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359: Iran Threatens "Painful" Response to Israel + IDF Chief Warns Iran "Not to Pursue Further Attacks" + Armor Not Dead: Croatia to Procure Leopard Tanks & German Leopards Receive Trophy Active Protection System + More Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Iran Threatens "Painful" Response to Israel.
Unnamed Source to CNN: Iran will deliver a “definitive and painful” response to Israel’s recent attack on its territory, likely before the US presidential election on 05 November.
2. IDF Chief Warns Iran "Not to Pursue Further Attacks."
Speaking to aircrews at the Ramon Air Base in southern Israel, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said that if Iran “makes the mistake and launches another barrage of missiles at Israel, we will once again know how to reach Iran.”
3. New Hezbollah Chief (Naim Qassem) threatens Israeli PM.
“Netanyahu survived this time, but perhaps his time has not yet come,” Qassem said. The pre-recorded speech, delivered from an undisclosed location, was his first address as the terror group’s leader. His appointment was announced on Monday.
4. Lebanon's PM Najib Mikati hopeful for ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We are doing our best… to have a ceasefire within the coming hours or days,” Mikati said adding that he was “cautiously optimistic.”
5. US Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) expects N. Korean troops to join combat against Ukraine. Secretary Austin said the administration is working with allies on how to respond to the deployment, though he wouldn’t specify how.
6. Ukraine to Mobilize 160,000 citizens. On Tuesday, the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security told Parliament that the army planned to recruit another 160,000 people. An AFP source said the recruitment would take place over three months.
7. Armor Not Dead: Croatia to Procure Leopard Tanks.
The government of Croatia has signed a letter of intent with Germany to acquire up to 50 new Leopard 2A8s tanks for the country’s armed forces.
8. Armor Not Dead: German Leopards Receive Trophy Active Protection System.
The Trophy system has been integrated on the IDF’s Namer armored personnel carriers, on US M1 Abrams Tanks, and also on the UK's Challenger 3 tanks.

358: Israel: Escalation Dominance Against Iran + Israeli PM: Stop the Iran Nuclear Program + NATO Secretary General: N. Korean Troops Deployed to Kursk + More Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Israel: Escalation Dominance Against Iran.
Israel’s attacks on Saturday crippled Iran’s ability to produce long-range ballistic missiles and rendered crucial energy facilities vulnerable to future attacks by destroying air defense batteries protecting them.
2. Israeli PM: Stop the Iran Nuclear Program.
Israel is determined to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, the Prime Minister said Monday at the opening plenum of the Knesset’s winter session.
3. Head of Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps: Israel had “failed to achieve its ominous goals” with its Saturday strikes on Iranian military sites. The attack was a sign of “miscalculation and helplessness.”
4. US security Council meets to discuss Israeli strikes on Iran.
The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss the situation in the Middle East following Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iran. Council president Switzerland said Iran requested the meeting with the support of Algeria, China and Russia.
5. Israel to field the Iron Bean air defense system.
Iron Beam systems will be integrated into the network of Israeli air defense weapons within a year, the Israeli Ministry of Defense said on Monday. Rafael is the main developer of the Iron Beam system, and Elbit supplies the laser cannon for it.
6. NATO Secretary General: N. Korean Troops Deployed to Kursk.
“I can confirm that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and that North Korean military units have been deployed to the Kursk Region,” Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a press briefing.
7. French & German collaboration on Future Combat Air System (6th Generation Fighter) and Main Combat Ground System (Main Battle Tank) experience delays.
8. USAF likely to award Northrup Grumman a second, Low Rate Initial Production contract for B-21 Raider Bomber.

357: Israel Strikes Military Targets in Iran + Israeli & Egyptian Spy Chiefs Meet to Re-start Hostage Negotiations + Australia Donates 49 x M1A1 Abrams Tanks to Ukraine + More Oct 26, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Israel Strikes Military Targets in Iran.
After reports of explosions near Tehran began to emerge around 2:15 a.m. local time, the Israel Defense Forces released a statement confirming that it was attacking Iran in response to “months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel.”
2. Israeli & Egyptian Spy Chiefs Meet to Re-start Hostage Talks.
Mossad chief David Barnea met in Cairo, with newly appointed Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, ahead of the resumption of hostage deal negotiations in Qatar next week.
3. Latest group of Ukrainian Pilots complete Elementary Flying Training in UK.
Training in the UK is Phase I out of three, where the pilots flew for about 80 hours on a GROB-115 general aviation aircraft.
Phase II is advanced flight training from the French Air Force using the Alpha Jet.
Phase III occurs at the European F-16 Training Center in Romania, where pilots will fly over 80 hours in the F-16 (& another 60 hours in simulator).
4. Russian President Putin comments on use of N. Korean troops in Russia: "This is our business." President Putin said on Thursday it is up to Moscow how to run its mutual defense clause with Pyongyang. Ukraine's military intelligence service said that the first North Korean units trained in Russia had been deployed in the Kursk region.
5. Poland's President Andrzej Duda visits S. Korea- rejects sending any new military hardware to Ukraine. "There is no scenario under consideration in which we transfer the weapons that we have acquired … with taxpayers’ money, to anyone.”
6. Australia Donates 49 x M1A1 Abrams Tanks to Ukraine (17 October).
This came just weeks after a first batch of new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams replacements arrived in Australia from the U.S.

356: IDF Confirms Death of Hezbollah Chief from 04 Oct Strike + Israeli Air Force Prepares For Combat + US Sec Defense: 3000 N. Korean Troops Training in Russia + Australia to Produce 155mm Munitions + More Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. IDF Confirms Death of Hezbollah Chief from 04 October Strike.
Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah’s executive council, was presumed to be the successor of Hassan Nasrallah following his assassination in late September.
2. Israeli Air Force prepares for combat over Iran.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday told pilots and air crews at Hatzerim base that “after we strike in Iran, everyone will understand what you did in the preparation and training process.”
3. US Sec Defense: 3000 N. Korean Troops Training in Russia.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and other U.S. officials announced for the first time Wednesday that North Korean soldiers were in Russia.
4. US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine is Worth $400 million.
Package includes: munitions for rocket systems and artillery; mortar systems and rounds; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.
5. Estonia tests defensive bunker prototypes.
One of the bunker prototypes was “made from smaller elements that the military can install themselves,” while the other two were both “one piece” type constructs.
6. Australia to Produce 155mm Munitions.
Australian Defense Acquisition Minster Pat Conroy confirmed that the NIOA-Rheinmetall team pitched on the deal, with French firm Thales also competing. However, the minister indicated that there is a third, currently unidentified, competitor as well. Currently, Australia imports its 155mm shells from a South African subsidiary of Rheinmetall.
7. Australia to procure Raytheon SM-2 & SM-6 missiles, in a deal with the US worth $4.7 Billion. No reported delivery timeline or amount.
8. USMC F-35B lands on the Japanese Destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184).
The Kaga underwent several changes to allow for F-35B, the US Marine Corps’ short-take-off-and-vertical-landing variant, to land on the ship, including painting the flight deck with a heat-resistant material, installing lights for nighttime operations and reshaping the flight deck’s bow from a trapezoid to a rectangle.
9. US Navy announces the future Virginia-Class Submarine (SSN-813) will be named after the city of Atlanta, Georgia.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro: "Today, it is my honor and privilege to name the next Virginia-class submarine, SSN-813, USS Atlanta.”

355: Israeli Politicians: Drone Attack on PM Home - "Big Mistake" + Nordic Countries to Collaborate on Infantry Fighting Vehicle + US Army XM30 Mechanized Infantry Fighting Vehicle Progressing + More Oct 20, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Israeli Politicians: Drone Attack on PM Home - "Big Mistake."
Israeli politicians aimed their rhetoric in Iran’s direction, vowing Tehran would “pay a price” for a drone attack by Tehran’s proxy Hezbollah that struck the Israeli PM's home.
2. Nordic Countries to Collaborate on future Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
Major General Lars Lervik, Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Army said that the four nations are “currently investigating” the project, in the hope that it could lower procurement costs and make development and maintenance issues “easier.”
3. Breaking Defense Interview with Australian Major General Richard Vagg (Head of Land Capability).
4. AM General Ready for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) A2 production.
Full production = a maximum of 20,682 vehicles and 9,883 trailers.
5. US Army XM30 Mechanized Infantry Fighting Vehicle Progressing.
American Rheinmetall Vehicles and General Dynamics Land Systems were selected (by the Army) in June 2023, to continue into a detailed design phase of the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle. The first vehicles are expected to be fielded in fiscal 2029.

354: Hezbollah Drone Strike On Israel PM Home + Axios Report: US-Leaked Online Documents Describe Israel Preparations for Iran Strike + S. Korea National Intel Service Report: 1,500 N. Korean Troops in Russia Receiving Uniforms & Arms + More Oct 19, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Hezbollah Drone Strike On Israel PM Home.
A drone fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon that exploded in the central seaside town of Caesarea early on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private home, his office said. The premier and his wife were not present and no injuries were reported.
2. Iran United Nations Mission statement concerning drone strike on Israel PM home: “This action was taken by the Lebanese Hezbollah,” the mission says in response to a question about Iran’s role in the attack, according to the official IRNA news agency.
3. Axios Report: US-Leaked Online Documents Describe Israel Preparations for Iran Strike. The US is investigating a leak of highly classified US intelligence about Israel’s plans for retaliation against Iran, according to three people familiar with the matter. One of the people familiar confirmed the documents’ authenticity.
4. S. Korea National Intel Service Report: 1,500 N. Korean Troops in Russia Receiving Uniforms & Arms. N. Korea transported its special forces fighters on seven Russian ships earlier in October, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a press release on Friday.
5. AP Article on Russia's Nuclear Triad and future strategic weapons.
Like the U.S., Russia has a nuclear triad of ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, long-range bombers and ICBM-armed submarines.
6. United Arab Emirates Brokers Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Exchange.
Russia & Ukraine carried out a new exchange of prisoners of war on Friday, each side bringing home 95 prisoners in an agreement in which the United Arab Emirates acted as mediator.
7. Group of 7 Nations (G7) Defense Minsters meet in Naples, Italy to discuss Middle East and Russia-Ukraine, conflict escalations.
G7 = Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, UK, and US.

353: Top Hamas Leader Killed by IDF Tank Fire + US Strikes Houthi Targets with B-2 Bombers + North Korea Destroys Border Road and Rail Lines Connecting to South Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Top Hamas Leader Killed by IDF Tank Fire.
Israel on Thursday night announced that IDF troops had killed Hamas terror chief Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.. A force from the 828th Bislamach Brigade killed Sinwar and the other two terrorists.
2. Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Israeli citizens concerning Sinwar's death.
PM Netanyahu: "I stand before you today to tell you that Yahya Sinwar has been eliminated. Today, as we promised we would, we settled accounts with him."
3. US Strikes Houthi Targets with B-2 Bombers.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the B-2 bombers targeted “five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.”
4. North Korea Destroys Border Road and Rail Lines Connecting to South.
In the 2000s, the two Koreas reconnected two pairs of road and rail links across their heavily fortified border.
In response to the explosions, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military fired warning shots within southern sections of the border as it bolstered its readiness and surveillance posture.

352: Israel Defense Minister on Iran Strike: Targets Are Clear - It's a Matter of Time + Iranian Foreign Minister: Iran Will Respond + Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine + Armor Not Dead: Netherlands to Build Tank Battalion + More Oct 17, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Israeli Defense Minister on Iran Strike: Targets Are Clear - It's a Matter of Time.
Israel has described its general attack plans to the US but has yet to give an update on specific targets- however, “the targets could also change at the 11th hour.”
2. Iran Foreign Minister: Iran Will Respond.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned UN chief Antonio Guterres that Tehran is ready for a “decisive and regretful” response if Israel attacks his country in retaliation to the ballistic missile attack- from Iran- on Israel (01 October).
3. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine worth $425 million.
Includes: air defense capabilities; air-to-ground weapons; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.
4. Ukraine Preside Zelensky outline Victory Plan to Ukrainian Parliament.
At the heart of the plan is Ukraine’s desire for an invitation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which would be a precursor to full NATO membership.
5. Russia captures (second) Ukrainian Leopard 2A6 Tank.
Germany has provided Ukraine with 18 Leopard tanks of the 2A6 variant, while Portugal has contributed three.
6. Armor Not Dead: Netherlands to Build Tank Battalion.
The Netherlands plans to buy 46 x Leopard 2A8 tanks for more than €1 billion- in order to rebuild a heavy armor capacity.
7. Australia to provide 49 x M1A1 Tanks to Ukraine.
This donation is possible since the Australian Army has begun receiving the first of its new fleet of 75 x M1A2 Tanks.
8. 30mm Stryker Double V-Hull A1 Infantry Carrier Vehicles due for fielding in 2025.
269 x vehicles will be fielded across 3 x Stryker Brigades, with another 20 vehicles slotted for the training base.

351: Israel PM & French President Discuss Lebanon Ceasefire + N. Korean Soldiers Supporting Russian Fight in Ukraine? + France to Increase Defense Spending in 2025 + US Army to Develop Hypervelocity Air Defense Cannon + More Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Israel PM & French President Discuss Lebanon Ceasefire.
The two leaders spoke by phone, with PM Netanyahu telling the French President he was opposed to agreeing to a “unilateral ceasefire” in Lebanon, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.
2. N. Korean Soldiers Supporting Russian Fight in Ukraine?
South Korea's Defence Minister Kim Yong-Hyun said on Tuesday that "there was a high possibility" North Korea could deploy troops to help Russia in the war with Ukraine. Defense Minister Kim also told a parliamentary hearing that news reports of North Korean military officers having been killed in a Ukrainian strike on territory controlled by Russian forces were likely true.
3. France to Increase Defense Spending in 2025.
The French government has proposed to lift the 2025 defense budget to €50.54 billion ($55 billion), up from €47.23 billion in 2024.
4. AUSA Speech: US Army Chief of Staff (General Randy George), outlines plan to continue modernization in 2025.
“Everything we do is about building lethality and cohesive teams, and given our current operating environment, we have to do it as fast as we can.”
5. US Army to Develop Hypervelocity Air Defense Cannon.
RCCTO stood up a product office for the Multidomain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) in July 2024. The goal is to get a prototype battery out in FY27, & an operational assessment in FY28- with a battery equipped with 8 x cannons.
6. US Army selects 5 x Companies for new self-propelled artillery effort.
The five companies are: Rheinmetall, BAE Systems, Hanwha, General Dynamics, and Elbit Systems.
7. L3 Harris protests US Army HADES Fixed-Wing ISR decision.
The protest was filed on 16 Sep, GAO said, and the oversight agency has a deadline to deliver its verdict by 26 Dec- to either to dismiss, deny or sustain the protest.

350: Defence Media Awards '24 + Israel PM Netanyahu - UNIFIL Forces Must Leave Danger Zone + UNIFIL Chief - Peacekeepers Stay + US Sends THAAD Battery and Troops to Israel + More Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. 2024 Defence Media Awards held in Washington D.C.. Congratulations to all Nominees & Winners (and those not Nominated as well).
2. Israel PM Netanyahu - UNIFIL Forces Must Leave Danger Zone.
Addressing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, PM Netanyahu said in a Hebrew-language message, “It is time for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the areas of combat.”
3. UNIFIL Chief - Peacekeepers Stay.
“The decision was made that UNIFIL would currently stay in all its positions in spite of the calls that were made by the Israel Defense Forces to vacate the positions that are in the vicinity of the Blue Line,” says UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
4. US Sends THAAD Battery and Troops to Israel.
The THAAD Battery will augment Israel's integrated air defense system. Each battery consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, radio and radar equipment, and requires 95 soldiers to operate.
5. Iran Foreign Minister - "No red lines" in response to Israel's potential attack.
Iran on Sunday said it has “no red lines” in defending itself.
6. Hezbollah Drone attack kills 4 IDF Soldiers at training base.
In the wake of the deadly strike, the IAF has also set a goal of completely eliminating Hezbollah’s Unit 127, responsible for its UAV production, maintenance and operation. The effort to kill every member of the unit will now take priority, in terms of intelligence collection and airstrikes.
7. According to Walla outlet, Israeli Shin Bet leader met with Egyptian Intel Chief to restart Hostage Negotiations with Hamas.
8. Towed Artillery Not Dead: Armenia to procure 6 x 155mm Towed Artillery systems from India. The Armenian Army has completed trials of its initial batch (6 systems) of 155mm Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) purchased from India in 2023.
9. Bell Textron breaks with Spirit AeroSystems following proposed acquisition announcement by Boeing (for Spirit) . Spirit AeroSystem was slated for fuselage work on the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) effort.
Bell Textron will now produce fuselages in house after this decision.

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