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.

In a significant update regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, British defense officials have laid bare their assessment of the extensive human toll suffered by Russia. Reports indicate that more than 300,000 Russian soldiers have either lost their lives or sustained injuries, while tens of thousands have reportedly abandoned their military duties.
James Heappey, the Secretary of State overseeing the armed forces at the British Ministry of Defense, provided a comprehensive breakdown of the losses incurred by the Russian military.

Public Domain

In 2013 the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Superintendent Lt. General Michael Gould introduced a formal DEI program at the institution.  In his comments he repeatedly lauded the benefits of DEI and acknowledged that its importance was no less than the academy’s vaunted academic program.  At the time one could conclude that the general was exaggerating DEI’s unproven advantages in order to draw media attention to the sudden adaptation of a transformative philosophy of cadet training.

UK MOD
Turkey has emerged as the latest possible customer for the Eurofighter Typhoon, in something of a surprise move, as the NATO country seeks to address delays in acquiring another batch of F-16 fighters from the United States. While Ankara is said to be eyeing the purchase of as many as 40 Typhoons, the collaborative nature of that program could see any such deal blocked: Germany, in particular, is expected to resist a sale to Turkey.
A U.K. Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter takes off from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus.

The American Navy had a rough start with the few ships built during the Revolutionary War typically sank or captured, aside from the completed frigate donated to France at the end of the war. No American ship achieved a victory over a foreign ship until the Quasi-War with France 1798 to 1800. And the first victory in that saw an over-strength American frigate led by one of the Navy’s finest absolutely sucker punch a French frigate. After a short but fierce battle, the American ship sailed victorious and took the French ship as a prize.

SAS trooper Christian Craighead is famous for his response to the 2019 DustiD2 terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya. In country as an advisor and trainer, Craighead received permission from his British commander to join Kenyan forces who requested his assistance to neutralize the terrorists. Operating nonstop for hours and amidst heavy small arms fire, Craighead helped clear the complex and carried civilians out to safety. Wearing a balaclava, pictures of Craighead were posted on the internet and he earned nicknames like “Obi-Wan Nairobi” and “The Nairobi Ninja.

Almost two years into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is now also conducting “hybrid” warfare techniques involving drones, cyber intrusions and other means against Estonia and nearby NATO members in the Baltic region, according to Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
Pevkur hosted a small group of reporters Thursday at the Embassy of Estonia in Washington, where he discussed multiple intensifying military conflicts including the Israel-Hamas War, and their global implications. He explained why Estonia is urging the U.S.

Escadrone/via Telegram
Today’s situation report starts with what is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary videos captured by drones so far in the conflict in Ukraine — and there have been many to choose from. This one was apparently first posted to the Telegram messaging app by Escadrone, a non-profit group organized in Ukraine in order to manufacture first-person view (FPV) attack drones — a type of highly maneuverable loitering munition that is proving highly important in the conflict.

We are just days away from the Thanksgiving holiday, and many bases will be closing their mailrooms for the holiday.
Below you will find the mailroom closure information for each basic training location, and the deadline for sending your letter through Sandboxx to arrive before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Sandboxx Tip: We recommend that you send Letters as early as possible in order to ensure proper delivery.

Now in its 12th season, Expedition Unknown has been a popular show on the Discovery Channel hosted by historian Josh Gates. An exciting watch is the season premiere episode, “Missing Heroes of World War II,” which aired on Wednesday, November 15 at 9 PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel.

Photo courtesy of the Discovery Channel.
Gates investigates famous historic sites, mysteries and legends across the globe. He even hosted a series about Back to the Future and DeLoreans with Christopher Lloyd to help support the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Released on Veterans Day, a video made by Army Sgt. Landon Carter of the 75th Ranger Regiment shows the US military’s final withdrawal from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan in 2021.(Screenshot).
A new video produced by the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment features never-before-seen images of the elite unit’s final days at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, along with interviews with Ranger leaders who spent most of their careers at war.
Command Sergeant Major Curt Donaldson, the regiment’s senior enlisted leader at the time, was on his 18th deployment to Afghanistan during the Bagram withdrawal.

Aurora Flight Sciences
Aurora Flight Sciences has offered a new look at an experimental high-speed, runway-independent, vertical takeoff and landing-capable aircraft it is developing for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Such a design, which features an array of dedicated lift fans, could provide valuable operational flexibility and help reduce vulnerability in future conflicts, especially high-end ones against a potential near-peer opponent like China. Aurora’s concept also interestingly evokes a host of others that the U.S.

As the Space Force tries to reel in how guardians use large language models, the nascent and digitally focused service is still exploring how artificial intelligence can be integrated into operations.
“There are all kinds of uses for AI and machine learning that we tackle, we’re just taking a little more cautious approach right now,” Col. Zachary Warakomski, senior cyber officer at the Space Force, said Thursday during CyberScoop’s annual CyberTalks event.

An annual veteran suicide report found an increase in 2021 suicides, especially among young women. Photo by Ken Scar.
An annual review of suicide among veterans found that rates increased in 2021 during COVID-19 lockdowns, with the largest jumps among young women with some military service, according to a report released Thursday the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Among young women, when compared to their civilian counterparts who never joined the military, female veterans between 18 to 34 years old were nearly three and a half times more likely to take their own lives in 2021.

A soldier at Fort Stewart, Georgia received the 3rd Infantry Division unit patch during a patching ceremony in 2022. The 3rd ID is known as the Rock of the Marne Division for it service in World War 1, and the patch’s three white stripes symbolize its role during that war in the Battle of the Marne River, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the St. Mihiel Offensive. Photo by Private Duke Edwards.
A female soldier, her husband and two children were found dead inside their Fort Stewart, Georgia home, officials said Thursday.

The Department of Defense is in the process of creating a new “incident repository” that will catalog problems that Pentagon officials encounter with artificial intelligence.
The development effort was mentioned in a new “tools list” that was released by the department this week as part of a broader AI “toolkit” that it unveiled on its Tradewind website.

Last year, Joseph Caddell wrote “From Waterloo to Pearl Harbor: How We Understand National Security Events‘” for War on the Rocks, in which he reviewed Takuma Melber’s book, Pearl Harbor: Japan’s Attack and America’s Entry into World War II , and considered how understanding of major national security events, like Pearl Harbor, change over time. A year and a half into the Russo-Ukrainian war and a month after the outbreak of the war in Gaza, we asked him to look back on his piece. Read more below. Image via the U.S.

Lockheed Martin has expanded its Huntsville, Alabama facility by 25,000 square feet to accommodate a new Missile System Integration Lab.
The post Lockheed Martin makes $16.5m expansion of Huntsville campus appeared first on Army Technology.

The Norwegian Government intends to purchase NASAMS air defence equipment: eight launchers, four fire control centres and missiles.
The post Norway replenishes air defence equipment after Ukraine donations appeared first on Army Technology.

Lorraine,
the French Navy’s eighth and final FREMM frigate overall, and the second of two modified for an enhanced air-defence role, has entered operational service.
(Marine Nacionale)
The eighth French Aquitaine-class FREMM (frégate européenne multi-mission) frigate has officially entered operational service, the French Navy confirmed on 15 November.
Lorraine
is the final unit in the eight-ship class built by Naval Group for the French Navy, and the second of two built to a modified FREMM DA (air defence) standard.

Eter is currently deployed with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to detect Russian radio signals. (Mykhailo Fedorov/Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine)
Ukraine has developed and is deploying a signals intelligence (SIGINT) system on the frontline called Eter, the Ukrainian Minister for igital ransformation, Mykhailo Fedorov said on 14 November.

Eter is a radio-electronic intelligence complex developed by Ukraine-based company Falcons and supported by the defence technology cluster Brave1.

Baltic leaders place increased focus on the defence of Ukraine as doubts about Western unity and commitment grow
The post Baltic leaders urge renewed focus on Ukraine appeared first on Army Technology.

Serbia received its second and final Airbus C295 airlifter on 14 November, seen here at Batajnica in its temporary Spanish delivery markings. (Serbian MoD)
The second of the two Airbus Defence and Space C295MW (Modernised, Winglets) transport aircraft ordered by Serbia was delivered to Milenko Pavlović Air Base at Batajnica on 14 November, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced.

HSwMS
Artemis
will replace HSwMS
Orion
as Sweden’s signals intelligence resource at sea.
(Saab/Glenn Pettersson)
The Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN) has taken delivery of its first new signals intelligence (SIGINT) ship, HSwMS Artemis (A 202).
The new vessel was formally handed over by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in Karlskrona, on 15 November, FMV announced the same day.
Artemis will replace the RSwN’s existing SIGINT vessel HSwMS Orion (A 201), which has been in service since the early 1980s.

The first of three Global 6000 business jets seen in Kansas in November 2022, ahead of its conversion with PEGASUS SIGINT mission systems. (Bombardier)
The Global 6000 business jet-based Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System (PEGASUS) has passed its critical design review (CDR), prime contractor Hensoldt announced on 16 November.
The CDR, which was conducted by representatives of the Bundeswehr, was successfully completed two years after Hensoldt was contracted to develop the capability based on its Kalaetron signals intelligence (SIGINT) system.

Estonia’s Minister of Defence criticised the EU for inaction on stepping up 155mm artillery ammunition production for Ukraine.
The post Estonia slams EU indecision, acts on 155mm shells for Ukraine appeared first on Army Technology.

J.A.

Damien Cregeau, History Net
How patriot spies—and their commander—used a secret “medicine” factory to send coded messages during the American Revolution.

Stuart Scheller, The Federalist John Waters’ novel “River City One” explores the difficulties veterans face readjusting to an America that has lost its way.

High intensity warfare in Europe and the Middle East is driving acquisitions of missiles and missile defence systems.
The post Signal: missiles market will grow by 50% over next decade – report appeared first on Army Technology.

Finland has begun receiving 91 6×6 CAVS vehicles it has ordered from Patria, with an option for up to 70 more. (Patria)

Production and delivery of the 6×6 Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) for Finland began during the fourth quarter of 2023, Liisa Nevalainen, CAVS project director in the Land Systems Division of the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command’s Joint Systems Centre, confirmed to
Janes
on the last day of SAE Media Group’s Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2023 conference held in London from 13 to 15 November.

The Boxer HWC and AIFV could be based on Australia’s Boxer CRV. (Rheinmetall Defence)
Lieutenant Colonel Karlheinz Boehnke, Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV) Boxer representative in the German Army Concept and Capabilities Development Centre, gave an update on the Bundeswehr’s plans to form medium brigades on the second day of SAE Media Group’s Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2023 conference held in London from 13 to 15 November.
He said the Bundeswehr would have four medium brigades, including the Franco-German Brigade and one formed with the Netherlands.

EOS has secured a contract to supply spares of its R600S remote weapon system (pictured) to a South East Asian military. (Electro Optic Systems)
Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has secured a contract worth AUD28 million (USD18.2 million) to supply spares of its R600S remote weapon system (RWS) to a South East Asian military, a spokesperson for the company told Janes on 15 November.
Under this contract, EOS will provide “gimbals and sensor units” for the R600S to the customer, the spokesperson said.
“The R600S is mainly used for ground-to-ground combat against a range of targets.

The war in Ukraine has been simultaneously described as the first networked war and a “return of industrial warfare.” Lockheed Martin repurposed a diaper factory to make HIMARS launchers, the Ukrainian prime minister claims his country buys 60 percent of DJI’s Mavic drone production, and the conflict has introduced the term “FrankenSAM” for the cobbled together systems — like a Soviet-era Buk launcher firing Sea Sparrow missiles donated by NATO navies — defending Ukrainian air space.

“We kiss the foreheads and the arms of the shrewd and astute planners and the courageous Palestinian youth.” On Oct. 10, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his unambivalent support for Hamas’ attack against Israel. Yet he swiftly repudiated any Iranian involvement, claiming, “Those who attribute the acts of the Palestinians to outsiders fail to understand the Palestinian people. They have underestimated them.