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On January 8, 2023, a nearly 40-year old retired satellite weighing more than two tons began to fall out of low-earth orbit and back to the cradle of mankind. Its course had it falling on a track passing over Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the westernmost areas of North and South America. That’s a lot of potential targets to hit on the way down. But researchers agree that the probability of being struck by falling satellite debris is very low for us targets here on Earth.

KMW photo

Despite another plea this morning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for additional western tanks, the eighth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group wrapped up at Ramstein Air Base in Germany with that request unfulfilled.
While several of the 50 member nations of that group came forward with new donations of armored vehicles and air defense capabilities, there were no tanks on the list.

Germany is still mulling over whether to offer any Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. (Bundeswehr photo) Bundeswehr
Neither the U.S.

Army Staff Sgt. Jimmy Lee Smith III, 24, was killed on Jan. 18, 2023. (Army photo.).

An airborne soldier assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group was killed in a Jan. 18 shooting in Raeford, North Carolina, Army officials announced on Friday.
Staff Sgt. Jimmy Lee Smith III, 24, served as a culinary specialist with the Group Support Battalion for 3rd Special Forces Group, according to a news release from U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
“Jimmy was a tremendous teammate and paratrooper,” Col. John D. Bishop, commander of 3rd Special Forces Group, said in the news release.

The antenna array for the S1850M long-range wide-search air surveillance radar suited for medium and large surface ships. (Thales Nederland)
Thales has won a contract to support the S1850M radar in use with specific NATO navies.
On behalf of the French, Italian, and British ministries of defence (MoDs), the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) has signed a service contract with Thales for the support and maintenance of the company’s S1850M long-range air surveillance radar.

USAF personnel test ABMS capabilities. The USAF is making progress on ABMS but lacks precise plans, requirements, and financial estimates, the GAO said. (US Air Force/DVIDS)
The US Air Force (USAF) is making progress on but lacks definitions and plans for the Air Battle Management System (ABMS), the service’s component of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2), according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
A GAO report, released on 13 January, details the USAF’s efforts to build and implement ABMS.

An artist’s rendering of the Point Blank loitering munition. (Israel Aerospace Industries).

The Defense Department plans on testing a brand new Israeli-made recoverable loitering munition that appears to bear a strong resemblance to the Incom Corporation X-wing starfighter utilized by the Rebel Alliance in the Star Wars movie franchise.

The UK’s newly acquired future Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance ship sails into Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead, Liverpool, on 19 January. (Royal Navy)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has purchased a second-hand commercial offshore patrol vessel from P&O Maritime Logistics’ subsidiary Topaz Energy and Marinefor conversion into a specialist ship dedicated to protecting the country’s critical subsea infrastructure.
The vessel, which is currently named MV Topaz Tangaroa, arrived at Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, Merseyside, for refitting on 19 January.

Howard University will be awarded a $90 million contract by the Air Force for an initiative aimed at advancing “tactical autonomy” technology, cultivating STEM talent and addressing racial disparities in Pentagon R&D funding.
“The contract will establish a Historically Black Colleges and Universities-led University Affiliated Research Center consortium to execute research focused on tactical autonomy that will aid in the transition of research into practical applications.

A garrison used by American military forces and their local partners in Syria was attacked by multiple kamikaze drones on Friday, according to U.S. Central Command, highlighting the proliferation of these types of weapons and the growing threat they pose to Defense Department components globally.
U.S. troops have been operating in Syria for several years as part of a coalition that is combating the terrorist group known as ISIS.