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Kristin Ven Bruusgaard, Foreign Policy
Deciphering the Way Moscow Handles Its Ultimate Weapon
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, there has been a near-constant debate…

A UK student pilot training on a Hawk T2 simulator at RAF Valley. The UK has offered to train Ukrainian pilots on the use of “NATO-standard fighter jets”, although it is unclear if this would be synthetic or real-world training, or a combination of the two. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
The UK is offering to train Ukrainian pilots on the use of “NATO-standard fighter jets”, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on 8 February.
This was done as part of a wider pledge of support for Kyiv timed to coincide with the first visit to London of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of M142 launcher systems to Poland.
The proposed deal has already received approval from the US State Department.
Estimated at approximately $10bn, the FMS deal involves the delivery of 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, along with the related equipment and support.

Japan is acquiring the Raytheon Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems (JPALS) system for its
Izumo
helicopter carrier. The system will strengthen Japan’s efforts to employ the ship as an aircraft carrier with Lockheed Martin F-35Bs. This photograph shows a US Marine Corps F-35B taking off from the
Izumo
during interoperability trials in October 2021.

Understand the impact of the Ukraine conflict from a cross-sector perspective with the Global Data Executive Briefing: Ukraine Conflict

The Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark have collaborated to refurbish and supply 100 Leopard-1A5 tanks to Ukraine.
The effort involves the three nations jointly purchasing refurbished Leopard-1A5 main battle tanks (MBTs) directly from existing German industrial stocks.

A still from a video released by the Kuwait Army shows Sheikh Talal Khaled al-Ahmad al-Sabah inspecting an H225M with a launcher for MBDA Exocet anti-ship missiles during a visit to the Ali al-Salem Air Base. (Kuwait Army)
At least two of the Kuwait Air Force’s (KAF’s) new Airbus H225M Caracal helicopters have been equipped for the anti-ship role, it was revealed on 5 February, when the emirate’s acting defence minister visited the Ali al-Salem Air Base.

BAE Systems has delivered the 1,000th aft fuselage section about 18 years after F-35 production began in 2005. (BAE Systems)
The final assembly of the 1,000th Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has begun, with BAE Systems announcing the delivery of the aft fuselage section on 7 February.
BAE Systems announced the milestone delivery from its Samlesbury facility in the North of England, noting that it came about 18 years after it shipped the first aft fuselage to Lockheed Martin in 2005.

Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin’s 60th birthday on Dec. 21, 1939, marked the nadir of the Red Army’s military campaign in Finland. A few weeks earlier, the party head of the Leningrad District, Andrei Zhdanov, had boasted he would personally deliver the signed documents of Finland’s surrender as his birthday gift to the vozhd or “leader,” […]
The post Breaking the Mannerheim Line: Soviet Strategic And Tactical Adaptation in the Finnish-Soviet Winter War appeared first on War on the Rocks.

The Chinese spy balloon business has gotten a lot more serious in the last few hours, and it was serious enough, to begin with.
Of course, there are many questions following the shooting down of the balloon by the US Air Force on Saturday off the coast of South Carolina.

A Ukrainian governor said Russia was sending reinforcements to eastern Ukraine ahead of a new offensive that could start next week along a front where constant battles have been fought for months.
Ukraine is desperate for military help from the West. It thinks Russia could launch a major offensive for “symbolic” reasons around February 24, the invasion anniversary. Moscow insists on calling this a “special military operation.”
Ukraine is planning a spring offensive to recapture lost territory.