UVision
Small loitering munitions, also known as kamikaze drones, with new specialized seekers would be a valuable additional tool for finding and taking out enemy land-based electronic warfare systems, according to U.S. Special Operations Command. This underscores the threat posed by electronic warfare capabilities that potential adversaries, especially China and Russia, have already fielded and new systems they are continuing to develop. It also speaks to ongoing discussions about the roles of U.S.

Cpt. Chiara Botello from 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Conroy Bowl on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii on Jan. 14, 2021. (1st Lt. Angelo Mejia/U.S. Army).
Soldiers who were forced out of the Army for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine have received letters with instructions on how to rejoin, as the service faces its toughest recruiting environment in a generation.

(Task & Purpose composite image).
The M9 Beretta earned the nickname of “world defender” because of its back-to-back contracts that kept it in circulation from 1995 to 2017. Then, in 2017, SIG Sauer won the Department of Defense modular handgun contract with their proposed P320-M17, which is akin to declaring it the best combat pistol — at least right now, or at least better than the M9. 
However, a previously submitted P226-MK25 that lost to Beretta’s M9 in 2009 eventually became the preferred sidearm for U.S. Navy SEALs.

Senior Navy leaders believe their department has reached a major zero-trust cybersecurity objective years ahead of the deadline, according to the chief technology officer.
Last fall, the Pentagon released a far-reaching zero-trust strategy to direct how its components move to protect their networks and information architectures against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

The Department of Defense on Friday publicly released its new strategic guidance for operations in the information environment, which calls for a shift in how the Pentagon approaches the integration of “informational and physical power.”
The document, which was signed in July by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, marks the first update of the strategy since 2016.
The U.S.

(Photo by David Mareuil/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
On November 14, Japan’s eighth Mogami class frigate, JS Yūbetsu, was launched in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in the southern part of Japan’s Honshu island. Mogami class 30FFM Multi-Function Frigates are set to become the backbone of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and are packed with a wide array of advanced features. The stealthy frigates, which feature a futuristic appearance given their clean, geometric profiles, will have the ability to perform various mission-sets for the JMSDF.

(Task & Purpose photo composite).
It’s time for everyone to calm down about fears that America’s Generation Z has elevated despised terrorist Osama bin Laden to some sort of Yoda figure.
As most Americans already know, Bin Laden planned the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania that killed nearly 3,000 Americans. Almost 10 years later, Navy SEALs killed the infamous, elusive bin Laden in a daring night raid inside Pakistan.
On Monday, more than 20 years since 9/11, a TikTok user posted a video in which she read parts of bin Laden’s 2002 “Letter to America.

In a dramatic turn of events on November 5, pro-Palestinian protesters in Turkey gathered in front of the Incirlik air base, a key US military installation in the Middle East. The protestors, carrying Turkish and Palestinian flags, sought to express their opposition to the Israeli offensive in Gaza. The situation escalated as thousands attempted to breach the compound, leading to a forceful response from the police, who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.

A Mojave unmanned aerial system designed for short takeoff and landing (STOL) was put through its paces in a maritime environment this week when it operated from the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, the U.K. Royal Navy and drone maker General Atomics announced Friday.
The demo took place Nov. 15 off the coast of Virginia. The trial came as the United Kingdom, United States and other nations’ militaries are pursuing new robotic platforms for strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and other missions.

In a pivotal moment, Germany is redefining its security policies in response to the resurgence of large-scale armed conflicts in Europe. With Russia-Ukraine tensions persisting and a significant Israeli-Palestinian conflict unfolding, Germany, as the leading economy in Europe, is challenging long-standing notions about its military role.
Turning the Tide: Chancellor Scholz’s Defining Zeitenzwende Speech
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, initially hesitant to provide direct military aid to Kyiv, dramatically reframed Germany’s stance, emphasizing a moral duty to resist Russian aggression.

General Atomics
The Mojave drone, specifically developed with the ability to perform short takeoffs and landings, including from rough fields, with minimal support, has begun experimental operations aboard the U.K. Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The event marks an important milestone in the development of the Mojave — as well as the wider family of Q-1 lineage drones — which hadn’t previously operated from an aircraft carrier, as well as for the Royal Navy, which is increasingly looking to harness the capability offered by uncrewed aircraft for its carrier force.

Hosts L Todd Wood and Col John Mills (USA, Ret) discuss China building a new Panama Canal.
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Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Gular said Thursday that Turkey was in talks with Britain and Spain to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, although Germany was opposed to the idea.
“We are working on the acquisition,” he declared in a parliamentary appearance in Ankara. “Now the United Kingdom and Spain are trying to convince Germany, (although) we are not in talks with Germany… If possible, we plan to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.”
NATO member Turkey has also requested the purchase of American F-16 fighters, although the order has been delayed.

Welcome to Mid-Afternoon Map, our exclusive members-only newsletter that provides a cartographic perspective on current events, geopolitics, and history from the Caucasus to the Carolinas. Subscribers can look forward to interesting takes on good maps and bad maps, beautiful maps and ugly ones — and bizarre maps whenever possible. *** How would history change if America was backwards? It’s a question the country’s leading historians still refuse to answer. When you ask, they just back slowly away. So let me suggest three possibilities: Everything would be the same.

UK estimates of Russian equipment losses to be over 7,117 armoured vehicles, including 2,475 MBTs and 1,300 artillery systems.
The post UK estimates indicate Russia has lost 15% of its tank inventory in Ukraine appeared first on Army Technology.

An artist’s impression of the Poseidon in German service. (Boeing)
Germany is increasing its buy of Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime multimission aircraft (MMA), with a further three aircraft approved by the country’s government.
Kommandeur Marineflieger, Sea Captain Broder Nielsen, confirmed the additional purchase on 17 November, saying, “The budget committee of the Bundestag has approved the procurement of three more P-8A Poseidons. A good and important decision for the operational capability of German naval aviation.

CDM Founder L Todd Wood reports direct from Tel Aviv on the situation on the ground.
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Norway’s response to global security challenges is shaped by strategic defence investments and collaborations.
The post Norway fortifies defence capabilities with $1.6bn surge for military evolution appeared first on Army Technology.

The Royal Swedish Navy’s Visby-class corvettes are to be fitted with the Sea Ceptor local area anti-air missile system. Space for a vertical launcher installation for CAMM missiles already exists in the weapon deck area beneath the main deck hatch. (MBDA)
Sweden is moving ahead with plans to retrofit MBDA’s Sea Ceptor local area anti-air missile system to its five Visby-class corvettes as part of the mid-life upgrade (MLU) for the class.

The USMC is procuring 175 ACV-30s, with an IOC planned for 2026. (BAE Systems)

The US Marines Corps (USMC) plans to deploy its first four 8×8 Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) in March 2024,
Janes
learned at SAE Media Group’s Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2023 conference held in London from 13 to 15 November.

The new antenna array associated with Project Strongbow is shown here in testing at SwRI’s San Antonio, Texas, facility. (SwRI)
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has begun retrofitting an upgraded communications eavesdropping suite on its 12 Halifax-class frigates under Project Strongbow.
Work has started on the implementation phase, according to Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND), with initial operational capability (IOC) planned for 2025.

A still from a video released by Edge during the Dubai Airshow shows a Reach-S flying from the airport on Abu al-Abyad island. (Edge Group)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces have ordered both Reach-S unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and Garmoosha rotary UAVs, local defence company Edge announced during the Dubai Airshow on 16 November.
It said the Reach-S order covers the delivery of 100 UAVs without specifying the value of the contract, while the contract for an unspecified number of Garmoosha UAVs is worth AED239 million (USD65 million).

DNews
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S.

Doug G. Ware, S&S
WASHINGTON – Gen.

Sam LaGrone, USNI News
The Navy awarded Ingalls Shipbuilding a $130 million advanced procurement contract for the service’s next planned big deck America-class amphibious warship, according…

DScoop
A leader of Air Force Futures provided insight into the latest thinking about collaborative combat aircraft.

John Waters, Real Clear Defense
The safety was flicked off, the hammer cocked. The gun was one inch above the seam of my pants pocket. A sudden move and the thing might go off.

Former IDF Intelligence head discussed future Israel-Hamas War Gaza campaigns at an Israeli National Public Diplomacy Directorate briefing.
The post Israel plan 2024 South Gaza campaign and temporary evacuations appeared first on Army Technology.

A total of 125 Italian Army Ariete MBTs will be upgraded. (Italian MoD)
Lieutenant Colonel Salvatore Bizzarro, head of the Force Development Section of the Italian Army General Staff’s Capability Development and Financial Planning Division, presented plans to modernise his service’s armoured forces and develop new-generation platforms on the last day of SAE Media Group’s Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2023 conference held in London from 13 to 15 November.

EDA redefines defense strategy in response to Ukraine war, stirring debate on EU security and military priorities.
The post Realigning EU defence: EDA’s new priorities in light of Ukraine war appeared first on Army Technology.

EDGE Group has witnessed a year of milestones with contracts, strategic collaborations, and technological advancements.
The post Signal: EDGE Group’s moves at Dubai Airshow 2023 propel UAE’s defence sector appeared first on Army Technology.

The Kavro Doma 360 helmet (pictured above) comprises top-to-chin (longitudinal) and side-to-side (lateral) harness adjustment functionality. (MKU Limited)
Indian defence company MKU Limited has launched a new ballistic helmet known as the Kavro Doma 360 at the Milipol Paris 2023 exhibition held in Paris from 14 to 17 November.
The helmet, according to the company specifications, can protect against AK-47’s 7.62×39 mm mild steel core (MSC) bullets, as well as 7.62×51 mm and 5.56×45 mm NATO rounds.

Following its formal handover,
Bani Yas
departed Lorient on 23 October and is expected to arrive in the UAE in early December.
(Naval Group)
French shipbuilder Naval Group has delivered the first Gowind 2500 corvette on order for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The new vessel, named Bani Yas (P 110),was formally handed over during a ceremony held at Naval Group’s shipyard in Lorient on 21 October, the shipbuilder announced on 11 November.

Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system is key to the country’s air defense. Using advanced radar and high-speed precision missiles, Iron Dome can detect and intercept incoming munitions like rockets and artillery. Three days after the Hamas terror attacks on October 7, 2023, the United States announced that it would send military aid to Israel, including Iron Dome interceptors. On October 26, 2023, Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed that the U.S. is sending two Iron Dome systems to Israel.

Events in Myanmar’s renewed civil war took a dramatic turn these past three weeks, reminding us not to forget about the world’s longest running conflict. Just prior to the break of dawn on Oct. 27, 2023, the Three Brotherhood Alliance of the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army launched a surprise assault — called Operation 1027 — on junta forces in northern Shan State.

David A. Merkel, managing director of Summit International Advisors, LLC, spoke about the Sino-Soviet split during the Cold War, the two sides’ conflicting interests, and what that means for great power competition. The conversation also explored U.S. policy options in Central Asia and options for further engagement in the region. Image: Wikipedia
The post Seeds of Division Between Russia and China appeared first on War on the Rocks.

The commander of Iran’s Quds task force affirmed that the country’s forces are ready to “do everything necessary” to support Hamas in its conflict with Israel.

“We make a fraternal commitment and assure you that we will do whatever is necessary in this historic battle,” said Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds task force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Iranian Catholic Church (IRGC), wrote in a letter published on November 16.

In the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, the former’s unparalleled technological prowess emerged as a decisive factor, allowing it to outmaneuver and overwhelm the latter on the battlefield. The Givati Brigade, spearheading Israel’s ground offensive, operates from a sophisticated command and control center near the Gaza border, leveraging a vast network of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), fighters, warships, tanks, and soldiers.

The VAC will be based on the Spanish Army’s Pizarro IFV and Castor AEV (pictured). (GDELS)

Spain plans to sign a contract for the Vehículo de Apoyo de Cadenas (VAC) Tracked Support Vehicle contract in December, Colonel Antonio Llorens Perez, who is responsible for the Pizarro infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and VAC programmes in the Spanish Ministry of Defence’s Directorate-General for Armament and Material (DGAM), told the last day of SAE Media Group’s Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2023 conference held in London from 13 to 15 November.

A Luftwaffe Eurofighter at the ILA 2022 exhibition in Berlin. With the previous German government having said it would buy Eurofighter Tranche 5 aircraft to partially replace the Luftwaffe’s Tornado fleet, an official told
Janes
that this plan is now ‘undecided’.
(Janes/Gareth Jennings)
Germany has not yet determined if it will proceed with its previously announced plan to buy Eurofighter Tranche 5 combat aircraft.

Lockheed Martin is under contract to continue PrSM development for the army. (US Army)
The US Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) completed its shortest ever trip during a production qualification test on 13 November, according to a service announcement on 16 November.
Fired from an M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), the missile demonstrated “successful target engagements” at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, according to the army release.

US Army Major Aaron Spence, an international technology integrator assigned to Army South, demonstrates the RIC-U to a group of Brazilian soldiers. US Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jonathan Pietrantoni. (US Army South)

The US Army wants to move its conversations with allies from sending slideshows and emails back and forth to being able to communicate via voice in the field, army officials told
Janes
ahead of the ‘Southern Vanguard 24′ exercise in Macapá, Brazil.

In a recent statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted a significant drop in the supply of 155 mm artillery shells to Ukraine following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. This revelation sheds light on the challenges faced by the Ukrainian army in maintaining its ammunition reserves, particularly in the eastern and southern battlefields.
Decreased Deliveries: Zelensky’s Perspective
President Zelensky emphasized the slowdown in the delivery of crucial artillery shells, essential for Ukraine’s military operations.

It’s the end of an era for American weapons, an era that began more than a hundred years ago during World War I. The Great War was often remembered by historians as a “Chemist’s War” because the belligerents went to great lengths to develop and deploy increasingly deadly chemical weapons.
After 73 years of planning and preparing for chemical warfare, the United States adopted the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1990, signed on in 1993 and began enforcing it in 1997. Yet, it had been destroying its chemical stockpile since 1985.

The Israeli army said it had taken control of the western Gaza City area and was moving to the next phase in its campaign to deal with Hamas in Gaza.

“We have taken control and ensured safety in the western Gaza City area and are moving to the next phase of the campaign,” Israeli news agency Ynet quoted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as saying on November 16. “The deeper we go, the more pressure Hamas is under. This will help increase the chances of the hostages returning.”
Mr.

On September 19, 2023, the Ministry of Defense of Israel unveiled the latest version of its Merkava main battle tank. The backbone of the IDF’s Armored Corps, the Merkava first entered service in 1979. However, upgrades like the Trophy Active Protection System and the integrated Battle Management System have kept the tank at the forefront of the world’s armored fighting vehicles. With the Mark 4 Barak variant, the Merkava is even more capable than before, and just in time to go to war with Hamas.

In a recent development, Myanmar’s military government has issued a directive urging all civil servants and veterans to be prepared for potential enlistment in the face of escalating attacks by rebels. This article delves into the details of this order and the evolving situation in Myanmar.
The Preparedness Plan Unveiled
On November 16, the Myanmar military government announced the establishment of a unit to address natural disasters and ensure security in times of need.

Fall is my favorite season to run because of the scenery and the temperature is more manageable. You’re going to get hot, that’s part of working out, but in autumn, it’s that perfect balance between not needing warming layers or just throwing on a hoodie. The afternoons are warm, and the nights are crisp or you may get a bit of early snow. Regardless of what kind of morning it is, you can laugh at our list of best memes of the week as the rest of the platoon trickles in from the fog.

Oh, look. We have a freaking comedian over here.

First is the stick, then is the sword fight.

In a bold assertion, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has made it unequivocally clear that only military pressure will compel Hamas to release the 240 hostages currently in their grip within the Gaza Strip. This resolute stance underscores Israel’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of its citizens and those of other nations held captive by the militant group.

The Hunger Games, its sequel books, and associated movies are extremely popular with over 100 million copies of the trilogy sold globally and the movies grossing nearly $3 billion. Building on the fictional world that she created, author Suzanne Collins followed the original trilogy up with a prequel titled The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The film adaption maintains great continuity with the first four movies…at least with the firearms depicted.
The Hunger Games takes place in a near-future, post-apocalyptic North America called Panem.