The Russian government, in a bid to rebuild its military arsenal after nearly five months into its invasion of Ukraine, is reported to be preparing legislation that could force companies to supply the country's military and employees to work overtime. Open-source information indicates that thousands of tanks and other armoured vehicles have been destroyed, damaged and abandoned, or captured. [node:read-more:link]
Pakistan is reducing its Armed Forces Development Program by some 20 per cent in order to meet an International Monetary Fund demand that it achieve an overall budget surplus next year as a condition for reviving an economic bailout package. A former Australian defence attaché to Pakistan says “it is unlikely that this will have a drastic impact on Pakistan’s overall defense preparedness, and it certainly will not affect nuclear weapons.” [node:read-more:link]
The first test of a key component of future U.S. land-based nuclear missiles ended with an explosion 10 seconds after launch at Vandenburg Space Force Base in California July 6. There were no injuries and debris was contained to the immediate vicinity of the pad. The Minotaur II+ combines parts of decommissioned Minuteman ICBMs and an upper segment of the current Minuteman IIIs to create a missile used for suborbital test launches. [node:read-more:link]
A shipment of Iranian surface-to-air missiles and cruise missile engines was intercepted by the Royal Navy in the Gulf of Oman earlier this year. Confirming the development recently, British authorities say it was evidence that Iran is arming Houthi rebels against a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. [node:read-more:link]
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says his military has downed missiles fired from Ukraine and promises to respond “instantly” to any further attacks. Lukashenko, who offered no evidence to back his statement on stat media, has been offered Russian nuclear-capable Iskander missiles by President Vladimir Putin. [node:read-more:link]
Raytheon and Palantir Technologies each have received $36-million U.S. Army contracts designed to prototype designed to improve artillery targetting beyond line-of-sight. It’s the latest phase in development of a software-centric ground system the two countries have been working on since January 2021. The Army and the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit have partnered with Northrop Grumman to develop two pre-prototype ground stations. [node:read-more:link]
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan today agreed to endorse NATO membership for Sweden and Finland in a trilateral deal to “support … each other's security.” The two Nordic states agreed not only to address concerns about their handling of Kurdish nationalists deemed terrorists by Turkey but also to lift restrictions on weapons sales to Turkey. [node:read-more:link]
The French Army wants to buy U.S. loitering munitions, specifically the Switchblade developed by Virginia-based AeroVironment, within six months as part as part of a long-term push to field remotely operated weapon. The U.S. had already announced plans to supply Ukraine with the munition as part of military aid in response to Russia’s invasion. [node:read-more:link]
South Korea’s Hanwha Corp. and Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on developing an infantry fighting vehicle and a long-range precision fires system. The companies, including Hanwha’s division in Australia, which have already fulfilled several Australian procurements, are responding to similar Norwegian Defence Material Agency plans. [node:read-more:link]
Additional medium-range missile systems are part of the latest U.S. military aid for Ukraine. The $450-million package was announced today, a week after $1 billion military aid was confirmed. Ukrainian leader has repeatedly asked for the more advanced, precision rocketry to better fight their Russian invaders. [node:read-more:link]
President Joe Biden’s administration is aligning itself more closely with an international treaty against the use of anti-personnel landmines. Reversing a more-permissive policy of the former administration, the June 21 announcement says their use would still be permitted in South Korea as a deterrent to invasion by its northern neighbour. [node:read-more:link]
Does Russia prefer cruise missiles over ballistic when targeting Ukrainian air force and ground based air defence assets? Israeli missile expert comments on Russia's targeting tactics in Ukraine. One thing is clear, either equal destruction of Ukraine assets, infrastructure, and lives. [node:read-more:link]
Defence Minister Anita Anand announced today that 229 new cutting edge multi-calibre bolt-action sniper rifles are on their way to the Canadian Army. This successful procurement milestone represents the final major piece of Canada’s Sniper Systems project. The contract, valued at $2.6 million was awarded to Stoeger Canada. [node:read-more:link]
Saudi Arabia has expressed its interest in the immediate purchase of some Israeli made air defence systems. According to an Israeli senior defence source there are advanced negotiations about some of the systems. In recent weeks, media coverage of Israel's ties with Saudi Arabia has increased ahead of US President Biden's possible visit to Saudi Arabia during his Middle East visit in late June. [node:read-more:link]
North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles May 12 in the latest of a series of demonstrations. They fell into the sea outside Japan’s economic management zone. [node:read-more:link]
