The signal given by the Defence Acquisition Council indicates a contribution towards India’s self-reliant Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The UK is to review plans to buy 14 new H-47 ER Chinooks to augment its existing fleet of older model helicopters (pictured). (Janes/Patrick Allen)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to review its plan to acquire new Boeing H-47 Extended Range (ER) Chinook helicopters later in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, ahead of any decision on final numbers.

The SAMAR air-defence system – seen here at Aero India 2023 – features two refurbished Russian Vympel R-73E infrared‐guided air-to-air missiles mounted on a Stallion 4×4 Mk IV BS-III truck. (Janes/Saketha Potlapalli)
The Indian Air Force test-fired its newly inducted Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation (SAMAR) air-defence system during Exercise ‘Vayu Shakti-24′, which took place in the Pokhran range near Jaisalmer on 17 February.

Italy has been approved to buy further SDB II and AIM-120C-8 air-launched munitions to be carried by its combat aircraft types, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. (Italian Air Force)
The US government has approved the sale of air-launched munitions to Italy for an estimated USD219.3 million.

The Netherlands has received the first of 20 PULS MRLs it ordered on 17 May 2023. (Elbit Systems)
The first of 20 Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) ordered by the Netherlands on 17 May 2023 has arrived in the country and will be presented to the local media in May, Janes has learnt.
The systems were ordered under an agreement between the Israeli and Dutch ministries of defence (MoDs).

ST Engineering’s Next Generation Singapore Assault Rifle, unveiled for the first time at the Singapore Airshow 2024. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
ST Engineering has unveiled the latest iteration to its Singapore Assault Rifle – 21st Century (SAR 21).
Known as the Next Generation SAR (Next Gen SAR), the 5.56 mm weapon was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow2024, which is taking place at the Changi Exhibition Centre from 20 to 25 February.

Through the NMH programme, the UK is looking to replace its ageing Puma HC2 helicopters with up to 44 new rotorcraft. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
The UK government has said “positive progress” is being made on the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme to replace the Airbus SA 330E Puma HC2 in military service.

Treaties only work when there is credible deterrence and willingness to inflict cost for a party failing to adhere to the treaty.

Public Domain

Congressman Mike Turner created a freak out on media and Capitol Hill with his unprecedented break in traditional decorum on sensitive space matters.
Here are some take aways:

Congressman Turner was grandstanding (at least a bit) to help move Ukraine aid forward.

Rheinmetall establishes a joint venture with an unnamed Ukrainian industry partner to produce 155mm rounds in Ukraine.

The USS John L. Canley (photo courtesy U.S. Navy).
The U.S. Navy’s newest ship officially entered service this weekend. The USS John L. Canley is an expeditionary sea base, a kind of mobile command and control and dock. It’s also named for Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley, an African-American Marine Corps veteran who earned the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Hue City in 1968 during the Vietnam War.
The ceremony a tNaval Air Station North Island, Calif.

A display of the Ultimax 100 Mk 9, the latest variant of ST Engineering’s Ultimax 100 light machine gun, at Singapore Airshow 2024. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
Singapore state-affiliated defence company ST Engineering has unveiled the latest variant of its Ultimax 100 5.56 mm gas-operated light machine gun.
The product, known as the Ultimax 100 Mk 9, is on display to the public for the first time at the Singapore Airshow 2024 defence exhibition, taking place at the Changi Exhibition Centre from 20 to 25 February.
A new feature found on the Mk 9 is its dual-feed capability.

India has cleared various defence equipment aquisitions, including the procurement of heavyweight torpedoes to enhance the attacking capabilities of Kalvari-class submarines, as shown in the above picture. (Ministry of Defence, India)
India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the procurement of various defence equipment worth INR845.6 billion (USD10.19 billion) for the Indian Armed Forces and the Indian Coast Guard.

A display of the Terrex s5, which was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow 2024. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
Singapore defence prime ST Engineering has launched the latest iteration in its Terrex 8×8 line of infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).
Known as the Terrex s5, the variant was launched on 18 February, ahead of the Singapore Airshow 2024 exhibition taking place from 20 to 25 February at the Changi Exhibition Centre.

Singapore’s defence budget is forecast by
Janes
to grow to around USD16.1 billion in real terms in 2025, up from USD12.1 billion five years earlier.
(Janes Defence Budgets)
Singapore has announced a defence budget of SGD20.25 billion (USD15 billion) for 2024. The new expenditure, announced on 16 February, is a 13% increase over the original defence budget for 2023 and a 2.5% increase over the revised allocation of SGD19.76 billion.
The 2024 defence budget includes SGD19.34 billion (95.5% of the total expenditure) for operations, which is a 2.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 aircraft. The service scrambled two airframes on 12 February in response to an aircraft of interest. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) scrambled two of its F-16s on 12 February after the service detected an “aircraft of interest”, the country’s Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) has confirmed.
In response to questions from Janes, MINDEF disclosed that two F-16s took off from the Tengah Air Base at about 1449 h local time on 12 February to investigate the aircraft.

The US Navy plans significant investments for large unmanned surface vessel programmes. (US Department of Defense)
The US Navy’s (USN’s) most senior uniformed officer has outlined her planned timeline to transition the surface navy to a new hybrid force structure mixing manned and unmanned vessels.
Speaking at the AFCEA International and US Naval Institute WEST 2024 conference in San Diego, California, on 13 February, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Lisa Franchetti said the navy road map was looking out across three five-year Future Years Defense Programs (FYDPs).

The RNLA’s first MMR after it was demonstrated during live firings at the Dutch MoD’s ‘t Harde firing range on 15 February. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)
The first Ground Master 200 Multi Mission/Compact (GM200 MM/C) radar handed over to the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) by Thales in Hengelo on 14 February was demonstrated during live firings at the Dutch Ministry of Defence’s ‘t Harde firing range the next day.

D. Sears, HistoryNet
Allan W. Ostar served with the Rainbow Division—and helped liberate Dachau.

Stilwell, WATM
It was a regular April night around the Luttrell home near Huntsville, Texas.

As guardian over Nato’s ‘Achilles Heel’ and a staunch Ukraine supporter, Lithuania fears it is next in Russia’s line of fire.

Last week, Nick Danforth sat down with Denise Natali, Doug Ollivant and Bilal Wahab to discuss the latest in Iraqi politics? They debated what Iraq was like on Oc. 6th, how it has been impacted by the war in Gaza, and where the country will be five years from now. Image: Tasnim News Agency
The post Iraq Between Suits and Fatigues appeared first on War on the Rocks.

Amidst Washington’s push for European support in the Indo-Pacific, has Italy proven overly eager to pivot east? Faced with the choice between directly supporting U.S. efforts to counter Beijing in the region or concentrating resources on emerging threats closer to home, Italy, as one of the most active contributors to U.S.- or NATO-led military initiatives, has opted for the former. Without much debate, Italy has expanded its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, initiating significant collaborations with various regional countries, and deploying naval units to the region.

The foreign policy elite descended on Munich again this weekend, primed for beer, brats, and bilats. The 2024 Munich Security Conference was crowded and frenzied, as security details jostled delegates straining to connect with movers and shakers. The gathering boasted both an online portal and a smartphone app, and participants used them to set up meetings with old friends and total unknowns. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the affair “diplomatic speed dating,” and that about nailed it. For all the conviviality, however, a somber mood prevailed this year.

The first GM200 MM/C radar was handed over to the RNLA by Thales Nederland on 14 February. (Dutch MoD/Sgt Maj Gregory Fréni)
The first Ground Master 200 Multi Mission/Compact (GM200 MM/C) radar was handed over to the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) by Thales in Hengelo, eastern Netherlands, on 14 February.

MilitaryView

A-12 Avenger: The Stealth Bomber on Aircraft Carriers
The A-12 Avenger faced insurmountable challenges. Initial predictions about its stealth coating turned out to be excessively optimistic, leading to modifications that increased its weight and, therefore, its development costs.
McDonnell Douglas proposed the A-12 Avenger, an innovative flying wing design reminiscent of the B-2 Spirit but on a smaller scale.
Introduction
Weapons perish for various reasons: bad timing, defense austerity, inadequate personnel, bureaucratic complexities or because it was initially a bad idea.

The recovered bell from the destroyer the USS Jacob Jones, which was sunk in 1917. (Image courtesy by U.K. Ministry of Defence, Salvage and Marine Operations).
For the first time in 107 years, something from the USS Jacob Jones is above water. The ship’s bell from the first American destroyer sunk in combat was recovered and later this year will be given back to the U.S. to eventually be put on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C. 
The USS Jacob Jones was one of several Navy destroyers fielded during World War I.

MilitaryView

Russia acquires 770 improved T-62 and T-90M tanks
It is estimated that 15 T-90M tanks, equivalent to 10% of the Russian army’s total armored vehicles, are manufactured monthly in military facilities.
The  GUR  reports an increase in the Russian arsenal with 770 tanks, including modernized T-62M and T-90M models.

The Navy USS Carney defeats a combination of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea, Oct. 19. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Lau/U.S. Navy).
U.S. armed forces hit five targets in Yemen, taking out weapons used by the Houthi movement CENTCOM announced today. CENTCOM, as it has in past actions, called them “self-defense strikes” meant for protecting ships traveling through the Red Sea. The strikes targeted three mobile missile batteries carrying anti-ship munitions as well as two types of naval drones: an uncrewed underwater vessel and an uncrewed surface vessel.

MilitaryView

Russia increases Su-35 production despite microchip ban
Recently, the Deputy General Director of the state conglomerate Rostech, which includes the manufacturer Sukhoi, made bold statements about the increase in production of the Su-35 fighter, asserting an ambitious goal of “doubling” it.
Production of the Su-35 fighter
Despite the obstacles imposed by Western sanctions on the supply of critical components such as microchips and semiconductor parts, Russia is demonstrating its ability to sustain and potentially increase production of its cutting-edge Su-35 fighters.

When the Air Force started deploying “expeditionary air base teams” to the Middle East last October as the first layer of its force generation strategy, the regional upheaval and alert status stemming from Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel allowed leaders to get a good idea of how well the new system was working.

MilitaryView

The West was surprised by Russia’s weapons production capacity
The Russian defense industry has seen a dramatic upsurge in weapons production over the past two years, significantly exceeding expectations set by Western strategic planners. This surge comes amid a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, where Russia’s military involvement has intensified.
The Visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin:
On February 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the factory of the Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) corporation, a key manufacturer of main battle tanks and tank support combat vehicles.

The Falcon 9 rocket that carried the Space Development Agency’s new satellites, shortly before launch. (photo courtesy Space Development Agency).
The United States Space Force is pulling the plug on a classified military communications satellite program due to cost and schedule overrun as the service refocuses its mission and operations.
Citing regulatory findings and others involved, Bloomberg reported that Space Force canceled a program with defense contractor Northrop Grumman to develop and field a new satellite for military communications purposes.

Public Domain

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin did not transfer power as required during his recent hospital stay for serious illness.
The question we need to unpack is — why?
Let’s lay out some facts, not opinion, shall we?

Austin maniacally pushed the vaccine on all of the U.S. armed forces and refuses to admit to this day the horrific side effects — massive death and disability. He is lying about the vaccines. For this reason, recruitment has plummeted, seriously weakening our nation.
Austin has incorporated aggressively the Maoist doctrine of DEI into the U.S.

MilitaryView

The US may be about to deliver 1,000 bombs to Israel
US officials said the country is about to transfer 1,000 bombs and related supplies to Israel to replenish its arsenal.

The proposed batch of weapons worth tens of millions of dollars includes about 1,000 Mark 82 bombs weighing more than 220 kg each, KMU-572 accessories for precision bomb control and FMU-139 bomb detonators, officials said. US officials said on February 17.

MilitaryView

Russia claims complete control over Avdeevka
The Russian army declared complete control of Avdeevka a few hours after Ukraine announced its withdrawal from the city to preserve soldiers’ lives.

“Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported to the Supreme Commander that Russian forces under the command of General Andrey Mordvichev have completely controlled the city of Avdeevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the Russian Ministry of Defense announced. February 17, mentioning President Vladimir Putin.
Russia “liberated an area of ​​31.

MilitaryView

What’s the Reality Behind Russia’s Su-57 Promises?
What’s the Reality Behind Russia’s Su-57 Promises? Delves into discrepancies between claims and actualities, scrutinizing Russia’s Su-57 program.
The Russian Su-57 stealth fighter was expected to become a key player in Russian military aviation by 2027, but its entry into service has been delayed with an excessive level of caution.

A Texas National Guard agent plays with a toy rubber chicken that makes sounds, in front of an immigrant, near a barbed wire fence installed to prevent the entry of illegal migrants across the Rio Bravo/Grande from Ciudad Juarez, state of Chihuahua, Mexico on February 12, 2024. (Photo by Herika Martinez / AFP) (Photo by HERIKA MARTINEZ/AFP via Getty Images).
The state of Texas plans to build a new 80-acre “base camp” for National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border. Texas Gov. Greg Abbot announced the plan on Friday, Feb.

Host L Todd Wood speaks with Maj Gen ‘Hawk’ Hollingsworth about his experiences flying A-4s in Vietnam.
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Ukrainian servicemen pile up earthbags to build a fortification not far from town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on February 17, 2024. (Photo by Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP) (Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images).
After five months of intense fighting along the front lines, the Ukrainian military pulled out of the eastern city of Avdiivka. It’s the biggest gain made by Russian troops in months, as the new head of the Ukrainian army said it was a tactical withdrawal.

Terminal CWO reported on his Telegram channel recently that the U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership, otherwise known as the ‘Chaplain School’, has mandated masking for all students.
Chaplain school is making the students mask up. I’ve had a number of students contact me and tell me a captain came in and told them he was giving them a lawful order to put their masks on. The NCOIC showed up afterwards and told them to mask up. 
I’m being told there are personnel in the class that are refusing though.

Chazan et al.

Thomas Fazi, UnHerd Thomas Fazi is an UnHerd columnist and translator. His latest book is The Covid Consensus, co-authored with Toby Green.

Francis P.

Richard Haass, Project Syndicate Richard Haass takes stock of the country’s successes and challenges as Russia’s war of aggression heads into its third year.

Ashford & Kroenig, Foreign Policy Amid chaos in Congress and an election campaign, the Biden administration may be forced to reconsider the viability of its approach toward Kyiv.

The future of the U.S. Air Force’s secretive Mayhem program is uncertain amid a funding issue that could at least lead to a major delay. Mayhem’s stated focus has been on demonstrating an air-launched hypersonic air vehicle capable of performing strike and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, but the apparent demand for this capability within the service at all is now unclear. There could still be interest going forward in certain components of the project, including research and development work on advanced high-speed jet engines.

As the Iranian-backed Houthi militia continues attacking ships in the Red Sea region, another international protective task force is set to begin operations on Monday.
Created by the European Union, Operation Aspides (Greek for shield) will be commanded by Italy and headquartered in Greece. It is unclear at the moment how many nations will provide assets, but the German Navy’s Type 124 Sachsen class air-defense frigate FGS Hessen set sail Feb. 8 from Wilhelmshaven to join Aspides, according to Janes.

(Marine Corps photos/Task & Purpose composite).
It’s a story as old as the military: someone always had it worse, things were harder, and that never happened back when was in. That thought process isn’t unique to the U.S. Marine Corps, but they labeled Marines who think that way as the ‘old corps.’ 
But what exactly is the old corps?
It’s a loaded title that can mean a lot of different things, but boiled down to the basics, it’s a general distrust of younger generations because they have it easier or the training is soft nowadays.

MilitaryView

F-15EX Eagle II: The Fighter that Redefines Stealth
F-15EX Eagle II: The Fighter that Redefines Stealth” delves into the revolutionary capabilities of this aircraft, challenging conventional stealth principles.
The F-15EX is the third version of the fighter to transfer control of the aircraft to a computer, following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia’s F-15QA and F-15SA.
The F-15EX Eagle II is an aircraft that stands out among other 21st-century sky warriors, even in an era where stealth fighters dominate.

A major medical study found that post-9/11 veterans suffering traumatic brain injuries are at increased risks of developing brain cancer later in life. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Ryan DeBooy).
Suffering a traumatic brain injury — a staple of combat for U.S. troops in the last two decades — appears to increase the risk of developing brain cancer later in life, a major medical study found.