Crooked Bough News Round-up

— North Korea Gaining Modern Combat Experience Fighting Ukraine Is A Big Problem

 

at 10/29/24 5:17pm

Ever since the possibility of North Korea assisting Russia in its war effort emerged in the Summer of 2022, quantifying exactly what that would look like and its downstream effects have been challenging. Now, as indications point to North Korean troops wading into the direct fighting, one aspect of this major geopolitical shift beyond how it impacts Ukraine couldnt be more clear — North Korea getting real-world combat experience on a modern battlefield alongside a well-versed ally is a very unwelcome development for South Korea and the United States. The experience aspect of North Koreas involvement in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is one we have stressed repeatedly, but its often overlooked, with the focus being more on the immediate impact an influx of troops could have for the Kremlins cause. This is understandable as Russia has experienced heavy losses and Ukraine has as well. Any major infusion of able bodies into the fighting from an external source could erode either sides ability to compete on the battlefield. Kim inspects a group of soldiers during training. (NK State Media) KCNA Amongst notorious resource scarcity, one thing North Korea has plenty of is troops and laborers. While it is now widely understood that over 10,000 North Korean troops are preparing to fight on behalf of Russia including some from North Koreas brutal special operations units that could just be the start. With one of the largest standing armies on the planet and the need for cash, energy, and technological know-how for weapons development, North Korea has excess supply to offer when it comes to exporting fighting men in exchange for what it needs and wants. Add security guarantees from the worlds largest nuclear power and technological assistance in advanced weapons manufacturing and its clear that Kim Jong Un has every reason to provide Russia with whatever manpower it thinks it needs to turn the tide on the battlefield. But the fact that under such an arrangement North Korea also gets real-world combat experience is an offering Russia could not provide the Hermit Kingdom during a time of relative peace. North Koreas isolated forces could use this experience badly. North Korean special operations forces march during a parade. (PHOTO BY ED JONES / AFP via Getty Images) The last time North Korea fought substantially in an all-out modern war was nearly 75 years ago, although since then it has taken part in more limited conflicts around the globe sporadically in varying, often shadowy capacities. In addition, international training, and especially participation in advanced war games, has been extremely limited for North Korean military units, and the fidelity of the countrys organic training efforts pales in comparison to those of South Korea. The massive and as realistic-as-possible combat exercises South Korea executes alongside its American partners are far more advanced and actually combat representative than anything North Korea is capable of emulating. This is on top of the relatively poor standards of combat training for North Korean regular forces as a whole. So, being able to train with Russian forces and then fight in a real war with the threat of things like standoff guided weaponry, kamikaze drones, electronic warfare, night vision and thermal optics, and so much more, against a very battle-hardened enemy ground force, is arguably a priceless opportunity. The fact that the Ukrainian battlefield has direct similarities with what would exist during a war on the Peninsula is an even bigger plus. South Korean marines exit an amphibious assault vehicle on a beach during the Ssangyong 2024 Exercise joint landing operation by US and South Korean Marines in the south-eastern port city of Pohang on September 2, 2024. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) JUNG YEON-JE And yes, this means many North Koreans will die, and quite rapidly one would think, especially if Russia uses them as they have some of their conscripts and contracted forces in archaic meat assaults, but in some ways thats the point. While paid for in blood, the learning curve will be very steep and likely well-documented. As brutal as it may be, lessons come quickly when they emanate from massive losses of lives on the battlefield. What North Korea learns firsthand the hard way, and from their Russian counterparts who have years of combat experience, can be incorporated into doctrine, training, and especially its weapons development endeavors, which Russia is likely assisting with, at least in some ways. Once again, sacrificing large numbers of your countrymen to get a clear view of the realities of modern combat is a very dark endeavor, but it is what it is in this case. PHOTO BY VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES It remains to be seen how effective North Korean soldiers will even be and large hurdles such as language, foundational training, and equipment needs clearly exist when it comes to incorporating Pyongyangs forces into Russias war machine. How exactly these will be overcome, especially in the near term, is unclear. It may turn out that North Korean troops are more trouble than they are worth and consume already scarce materiel and logistical support without the gains needed to justify the investment. There is also the real possibility of mass defections. But this doesnt change the benefit the North Korean army will get from combat operations regardless. Just how deep North Koreas involvement will end up being is also a huge question mark. If it is limited to what we think it is today — providing some weapons like ballistic missiles, millions of artillery shells, and around 10,000 troops — then its impact wont shift the realities of the battlefield that are already established. There are indications that, beyond small groups possibly already deployed to Ukraine, this initial cadre will be used to help boot Ukraine out of Russias Kursk region, thus their deployment will be limited to Russias own soil. If these troops end up being in any way effective and North Korea injects far greater numbers into the fight, not just to fight in Kursk but in Ukraine itself, it could be a massive problem for Kyiv which is struggling with holding ground as it is. Maybe just as concerning is that the impact of North Korea sending tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine would stem far beyond the reaches of Eastern Europe. North Korean troops raid a beach during training. (NK State Media) North Korea becoming a direct fighting player in this war greatly internationalizes the conflict. South Korea is already mulling jumping in with advisors and providing weaponry, the latter of which it has a large inventory of and the ability to quickly deliver more. Escalation could also come from Ukraines allies who may see the arrival of a foreign regular fighting force in Ukraine as a reason to escalate by sending its own troops or expanding other forms of support or lifting restrictions on where and how advanced weapons can be used. But above all else, no matter how badly its troops do in combat, North Korea will walk away from this conflict with a new understanding of the demands of modern warfare from a battlefield that has similarities to the one that could erupt on the Korean Peninsula. It will exploit these lessons to the max. This, along with Russias cash, energy, and weapons development resources, as well as intelligence, will result in a more robust, ready, and deadlier North Korean military. Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com The post North Korea Gaining Modern Combat Experience Fighting Ukraine Is A Big Problem appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Armies, Around The Globe, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Land, News & Features, North Korea, Russia, Russian Army, Ukraine] [Link to media]

— Our Best Look At Taiwan’s New Uncrewed ‘Smart Dragon’ Submarine

 

at 10/29/24 12:22pm

New imagery of Taiwan’s homegrown Huilong uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) — also known as the Smart Dragon — reveals more details of this intriguing craft, including what appears to be a pair of torpedo tubes, pointing to an expanded kinetic potential for the type. At this stage, it seems this relatively large drone submarine is intended as a testbed, rather than for an operational role, but its development does point to the growing ambitions of the Taiwanese Navy in terms of underwater warfare and the design, and certainly elements of it, could end up in a production form. In recent days, imagery has appeared showing the Huilong both out of the water and undergoing at-sea trials. Photos of the Huilong in a dry dock, still surrounded by scaffolding, provide a good view of the front end of the UUV, with the characteristic twin torpedo tubes at the front. Ahead of the apertures are yellow-painted cradles of the kind used to maneuver and load torpedoes and possibly torpedo-sized UUVs. A look at the rear end of the vessel, meanwhile, reveals an X-shaped rudder and tail fin arrangement, as well as a 5-bladed bladed propeller with raked tips. Liberty Times published pictures of #Taiwans new UUV "Huilong" showing it has two torpedo tubes. The UUV is being developed by NCIST and Lungteh Shipbuilding company. #DefenceTech pic.twitter.com/2XPalpIXpu— Phillip Charlier (@phillipcharlier) October 23, 2024 Meanwhile, a video of the Huilong shows it being attended to by technicians under a floating shelter, just off the end of a pier, before the UUV is seen being towed out to sea behind a support vessel. Military enthusiasts have captured photos of Taiwan’s domestically developed "Huilong" unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) with torpedo tubes, revealing potential combat capabilities. pic.twitter.com/uBZ3AAGbCN— TaiwanPlus News (@taiwanplusnews) October 24, 2024 According to reports, Taiwan began work on the Huilong in 2020, with the project being run jointly by the state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and Lungteh Shipbuilding, headquartered in Yilan County in northeastern Taiwan. Estimated specifications for the UUV include a length of around 30 meters (98 feet), a width of height of around 3.6 meters (11.8 feet), and a height of around 6 meters (19.7 feet) including the conning tower. The Huilong is thought to have a displacement of approximately 100 tons. The Huilong’s test role was reiterated in recent statements by the Taiwanese minister of defense. They said that the UUV is primarily meant for trials of sonar and underwater mines and apparently said that it doesn’t have its own propulsion system. Instead, during sea trials, it will be towed by a support vessel, the minister said. Bearing in mind the configuration of the Huilong, including propeller and tailplanes, the craft should at least have the potential to manuever under its own power, although this might only happen after initial towed trials and even then, towing it in and out of port will probably be necessary. While there has been some speculation that the Huilong might also have an operational role, there’s so far no confirmation of this. Taiwans "Smart Dragon" UUV is equipped with 2 torpedoes tubes. https://t.co/fe7Q6AAZei pic.twitter.com/vmeMJPjpV8— Taiwan Military (@TaiwanMilitary) October 23, 2024 More likely, it seems that technologies will be proven using the Huilong and will be ported over to follow-on UUVs, which cold include a production version of the test submarine. There are unconfirmed reports that the Huilong is intended to lead to a UUV that can be deployed from the backs of crewed submarines, although if this is possible due to its size is unclear. The design would seem to suggest it would be suitable for operating out of ports, as well. Other reports suggest that the Huilong is designed to deploy smaller UUVs, suggesting that there are ultimately plans for drone submarines that can potentially launch both torpedoes as well as UUVs that could be used for surveillance, target acquisition, and perhaps also strike operations. Laying mines is also a likely mission set. There are even conflicting accounts of whether the Huilong is a true UUV, or whether there is also provision made to carry some crew, with some reports suggesting the UUV has space for two to four people. Perhaps, a crew will be embarked in a test capacity, before moving to fully uncrewed operations. While many questions about the Huilong remain unanswered, there’s meanwhile no doubt that Taiwan is investing in its underwater capabilities. Earlier this year, TWZ reported about Taiwan’s first domestically made submarine, the Hai Kun, which entered the water for the first time in February, after being launched in September 2023. Taiwan’s first domestically made submarine, the Hai Kun (SS-711). CSBC Corporation The diesel-electric boat is the first of eight planned to provide a much-needed upgrade for Taiwan’s antiquated submarine force. While an initial assessment of the Hai Kun suggests an unusual combination of some fairly advanced features, it also potentially has a quality of finish that leaves something to be desired. The fact that Taiwan has, for many years, struggled to acquire foreign-made submarines spurred the development of the Hai Kun. But as the submarine fleet of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) rapidly grows, the potential of UUVs to at least help address the imbalance is likely to make them an attractive option for Taiwan. In the past, Taiwanese officials have boldly stated that its new crewed submarines will be a “strategic deterrent,” that could maintain a “lifeline” to the Pacific in times of crisis, such as a Chinese naval blockade. That ambition seems less realistic when we take into account the fact that the PLAN submarine fleet numbers at least 60 boats, of all types, with the production of different designs and the development of new ones continuing at a rapid pace. The modern Type 039C, with its distinctive sail that is very likely intended to improve the boat’s stealthy characteristics, typifies the rapid pace of innovation in Chinese submarine design. via X While Taiwan will never be able to challenge China in terms of submarine numbers, UUVs — especially ones that can operate alongside crewed submarines — could play a very useful role. The fact is not lost on Beijing, either, with the PLAN also increasingly exploring the potential of UUVs as well as uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). Taiwan’s future submarine doctrine will be based around modern diesel-electric submarines that will likely exploit their advantages for ‘asymmetric’ warfare. This could involve setting ambushes for Chinese vessels. These same kinds of missions could potentially also be taken on by future UUVs, with torpedo-armed ones being especially suitable for ambushes. As well as launching torpedoes, the UUVs could also lay sea mines, a growing area of interest for the U.S. Navy, as well. As well as operations around Taiwan, the country’s submarine fleet could also venture further afield, including into the so-called ‘first island chain,’ where it could disrupt PLAN activities in major chokepoints like the Bashi Channel and the Miyako Strait. Again, UUVs could be of particular value here, with their small size making them proficient for shallow-water operations. A Pentagon graphic showing the geographic boundaries of the First and Second Island Chains. U.S. Department of Defense At the same time, both UUVs and crewed submarines would be prime targets for the PLAN during a conflict, in which China’s growing anti-submarine warfare capabilities would be targeting these as a matter of priority. But flooding the battespace with drones of all types is increasingly seen as a potential decisive factor in a battle across the Taiwan Strait. UUVs are definitely going to be an increasingly critical part of this tactical equation. Operational Taiwanese UUVs may still be some way off, but there’s no doubt that the country needs to urgently modernize and expand its submarine fleet. As you can read about here, this currently consists of two Hai Lung class boats, built in the Netherlands in the mid-1980s but subject to a mid-life upgrade that began in 2016. There are also two veteran Hai Shih class boats, which were originally built as Tench class and Balao class submarines during World War II, but these are understood to no longer go to sea. Faced with the threat of China’s fast-growing underwater armada, Taiwan’s interest in UUVs is understandable and it will be interesting to follow their development as it continues to upgrade its submarine force. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post Our Best Look At Taiwan’s New Uncrewed Smart Dragon Submarine appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Around The Globe, China, Indo-Pacific, Navies, News & Features, People's Liberation Army Navy (China), Republic Of China Navy (Taiwan), Sea, Taiwan, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)] [Link to media]

— Our Best Look At Taiwan’s New Drone Submarine

 

at 10/29/24 11:54am

New imagery of Taiwan’s homegrown Huilong uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) — also known as the Smart Dragon — reveals more details of this intriguing craft, including what appears to be a pair of torpedo tubes, pointing to an expanded kinetic potential for the type. At this stage, it seems this relatively large drone submarine is intended as a testbed, rather than for an operational role, but its development does point to the growing ambitions of the Taiwanese Navy in terms of underwater warfare and the design, and certainly elements of it, could end up in a production form. In recent days, imagery has appeared showing the Huilong both out of the water and undergoing at-sea trials. Photos of the Huilong in a dry dock, still surrounded by scaffolding, provide a good view of the front end of the UUV, with the characteristic twin torpedo tubes at the front. Ahead of the apertures are yellow-painted cradles of the kind used to maneuver and load torpedoes and possibly torpedo-sized UUVs. A look at the rear end of the vessel, meanwhile, reveals an X-shaped rudder and tail fin arrangement, as well as a 5-bladed bladed propeller with raked tips. Liberty Times published pictures of #Taiwans new UUV "Huilong" showing it has two torpedo tubes. The UUV is being developed by NCIST and Lungteh Shipbuilding company. #DefenceTech pic.twitter.com/2XPalpIXpu— Phillip Charlier (@phillipcharlier) October 23, 2024 Meanwhile, a video of the Huilong shows it being attended to by technicians under a floating shelter, just off the end of a pier, before the UUV is seen being towed out to sea behind a support vessel. Military enthusiasts have captured photos of Taiwan’s domestically developed "Huilong" unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) with torpedo tubes, revealing potential combat capabilities. pic.twitter.com/uBZ3AAGbCN— TaiwanPlus News (@taiwanplusnews) October 24, 2024 According to reports, Taiwan began work on the Huilong in 2020, with the project being run jointly by the state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and Lungteh Shipbuilding, headquartered in Yilan County in northeastern Taiwan. Estimated specifications for the UUV include a length of around 30 meters (98 feet), a width of height of around 3.6 meters (11.8 feet), and a height of around 6 meters (19.7 feet) including the conning tower. The Huilong is thought to have a displacement of approximately 100 tons. The Huilong’s test role was reiterated in recent statements by the Taiwanese minister of defense. They said that the UUV is primarily meant for trials of sonar and underwater mines and apparently said that it doesn’t have its own propulsion system. Instead, during sea trials, it will be towed by a support vessel, the minister said. Bearing in mind the configuration of the Huilong, including propeller and tailplanes, the craft should at least have the potential to manuever under its own power, although this might only happen after initial towed trials and even then, towing it in and out of port will probably be necessary. While there has been some speculation that the Huilong might also have an operational role, there’s so far no confirmation of this. Taiwans "Smart Dragon" UUV is equipped with 2 torpedoes tubes. https://t.co/fe7Q6AAZei pic.twitter.com/vmeMJPjpV8— Taiwan Military (@TaiwanMilitary) October 23, 2024 More likely, it seems that technologies will be proven using the Huilong and will be ported over to follow-on UUVs, which cold include a production version of the test submarine. There are unconfirmed reports that the Huilong is intended to lead to a UUV that can be deployed from the backs of crewed submarines, although if this is possible due to its size is unclear. The design would seem to suggest it would be suitable for operating out of ports, as well. Other reports suggest that the Huilong is designed to deploy smaller UUVs, suggesting that there are ultimately plans for drone submarines that can potentially launch both torpedoes as well as UUVs that could be used for surveillance, target acquisition, and perhaps also strike operations. Laying mines is also a likely mission set. There are even conflicting accounts of whether the Huilong is a true UUV, or whether there is also provision made to carry some crew, with some reports suggesting the UUV has space for two to four people. Perhaps, a crew will be embarked in a test capacity, before moving to fully uncrewed operations. While many questions about the Huilong remain unanswered, there’s meanwhile no doubt that Taiwan is investing in its underwater capabilities. Earlier this year, TWZ reported about Taiwan’s first domestically made submarine, the Hai Kun, which entered the water for the first time in February, after being launched in September 2023. Taiwan’s first domestically made submarine, the Hai Kun (SS-711). CSBC Corporation The diesel-electric boat is the first of eight planned to provide a much-needed upgrade for Taiwan’s antiquated submarine force. While an initial assessment of the Hai Kun suggests an unusual combination of some fairly advanced features, it also potentially has a quality of finish that leaves something to be desired. The fact that Taiwan has, for many years, struggled to acquire foreign-made submarines spurred the development of the Hai Kun. But as the submarine fleet of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) rapidly grows, the potential of UUVs to at least help address the imbalance is likely to make them an attractive option for Taiwan. In the past, Taiwanese officials have boldly stated that its new crewed submarines will be a “strategic deterrent,” that could maintain a “lifeline” to the Pacific in times of crisis, such as a Chinese naval blockade. That ambition seems less realistic when we take into account the fact that the PLAN submarine fleet numbers at least 60 boats, of all types, with the production of different designs and the development of new ones continuing at a rapid pace. The modern Type 039C, with its distinctive sail that is very likely intended to improve the boat’s stealthy characteristics, typifies the rapid pace of innovation in Chinese submarine design. via X While Taiwan will never be able to challenge China in terms of submarine numbers, UUVs — especially ones that can operate alongside crewed submarines — could play a very useful role. The fact is not lost on Beijing, either, with the PLAN also increasingly exploring the potential of UUVs as well as uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). Taiwan’s future submarine doctrine will be based around modern diesel-electric submarines that will likely exploit their advantages for ‘asymmetric’ warfare. This could involve setting ambushes for Chinese vessels. These same kinds of missions could potentially also be taken on by future UUVs, with torpedo-armed ones being especially suitable for ambushes. As well as launching torpedoes, the UUVs could also lay sea mines, a growing area of interest for the U.S. Navy, as well. As well as operations around Taiwan, the country’s submarine fleet could also venture further afield, including into the so-called ‘first island chain,’ where it could disrupt PLAN activities in major chokepoints like the Bashi Channel and the Miyako Strait. Again, UUVs could be of particular value here, with their small size making them proficient for shallow-water operations. A Pentagon graphic showing the geographic boundaries of the First and Second Island Chains. U.S. Department of Defense At the same time, both UUVs and crewed submarines would be prime targets for the PLAN during a conflict, in which China’s growing anti-submarine warfare capabilities would be targeting these as a matter of priority. But flooding the battespace with drones of all types is increasingly seen as a potential decisive factor in a battle across the Taiwan Strait. UUVs are definitely going to be an increasingly critical part of this tactical equation. Operational Taiwanese UUVs may still be some way off, but there’s no doubt that the country needs to urgently modernize and expand its submarine fleet. As you can read about here, this currently consists of two Hai Lung class boats, built in the Netherlands in the mid-1980s but subject to a mid-life upgrade that began in 2016. There are also two veteran Hai Shih class boats, which were originally built as Tench class and Balao class submarines during World War II, but these are understood to no longer go to sea. Faced with the threat of China’s fast-growing underwater armada, Taiwan’s interest in UUVs is understandable and it will be interesting to follow their development as it continues to upgrade its submarine force. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post Our Best Look At Taiwan’s New Drone Submarine appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Around The Globe, China, Indo-Pacific, Navies, News & Features, People's Liberation Army Navy (China), Republic Of China Navy (Taiwan), Sea, Taiwan, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)] [Link to media]

— Ukraine Strikes Chechnya With Long-Range Drones For The First Time

 

at 10/29/24 10:35am

The Kremlin-appointed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has vowed to avenge a Ukrainian drone attack that struck a military training facility in Chechnya. The raid, which appears to be the first of its kind to hit the southern Russian republic, is one of the longest-range drone strikes that Ukraine has attempted. The target was a special forces training center, but the attack also carries significant symbolic value, due to the high level of support of local strongman Ramzan Kadyrov for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Imagery posted to social media shows the apparent aftermath of the drone strike, on the military training academy in the town of Gudermes, 22 miles east of Grozny, the Chechen capital. As we have discussed in the past, Kadyrov was directly responsible for the creation of the Russian University of Special Forces — also known as the University of Spetsnaz — in Gudermes in 2013.  Unprecedented: this morning around 6:30 am local time, the so-called "Russian Special Forces University named after Vladimir Putin" in Gudermes, Chechnya, was attacked by unidentified drones, as reported by Ramzan Kadyrov. According to him, the roof of an empty building caught… pic.twitter.com/GZPwXph7Jl— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 29, 2024 Ramzan Kadyrov says a UAV struck the Spetsnaz University in Gudermes. https://t.co/FHlEmAEs3nhttps://t.co/UA7dTZMUdfhttps://t.co/FhtwtUQ7w3 pic.twitter.com/kUIJGI2bZM— Rob Lee (@RALee85) October 29, 2024 El ataque a la Universidad de las Fuerzas Especiales de Rusia en Gudermes es el primer ataque con aviones no tripulados contra objetivos en Chechenia. Según la información disponible, un avión no tripulado atacó un edificio de la universidad de fuerzas especiales esta… pic.twitter.com/yLSvIktDCo— Dan-i-El (@Danielibertari0) October 29, 2024 “Today at 6:30 a.m. in Gudermes, as a result of an unmanned aerial attack, the roof of an empty building on the territory of the Russian University of Special Forces caught fire,” Kadyrov wrote on social media. “There are no victims or injured. The fire has been extinguished.” This is what "Putins Russian Special Forces University" looks like in Chechnyas Gudermes after a UAV attackChechen head Ramzan Kadyrov said that the perpetrators would be shown "such retribution that they have never imagined." pic.twitter.com/BVhZjwmWJL— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 29, 2024 In Chechnya, drones hit the Putin Special Forces University in Gudermes, Chechnya. It is interesting that among the suspects are not only Ukrainians, but also the Russian-occupied states of Dagestan and Ingushetia, which also have drones. pic.twitter.com/ESqVa4RRzo— Devana (@DevanaUkraine) October 29, 2024 Kadyrov claimed that the academy was still operating as usual and that “investigative bodies” were working on “identifying those involved in the crime.” “They’ve bitten us — we will destroy them,” Kadyrov told reporters in a video published by Russian state news agency RIA. “In the very near future we’ll show them the kind of vengeance they’ve never even dreamt of,” he added. A satellite image of the Russian University of Special Forces in Gudermes. Imagery from today shows the large, boomerang-shaped building close to the center of the facility on fire. Google Earth As is typical for drone strikes of this kind, there was no immediate comment from officials in Kyiv. The privately run training academy’s glitzy website describes it as a “professional educational institution,” that offers “unique training grounds, methodology, and teaching staff that have no analogs in Russia.” The website features prominent testimonies from both Kadyrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The academy instructs both soldiers and civilians in a variety of combat tactics, including gunnery, drone operating, battlefield first aid, and parachute landing. A Chechen instructor supervises gunnery practice at Gudermes. Russian University of Special Forces A Russian University of Special Forces course in the operation of quadcopter-type drones. Russian University of Special Forces More than 47,000 troops deployed to the front line in Ukraine have been trained in Gudermes, according to the Kremlin. Meanwhile, a report from the Russian state news agency TASS claims that over 19,000 volunteers have been trained at the university before going to fight in Ukraine. Ukraine has been regularly using long-range drones of various types to strike targets in Russia, including hitting targets many hundreds of miles behind the front lines. Gudermes is around 780 miles from Odesa and around 650 miles from Kharkiv. As far as we know, this is the first time a Ukrainian drone strike has been launched against Chechnya, which is led by Kadyrov, a close ally of Putin who has frequently played on his warlord credentials to help bolster support for the war in Ukraine. Last month, Kadyrov garnered press coverage due to his claim that Tesla CEO Elon Musk had “remotely disabled” his machine-gun-armed Cybertruck, which he had sent to the front line in Ukraine, where he said it had been “performing well in combat.” “What Elon Musk did was not nice. He gives expensive gifts from the heart and then remotely switches them off,” Kadyrov said, before noting that another pair of Cybertrucks had since been sent to the Ukrainian battlefield. More significantly, Kadyrov has contributed thousands of his own Chechen paramilitary forces to support the full-scale Russian invasion, since the very beginning of the operation. | At the special order of Ramazan Kadyrov, about 10,000 #Chechen National Guard departs to support the #Russia|n invasion of #Ukraine. Local resources pic.twitter.com/rUtUNmJ9hq— EHA News (@eha_news) February 25, 2022 Chechen servicemen from a Rosgvardia spetsnaz unit in Hostomel raising the Russia flag over a Ukrainian national guard base. https://t.co/R9s49D667ghttps://t.co/LBfPPL8kMr pic.twitter.com/ceQjZ2Tgia— Rob Lee (@RALee85) February 26, 2022 Reportedly video of Chechen fighters headed to Ukraine on a transport aircraft. https://t.co/N7R24x2NTr pic.twitter.com/rHUChT2ZeT— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 13, 2022 While Kadyrov presents an image of staunch loyalty to Moscow, his position has also seen him emerge as one of the few political figures in Russia who speaks out about the way the war in Ukraine is being fought. Kadyrov has not held back from criticizing the Russian Armed Forces leadership when Ukrainian forces have made advances or offered tougher-than-expected resistance and he has suggested in the past that Putin might not be fully aware of the real situation on the ground in Ukraine. Earlier this year there were signs that the Kremlin might be looking to appoint a new Chechen leader, amid rumors that Kadyrov was seriously ill with pancreatic necrosis. The leader responded by publishing a workout video to counter claims of his deteriorating health. “Remember that taking care of your health is an investment in your future,” a caption to the video read, while footage showed Kadyrov bench-pressing, lifting weights, and wrestling with a sparring partner. Interestingly, Kadyrov also moved to shore up his position as a staunch Putin supporter after the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group who launched a brief armed mutiny against Russia’s leadership in the summer of 2023, before being killed in a plane crash, the details of which remain murky. A day after Prigozhin’s funeral, Kadyrov — who had previously suggested that he could provide an alternative to the Wagner boss — described himself as Putin’s foot soldier and said he was ready to die for the Russian president. There were also suggestions Kadyrov might be lining himself up as Prigozhin’s successor, with his claims that former Wagner Group mercenaries were training in Chechnya with his forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov visit the Russian University of Special Forces in Gudermes on August 20 of this year. Photo by Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV With repeated accusations of human rights violations, including torture and extrajudicial killings, as well as sanctions in multiple countries to his name, Kadyrov remains a very visible and highly active supporter of the Russian war effort. The fact the territory he rules over has come under long-range drone attack shouldn’t be too much of a surprise as Ukraine continues to expand its drone programs. There is a possibility that Russia’s failure to defend Kadyrov’s republic against drone attacks will lead to more criticisms leveled toward the Russian Ministry of Defense. Ever since Ukraine began its campaign of long-range drone strikes, there have been questions asked about the efficiency and preparedness of Russian air defenses to counter these threats. At the same time, depending on the damage that was inflicted, targeting the Russian University of Special Forces may also serve to disrupt the operations at what is, by all accounts, an important training center feeding both Russian soldiers and volunteers to support the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. But above all else, this was a symbolic strike, although it could be the first of many more to come. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post Ukraine Strikes Chechnya With Long-Range Drones For The First Time appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Air, Around The Globe, Europe, Land, Russia, Special Operations, Ukraine, Unmanned] [Link to media]

— Next-Gen M1 Abrams Tank’s Active Protection System, Autoloader Development Off To Delayed Start

 

at 10/29/24 10:30am

The U.S. Army pushed back the start of work on a new integrated active protection system (APS) and autoloader for its planned next-generation iteration of the M1 Abrams tank, or M1E3, into the current fiscal year. The service announced last year that it had axed plans for another incremental upgrade for the M1 in favor of a major rework of the design focused heavily on new advanced capabilities, reduced weight, and increased fuel economy. The disclosure of the decision to delay the start until FY 2025 of the Integrated Main Battle Tank System effort which is specifically focused on the maturation of the autoloader and the active protection system was included in a Pentagon budget document detailing various so-called reprogramming actions. The U.S. military has to, by law, seek approval from Congress to reallocate funds from one part of its budget to another. The Pentagon document, which is dated September 11, does not say exactly when the Integrated Main Battle Tank System work is expected to start, if it hasnt already. Fiscal Year 2025 began on October 1. A US Army M1 Abrams tank fires its main gun during training. US Army This decision maps with the schedule for the related program of record, the reprogramming document says, as well as that the action helped free up $1.451 million for other priorities. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), the current prime contractor for the Abrams, received a preliminary M1E3 design contract last year. An APS that is not just an add-on system, but deeply integrated into the design, as well as an autoloader, are currently key planned elements of the future M1E3. “That’s going to be substantially better than what we had with the installed Trophy system, which gives us great capabilities, but it’s not integrated,” Army Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman, head of the services Next-Generation Combat Vehicle Cross Functional Team, told an audience at a Maneuver Warfighter Conference in September 2023, according to Breaking Defense. The Army has been integrating the Israeli-designed Trophy onto a portion of its existing Abrams tanks since 2017. Trophy is a hard-kill APS designed primarily to protect against anti-tank guided missiles, as well as other types of infantry anti-armor weapons, such as shoulder-fired rockets and rocket-propelled grenades. The system uses an array of small radars positioned around the vehicle it is installed on to detect threats and cue pre-loaded launchers. The launchers use a small explosive charge to expel a burst of kinetic projectiles to defeat or at least disrupt targets through force of impact. Trophys manufacturer Rafael just recently unveiled a new version of the system that adds additional capabilities against top-down threats, including drones. An APS that is better optimized specifically for M1E3 and more streamlined into the design overall could have benefits both for the tanks physical structure and when it comes to auxiliary power and weight requirements. Add-on APSs like Trophy are often characterized by the addition of bulky and heavy protrusions around a vehicle, as well as sometimes onerous additional power demands. These issues have stymied Army attempts to add APSs to its Stryker light armored vehicles in recent years. Hard-kill APSs are only expected to become more important for tanks and heavy armored vehicles going forward. The new version of Trophy also underscores how these systems could help provide a critical additional layer of defense against growing threats posed by uncrewed aerial systems, something The War Zone previously explored in an in-depth feature. A US Army Abrams tank equipped with the Trophy APS. US Army via Leonardo An M1 Abrams tank with the Trophy APS installed. U.S. Army via Leonardo An autoloader for the main gun, a feature the U.S. military has historically eschewed on main battle tanks, is also set to be a key element of the M1E3s design. “Are we looking at autoloaders for the tank to potentially reduce the crew size or allow for members to do different tasks? The short answer is absolutely, yes,” Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman said at the Maneuver Warfighter Conference last year. “What that solution looks like, is one of those series of experiments that’s ongoing right now.” The autoloader will allow the tank to be operated by just three individuals, rather than the four currently required to crew existing Abrams variants. An auto-loading main gun and reduced crew also offer an avenue to make substantial changes to the tanks internal and external physical architecture, especially when it comes to the turret, which could help lower its profile and trim weight. It is worth noting here that autoloaders have been developed for the Abrams in the past, but have not been integrated onto any fielded variants of the tank to date. Whether the M1E3 might also come along with a new larger caliber or otherwise advanced main gun in place of the 120mm type found on Abrams today remains to be seen. 2/5 The magazine is double-row, closed-loop carousel of canisters that are cycled to place the requested round into a feed position, meaning you dont need the current big blast doors, instead just a small port (which is how most autoloaders with protected carousels work). pic.twitter.com/gEI9qVNG8P— Jon Hawkes (@JonHawkes275) October 22, 2024 4/5 The loading mechanisms "operational swept volume does not encroach into any useable space within the turret", allowing you to keep all 4 crew (loader would do something else now). A few concept tanks have played with that 4th person becoming a systems operator for UAS/LM etc— Jon Hawkes (@JonHawkes275) October 22, 2024 Significantly reduced weight and a more economical hybrid propulsion system in lieu of the Abrams existing fuel-hungry gas turbine powerplant are also expected to be key features of the final M1E3 design. Brig. Gen. Norman told Defense News that the goal weight-wise was to get the next-generation tank down to around 60 tons. With a full combat load, the latest M1A2 SEPv3 version tips the scale at around 78 tons. “That might be a little aggressive, but we’re pretty ambitious,” Norman said. “In order to do that, we anticipate having to change the crew configuration, potentially looking at opportunities to go to a remote turret or an optionally manned turret in order to save the space under armor.” GDLS has already presented one vision for what a future lighter-weight, hybrid-powered, autoloader-equipped, and otherwise redesigned Abrams might look like with its AbramsX demonstrator, which it rolled out in 2022. More broadly, the M1E3 effort, and lead-in work on APSs, autoloaders, and other systems, comes at a time when the Army is looking at a future where tanks, in general, might have a very different and de-emphasized role on the battlefield. While the ongoing war in Ukraine has underscored the continued relevance of heavy armored vehicles, the Army also expects the growing anti-armor threat ecosystem to present ever-more substantial challenges going forward, especially in any future high-end conflict. A slide from a briefing accompanying an Army Science Board report published in 2023 that gives a general overview of existing and emerging threats the M1 Abrams is facing. Army Science Board A slide from a briefing accompanying the Army Science Boards report that gives a general overview of existing and emerging threats the M1 Abrams is facing. Army Science Board “Based on our findings, The M1 Abrams will not dominate the 2040 battlefield. All of the M1’s advantages in mobility, firepower, and protection are at risk, an Army Science Board study published last year declares. The M1A2 SEP V3&4 upgrades will improve effectiveness but will not restore dominance. Near transparency in all domains will significantly increase the lethality our forces will experience. China and Russia have studied our forces and doctrine and are fielding countermeasures.“ You can read more about that study and its findings here. With all this in mind, risk reduction work on key systems like APSs and autoloaders, which the Army is now scheduled to start this fiscal year, will be important as the service presses ahead in firming up its requirements for its next-generation Abrams tanks. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post Next-Gen M1 Abrams Tanks Active Protection System, Autoloader Development Off To Delayed Start appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Anti-Tank Missiles, Armies, Armored Vehicles, Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS), Land, M1 Abrams, Tanks, U.S. Army] [Link to media]

— New Chinese Mystery Flattop Emerges

 

at 10/28/24 6:49pm

An example of an entirely new class of Chinese vessel with a large open flight deck has emerged at a shipyard in the southeastern end of the country. From what can be seen in satellite imagery, the ship has features in line with a light aircraft carrier or a big-deck amphibious assault ship, but there are some indications that it might be a first-of-its-kind ostensibly civilian ocean research vessel. China does have a long history of developing and fielding new maritime scientific research capabilities with clear potential military applicability. A satellite image of Guangzhou Shipyard International taken on October 23, 2024, showing, among other things, what looks to be a new class of Chinese ship with a large flight deck. PHOTO © 2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) think tank, was among the first to spot the new ship under construction at Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) on Longxue Island just southeast of the city of Guangzhou. Shugarts attention had been drawn to the yard first by the appearance there of what looks to be a new high-speed trimaran uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that has reportedly been under construction in Guangzhou since at least 2022. An earlier Chinese trimaran USV design, which evoked the design of the U.S. Navy’s highly successful Sea Hunter, had previously emerged back in 2020. So it just jumped out to me that next to the possible new Chinese USV is what looks like might bepossibly a new aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship of some sort? Appears to be about 200m long, with a beam of about 40m, and two islands on one side of the deck. https://t.co/XXOcQeUTIB pic.twitter.com/oHhMWYWQFZ— Tom Shugart (@tshugart3) October 28, 2024 From what can be seen in satellite imagery The War Zone has obtained from Planet Labs, the new large deck ship is around 656 feet (200 meters) long and some 131 feet (40 meters) at its widest. It looks to have a larger main island on the right side of the center of the deck, as well as a smaller one further toward the bow. In speaking with The War Zone, Shugart said there are also what might be exhaust stacks on the right side of the deck toward the stern. He further highlighted what looks to be an angular mast structure on top of the main island of a kind often seen in warships as a mount for radars and other sensors. Overall, the ships size and what can be seen of its configuration are in line, at least in broad strokes, with many existing light aircraft carriers and big deck amphibious assault ships, such as Japans Hyuga class and Chinas own Type 075. The new big deck ship at GSI also looks to have been built very quickly. There is no clear sign of it in high-resolution satellite imagery of GSIs yard from May, but it is visible in a drydock there in August and looks to have been launched sometime between September 10 and October 9. A satellite image taken on October 23, seen earlier in this story, shows further progress, including what appears to be work to finish the surface of the flight deck. A satellite image taken on September 10, 2024, showing the new big deck ship still in dry dock at GSIs yard. The trimaran USV being built there is also visible at bottom right. PHOTO © 2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION The carrier-esque ships appearance at GSIs yard is curious in itself. The shipbuilder is best known, at least publicly, for constructing larger commercial vessels, such as oil tankers, ore carriers, roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, and semi-submersible heavy lift types. Floating cranes and dry docks, and even marine wind turbines, are seen in past imagery. At the same time, GSIs work does have a clear military dimension. Previous satellite images show numerous Soviet-designed Zubr class heavy hovercraft, which China has built examples of domestically under license. Also visible are what CNAS Shugart says look to be large naval auxiliary type ships for the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), along with the new trimaran USV. Visible in the satellite image of the GSI yard taken on August 8 are a pair of Zubr class hovercraft (toward top right), a floating dry dock (toward the center), a floating crane (at bottom right), as well as the new big deck ship under construction dry dock (toward upper left) and and the apparent trimaran USV (at center). Also just visible at bottom right is one blade belonging to a maritime wind turbine. PHOTO © 2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION I was really surprised to see it, Shugart told The War Zone about spotting the new big-deck ship in Guangzhou. It all depends on whats kind of the bigger plan for the PLA Navy, Shugart added when asked about what this might mean for GSIs portfolio going forward. Are they [the PLAN] continuing to grow? Are they growing at a rate that they need to start using some other shipyards? It is certainly no secret that the PLANs fleets have been growing substantially in recent years and continue to do so on the back of the countrys substantial shipbuilding capacity, as The War Zone has explored in detail before. Work to expand the size and scope of the PLANs battle force includes the production of new aircraft carriers, large amphibious assault ships, advanced submarines, and more modern surface combatants. Fujian, Chinas first catapult-assisted takeoff but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) configured carrier, and the first example of a new uniquely large big-deck amphibious ship that also features a catapult, commonly known as the Type 076, are prime important of the new naval capabilities the country has on the immediate horizon. A satellite image of the first Type 076 under construction at a different shipyard in China taken on September 27, 2024. PHOTO © 2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION. Fujian out finally Smoke is visible, lets see If itd for Trials this time https://t.co/JbYhMozGTW pic.twitter.com/R6VFqEgeFl— Húrin (@Hurin92) April 29, 2024 A new class of light aircraft carrier, amphibious assault ship, or even a sea base-type vessel could offer the PLAN valuable additional operational capacity. A simpler design built more to commercial standards, and with an air component centered on crewed helicopters and drones, could also make a lot of sense for supporting certain missions. This might include presence operations, particularly in and around the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. Such a ship could be useful for supporting anti-submarine warfare and amphibious operations, too. Just being able to build these ships at an additional shipyard could help the PLAN further accelerate its expansion of naval aviation and other capabilities. At the same time, there may also be another uniquely Chinese explanation behind the appearance of the new vessel with its large flight deck in Guangzhou. Since at least 2022, a screenshot said to be from a Chinese government tender has been floating around the internet. A machine translation of its Chinese-language text shows a call for a large-scale special deck operation ship for maritime survey and other test/research activities with some kind of flight deck featuring a double-island superstructure. There is also a demand for a through-type straight deck and a dock compartment at the stern, which could refer to a floodable well deck like those found on many amphibious warfare ships. Stated requirements include that the vessel be 200 meters long, have a flight deck 25 meters wide, have a displacement of 15,000 tons, be capable of hitting a top speed of at least 16 knots, have a range of 5,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots, and a maximum at-sea endurance of 40 days. The provenance of this apparent tender is unclear and, at the time of writing, neither CNAS Shugart nor The War Zone has been able to readily verify its source independently. Still, some Chinese netizens have taken this in the past to be evidence of potential plans for an ostensibly civilian oceanographic research carrier. Chinas New ToyScientific Research Aircraft Carrier pic.twitter.com/wetiUq8VMS— 彩云香江 (@louischeung_hk) September 14, 2022 As already noted, the lines between civilian and military assets in China, especially when it comes to the maritime domain, are often at best blurry. The War Zone has highlighted this reality on multiple occasions in the past specifically with regard to ships and other capabilities ostensibly tasked with underwater survey, oceanographic research, and other ostensibly scientific missions. A non-military vessel configured like an amphibious assault ship – something no country in the world currently operates – would be able to employ aerial drones and crewed helicopters, and watercraft (crewed and uncrewed) to conduct scientific or other civilian missions. At the same time, it would inherently be capable of serving as a dual-use platform to support military missions like those previously described if called upon. Another possibility could be that whatever is being built in Guangzhou is some kind of bespoke military training and/or test platform. The Chinese already have a number of unusual naval platforms, including ones capable of launching and recovering vertical take-off and landing capable drones, primarily designed to fulfill such roles. Earlier this year, Naval News reported on the appearance of what looks be another such ship at the Jiangsu Dayang Marine shipyard near Shanghai. The vessel in question, which is around 328 feet (100 meters) long and has an open flight deck on top, was spotted alongside two catamaran drone mini-carriers that The War Zone was the first to report on in detail. Correction: the earlier drone carrier was more like 100m in length still much smaller.— Tom Shugart (@tshugart3) October 28, 2024 CNASs Shugart told The War Zone that the big deck vessel under construction at GSI looked too large, in his opinion, to have a similar test and/or training role. Given the speed with which the large deck ship looks to be being constructed in Guangzhou, it may not be long before a fuller picture of its configuration and intended purpose now emerges. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post New Chinese Mystery Flattop Emerges appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Amphibious Assault Ships, Big Deck Amphibious Assault Ships, Carriers, Navies, People's Liberation Army Navy (China), Sea, Sea Bases] [Link to media]

— Israeli Strikes Knocked Out All Of Iran’s S-300 Air Defense Systems: Officials

 

at 10/28/24 1:02pm

Iran is likely still tallying the costs of the Israeli airstrikes launched on Saturday in retaliation for Tehran’s massive October 1 missile barrage on Israel. Among the targets that Israel appears to have gone after are Iran’s prized Russian-made S-300 air defense systems, according to U.S. and Israeli officials. Putting the Iranian S-300s out of action leaves the door open to follow-up strikes by Israel, including larger-scale direct attacks. As we noted on Saturday, this serves as both a contingent opportunity for the Israel Defense Forces and a deterrent against a response from Iran. Among the critical Iranian military infrastructure destroyed on Saturday were its three surviving S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile systems. This is the assessment of unnamed U.S. and Israeli officials speaking to the Wall Street Journal. Iran’s only other S-300 system was already hit by Israel earlier this year. Elements of an Iranian S-300 air defense system during the annual military parade marking the anniversary of the outbreak of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq, in Tehran on September 21, 2024. Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP ATTA KENARE The same officials disclosed that Iran managed to bring down “few if any” of the missiles that Israel launched from around 100 jet fighters, during Saturday’s raid, codenamed Operation Days of Repentance. The officials’ statements tally with assessments from the U.S. think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), including descriptions of Israel inflicting “serious damage to the Iranian integrated air defense network.” “The IDF struck three or four S-300 sites, including one at the Imam Khomeini International Airport near Tehran,” the ISW adds. The think tank states that at least some of the air defense sites targeted were protecting critical energy infrastructure in western and southwestern Iran and identifies sites being hit at the Abadan oil refinery, the Bandar Imam Khomeini energy complex and port, and the Tang-eh Bijar gas field. NEW: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) inflicted serious damage to the Iranian integrated air defense network during its strikes on Iran on October 25. (1/7) pic.twitter.com/hhhh9srJ3N— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) October 28, 2024 “Degrading the air defenses around these sites could leave them more vulnerable to future strikes,” ISW contends. While the S-300 has been steadily updated since it was first introduced by the Soviet Union in the late 1970s, it is now an aging system and one that has proven vulnerable in Ukraine. Nevertheless, it remains a significant threat, especially if used as part of a layered air defense system, and these surface-to-air missile systems were the most capable of their kind available to Iran. Tehran was the recipient of one of the more modern iterations of the S-300, namely the S-300PMU-2 Favorit (known to NATO as the SA-20B Gargoyle), which was introduced in 1997 and which has improved anti-ballistic missile capabilities. It should be noted that, over the years the IAF has trained against the specific S-300 threat in several multinational air exercises, making use of S-300PMU-1 systems operated by Greece and S-300s in the U.S., and refining its tactics in the process. An S-300PMU-1 during a Greek military exercise near Chania on the island of Crete on December 13, 2013. Costas Metaxakis/AFP via Getty Images A Greek S-300PMU-1 during a military exercise near Chania on the island of Crete in 2013. Costas Metaxakis/AFP via Getty Images Replacement of Iran’s S-300s, at least in the near term, is hardly straightforward. Russia currently needs as much air defense equipment as it can produce, for the war in Ukraine, so the transfer of systems from its own stocks to Tehran seems less realistic. There’s also likely to be a long wait for new-production Russian air defense systems in the same class, like the more capable S-400. One option might be the deployment of one or two Russian batteries, as has happened before in Syria, but this would be more symbolic than anything else, and it is still less likely due to the strain on Russia’s own air defenses. Yellow Pins Parchin (East of Tehran) Khojir (East of Tehran) Shamsabad "Factory" (South Tehran) Shahrud (NE Iran ) Ghadir Radar (West Iran, Ilam Province, middle left) Abadan Oil Refinery (SW Iran) Blue Pin HAWK Site, this looks more like failed AD launch https://t.co/Vaf05MdoyD pic.twitter.com/xiu33tuzw3— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) October 28, 2024 Regardless, the loss of the S-300s leaves Iran far more exposed than it was before the weekend, should Israel decide to launch any follow-up attacks on the country’s military infrastructure, or expand its target list to regime sites or nuclear installations. We also dont know the state of Irans other air defense systems and networking architecture, which could have been attacked non-kinetically, especially using cyber tactics. There are unconfirmed reports from Israel that some kind of follow-up operation might already have been prepared, with claims that government targets and infrastructure could be next, although Iranian nuclear facilities will apparently be spared for now. Considering how Saturday’s airstrikes included significant softening up of Israeli air defenses, it is almost inevitable that Israel has several follow-up options already planned should Iran respond with another barrage. Israeli Channel 13, quoting military officials: We do not rule out that the Air Force will be forced to carry out another military operation in Iran.Any further attack on Iran will focus on government targets and infrastructure.We will not strike any Iranian nuclear targets…— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 28, 2024 Reports now indicate that the Israeli strikes on Saturday targeted around 20 military bases and facilities, across Iran, including missile and drone manufacturing sites, as well as the S-300 air defense systems. The attack killed at least four soldiers. As well as targeting air defense sites, including the S-300 systems, the Israeli attack was calculated to disrupt Iranian production of missiles and drones, something that should have a knock-on effect on Tehran’s proxies, such as Hezbollah and the Houthis, as well as for Russia. One of the missile production facilities appears to be the Shahroud factory in Semnan province, with evidence of damage there seen below. Although Shahroud is best known for its role in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) space program, it is also assessed to be an important center for the large-scale production of short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, too. For a basis of understanding what was achieved, Sharoud missile complex is ~800 km from the Iraqi border. https://t.co/curCzaOg7C pic.twitter.com/dyc6l3ob2n— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) October 27, 2024 Appears to be an additional building at the Shahroud missile complex that was targeted. Roof area is about 140x 55 feet (43 x 16.8 meters).36.245342, 55.287728 https://t.co/QWPuRgrJZ8 pic.twitter.com/rjcthAVq0S— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) October 27, 2024 ִ#ברקיינג: צילומי לוויין חושפים כי בתקיפה באיראן הושמד מתקן מרכזי בבסיס ניסויי הטילים הסודי של איראן ליד שרהוד. בצילומי הלוויין הארכיונים ניתן להתרשם כי דרך מתקן הניסוי המרכזי של הבסיס עברו מאות מארזי טילים. pic.twitter.com/vlrkcwwlXU— אינטלי טיימס Intelli Times (@IntelliTimes) October 27, 2024 TWZ has already looked at the evidence of damage at the Parchin missile production complex, which was revealed through commercially available satellite imagery. In particular, the Israeli airstrikes appear to have targeted parts of the facility that were used for the production of the solid fuel that powers newer Iranian ballistic missiles. ISW predicts that Iran “will likely need months or possibly a year or more” to acquire the equipment needed to replace these losses at Parchin. Since the raids, more footage has emerged showing apparent destruction at another Iranian site, namely at Shams Abad, near Arak, which is understood to be home to a major drone production facility. LEAKED FOOTAGE IRAN ATTACKFootage reveals the aftermath of an Israeli strike on a large UAV manufacturing facility in Shams Abad, near Arak. Iran has prohibited documentation in the area, but a some Iranians managed to leak this video. pic.twitter.com/ZergdsO2T2— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 27, 2024 As we discussed before, the Israeli airstrikes appear to have involved air-launched ballistic missiles (ALBMs), with wreckage of at least one of these being discovered in Iraq. The same kinds of munitions were used in the spring of this year when another S-300 system was again the target. Synthetic aperture radar imagery showing the aftermath of an earlier Israeli attack on an Iranian S-300 battery, in April 2024: Umbra synthetic aperture radar imagery acquired 0648Z 19APR2024 showed evidence of damage to the Iranian S-300PMU2 strategic surface-to-air missile battery in Isfahan since 15APR2024. A probable damaged 30N6E target engagement radar was visible in imagery still on the radar… pic.twitter.com/eqMFTanPOH— Chris Biggers (@CSBiggers) April 19, 2024 Using these weapons, which include Rocks and Air LORA, the Israeli Air Force can strike deep into Iran, with considerable standoff distances ensuring that its crewed aircraft are not put in extreme danger. It still remains unclear if any IAF aircraft flew into Iranian airspace, but some reports claim they did. Even using only standoff munitions, this may have been necessary in order to reach targets in eastern Iran, although they may not have had to penetrate far. At the same time, these weapons provide a combination of high accuracy and significant destructive power and are a major challenge to intercept. There are still differing accounts as to the number of munitions launched by the IAF. The deputy commanding officer of the Iranian Army’s Southwestern Command, Mohammad Mokhtari-far, today claimed that more than 600 missiles were launched by Israeli aircraft. Bearing in mind multiple reports suggesting around 100 Israeli aircraft were involved, this figure seems vastly inflated. On the other hand, it remains very likely that Israel also employed other means to degrade Iranian air defenses, including potential cyber-attacks. The Deputy-Commanding Officer of the Iranian Army’s Southwestern Command, Mohammad Mokhtari-far claimed on Monday that over 600 Missiles were launched by Israeli Aircraft against Sites in Iran, during Friday Night’s Attack.— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 28, 2024 In the meantime, Iraq has lodged a complaint to the United Nations over Israel’s use of its airspace to attack Iran. In a protest letter sent to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the U.N. Security Council, Iraq condemned “the Zionist entity’s blatant violation of Iraq’s airspace and sovereignty by using Iraqi airspace to carry out an attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran on 26 October.” We now also know a little more about some of the IAF aircraft and units that were involved in the strikes. Pilots from various units are quoted in a Jerusalem Post article, which references 119 Squadron and 201 Squadron, which both fly the F-16I Sufa, a long-range strike specialist. “It was an honor to fly through the dark desert, knowing every moment in the air was a step toward a new dawn for Israel,” said Lt. Col. “Y.,” commander of 119 Squadron. "It was an honor to fly through the dark desert, knowing every moment in the air was a step toward a new dawn for Israel," Lt. Col. Y., said of the mission that marked Israel’s largest strike on Iran in decades.https://t.co/GbOeKfgw6F— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 27, 2024 From the Iranian side, threats of retaliation continue. Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, the chief of Iran’s IRGC, warned Israel it would face “bitter consequences” after its attack on Saturday, according to local media reports. Salami was quoted today as having said that Israel had “failed to achieve its ominous goals,” describing the airstrikes as symbolic of “miscalculation and helplessness.” At the same time, however, there is debate in Iran about what kind of response Tehran should formulate. Iran now has to make a call as to whether to not respond at all, or at least with a direct attack like that on October 1, or whether to prepare some kind of retaliation that is seen as proportionate to the Israeli airstrikes — which were more limited than many expected. Breaking: Iran announced that it will respond to Israels attack. Tonight they put up Hebrew posters in Tehran saying “another storm is coming” Looks like their nuclear and oil facilities are next to be destroyed pic.twitter.com/0YH7I6hYoH— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) October 26, 2024 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was not looking for a war but would respond “appropriately” to Israel’s strikes, suggesting a degree of caution. “We do not seek war, but we will defend the rights of our nation and country,” Pezeshkian told a cabinet meeting yesterday. “We will give an appropriate response to the aggression of the Zionist regime,” he added. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that Tehran will “use all available tools” to respond to Israel’s attack, although provided no more details on how it would “deliver a definite and effective response to the Zionist regime.” Finally, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said yesterday that the attack should not be “exaggerated or downplayed” but also did not vow immediate retaliation. Meanwhile, there are reports that Khamenei is gravely ill, and the search for a potential successor could lead to a power struggle with possible repercussions on the conflict with Israel. Israeli Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi stated during a Situational Assessment yesterday at the Military Headquarters located at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, “We have used only a Fraction of our Capabilities; we can do much more. We struck Strategic Systems in… pic.twitter.com/Ytvx8UIo0I— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 27, 2024 As we discussed over the weekend, the Israeli raid was carefully tailored to weaken Iran’s offensive and defensive capabilities while at the same time minimizing risk to Israel and providing deterrence. To reinforce the deterrence effect, Israeli officials now appear to be ramping up their threats of potential follow-up strikes. Time will tell if that Israeli calculation pays off. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post Israeli Strikes Knocked Out All Of Iran’s S-300 Air Defense Systems: Officials appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Air, Air Forces, Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles, Air-Launched Hypersonic Missiles, Around The Globe, Iran, Israel, Israeli Air Force, Land, Middle East, Short-Range Air Defense Systems (SHORADS)] [Link to media]

— Dozens Of AH-64, UH-60, and CH-47 Helicopters Were Damaged In Storm At Colorado Army Base

 

at 10/28/24 11:37am

A total of 44 U.S. Army helicopters suffered various degrees of damage during a burst of extreme weather at Fort Carson in Colorado earlier this year. This includes AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, Black Hawk utility and medical evacuation types, and Chinook heavy lifters. The service has sought at least $29.3 million to help repair the aircraft, which represent a significant portion of the fleet assigned to the 4th Infantry Divisions 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. The details about the scale and scope of the damage to helicopters at Fort Carsons Butts Army Heliport come from a Pentagon document detailing various so-called budgetary reprogramming actions approved in Fiscal Year 2024, which ended on September 30. By law, the U.S. military has to get approval from Congress to reallocate funding from one part of its budget to another. 2/ pic.twitter.com/jLQ8y1xr9O— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) August 3, 2024 Butts Army Heliport was hit by what the Pentagon reprogramming action described as a severe microburst weather event on August 1. The National Weather Service defines a microburst as a localized column of sinking air (downdraft) within a thunderstorm and is usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter. Funds are required for Army helicopter repairs that were damaged at Fort Carson, CO, the Pentagon reprogramming document, which is dated September 11, says. The damaged helicopters are as follows: six AH-64D; seven AH-64E; seven CH-47F; nine UH-60M; ten HH-60M; and five UH-60L. UH-60 Black Hawks assigned to the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. US Army The approved reprogramming put an additional $29.333 million into the Armys Operation and Maintenance account for repairs. Whether this reflects the total assessed damage to all 44 helicopters or if any additional funding to help repair them has come from other sources is unknown. Whether any of those helicopters have already been repaired and returned to service is also not known. The War Zone has reached out to Fort Carson for more information. A stock photo of some of 4th Combat Aviation Brigades CH-47 Chinooks. US Army A variety of aircraft are damaged to include Apaches, Chinooks, and Black Hawks, authorities at Fort Carson had said in a statement back on August 2. Facilities on the heliport have minor damage. Currently, there are no environmental impacts reported. There will be a thorough investigation to assess the damage. “This weather event had a significant impact to our fleet. I am grateful there were no injuries,” Army Col. Nicholas Ploetz, commander of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, also said in a statement at the time. “Our Soldiers are resilient and will do what is necessary to recover our equipment and continue to perform our mission.” How many helicopters of all types the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade had assigned to it on August 1 is unclear. At least as of 2010, a typical Army Combat Aviation Brigade had around 48 AH-64s, 38 UH-60s, 12 HH-60s, and 12 CH-47s, according to one official document. The extreme weather at Fort Carson came at the tail end of a fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2023, that had also seen a notable uptick in other kinds of Army aviation accidents. This includes the crash of a 4th Combat Aviation Brigade AH-64 back in March, which caused a temporary grounding of all aircraft at the Colorado base. That was one of four Apache mishaps in the space of two months. A pair of AH-64s assigned to 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. US Army A pair of AH-64 Apaches assigned to the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. US Army In April, Army officials ordered a service-wide aviation safety standup” in the wake of 12 total crashes and 10 fatalities in the preceding six months. The service had suffered just nine Class A aviation mishaps in all of Fiscal Year 2023, according to Task & Purpose. At the time of writing, the U.S. military currently defines a Class A mishap as one in which the total assessed damage is $2.5 million or more; a crewed aircraft is deemed completely destroyed, missing, or abandoned; at least one fatality or total permanent disability occurs; or some combination thereof. Of the numerous accidents we had this year, there was, there was not a single finding like this is the problem we have in aviation. Its multifaceted, Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman, Director of Army Aviation within the services headquarters at the Pentagon, said earlier this month. [The] majority of those findings are things that reside down at the unit level, where unit commanders can enforce policy existing policies that work. Braman comments came during a panel discussion at the Association of the Armys main annual conference (AUSA) in Washington, D.C. Theres also Army-level fixes that were looking at. So, some of those are material fixes certainly on the Apache side theyre looking at ways to make improvements on certain aspects, Braman added. A potentially serious issue with electrical power generators on Army AH-64s notably emerged last year, which service officials have said since they have been looking for long-term solutions to resolve. Braman also highlighted unspecified training and other materiel factors. The aftermath of another one of this years Apache mishaps, this one occurring on February 13 and involving a Utah Army National Guard AH-64D. Utah National Guard via KUTV The aftermath of the February 13 AH-64D crash in Utah. Utah National Guard via KUTV Its an ongoing process, the Armys top aviation office said. Some of them are very fast to fix, and some of them will take lengthy time as we look at ways to do things better, but a lot of interest at senior levels for the appropriate reason, and were fully engaged in assuring that we get all those buckets of things. There are no indications one way or the other currently that what happened at Fort Carson in August was the result of any negligence. We do now have a much fuller picture of just how significant the damage at Butts Army Heliport that left dozens of helicopters impacted. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post Dozens Of AH-64, UH-60, and CH-47 Helicopters Were Damaged In Storm At Colorado Army Base appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, AH-64, Armies, CH-47, H-47, H-60, Helicopters, HH-60, Land, U.S. Army, UH-60] [Link to media]

— Israel’s Reprisal Strike Carefully Calculated, Unclear If Jets Ever Flew Over Iran

 

at 10/26/24 2:00pm

Israels retaliation strike on Iran targeted air defense positions and long-range weapons facilities. Carried out primarily by the Israeli Air Force, it was a limited attack meant to weaken Tehrans offensive and defensive capabilities and to highlight Israels deep strike capabilities. The strikes on air defense sites, in particular, made Iran more vulnerable to a larger follow-up strike, a clear deterrent against further escalation. By sticking to strictly military targets with few reported casualties, the operation also fell within the guidelines suggested by the Biden administration, and the threshold Iranian officials had previously suggested would result in no further kinetic actions. The strikes were in retaliation for the massive Oct. 1 Iranian ballistic missile barrage on Israel. Some 20 targets were hit, including the S-300 air defense of Imam Khomeini International Airport which provides defense cover for parts of the sprawling capital, The New York Times reported, citing two Iranian officials, including a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC).  “In Tehran Province, at least three Revolutionary Guards missile bases were attacked, the officials said,” according to The Times. “In a second round of Israeli strikes, the officials said, Israeli drones targeted the secretive Parchin military base in the outskirts of Tehran and one drone hit the base while others were shot down, they added.” It is unclear exactly what drones would have been used or if the weapon type stated is indeed accurate. U.S. and Israeli officials reported that three waves of airstrikes took place on Saturday morning local time, later named Operation Days of Repentance, the Jerusalem Post reported. The first wave targeted Iran’s air defense system, while the second and third focused on missile and drone bases and weapons production sites. Satellite images emerged on social media purporting to show damage to a facility in Khojir as well as Irans new solid-propellant rocket motor plant in Parchin, about 950 miles east of Israel. The plant was opened in 2021, according to Fabian Hinz, a Research Fellow Defense and Military Analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. It is reportedly associated with the production of fuel for Scud, Fateh 110, and Zelzal ballistic missiles, we previously reported. In October 2014, there was a massive explosion at Parchin, which many believed was the result of sabotage by Israeli or American intelligence services. One of the first confirmed Israeli targets:Irans new solid-propellant rocket motor plant in Parchin, inaugurated only in 2021. https://t.co/gV0rovvoCM pic.twitter.com/dFC0uQEv6a— Fabian Hinz (@fab_hinz) October 26, 2024 Closer examination of that imagery shows several buildings at Parchin were hit. The compilation below shows at least a half dozen were damaged in the attack. Gif’ing together. @obretix your BDA (as always) checks out. https://t.co/rr3S8VQAdI pic.twitter.com/6zmuiWcY1N— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) October 26, 2024 A video showed Israel also struck a building geolocated to Shamsabad Industrial Town south of Tehran. It is unclear at the moment what that building was used for. Some claim it was used to produce components for Irans drone program. Israeli strike on a building geolocated in Shamsabad Industrial Town south of Tehran https://t.co/DtNdyplcPW https://t.co/0fDqUUfyLE pic.twitter.com/eUtoMdAe6w— Samir (@obretix) October 26, 2024 Jordan said it did not authorize flights over its airspace and that it remains closed today. A Jordanian military official confirmed today that Jordans airspace remains closed to military aircraft from nations involved in regional conflicts. Source: @ArmedForcesJO @Petranews ⁦@AlMamlakaTV⁩ https://t.co/o2zKVTUD7R— Dana Zureikat Daoud دانا زريقات (@DanaZkat) October 26, 2024 As expected, Israel launched munitions over Iraq. Video and images emerged on social media purported to show a spent booster from an Israeli air-launched ballistic missile that was found in Iraq. The last and only time Israel struck Iran directly using traditional airpower came last Spring after Iran sent a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel. Following that Israeli response, it became clear an air-launched ballistic missiles were used to do so. A booster for one of these weapons, which Israel has an impressive and growing portfolio of, was found in a field in Iraq close to the Iran-Iraq border. TWZ did a breakdown on exactly what was found and its implications you can read here. Yesterday we posited that more of these would show up in this area today. These weapons, which include Rocks and Air LORA, allow the IAF to strike deep into another country from great standoff distances and do so with a weapon that hits very hard with high-accuracy and is extremely challenging to intercept. Another Missile Booster was found in Samarra city, western Salah Alden. #Iraq pic.twitter.com/QETVOGmDKo— Tammuz Intel (@Tammuz_Intel) October 26, 2024 Missile booster was found in Salah Alden Governorate, northern #Iraq, that was used in last nights attack on Tehran. #Iran pic.twitter.com/T1LzB7yuOY— Tammuz Intel (@Tammuz_Intel) October 26, 2024 Lots of spent air launched ballistic missile boosters near the Iran-Iraq border will likely show up on social media tomorrow.— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) October 26, 2024 The question still remains if any IAF crewed assets ever even entered into Iranian airspace. Standoff munitions, especially air-launched ballistic missiles, could have been responsible for striking the limited target sets that were hit. This would have several critical advantages. First, doing so would result in a far less complex, lower-risk operation that could be executed and finished in a number of hours not days, with much fewer assets needed over a much shorter timeframe. It would also not necessitate the U.S. being directly involved in the operation, especially in a support role, such as providing aerial refueling. Second, the risk of losing a crew and having to attempt a rescue would also be far less of an issue as it would be only limited to Syria and Iraq, where Israel already operates and has long-standing contingency plans for. While Jordan and Saudi Arabia, if their airspace was used, have better diplomatic ties with Israel to deal with such an occurrence, and still CSAR could be able to cover those areas as well. The distance and hostility related to Iran makes doing so a much more risky and complex affair. Third, using standoff weapons, once again especially ALBMs, the suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses campaign could also be drastically reduced, if needed really at all. Many special capabilities, such as electronic warfare and cyber attacks, could be withheld for future contingencies. Its still possible that unmanned platforms were used even if manned ones were not, potentially including clandestine ones with penetrating capabilities. These are just some key points, there are others including adhering to U.S. demands as far as the missions scope and risk for rapid escalation. The IDF released images and video showing F-15 and F-16 fighters that took part in the attack. One of those F-15 Bazs, marked 957 Sky Blazer, has an interesting history. It was involved in a mid-air collision with an A-4 during a training exercise over the Negev in 1983, according to Times of Israel reporter Emanuel Fabian. The F-15 managed to land safely and was later repaired. Over the years, Sky Blazer has downed 4.5 Syrian planes (half because another F-15 was involved in shooting down a Syrian MiG-23 in 1985, and it was unclear which one launched the missile that ultimately caused the plane to be shot down), he added. The same F-15 also participated in Septembers strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Fun fact about the F-15 marked 957 "Sky Blazer" seen in this video. It was involved in a mid-air collision with an A-4 during a training exercise over the Negev in 1983.The F-15 managed to land safely and was later repaired.Over the years, Sky Blazer has downed 4.5 Syrian… https://t.co/OpfoX8hFlt— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 26, 2024 The IDF releases a video showing F-15 fighter jets heading out to carry out last nights strikes in Iran. pic.twitter.com/9BAjeSBP5H— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 26, 2024 The IDF released a recording of Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar and Lt. Col. S., Commander of the 201st Squadron, from the strike in Iran. “The historic operation you carried out last night with careful planning, courage and precision, proves that no enemy is beyond our reach,” said Bar. ״הפעולה ההיסטורית שביצעתם הלילה, הוכיחה אין אויב שהוא רחוק מדי.אתם הגאווה של כולנו."מפקד חיל-האוויר, אלוף תומר בר, בשיח בקשר עם סא"ל ש, מפקד טייסת 201 ("האחת"), ברגעי התקיפה באיראן. האזינו. pic.twitter.com/PqWOWrRL7g— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 26, 2024 The IAF also published photos of some of the men and women who carried out the attack. Photos of the day: #Israel publishes pictures of some of its airmen *and women* who struck #Irans regime overnight after years of threatening to eradicate the Jewish state. An important moment for Israel and the Jewish people. pic.twitter.com/IxfIZTlnao— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) October 26, 2024 The images do not show anything remarkable about the fighters load-outs. They are heavily laden with fuel, with the F-15 packing three tanks and the F-16 packing three as well, including two 600-gallon wing tanks — the largest any F-16 can carry — as well as the F-16Is standard conformal fuel tanks. The question of if and how Tehran will respond looms large over the region. It is too soon to say, an administration official told The War Zone Saturday. On Saturday, U.S. President Joe Biden convened a call with Vice President Kamala Harris and their national security team to receive a briefing and discuss the latest developments in the Middle East following Israel’s precise response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on October 1st, according to the White House press pool. President Biden directed that every effort be taken to protect our forces and help defend Israel against any potential responses from Iran and its proxies. I was on with the intelligence community for the last half hour, Biden said. It looks like they didn’t hit anything other than military targets. I hope that this is the end.” Iranian authorities “strongly condemned” the attack, saying they reserved the right to respond. However, they downplayed the results, a possible indication that they may not.  Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday decried yesterday’s attack against military targets “as a clear violation of the international law, the UN Charter, and the article on the prohibition of threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, according to the official Tasnim news agency. “On the basis of its inherent right to legitimate defense, stipulated in Article 51 of the UN Charter, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers itself to be rightful and duty bound to defend against the foreign acts of aggression.” Iran Entitled to Defense against Aggression: Foreign Ministryhttps://t.co/a694cSJRo1 pic.twitter.com/0YTWYw24dE— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) October 26, 2024 As we noted yesterday, however, Iranian leaders had said before the attack that if it was limited to military facilities they might take the hit, not strike back and at least for now end the tit-for-tat barrages that have flown into both nations. To that end, it Israeli officials contacted Iran before the attack and said what they would and would not hit, according to the Jerusalem Post. Israel warned Iran ahead of Operation Days of Repentance, saying which targets would and wont be struck and warning Tehran not to respond.Full story > >https://t.co/7zCrNxAeFN— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 26, 2024 Still, they have to walk a fine line between their actions and appeasing that segment of the population calling for war with Israel. “You played with the lions tail,” warned Hesamoddin Ashena, adviser to former Iranian president Hassan Rouhani. “ This is Iran.” In what may be an indication of the government’s intentions, Iranian state media messaging dismissed the Israeli attack. They said it caused little damage and no upheaval to civilian life. Officials said air defenses downed most of the incoming missiles, no oil refineries or nuclear facilities were hit, and that casualties were limited to four soldiers who were killed. Outlets like Tasnim and IRNA portrayed a return to calm in Iran, with markets bustling, streets filled with traffic, and aircraft arriving and departing from Imam Airport in Tehran. “Life normal across Iran after air defense thwarts Israeli aggression,” the official Iranian Fars news agency wrote. “Tehrans Grand Bazaar bustles with activity on Saturday.” Life Normal Across Iran After Air Defense Thwarts Israeli Aggressionhttps://t.co/EHsXUuxHYK pic.twitter.com/LG4SmwvZzw— Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) October 26, 2024 Over the next few days, we should find out more about the extent of the damage this attack caused and how it was executed. And, above all else, whether this is really the last volley for now. We will be watching these developments closely. The War Zone reporter Thomas Newdick contributed to this report. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post Israels Reprisal Strike Carefully Calculated, Unclear If Jets Ever Flew Over Iran appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Air, Air Forces, Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles, Air-Launched Hypersonic Missiles, Around The Globe, Iran, Israel, Israeli Air Force, Middle East] [Link to media]

— Israel’s Retaliation Strikes On Iran Have Begun (Updated)

 

at 10/25/24 9:48pm

The long-anticipated Israeli retaliation strike on Iran appears to be underway. U.S. and Iranian media is reporting that Tehran is under attack as videos emerging on social media show explosions in the Iranian capital. The attack is in retaliation for Irans massive Oct. 1 missile barrage on Israel. Editors note: Check out our latest report linked here on the strikes after getting up to speed with this post. Israel has started their attack against Iran, Fox News can confirm.The strikes are meant to send a message of deterrence, I’m told.There was communication with the Americans ahead of the strikes over the past several days.— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) October 25, 2024 A few minutes ago, several explosions were heard in Tehran, the official Fars news agency reported on Telegram. Video shows explosions and strikes. Both the Headquarters and a Barracks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have reportedly been Targeted by Israeli Strikes on the Iranian Capital of Tehran. pic.twitter.com/ZlFNZUQ3Ix— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 25, 2024 BREAKING:First video of the Israeli fighter jets that are bombing Islamic Regime in Iran targets right now. pic.twitter.com/IHyWeZpRmJ— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 25, 2024 The IDF confirmed the attack. In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran, the IDF said on Twitter. The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th—on seven fronts—including direct attacks from Iranian soil. Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel. In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran. The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking… pic.twitter.com/OcHUy7nQvN— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 25, 2024 Before the strike, Iranian officials said they would consider holding off on a response if Isreal limited its attacks to military bases. “Four Iranian officials said in telephone interviews this week that the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered the military to devise multiple military plans for responding to an Israeli attack,” The New York Times reported. “The scope of any Iranian retaliation, they said, will largely depend on the severity of Israel’s attacks. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss military preparations.” If Israel sticks to its promise to U.S. President Joe Biden that it will launch a limited attack against military facilities and missile and drone warehouses, “Iran might do nothing,” the Times posited. Iran, however, will step up the escalation ladder and retaliate if there is widespread damage and high casualties. “Iran will retaliate,” a source told The New York Times. “The officials said Ayatollah Khamenei had directed that a response would be certain if Israel strikes oil and energy infrastructure or nuclear facilities, or if it assassinates senior officials. The officials, including two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that if Israel inflicted major harm, “the responses under consideration included a barrage of up to 1,000 ballistic missiles; escalated attacks by Iranian proxy militant groups in the region; and disrupting the flow of global energy supplies and shipping moving through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.” Iranian officials are trying to thread the needle between not wanting to appear weak and not trigging a wider war. IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami recently claimed Iran’s vast quantity of missiles and drones would overwhelm Israeli air defenses. That includes one of the U.S. Army’s seven prized Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries deployed to Israel. Salami warned Israel not to rely on THAAD for protection, according to Iran’s official Tasnim News agency. Salami “reminded the Zionists that they have counted upon a finite power,” he said, adding that Israel, with “98% of whose economy is dependent on sea, could head towards collapse instantly if it makes unwise decisions.” The expected Israeli strike has U.S. regional allies like Saudi Arabia concerned that the conflict could spill over to the rest of the region. To assure one of those allies, Washington recently told Riyhad it is prepared to help defend the kingdom against any attack from Iran or its regional proxies, Bloomberg reported on Friday. Oil-producing Arab states fear being drawn into a war between Iran and Israel. The Gulf states have expressed a measure of relief after receiving what the news organization described as a tacit offer presented by the Biden administration over the past few weeks. Bloomberg did not specify whether the assurance was given during U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens trips to Saudi Arabia and Qatar earlier this week. The US has signaled to Saudi Arabia that it’s ready to help defend the kingdom against an attack by Iran or its proxies https://t.co/K3Bbj06KZ9— Bloomberg Middle East (@middleeast) October 25, 2024 An unconfirmed Israeli media report claims that there is a new tranche of leaked classified documents pertaining to Israels plans to strike Iran. “Additional documents, allegedly from the Pentagon, were leaked to the networks in the last day, in which the Israeli attack plan in Iran is described in detail,” Israel’s YNET media outlet reported on Friday. While the documents purport to show deep insights into how Israel could carry out such a strike, The War Zone cannot independently verify their veracity. We reached out to the Pentagon to see if they can say whether the documents are real and if the information contained in them is accurate. We will update this story with any pertinent information provided. Last week, there was a leak of a top-secret U.S. assessment about Israels war plans. Yesterday, a U.S. official pushed back on a Times of London story that Israel is delaying its expected retaliation strike against Iran because of the original leak. “We have no indication that Israel is delaying any action because of the document leak,” a U.S. official told The War Zone Thursday morning. “Would steer you away from that.” Update: 8:04 PM Eastern- The U.S. was informed beforehand and there is no U.S. involvement, a U.S. defense official told The War Zone. Update 8:16 PM Eastern Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahus office released of him with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other military officials in the IDFs underground headquarters. The PMO releases an image of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and military officials at the IDFs underground HQ amid the strikes on Iran. pic.twitter.com/XosGgIdABP— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 25, 2024 This is a developing story. We will be live-updating this post. Update: 8:20 PM Eastern Official Iranian state media is reporting that several military bases in the west and southwest of Tehran were the targets of [Israels] attack. Iranian state media: "several military bases in the west and southwest of Tehran were the targets of [Israels] attack." pic.twitter.com/VrmWePLssy— Steve Lookner (@lookner) October 26, 2024 Irans official IRNA news agency reports that Tehrans air defenses were successfully operated during the incident. IRNA did not provide any additional details. A security source informed IRNA that some of the sounds heard were due to air defense activity in Tehran, and the air defense successfully operated during this incident.— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) October 26, 2024 Update: 8:41 PM Eastern Israeli media is reporting a second wave of attacks is underway. Israel’s Channel 12 reporting a second wave of attacks has begun https://t.co/W1ItPwFkMR— Apex (@Apex_WW) October 26, 2024 Iranian state TV reported that “some of the [explosion] sounds in West Tehran was the air defense system being activated.” Iran state tv says “some of the [explosion] sounds in West Tehran was the air defence system being activated.” pic.twitter.com/RHdDXgy0KI— Khosro K Isfahani (@KhosroIsfahani) October 26, 2024 A video purporting to show Tehran residents lining up for gas appeared on social media. A Video claiming to show a Massive Line of Cars at a Gas Station in the Iranian Capital of Tehran, as Residents begin to Panic. pic.twitter.com/Ce7FVzsANz— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 26, 2024 Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallants office released an image claiming to show the strikes on Iran, but they were from a 2021 Tehran refinery fire, the Times of Israel reported on Twitter. Defense Minister Yoav Gallants office released this image from the IDFs underground HQ tonight during the strikes in Iran, with a monitor showing a purported image from the attack.But the image is from a refinery fire in Tehran in 2021. Oops. pic.twitter.com/NFUl6HfX1C— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 26, 2024 Update: 8:59 PM Eastern The Israeli Maariv news outlet is reporting on Twitter that one of the targets of the Israeli response is a military base for launching ballistic missiles. Over 100 fighter jets of the Air Force participated in the attack, according to Maariv. דיווח: אחת ממטרות התגובה הישראלית הוא בסיס צבאי לשיגור טילים בליסטיים. מעל 100 מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר משתתפים בתקיפה— מעריב אונליין (@MaarivOnline) October 26, 2024 Iran has closed its airspace for the next 4.5 hours, according to a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM). Iran has officially closed their airspace per NOTAM, flights are starting to divert. The NOTAM is in effect for the next 4 1/2 hour pic.twitter.com/eeutUgYJeh— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) October 26, 2024 The IDF released a video from its underground command bunker. Chief of Staff, Major General Herzi Halevi, is now commanding the attack on Iran from the Air Force Base in Kirya with the Air Force Commander, General Tomer Bar, the IDF said on Twitter. https://t.co/9WTzpvZeT1 pic.twitter.com/iCLXY0YPT0— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 26, 2024 Israeli officials claim that the Iranian air defenses were completely ineffective. Total failure zero interceptions, Israeli officials say Iranian claims about air defense interceptions were untrue, according to a tweet from the Jerusalem Post. "Total failure zero interceptions," Israeli officials say Iranian claims about air defense interceptions were untrue. https://t.co/9CZ623BWJx— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 26, 2024 Update: 9:12 PM Eastern A second wave of Israeli airstrikes was reported following blasts heard in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, the Jerusalem Post reported. Five explosions were reported heard across Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj early on Saturday morning, according to Iranian media, in what is alleged to be the beginning of an Israeli retaliatory attack on Iran, the publication reported. Iran told AFP that it had not received any reports of injuries from the strikes. There were reports of widespread internet outages across Iran as the attacks continued, according to the Post. The IDF is currently attacking precise targets in Iran, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement. This is in response to persisting attacks by the Iranian regime on the State of Israel. BREAKING: A second wave of Israeli airstrikes was reported following blasts heard in Shiraz, southern Iran >>https://t.co/iHvuxuamWE— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 26, 2024 However, Iranian media denies an attack on Shiraz, claiming the explosions were from their air defenses. Iranian State Media is now Denying the reports of a Second-Wave of Israeli Strikes and Explosions heard near the City of Shiraz in South-Central Iran, claiming that the Explosions heard were caused by Air Defenses in the North.— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 26, 2024 U.S. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the attack and is closely following events, The Wall Street Journal reported. U.S. President Joe Biden, who is currently at his Family Home in Wilmington, has been briefed by his National Security Team on tonight’s Wave of Israeli Strikes against Military Targets inside Iran, but he does not plan to return to the White House.— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 26, 2024 Update: 9:55 PM Eastern The Jerusalem Post has now reported that in addition to 100 aircraft being involved, including F-35Is, at least some of those planes had to fly 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) to their targets. This appears to be the longest-range known strike by Israeli aircraft on Iran to date. Over 100 Israeli Aircraft participated in tonight’s Series of Precision-Strikes against Military Targets inside Iran, including F-35 Stealth Strike Fighters, according to the Jerusalem Post. This would be the Largest Attack by Israel against Iran in History.— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 26, 2024 ABC News is reporting what while a second wave of Israeli strikes on Iran is ongoing, the operation is only expected to last one night. ABC News reports that a Second-Wave of Strikes against Military Targets inside Iran continues, with the Strikes only expected to last One-Night.— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 26, 2024 Additional footage said to have been shot in Tehran in the course of the attacks has emerged. Footage claimed to be of Explosions heard within the Iranian Capital of Tehran. pic.twitter.com/0QhPwpPP4z— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 26, 2024 Reported footage of air defence activity in the Tehran area. Locals reporting hearing multiple explosions.[No match on footage. Seems to be new]https://t.co/r7ZXjlxTq4 pic.twitter.com/iW8EHQbcEE— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) October 26, 2024 More Footage of Anti-Aircraft Fire seen over the Iranian Capital of Tehran. This kind of Air Defense will do literally nothing against Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles. pic.twitter.com/KGWb6WA7OV— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 26, 2024 Iraq has reportedly suspended all commercial flights in and out of the countrys airports. Reuters: Iraq suspends flights in and out of all airports until further notice, state news agency says— Patrick deHahn (@patrickdehahn) October 26, 2024 U.S. Vice President and Democrat Party presidential candidate Kamala Harris has now also been briefed on the situation. White House official: “The Vice President has been briefed on Israel conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran. She is closely following developments and will continue to be updated.”— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) October 26, 2024 Update: 10:22 PM Eastern Israels strikes on Iran are expected to continue for a number of hours still as a target list including missile production and air defense sites is worked through, according to The Washington Post. Targeting Iranian air defense capabilities would in clearing the way for follow-on strikes. BREAKING: The Israeli attacks on Iran are expected to continue for several more hours, according to a person briefed on Israel’s military planning Washington Post https://t.co/wUaUaJRcLN pic.twitter.com/ZUswRtgsE7— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) October 26, 2024 Video of explosion may point to attack against an air defense site in Eslamshahr https://t.co/uz6OgkFbzb— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) October 26, 2024 Appears one of the strikes near Tehran hit an air defence site, possibly a radar for a SAM battery https://t.co/PO5ER3Aaaa— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) October 26, 2024 The first step of Israels attack was likely aimed at taking out air defence with longer-range capabilities to pave way for further attacks— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) October 26, 2024 Possible impact in the Tehran Province #Iran pic.twitter.com/xOnVpO76Y2— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) October 26, 2024 Israels strikes had already reportedly been postponed more than once due to weather, which could also impede post-strike bomb damage assessment and combat search and rescue operations in the event of the loss of an aircraft. Imaging sensors that many Israeli munitions use to get to their targets could be impacted, as well. We discussed this earlier in the week. Even if no IAF aircraft entered Iranian airspace, post strike damage assessment is critical, and CSAR is needed for Iraq and Syria etc. IIR sensors on munitions which IAF uses heavily also benefits etc https://t.co/AH35cdPnYq— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) October 26, 2024 NASAs Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), which provides near real-time active fire data via orbital infrared sensing, is showing what could be evidence of fires following Israeli strikes in Iran. NASA FIRMS Fire mapping satellite data is starting to observe new fire activity in several local across Iran indicating were Israeli strikes maybe occurring Short thread pic.twitter.com/GPIG5XEbTP— Mr Smith (@internetguy01) October 26, 2024 There were reports of a major GPS disruption centered on Tehran earlier this evening. GPS disruption around #Tehran #Iran this evening. pic.twitter.com/fMo41YjBYc— Wayne Metcalf (@waynepmetcalf) October 25, 2024 Update: 10:50 PM Eastern The sun is now starting to rise over Iran. Axios Barak Ravid reports that at least three waves of Israeli strikes have taken place, with the first focusing on Iranian air defenses and the following two targeting missile and drone-related targets, citing U.S. and Israeli officials. U.S. and Israeli officials said that three waves of strikes took place. The first waves focused on Iranian air defense system and the second an third waves focused on missile and drone bases and productions sites https://t.co/KVCLmNGlwO— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) October 26, 2024 Tehran skyline right nowAs calm as it can get pic.twitter.com/FdC7bnfUev— Amirdaryoush Youhaei (@amirdaryoush) October 26, 2024 The New York Times is reporting that around 20 total sites were struck in the course of Israels operation against Iran. NEW: Israeli attack on Iran has ended after hitting roughly 20 sites over the course of the night, two Israeli officials tell NYT https://t.co/k6FzeAqgsK pic.twitter.com/5kFLXKy8zG— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) October 26, 2024 Amid the ongoing reports of the ineffectiveness of Irans air defense network against Israels strikes, The War Zones own Tyler Rogoway has highlighted the many factors at play. Keep seeing people proclaim that Iran has no air defenses. This is false. But you have to be able to detect and have a shot at even successfully engaging whatever is incoming to use them. Many ways to suppress air defenses well beyond the traditional kinetic measures, EW,…— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) October 26, 2024 And those aircraft, if they even took to the skies, have to be able to see a target on their sensors. If your objective is to strike a target and you know where they are and know they cant see you, you have no need to engage.— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) October 26, 2024 Irans Civil Aviation Organization has announced a suspension of all commercial flights indefinitely. Following the Israeli strikes, #Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization has announced the cancellation of all flights until further notice.#Israel https://t.co/Hdn6Ha6Mly— Abas Aslani (@AbasAslani) October 26, 2024 Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency is carrying a threat of retaliation against Israel over tonights strikes. Iranian sources: As previously stated, #Iran is prepared to respond to #Israel’s aggression. Israel will face a proportionate response for any action. https://t.co/QbObNnj51C— Abas Aslani (@AbasAslani) October 26, 2024 Update: 11:22 PM Eastern The IDF has now issued a release about its concluded strikes on Iran, which is as follows: A short while ago, the IDF completed precise and targeted strikes against military targets in a number of areas in Iran. Our planes have safely returned home. The strike was conducted in response to the attacks by the Iranian regime against the State of Israel and its citizens in recent months. The retaliatory strike has been completed and the mission was fulfilled. Based on intelligence, IAF aircraft struck missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the State of Israel over the last year. These missiles posed a direct and immediate threat to the citizens of the State of Israel. Simultaneously, the IDF struck surface-to-air missile arrays and additional Iranian aerial capabilities, that were intended to restrict Israels aerial freedom of operation in Iran. Iran fired hundreds of missiles directly toward the State of Israel during two attacks in April and October, and funds and directs terrorist activity through its terror proxies throughout the Middle East, in order to attack the State of Israel and its citizens. Alongside Irans efforts to attack the State of Israel, Iran acts to undermine regional stability and security, and the global economy. The IDF has a range of offensive operational capabilities, some of which were deployed today during the strikes on strategic assets deep within Iranian territory. The State of Israel reserves the right to defend its citizens if the Iranian regime continues attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians. The IDF is conducting ongoing situational assessments and is ready to conduct defensive and offensive action.There is currently no change to the Home Front Defensive Guidelines. The public is asked to continue following the guidelines. IDF confirms strike in #Iran has been completed and says it struck missile manufacturing facilities and surface-to-air array.IDF statement hints only "some" of its offensive capabilities were deployed today. pic.twitter.com/IwHAfmCN1c— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) October 26, 2024 Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder has also provided the following readout of a call tonight between U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to receive updates on the Israel Defense Forces’ strikes on military targets in Iran. Secretary Austin reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of the United States to Israel’s security and right to self-defense. The Secretary emphasized the enhanced force posture of the United States to defend U.S. personnel, Israel, and partners across the region in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations and the U.S. determination to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict in the region. Update: 11:45 Eastern— Video statement from IDF about the conclusion of its operation: “I can now confirm that we have concluded the Israeli response to Iran’s attacks against Israel. We conducted targeted and precise strikes on military targets in Iran — thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel.”Watch IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari talk about the… pic.twitter.com/1OOss3etpV— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 26, 2024 Israel carried out “a direct military response against Iran,” a senior U.S. official told reporters, including from The War Zone late Friday night. “Specifically, Israel conducted precision airstrikes against multiple military targets across Iran and outside populated terrorism. The United States was not a participant in its military operation.” Biden and his national security team “of course worked with Israel, over recent weeks, to encourage Israel to conduct a response that is targeted and proportional with little rates of civilian harm. And that appears to have been precisely what transpired this evening,” the official continued. The president “discussed the overall situation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, he encouraged the prime minister to design a response that served to deter further attacks against Israel while reducing rates of further installation. And that is our objective.” The official offered a stern warning to Iran against responding to tonight’s attack. “Should Iran choose to respond, we are fully prepared to once again defend against any attack,” said the official. We recently deployed a THAAD battery…to Israel, and we have worked to strengthen Israels air defense systems in the run-up to tonights response.” Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have demonstrated clearly that we will always help defend Israel and secure its people and territories from Iran and its proxy terrorist groups. If Iran chooses to respond once again, we will be ready, and there will be consequences for Iran. However, we do not want to happen.” “This should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Iran and Israel,” the official told reporters. “Israel has made clear to the world that its response is now complete. Accordingly, we will …press Iran to stop these attacks against Israel, so that we can move beyond this direct cycle of attacks.” The U.S. is seeking an opportunity to end fighting in Lebanon and Gaza as well. “Over the coming days, we are prepared to lead an effort to secure an end of the war in Lebanon through an agreement that allows civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to safely return home,” the official explained. “We are also prepared for a renewed effort to finally achieve a ceasefire in Gaza together with the return of hostages, which must happen without delay.” The U.S. had no role in this attack, said the official, adding that the Israeli response “was extensive. It was targeted. It was precise. It was against military targets across Iran. It was in multiple ways, very carefully prepared. And again, it was designed to be effective. I will leave it though to the Israelis to characterize and provide more details, given that this was their military operation.” The U.S. has been in contact with Iran both directly and through back channels to avoid miscommunications, said the official. Pressed to explain what was meant by “designed to be effective,” the official said it was an “effect is to deter future attacks and also to degrade the capability of Iran being able to conduct those types of activity.” Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post Israels Retaliation Strikes On Iran Have Begun (Updated) appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Around The Globe, Iran, Israel, Middle East, News & Features] [Link to media]

— Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week

 

at 10/25/24 7:30pm

Welcome to Bunker Talk. This is a weekend open discussion post for the best commenting crew on the net, in which we can chat about all the stuff that went on this week that we didn’t cover. We can also talk about the stuff we did or whatever else grabs your interest. In other words, it’s an off-topic thread. The caption to this week’s top shot reads: Civil protection expert Anatolii Koboziev shows people around the bomb shelter of the Uzhhorod Vodokanal Communal Enterprise, Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia Region, Western Ukraine, February 2, 2022. Serhii Hudak/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images. Also, a reminder: Prime Directives! If you want to talk politics, do so respectfully and know that there’s always somebody that isn’t going to agree with you.  If you have political differences, hash it out respectfully, stick to the facts, and no childish name-calling or personal attacks of any kind. If you can’t handle yourself in that manner, then please, discuss virtually anything else. No drive-by garbage political memes. No conspiracy theory rants. Links to crackpot sites will be axed, too. Trolling and shitposting will not be tolerated. No obsessive behavior about other users. Just don’t interact with folks you don’t like.  Do not be a sucker and feed trolls! That’s as much on you as on them. Use the mute button if you don’t like what you see.   So unless you have something of quality to say, know how to treat people with respect, understand that everyone isn’t going to subscribe to your exact same worldview, and have come to terms with the reality that there is no perfect solution when it comes to moderation of a community like this, it’s probably best to just move on.  Finally, as always, report offenders, please. This doesn’t mean reporting people who don’t share your political views, but we really need your help in this regard. The Bunker is open! Contact the editor: tyler@twz.com The post Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Bunker Talk] [Link to media]

— B-21 Taking On Some Of NGAD Fighter’s Missions On The Table Air Force Says

 

at 10/25/24 6:19pm

The U.S. Air Force has not ruled out expanding the roles and missions of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber as part of its ongoing reassessment of plans for a new crewed sixth-generation stealth fighter. This is not the first time the service has at least alluded to the possibility of an air-to-air combat role for the Raider. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin talked about the B-21 and the future of the sixth-generation combat jet that has been under development as part of his services Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative earlier today at the 2024 Military Reporters & Editors (MRE) Conference. The plans for the NGAD aircraft, also sometimes referred to as the Penetrating Counter-Air (PCA) platform, are currently undergoing a deep review. Concerns about very high expected costs – individual fighter-like NGAD aircraft potentially costing $300 million or more apiece – have been cited as the central driver behind the reassessment. The first pre-production B-21 Raider. USAF The first pre-production B-21 Raider at Plant 42 ahead of its first flight. USAF We intend to have that by December, Allvin said when asked about the timeline for when the NGAD combat jet review is expected to be finished. We also want to be able to influence the [proposed] budget submission in February. So, obviously, all that has to go through DOD [the Department of Defense]. So were looking to have the results in December. As the NGAD review goes forward, like, is it possible that what that ends up with could be the B-21 taking a larger role? Defense News Stephen Losey asked Allvin later in his talk. We have not taken that off the table, the Air Forces top officer said in response. Allvin did not elaborate on what this might mean for the B-21, but as already noted, this is not the first time the possibility of an air dominance role for the Raider has come up. “If we were to characterize it [NGAD] as a fighter, we would be… thinking too narrowly about what kind of airplane we need in a highly contested environment,” then-Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Pleus, told what was then Air Force Magazine back in 2019. “A B-21 that also has air-to-air capabilities” and can “work with the family of systems to defend itself, utilizing stealth – maybe that’s where the sixth-generation airplane comes from.” At the time, Pleus was Director of Air and Cyber Operations for Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the Air Forces top command in that region. Now a lieutenant general, he is currently Director of Staff at the Air Forces Headquarters at the Pentagon. It remains unclear whether Pleus 2019 comments explicitly reflected an idea for employing the B-21 in air-to-air combat, or if he was referring to a similarly sized and/or otherwise capable aircraft. Renderings of very stealthy tailless designs, like the one below from Lockheed Martin, have historically been used to illustrate discussions about the NGAD combat jet. Lockheed Martin At the same time, as The War Zone has explored in detail in the past, the B-21s size, long range, high-altitude ceiling, broadband low-observability (stealthiness), and other capabilities could actually make it well suited to supporting certain forms of air-to-air combat. The Raider has the potential to serve as a launch platform for air-to-air missiles, especially outsized very long-range types. Its payload capacity would give it the ability to carry a large volume of smaller air-to-air missiles, as well. B-21s could also employ air-to-ground munitions in support of the suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses mission (SEAD/DEAD), which is also part of the air superiority equation. Maybe most significantly, the B-21s could also act as airborne nerve centers in support of counter-air missions, especially for controlling drones like the Air Forces planned fleets of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), and have the ability to do so even in the most heavily contested of airspaces. Uncrewed aircraft, in turn, could feed targeting data back to Raiders with air-to-air loadouts. B-21s might even be able to launch some of those drones themselves. The video below from Collins Aerospace offers a good visual depiction of how CCA-type drones might work together with crewed aircraft in an air-to-air combat scenario, including by extending the sensor reach of the entire force. “What is the role, if any, of a CAA in consonance with the B-21 as it’s fielded?” then-Air Force Lt. Gen. James Slife, at the time Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, asked rhetorically at the annual Defense News Conference last year. “We should we should keep our options open for how we employ them going forward.” Gen. Slife is now Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Labeling the B-21 as simply a bomber is already something of a misnomer. “The B-21 is multi-functional,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at the roll-out ceremony for the first pre-production Raider in December 2022. “It can handle anything from gathering intel to battle management.” The first pre-production B-21 in flight. USAF How any increased role for the B-21 might impact broader plans for the Raider is unclear. Allvin took the time today to push back on comments this week from Kathy Warden, CEO of Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor for the B-21, about possible changes on the horizon to the planned Raider force structure. The Air Forces publicly stated plan remains to buy 100 of these aircraft. I can see that being something in the future [that changes]. we do not currently have a plan to do that in the next month or two, Allvin said. I think well understand more about it [as testing proceeds] that will give us more confidence [about fleet size]. But theres also going forward to understand the capability, the capabilities that are bearing out, along with the price point, the Air Force Chief of Staff continued. So far, the program has been run very well, and so the usual price ballooning we havent seen. We do not have that on the front burner right now to re-evaluate the planned B-21 fleet size, he added. In April, Allvin had also told members of Congress that 100 B-21s was still the plan, as well as that his service was already looking ahead to augment the Raiders with new capabilities. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Case, Northrop Grumman It is important to stress that the reassessment of the NGAD combat jet plans is ongoing and we know it is intended to be exhaustive. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has talked repeatedly now about how the service is also considering a significantly cheaper (and similarly less capable in certain regards) crewed stealth aircraft focused primarily on the drone controller mission as another alternative. You can read more about what that plane could look like here. With the Air Force hoping to have the completed review of its NGAD fighter plans in hand before the end of the year, it might not be too long before more details about its conclusions, and how they may or may not relate to the B-21, start trickling out. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post B-21 Taking On Some Of NGAD Fighters Missions On The Table Air Force Says appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Air Forces, B-21, Bombers, Drones, Fighters, Loyal Wingman, News & Features, NGAD, Stealth, U.S. Air Force, Unmanned] [Link to media]

— NATO Flexes With Simultaneous Nuclear Strike And Naval Warfare Exercises

 

at 10/25/24 3:18pm

Steadfast Noon, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s annual tactical nuclear weapons exercise in Europe, was completed yesterday, having been run simultaneously with the British-led Strike Warrior large-scale maritime maneuvers, centered around a British Carrier Strike Group. The combined drills sent a powerful message to Russia, not just in terms of NATO’s enduring nuclear strike potential in Europe but also in regards to its diverse conventional military capabilities spread across the continent. This year’s Exercise Steadfast Noon began on October 14 and ended on October 24. In a statement, the alliance confirmed that “more than 60” aircraft took part, as well as around 2,000 military personnel from eight air bases. #steadfastnoon24 is a two week EX conducted in the area of Western Europe. The main purpose is to train the Allies in Nuclear deterrence. For the first time, the F35-A is showing her abilities. #strongertogether @NATO pic.twitter.com/gkPIf16NPw— NATO JFC Naples (@JFC_Naples) October 23, 2024 Steadfast Noon is concerned entirely with nuclear deterrence and involves training flights over Western Europe each fall. The aircraft that take part are nuclear-capable but there are no live warheads used in the exercise. In the past, we have explored exactly what procedures are likely practiced in Steadfast Noon and how these drills are a cornerstone for ensuring readiness to launch a nuclear attack during a crisis. Under the NATO nuclear-sharing arrangement, U.S. B61 nuclear gravity bombs are understood to be housed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey, and can be employed by tactical jet aircraft from approved member states. Turkey notably hosts B61s, but is not among the countries that could employ them. Non-strategic NATO combat jets currently capable of carrying nuclear weapons include the F-15E, F-35A, F-16, and Tornado. They are referred to as Dual-Capable Aircraft (DCAs) in NATO parlance, and you can read more about them here. A frontal view of four B61 nuclear gravity bombs on a bomb cart. Defense Department photo by SSGT PHIL SCHMITTEN  “Nuclear deterrence is the cornerstone of allied security,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, ahead of this year’s exercise. “Steadfast Noon is an important test of the Alliance’s nuclear deterrent and sends a clear message to any adversary that NATO will protect and defend all allies.” The host countries for this year’s Steadfast Noon were Belgium and the Netherlands (Kleine Brogel and Volkel air bases, respectively), with most training flights taking place over these nations, as well as over Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the North Sea. Exercise #SteadfastNoon is well underway! F-35A and Tornado fighter jets train together to maintain readiness and cohesion! This annual exercise is crucial for ensuring the strength and credibility of NATO’s nuclear deterrence. #WeAreNATO | #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/gPekrfhGMW— SHAPE_NATO Allied Command Operations (@SHAPE_NATO) October 18, 2024 This year, the nuclear-capable jets involved in Steadfast Noon reportedly comprised Belgian F-16s, Dutch F-35A stealth fighters, German and Italian Tornado swing-wing strike aircraft, as well as U.S. Air Force B-52s, F-15Es, and F-35As. A notable feature of this year’s nuclear exercise was the involvement of Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35As, for the first time since these were declared ready to perform nuclear roles, with the B61-12 thermonuclear bomb. You can read more about this development here. An F-35A drops an inert B61-12 bomb during a certification test flight. U.S. Air Force B-52s have been involved in Steadfast Noon before. Although Steadfast Noon is a tactical nuclear exercise and the Stratofortress is a strategic platform, the exercise also involves a range of aircraft working in packages to get the Dual-Capable Aircraft into the target area. Such scenarios could include B-52s delivering conventional weapons. For some time now, the only nuclear weapons available to the B-52 are cruise missiles – currently AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs) that are set to be eventually replaced by new AGM-181 Long Range Stand-Off (LRSO) types. Supporting these nuclear strike platforms were various fighter escorts, aerial refueling tankers, airborne early warning, and electronic warfare aircraft. A U.S. Air Force B-52H from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, lands at RAF Fairford, England, in August 2022. U.S. Air Force photo by RAF Cpl. Matthews, JADTEU In all, 13 NATO nations took part on some level. According to reports ahead of Steadfast Noon, other countries involved comprised the Czech Republic (with Gripen multirole fighters), Denmark (F-16), Finland (F/A-18), Greece (F-16), Poland (F-16), Romania (F-16), Turkey (F-16), and the United Kingdom (F-35B and Typhoon). Meanwhile, non-nuclear-capable Eurofighter EF2000s from both Germany and Italy were also listed as participants. (Three) Hellenic #F16 #HAF335 (to Patras) & (three) Romanian F16 #ROF309A (to Feteşti) out of Jagel after #SteadfastNoon pic.twitter.com/l9frHyL7do— Sir Listenalot (@SirListenalot) October 24, 2024 Finland’s presence in the exercise was especially notable, with the Nordic country only having joined NATO in April 2023. The country applied to join the alliance in May 2022, along with Sweden, in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Poland, meanwhile, is not currently a member of NATO’s nuclear weapon-sharing program but has expressed an interest in at least hosting weapons in the past. This policy position has been underscored by concerns over Russia’s decision last year to forward-deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus in cooperation with that country’s military. Russia really wants West to see theyre doing a tac nuke exercise. After several exercise videos they put the head of the 12 GUMO in front of a Belarusian Su-25 (possibly at Lida air base) loaded with what is said to be "training nuclear ammunition." https://t.co/h9rHp2qvGv pic.twitter.com/sTzAqSNd9f— Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) June 13, 2024 Some other new developments that would have been featured in this year’s exercise were identified by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) think tank. In particular, the think tank notes that there has been significant recent modernization of infrastructure at nuclear-tasked air bases in Europe. “This modernization involves security upgrades to the underground vaults that store the U.S. nuclear weapons, underground cables and nuclear command and control systems, and facilities needed for the new F-35A nuclear-capable fighter-bomber,” FAS states in its related report. A secure Weapons Storage and Security System vault seen in the raised position holding a U.S. B61 nuclear bomb (or more likely an inert ‘shape’ thereof) at an unknown base in Europe. Public Domain/WikiCommons  Modernization has included special loading pads at Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Ghedi in Italy, and Volkel in the Netherlands to receive U.S. Air Force C-17 airlifters that transport nuclear weapons and service equipment. Kleine Brogel has also received major upgrades to its weapons maintenance facilities, where nuclear weapons are stored and worked on. At Volkel, FAS has identified the construction of a new wall in front of an aircraft parking area, to keep this hidden from spotters and other observers outside the base. NATOs annual tactical nuclear weapons exercise Steadfast Noon begins today. Here is a backgrounder including what is happening at the different nuclear bases: https://t.co/PLiIolS77w pic.twitter.com/4aAX7SvDEu— Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) October 14, 2024 In Germany, Büchel air base is midway through an upgrade that is adding, among others, a service area for Germany’s future nuclear-capable F-35As and a refurbished runway. There is also evidence here of security upgrades for the nuclear weapons area and a possible loading pad for C-17s. One other NATO air base in particular has come under extensive scrutiny in recent months. This is RAF Lakenheath in England, used by the U.S. Air Force, where the nuclear mission is expected to return after a long absence. The base is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, part of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, which includes squadrons of nuclear-capable F-15Es and F-35As. One of the first F-35As for the 48th Fighter Wing (specifically, the constituent 495th Fighter Squadron) touches down at RAF Lakenheath in December 2021. U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders However, there is still a degree of mystery around the nature of the nuclear mission at the U.K. base. Since 2022, Lakenheath has been listed as one of the NATO bases undergoing nuclear upgrades. The Pentagon has remained tight-lipped about this, but construction work on new aircraft shelters and underground vaults to store nuclear weapons has been confirmed by satellite images. Whether nuclear weapons will be permanently stored at Lakenheath is unclear and it remains possible that the facilities here are intended as a backup for the other air bases in Europe with a NATO nuclear mission. The total number of aircraft in Steadfast Noon appears to have been a modest increase over the number of aircraft involved in last year’s drill (“up to 60”) but more significant is the fact that NATO air forces in Europe were simultaneously engaged in Exercise Strike Warrior. The U.K.-run Strike Warrior maneuvers took place primarily off the coast of Scotland over the same timeframe and had the main role of confirming that the U.K. Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, centered around the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, is ready for operations. On the prowl a pair of 617 Sqn @thef35 Lightnings operating off @HMSPWLS leave their tanker for a @NATO exercise #SteadfastNoon sortie pic.twitter.com/KXGEloovPn— RAF View (@RAFView) October 24, 2024 Our F-35B jets participate in #SteadfastNoon.This is an annual exercise to test and ensure the strength and credibility of NATOs airborne nuclear deterrent.Find out more https://t.co/giSfOsdzh2#WeAreNato pic.twitter.com/l8NsjRDeyQ— UK Carrier Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) October 23, 2024 During Strike Warrior, HMS Prince of Wales was supported by warships including the Type 23 Duke class frigates HMS Portland and HMS Iron Duke, the Type 45 Daring class destroyer HMS Dauntless, and an Astute class nuclear-powered attack submarine. These will have come under mock attack from other NATO assets. As well as British assets, Strike Warrior involved other NATO participants, and most of the nations participating in the British-led exercise also took part in Steadfast Noon. While at sea for Strike Warrior, the Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group also joined forces with U.S. Carrier Strike Group 8, centered on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, to deliver a powerful statement of NATO’s ability to project power from the sea. The USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, as well as the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince Of Wales and its escorts in the North Sea. Crown Copyright As NATO has stressed, Steadfast Noon is a “routine and recurring training activity,” but there’s no doubt that its relevance is increased during the current period of heightened tensions between the alliance and Russia. Russia’s Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile can carry a nuclear or a conventional warhead and is among the country’s available tactical nuclear weapons. Vitaly Kuzmin via Wikimedia The rhetoric from Moscow has included repeated threats by President Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons, as he seeks to thwart NATO support for Ukraine and, especially, to try and ensure that limits remain on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike targets within Russia’s recognized borders. Moscow has also held its own high-profile tactical nuclear exercises. These drills have been accompanied by the announcement of possible changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine. These have included the suggestion that the Kremlin’s threshold for the potential use of nuclear weapons may have been lowered, although the exact permutations of this — and whether it really constitutes a significant change — have been subject to some debate. NATO has always reiterated that the Steadfast Noon isn’t targeted toward any nation, in particular. A NATO video published yesterday described a “fictitious red adversary,” although the identity of the alliance’s primary nuclear foe has always been clear. #SteadfastNoon24 showcases NATOs nuclear deterrence in today’s world. From bombers to refuelling aircraft, we train to ensure strict control, readiness and teamwork! Our forces are prepared to defend, strike, and protect against any threat.#WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/AVYMIjtDNp— SHAPE_NATO Allied Command Operations (@SHAPE_NATO) October 24, 2024 The war in Ukraine has demonstrated Russia’s willingness to launch a full-scale invasion of a European country. Since then, there have been growing concerns that a European NATO member could be next. In that context, exercises that put to the test the nuclear and conventional might of the alliance, like those carried out in recent days, have become especially relevant. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post NATO Flexes With Simultaneous Nuclear Strike And Naval Warfare Exercises appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Around The Globe, B61, Europe, NATO, News & Features, Nuclear, Nuclear Bombs, Nuclear Policy, Nuclear Warheads, Russia] [Link to media]

— Our First Look At The Ghost Shark Uncrewed Submarine Underwater

 

at 10/25/24 1:41pm

We have now gotten our first look at the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle (XL-AUV) operating submerged thanks to the Autonomous Warrior 2024 maritime autonomous capabilities demonstration in Australia. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the first known customer for the highly modular Ghost Shark, which manufacturer Anduril is now pitching elsewhere, including to the U.S. Navy. The Australian Department of Defense released a video montage, seen below, from Autonomous Warrior 2024 that includes clips of Ghost Shark below the waves this week. The event took place predominantly in and around Jervis Bay on Australias eastern coast over a period of three weeks earlier this month. There are two separate clips of the Ghost Shark in the Autonomous Warrior 2024 video, captures from which are seen at the top of this story and below. In both cases, the top of the mast at the front of the drone submarine appears to be blurred out. Australian Department of Defense capture Ghost Sharks mast, which is distinctly lower profile than what is typically found on other uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV), is a particularly notable feature of the design. Otherwise, what can be seen in the Autonomous Warrior 2024 video looks to be in line with imagery of the drone submarine that has been released since it first broke cover in April. “We don’t have big masts running down the backbone of our vehicle that a lot of other designs do that then preclude the ability for the payloads to come out in different directions… of the payload module itself,” Dr. Shane Arnott, Senior Vice President for Engineering at Anduril and the company’s maritime lead, told The War Zone in an interview back in August. “So we have… in effect, unlimited flexibility in this design, just the way that we’ve configured the vehicle and the payload bay itself could be almost anything within a size configuration that you can dream up. We haven’t encountered crazy idea yet from a customer that … we can’t fit.” Australian Defense Force Australian authorities have said they expect to use their future fleet of Ghost Sharks for “persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance [ISR] and strike, but have provided no additional details so far about how the drone submarines might be configured to perform those missions. Anduril has also declined to provide more specific information about the UUVs capabilities, including its maximum range and endurance. You can read more about what is known about the design to date here. Regardless, events like Autonomous Warrior 2024 offer important opportunities for the RAN and Anduril to further test and refine Ghost Shark capabilities, as well as explore how they can be alongside other crewed and uncrewed platforms. Anduril announced earlier this year that it had brought a Ghost Shark to the United States for the first time as part of efforts to expand its capacity to test the UUV, as well as demonstrate it to prospective customers. “There’s just a lot of test points for us to hit. So, having the ability to have multiple Ghost Sharks, and particularly in different waters around the world, such that we can burn down those test points and just grow our trust and the customer’s trust by testing and ‘show me, don’t tell me,’ is kind of a really big part of why we’ve done this [bringing the UUV to the United States,” Andurils Arnott explained to us earlier this year. A Ghost Shark drone submarine being lowered into the water during previous testing. Australian Defense Force Ghost Shark was not the only uncrewed platform involved in Autonomous Warrior 2024, which is part of a larger Australian maritime autonomy initiative called Maritime Big Play (MBP) and is also tied in with the advanced capabilities Pillar II of the trilateral Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) defense cooperation agreement. Pillar I of the AUKUS agreement centers on the RANs acquisition and fielding of a nuclear-powered submarine force and assisting with that effort. Maritime Big Play also has links to the U.S. militarys Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX) effort and NATOs Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS) exercise series, according to the Pentagon. The U.S. Navy has also been conducting a growing number of large-scale uncrewed-focused maritime exercises and demonstration events in recent years. Also seen in the Australian Department of Defense video are Greenough Advanced Rescue Craft (GARC), Swiftships Sea-Stalker, and Ocius Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels, as well as a REMUS-series UUV. Ocean Aeros Triton hybrid UUV/USV and at least one other larger UUV design are visible at points in the montage, too, as are various uncrewed aerial systems and high-altitude balloons. GARC (at left) and Sea-Stalker USVs in use at Autonomous Warrior 2024. Australian Department of Defense capture A trio of Ocius Bluebottle USVs sail together during Autonomous Warrior 2024. Australian Department of Defense capture The Ocean Aero Triton was another participant in Autonomous Warrior 2024. Australian Department of Defense capture In addition to Ghost Shark, this larger UUV also took part in Autonomous Warrior 2024. Australian Department of Defense capture There are two clips showing the apparent launch of a payload from the hull of what may be a docked RAN Collins class submarine based on a flag seen in the background. What is being fired and why is not entirely clear, but it has a torpedo-like outward appearance and could be an expendable countermeasure of some kind. The U.S. Navy and others have also been actively working on submarine-launched aerial drones and UUVs, including types small enough to be launched from existing countermeasures launchers. A screen capture showing the payload launch. Australian Department of Defense capture Another view of the payload launch. Australian Department of Defense capture A versatile and robust software-defined network architecture called Multi-Domain Uncrewed Secure Integrated Communications (MUSIC) was tested for its ability to enable seamless communication and coordination across diverse unmanned systems and operational environments during Autonomous Warrior 2024, according to a Pentagon press release. The Common Control System (CCS) was also featured in the exercise, built on an open architecture to provide uncrewed vehicles hardware and software that works across several different systems. This effort supports future work to create an AUKUS-wide Common Control System, fusing [the] best elements of the three countries’ existing systems. The three AUKUS partners increasingly see uncrewed maritime platforms above and below the waves, as well as aerial drones, as not only important, but critical for providing increased sensor coverage, wider and more resilient communications networks, and other capabilities, and for doing so in cost-effective manners. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, in particular, are envisioning future fleets of UUVs and USVs that can carry out kinetic attacks and employ electronic warfare and other non-kinetic effects, as well as emplace mines. The US Navy envisions its future Orca UUVs, the first of which is seen here with its top-mounted mast deployed and a payload module installed with a top-opening bay, as being uncrewed mine layers, at least initially. USN Evidence continues to grow from wargames carried out by the U.S. military and other organizations that uncrewed aerial and maritime capabilities could have especially decisive impacts in a future high-end fight across the broad expanses of the Pacific against China, especially one over Taiwan. With this in mind, Americas armed forces have been helping Taiwan with a plan to defend the island against an invasion from the mainland by turning the airspace and waters into a hellscape full of uncrewed platforms, as you can read more about here. Autonomous Warrior/Maritime Big Play creates a unique opportunity for our three countries to work together, which will ultimately improve operational efficiency and allow us to work more cohesively against common threats, Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, said in a statement about Autonomous Warrior 2024 this week. This collaborative approach enables us to reduce acquisition, maintenance, and training cost by creating economies of scale. Its worth noting here that members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces observed Autonomous Warrior 2024, which was the first time members of that countrys armed forces had been present at a Maritime Big Play event. Australian military officials brief their Japanese counterparts during Autonomous Warrior 2024. Australian Department of Defense All of this together underpins a more strategic approach to ensure that AUKUS and like-minded partners can operate new autonomous uncrewed systems more effectively as a coalition force from the start, Madeline Mortelmans, the U.S. official currently performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities, also said in a statement about Autonomous Warrior 2024 this week. The AUKUS triumvirate is now reportedly considering increasing Japans involvement in Pillar II activities. This is in line with broader and largely U.S.-led efforts to create a more unified front among allies and partners in the Pacific to challenge Beijing. AUKUS partners have long histories of working together on defense and security issues, and have deep, enduring partnerships based on shared values, Under Secretary Shyu said. By investing in novel and innovative capabilities directly aligned to AUKUS mission priorities, as well as making future advancements in emerging technologies like AI [artificial intelligence] and Quantum [computing], we support a more stable region — one where all nations are empowered to make their own sovereign decisions free from coercion — a world that centers on hope for the opportunity and prosperity of the future. Ghost Shark, which we have now finally seen plying its way underwater, and the platforms involved in Autonomous Warrior 2024 all reflect this broader vision of the coming uncrewed ecosystem. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post Our First Look At The Ghost Shark Uncrewed Submarine Underwater appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Sea, Air, Around The Globe, Australia, Drones, Indo-Pacific, Navies, News & Features, Royal Australian Navy, Submarines, U.S. Navy, Unmanned, Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)] [Link to media]

— Germany Plans To Buy Advanced New Taurus Cruise Missiles: Report

 

at 10/25/24 12:01pm

Germany has announced plans to acquire 600 examples of a new version of the Taurus air-launched conventional cruise missile, which would provide a major boost to the country’s long-range strike capabilities. Unclear is whether the Taurus Neo purchase might finally see approval for the transfer of older Taurus KEPD 350 weapons to Ukraine, with Berlin so far having blocked such a move despite Kyiv’s requests for them. Even if Ukraine gets its wish, it will be a long time before the Taurus Neo comes online, potentially freeing up older KEPD 350 versions. The German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius wants to buy advanced versions of the missiles, but has yet to secure funds from the government, according to a report in the Spiegel magazine. A Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile is loaded onto a German Tornado strike aircraft. MBDA MBDA The same source states that the 600 new missiles would cost around $2.3 billion and could see the first deliveries in 2029. Pistorius plans for the Taurus Neo to be included as an option in the 2025 budget, which would require a starting investment of around $379 million. The Luftwaffe or German Air Force already received 600 of the original Taurus KEPD 350 missiles, which have a range of more than 500 kilometers (311 miles). In German service, these are launched from the Tornado swing-wing strike fighter. Although they have also been tested from the Eurofighter EF2000, the Luftwaffe doesn’t currently use the more modern fighter as a Taurus delivery platform. A German Eurofighter EF2000 jet seen carrying a pair of Taurus cruise missiles, but the capability to employ them from EF2000s was never fully developed. Philipp Hayer/Wikimedia Commons It’s unclear what platform the Taurus Neo would be launched from, but the upcoming retirement of the Tornado fleet makes this much less likely. That would leave the Eurofighter as the most likely option. Potential integration on the F-35A stealth fighter, which Germany has also ordered, seems highly unlikely, with the missile needing a significant redesign to even fit in the internal weapons bay on the U.S.-made jet. Looking further ahead, Germany could plan to add the Taurus Neo to the crewed fighter that will be at the center of the next-generation combat aircraft program being pursued by Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain, known as the Future Combat Air System, or FCAS. The original Taurus KEPD 350 was designed to destroy high-value targets deep behind enemy lines, including command bunkers, ammunition and fuel dumps, airfields, and bridges. A Taurus missile in flight. Photo by South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images Designed to penetrate air defenses via a very low-level terrain following flight, the turbojet-powered Taurus missile carries a 1,060-pound dual-stage warhead, known as MEPHISTO. This uses a precursor charge to punch through hardened structures followed by the main change that can be fuzed for penetration mode when required, meaning it detonates after breaching the target. The MEPHISTO warhead can also be programmed to detonate on a specific pre-selected floor of a given building. The missile guidance system is based on an inertial navigation system (INS) that is continuously provided with GPS updates. There is also an image-based terrain reference sensor, which provides the capability to attack what the manufacturer describes as “semi-stationary targets.” There are so far no details available about the improvements planned for the Taurus Neo, although potential changes could involve extended range, more destructive warhead, low-observable features, a new seeker, or a combination of these. Less likely, but also potentially under consideration could be increased speed, perhaps combined with defensive countermeasures to better defeat advanced air defense systems. Other modifications to improve the chances of penetrating hostile air defenses could include electronic support measures (ESM) to autonomously avoid the highest-threat areas. There’s also the possibility of a new-production version of the missile with relatively minor changes compared with the original KEPD 350. Speaking this summer, Thomas Gottschild, the managing director of MBDA Deutschland GmbH, which makes the missile, confirmed that although not currently in production, the assembly line could be reactivated at short notice. “What we need is an order to activate our supply chain, a good dozen suppliers contribute to a complex missile like Taurus. These suppliers only start working for us with an order,” Gottschild said. However, the high costs involved in the program suggest that the Taurus Neo will likely feature several enhancements over its predecessor. Two quick points: First, 2029 is obviously a long way off, with even more time until the order is fully completed—if it reaches that scale.Second, funding has yet to be secured, and hopefully, they will manage to source the necessary budget. In my view, this should be an…— Fabian Hoffmann (@FRHoffmann1) October 25, 2024 The news of Germany’s Taurus Neo plans comes just two days after the signing of a landmark defense agreement between Germany and the United Kingdom, which you can read more about here. The two countries agreed to work together to “rapidly develop” new extended deep strike weapons. Although no more details were provided, such weapons are planned to fly further and attack targets with greater precision than the Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile used by the U.K. Royal Air Force. That agreement followed the announcement at the NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels last week that the United Kingdom was joining the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) initiative, a French-led effort that involves Germany, Poland, and Italy. Previous announcements state that ELSA envisages a missile with a range of between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometers (621 and 1,243 miles) and that it should be in service by the 2030s. The will join the European long-range Strike Approach. Working alongside international allies, including our key ally , we will develop new long range missile capabilities to meet a critical NATO capability priority and bolster European security.#StrongerTogether https://t.co/249uVDZmzv— UK Defence in France (@UKDefenceFrance) October 18, 2024 Exactly how the Taurus Neo would fit into either of these programs is unclear, but it provides more evidence of the growing interest in long-range strike weapons in Europe. The United States and Germany have also announced that U.S. long-range missiles will be stationed in Germany on an “episodic” basis starting in 2026, including the SM-6 multi-purpose missile and Tomahawk cruise missile as well as “developmental hypersonic weapons,” which is a likely reference to the Dark Eagle, which is due to be fielded soon, and others. The renewed focus on long-range strike has been driven, above all, by developments in Russian tactical nuclear missiles, which are being fielded in increasingly advanced and long-reaching forms. New types of missiles and new deployments have been accompanied by repeated nuclear threats from President Vladimir Putin as well as suggestions that Russia’s threshold for the potential use of nuclear weapons may have been lowered. The Taurus KEPD 350 is broadly similar to the Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG cruise missiles, which have been supplied to Ukraine by the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. A donated British Storm Shadow cruise missile carried under the wing of a Ukrainian Su-24 strike aircraft. via X Twitter screencap However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly denied requests by Ukraine to supply it with the Taurus. The German government has cited its concerns over Ukraine using the missile to strike targets deep inside Russia. The Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG were supplied to Kyiv on the understanding that they wouldn’t be used for such missions, though there have been reports that these restrictions might have been at least partially relaxed. The fact that Germany has decided it needs air-launched cruise missiles at this point may well also be another factor against Ukraine getting older Taurus KEPD 350 weapons. With a clear demand for weapons in this class, the current stocks of KEPD 350s are only likely to be retained longer, pending the introduction of the Taurus Neo. Of the original 600 Taurus KEPD 350s reported once in the German inventory, as many as half of these are said to be not ready for operational use after their certification expired. Stocks will also have been depleted over the years through examples being expended in tests or exercises, reducing the number that would be available to Ukraine. Should the German Ministry of Defense receive the funds it needs for the Taurus Neo program, it would ensure that the country’s air-launched long-range conventional strike capabilities keep pace with broader developments in air warfare. While it could allow the Taurus KEPD 350 to be phased out, along with the Tornado that carries it, it won’t necessarily see the older missiles approved for transfer to Ukraine, which is something that Berlin has stubbornly resisted so far. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post Germany Plans To Buy Advanced New Taurus Cruise Missiles: Report appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Air Forces, Around The Globe, Europe, Fighters, Germany, Luftwaffe, News & Features, Typhoon] [Link to media]

— Russians Helped Houthis Target International Shipping: Report

 

at 10/24/24 7:22pm

During its nine-month deployment to the Middle East, the USS Dwight D Eisenhower carrier strike group (IKECSG) fired off nearly 800 munitions fending off attacks on its ships and commercial vessels from the Houthis. Now a new report claims Russia gave the Yemeni rebel group targeting data in large measure to keep the U.S. entangled in the region and draw resources and attention away from Moscows grinding war in Ukraine. The Houthis began attacking shipping in October of 2023 in support of Gaza and “eventually began using Russian satellite data as they expanded their strikes,” The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The publication cited “a person familiar with the matter and two European defense officials.” The data “was passed through members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who were embedded with the Houthis in Yemen,” one of the people told the Journal. Breaking: Russia provided satellite targeting data for Houthi rebels as they attacked Western ships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones earlier this year https://t.co/hrUN8d8wNE— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 24, 2024 There is no indication in the Wall Street Journal’s report exactly when the data was supplied or if it contributed to any of the successful attacks on shipping. Regardless, the publication said it highlighted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s interest in undermining what the Pentagon keeps referring to as the U.S.-led rules-based order. Responding to discussions about the U.S. and allies allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with its donated weaponry, Putin threatened to send long-range weapons and military support to “regions” around the world where they could be used for strikes against Western targets. “For Russia, any flare-up anywhere is good news, because it takes the world’s attention further away from Ukraine,” Alexander Gabuev, director of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, a think tank based in Berlin, told WSJ. Houthi attacks on shipping sucked up a lot of U.S. and allied resources. In addition to the IKECSG’s ships and aircraft, several other American and allied sea and air assets took part in defending shipping. They swatted away missiles and drones and blew up uncrewed surface vessels. They also attacked Houthi targets in Yemen. As we reported last week, B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, along with other U.S. forces, conducted a strike on Houthi underground weapon storage sites in Yemen. Land-based aircraft and other assets also took part in the fight. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro disclosed at a Congressional hearing in April that his service alone had already expended at least $1 billion worth of munitions in operations against the Houthis since October 2023 and in the defense of Israel that month. The Navy was reported to have hit the 100 Standard Missiles fired mark by February of this year.  The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group expended 770 missiles and other munitions at Houthi targets over the course of its nine-month deployment. Capt. Chris “Chowdah” Hill/USN There were also two international task forces created to defend Red Sea region shipping. The U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, which The War Zone was the first to write about, was stood up last December. The European-led Operation Aspides launched two months later. Despite all these assets deployed to the region, the Houthis kept up their attacks. Since launching this campaign a year ago, the militants attacked more than 100 ships, sinking two, damaging others, and hijacking another, the Journal noted. The following video shows the November 2023 Houthi hijacking of the Bahamian-flagged Galaxy Leader. NEW VIDEO: Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijack a cargo ship in the Red Sea over the weekend pic.twitter.com/pkkUJpbe5c— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) November 20, 2023 Those attacks disrupted global shipping, forcing companies to shift from passing through the Suez Canal to taking much longer, and more expensive routes around the Cape of Good Hope on the southern tip of Africa. “Almost 1-in-10 barrels of oil shipped every day worldwide transit through Bab al-Mandab, the strait that separates the Red Sea from the Indian Ocean,” the Journal noted. “The tanker traffic through that route was 77% lower in August 2024 compared with October 2023, according to Windward, a maritime-intelligence company.” Russian oil tankers have been hit by the Houthis as well, but they are part of a ghost fleet created to circumvent international sanctions. Concerns about Russian assistance to the Houthis go beyond providing targeting data. The U.S. has been worried that Russia could further exacerbate the situation by providing the Houthis with its anti-ship or anti-air missiles as well as other weapons. Those arms could hinder efforts to protect shipping and place U.S. and allied forces at greater risk. However, there is no evidence that such transactions have occurred. Such a move would provide a huge boost to the large arsenal of anti-ship missiles already possessed by the Houthis, who became the first in the world to fire anti-ship ballistic missiles in anger. In addition to helping the Houthis, Russia may also be aiding Hezbollah in its fight against Israel. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israeli forces had found “state-of-the-art” Russian weapons in searches of Hezbollah bases in south Lebanon. However, those weapons could also have been transferred by Iran or obtained by other means. Some of those weapons are on display in the following video. The Israeli army has found unimaginable quantities of Russian and Iranian weapons in the possession of Hezbollah.Moscow and Tehran support the terrorists of this world.Source: Amir Tsarfati. pic.twitter.com/KKSBWZpMyE— Jürgen Nauditt (@jurgen_nauditt) October 10, 2024 That Russia would help the Houthis strike warships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea to divert resources and international attention away from its Ukraine fight further highlights how closely the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East are intertwined. We reached out to the National Security Council and the Pentagon for comment about the claim that Russia provided the Houthis with targeting data and if so, what they might do in response. We will update this story with any pertinent information provided. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post Russians Helped Houthis Target International Shipping: Report appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Around The Globe, Europe, Iran, Israel, Middle East, News & Features, Red Sea, Russia, Ukraine] [Link to media]

— Marines Testing Counter-Drone Rifle Aiming System With Automatically Moving Stock

 

at 10/24/24 6:57pm

The U.S. Marines are testing a system for standard service rifles that automatically fine-tunes the point of aim with the help of a powered buttstock as a new option to help shoot down drones. The service is in the midst of a broad push to acquire new capabilities to help every Marine better protect themselves from ever-growing uncrewed aerial threats. The 3rd Marine Division in Hawaii released pictures today from a live-fire demonstration of a 5.56x45mm M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) equipped with the ZeroMark Fire Control System (FCS). ZeroMark is a New York-based startup that was founded in 2022 and that says it has deep roots in Israel. The company announced a new infusion of $7 million in venture capital funding to support the ongoing development of its counter-drone FCS back in May. A Marine fires an M27 IAR equipped with the ZeroMark FCS during a recent live-fire demonstration in Hawaii. USMC The ZeroMark FCS is an AI [artificial intelligence]-powered tool that enhances aim accuracy and counter-drone capabilities, providing Marines with a portable, real-time threat detection and response tool, a caption for one of the pictures from the 3rd Marine Division says. C-UAS in soldiers’ hands.AI-powered accuracy.It’s coming. pic.twitter.com/hh38ON9Lfa— ZeroMark (@zeromarkinc) November 16, 2023 ZeroMarks system is not the first automated small arms targeting system the Marines have looked into in recent years with a particular eye toward helping engage drones. The service has also at least been evaluating SMASH 2000-series computerized optical sights from Israeli firm Smart Shooter. SMASH-series sights have the ability to detect and lock onto targets of interest, even ones on the move, and calculate an optimal aim point for the shooter. Depending on how the system is configured on a particular gun, it can even prevent the trigger from being pulled until the weapon is properly aimed at the target. The targeting system in ZeroMarks FCS is similar, in some very broad strokes, to that of the SMASH family. It uses an array of sensors, including electro-optical cameras and LIDAR, coupled with machine vision and advanced software algorithms, to acquire targets, according to the company. Where ZeroMarks offering differs most substantially is in its motorized articulating buttstock, which uses the data from the sensors to help physically move the guns point of aim. This, in turn, helps the shooter engage the target with greater precision and speed. Screen captures from a ZeroMark promotional video seen earlier in this story showing how the buttstock is designed to articulate vertically (for evaluation) and laterally (for windage). ZeroMark captures “[The mechanized buttstock] doesn’t move the soldier’s arm, it creates a virtual pivot between shoulder pad and handheld positions that creates angular change of the bore axis (ultimately where the gun’s pointed),” ZeroMark CEO Joel Anderson said in an interview earlier this year, according to TechCrunch. The control systems for it are modeled to compensate for all the human factors (proprioception, noise, movement, torque, etc.) as well as the drone’s movement. So if you point in the general direction of the drone such that you’d be in the vicinity of a drone, the system does the rest.”  Zeromark says it is also easy to install and uninstall as required on a wide variety of different rifle types. A promotional video seen earlier in this story shows prototypes or mock-ups of the system installed on rifles in the AK-47/AKM, AR-15/M16, and Tavor families, as seen below. ZeroMark captures Overall, ZeroMark says its FCS makes hitting a small drone at 200 yards as easy as hitting a 60-foot-diameter circle at the same range, per TechCrunch. At least for now, the company has said work on its targeting system is focused on the counter-drone role, but has acknowledged that its system could be adapted for use against a wider array of target types in the future. The Marine Corps interest in new ways to neutralize drones that it can add to its existing rifles and other small arms is certainly no secret. The Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) put out a broad request for information (RFI) back in July that included a call for proposals for a rifle / rifle optic capable of tracking and defeating small UAS [uncrewed aerial systems],” as well as rifle-mounted electronic warfare jammers, specialized ammunition types, and other counter-small UAS (CsUAS) capabilities. “The Joint CsUAS Office (JCO) has identified dismounted CsUAS capabilities as a vulnerability to the joint force. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) identified the need for dismounted CsUAS throughout multiple experiments,” the RFI explained. “Additionally, Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group (TTECG), Infantry Officer Course (IOC), both Schools of Infantry (SOI), and other units continue to fly threat UAS against Marine units during field exercises and training events. Each experiment and training exercise shows Marines are vulnerable to threat UAS and require the ability to defend themselves from the threat.” A US Marine with a standard M27 IAR. USMC This followed the Corps unveiling a three-tier plan to improve the ability of units at all levels to shield themselves from drones earlier this year. “The threat is evolving in real time,” Lt. Col. Robert Barclay, the Marines’ ground-based air defense advisor for aviation expeditionary enablers, said at the Modern Day Marine expo in May. “We were playing a cat-and-mouse game a lot of times, and that quite frankly gets a little cumbersome, and you don’t want to be behind the power curve.” The threat posed by various tiers of uncrewed aerial systems, including highly maneuverable first-person view (FPV) types turned into kamikaze drones and other weaponized commercial designs capable of dropping small improvised munitions, is not new. This is something The War Zone routinely highlights and the threat ecosystem looks to be on the verge of taking another major step forward thanks in large part to advances in artificial intelligence. The ongoing war in Ukraine, where both sides employ FPV and other drone types on a daily basis, has been especially central to finally thrusting the reality of drone threats into the mainstream consciousness. A global explosion of demand for counter-drone capabilities, including ones that individual personnel can carry, has followed. Reposting this video showing a Russian T-80BVM tank with a roof screen and deploying smoke surviving multiple FPV hits and misses.https://t.co/nS5v1Vx15F https://t.co/YpwuUrelOT pic.twitter.com/A6ethi6l0O— Rob Lee (@RALee85) December 13, 2023 Ukrainian drone operators located a concentration of Russian hardware inside a large warehouse somewhere in the south of Ukraine, preparing for an assault.The very skilled drone operators sent in several drones and eliminated several MBTs, IFVs, trucks and more. In the end, the… pic.twitter.com/jgcqibiJRD— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) February 20, 2024 TechCrunch reported in May that ZeroMark was in talks to send its FCSs to Ukraine, as well as to demonstrate them to unspecified elements of the U.S. military. Whether Marines or any other part of the U.S. armed forces ultimately adopts ZeroMarks FCS remains to be seen, but capabilities to help individual shooters engage drones and other targets faster and more accurately are increasingly becoming a top prioritiy. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post Marines Testing Counter-Drone Rifle Aiming System With Automatically Moving Stock appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Assault Rifles, Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS), Land, Sea, Small Arms, U.S. Marine Corps] [Link to media]

— U.S. Pushes Back On Claim Israel Delaying Iran Attack Over Document Leak

 

at 10/24/24 12:32pm

The U.S. is pushing back against a claim made by The Times of London that Israel is delaying its expected retaliation strike against Iran because of the leak of a U.S. assessment of its war plans. We have no indication that Israel is delaying any action because of the document leak, a U.S. official told The War Zone Thursday morning. Would steer you away from that. Top secret documents leaked from the U.S. National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) appeared last week on a pro-Iranian Telegram channel. They offered details about Israel’s advanced preparations for a large-scale strike in retaliation for the Oct. 1 Iranian missile barrage. The U.S. has not disputed their authenticity. It is possible Iran has obtained other documents not yet disclosed and it could signify a longer-term leak of information that remains unquantified, at least publicly. “The leak of the American documents delayed the attack due to the need to change certain strategies and components,” an intelligence source with knowledge of Israeli deliberations told The Times of London. “There will be a retaliation, but it has taken longer than it was supposed to take.” Many factors can play into a military operations timeline, especially an unprecedented one that would be highly complex and stretch Israels long-range strike abilities. More basic elements are also important, including weather and moon states that are favorable to the operation and NEW: Israel has delayed its retaliatory strike against Iran because of a leak last week of potentially sensitive military information from the US https://t.co/rJjgO0ED4w— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) October 24, 2024 Israel “is concerned the leak could help Iran predict certain patterns of attack,” according to the publication. “It has been forced to develop an alternative plan, one that requires detailed war gaming before any order is given, The Times understands.” The Netanyahu government has told the U.S. it wont strike Irans nuclear facilities or oil infrastructure, the Washington Post reported. Instead, it will likely strike military targets. The Biden administration is working feverishly to tamp down tensions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Israels retaliation should not lead to greater escalation. Unlike the last rounds of attacks the two nations carried out against each other, an Israeli strike against Iran is likely to receive a quick response, setting off what could be a prolonged direct conflict between the long-time enemies. The video below shows Iranian missiles launching against Israel on Oct. 1. #BREAKING: Video reportedly showing Iranian ballistic missile launches near Tabriz in Iran pic.twitter.com/Gfj2uieXmi— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) October 1, 2024 Meanwhile, Israel is continuing its fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Israeli aircraft pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs with strikes overnight, and six buildings were destroyed in the Laylaki neighborhood, The Washington Post reported, citing Lebanese state media. The IDF said it conducted intelligence-based strikes on several weapons storage and manufacturing facilities belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the area of Dahieh, a key Hezbollah terrorist stronghold in Beirut. Israel bombed several Hezbollah arms factories as it targeted the terror group’s south Beirut stronghold in an overnight barrage.Read more https://t.co/bczXcEchqD pic.twitter.com/hS9aaqdwW5— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 24, 2024 The IDF also claims to have found weapons, ammunition, and food supplies in a tunnel and several underground storage facilities during recent raids in southern Lebanon. In one raid, the troops discovered an underground hideout intended to be used by Radwan Forces terrorists in their plan Conquer the Galilee, the IDF stated on Telegram. In the hideout, the troops located bunk beds, storage cabinets, food supplies, infrastructure for long-term stay, a large amount of equipment, weapons, and launch positions left behind by the terrorists. Israeli troops located four enemy weapons storage facilities, some of which were placed in civilian homes, the IDF said. The storage facilities contained a large number of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, ammunition, rockets, mortars, shoulder-fired missiles, RPGs, and advanced anti-tank missiles. All of the weapons were confiscated. In addition, a tunnel was found inside a civilian house, which served as a weapons storage facility in a village in southern Lebanon, the IDF claimed on Telegram. The troops located numerous weapons, terrorist infrastructure, and equipment intended to allow the terrorists to remain there for a long time. At the beginning of the recent targeted raids, the underground tunnel and enemy compounds were dismantled by the brigade and divisional engineering forces. Elsewhere in southern Lebanon, the soldiers raided military structures, including a hotel that served as cover for Hezbollahs terrorist infrastructure, the IDF stated. Inside, a weapons storage facility was found and dismantled, containing hundreds of anti-tank missile launcher positions and missiles that had been used to launch attacks on Galilee communities in recent months. UNCOVERED: Underground hideout belonging to the Radwan Forces for their “Conquer the Galilee” plan. In the hideout, IDF troops located bunk beds, storage cabinets, food supplies, infrastructure for long-term stay, a large amount of equipment, weapons and launch positions.… pic.twitter.com/cI87i0cPgm— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 24, 2024 A video released by the IDF purports to show a Hezbollah fighter being killed in an airstrike while recovering a surveillance drone that had been launched at Israel. Approximately 50 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory, the IDF claimed. Some of the projectiles were intercepted and fallen projectiles were identified. A member of Hezbollahs drone unit was killed in an IDF strike in southern Lebanon earlier today, the military says.The IDF says it identified the operative collecting a surveillance drone that had been launched at Israel. A short while later he was targeted in a drone strike.… pic.twitter.com/MU8Kw0IrJk— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 24, 2024 The war in Gaza that started with the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion into southern Israel rages on, but efforts continue to create a cease-fire. More than 1,200 Israelis were killed in that attack and more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israels massive military response. Blinken said Israel had accomplished its objective of “effectively dismantling” Hamas, and that negotiations over a cease-fire and the release of dozens of Israeli hostages would resume in the coming days, The Associated Press reported.  Speaking to reporters in Qatar, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, Bliken said negotiators would reconvene “in the coming days,” AP reported. “What we really have to determine is whether Hamas is prepared to engage,” he said on his 11th visit to the region since the start of the war. The U.S. hopes to renew the negotiations after Israeli forces killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza last week, but neither side has shown any sign of moderating its demands from months of negotiations that sputtered to a halt over the summer, the wire service stated. Blinken also announced an additional $135 million in U.S. aid to the Palestinians, while again urging Israel to allow more assistance to enter the territory. BREAKING: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced another $135 million in aid to the Palestinians. He said it is critical that aid enters Gaza. https://t.co/UIv17zSZ4A— The Associated Press (@AP) October 24, 2024 As Blinken was delivering that message, Israel struck a school where displaced people were sheltering in the central Gaza Strip. The attack “killed at least 17 people on Thursday, nearly all women and children,” the AP reported, citing Palestinian medical officials. “Another 42 people were wounded in the strike in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp,” the AP added, citing the Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. “Among the dead were 13 children under the age of 18 and three women, according to the hospital’s records. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted a strike on Hamas terrorists who were operating inside a command and control center in the area of Nuseirat, the IDF claimed on Telegram without offering proof. The command and control center, which was embedded inside a compound that previously served as the Shuhada al-Nuseirat School, was used by the terrorists to plan and execute terrorist attacks against IDF troops and the State of Israel. A boy walks with a notebook through debris and rubble in the balcony corridor of the Shuhada (Martyrs) school, which was hit by Israeli bombardment, in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on October 24, 2024 amid the ongoing war in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP) EYAD BABA BREAKING: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced another $135 million in aid to the Palestinians. He said it is critical that aid enters Gaza. https://t.co/UIv17zSZ4A— The Associated Press (@AP) October 24, 2024 Al Jazeera said it conducted an investigation showing the extent to which the U.S. and U.K. have gone in support of Israel. The news outlet said an analysis of open-source flight tracking data showed over 6,000 military flights in a year, with hundreds transporting arms to Israel. Israel conducted only 20% of the 1,600 reconnaissance flights, while the U.K. was responsible for nearly half using Shadow R1 surveillance aircraft. The U.K. also provided targeting data during 645 flights. More than 1,200 military cargo flights made up the airlift over a year several bases in Europe were used with hundreds of flights from each from the UK, Germany, Italy, Cyprus and Greece, Al Jazeera claimed. It is this air bridge, together with a vast number of surveillance flights and air-to-air refueling that has sustained Israels brutal war on Gaza and how to expand its operations into southern Lebanon. The U.K. MoD said it is not participating in the Israel-Hamas war. Our mandate is narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only, including British nationals, with the RAF routinely conducting unarmed flights since December 2023 for this sole purpose, the MoD told us in a statement. “As a matter of principle, we only provide intelligence to our allies where we are satisfied that it will be used in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, and in this instance only information relating to hostage rescue is passed to the Israeli authorities.” The surveillance flights in question only operate over Israel, Gaza and in international airspace and all data collected is solely used to support hostage rescue, according to the MoD.  No RAF flights have transported lethal cargo to the Israeli Defence Forces. We will not comment further on detailed intelligence matters to protect operational security.  We also reached out to the Pentagon and are awaiting a reply. We will update this story with any pertinent information provided. An Al Jazeera investigation has revealed that the US and UK have provided military support to Israel by creating an air bridge that was vital to sustain the intensity of the war on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/FaXctjRVGu— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 24, 2024 The IDF, meanwhile disclosed intelligence information and numerous documents found in the Gaza Strip confirming the military affiliation of six Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza with Hamas and the (Palestinian) Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organizations. The documents include personnel tables, lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories, and salary documents for terrorists, the IDF claimed on Telegram. These provide unequivocal proof that these individuals serve as military operatives for the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. They serve as proof of the integration of Hamas terrorists within the Qatari Al Jazeera media network, the IDF added. Most of the journalists that the IDF has exposed as operatives in Hamass military wing spearhead the propaganda for Hamas at Al Jazeera, especially in the northern Gaza Strip. The War Zone cannot independently verify the veracity of those documents. Al Jazeera has strongly rejected a claim by the Israeli military that six of its journalists based in Gaza are members of the Palestinian groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the network said in response to the allegations. The media network on Wednesday vehemently condemned the unfounded allegations by the Israeli army, which in a post on X described some of the named Al Jazeera Arabic correspondents as operatives working for Hamas’s armed wing to promote the group’s propaganda in the besieged and bombarded enclave. Hamas directs Al Jazeeras media coverage to serve its own interests, preventing the public in Gaza and around the world from discovering the truth about its crimes against Gazan civilians.Think twice before using Al Jazeera as a “reliable” source. pic.twitter.com/F28FoY4V8W— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 24, 2024 Thats it for now. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post U.S. Pushes Back On Claim Israel Delaying Iran Attack Over Document Leak appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Around The Globe, Iran, Israel, Middle East] [Link to media]

— B-21 Raider Fleet Size Under Review

 

at 10/24/24 11:09am

The expected size of the U.S. Air Forces B-21 Raider fleet could change as part of an ongoing force structure review, according to the bombers manufacturer Northrop Grumman. The company is also expecting to get another B-21 low-rate production contract by the end of the year, which follows steadily progressing ground and flight testing work. Kathy Warden, Northrop Grummans CEO, talked about the present state of the B-21 program and her companys expectations for the future during a quarterly earnings call earlier today. The Air Forces publicly stated plan has long been to buy at least 100 Raiders, but there have been discussions for years now about the possibility of the service acquiring significantly more of the bombers. I think thats exactly what the Air Force is looking at, Warden said. They are undertaking a force structure design review and the Secretary [of the Air Force Frank Kendall] has been open about looking at the various options they have for increasing their force size, and has talked specifically about NGAD, and we know that B-21 is in the mix, as well. Warden was responding to a question about how any fallout from the Air Forces reassessment of its plans for a new crewed sixth-generation stealth fighter as part of the larger Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative might impact the B-21 and other programs. The NGAD combat jet efforts future is now very uncertain amid a deep re-examination of what the aircraft might be expected to do as a part of efforts to drive down costs, as you can read more about here. Broader concerns about the outlook for U.S. defense budgets in the coming years, as well as increasing costs for other top-priority efforts, especially the ballooning price of the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program, have also factored into the NGAD review. Northrop Grumman notably voluntarily withdrew from the competition to develop the NGAD combat jet, at least as a prime contractor, last year. A rendering of various existing advanced Northrop Grumman aircraft designs and future concepts, including a notional crewed stealth combat aircraft at left. Northrop Grumman It would be premature for me to suggest where that force structure review will end up, Warden added during the call today. I do think in the coming months, we may get a better indication from the Air Force as to how theyre thinking about B-21 quantities in the long run. The War Zone has reached out to the Air Force for more information. New questions about the Air Forces expected B-21 fleet size had already emerged earlier this year. Gen. David Allvin, the services Chief of Staff, caused a stir at a Congressional hearing in April when he declined to commit to buying more than 100 Raiders and talked about his service already looking to future capabilities to augment the bombers. A key known requirement for the B-21 already is the ability to operate in a pilot-optional mode. “It [the B-21] certainly is the future of our bomber force. … 100 is the program of record,” Allvin said at the time. “I think we’re not going to reach that number until probably the mid-2030s and beyond. And before we commit to that as being the platform beyond that, I think there are other technological advancements that we would see to be able to augment that and have a better mix.” The War Zone has previously explored in detail how the Air Force looking beyond the B-21 now makes good sense. The air combat realities that the entire U.S. military has to contend with continue to rapidly evolve, especially when it comes to future planning around a potential high-end fight, such as one in the Pacific against China. Advances in the uncrewed aviation and artificial and machine learning sectors are particularly significant factors in these broader developments. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Case, Northrop Grumman It is worth noting here that there is the potential that a review of the B-21 force structure plans, especially in relation to what could happen with the NGAD combat jet, might actually lead to an increase in Raider acquisitions. The possibility of B-21s, or a variant or derivative of that design, supporting NGAD-related air dominance missions is something The War Zone and Air Force officials have raised in the past. In the short run, we may remain very focused on delivering them optionality, the performance that we are delivering gives them a capability that is in production now that is well below the cost targets for the platform, and we believe that thats the role of industry to get the government options as they think about their force structure, Northrop Grummans Warden also said during todays earnings call. Northrop Grumman has delivered at least one of six pre-production B-21s and has begun work on the first low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot of Raiders. The company is expecting to get a contract for the second LRIP lot in the fourth quarter of 2024. We have no change to pricing, Warden said today. We are continuing to perform in alignment with the plan that we have laid out for the B-21 and Im very proud of that team. Its quite a remarkable accomplishment. In January, Northrop Grumman had disclosed a loss of nearly $1.2 billion on the B-21 program and its expectation that it would take a financial hit on each of the first five LRIP lots. “Macroeconomic disruptions,” which could include higher-than-expected inflation and other broader economic factors, were cited as the cause of the losses. Though the exact current estimated unit cost of the Raider is unknown, Northrop Grumman continues to say it is under the Air Forces target of $550 million in Fiscal Year 2010 dollars, or around $793 million when adjusted for inflation. The first pre-production B-21 landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California after a flight test. USAF The B-21 program has also made solid progress in achieving ground and flight testing milestones on the development contract, and is continuing to execute the aircraft production contract in line with our estimates, Warden added today. Northrop Grumman and the Air Force had already provided a substantial update on B-21 testing activities, including work using two non-flying ground test articles, around the Air & Space Forces Associations main annual conference back in September. Officials at that time highlighted how the tempo of flight testing using the initial pre-production Raider had increased to two flights per week. The Air Forces publicly stated goal remains to begin fielding B-21s operationally before 2030, with Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota slated to be the first base to host combat-coded Raider squadrons. Additional B-21 squadrons are set to be based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, the current home of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet, and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. There are now new questions about exactly what the full B-21 force layout might look like, even as testing and initial production of the bombers are expanding. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post B-21 Raider Fleet Size Under Review appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Air Forces, B-21, Bombers, Stealth, U.S. Air Force] [Link to media]

— Poland’s F-16s Cleared For Major Upgrades

 

at 10/24/24 10:56am

Poland has taken the next step in the modernization of its air force, with U.S. approval given for a major upgrade of its fleet of F-16 fighters. The program will bring the jets to the F-16V standard and also suggests new weapons may be introduced, too. The Viper Midlife Upgrade is announced as Poland awaits F-35s and considers buying F-15EXs, while making significant investments in its armed forces across the board, to meet the threat from Russia. As is typically the case for major U.S. arms sales, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the State Department’s approval of the F-16 package for Poland yesterday. Poland’s Viper Midlife Upgrade would be valued at around $7.3 billion. Under the proposed deal, the full fleet of 48 Polish Air Force F-16C/D Block 52+ jets would be upgraded, receiving a considerable boost in capabilities. A Polish Air Force F-16C with conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) fitted. Polish Air Force Polish Armed Forces/Piotr Łysakowski It is important to stress that approved foreign arms sales announced through DSCA are not final and are subject to change, including as a result of negotiations between the country in question and relevant defense contractors. Nevertheless, at the center of the upgrade is the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 active Scalable Agile Beam Radars (SABR), an electronically scanned array (AESA) radar which you can read more about in detail here. A Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 SABR radar installed on an F-16. U.S. Air Force USAF / Bobbi Zapka This will be combined with a new Modular Mission Computer as well as a Next Generation Mission Computer or equivalent. The pilots will be provided with Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS II), an upgraded and improved version of the original JHMCS that Poland already uses. Other avionics include Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), AN/APX-126/127 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) with combined interrogator/transponder, and AN/ARC-238 radios (or equivalent). In terms of self-protection equipment, the upgraded F-16s would be fitted with either the AN/ALQ-254V(1) Viper Shield or AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS), which aligns with reports earlier this year that Northrop Grumman and L3Harris were facing off to provide the central electronic warfare component of an expected upgrade package for the Polish jets. Other self-protection gear outlined by the DCSA announcement comprises Passive Airborne Warning System (PAWS-2) missile warning systems and AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispensers. The offensive weapons outlined in the package are all test and training versions and comprise three AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) captive-carry flight test vehicles, three GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) guided test vehicles, eight SDB II captive-carry reliability trainers, and two GBU-39(T-1)/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) guided test vehicles. Notably, neither the GBU-39/B nor the GBU-53/B, the latter of which is also known as the StormBreaker, are currently in the Polish arsenal. There are also two AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder special air training missiles and two AIM-9X captive air training missiles. A U.S. Air Force F-16D carrying a load of StormBreakers during a test. Raytheon F-16D carrying a load of StormBreakers during a test. (Raytheon) With no operational weaponry included so far, these stores will be used for developmental test of the F-16V for Poland. They provide a fairly good indication of some of the munitions that are likely to be procured by the Polish Air Force in the future. The DSCA statement on the approved sale also references MS-110 reconnaissance pods, although the number is not disclosed. Polish F-16s already fly with the dual-band DB-110 tactical reconnaissance pod, the precursor to the current MS-110, which adds a multi-spectral imaging (MSI) capability. “The F-16 Viper mid-life upgrade will bolster Poland’s air defense and surveillance capabilities, support national security, and strengthen Poland’s defense and contributions to NATO,” the DSCA states. No timelines for Poland’s potential Viper Midlife Upgrade were announced. Upgrading the F-16 — known locally as the Jastrzab, or Hawk — makes a lot of sense for Poland, with the 48 examples (36 single-seat F-16Cs and 12 two-seat F-16Ds) set to be Poland’s most important combat aircraft for some time to come. These fighters currently serve with three squadrons, two of them based in Poznan-Krzesiny and one at Łask. These aircraft are already highly capable and among the most potent F-16s of any NATO operator. A Polish F-16 preparing for a night flight at Trapani Air Base, Italy, during the Trident Juncture 15 exercise. Antonio Valentino/Wikimedia Commons OR9 Antonio VALENTINO_ITA_AF_50th Wing Piacenza The jets can be configured with conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) and are armed with AIM-120C-5/7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and AIM-9X Sidewinder that can be fired off-boresight using the JHMCS. Current offensive stores include the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile, AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), and AGM-158A/B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), as well as Paveway laser-guided bombs, and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). The aircraft are fitted with Sniper targeting pods. Once upgraded, Poland’s F-16s will remain highly viable until the F-35s become fully operationally capable and will be able to fight alongside those jets after. Furthermore, as has been pointed out in the past, the F-16V upgrade should also help the Polish Air Force integrate the F-35, with some significant commonality in terms of avionics, especially the radars. The urgency of keeping the Polish fighter force at the top of its game — through new acquisitions and modernization programs — has been driven by the changing security situation in Eastern Europe, especially since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This has accelerated plans to replace Poland’s Cold War-era fleet of Soviet-made MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-22 Fitter combat aircraft. A pair of Polish MIG-29s take part in a NATO exercise at Łask Air Base, Poland, in October 2022. Photo by Omar Marques/Getty Images Omar Marques Today, just 14 MiG-29s remain in service, after the transfer of a similar number to Ukraine in 2023, to restock its Fulcrum fleet that has been ravaged during the war with Russia. Poland is expected to retire its last MiG-29s in 2027. Meanwhile, the last of the aging Su-22 Fitter swing-wing ground-attack/strike aircraft are now scheduled for withdrawal next year. The new security situation has also led to Poland considering the possibility of arming its future F-35s with U.S. B61-12 thermonuclear bombs in the future, as you can read about here. Outfitting F-16s with these weapons also remains a possibility, although the stealth fighter offers many more advantages in the nuclear strike role. Poland will start to receive its new fifth-generation fighters soon. The first F-35A from an order for 32 was officially rolled out in August in a ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas plant. The first pair of F-35s — locally named Husarz, or Hussar — are scheduled to be delivered in December. Poland’s first F-35A was officially rolled out on August 28 in a ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas plant. Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin There is also the possibility that Poland might further increase its fighter inventory, adding another new type in the shape of the F-15EX, the latest version of the Eagle. Boeing made an announcement about its pitch to sell an unspecified number of F-15EXs to Poland in September last year, as we wrote about at the time. As we noted then, even a relatively small F-15EX buy could be very useful for Poland, providing a platform with some niche capabilities that the F-16 and the F-35 can’t necessarily provide. In particular, the Eagle II offers significantly greater range and payload capacity that could be particularly useful for Poland when it comes to protecting the country’s airspace, where stealth would not necessarily be as critical, and increasing its capacity to conduct standoff strikes against surface targets. The ability to carry future hypersonic weapons could also be attractive as Poland seeks to further develop its long-range strike capabilities. A U.S. Air Force F-15EX armed with 12 AIM-120 AMRAAMs. U.S. Air Force SSgt. Blake Wiles Poland has also recently introduced yet another warplane, the South Korea-made FA-50 light combat aircraft. In July last year, Warsaw signed an agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to buy 48 FA-50s, as part of a huge arms transfer from South Korea to Poland. The jets are being rapidly delivered to backfill combat aircraft numbers after the transfer of 14 MiG-29s to Ukraine and the forthcoming retirement of the Su-22. To speed up the deliveries, Poland is receiving the FA-50s in two discrete configurations. The first 12 FA-50s, in Block 10 standard, were delivered to Poland in mid-2023. The next batch of 36 aircraft will be in the more advanced Block 20 configuration, including active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, Sniper targeting pod, Link 16 datalink, and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. Deliveries of the Block 20 aircraft are due to begin next year. Recently, there has been some criticism of the FA-50 buy and, especially, the lack of certain weapons for these aircraft. Mariusz Blaszczak, Poland’s Minister of National Defense during the presentation of the first FA-50 for the Poland, at Minsk Mazowiecki Air Base, Poland, on August 21, 2023. Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images NurPhoto NurPhoto In a parliamentary speech last month, Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defense Cezary Tomczyk derided the FA-50s as “a training-combat aircraft that is for training but not for combat.” The main point of concern is the integration of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, which were expected for the Block 20 version, but which KAI now says could take much longer — if it’s even feasible. “[AMRAAM integration] requires U.S. approval,” Chongho Yoon, the vice president of KAI, told Defense24.com. “A feasibility study is underway; all is to happen in three to four years. Technically this is doable, but other areas need to be addressed. KAI is currently working on such research and the matter is to be clarified in two to three years.” Whether or not the FA-50s eventually receive AMRAAM, they will at least benefit from being compatible with other weapons used by the F-16. Should Poland buy more weapons for its upgraded Vipers, these could also be used to arm the FA-50 fleet. Polish F-16s with Sniper pods on their engine intakes. Photo by RADOSLAW JOZWIAK/AFP via Getty Images RADOSLAW JOZWIAK As well as new combat aircraft, Poland is also investing in its broader air defense architecture, notably receiving U.S. approval to purchase elements of a new airborne early warning system based on an aerostat — a type of uncrewed tethered airship. You can read more about that intriguing project, which has parallels with the canceled American system known as JLENS, in this previous article. While not unexpected, the announcement of the proposed Viper upgrade for Poland is yet more evidence of the country’s efforts to strengthen its air force as it seeks to provide a more effective deterrent to possible Russian aggression as well as a more capable bulwark should Moscow make a move against Poland or another NATO state in the region, something that officials are increasingly concerned about. This military expansion is reflected across the Polish Armed Forces and has been aided by a hike in defense expenditure, with Warsaw now spending 4.23 percent of its GDP on its armed forces, more than double the NATO target of two percent. While the forthcoming F-35 fleet will be the spearhead of one of the most capable European air forces, upgraded F-16s will be a further expression of its military modernization. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post Poland’s F-16s Cleared For Major Upgrades appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Air Force Munitions, Air Forces, Air-To-Air, F-16, F-35, F-35A, Fighters, Polish Air Force] [Link to media]

— French Mirage 2000s Destined For Ukraine Will Fly With Storm Shadow, MICA Missiles

 

at 10/23/24 2:56pm

France announced it will deliver three of its Dassault Mirage 2000 multi-role aircraft to Ukraine in the first half of 2025, according to the Ukrainian Defense Post news outlet, citing French media. It is the first tranche of an undisclosed number of the jets France said it will give to Ukraine. “The Mirage 2000s that will be delivered to Ukraine will be equipped with new equipment, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said in an interview with Bordeaux-based news agency Sud Ouest,” Defense Post reported. “This transformation operation will take place at the Cazaux base in Gironde. The aim is to equip them with air-to-ground combat capabilities and strengthen their electronic warfare system.” Three French Mirage 2000 fighters are scheduled to arrive in Ukraine by next March. (Photo by ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images) As we suggested back in June, its now confirmed that the jets will be armed with versions of the MICA beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, as well as the stealthy SCALP-EG cruise missile and the Hammer rocket-assisted precision-guided bomb, according to the French La Tribune news outlet. This is in addition to their 30mm cannons. “But the most important thing is the training of pilots and mechanics, which is continuing in Nancy,” Lecornu added. An unknown number of Mirage 2000s are being upgraded right now for Ukraine, which will also include enhancements to their electronic warfare suite. Earlier this month, we reported that France announced details of its plans to put surplus Mirage fighters into Ukrainian hands. The delta-winged jet is set to become the second Western-made fighter to be provided to Kyiv, following the F-16, the first of which arrived in Ukraine this summer. The Latest On the battlefield, Russian troops have recently made limited advances in Kursk and eastern Ukraine, but the two sides are largely logged in a stalemate across much of the 800-mile front lines, according to the latest assessment from the Institute for the Study of War (IWS). Kursk:  Russian forces recently advanced in the northern part of Ukraine’s salient. “Geolocated footage published on October 21 indicates that Russian forces advanced in fields south of Sheptukhovka (southeast of Korenevo) during two platoon-sized mechanized assaults,” ISW stated. Kharkiv: Russian forces continued limited offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast on October 22 but did not make any confirmed advances. Luhansk: Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on October 22, but did not make any confirmed advances.  Donetsk: Russian forces recently advanced east of Kurakhove and southwest of Donetsk City near Vuhledar. However, there were no changes to the front lines near Pokrovsk, southeast of Siversk, or near Chasiv Yar and Toretsk. Zaporizhzhia: Russian forces continued assaults northeast of Robotyne near Mala Tokmachka on October 21 and 22, but there were no confirmed advances. Kherson: Russian forces continued attacks on the eastern bank of the Dnipro RIvert on October 21 but did not make any confirmed advances. NEW: Ukrainian forces conducted a series of drone strikes on the night of October 21 to 22 targeting distilleries in Russia that reportedly manufacture products for the Russian military. (1/7) pic.twitter.com/c119ZB51HH— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) October 22, 2024 Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told us that thousands of North Korean troops are in Russia, including about 2,600 headed to defend the Kursk region with some due there today. However, they are reportedly not the only foreigners fighting in Kursk on behalf of Russia, according to Ukrainian troops. “Ghanaian and Nigerian people who came to Russia for a long ruble have already laid down in the soil of Kursk oblast,” the Ukrainian Khorne Group military unit claimed on Telegram Wednesday. “And now it is the turn of Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka is not only tea and elephants. It is also mercenaries, who are not allowed by their religion to kill a cockroach at home, but they are allowed to kill Ukrainians for a small price.” Various documents of foreign mercenaries found in the Kursk region even include soldiers from Sri Lanka. Its no surprise that the Russians need help in the form of North Koreans.https://t.co/hy0FbiXy2N pic.twitter.com/cPsBFLewHE— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 23, 2024 Speaking of Budanov, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed rumors on Friday that he was going to sack the GUR leader as well as Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. “I wasn’t going to do that,” Zelensky said, according to the Ukrainian RBC news outlet. “I wasnt going to change Budanov. This information went, yes. There was no such issue for Umerov either.” Zelensky was reacting to several stories and social media postings suggesting that both Budanov and Umerov would be replaced in a major shakeup of his military leadership. President Zelensky dismissed rumors of replacing key defense officials. He confirmed there are no plans to remove Chief of Defense Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov or Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. "I am not planning to change Budanov, and no such question arose with Umerov,"… pic.twitter.com/zQZUCwvii8— NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) October 22, 2024 As part of the effort to prepare Ukraines pilots to fly donated F-16 Vipers, U.K.s Royal Air Force (RAF) recently graduated a new group of them from its Elementary Flying Training, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (MoD) said on Twitter. The next step is advanced fast jet training & conversion to F-16 with partner nations. A new group of Ukrainian pilots has graduated from RAF Elementary Flying Training.The next step is advanced fast jet training & conversion to F-16 with partner nations.A heartfelt thank you to the United Kingdom for their unwavering support! @RoyalAirForce pic.twitter.com/B13QiT1jJF— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) October 23, 2024 The Pentagon said on Tuesday that $800 million in funding for long-range drones Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talked about on Monday is coming from a pool of money known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) announced last month. The announcement contained one sentence stating that the funding tranche included “Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and components to support Ukrainian production of UAS.” USAI funds are designed to procure war materiel from manufacturers. President Zelenskyi said that soon Ukraine will receive a package from the USA worth $800 million for the production of drones. pic.twitter.com/UOLjE7oaVc— MilitaryNewsUA (@front_ukrainian) October 21, 2024 The Pentagon on Monday announced a new Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package of military aid for Ukraine with an estimated value of $400 million. Unlike the USAI program, PDA funds provide goods already in U.S. stocks. The new package will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: munitions for rocket systems and artillery; mortar systems and rounds; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons,” the Pentagon said in a statement. This marks the 68th tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine under the PDA program since August 2021. The capabilities in this announcement include: Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition; 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm mortar systems and rounds; Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; M113 Armored Personnel Carriers; Satellite communication equipment; Small arms and ammunition; Grenades and training equipment; Demolitions equipment and munitions; Equipment to protect critical national infrastructure; and Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.   A Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), launched by an M142 HIMARS in service with Ukraine Photo by Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Claiming that at least four merchant ships have been recently damaged by Russian air strikes on or near Ukrainian ports and in some cases, the vessels themselves the U.K. is donating about $155 million to provide Ukraine with additional aerial and sea drones to protect Black Sea shipping. The UK is donating those funds “toward the Maritime Capability Coalition and is seeking partners to co-fund delivery of hundreds more maritime drones (aerial and uncrewed boats), as well as surveillance radars to protect the Grain Corridor,” U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office announced Wednesday. “And together, the UK and Norway are seeking a further £100 million ($129 million) to co-fund hundreds more.” The donations would boost Ukraine’s drone stocks. As we have frequently reported, its indigenously built sea drones have caused widespread havoc on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, with attacks on ports in Crimea and ships. They have been so devastating that Russia has moved the bulk of its BSF from Crimea to Novorossysk in Russia. Ukrainian Sea Baby drones were used to attack the Kerch Bridge in July 2023. UK allocates $155 million to a maritime coalition to protect the Ukrainian grain corridor and is looking for partners to finance the supply of "hundreds more" of naval UAVs and radars. pic.twitter.com/JKIxIPX0BZ— MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) October 23, 2024 The U.K. is also giving an extra £2.26 billion ($2.93 billion) in aid to Ukraine, using the profits from Russian assets held in Europe, according to the BBC. The funds form Britain’s contribution to a £38 billion ($50 billion) fund announced in June by members of the G7 group of leading economies. Defense Secretary John Healey said the new money will help Ukraine bolster its frontline military equipment, the news outlet reported. He described it as turning the proceeds of Putin’s own corrupt regime against him, by putting it into the hands of Ukraine. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the aim was to release the money as quickly as possible. UK to boost Ukraine funding using £2bn from Russian assets https://t.co/oFP3uAQ3A4— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 22, 2024 A video emerged on social media showing a loitering munition designed to chase after Russias Iranian-made Shahed drones. Called the Sting, it will be deployed to pursue and intercept the Shahed-136 instead of conventional air defense munitions to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian strikes, according to The Telegraph. Its developers, the Wild Hornets group, say their latest innovation will be able to fly faster than 100mph and at altitudes nearing 10,000ft, the publication reported. The famous drone interceptor in action https://t.co/fYQRtmXNlB pic.twitter.com/8v2R4JSa3c— PS01 △ (@PStyle0ne1) October 21, 2024 In what the Ukrainian Defense Ministry last week called the largest attack of its kind, waves of Shahed drones were captured on video flying in a loose formation. The massive number of drones were likely sent to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. The formations didnt appear to involve cooperative capabilities but are far more tightly packed than we have seen before, pointing toward saturation tactics being dialed up. But they are also so close together it is something of a liability because one interceptor could potentially take out multiple craft. Russian Shahed kamikaze UAVs seen flying in swarm formation during attack on Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/UOgAdz6P2x— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 19, 2024 During that Shahed wave, a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter chased and took down one of them. The video below shows the helicopter firing a machine gun at the drone until it explodes in a ball of flames. Helicopters are becoming a more prominent means of taking down long-range one-way attack munitions as of late. Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter intercepts Shahed kamikaze drone during recent Russian attack on Ukraine. https://t.co/ntsOhaO7Gr https://t.co/LEeU83kknh pic.twitter.com/gTPkYs95J0— Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) October 19, 2024 The Shaheds were captured on video over the town of Poltava in eastern Ukraine. Russian/Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones attacking Ukraine today. Poltava region. https://t.co/LEeU83kknh pic.twitter.com/WoYSL6nObg— Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) October 19, 2024 The first view from a camera-equipped Russian Shahed drone was seen in a recently posted video of one being used as a long-range, remotely controlled reconnaissance aircraft. While the video is new, we examined the benefits of such an arrangement back in March after the wreckage was found of a Shahed equipped with a camera and modem. You can read more about that here. “The Russian Federation uses Shaheds now also as scouts,” Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, said on Telegram earlier this week. “In addition, a significant number of them fly without a combat unit and are controlled remotely (including contraband Starlinks).” This is the first footage recorded from Russian Shahed-136 kamikaze UAV.The innovation will allow Russia to hit targets with the help of UAVs in real time.Some of these UAVs began to be equipped with 4G modems with Ukrainian SIM cards and rotating cameras.Now, an operator… pic.twitter.com/24vHPm61Pv— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 20, 2024 To offer a perspective on just how big Shahed drones are, the Belarusian Nexta TV outlet posted a video showing one next to a house. This is what the Iranian Shahed drone used by Russia looks like compared to a house. pic.twitter.com/PDvF62Hcvh— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 19, 2024 Soldiers from Ukraine’s Wild Division drone unit used an FPV drone with added guidance to destroy a Russian armored vehicle. A video posted on Telegram by Ukrainian drone innovator Serhii Sternenko shows the drone apparently lost connection with its controller but continued on to strike the target. “Bright destruction of a Russian armored personnel carrier with a smart drone,” Sternenko bragged. “Soldiers of the Wild Division…in Kurshchyna with the help of FPV with additional guidance took out enemy armor, and it burned very nicely.” As we previously reported, automated terminal attack capabilities began appearing in Ukrainian drones back in March. Russian BTR destroyed by Ukrainian FPV with auto-targeting system. Looks like FPV lost control while approaching to the Russian BTR due to electronic warfare, but thanks to automatic targeting FPV managed to successful hit an armored vehicle. Kursk region.… pic.twitter.com/vGYfZxdeWS— Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) October 20, 2024 The results of testing on Ukraine’s indigenously produced ballistic missiles “will soon be known,” a member of parliament said on national television. If we talk about the Vilkha-M, there are certain questions, lets say, about the production of these missiles,” Yehor Chernev said, according to the Ukrainian RBC news outlet. I will not go into details now, but there are components that, unfortunately, we cannot get quickly today.  The War Zone was the first to write about the Vilkha-M. It is a modified 7.6m (25-foot) long Soviet BM-30 Smerch multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) artillery rocket with a range of 110km (68 miles) and a 300mm, 485-pound warhead. You can read more about it here. Chernov added that in the case of the use of operational-tactical missile systems, such as the Hrim, “work is being carried out on their use.” You can read more about that here. Ukrainian MP Yehor Cherniev announced that the results of Ukraine’s domestically-produced ballistic missile tests will be seen soon. He mentioned that while some issues exist with obtaining components for rockets like "Vilkha," work on operational-tactical missile systems, such… pic.twitter.com/zHH1DtQxcT— NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) October 22, 2024 A U.S.-donated Abrams main battle tank and a Bradley Fighting Vehicle were seen in Russias Kursk region working in tandem on the streets of an unidentified village. “The Bradley infantry fighting vehicle in interaction with the Abrams tank is a terrible force and terror for the invaders,” Ukraine’s 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade, which operates the armor, said on Telegram with an accompanying video of the event. “American equipment decides on the battlefield. In this case, its personnel rotation, fire support, and destruction of enemy infantry stuck in houses.” Bradley and M1 Abrams working on Russian positions. pic.twitter.com/A4i8A7FkHL— 2S7 pion (trost) (@Trotes936897) October 21, 2024 A building housing Russian FPV drone operators was severely damaged by a Ukrainian airstrike. It was discovered after Ukrainian forces noticed airframes and equipment at the site, according to the Ukrainian Scout Telegram channel, which first posted the video seen below. It shows an explosion on the roof, a ball of flames erupting followed by a large plume of black smoke. The exact number of Russian troops affected is unknown at this time. Precise strike on building which was used by Russian military personnel including FPV drone operators. Kursk front.https://t.co/ymAaaGRboi https://t.co/KLMgu8UDen pic.twitter.com/trpmamEMei— Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) October 22, 2024 In another battlefield improvisation, Ukraine displayed a Croatian 128mm RAK-SA-12 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) placed on a U.S.-provided Humvee. Ukrainian journalist Andrii Tsaplienko offers a tour of the vehicle, which has 12 launch tubes. The video ends with several of those rockets being fired. Ukrainian journalist Andrii Tsaplienko showed the Croatian 128-mm MLRS RAK-SA-12 based on the HMMWV armored vehicle used by the State Border Service of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/KSDBOV9yvt— MilitaryNewsUA (@front_ukrainian) October 21, 2024 A Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum was seen rocking nearly 70 bomb kill mark stencils indicating the aircraft took part in that number of strike missions, primarily using U.S. and French-supplied extended-range guided munitions. Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum, sporting markings recording almost 70 strike missions, primarily using US and French-supplied extended range guided bombs. pic.twitter.com/Xr4RBsCMMi— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) October 22, 2024 A still image from a video circulating on Russian social media shows a Su-57 Felon fighter, Moscow’s most advanced warplane, armed with what appear to be two Kh-59 standoff missiles. The image sparked discussion by Ukrainian media about how carrying external weapons negates the low observability of the stealthy Felon. Russian Su-57 fighter jet spotted flying with two Kh-59 air-launched cruise missiles. pic.twitter.com/2d7Buk3Xgf— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 20, 2024 A fierce firefight was captured from the Russian perspective on a helmet video. It shows the soldier firing at a Ukrainian position with his grenade launcher then running through the woods with his fellow soldiers to the loud popping sound of voluminous small arms fire. Interesting video of Russian SOF, doing a recon by fire. Cobra hoods are something everyone needs as part of their kit. pic.twitter.com/q1IxSkiyDl— Barrel & Hatchet (@BarrelHatchet) October 20, 2024 In an intense battle near the city of Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian troops reportedly repelled a Russian attempt to storm the positions of foreign volunteers from the 28th Brigade. This harrowing video shows the intensity of that battle. A video showing the repelling of a Russian attempt to storm the positions of foreign volunteers from the 28th Brigade on one of the flanks near Toretsk. Thanks to the well-coordinated actions of the defenders and the combined efforts of infantry and drone operators, the assault… pic.twitter.com/fKX9mKjV0R— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 23, 2024 Camaraderie under fire was on display in this video as an Australian fighting on behalf of Ukraine came to the aid of a Canadian, who thought he had been shot. Fuck, Im hit, the Canadian shouted as he writhed on the ground in pain. The Australian came over to help and checked the Canadian for any wounds. you look good, he said above the rat-a-tat cacophony of ceaseless gunfire. Watch for yourself to see what happens next. A Canadian and Australian mercenary comfort each other whist under Russian artillery fire in Ukraine."F*ck Im hit!""You look good mate!" pic.twitter.com/0JPy195KTX— Aussie Cossack (@aussiecossack) October 20, 2024 A Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bomber pilot whose aircraft is said to have carried out a deadly July 2022 attack on a Ukrainian shopping center was bludgeoned to death, likely with a hammer, GUR claimed on Telegram. “On the morning of October 20, 2024, the corpse of the war criminal Dmitriy Vladimirovich Golenkov was found in an apple orchard in the village of Suponevo near Bryansk in Russia,” GUR stated. “He was found with multiple head injuries, probably caused by a hammer.” Golenkov was a pilot with the 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment. It is based at the Shaykovka airfield and flies Tu-22M3 bombers. He was “involved in rocket attacks on Ukrainian civilian objects, in particular on the Amstor shopping center in the city of Kremenchuk, Poltava region,” GUR stated. “At the time of the attack on June 27, 2022, there were about 1,000 people in the shopping center. As a result of the war crime, 22 people died and dozens were injured.” Golenkov “is also responsible for a rocket attack on a residential building in Dnipro on January 14, 2023, when 46 Ukrainian civilians died, including six children, GUR claimed. The spy agency did not directly take credit for the death but offered a cheeky hint. “GUR reminds that there will be a fair retribution for every war crime,” the directorate announced. The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine reports: A Russian Tu-22M3 pilot has been liquidated on the territory of the Russian Federation. his head was smashed with a hammer. The body was found in the village of Suponevo near Bryansk. Dmitry Golenkov was a pilot of the… pic.twitter.com/U8UBs4nRer— Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) October 21, 2024 After one of two Russian troops on a motorcycle was struck by a fragment from a Ukrainian drone-dropped munition, the driver didnt try to help his comrade. As you can see in the following drone video, he instead roughly grabbed the wounded soldiers rifle and fled, leaving the man behind. One ruZZian orc takes the weapon from his still living comrade and then leaves him to die. pic.twitter.com/jI2AmgWpPn— UkraineNewsLive (@UkraineNewsLive) October 21, 2024 And finally, there is a long tradition of inscribing bombs and missiles with messages for the enemy. However, in the case of one Russian jet, there was a message written on an FAB-500 bomb with a UMPK unified gliding and correction module meant for Russian military leadership, not Ukraine. Dear Ministry of Defence, I’m FAB with UMPK, the message read, according to the Estonian-born blogger who runs the @wartranslated Twitter account. Soon I will fly to destroy occupiers in Kursk Obl. I’m upset for my crew, they have not received bonus pay for counter-terrorist operation since August. Sort it out! P.S. You can make mistakes, but you can’t lie. Well thats a new one. Pilots of a Russian bomber left an appeal to the Ministry of Defence written on a glide bomb complaining about lack of bonus pay for bombing their own country:"Dear Ministry of Defence, I’m FAB with UMPK.Soon I will fly to destroy occupiers in Kursk Obl.… pic.twitter.com/dvK2O4ds6U— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 22, 2024 Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post French Mirage 2000s Destined For Ukraine Will Fly With Storm Shadow, MICA Missiles appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Around The Globe, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Russia, Ukraine] [Link to media]

As of 10/29/24 6:13pm. Last new 10/29/24 12:05pm.