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Latest Episodes:

209: IDF Destroys Tunnel Complex Under Gaza (Rantisi) Hospital + IDF Requests AH-64 Apache Helicopters + Russian Navy Commissions Hypersonic Missile Frigate + Latest US Security Assistance to Ukraine + More Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. IDF Destroys Tunnel Complex Under Gaza (Rantisi) Hospital.
2. IDF Requests (additional) AH-64 Apache Helicopters from the US, to reinforce two IDF (organic) Flight Squadrons. Requested amount is unknown.
3. Latest US Security Assistance to Ukraine is worth $275 million. Includes Stinger missiles, TOW & Javelin Missiles, and 155mm & 105mm artillery munitions, plus other materiel.
4. Biden Administration shifting strategy on Ukraine - Russia War. Pushing Ukraine to negotiations? Article from Politico (Michael Hirsh, 27 Dec).
5. Russian Navy Commissions Hypersonic Missile Frigate. Will launch the Zircon hypersonic missile (plus Kalibr & Onik missiles also).
6. Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee approves Sweden's NATO bid. Next step is the Parliament's General Assembly.
7. US Army to expand counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (c-UAS) capability. Wants to procure 6,000 Coyote Block II and 700 Block III interceptors plus fixed and mobile launchers, Ku-band radars, and mobile radars.
8. US Congress House Committee on Oversight and Accountability request V-22 Osprey safety records from US Department of Defense.

208: UK Leads F-16 Flight Training for Ukraine Pilots + Iran General Killed in Syrian Airstrike + US to Have Access at Finland/Philippine Installations + Operation Prosperity Guardian Analysis + More Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. US Foreign Military Sale: Flight training for Royal Saudi (Arabia) Air Force worth $1 billion.
2. US retaliatory airstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah after US Troops wounded in Erbil Base (Iraq) drone attack.
3. US Guided Missile Destroyer Laboon (DDG-58) and F/A 18E/F Super Hornet warplanes from the Carrier Strike Group USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), down drones, cruise missiles, and anti-ship missiles from Yemen in the Red Sea.
4. Indian Navy deploys Destroyers, P-8 Poseidon aircraft, and MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) to counter attacks on merchant vessels.
5. US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian analysis by Zoran Kusovac (Al Jazeera).
6. Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Killed in Syrian Airstrike.
7. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Op-Ed in Wall Street Journal, defines three requisites for peace in the region: 1. Destruction of Hamas; 2. Demilitarization of Gaza; and 3. Deradicalization of Palestinian society.
8. US to have access to military installations in Finland.
9. UK Leads F-16 Flight Training for Ukraine Pilots (in Denmark).
10. US to have basing access in Philippines.

207: Netherlands Preparing to Deliver F-16 Warplanes to Ukraine + IDF Destroys Tunnel Network Underneath Palestine Square (Gaza City) + US Coast Guard Grounds C-27J Spartan Fleet + US Army Readies for Project Convergence 2024 + More Dec 23, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. UN Security Council adopts Resolution #2720 calling for immediate delivery of humanitarian aid and to create conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities. 13 Nations vote In Favor; US and Russia Abstain.
2. IDF destroys tunnel network underneath Palestine Square in Gaza City.
3. IDF combat footage from the IDF Nahal Brigade engaging Hamas terrorists in multi-story building in Northern Gaza.
4. Latest in the US Army's Air and Missile Defense Modernization Priority: the Indirect Fire Protection Capability.
5. US Army Readies for Project Convergence 2024 at Camp Pendleton and Fort Irwin, California.
6. Netherlands preparing to deliver 18 x F-16 Warplanes to Ukraine.
7. Slovenia receives first multi-purpose C-27J Spartan aircraft.
8. US Coast Guard grounds entire fleet (14) of C-27J Spartan aircraft due to structural cracks.

206: IDF Close to Completing N. Gaza Ground Operations + International Naval Force to Operate in Red Sea + US Army to reduce UH-60 Black Hawks Numbers + Armor Not Dead: Czech Republic to Procure Leopard 2A8 Tanks + More Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. Russian President Vladimir Putin open to negotiations with Ukraine, US, and Europe. Adamant about no NATO membership for Ukraine.
2. Israel rejects Hamas demand for cease fire and Gaza withdrawal as preconditions for hostage(s) release.
3. IDF Update. Ground operations in Northern Gaza almost complete. Focus will shift to Southern Gaza.
4. International Naval Force to operate in Red Sea. Multinational Security Initiative called Operation Prosperity Guardian includes UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and Spain. Based in Bahrain under the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) & Task Force 153.
5. US Army to reduce UH-60 Black Hawks numbers- from 2,135 to 1,978.
6. Czech Republic tp Procure Leopard 2A8 tanks, F35 fighters, and C-390 transport aircraft.
7. Germany continues purchasing 155mm artillery munitions for Ukraine.
8. Spain orders Airbus C295 aircraft for maritime patrol and surveillance missions.

205: IDF Discovers Hamas Strategic Tunnel + Slovenia Procures 2 x IRIS-T Air Defense Systems (Germany) + Norway to Send NASAMS to Ukraine + USMC Squadron Operating in Red Sea Can Fly Ospreys + More Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. USMC Squadron Operating in Red Sea Can Fly Ospreys.
2. US and UK Naval Warships down drones launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen.
3. IDF discovers large (4k) Hamas tunnel near North Gaza crossing of Erez.
4. US Army 1st Cavalry Division with 36th Engineer Brigade- conducts wet gap crossing exercise at Fort Cavazos, Texas in support of modernizing the US Army Armored Division Force Structure (Armored Strike Division).
5. US Army continues development of Active Protection System (APS) for Stryker Combat Vehicle(s).
6. USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft program announces competitive vendors: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Anduril, General Atomics, and Northrup Grumman.
7. Slovenia Procures 2 x IRIS-T Air Defense Systems (Germany).
8. Norway to Send NASAMS (systems) to Ukraine.
9. Argentina's new President wants to modernize armed forces.

204: IDF Floods Hamas Tunnels with Seawater + Finland to Increase Artillery & Mortar Ammo Production + Saudi Arabia Negotiates Rafale Warplane Procurement + Germany Orders H145M Helicopters + More Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. US Senate & House of Representatives pass the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with topline of $886 billion. NDAA sent to President for signature.
2. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine worth $200 million. Includes Anti-tank weapons, Air Defense components, and Artillery ammunition.
3. IDF floods Hamas tunnels with seawater. Combat method proves successful.
4. Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) treat prepared by Japan, UK, and Italy. Effort will develop 6th Generation Fight for fielding by 2035.
5. Dassault Aviation CEO- Eric Trappier- provides comments on latest company efforts in defense acquisitions and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.
6. German Army orders 62 x multi-role H145M Airbus helicopters- with option for 20 more. Transaction estimated at $3.0 billion.
7. Finland to double heavy ammunition production (Nammo) by 2026-2027. Munitions include: 155mm artillery; 120mm mortar; and 81mm mortar.
8. South Korea scrambles jets to monitor Russian and Chines warplanes operating in the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ)- over the Sea of Japan.
9. US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) recommended to analyze force structure in support of procuring AT-802U Armed Overwatch Aircraft. USSOCOM plan to procure 75 aircraft through 2029.

203: IDF Ground Operations Update + French Guided Missile Frigate Downs Two Drones in Red Sea + Belgium Receives First F35A Fighter + UK Army Mobile Fires Platform (155mm) Effort + More Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. IDF Ground Operations update.
2. French Guided Missile Frigate Downs Two Drones in Red Sea.
3. Ukraine President Zelenskyy visits Washington D.C- meets with President Biden; addresses Senate.
4. UK, Norway, and Netherlands to aid Ukraine in increasing Black Sea maritime capabilities with minehunter vessels and Marine Corps development.
5. UK Army Mobile Fires Platform program (155mm Artillery effort).
(just procure Archers already?)
6. UK Ministry of Defense considers procurement of H-47 Extended Range Chinooks.
7. US Army Special Operations Aviation Command to receive 6 x re-manufactured MH-47G Block II Chinooks in deal worth $271 million. Completed by 2027.
8. Belgium Receives First F35A Fighter- designated (aircraft) AY-01.

202: IDF Ground Operations Update + USMC Force Design 2030 Independent Review + US Army 30mm Stryker Development + Australia to Procure Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (Hanwha) + More Dec 10, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. Yemen Houthi rebels to target ships in Red Sea bound for Israel.
2. IDF ground operations in Gaza update.
3. 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) highlights.
4. US Navy NDAA 2024 highlights.
5. 2024 NDAA directs independent review of USMC Force Design 2030 concept.
6. US Army 30mm Stryker Infantry Carrier development.
7. US Foreign Military Sale of 80 x MK 54 Lightweight Torpedo(s) (RTX) to Germany worth $300 million.
8. Australia to procure 129 x Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (Hanwha Defence Australia), in deal worth $2.4 billion.

201: US Vetoes UN Security Council Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza + US Military Grounds all V-22 Ospreys + Latest US Security Assistance to Ukraine + Op-Ed: Armor Not Dead + More Dec 09, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. US Military grounds all variants of the V-22 Osprey (USAF, USMC, & US Navy).
2. US vetoes UN Security Council Cease Fire Resolution, UK abstains.
3. Jerusalem Post interviews 2 x Reservists Officers: 1 x Armor Officer & 1 x Engineer Officers. Officers provide perspective on ground operations in Gaza.
4. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine is worth $175 million.
5. US Military assistance and aid is nearing zero. US lawmakers moving slow on funding Ukraine's war effort.
6. US and Kyiv agree on producing arms in Ukraine- in specific areas of air defense, critical munitions, repair, and sustainment.
7. Older article (Politico), discusses retired Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, GEN Mark Milley's suggestion- that Ukraine should have began negotiations (from position of strength) in November 2022.
8. Very nice Armor Not Dead Op-Ed- from LTG (retired) Yavuz Turkgenci, via Breaking Defense.

200: IDF Considers Flooding Hamas Tunnels + USS Carney Shoots Down 3 x Drones over Red Sea + US & Australia to Collaborate on Hypersonic Weapons + Romania to Produce ATMOS 155mm Mobile Howitzers + More Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

For review:
1. USAF identifies Special Operations Airmen lost in CV-22 Osprey crash off the coast of Japan.
2. White House warns that lack of military assistance funding could cause Ukraine to lose the war.
3. USS Carney (DDG-64) shoots down 3 x drones over the Red Sea. Provides assistance to 3 x commercial vessels.
4. IDF Chief of Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi provides insights on the 3d Phase of the Ground Offensive, plus comments on the Wall Street Journal Report of the IDF potentially using seawater to flood Hamas tunnel networks underneath the Gaza Strip.
5. US Army Senior Acquisition Official, Honorable Doug Bush, comments on the future testing plan for the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon. Potential fielding in Summer of 2024 (at JBLM).
6. US and Australia to collaborate on hypersonic weapon experiments in 2024.
7. Poland procures 155mm artillery and munitions from South Korea's Hanwha Defense in $2.6 billion deal.
8. Romania and Elbit Systems to establish 155mm Autonomous Truck-Mounted Artillery System (ATMOS) production and assembly facility in Romania.
9. The US Army dismounted, Terrestrial Layer System-Brigade Combat Team Manpack (TLS-BCT Manpack) Electronic Warfare (EW) system tested at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

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