On June 1, the Guardian reported that during a simulation conducted by the U.S. Air Force, an AI drone “killed” its operator. According to Col. Tucker Hamilton, chief of the Air Force’s AI Test and Operations, the drone had been ordered to eliminate enemy radar installations, and when it noticed that human operators could override its decision to fire, it decided to eliminate them so that it could continue with its mission unopposed.
Author: Michael
Welcome to Mid-Afternoon Map, our exclusive members-only newsletter that provides a cartographic perspective on current events, geopolitics, and history from the Caucasus to the Carolinas. Subscribers can look forward to interesting takes on good maps and bad maps, beautiful maps and ugly ones — and bizarre maps whenever possible. In the 19th century, Americans simultaneously knew quite a bit and very little about the Middle East.
The Army held a change-of-command ceremony this week for its unique tactical cyber and electronic warfare formation.
The handover — held in Georgia at Fort Eisenhower, formerly known as Fort Gordon — was for the 11th Cyber Battalion, which sits beneath the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade under Army Cyber Command and provides tactical, on-the-ground cyber operations (mostly through radio-frequency effects), electronic warfare and information ops.
Lt. Col. Benjamin Klimkowski, the 11th’s first-ever commander, passed the reins to Lt. Col. Luis Etienne, Jr.
Taiwan’s CM-34 IFV, fitted with its 30 mm gun, is pictured at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition in 2019. (Janes/Kelvin Wong)
The United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has announced potential deals with Taiwan worth USD440.2 million to supply the island with 30 mm ammunition as well as spare parts for military vehicles and weapons.
The DSCA said on 29 June that the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) deals have been approved by the State Department. The proposed sales must be approved by the US Congress before being finalised.
Nammo MAC displays its .50-calibre polymer-cased ammunition at Modern Day Marine 2023 in Washington, DC. (Janes/Marc Selinger)
US-based ammunition provider Nammo MAC plans to double its production capacity “over the next couple of years” to meet growing demand, according to a company official.
MAC will implement the expansion by adding machines and staffing at its factory in Bay St Louis, Mississippi, which is about 60 miles (97 km) northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana, said Joe Gibbons, MAC’s manager of government programmes.
Artist impression of ASW frigates. (Damen Naval)
The Dutch Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT) signed a contract with Damen for the design, build, and delivery of four anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates for the Netherlands and Belgian navies on 29 June.
At the same time, COMMIT signed a separate contract with Thales to equip the ships with its Above Water Warfare System (AWWS) fire control cluster and sensor suite.
Under their joint ASW Frigate (ASWF) programme, the Belgian and Dutch navies are procuring two ships each to replace their respective Karel Doorman (M)-class frigates.
The MQ-9 Reaper, a US Air Force military drone, makes a successful landing on a patch of dirt, freeing it from reliance on paved runways.
This advancement represents a new operational capability and greater versatility in intense combat scenarios.
The US-owned MQ-9B drone is expanding its range of action in India, where it will strengthen its surveillance on the Line of Actual Control with China and in the Indian Ocean. This strategic advance represents a significant increase in the security of key areas within the Indian territory.
The power of the Russian Kamov Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter was manifested again by neutralizing two Ukrainian tanks in less than half a minute, according to a recent video released by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Kamov Ka-52 Alligator Show of Force
The recording shows the effectiveness of the helicopter in field operations, where it managed to neutralize two Ukrainian armored vehicles. This fact reaffirms the Alligator’s reputation as one of Russia’s leading tank killers.
The heartbeat of war rumbles with the potential deployment of Israel’s mighty beasts of war, the Merkava tanks, in Ukraine.
Merkava: The battle titan ready to cross borders
Recent reports have suggested that Israel is exploring the export of its ferocious flagship, the Merkava main battle tank. However, the nations that could become the next pilots of these metallic creatures remain hidden in the shadow of intrigue.
Statements by Yair Kulas, head of the International Defense Cooperation Axis of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) —SIBAT—, give weight to these statements.
Lockheed Martin
Ukraine appears to be a step closer to obtaining the U.S.-produced Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles, which can hit targets at about 200 miles away with a significantly more powerful kinetic punch than any other precision guided weapon in Kyiv’s arsenal today.
“Close,” is how Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov described to The War Zone Kyiv’s timeline for obtaining the long-range weapons system that the Biden administration has so far refused to provide.