Israel’s intelligence services and the IDF, and that it was a last resort after weeks of failed efforts to get Hamas to free more hostages.

3. President Trump & Russian President Putin Phone Call.

4. Germany’s parliament on Tuesday voted in favor of amending the constitution to enable significantly increased defense spending. As a result, a new aid package to Ukraine worth €3 billion ($3.28 billion) could be released by Berlin by the end of this week.

5. F-35 Joint Program Office Assures Allies that the Warplane Has "No Kill Switch".

The Pentagon today attempted to reassure its international partners in the F-35 program that there is no “kill switch” on the stealth fighter jet that the US could use to render it ineffective — the latest signal that there are real concerns abroad about American stewardship of the program amid tensions with historical allies.

6. US “near peer” adversaries are “practicing dogfighting” in space to simulate orbital combat in yet another step up their wide-ranging effort to develop capabilities to deny, disrupt, degrade and/or destroy US space capabilities, the Space Force’s second in command warned today (General Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations).

And while General Guetlein did not specify which countries five satellites were involved, a Space Force spokesperson later told reporters that the demonstration was Chinese.

US CENTCOM Campaign Against Houthis + IDF Strikes Iranian Proxies in Gaza, S. Lebanon, & S. Syria + President Trump & Russian President to Speak Tuesday About Peace Negotiations + Canada Reconsidering Future F-35 Fighter Purchase + More Mar 17, 2025

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For review:

1. US CENTCOM Campaign Against Houthis. More airstrikes are planned in the coming days.

USAF LTG Alexus G. Grynkewich, director for operations for the Joint Staff: "US CENTCOM began precision strike operations against the Houthis to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence. The initial wave of strikes hit over 30 targets at multiple locations, degrading a variety of Houthi capabilities. Included among those targets were terrorist training sites, unmanned aerial vehicle infrastructure, weapons manufacturing capabilities and weapons storage facilities."

2. IDF Strikes Iranian Proxies in Gaza, S. Lebanon, & S. Syria.

3. President Trump & Russian President to Speak Tuesday About Peace Negotiations.

4. BBC Report: Ukranian Soldiers talk about combat actions in Kursk region. The BBC has received extensive accounts from Ukrainian troops, who recount a "catastrophic" withdrawal in the face of heavy fire, and columns of military equipment destroyed and constant attacks from swarms of Russian drones.

5. Sweden will donate 18 Archer artillery units and five Arthur counter-battery radar systems to Ukraine as part of its 18th aid package for Kyiv. The total value of the donations is 3 billion kronor ($296 million), with deliveries of Arthur systems planned to begin this year and Archer systems in 2026.

6. Canada Reconsidering Future F-35 Fighter Purchase. The Canadian military said while it is committed to the first 16 F-35As it’s on contract to buy from American defense giant Lockheed Martin, it is actively re-evaluating the rest of the multi-billion-dollar order.

Ottawa’s reconsideration of the deal could open a door for alternatives like the Saab Gripen Fighter- which was beat out by the F-35 for the competition to replace Canada’s legacy F-18 fleet.

430: NSA Waltz on Ukraine - Russia Negotiations: "Both sides are going to have to make compromises" + B-52 Bomber Flyover Marks Sweden's NATO Anniversary + US Budget CR Passes Senate + More Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. US and Israeli Officials reach out to Sudan, Somalia, & Somaliland to discuss Palestinian resettlement during US proposed Gaza reconstruction plan. Officials from Sudan and Somalia said they had rejected overtures from the US, while officials Somaliland told The AP that they were not aware of any contacts.

2. US President Donald Trump has praised talks held with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the US proposed ceasefire deal with Ukraine as "good and productive". This comes after Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff met in Moscow on Thursday evening.

3. NSA Mike Waltz on Ukraine- Russia Negotiations - "Both sides are going to have to make compromises."

4. B-52 Bomber Flyover Marks Sweden's NATO Anniversary. In addition, the bombers were taking part in a Bomber Task Force mission called Viking Nebula, alongside a pair of Swedish JAS 39 Gripens. The Swedish fighters escorted the B-52s to Vidsel Test Range, where the bombers released GBU-30 joint direct attack munitions. USAF said this was the B-52s’ first live weapons drop in Sweden since the country joined NATO last year.

5. US Budget CR Passes Senate. The Senate approved a funding bill that will keep federal agencies funded until Sept. 30, with a $892.5 billion defense topline that slightly exceeds that of fiscal 2024.

6. The US Senate today confirmed billionaire financier Stephen Feinberg to be the Defense Department’s number two official. Mr. Feinberg’s nomination was cleared in a 59-40 vote this afternoon.

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