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259: Missile Strike on Air Defense Radar Site inside Iran + US & Israel Still Apart on Rafah Operation + Ukraine Reports Downing a Russian TU-22M Bomber + US Army Names Multi-Domain Task Force Stations + More Apr 20, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Missile Strike on Air Defense Radar Site inside Iran. Reported location is town of Isfahan- 75 miles south of the Natanz nuclear enrichment complex.
2. After second meeting, US & Israel Still Apart on Rafah Operation. Third meeting planned.
3. Breaking Defense article (Agnes Helou)- lays out Iran's Air Defense Long-Range, Medium-Range, & Short-Range capabilities.
4. Ukraine Reports Downing a Russian supersonic TU-22M "Backfire" Bomber.
5. General Atomics pitches Gray Eagle Short Take-off & Landing (STOL) combat drone as potential solution for the Army's now cancelled Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Program. Still in development, the Gray Eagle STOL has the capability to carry a maximum payload of 16 Hellfire missiles
6. Pre-Decisional: The Army Names Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) Stations.
1st MDTF: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. (Indo-PACOM)
2d MDTF: Germany with some subordinate battalions at Fort Drum, NY. (EUCOM)
3d MDTF: Hawaii with some subordinate battalions at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. (Indo-PACOM)
4th MDTF: Fort Carson, CO. (Indo-PACOM)
5th MDTF: Fort Liberty, NC. (Global Response?)

258: IDF Strikes Hezbollah Air Defense Site in NE Lebanon + Lithuania & Rheinmetall Partner to Build 155mm Munition Plant + Argentina Finalizes Purchase of F-16 Fighters from Denmark + US Army Procures More ENVG-Bs + More Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu: "Israel appreciates advice and suggestions (from Allies), nevertheless- Israel will make our own decisions."
2. IDF Strikes Hezbollah Air Defense Site in Northeast Lebanon.
3. US CENTCOM X:
16 Apr-CENTCOM Forces engaged two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas in Yemen.
4. US Secretary of Navy tells Senate Appropriations Committee that the Navy has fired over $1 billion in munitions during Middle East operations. These munitions include
SM-2s, SM-3s, and SM-6s (SM = Standard Missile).
5. US Navy Ship (USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo) returns to port in Jacksonville, Florida after catching fire enroute to Mediterranean Sea- in support of mission to build a temporary pier- to allow Humanitarian Aid into Gaza.
6. Czech Republic plan to provide 155mm artillery munitions to Ukraine continues progress. Czech government reports that it has secured 500,00 rounds, with first deliveries to Ukraine in June 24.
7. Lithuania & Rheinmetall Partner to Build 155mm Munition Plant.
8. Argentina Finalizes Purchase of 24 x F-16 Fighters from Denmark.
9. Lawmakers from Connecticut question Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky possible layoffs (400) due to the cancellation of the US Army Future Assault Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Program.
10. US Army to procure more Enhanced Night Vision Goggle- Binocular (ENVG-Bs) from L3 Harris in contract worth $256 million.

257: Israel Discusses Response to Iranian Attack & IDF Provides Target Options + Germany to Send Patriot ADA System to Ukraine + US Missile Defense Agency Selects Next Gen ICBM Interceptor + More Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
13-14 Apr: CENTCOM & EUCOM Forces engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen.
2. Israel Discusses Response to Iranian Attack & IDF Provides Target Options.
3. US CENTCOM & EUCOM Air, Ground, & Naval Assets assist Israel in repelling Iranian attack.
4. US Navy Guided-Missile Destroyers USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) & USS Carney (DDG-64) intercept Iranian ballistic missiles with SM 3s (Standard Missile) - first time these munitions have been used in combat.
5. Israeli F-35I Adir Fighters targeted at Nevatim Air Base in Southern Israel during Iranian strike. No reported damage to warplanes.
6. Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, says the front-line situation is “deteriorating” along the frontier of the Eastern part of the country. Russian forces are moving toward the town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region.
7. Russia reportedly creates new Corps-sized "Operational Strategic Group" named Sever (North in Russian) for operations in Ukraine.
This unit will join five other Strategic Groups- Center, South, West, & Dnipro.
8. Germany to send Patriot Air Defense Artillery System to Ukraine.
9. US Missile Defense Agency Selects Next Generation ICBM Interceptor (Lockheed Martin).
10. US Army deploys the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) to Philippines (from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA). Unit is equipped with the Mid-Range Capability Launcher that employs the SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles.
Mid-Range Capability fills ranges between the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) (500 kilometers) and the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) (2,776 kilometers).

256: Iran Attacks Israel with Missiles & Drones + Iran IRGC Seizes Commercial Vessel near Strait of Hormuz + Germany to Provide Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine + Lockheed Hypersonic Missile (Mako) + More Apr 14, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Navy Special Operations Forces from the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized a commercial vessel (container ship MSC Aries) with ties to Israel, near the Strait of Hormuz.
2. Iran Attacks Israel with Missiles & Drones. Retaliation for Damascus strike in early April.
3. Russian President (Vladimir Putin) comments on upcoming round of Peace talks in Switzerland- without Russian invitation or attendance.
Quote from Russian President: "Moreover, they think there is nothing for us to do there, but at the same time they say that’s it’s impossible to decide anything without us. It would have been funny if it weren’t so sad.”
4. US European Combatant (EUCOM) Commander (General Christopher Cavoli): Ukraine is outgunned. For every artillery shell (round) it fires, Russia returns five.
5. Germany to send 20 x Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine.
The German 2024 Budget allows for $8.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine.
6. UK Navy to have Direct Energy Weapons by 2027.
7. US EUCOM Unfunded Priority List is $141 million.
Main priority is US Air Force’s base defense network, allowing it “to detect and identify cruise missiles, large, and small unmanned aerial systems, and other incoming attacks.”
8. US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Unfunded Priority List is $500 million.
Main priority is $219 million to “support a layered base defense configuration” involving a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), interceptors, radars and other “short-range air defense equipment to counter” small- to medium-sized drones.
9. Lockheed Martin says that their Hypersonic Missile (Mako) is ready now.
Lockheed’s Senior Program Manager: this is a multi-mission, highly capable system, highly survivable, affordable, so you’re going to hold many targets at risk with one weapons system that’s ready now.”

255: Israel Defense Minister: IDF Ready to Respond Any Scenario + US Donates Brigade's Worth of Seized Arms & Ammo to Ukraine + Greece Prepared to Transfer F-16s to Ukraine + Serbia to Procure Rafale Warplanes from France + More Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

1. US CENTCOM X:
09 Apr- US transfers an Infantry Brigade's worth of seized arms and ammunition to Ukraine. It includes over 5,000 x AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s- and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
09 Apr- USS Mason (DDG 87) successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen over the Gulf of Aden.
10 Apr- CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
10 Apr- CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed eight UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
2. Israel Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant): IDF Ready to Respond Any Scenario.
Israel has been on high alert amid Iranian officials’ promises of revenge for a Damascus airstrike.
3. US believes a major Iranian attack on Israel is imminent and could happen in the coming days. Iran could launch strikes involving high-precision missiles and drones targeting military and government sites in Israel (Bloomberg).
4. Greece Prepared to Transfer 32 x F-16C/D Fighters to Ukraine- and possibly 24 x Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2 warplanes as well.
5. Russia is developing more lethal ammunition based on its study of NATO combat vehicles captured in Ukraine.
6. Serbia to Procure 12 x Rafale Warplanes from France.
7. Update on key USAF Modernization programs: B-21 Raider Bomber & LGM-35A Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)- (replacement for the LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM).
8. Follow-up on previous story about factors contributing to the US Navy's Columbia-Class Submarine (District of Columbia - SSBN-826) delivery schedule.

254: IDF Departs Gaza - Leaves 1 x Brigade + IDF Creates New UAV Squadron + Poland Creates Drone Component + Canada to Increase Defense Spending + More Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
06 Apr- CENTCOM Forces destroyed one mobile surface-to air missile system in Houthi controlled territory of Yemen. CENTCOM Forces also shot down one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Red Sea.
08 Apr- CENTCOM Forces destroyed an air defense system with two missiles ready to launch, a ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, and one unmanned aerial system.
2. Leaders of Egypt (President El-Sissi), France (President Macron), and Jordan (King Abdullah) call for cease fire, release of hostages, and increase in humanitarian aid in a Washington Post OpEd.
3. IDF Departs Gaza - Leaves One Brigade.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: "the point of withdrawing troops from the Strip was to prepare for the expected offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah."
4. IDF Creates New UAV Squadron.
Purpose: Carry out tasks of intelligence gathering, recording aerial footage, and strikes in cooperation with the ground forces in ground operations.
5. Poland creates Drone Component and plans to incorporate UAVs at all levels.
6. Canada to Increase Defense Spending. Increase still short of the 2% GDP encouraged by NATO.
7. US Navy & USMC Study.
Purpose: "Study amphibious warship readiness and how the services can get ahead of ship maintenance challenges."
8. AUKUS Members ok for Japan to join as Pillar II Tech partner.
Pillar II tech partner "covers a collection of new defense technologies, as opposed to the nuclear-submarine portion of the security agreement."

253: Iran Army CoS: Damascus Strike Response "Maximum Damage" + IDF Creates Mountain Brigade + US Navy Report Identifies Ship Building Delays + Norway to Double Defense Spending by 2036 + More Apr 06, 2024

Show notes

For review
1. US Navy Report Identifies Ship Building Delays. Columbia-Class Submarine (12-16 month delay) and Constellation-Class Frigate (36 month delay) Programs are listed.
2. Iran Army Chief of Staff (General Mohammad Reza Zahedi) promises "maximum damage" in revenge for Damascus strike.
3. IDF destroys three Hamas tunnels- one of which entered hundreds of meter inside Israel.
4. Israel Opposition Leader (Yair Lapid) visits Washington to meet with US Senior Officials- Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and Senate Majority Leader.
5. IDF Creates Mountain Brigade. Unit will operate in the Northern Border Area and fall under the 210th Division.
6. Ukraine Official- F-16 Fighter Jets no longer relevant for 2024 operations against Russia.
7. Poland and Italy not affected by F-35 deliveries. Poland to continue fighter purchases.
8. Norway to Double Defense Spending by 2036- from $8.75 billion in 2024 to over $17 billion in 2036.
9. UVision (Hero 120) and SAIC join to increase production of Hero-120 Loitering Munition systems.

252: Israel Readies for Possible Iranian Response to Damascus Strike + Russia - France Defense Ministers Phone Call + US Official: Russia Almost Reconstituted Militarily + Estonia to purchase Caesar 155mm Mobile Artillery + More Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. US CENTCOM X:
03 Apr- , USS Gravely (DDG 107) successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) and two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen towards USS Gravely in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships. Additionally, CENTCOM Forces destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi controlled territory.
04 Apr- CENTCOM Forces destroyed one anti-ship missile (ASM) in a Houthi-controlled territory of Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships.
2. Israel Readies for Possible Iranian Response to Damascus Strike.
3. US White House threatens change in support unless Israel changes approach to war against Hamas in Gaza. No details on what those changes might be.
4. Russia (Sergei Shoigu) - France (Sebastien Lecornu) Defense Ministers have phone call- first in almost two years.
5. During visit to India, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba discussed a possibility that Russia - Ukraine negotiations could be in the future.
6. US State Department Official, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kurt Campbell:
“We have assessed over the course of the last couple of months that Russia has almost completely reconstituted militarily.”
7. Denmark Government relieves Chief of Defense due to unreported readiness problems with Frigate Iver Huitfeldt during Red Sea combat deployment.
8. Germany to "overhaul" military command structure. Will combine two separate command centers into one operational command. In addition, Cyber & Information Domain will become a fourth arm of German defense- joining Army, Navy, & Air Force.
9. Estonia to purchase 12 x Caesar Mobile Artillery (155mm). Will be fielded to Artillery formation in the 1st Division.

251: US & Israel Continue to Disagree on Rafah Operation + Army Fields Next Gen Squad Rifle & Auto Rifle + Guam Air & Missile Defense + Germany orders new Panzerhaubitze 2000 (155mm) + More Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. Army Fields Next Gen Squad Rifles & Automatic Rifles to 1-506 Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101 ABN Division (Fort Campbell, KY).
2. Strike in Damascus Kills 2 x IRGC Generals.
3. US and Israel continue to disagree on Rafah Operation.
4. Germany orders new 22 x Panzerhaubitze 2000 (155mm) from Rheinmetall in deal worth $145 million. First systems to arrive in mid-2025.
5. French manufacturer KNDS Nexter says that Caesar Mobile 155mm Howitzers have greater survival rate in Ukraine than other self-propelled or towed systems.
6. Guam Air & Missile Defense effort to have own Joint Program Executive Office- JPEO Guam Defense Systems. US Army's Rapid Capabilities & Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), will take lead.
7. US Army requests and receives (from Congress) the ability to have multi-year contracts on Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and Patriot Advanced Capability - 3 (PAC-3) munitions.
8. F-35A variant can now fly in lightning /thunderstorms after four year ban due to safety problem (now solved).

250: US Alternatives to IDF Rafah Ground Operation + US Arms Package to Israel includes F-35s + France & Denmark to deliver more Caesar 155mms to Ukraine + Argentina to buy F-16s from Denmark + More Mar 31, 2024

Show notes

For review:
1. 1000 ton lift-capacity derrick barge Chesapeake- supporting Key Bridge salvage (Baltimore, Maryland)- linked to the Hughes Glomar Explorer CIA operation to recover Soviet submarine (K-129 sunk in 1968).
2. US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (General Charles Brown) discusses Alternatives to IDF Rafah Ground Operation. They are: Secure Gaza border with Egypt with technological advances to prevent the smuggling of weapons through the Philadelphi Corridor, the isolation of the city of Rafah and the launch of targeted raids, and the establishment of a joint control room to coordinate on the targeted operations.
3. US Arms Package to Israel includes 1,800 x MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, 500 x MK-82 500-pound bombs, & 25 x F-35s.
4. Ukraine Top General Oleksandr Syrsky conducts interview- discusses munition shortages and consequences on military operations.
5. France & Denmark to deliver more Caesar 155mms (78) to Ukraine.
6. European Union to fund increased production of MBDA Enforcer shoulder-launched missile system.
7. With the addition of Sweden and Finland to NATO- US Army to study new Army Pre-positioned Stock locations in Europe. Current location are in Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, and Belgium.
8. Argentina to buy 24 x surplus F-16s from Denmark in deal reportedly worth $320 million.
9. US Army continues Directed Energy air defense weapons development.
10. BAE develops vehicle top plate for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). This allows the placement of various turrets on the vehicle. Examples: Counter-UAS model, 30mm gun model, and turreted 120mm mortar model.

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