Weapons

Israeli manufacturer UVision tested its Hero-120 loitering munition in the Arctic for the first time earlier this year as officials looked to market expansion. Without disclosing where the tests took place, a company official said recently that they were monitored by several countries with Arctic warfare capabilities. [node:read-more:link]

One of Russia’s key weapons in the invasion of Ukraine, a long-range Tupolev Tu-22 bomber, was destroyed by a Ukrainian drone at its airbase south of St. Petersburg August 19. Russia has an estimated 60 of the supersonic aircraft, NATO codename “Blinder”, which have been used extensively against targets in Ukraine. [node:read-more:link]

Denmark and the Netherlands received U.S. “formal assurances” August 18 that they can transfer F-16 fighters to Ukraine once its pilots have been trained on them, which could take six months. The Dutch air force has about 24 operational F-16s due to be taken out of service and the Danes are planning to upgrade their fleet of approximately 30. [node:read-more:link]

The leaders of a unit that manages China’s nuclear weapons, General Li Yuchao and his deputy, General Liu Guangbin, have been replaced, respectively, by former deputy naval chief Wang Houbin and Communist Party central committee member Xu Xisheng. No official explanation was given but it has been reported that alleged corruption was being investigated. [node:read-more:link]

The International Atomic Energy Agency says its monitors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine reported anti-personnel mines around the site. It did not attribute them to Russian forces, but the UN agency says the outward-facing mines are in “area controlled by military” and “should not affect the site’s nuclear safety and security systems.” [node:read-more:link]

White House national security spokesman John Kirby says U.S. cluster munitions donated to Ukraine are being used “appropriately” and “effectively” against Russian troops. He also said July 20 that the weapons, banned by Canada and more than 120 other countries, are having an impact on Russian defences and manoeuvres. [node:read-more:link]

A $1.3- billion U.S. long-term support package announced July 19 for the Ukrainian military, including air defense systems and drones pushes total U.S. support past the $40-billion mark. However, compared with earlier drawdowns from U.S. stockpiles, however, this latest package of new materiel could take at least a year to deliver. [node:read-more:link]

Six Russian cruise missiles were shot down during an overnight attack on the Black Sea port of Odesa hours after Russia pulled out of an agreement which enabled Ukraine to export grain. However, port infrastructure and private homes were damaged. [node:read-more:link]

The commander of USAF Europe, General James Hecker, says western allies’ arms stockpiles are “dangerously low” due to donations to Ukraine and that there are no “short terms” solutions on the horizon. “We need to get industry on board to help us out.” [node:read-more:link]

With its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile in three months, North Korea was following up today on its promise of a “shocking” response to what it says are provocative U.S. reconnaissance activities. The road-transportable solid-rocket Hwasong-18 flew about 1,000km at a maximum altitude of 6,000km before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. [node:read-more:link]

BAE Systems has received a £280 million contract to begin rebuilding British munitions stocks reducd by shipments to Ukraine. The order for 155mm artillery shells and other ammunition includes an option which could push the value to more than £400 million [node:read-more:link]

An Israeli-American who founded and co-directs the Washington-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security faces charges of trying to illegally broker sales of weapons and Iranian oil as well as being a Chinese agent. Evidently arrested earlier this year in Cyprus on what he said is “a politically motivated extradition request” by federal prosecutors in New York, Gal Luft fled after being granted bail. [node:read-more:link]

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and his French counterpart, Sebatien Lecornu, have agreed to reinvigorate a moribund plan to collaborate on developing a next-generation main battle tank which would work with drones and robots. They said today that their goal is to replace their fleets of Leopard 2 and Leclerc MBTs between 2035 and 2040. [node:read-more:link]

U.S. President Joe Biden Ukraine said July 9 that Ukraine is not yet ready for NATO membership because the conflict with Russia needs to end first. But he also said the U.S. and other allies would continue to supply Ukraine with the security and arms it needs to sustain its counteroffensive. [node:read-more:link]