Alex Beltyukov – RuSpotters Team via Wikicommons (CCA-SA-3.0)
Russia is likely considering returning to service its Cold War-era M-55 high-altitude spy plane, to provide additional intelligence-gathering capabilities over the battlefields of Ukraine. This is the recent assessment of the U.K. Ministry of Defense, and it follows the appearance of photos showing the rarely-seen aircraft at a Russian test facility, fitted with an electronic intelligence (ELINT) payload.
In one of its regular intelligence updates, the U.K.

Navigating Medicare can be confusing, especially if it’s your first time eligible. There’s an alphabet soup of Medicare parts and a variety of plan options that allow you to select the coverage that best meets your personal needs, but, at first glance, it can feel overwhelming. After all, how are we supposed to know what kind of health care support we might need in the future?
Now that we are in the midst of Medicare’s annual enrollment window, it is important to learn about available options before the Dec. 7 deadline.

The Army-Navy football game presented by USAA is the annual culmination of the longstanding rivalry between the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy. Beyond the service academies, the matchup also serves as a competition between the Army and the Navy at large. For the 124th meeting of the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen, the two schools selected uniforms that embody the spirits of their respective services and highlight their different domains of battle.

Just in time for the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the History Channel has released an incredible, three-part series, titled “JFK: One Day in America.” With eyewitness accounts, spectacular footage and detailed context, viewers get a full picture of what really happened the day our nation lost a giant: November 22, 1963.
Episode one focuses on the assassination itself – the days and hours leading up to the attack in broad Dallas daylight. Interviews with Secret Service agents assigned to the first family offer unprecedented insight and access.

Ryan and Mike Kofman discuss the state of the war before turning to various other issues including important tactical adaptations since the start of summer, why Washington’s theory of its involvement in this war is fundamentally “unworkable” due to a lack of military observers in country, the various meanings of “stalemate,” and the big picture for next year. Image: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense
The post Adaptation at the Front and the Big Picture in Ukraine appeared first on War on the Rocks.

USN
A top Pentagon watchdog has raised concerns that the U.S. Navy is pushing ahead too fast in its plans for the MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone, and inviting new risks in doing so, in a new report. Separately, the U.S. military has announced that Boeing is being given an additional $36 million to support the MQ-25’s continued development specifically to help “mitigate component obsolescence” in six subsystems as part of a preliminary design review.

The US State Department has authorized the sale of Sidewinder missiles and related equipment to South Korea.
Approval of sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles to South Korea
The US State Department has given the green light to a Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea. The deal, valued at $52.1 million, includes acquiring AIM-9X Block II and II+ Sidewinder Missiles and other related equipment.

The Department of the Navy’s new cyber strategy, released Tuesday, places an emphasis on cyber as a warfighting domain in an attempt to change the culture of the sea services and elevate this mission area as a core competency.
The guidance, which applies to both the Navy and Marine Corps, was about three years in the making. Officials involved in the effort sought to make the distinction from past strategies and documents, which were heavily focused on cybersecurity and defense, to one that recognizes cyber is part of warfighting.

The Pentagon in the coming weeks will select which programs and systems will be fast-tracked under the department’s Replicator initiative that aims to rapidly field thousands of low-cost, autonomous systems, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks told reporters Tuesday.
Hicks first announced the initiative in August, with the stated goal of delivering “attritible” capabilities to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in 18 to 24 months to help counter China’s military buildup.

FILE: An AC-130 ‘spectre” flying gunship provides support in Operation Enduring Freedom in this undated AIr Force photo. (US Air Force via Getty Images).
An Air Force AC-130 gunship destroyed a truck on Tuesday after the aircraft’s crew watched militants in the vehicle launch a “close-range ballistic missile” against U.S. troops in Iraq, injuring eight American personnel, according to U.S. officials.
“The gunship maintained visual confirmation of the individuals from the time of the launch to the time of the engagement,” a U.S. official told Task & Purpose.

FILE: An AC-130 ‘spectre” flying gunship provides support in Operation Enduring Freedom in this undated AIr Force photo. (US Air Force via Getty Images).
An Air Force AC-130 gunship destroyed a truck on Tuesday in Western Iraq after the aircraft’s crew watched Iranian-backed militia fighters use the vehicle to launch a ballistic missile attack on U.S. troops, injuring eight Americans, defense officials said.
“Immediately following the attack, a U.S.

USAF
A U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider gunship struck a vehicle Tuesday near Baghdad involved in recent attacks on the Al-Asad airbase in Iraq, a U.S. official told The War Zone Tuesday. It was the first time the U.S. has struck a target in Iraq since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war Oct. 7.
At least one member of the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia was killed in the attack, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. The official did specify what role the vehicle or occupants had in the attacks on Al-Asad.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense is in talks with China’s Hongdu Aircraft Company to purchase L-15 twin-engine light fighters.
New  L-15 fighters to modernize Pakistan’s air fleet
The L-15s are expected to replace the aging J-7PGs  in the Pakistani air force. These Chinese light fighters could be a significant upgrade for Pakistan.
This acquisition is surprising, given that  Pakistan has already started purchasing two types of Chinese fighters: the  JF-17 Block 3  and the J-10C, both of the “4+ generation”.

An election victory in Argentina’s national elections by a far-right candidate has prompted a response from the UK Government.
The post Signal: Falklands Islands in focus following Argentina election appeared first on Army Technology.

CDM founder and author L Todd Wood reports live from within Israel. Todd is tracking developments in the conflict, along with efforts to free Israeli hostages help by Hamas.
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Defense Minister Israel Gallant said that since the beginning of the conflict, the Hezbollah group in neighboring Lebanon has launched about 1,000 missiles and rockets into northern Israel.

During the meeting on November 19, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused “Iran of being the root of hostile and aggressive actions against Israel.” “The war is taking place on many fronts, most intensely in the Gaza Strip,” Mr. Gallant said.

Germany announced more than 1.4 billion USD in additional military aid to Ukraine, helping Kyiv deal with Russia in a conflict that has lasted more than 20 months.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Germany would deploy an additional military aid package worth 1.3 billion euros ($1.42 billion) to Ukraine, including four IRIS-T air defense systems and artillery shells. He announced in Kyiv today after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov.
The IRIS-T air defense system is a gas Ukraine hopes to provide to deal with missile and UAV raids by Russian forces.

Hamas propaganda showing missile attacks against Israel 11/20/23Telegram

As CDM/Tsionizm reported on Nov 14, a five-day ceasefire has been in the works in the Gaza conflict in order to provide humanitarian relief to those affected in the Gaza Strip, and to exchange prisoners.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has agreed that they are “close to reaching a truce agreement” with Israel, and an official with PM Netanyahu’s office said “An announcement of a deal may be imminent.” CNBC is citing the Israeli prime minister’s office as saying a deal has been reached, reported Zero Hedge.

The South Korean military said North Korea launched a rocket carrying a military satellite earlier than the time frame Pyongyang previously announced.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC), the missile carrying a North Korean military satellite was launched from the Tongchang-ri missile test site northwest of North Korea at 10:43 p.m. The missile flew south, over the sea west of Baengnyeong Island. South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense is gathering more information about the launch.

Timothy Scholl was in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, and later worked as a JBLM police officer where he was accused of assaulting a soldier. (Photo on left courtesy of Timothy Scholl, screen capture on right from leaked surveillance video of incident. Task & Purpose composite image.).
A former Marine who worked as a police officer at Joint Base Lewis-McChord said his on-duty actions were misrepresented when a local Fox news station broadcast security footage of his attempt to obtain a DNA swab from a female soldier last spring.

The DGA conducted the first land-based test-firing of the M51.3 SLBM on 18 November 2023. (DGA)
France’s defence procurement agency, Directorate General of Armament (DGA), has successfully test-fired an M51.3 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) for the first time.
The test-launch was conducted from the DGA’s land-based missile testing site on 18 November in Landes, southwestern France.

The already operational 617 Squadron is soon to be joined by 809 Naval Air Squadron as the UK’s two front line units for the F-35B Lightning combat aircraft. (Crown Copyright)
The UK is to stand up its second operational squadron for the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning combat aircraft in the coming days, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to Janes on 20 November.

Seen on its maiden UK flight held within the confines of RAF Waddington earlier in November, the Protector RG1 will be able to operate throughout civil controlled airspace from 2024. (Crown Copyright)

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) expects to be able to fly the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9B Protector RG1 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in civil controlled airspace from 2024, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) told
Janes
on 21 November.

Armed Houthi rebels seized the British-owned, Japanese-operated ship for alleged ties with an Israeli businessman.
The post Signal: Yemen’s Houthis hijack “Israeli ship” in the Red Sea appeared first on Army Technology.

The LTAMDS radar integrated with the PAC-3 has intercepted an air-breathing threat, marking an achievement for missile defense strategies.
The post Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 hits the bullseye in LTAMDS radar integration appeared first on Army Technology.

HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System donated to Ukraine as part of packages from the US, Netherlands and Finland worth $2.4bn.
The post HIMARS for Ukraine among allied packages worth $2.4bn appeared first on Army Technology.

Honolulu S-A
A U.S. Navy plane overshot a runway and went into Kaneohe Bay, the military said today.

Osborn, Warrior M.

Tyler Rogoway, The War Zone
Lockheed is celebrating 80 years of Skunk Works with some new hints of what they are working on, SR-72 and NGAD ‘fighter’ included.

Peter Ong, Naval News
Dr.

Atlantic Council
Introduction
U.S.

The US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS
Chafee
seen here firing a Tomahawk Block V missile during an exercise on 1 December 2020. The US has approved a possible sale of the weapon to Japan.
(US NAVAIR)
The US State Department has approved a possible sale of Block IV and Block V Tomahawk missiles and associated equipment to Japan.
A notice published by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 17 November disclosed that the sale is estimated to be worth some USD2.35 billion.

Calling the United States “the indispensable nation,” President Joe Biden used his second Oval Office address to argue that America has the resources and the responsibility to arm Ukraine and Israel “for as long as it takes.” Absent from the speech was Taiwan — the other U.S. partner in desperate need of U.S. weapons — along with any mention of the tradeoffs that will be required to balance Washington’s competing demands.

American special operations forces, 70,000 strong and drawn from four services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps), are engaged on a dizzying number of fronts. These forces are called on to counter Russia’s hot and cold wars in Europe, to bolster allied forces on the Korean peninsula, to deter Chinese expansionism in the Indo-Pacific, to contest violent extremist organizations, to fight intractable wars in Syria and the Levant, and to patrol vast spaces with African security forces.

Amb. Clint Williamson, Lead Coordinator of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) for Ukraine, spoke about the Russian military’s war crimes in Ukraine and the efforts to investigate and prosecute Russian war criminals. The conversation began with an overview of the war and then shifted to the way in which investigators can collect evidence for international prosecution. Image: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense
The post Investigating Russian War Crimes: Ukraine’s Quest for Justice appeared first on War on the Rocks.

The Norwegian government is procuring more NASAMS launchers, fire-control centres, and missiles for the Norwegian Armed Forces. (Forsvaret)
The Norwegian government, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, and Nammo announced investment plans on 15 November for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) launchers, fire-control centres, and missiles for the Norwegian Armed Forces.
The NOK12.5 billion (USD1.2 billion) order is Norway’s largest single investment in air defence in 30 years, according to the Norwegian government.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is shown a cutaway model of the second stage of the Fattah-2 hypersonic missile during a visit to the IRGCAF museum in Tehran on 19 November 2023. (leader.ir)
Iran unveiled its Fattah-2 hypersonic missile during a visit by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Aerospace Force (IRGCAF) museum in Tehran on 19 November.

A German Potsdam-class OPV. Singapore is believed to have ordered four similar OPVs from Fassmer. (Michael Nitz – Naval Press Service)
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has signed a contract with German shipbuilder Fassmer for four new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
The OPVs will replace the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN’s) fleet of four Sentinel-class maritime security and response vessels (MSRVs), the ministry disclosed in a 20 November statement.

The Brazilian marines received 23 AAV7A1 RAM/RS vehicles between 2017 and 2018. (Victor Manuel Saraiva Barreira)

The Brazilian Marine Corps is looking to acquire 8×8 wheeled amphibious armoured vehicles in several variants to replace its fleet of AAV7A1 Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs), Vice Admiral Rogério Ramos Lage, Commander of the Marine Materiel Command, told
Janes
recently.

The project, part of the Marine Corps Combat Power Strategic Subprogram, would modernise the Amphibious Vehicles Battalion, Vice Adm Lage said in an October interview.

The Brazilian SK105A2S Kürassier tank is armed with a 105 mm cannon, a coaxial 7.62 mm medium machine gun, and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. (Victor Barreira)
The Brazilian Marine Corps wants to replace its ageing SK105A2S Kürassier light battle tank fleet with a new main battle tank (MBT) by 2032, Commander of the Marine Material Command Vice Admiral Rogério Ramos Lage told Janes.

USN
A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol jet reportedly overshot the runway at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) Monday afternoon local time, according to local media reports.
According to a spokesperson at MCBH, the jet was landing at the base when it ran off the runway and ended up partially submerged in Kaneohe Bay, KITV reported. “The incident happened about 2 p.m.,” Hawaii News Now reported. “Sources said the aircraft had nine people on board and all of them made it to shore.

Telegram screencap
The increasingly nasty fall weather in Ukraine hasn’t halted fighting, but it is slowing things down for Ukrainian and Russian troops alike across an already stagnant battlefield. The notorious ‘muddy season’ has arrived in the war torn country.
Ukrainians refer to the muddy seasons as ‘bezdorizhzhia,’ translated as ‘roadlessness.’ This Ukrainian armored vehicle fighting its way through thick mud is a good example of why it’s called this:

The roads on the Ukrainian front are now like this pic.twitter.

SpaceX
SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket lifted off for its second test flight over the weekend. Among the stunning imagery and video to have emerged from the launch that caught our attention was the sight of its super-heavy rocket booster generating gargantuan “mach diamonds” or “shock diamonds.” What’s particularly impressive is how the rocket booster’s 33 Raptor Vacuum (RVac) engines combined to create a perfectly formed mach diamond as the stack lifted off the pad.

Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images
The U.S. government says we are “closer than we’ve ever been” to a deal to free at least some of the approximately 240 hostages held by Hamas in the wake of the militant group’s attack on Israel on October 7. The Biden administration meanwhile says it’s “doing everything we can” to forge an agreement under which those hostages will be released.
These statements were provided to reporters today by John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the U.S. National Security Council.

Marine veteran Joel David Beal was killed in Ukraine on Oct. 13, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Chosen Company).
Marine veteran Joel David Beal was a standout among foreign volunteers who had come to Ukraine to fight against the Russians, said a fellow U.S. veteran who fought with Beal.
On one mission, Beal was driving a Humvee when another volunteer dropped an M320 40mm grenade launcher outside the vehicle, Ryan O’Leary told Task & Purpose on Monday. O’Leary leads foreign volunteers in “Chosen Company,” which is attached to Ukraine’s 59th Motorized Brigade.

Lockheed Skunk Works
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works is celebrating its 80th anniversary. A marketing push around this milestone has been underway and today we got a new ad for it that includes a look at an intriguing tailless manned tactical jet concept. It’s in line with what we have seen from the bleeding edge design firm in the recent past surrounding the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative.

With the United States experiencing a constrained supply chain of solid rocket motors, Colorado-based Ursa Major plans to design and manufacture the key components with 3D printing technology.
On Monday, the rocket and engine manufacturer announced the technique — dubbed Lynx — as a solution for America’s solid rocket motor (SRM) industry, which is “plagued by a broken supply chain and an overextended industrial base,” according to a company press release.

Houthi screencap
The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Monday released a video showing Sunday’s helicopter-borne raid on the Galaxy Leader, a Bahamian-flagged vehicle carrier transiting the Red Sea. The Houthis still hold the ship and its 25 crew members. A U.S. military official told The War Zone it is believed to be the first Houthi helicopter attack on a ship.
The video opens with a view of a Houthi Mi-171Sh variant transport helicopter with what appear to be UB-32 rocket pods and a PKM light machine gun at the door flying toward the vessel.

USAF
The U.S. Air Force is exploring the possibility of buying up to 10 commercial airliners modified to serve as VIP transports to augment its existing fleet of aging C-32A aircraft. Two years ago, the service dropped plans to acquire an outright replacement for its C-32As, which are commonly referred to by the callsign “Air Force Two” that is used when the Vice President is onboard.

FILE: U.S. soldiers deployed to Syria to support the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve mission. (Spc. Jensen Guillory/U.S. Army).
U.S. troops and partner forces have conducted 387 operations against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria so far in 2023, far more than they did in all of 2022, according to U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM. 
But while the tempo of operations is up, far fewer suspected ISIS fighters have been killed during those missions than last year.
Through October, Centcom says U.S.