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279: IDF Pushes Tanks into Central Rafah + Report: IDF Using Unmanned M113 APCs + Switzerland to host Ukraine Peace Summit in June + US Gaza Pier Needs Repair + More May 28, 2024

Show notes

For Review:
1. US Gaza Pier Needs Repair. The pier will be pulled from the beach and sent to the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, where U.S. Central Command will repair it.
2. IDF continues investigation into the deadly fire that occurred after a strike on two Hamas commanders in Rafah. IDF suspects that munitions or some other combustible substance caused a secondary explosion and a fire to spread in a complex housing displaced Gazans.
3. IDF Pushes Tanks into Central Rafah. IDF tanks were spotted near Al-Awda mosque, a central Rafah landmark, the witnesses said.
4. Report: IDF Using Unmanned M113 APCs in Rafah ground campaign.
5. Spain and Belgium provide commitments for future military aid to Ukraine.
6. Switzerland to host Ukraine Peace Summit from 15-16 June 2024. Russia not invited.
7. Sweden's Air Force wants long-range missiles and more personnel.
8. Sweden brings increased naval capability to NATO via vast submarine experience and an increased focus on sea bed warfare.

278: Israel - Egypt Cross Border Shooting + Ukraine Senior General Syrsky: France Sending Military Instructors to Ukraine + Sweden Permits Donated Weapons Use in Russia + USAF B-21 Flight + More May 27, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Israel - Egypt Cross Border Shooting results in death of Egyptian Soldier.
Spokesperson for Egypt’s military said it was carrying out an investigation “into the shooting incident in the border area in Rafah, which led to the martyrdom of one of the [security] personnel.”
2. In Rafah, IDF carries out strike that kills two Senior Hamas Commanders. As a result, Israel believes shrapnel from the strike ignited a fuel tank near tents housing Palestinian, causing civilian casualties.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Despite our efforts not to hurt them, there was a tragic mishap. We are investigating the incident."
3. Sweden Permits Weapons Use in Russia. Sweden has provided Ukraine Archer self-propelled howitzers (155mm), anti-ship missiles, and anti-tank weapons- as well as ammunition and spare parts.
4. Ukraine Senior General Oleksandr Syrsky: France Sending Military Instructors to Ukraine.
“I have already signed the documents that will allow the first French instructors to visit our training centers soon and get acquainted with their infrastructure and personnel."
5. International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) announces military aid worth $190 million.
Allows procurement of air defense systems and maritime equipment including small boats and loitering munitions.
6. Poland investing $2.5 billion into eastern border (with Belarus) infrastructure project called Shield-East.
7. USAF B-21 Raider continues flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
8. US Army seeking 155mm munitions to achieve 70k range. Munition must be capable of operating in GPS denied environments and compatible with current and future 155mm cannons. Initial Operational Capability is FY30.

277: US Gaza Pier Vessels Disconnect in Stormy Sea + Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine worth $275 Million + Ukraine F-16 Pilots Ready for Combat in Weeks + More May 26, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. US Gaza Pier Vessels Disconnect in Stormy Seas.
Four vessels broke free from moorings, and efforts to recover the vessels were underway with assistance from the Israeli Navy.
2. IDF continues Rafah Operation despite ruling from International Criminal Court. Israeli officials said they consider the ICJ order to allow room for some operations in Rafah.
3. US Department of Defense Release from 24 May 2024, concerning SECDEF Health Status.
4. US Department of Defense Release from 24 May 2024:
Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine Worth $275 Million.
Includes, HIMARS munitions, cannon artillery ammunition, and anti-tank weapons, among other materiel.
5. NYT Report via Defense Post: US to consider allowing Ukraine to employ American long-range weapons in Russian territory.
6. Opinion Article by Geoff LaMear via Defense News. Based upon Russian overmatch in personnel, artillery, and combat drones, the author argues that US should encourage Ukraine to begin negotiation with Russia.
6. Ukraine F-16 Pilots Ready for Combat in Weeks.
It is that the first F-16 combat sorties could take place in June or July.
7. Opinion Article by Chan Mo Ku & Jinwan Park via Breaking Defense.
Authors make case for a Quad of Northern Pacific Nations (US, Canada, South Korea, & Japan) to counterbalance Russian and Chinese collaboration (and expansion) in the Arctic Region.

276: Three US Soldiers Sustain Non-Combat Injuries during Gaza Pier Operations + IDF Locates 4 Hostages in Tunnel Shaft Underneath House + China's PLA Drills around Taiwan + HASC Draft NDAA is $883.7 Billion + More May 23, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Three US Soldiers Sustain Non-Combat Injuries during Gaza Pier Operations.
2. Iran claims that Turkey's assistance (via infrared capable drone) did not aid in finding Iranian President's helicopter wreckage site.
Story calls into question the capabilities of Iranian drones and unmanned aircraft systems.
3. Hezbollah fires 30 munitions into Northern Israel (from Lebanon). This occurred after IDF strike that killed senior Hezbollah member responsible for weapons procurement.
4. IDF (Paratroopers and Engineers) Locate 4 Hostages in Tunnel Shaft Underneath House in Jabaliya.
5. Russian forces capture THeMIS robotic vehicle in Ukraine.
The robotic vehicle has a two million ruble bounty ($22,000.00) from a Russian Think Tank (Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies ).
The THeMIS is made by Milrem Robotics and is used for equipment transport and de-mining operations in Ukraine.
6. US House Armed Service Committee (HASC) Draft NDAA is $883.7 billion.
Next step- the Draft NDAA goes to full House for vote.
7. China's Peoples Liberation Army conducts provocative drills around Taiwan.

275: IDF Controls Half of Philadelphi Corridor + Spain Security Package to Ukraine includes Patriot Missiles, Leopard Tanks, & 155mm Munitions + US Navy Successfully Fires Patriot Missile via Aegis System + More May 21, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Follow-up: Iranian President (Ebrahim Raisi) dies in helicopter crash in bad weather and mountainous terrain. Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has named the first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, as interim President. The election for a successor will be held 28 June.
2. IDF Controls Half of Philadelphi Corridor. The IDF has estimated that some 950,000 Palestinians had evacuated the Rafah area, as ground forces operate in East Rafah.
3. Ukrainian President (Volodymyr Zelensky) wants NATO nations to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine from their own airspace.
4. Spain's latest Security Package to Ukraine includes Patriot Missiles, Leopard Tanks, & 155mm Munitions.
5. The Czech-led initiative to procure 122mm & 155mm artillery ammo for Ukraine is progressing.
Deputy Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic: The first 180,000 shells have been contracted and should arrive by June.
6. South Korean Defense Firms sign two large deals in Peru:
- Heavy Hyundai Industries (HHI) for construction of one frigate, two landing craft units, & an offshore patrol vessel. Deal is worth $460 million with delivery in 2029.
- Hyundai Rotem for 30 x White Tiger Armored Vehicles for Peruvian Army.
Deal is worth approximately $60 million.
7. US Navy Successfully Fires Patriot Missile via Aegis System at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
8. US Army signs a $756 million contract with Lockheed Martin to support the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) effort.
Lockheed Martin will provide LRHW Battery equipment, system & software engineering, and logistics support.

274: Iranian President's Helicopter Crashes in Mountainous Region + US Forces Begin Departing Niger + Latest Denmark Assistance to Ukraine worth $813.5 million + More May 19, 2024

Show notes

For Review:
1. Iranian President's (Ebrahim Raisi) Helicopter Crashes in Mountainous Region.
Condition of passengers unknown. Heavy fog and bad weather challenge rescue efforts.
2. Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) rejects normalization with Saudi Arabia at the cost of a two-state solution- (with Hamas in control- marginalized or not).
3. US Forces Begin Departing Niger. All US Forces will depart country by 15 September 2024.
4. Latest Denmark Assistance to Ukraine worth $813.5 million.
5. The European Defense Fund (EDF) to invest $1.3 billion on 54 multinational research and development military projects.
These include: future main battle tanks; new airlift capabilities; counter unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS); and directed energy weapons.
6. MBDA will lead multi-national group for a European Hypersonic Defense Interceptor Study. Project partners include France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Project goal is to develop an endo-atmospheric hypersonic and ballistic missile interceptor by 2035.
7. Rheinmetall to open air defense repair facility in Ukraine.
Facility will serve as a repair base for IRIS-T SL, Skynex 30, and Gepard systems.
8. Germany and Slovakia negotiate to continue operating the KNDS repair hub for German & French manufactured combat vehicles damaged in Ukraine,

273: US Gaza Pier Ready + Report: Hezbollah Drone S-5 Rocket Strike + China PLAN Drone Carrier + USMC Tactical Light Vehicle Power + More May 19, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. US Gaza Pier ready for operation. Goal is for 500 tons of humanitarian assistance daily via the pier.
2. IDF airstrike in southern Lebanon potentially reveals that Hezbollah has Iranian-made Sayyad-2 surface-to-air missiles.
3. Report: Hezbollah has the capability to arm drones with 2 x S-5 rockets.
The S-5 is a Soviet-era 57-mm unguided air-to-surface rocket equipped with a high-explosive warhead.
4. Israel: Nearly 700 tunnel shafts have been identified in Rafah, from which approximately 50 tunnels cross into Egypt.
5. Ukraine President Zelensky on Russian offensive in Kharkiv Region:
"We have about 25 percent of what we need to defend Ukraine (air defense systems). Ukraine needs 120 to 130 F-16 fighter jets or other advanced aircraft to achieve air parity with Russia."
6. Poland receives final Tranche Bayraktar TB2 combat drones.
The $270 million deal includes 4 x systems. Each system has 6 x aircraft and 3 ground control stations.
7. Defense News Article (Rudy Ruitenberg): France’s lower-house defense committee describes Germany as having a "self-interested approach" in European defense matters.
8. China's Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Drone Carrier in development.
9. USMC MRZR Alpha will deliver tactical power via two Polaris products:
A 1-kilowatt exportable power system that can be added onto existing vehicles by installing a kit, and a 5-kilowatt system that can be built into new vehicles on the production line.
10. All Department of Defense V-22 Ospreys are operating with a "limited envelope" (flight).
From Draft NDAA: ..."current CMV-22 operations are limited to flights and missions that stay within 30 minutes of a suitable divert airfield.”
Osprey variants include the Air Force’s CV-22, the Marine Corps’ MV-22 and the Navy’s CMV-22B.

272: IDF Destroying Tunnels in Rafah + Finnish Leaders: No Appetite for Troops in Ukraine + US & Japan Collaborate on Hypersonic-Glide Intercept Effort + US Army DE M-SHORAD Struggling in CENTCOM AOR + More May 16, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. IDF locating and destroying tunnels in Rafah operation.
Israel Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant): "many tunnels have already been destroyed and many more will be destroyed soon."
2. Strange Story: US Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) visits Kyiv weeks after Washington approved a $61 billion package of aid for the country- and plays guitar.
3. Finnish Leaders: No Appetite for Troops in Ukraine.
4. Australia defense budget for 2024-2025 is AU$55.7 billion.
5. US & Japan Collaborate on Hypersonic-Glide Intercept Effort.
Initial Operational Capability estimated in late 2029.
Full Operational Capability in 2032, with at least
24 x Hypersonic Interceptors by 2040.
6. US Army DE M-SHORAD Struggling in CENTCOM AOR.
4 x systems fielded in February 2024.
7. US Army IVAS running out of time? Commander of Army Futures Command (General James Rainey): "if it (IVAS) does not work, then I think we would have to take a very hard look at whether we continue down that path or use that money for other critical aspects of our night-vision strategy...".
8. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter facing delivery delays from the Technology Refresh 3
(TR-3) upgrade.
The TR-3 effort provides more computing power and memory to support a suite of planned upgrades known as Block 4.

271: IDF Moves Further into Rafah + Ukrainian Commander of Kharkiv Region Removed + Sweden Defense Minister: No Troops Planned for Ukraine + UK Hypersonic Missile Effort + More May 14, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. US - built Gaza Pier ready in one or two days.
US Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary (Sabrina Singh): "Improved sea conditions will allow the U.S. Army to anchor a causeway onto the beach this week."
2. IDF Moves Further into Rafah. Israel's relations with Egypt strained.
3. Ukrainian Commander of Kharkiv Region Removed.
Offensive in Kharkiv Region has given Russian forces control of an estimated 162 square kilometers of border territory and ten villages in a pair of 5-8 kilometer-deep salients projecting into Ukrainian defenses.
4. Sweden Defense Minister: No Troops Planned for Ukraine.
5. Employment of First Person View (FPV) Drones in Russia-Ukraine War, force change of tactics on both sides including additional armor protection for combat vehicles and use of Electronic Warfare.
6. UK Hypersonic Missile developmental effort (Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework).
7. UK Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS) program. This program plans a fleet of six amphibious support ships capable of carrying drones, larger aircraft and insertion craft for the Royal Marines.
8. US Army Watercraft- the Maneuver Support Vessel - Light (MSV-L), to undergo operational testing in Hawaii.
This vessel replaces the Landing Craft, Mechanized-8 (LCM-8) and has an improved capability to transport M1 Tanks, and Bradley & Stryker Vehicles. US Army plans to procure 13 x MSV-Ls.

270: Report: Hamas Leader Not Hiding in Rafah + Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine Worth $400 million + Ukraine Defense Contact Group Capability Coalitions Part 2 + More May 11, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Report: Hamas leader (Yahya Sinwar) is not hiding in Rafah, but possibly in the Khan Younis area- some five miles away.
2. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine is Worth $400 million. It includes air defense munitions, artillery ammunition, and anti-tank weapons among other materiel.
3. Apparently referencing the AP report about US M1 Tanks pulled from frontline duty (due to targeting by Russian drones), the Netherlands Ministry of Defense states that it does not impose any conditions on donated equipment to Ukraine- other than obligations arising from UN Charter and international humanitarian law.
4. German Defense Minister (Boris Pistorius) calls for future defense spending to 3% GDP and hints at possible conscription. Germany ended compulsory military service in 2011.
5. Ukraine Defense Contact Group #2- Eight Capability Coalitions.
We discuss the last four (alphabetical order):
- Drones: Latvia, UK
- Integrated Air Defense: France, Germany
- Information Technology: Estonia, Luxembourg
- Maritime Security: Norway, UK
6. UK Armed Forces Minister (Leo Docherty): UK DragonFire Laser Weapon under development. Will be ready in 2027. Not ready operational use in Ukraine.

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