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Putin presents four deeply modernized Tu-160M ​​bombers
The Tu-160 program came to an abrupt halt after the collapse of the Soviet Union, leaving a void in the air fleet that Russia has sought to fill in recent years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin evaluates improvements to the Tu-160M ​​in Kazan, marking a milestone in military aviation.
The Russian president witnesses the evolution of the Tu-160M ​​in Kazan.

Army Col. Frank Rubio, then a lieutenant colonel, completing a spacewalk on Nov. 15, 2022. Rubio has been awarded the Army Aviation Badge with Astronaut Device. (Photos from NASA and Sgt. Deonte Rowell/U.S. Army).
Army Col. Frank Rubio, who broke the record for the longest spaceflight for an American astronaut, is now one of only three active-duty soldiers awarded the Army Aviation Badge with Astronaut Device
The badge is awarded to soldiers who have completed at least one operational mission to space. Rubio spent 371 days aboard the International Space Station from 2022 to 2023.

The “Iron Mike” statue at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. Joint Base Lewis-McChord Facebook page.
An Army doctor accused in one of the largest sexual abuse cases in military history will appear in court for the first time late Friday. 
The Army preferred court-martial charges against Maj. Michael Stockin, an anesthesiologist at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in August for abusive sexual contact and indecent viewing. In statements obtained by Task & Purpose, soldiers claim Stockin forced them to be naked for routine exams and groped their genitals.

Major new details about the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program emerged at the Air & Space Forces Association’s recent annual Warfare Symposium. This includes a clearer picture of the effort’s autonomy goals, aggressive production plans, and future operational impacts. Though questions remain about the capabilities and costs of these future uncrewed aircraft, the CCA program looks set to have a number of disruptive impacts that could fundamentally reshape the Air Force.

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Putin gives the military three weeks to seize the entire Luhansk region.

Ukraine’s General Intelligence Directorate (GUR) said on Wednesday that the Russian armed forces had been given just over three weeks to take full control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region.

During an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of the GUR, it is said that the Kremlin wants control of Luhansk before the next Russian presidential election.
The country’s presidential elections will be held from March 15 to 17.

Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below. *** Russia The Russian leadership has been pushing forward its agenda on multiple fronts recently. Domestically, the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison on Feb. 16 signals a potential new round of repression. Russian opposition leaders believe that Navalny was poisoned, possibly once again with Novichok, the nerve agent that almost killed him in August 2020.

The Austrian Armed Forces seek to integrate Rheinmetall’s Sky Ranger air defence systems onto their newly acquired Pandur vehicles.

Russia’s recent capture of Avdiivka after months of bloody assaults came days before the second anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

A video has emerged showing, apparently for the first time, a U.S.-supplied M1 Abrams tank in action on the front lines of Ukraine. While it’s been known that these tanks have been in the country since at least last September, the appearance of a Ukrainian Abrams reportedly close to Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region — as well as possible evidence of one having been put out of action — confirms that these capable combat vehicles are indeed in the fight.

Croatia took over official ownership of six Rafale combat aircraft from France on 23 February. (Croatian MoD)
Croatia has taken over formal ownership of the Dassault Rafale combat aircraft to be received from France.
The Croatian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the development on 23 February, saying it now owns the first six of 12 Rafales it has ordered.

The US Army’s medical evacuation sled includes an extra piece of plastic bolted on to provide cover for patients being pulled by snow machine. (Janes/Meredith Roaten)
As the US Army works to phase out Small Unit Support Vehicles (SUSVs) and replace them with Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicles (CATVs), army medics are trying out a new sled for evacuation in the Arctic environment, medical officers said during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) 24-02 training rotation.

Norway extends life of its GAMER live training solution with Saab. (Saab)
Saab has been contracted to support Norway’s training and simulation facilities, including the Combat Training Centre in Rena, the company announced on 22 February.

As part of the contract, the company will offer support, service, and maintenance for the modular GAMER (gunnery and manoeuvre exercise) live training system, a company spokesperson confirmed to
Janes
.

The contract totals SEK190 million (USD18.4 million) and spans between 2024 and 2027.

Malloy Aeronautics T-150, flown during a live demonstration at the company’s factory in Maidenhead in February 2024, is being acquired by the Royal Marines and Japan for experimentation and trials. (Crown Copyright)

The T-150 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufactured by UK-based company Malloy Aeronautics has been acquired by the Royal Marines and Japan, UK’s Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge announced to
Janes
and other media representatives on 22 February.

The UK Minister of Defence, Grant Shapps, has pledged to send 200 Brimstone anti-tank missiles to Ukraine to shore up its ‘weapons deficit’.

Hungary is to bring its Gripen fleet up to 18, with the addition of a further four aircraft announced on 23 February. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
Hungary is to increase the size of its fleet of Saab Gripen combat aircraft, with a deal announced on 23 February for an additional four airframes.
With 14 Gripen C/D aircraft having been leased from Sweden in 2001 and entering service in 2006, Saab has said that it has signed an agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for four additional Gripen Cs for the Hungarian Air Force (HuAF).

The Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, unveiling the UK’s Defence Drone Strategy at Malloy Aeronautics factory in Maidenhead in February 2024. (Crown Copyright)
The UK unveiled its Defence Drone Strategy on 22 February to accelerate the adoption and development of unmanned systems across air, sea, and land for the armed forces.
Backed by GBP4.5 billion (USD5.

The Spanish Navy decommissioned
Tramontana
on 16 February 2024.
(Spanish Navy)
The Spanish Navy’s fourth S 70 (Galerna)-class conventionally powered diesel-electric submarine (SSK) has been retired from service.
Tramontana (S 74), the youngest of four Galerna-class SSKs, was officially decommissioned during a ceremony held at the Spanish Navy’s submarine base in Cartagena on 16 February.

John A.

Patricia Kime, Military.

Colin Demarest, C4ISRNET
The Pentagon’s realization of a basic form of Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control is a signal to China that the U.S.

M. Eaglen, D&A Rep
When war broke out in Gaza and shortly thereafter Houthi fighters threatened shipping in the Red Sea, U.S.

Team Mighty, We Are the Mighty
For as long as wars have been fought, great military leaders have been able to use the power of the pulpit to motivate their troops.

To enhance the defence capabilities of Taiwan, the US State Department has approved the sale of an advanced tactical data link system.

The UK Ministry of Defence announces its new Drone Strategy, which will work with industry to deliver UAS to the Armed Forces at pace.

Steadicopter’s Black Eagle 50E electric-powered unmanned aerial vehicle is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations from land and naval locations. (Steadicopter)
Israeli-based Steadicopter Ltd is improving its Black Eagle and Golden Eagle series of rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (RUAVs) and positioning them for the larger Asia-Pacific (APAC) market.

The Terrex s5 infantry fighting vehicle is likely to incorporate a small unmanned aerial vehicle as a MUM-T capability to assist with waypoint navigation. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal/ST Engineering)
A range of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities are being planned for Singapore’s recently unveiled Terrex s5 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).

A full-scale Kawasaki KJ300 turbofan engine displayed at the Singapore Airshow 2024. (Janes/Prasobh Narayanan)
Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries displayed its KJ300 turbofan engine at the Singapore Airshow 2024 held from 20 to 25 February.

Speaking to
Janes
, a company official said the engine completed its high-altitude testing in 2023 at a test facility in Japan and further testing is under way.

The KJ300 is the latest addition to the KJ engine series developed by Kawasaki and is primarily intended for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications.

Aero Vodochody has completed deliveries of the first batch of L-39NGs to the Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF). The company is also focusing on selling the aircraft to Thailand. (Aero Vodochody)
Aero Vodochody AS has delivered its first batch of L-39NG trainer and light-attack aircraft to the Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF), with remaining deliveries expected to be completed in 2024.
Vietnam ordered 12 L-39NG aircraft in February 2021.

You can’t choke a dead horse. Anyone who has studied geopolitics, particularly in the context of energy, has learned that control over waterways — most notably the Suez Canal — translates into influence, as actors can threaten to disrupt energy supplies. But they also know that leverage is limited: Commerce invariably adjusts to disruptions and markets stabilize around a new normal. The crisis in the Red Sea demonstrates this effect, though in an unexpected way. Months of Houthi attacks on shipping, followed by a significant U.S.

In this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, Aaron O’Connell, associate professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and director of research for the Clements Center for National Security, hosts a discussion with Rob Rakove,  a lecturer in Stanford University’s Program in International Relations. They discuss Rakove’s new book, Days of Opportunity: The United States and Afghanistan Before the Soviet Invasion.     Image: Photo by Thomas J.

A Nepalese Army CN235-220, seen here while it was about to depart Bandung for Nepal in 2019. The Indonesian Army is scheduled to receive three examples of the CN235-220 in a similar configuration. (PT Dirgantara Indonesia)
State-owned aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has received a contract for three more CN235-220 aircraft from the country’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).

NATO forces conducted amphibious landings during ‘Cold Response 2022′. The alliance’s ‘Nordic Response’ will build on these operations. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS
Gunston Hall
(LSD 44) arrived in Harstad, Norway, on 21 February to embark Finnish and Swedish forces, which will combine with the French forces that joined the ship in Portsmouth, UK, to conduct amphibious training exercises in Norway, the US Navy (USN) said in a release.

The US Army tested Weatherhaven’s pop-up tent for mobile command-and-control operations during the JPMRC 24-02 training rotation. (Janes/Meredith Roaten)

The US Army is observing lessons regarding inexpensive unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and electronic warfare (EW) emerging from Ukraine, and making sure its own capabilities can hold up, officials told
Janes
during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) 24-02 training rotation held from 12 to 22 February.

The US Army’s 11th Airborne Division Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle variants are outfitted with radios and Starshield to perform command-and-control functions. (Janes/Meredith Roaten)
The first – almost fully decked out – command-and-control (C2) variants of the Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV), complete with shifted seating arrangements and integrated communications equipment, have been used in the first large scale exercise, a US Army brigade combat team commander told Janes.

A US Army snow machine pulls a sled full of Meals, Ready-to-Eat during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 24-02 training rotation in February 2024. (Janes/Meredith Roaten)
Soldiers supported brigades from the backs of snowmobiles for the US Army’s first large-scale exercise with a significant number of machines, service officials told Janes during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) 24-02 training rotation held from 12 to 22 February at Fort Greely, Alaska.

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OTO Melara Mod. 56 : A Brief Overview of Italian Mountain Gun
On the grand stage of the military, some weapon systems have become legendary for their unique performance and design, and the Italian OTO Melara Mod. 56 mountain howitzer is one of these treasures. Known as the “backpack howitzer,” this 105mm flexible artillery machine is acclaimed worldwide for its exceptional maneuverability and adaptability.
The birth of the Mod.

Suspected Iranian advanced conventional weaponry discovered on the dhow. (Department of Justice).
Four foreign nationals were charged with transporting alleged Iranian-made weapons discovered during an interdiction in the Arabian Sea last month that resulted in two Navy SEALs dying, according to U.S. officials.
The Department of Justice’s criminal complaint unsealed Thursday alleges the four defendants were transporting weapons consistent with those used by Houthi rebel forces and then lied to the U.S. Coast Guard when they boarded the vessel.
On Jan. 11, U.S.

MilitaryView

Speed and Power: China’s J-20 Fighter Jet Production Rate and Its Implications
In this article, we will explore Speed and Power: China’s J-20 Fighter Jet Production Rate and Its Implications
China’s J-20 fighter jet has become a symbol of the country’s rapid military modernization and technological advancement. With a production rate of one J-20 per week, China has demonstrated its ability to meet urgent defense needs and maintain a strong military presence.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Navy officials are confident they’re on the right path and have corrected concerns regarding the readiness of the teams the service is responsible for providing to U.S. Cyber Command.
While readiness issues have plagued all the services’ contributions, the Navy faced the brunt of ire from former officials, outside experts, and namely, Congress.
The cyber mission force includes 133 offensive, defensive and support teams that conduct cyber operations for Cybercom.

The war in Ukraine has yielded some extraordinary videos captured by drones, especially footage recorded by first-person view (FPV) attack drones — a type of highly maneuverable loitering munition used for both reconnaissance and attack which are operated by a user wearing a headset. These weapons have become so critical to the fight in Ukraine that an arms race between Moscow and Kyiv to gain numerical superiority is well under way. They have even be referenced as on par with artillery in terms of how important they have become on the battlefield.

Experts in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence are producing a sweeping new AI-governing policy that’s deliberately bespoke for all members of the intelligence community.
“The intent is always to make sure that what we do is transparent,” Michaela Mesquite, the acting chief for ODNI’s nascent Augmenting Intelligence using Machines (AIM) group, told DefenseScoop. 
She said the organization essentially leads and handles oversight for all AI capabilities across the entire enterprise.

Elon Musk’s Cybertruck is like the ultimate technological Rorschach test — everyone sees something different in it, and that comes with a lot of emotion. I guess that’s what art is supposed to do, elicit an emotional response, for better or worse, and cars can be very much that — art.

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Ukraine’s Desperate Need for Soldiers
Two years after the bloody war launched by Putin, some soldiers try to bribe doctors to avoid combat. When Putin sent his forces to Ukraine two years ago, Ukrainians rushed to recruiting centers across the country to enlist, ready to die for their nation.
Today, with Russia controlling about a quarter of Ukraine and the two armies virtually deadlocked along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, that spirit of getting ready has faded.

“Okay guys, listen up. You have 30 minutes till you walk out the door. Here’s the mission scenario.”
Tom Sweeney, our Tactical Evaluator, set down the mission folder on the planning table in the bunker. My CF-18 Hornet squadron, 433 Escadron Tactique d’Appui de Combat (ETAC, a French-language unit in Canada’s Air Force), had deployed to Lahr, West Germany, to fly with our brethren who were stationed in theater, 75 km (45 miles) up the Autobahn in Baden-Soellingen.

The Navy is officially establishing a new “robotics warfare specialist” general rating as the sea service steams ahead in its pursuit of new maritime drones, according to a NAVADMIN announcement released Thursday.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti hinted at such a move last week at the WEST conference in San Diego.

The Department of Veterans Affairs unveiled the new headstones at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery for the all-Black Buffalo soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment who were hanged by the U.S. military for their involvement in a mutiny during the race riots in Houston in 1917. Screenshot from Veterans Affairs video.
The graves of 17 Black soldiers who were hanged in the largest mass execution in U.S. military history will now rest under new gravestones at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

For almost a century, Navy Federal Credit Union members have enjoyed the benefits of their membership, including great rates on their savings accounts and helpful guides on putting away money for the future. Having a well-funded savings account to draw on when times get tough can be the deciding line between a temporary setback and a major lifestyle downgrade for a lot of families. Savvy members who have compared rates across major financial institutions also know that Navy Federal offers competitive rates that provide increased growth while keeping it available for emergency purposes.

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Iran may have transferred hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia
Iran appears to have transferred hundreds of ballistic missiles with a range of 700 km to Russia in recent weeks, according to anonymous sources.

Reuters on February 21, citing three sources from Iran, said Tehran had provided about 400 missiles, including many bullets of the Fateh-110 family with the ability to attack targets at a distance of 300-700 km.

At the direction of Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, the sea service earlier this month stood up a new Maritime Economic Deterrence Executive Council to help protect commercial companies and other vendors from adversaries who seek to take advantage of them.
The move comes as the Navy and Marine Corps are increasingly looking to commercial providers and other nontraditional suppliers in Silicon Valley and other regions for high-tech capabilities like artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and maritime drones.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Steven Pedicini has been charged with espionage and related offenses for allegedly providing classified information to an unnamed foreign government. (Facebook photo).
A sailor assigned to the destroyer USS Higgins has been charged with espionage and related offenses for allegedly providing classified information to an unnamed foreign government, according to charging documents.
Navy Chief Petty Officer Steven Pedicini has been held in pretrial confinement since May 19, 2023, according to Pedicini’s charge sheet, which was provided to Task & Purpose.