Happy Republic Day, India. On today’s Indian Republic Day, we celebrate the spirit of unity and sovereignty. In honor of this significant occasion, we delve into the remarkable realm of India’s elite Para Special Forces and their top-tier weaponry.

Indian PARA SPECIAL FORCES commandos are highly skilled in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency missions. They carry out these missions covertly and with great accuracy. They have been successful in many important operations, including the 1971 War and the Surgical Strike.

Welcome to Rewind & Reconnoiter. Each week, we’ll ask one of our authors to look back at an article they’ve written for War on the Rocks in light of a current news event. Did their argument hold up? Read more below to find out. *** In 2022, Timothy R. Heath, a senior international and defense researcher at the RAND Corporation, wrote “Is China Planning to Attack Taiwan? A Careful Consideration of Available Evidence Says No” for War on the Rocks, in which he argued that it was unlikely that the Chinese Communist Party would invade Taiwan.

News of a fallen service member always sends shockwaves through our military community. The sadness feels overwhelming, a burden we are forced to carry, somehow fraught with responsibility: it’s the least we can do for the friends and families left behind to grapple with their new realities. A missing seat at the table, in perpetuity. The broken hopes and dreams; the heavy, unrelenting weight of grief of a world noticeably dimmer.
Earlier this week, we learned of the death of two Navy SEALs, killed in the Gulf of Aden during a ship-boarding op on January 11.

Anduril
Anduril has become the first contractor to formally announce that it supporting the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft advanced uncrewed aircraft program. This comes as the service says this program is progressing slower than it would like due to budgetary issues and amid emerging concerns about the cost and capabilities of the future drones.
A brief press release Anduril put out today says it is one five vendors the Air Force has chosen to help develop its future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

Your support and encouragement throughout basic training was an essential part of your recruit’s success, and reaching graduation. As you approach the end of basic training and begin to think about attending graduation, remember graduation is a big deal for your recruit. 
We encourage you to do everything you can to be there. Attending their graduation gives you the chance to feel the joy and pride of your recruit’s accomplishments with them.

UAE have signed record contracts for uncrewed ground vehicles and aerial vehicles, in deals with Milrem Robotics and the EDGE consortium.

The capabilities of Bradley Fighting Vehicles were enhanced with the upgrade of Raytheon’s Commander’s Independent Viewer (CIV) system.

After two months in the job, the Department of Navy’s CIO is looking at updating the sea services’ information superiority vision with a focus on data.
Published in 2020, the document had three key focus areas: modernize, innovate and defend. Now, Jane Rathbun wants to move to a more data-centric approach.
“We are going to evolve to 2.

Francisco Roman (right, bottom) and Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, recover after operations in Ramadi, Iraq, 2005. Roman, now a police officer with the San Diego Police Department, was awarded the Purple Heart Medal during a ceremony held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 23, 2024. hoto courtesy of Francisco Roman.
Francisco Roman was leading a team of Marines through the normally-chaotic roads of Ramadi, Iraq in 2005 when the streets suddenly turned quiet.

Rheinmetall officially opened its new factory in Zalaegerszeg, western Hungary, on 18 August 2023, which is producing the Lynx IFV for the HDF. (Rheinmetall)

Hungary will arm its Lynx infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) with Hero loitering munitions,
Janes
learnt at Defence iQ’s International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2024 conference being held in London from 22 to 25 January. This is in addition to other ammunition for the vehicles and the 163 Lynx IFVs being produced in Hungary.

The US DoD has invested an additional $49m in advanced packaging capabilities and capacity to manufacture semiconductors.

Quarterhorse Mk 0, Hermeus’s ‘dynamic iron bird’. (Hermeus)
Following ground tests of its Quarterhorse Mk 0 ‘dynamic iron bird’, Hermeus is preparing to complete the build of and unveil its first flight-test vehicle, dubbed Mk 1.

Mk 0 testing wrapped up in November 2023. The test campaign, conducted at the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma, Tennessee, marked Hermeus’s first real-world test deployment beyond its Atlanta, Georgia factory.

The new MRV is intended to replace the former Irish Naval Service flagship LÉ
Eithne
, which was decommissioned in 2022.
(Michael Nitz/Naval Press Service)
The Irish Department of Defence (DoD) has issued a prior information notice for the procurement of a new multirole vessel (MRV) for the Irish Naval Service (INS) on the European Union’s (EU’s) Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) portal.

The information notice, published on 23 January, moves the Irish government’s plan to procure an MRV into a new phase.

Simone Ledeen, Realcleardefense
A growing number of Americans grapple with a profound dilemma.

The PLA deploys YJ-62 missiles in Haiyang drills. (Janes)

The 333rd Coastal Defence Brigade of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Northern Theater Command (NTC) has deployed land-attack YJ-62 anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) in a drill that took place in Haiyang, a coastal city southeast of the Shandong Peninsula

in China.

The GY300 can transport payloads weighing up to 300 kg. (Edge Group)
Edge Group unveiled three new autonomous platforms on the opening day of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) 2024 show held in Abu Dhabi from 23 to 25 January.
In a statement issued on 23 January Edge Group said that the latest platforms are purpose-built to operate in demanding environments, covering tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as logistics support. The three new platforms include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and two unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).

DefenseScoop
“Integration is one of the things that has been a focus for [fiscal 2025] and will ramp up even more with our great power competition efforts in [fiscal 2026] and out as we…

Harold C.

Johnny Franks, Warrior Maven
Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) being accelerated to another urgent operational requirement

Todd South, Army Times
LAS VEGAS — The distances that military snipers shoot with new combinations of rifles and calibers require optics that see farther and with more clarity.

Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics
Here’s how the Ultra-light Camouflage Netting System (ULCANS) and the Improved Ghillie System (IGS) work on the battlefield.

The FWH-3000 cargo UAV can carry a maximum payload of 1,000 kg. (Janes/Amit Kalra)
China-based cargo unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developer Flightwin Innovation Technology Company exhibited a range of rotary-wing UAVs during the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) 2024 held in Abu Dhabi from 23 to 25 January.
Speaking to Janes on 23 January Chong Chen, the vice-president of Flightwin, said the FWH-3000 has been developed to address the requirements of cargo and general transportation for both civil and defence domains.

Through greater digitalisation and a common, open systems approach, the US Army is reshaping its land systems for an new age of warfare.

Seen at its home station of RAF Marham, the F-35B now comprises more than the previously stated 15% of value per aircraft to the UK economy, according to Lockheed Martin. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
The value of the F-35 programme to the economy of the United Kingdom is now “significantly higher” than it was just a few years ago, Lockheed Martin has said.

The Sunflower 200 UAV can be customised as per user requirements. (Janes/Amit Kalra)

China-based Cobtec Ltd has confirmed the acquisition of the Sunflower 200 long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by an undisclosed Dubai-based entity, a company official told
Janes
at the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) 2024 held in Abu Dhabi from 23 to 25 January.

Speaking to
Janes
on 23 January a Cobtec official said the UAV is in production and can be deployed in two configurations.

The Pinaka 214 mm (12-round) MBRL is an all-weather, indirect fire, free-flight artillery rocket system. The system is designed for shoot-and-scoot operations and is based on a locally manufactured Tatra 8×8 truck chassis. (BEML Limited)

The Indian Army has approved the development of advanced rockets for its Pinaka Multi‐Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs),

a source at India’s state-owned rocket manufacturer Munitions India Limited (MIL) told
Janes
on 24 January.

Ukraine is running out of ammunition for its U.S.-supplied howitzers, as Congress withholds additional U.S. aid for its armed forces, and Russia rapidly bolsters its firepower, Kiev soldiers warned.

A Ukrainian artillery team operating an M109 Paladin howitzer said they have been forced to start rationing their shells to try to repel Russian forces near Bakhmut due to dwindling supplies.
“We cannot fulfill our tasks 100%, although we want to,” a commander of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade told CNN, adding that he is desperately waiting for more ammunition.

Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the use of AI for military operations has been one of the most debated topics across public media and the open-source literature. But for all the praise Ukrainian innovation has garnered, there is too little recognition of how effective Russia’s more reckless approach to AI has been.

The RBAirF’s Airbus 295MW fleet will be used in a strategic and tactical transport capability within the region and beyond. (Airbus)
The Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) has received its first two out of four ordered Airbus C295MW transport aircraft.
The aircraft arrived at the RBAirF’s Air Movement Centre at Rimba Air Base on 24 January, according to a statement from the Brunei Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). Brunei’s contract with Airbus Defence and Space SAU, Spain, for acquisition of the aircraft was signed on 2 December 2022.

An Atmaca missile seen here being launched from the Turkish corvette TCG
Kınalıada
. Indonesia looks set to be the first export customer of the missile.
(Roketsan)

Indonesia has awarded local defence company PT Republik Defensindo the contract to procure an initial batch of Atmaca anti-ship guided missiles from Turkey,
Janes
has been informed by multiple sources close to the matter.

Senator Viktor Bondarev, former commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces, confirms the downing of the  Il-76  over  Belgorod, revealing the crew’s critical details and professionalism.
Technical Analysis of the Il-76 Shootdown in Belgorod
Senator Viktor Bondarev, with extensive experience as a military pilot and former commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, has unequivocally declared the downing of the Il-76 military transport aircraft over the Belgorod region. This unfortunate incident was evidenced by visible traces in the sky and reports of external impact by the crew.

As the war approaches its second anniversary, the Russians are beginning to deploy North Korean weapons, compounding Ukraine’s problems as it continues to wait for new air defenses from the United States.
When Russia turned to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un for help in its war with Ukraine, he came with a huge shopping list that included a million artillery shells to fire at Ukrainian troops entrenched in ditches across the country. South and east, and dozens of North Korea’s latest, barely tested missiles.
Now, those weapons are beginning to appear, deeply worrying U.S.

Uncredited
Over the past few months, the Australian Army has been ridding itself of its retired fleet of problematic NHIndustries NH-90 Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTH) by deliberately wrecking and literally burying the remnants. Now Ukraine has upped the stakes with a formal request for whatever is left of the unloved helicopters. 
You can read all about the sad saga of Australia’s NH-90 fleet in our previous in-depth report linked here.

Curious about what makes F-16 pilots stand out? Join us as we explore “What Sets the F-16 Training Program Apart?” Dive into the unique aspects of this training, giving a peek into the skills and techniques that set F-16 pilots apart in the vast expanse of the sky.
The F-16 fighter, making its debut flight in 1974, has transcended time to remain a cornerstone of aerial supremacy.

U.S. Army screencap
The U.S. Army says facilities that support operations for a key space and missile test range were among many affected by massive waves seen in a viral video that crashed ashore Jan. 20 on Roi-Namur Island in the Kwajalein Atoll. The “weather-driven waves” caused “significant damage” across the island, the Army said in a media release.
Roi-Namur is the second-largest island of the atoll, which is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll (USAG–KA) based there supports the U.S.

The Defense Department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office met its goal of supplying the U.S. military with a minimum viable capability for Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control, via the eighth iteration of its Global Information Dominance Experiment (GIDE) in December. But due to legislative and other hurdles, that tool is not yet fully accessible for widespread use, according to a senior official.

Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha is well known for his actions defending Combat Outpost Keating, but who knows about his service as a tanker? (U.S. Army photos. Task & Purpose composite image.).
Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha is well known for his actions defending Combat Outpost Keating but not so much about how he got his start in the U.S. Army. Before he was a cavalry scout, Romesha was a tanker who sent rounds downrange during his deployment to Iraq in 2003.

Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis was released from federal prison on Jan. 12, 2024. A Japanese court initially sentenced him to 3 years in prison following a fatal car crash in which two people were killed. (Navy photo).
Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis, who was found guilty of killing two Japanese citizens in a May 2021 car crash, will not get a promotion.
Alkonis’ name had appeared on a recent Navy promotion list of officers to be advanced to lieutenant commander. However, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said this week that Alkonis would not be promoted.

Pentagon officials are briefing members of the Congress on their latest plans for the Replicator autonomous systems initiative, as the department envisions creating an artificial intelligence hub to support the rollout of related technologies.
DefenseScoop reported earlier this month that Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks had recently selected a small number of capabilities — but not specific systems — that will be prioritized for the initial tranche, and that DOD officials planned to brief lawmakers in January.

Preparing for Fort Moore Graduation can be very exciting, especially when you have accurate information regarding transportation, accommodations, and agenda of the activities.
To make sure you have the most up-to-date information possible, we’ve compiled many of the frequently asked questions – and their answers – that we receive from families who are traveling to Fort Moore for Army basic training graduation.

Future budget requests made by the Department of the Air Force are likely to place greater emphasis on the capabilities needed to improve integration between the Air and Space Forces and the rest of the joint force, according to two senior officials.
Much of the focus for recent DAF investment plans has been on specific platforms and weapons, as well as how to balance current readiness goals and new modernization efforts, Acting Undersecretary of the Air Force Kristyn Jones said Wednesday during an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Across the defense community, organizations are piloting projects and setting up task forces aimed at improving artificial intelligence integration into mission operations. In a recent interview series, defense leaders share their evolving cloud and AI strategies to drive mission outcomes, scale operations and secure their data and workloads.

U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar
The U.S. Air Force is training what are very likely to be its last two F-15C/D instructor pilots at the Eagle’s ‘schoolhouse’ at Kingsley Field (“the land of no slack”), in Klamath Falls, Oregon. As we have reported in the past, Kingsley Field will replace its current F-15C/Ds with F-35A stealth fighters, overturning a previous plan that would have seen the base’s 173rd Fighter Wing assume responsibility for training pilots for the new F-15EX Eagle II.

A Block 70 F-16D of the Royal Bahraini Air Force. USAF. USAF
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the maiden flight of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which occurred on January 20, 1974. The 50 years of F-16 operations that have followed include more than 4,500 aircraft being built and the almost continuous application and testing of emerging capabilities to keep the Fighting Falcon highly relevant over the battlefield.

A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it. *** After a surge in gang violence in Ecuador in the first few days of the new year, the country’s president, Daniel Noboa, declared a state of emergency on Jan. 9, 2023, and said that there is now an “internal armed conflict” in the country. Since then, over 2,700 people have been arrested.

Germany which has already donated $6.5bn to Ukraine, and committed to $5.4bn by 2028, announced at teh latest meeting a further $8.2bn.

Crash capture via X/Il-76 Credit Aktug Ates via Wikicommons (GNU 1.4)
Details are still very limited, but a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 Candid transport aircraft crashed today in the Belgorod region in the west of the country, bordering Ukraine. Unconfirmed reports from Russia and Ukraine claim that Ukrainian air defenses were responsible for bringing the aircraft down, but that cannot be independently verified at this stage. Russia, for its part, alleges that the aircraft was carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war when it was deliberately brought down.

The tracked RCV ordered by the UAE Armed Forces is likely to be Milrem’s Type-X. (Janes/Sonny Butterworth)
The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) Edge Group announced on 24 January during the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) 2024 show held in Abu Dhabi that the UAE Ministry of Defence had placed an order for unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) made by its Milrem Robotics subsidiary.
Edge said in a statement that the contract covers 20 tracked robotic combat vehicles (RCVs) that it did not identify and 40 THeMIS UGVs.

Hades Defense Systems Lamia UAV. (Janes)
Bulgarian defence and security systems developer Hades Defense Systems revealed details of its new Lamia developmental multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) 2024 in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to
Janes
on 23 January, Yordon Yordanov, regional manager at Hades, said the Lamia is being designed as a hybrid-propulsion multipurpose UAV for both civil and defence applications. Hades began working on the platform in 2023.

Strategy acknowledges collapse of domestic manufacturing but doesn’t acknowledge the real villain: Globalism (now controlled by China)
Hooray – the new (and first) Defense Industrial Policy Strategy is here.
Strategies provided the pathway from policy to implementation and are key documents to articulate a logical sequence of steps to successful action action action. They must be intellectually visual and actionable by stating the major muscle movements to implement the text.