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Defense News ,South China Sea :-  The United States military plans to assist in constructing a new port on an island in the Philippines close to Taiwan, as reported by Taiwan News. The upcoming port in the Batanes province, located less than 200 kilometers from southern Taiwan, is intended for quickly evacuating Filipinos in case of a Chinese invasion.Currently, over 150,000 Filipinos are working in Taiwan, and concerns are rising that the US-supported military activities on the island might be aimed at providing strategic advantages to Washington in the event of a potential attack by Beijing on Taiwan.While the exact location of the new seaport hasn't been publicly disclosed, it's likely to face north. The largest port in the province, Basco Seaport, faces west. A US military delegation is expected to visit Batanes next month to discuss the construction and funding of the new facility.This development aligns with the Philippines' efforts to strengthen its defensive capabilities near Taiwan. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has called for increased troop deployment and infrastructure in Batanes, considering it the "spearhead of the Philippines as far as the northern baseline is concerned." The province is also being considered for the annual US-Philippines joint military exercise, "Balikatan."Following the call for Batanes residents to join the military, more than 120 additional naval reservists have reportedly been deployed to various bases in the province. In case of a Chinese blockade of Taiwan, the northern Philippine islands could play a crucial role as staging points for the US military to continue supplying Taiwan.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-11 15:06:08

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Defense News ,Russia Ukraine War :-  The Russian military successfully launched an attack using Iskander tactical ballistic missiles, destroying two PATRIOT air defense system launchers operated by Ukraine. The attack also targeted and destroyed a MAN KAT1 vehicle. This suggests that the destroyed PATRIOT launchers were provided to Ukraine by Germany, which has supplied two fire units of the PATRIOT system and an undisclosed number of missiles.Analysts say that the Ukrainian Patriot operators, who underwent extensive training, made critical mistakes, especially in positioning key vehicles too close to each other. This resulted in the loss of the operators during the Russian strike. The destruction of the two PATRIOT launchers has significantly weakened Ukraine's air defense capability against challenging targets. Experts believe it could take several months, or even more than a year, to replace these systems. Western countries supporting Ukraine do not currently have PATRIOT systems available for immediate transfer, even if Ukraine had the funds to purchase or acquire them from foreign partners.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-11 08:29:33

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Defense News ,Israel Hamas War :- Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, recently talked to a German newspaper about the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to him, around 13,000 individuals he labeled as "terrorists" were among the casualties during Israel's air and ground operations in Gaza.The conflict started five months ago after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7. Palestinian health authorities report that nearly 31,000 Palestinians have lost their lives during this period. However, the specific breakdown between civilians and Hamas militants is not provided by the Gaza health ministry. They did mention that 72% of those killed were women and children. Hamas disputes Israel's numbers, dismissing them as attempts to claim false victories.In an interview with Germany's Bild newspaper, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of extending Israel's offensive into Rafah in southern Gaza to defeat Hamas. He stated that they are close to victory, and once they launch military action against the remaining terror groups in Rafah, the intensive phase of fighting will conclude in a matter of weeks.Netanyahu also claimed that three-quarters of Hamas battalions had already been destroyed. He argued that stopping the offensive now would only give them a chance to regroup. The interview excerpts were shared by Bild with Reuters on Sunday.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-11 07:55:23

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Defense News , France , Germany :-  The OCCAR-EA COBRA Programme Division and Elektroniksystem und Logistik GmbH (ESG) have developed a new version of the Data System Software (DS SW) for the COBRA (Counter-battery radar) Systems in France and Germany. This comes after updating the FR COBRA ATLAS Sub-Assembly with a special software version and the need for a shared DS SW version for both DE and FR COBRA fleets.Thanks to the support of the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), the new software version underwent testing with two German COBRA Systems in Putlos and Todendorf from March 4 to 7. The trials confirmed the software's qualification and demonstrated an overall improvement in performance compared to the current version.Following successful data collection and thorough analysis, this upgraded software version will be installed on all French COBRA Systems already equipped with Boîtier de COMmunication (BCOM), as well as on German COBRA Systems.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-11 07:41:01

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Defense News ,Maldives :-  Maldives has for the first time acquired surveillance drones from Turkey for patrolling its vast exclusive economic zone, according to media reports on Sunday. Efforts have begun by the state to establish a drone base in Noonu atoll Maafaru to operate the military drones brought from Turkey to conduct monitoring of Maldives' ocean territories, Editon.mv news portal reported.Turkey was the first foreign country visited by Mohamed Muizzu after he was sworn in as president in November.During his visit, he had seen the various military vehicles produced by the country and formed an agreement with a Turkish company to import military drones into his country, the report said.However, the Maldives government has not disclosed the details of the agreement so far. The surveillance drones from the Turkish company Baykar TB2 drones were delivered on March 3, reports said.Pro-Beijing President Muizzu, upon his return from China in January, had indicated that the government was looking to acquire surveillance drones.On March 4, Muizzu also announced that his country is working to establish a 24/7 monitoring system for the Maldivian waters this month to ensure control of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) despite its significantly large area.Adhadhu news portal also reported that earlier this year, the President's Office has amended the Import Duty Waiver Procedure to give the President the discretion to remove import duties on items for use by the security services."This is believed to be an amendment to the rules to facilitate the purchase of military drones," it said.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-10 16:16:33

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Defense News ,Pakistan :-  Pakistan recently revealed an upgraded version of its Shahpar Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), the Shahpar II. This drone boasts better capabilities and cost-effectiveness compared to popular Turkish and Chinese drones.During a recent demonstration for military officials from 11 allied nations, Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS), the state-owned Pakistani defense company, showcased the Shahpar II's enhanced features in a live-fire exercise.Enhanced Features of Shahpar IIThe Shahpar II, categorized as a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) platform, successfully engaged ground targets using its "Burq" air-to-ground guided missile from an altitude of 14,000 feet.Improved Endurance and CapabilitiesCompared to its predecessor, the Shahpar I, the Shahpar II offers increased endurance. It can fly for 20 hours for surveillance missions and 14 hours for offensive operations.Satellite Communications and Cost-EffectivenessThe Shahpar II is equipped with a SATCOM satellite communication system, giving it a crucial advantage in long-distance operations. This system allows the drone to conduct maximum-range missions with real-time communication to ground control stations. Additionally, the Shahpar II is considered cost-effective compared to its rivals.Implications for Pakistan's Drone StrategyThe unveiling of the Shahpar II indicates Pakistan's growing investment in indigenous drone technology. With claims of superior capabilities and lower costs compared to internationally sourced drones, the Shahpar II has the potential to reshape Pakistan's drone strategy. If successful, it may lead to increased reliance on domestically developed systems and boost export potential for Pakistan's defense industry.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-10 16:13:36

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Defense News ,India , Russia , Ukriane :-  As the Russia-Ukraine conflict raged in 2022, the United States started "preparing rigorously" for a potential nuclear strike by Moscow against Kyiv, in what would have been the first nuclear attack since the US dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki nearly eighty years before, CNN reported citing two senior administration officials.The report stated that outreach from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other countries also played an important role in averting the crisis.The Biden administration was specifically concerned Russia might use a tactical or battlefield nuclear weapon, the officials said.Amid the fears, the US sought to enlist the help of non-allies including India, to discourage Russia from such an attack, as reported by CNN."One of the things we did was not only message them directly but strongly urge, press, encourage other countries, to whom they might be more attentive, to do the same thing," the senior administration official said.US officials say that outreach and public statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others helped avert a crisis."I think we believe showing the international community the concern about this, particularly the concern from key countries for Russia and the Global South, was also a helpful, persuasive factor and showed them what the cost of all this could be," CNN quoted a senior administration official as saying."I think the fact that we know, India weighed in, China weighed in, others weighed in, may have had some effect on their thinking," the senior administration official added. "I can't demonstrate this positively, but I think that's our assessment."Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has always condemned civilian killings and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.In a major statement, PM Modi told President Putin that "this is not the era of war" on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Uzbekistan last year. The statement even made to the G20 communique under the presidency of India.During this period from late summer to fall 2022, the National Security Council convened a series of meetings to put contingency plans in place "in the event of either a very clear indication that they were about to do something, attack with a nuclear weapon, or if they just did, how we would respond, how we would try to preempt it or deter it," the senior administration official said.Notably, late summer 2022 was also proving a 'devastating period' for Russian forces in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces were advancing on Russian-occupied Kherson in the south, the city which had been Russia's biggest prize since the invasion.As these Ukrainian forces advanced, entire Russian units were in danger of being surrounded. The view inside the administration was that such a catastrophic loss could be a "potential trigger" for the use of nuclear weapons, according to CNN.Also, at the same time, Russia was allegedly circulating a new "false flag story" about a Ukrainian dirty bomb, which US officials feared could be intended as a cover for a Russian nuclear attack.In October 2022, Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, made a series of phone calls to defence officials in the US, the UK, France and Turkey, telling them that the Kremlin was "concerned about possible provocations by Kyiv involving the use of a dirty bomb."But, it is pertinent to note that at no time did the US detect intelligence indicating Russia was taking steps to mobilize its nuclear forces to carry out such an attack, CNN reported."We obviously placed a high priority on tracking and had some ability at least to track such movements of its nuclear forces," a senior administration official said. "And at no point did we ever see any indications of types of steps that we would've expected them to take if they were going down a path toward using nuclear weapons."

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-10 15:35:32

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Defense News ,U.S :-  The U.S. military said on Sunday it has carried out an operation in Haiti to airlift non-essential embassy personnel from the country and added U.S. forces bolster embassy security, as Caribbean nation reels under a state of emergency.The operation was the latest sign of Haiti's troubles as gang violence threatens to bring down the government and has led thousands to flee their homes."This airlift of personnel into and out of the embassy is consistent with our standard practice for embassy security augmentation worldwide, and no Haitians were on board the military aircraft," the U.S. military's Southern Command said in a statement.Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated while Prime Minister Ariel Henry was in Nairobi seeking a deal for the long-delayed U.N.-backed mission.Kenya announced last year it would lead the force but months of domestic legal wrangling have effectively placed the mission on hold.On Saturday, the U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto about the Haiti crisis and the two men underscored their commitment to a multinational security mission to restore order.In Southern Command's statement, it said Washington remained committed to those goals."Our embassy remains focused on advancing U.S. government efforts to support the Haitian people, including mobilizing support for the Haitian National Police, expediting the deployment of the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission and accelerating a peaceful transition of power via free and fair elections," it said.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-10 15:29:04

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Defense  News ,U.S :-  Stratolaunch recently celebrated a significant achievement with the successful launch of its Talon-A test vehicle, TA-1. This marks a crucial step forward in creating the United States' first privately funded, reusable hypersonic test capability.The main goals for the test flight were to safely release the TA-1 vehicle, ignite the engine, accelerate, climb to a sustained altitude, and land in water under control.  Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch, expressed pride in the team's hard work, calling it a great day for the company. The successful test is credited to the team's technical expertise and professionalism.Dr. Krevor couldn't disclose the exact altitude and speed reached by TA-1 due to confidentiality agreements with customers. However, he shared that the flight achieved high supersonic speeds, reaching nearly Mach 5. The team collected valuable data, emphasizing the commitment to delivering maximum value to their customers.The test also served as part of the risk reduction approach for the next vehicle, TA-2, scheduled for its first reusable flight later this year. Concurrently, Stratolaunch is working on manufacturing TA-3, the second fully reusable vehicle in the Talon-A product line. Additionally, modifications are underway for the Spirit of Mojave, another launch platform based on a modified Boeing 747-400.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-10 15:08:31

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Defense News ,U.S :-  U.S. Navy Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR) officially kicked off Operation Ice Camp (ICE CAMP) 2024 in the Arctic Ocean on March 8, 2024, after the building of Ice Camp Whale and arrival of two U.S. Navy fast attack submarines.ICE CAMP 2024 is a three-week operation designed to research, test and evaluate operational capabilities in the Arctic region. In addition to U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force participation in the exercise, personnel from the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, the French Navy, the United Kingdom Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy are participating.Previously known as Ice Exercise (ICEX), the operation partners with the Arctic Submarine Laboratory and was elevated to an operation to better reflect the Navy’s priority in the Arctic region. ICE CAMP will meet national security objectives, as outlined in the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy Arctic Strategy, to maintain an enhanced Arctic presence, strengthen alliances and partnerships, and build a more capable Arctic naval force. The first iteration of this event took place in 1946.“Our Joint Force’s ability to operate in all domains, to include the Arctic, is vital to our national security. For over 70 years our Submarine Force has been operating in the Arctic Ocean, facilitating research and developing the operational flexibility to deter and respond to crises anywhere,” said Rear Adm. Andrew Miller, commander, Undersea Warfighting Development Center. “Collaborating with our allies and partners in the most extreme of environments allows us to strengthen cooperative partnerships and maintain our enhanced global presence.”The Navy’s Arctic Submarine Laboratory (ASL) is a Fleet Support Detachment of commander, Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC). ASL, based in San Diego, is the “Center of Excellence” for Arctic matters for the U.S. submarine force. ASL serves as the lead organization for coordinating, planning and executing the operation involving representatives from five nations and more than 200 participants over the five weeks of operations. The Arctic is experiencing a trend of diminishing sea ice extent and thickness creating the likelihood of increased maritime activity in the region, including trans-oceanic shipping and resource extraction.“Ice Camp Whale provides our teams the opportunity to conduct their research in one of the harshest and most demanding environments in the world,” said Howard Reese, director, Arctic Submarine Laboratory. “We are responsible for developing and maintaining the expertise to allow the Submarine Force to safely and effectively operate in this unique environment. We are able to take what we learn from this environment and apply the lessons to real world operations.”The camp, named Ice Camp Whale, will serve as a temporary command center for conducting operations and research in the Arctic region. The camp is temporary and is established on a sheet of ice in the Arctic Ocean, known as an ice floe, to support testing submarine systems and other Arctic research initiatives. The camp consists of shelters, a command center, and infrastructure to safely house and support more than 60 personnel at any one time.“ICE CAMP really is one of our squadron’s bread and butter exercises, it’s a stellar opportunity for us to apply our ski-flying training and highlight how unique 440 Squadron’s capabilities are within the Royal Canadian Air Force,” said Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot Capt. Graham Neely. Neely is the Operations Officer from 440 (T) Squadron out of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada flying the CC-138 Twin Otter supporting ICE CAMP.“It’s been quite refreshing to be involved in such a well-oiled military operation as ICE CAMP,” Neely emphasized. “Our crew is having nothing short of a great time here – the flying is fantastic, the weather is crisp, the atmosphere is great, and morale is high. We’re stoked to be part of this starting lineup and doing what we can to contribute to the team!”The camp gets its namesake from the USS Whale (SSN 637), a Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered attack submarine that was commissioned on Oct. 12, 1968 and the third submarine to reach the North Pole when it surfaced there on April 6, 1969. Submarines have conducted under-ice operations in the Arctic regions in support of inter-fleet transit, training, cooperative allied engagements and operations for more than 60 years. USS Nautilus (SSN 571) made the first transit in 1958. USS Skate (SSN 578) was the first U.S. submarine to surface through Arctic ice at the North Pole in March of 1959.Since those events, the U.S. Submarine Force has completed 98 Ice Exercises – ICE CAMP 2024 is the 99th – the last being conducted in 2022. This year’s iteration has been elevated to an operation to better reflect the Navy’s priority in the Arctic region. “ICE CAMP provides the necessary training to maintain a working knowledge of a constantly evolving region where navigating, communicating, and maneuvering in an Arctic setting in which the acoustics, sea life, salinity, and ice keels present a very challenging maritime environment,” stated Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and naval component commander, U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Strategic Command. “While we will continue to seek peace in the Arctic, history always demonstrates that peace comes through strength. ICE CAMP and other Joint and International evolutions will help sustain our Navy’s continued proficiency in the Arctic while maintaining an enhanced presence, strengthening cooperative partnerships and building a more capable Arctic force.”U.S. Submarine Forces execute the Department of the Navy’s mission in and from the undersea domain. In addition to lending added capacity to naval forces, Submarine Forces, in particular, are expected to leverage those special advantages that come with undersea concealment to permit operational, deterrent and combat effects that the Navy and the Nation could not otherwise achieve.U.S. Submarine Forces and supporting organizations constitute the primary undersea arm of the Navy. Submarines and their crews remain the tip of the undersea spear.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-10 09:01:52

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Defense News , Kazakhstan :-  A Chinese hacker group is believed to have had full access to Kazakhstan's telecommunication infrastructure for the past two years. The Ministry of Defence and the national airline may have been among the targeted entities. The Kazakh government, along with the National Security Committee, is investigating the leaked information to gather more details.Kazakhstan, known for its rich fossil fuel resources, is also attracting China's attention as a potential source of lithium, a crucial element for electric vehicles (EVs). The country aims to become a significant global supplier of high-quality lithium, with estimated reserves of around 75,600 tons, according to the National Geological Service.In addition to economic ties with China, Kazakhstan is experiencing increased demand for its organic and environmentally friendly agricultural products. The country is also focused on enhancing trade with India through the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC).Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow on March 4 to discuss INSTC, particularly the railway section connecting Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. The Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan route is a branch of INSTC, aiming to link India with Eurasia.Russia and Kazakhstan share the longest land border globally, spanning over 7,500 km. Both countries acknowledge the significant potential for cooperation in transport and logistics, given the importance of their transit routes in Eurasia.To improve services and reduce cargo delivery time along the INSTC, railway administrations of Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan plan to launch a joint venture. In 2023, the route transported 2.1 million tons of cargo, a 4% increase from 2022. The corridor's transport potential is expected to reach between 6 and 10 million tons per year by 2027.To ensure smooth progress and facilitate transit, the Kazakh prime minister emphasized the need to expedite the modernization of checkpoints on the Kazakh-Russian border. Plans are underway to upgrade 29 out of 30 checkpoints by 2027.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-10 08:50:03

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Defense News ,U.S :-  The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto on Saturday to discuss the ongoing political and security crisis in Haiti.During their conversation, both leaders reiterated their commitment to ensuring free and fair elections in the region."Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss the ongoing political and security crisis in Haiti. They underscored unwavering commitment to the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission to support the Haitian National Police in creating the security conditions necessary to conduct free and fair elections," US Department of State official spokesperson, Matthew Miller said in an official statement."Secretary Blinken also offered his appreciation for Kenya's diplomatic work to support peace and security in the Horn of Africa," he added.This came after Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier warned of initiating a civil war and "genocide" unless Prime Minister Ariel Henry steps down from his post, reported Al Jazeera.Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, and other armed criminal gangs, who control large swathes of the country, launched a coordinated assault to remove the prime minister when he was out of the country last week.Haitian PM Henry, who was supposed to step down in February, was in Puerto Rico, a United States territory, on Tuesday after the Dominican Republic refused permission for his plane to land.Notably, the Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, Al Jazeera reported."If Ariel Henry doesn't resign, if the international community continues to support him, we'll be heading straight for a civil war that will lead to genocide," Cherizier, a 46-year-old former police officer who is under United Nations sanctions for human rights abuses, said."Either Haiti becomes a paradise or a hell for all of us. It's out of the question for a small group of rich people living in big hotels to decide the fate of people living in working-class neighbourhoods," he added.On February 26, gangs opened fire on police outside the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, as dozens of employees and other workers fled the bullets, Al Jazeera reported.Following the incident, the airport remained closed on Tuesday, along with schools and banks.Prior to that, the gangs raided Haiti's two largest prisons over the weekend, enabling thousands of prisoners to escape."Haiti is now under the control of the gangs. The government isn't present," said Michel St-Louis, 40, standing in front of a burned-down police station in the capital. "I'm hoping they can keep Henry out so whoever takes power can restore order."On March 3, the Haitian government declared a state of emergency after thousands of prisoners escaped from its largest prison, Haiti's National Penitentiary, during a surge of gang violence that has upended the Caribbean nation for months.Henry, who came to power under a deal agreed with the opposition following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, was supposed to step down in February so elections could be held, reported Al Jazeera.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-10 08:08:35

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Defense News ,Taiwan , China :-  Taiwan's representative to Switzerland, David WF Huang, reiterated Taiwan's sovereignty in a keynote speech in Switzerland, Focus Taiwan reported.Invited by the Swiss think tank Foraus, Huang addressed nearly 200 attendees at the University of Zurich, highlighting recent developments in the Taiwan Strait, including China's adjustment of the M503 flight path.According to Focus Taiwan, Huang emphasized that China's claims over Taiwan lack a legal basis under international law, citing Chinese interventions in Taiwan's elections, unilateral changes to the M503 flight route, and incidents near Kinmen as instances of China's gray-zone warfare tactics.  Regarding China's agressive actions in the South China Sea, Huang pointed to recent collision between Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships and China's patrols near Kinmen as examples of its anti-access and area denial strategy.He underscored Taiwan's ownership of Taiping Island and its commitment to safeguarding interests in the South China Sea. However, he expressed Taiwan's willingness to engage in multilateral talks to foster regional peace and prosperity, despite disputes, as per Focus Taiwan.The speech concluded with a question and answer session, where Huang addressed inquiries about Taiwan-Philippine relations and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, which pertains to the 'restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-09 16:15:16

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Defense News ,Red Sea :- American and French forces downed dozens of drones in the Red Sea on Saturday after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis targeted bulk carrier Propel Fortune and U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Aden.The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November in what they say is a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza.The group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech on Saturday they targeted the cargo vessel and "a number of U.S. war destroyers at the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with 37 drones".U.S. Navy ships and aircraft shot down 15 uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the Houthis in the Red Sea area, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said earlier on Saturday.The military was responding to a large-scale attack the group launched into the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden between 4 a.m. and 6:30 a.m (1300-1530 GMT), CENTCOM said in a post on social media platform X.The UAVs were determined to present "an imminent threat to merchant vessels, U.S. Navy, and coalition ships in the region", it said.A French warship and fighter jets also shot down four combat drones that were advancing towards naval vessels belonging to the European Aspides mission in the region, a French army statement said."This defensive action directly contributed to the protection of the cargo ship True Confidence, under the Barbados flag, which was struck on March 6 and is being towed, as well as other commercial vessels transiting in the area," it said.France has a warship in the area, but also warplanes at its bases in Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also confirmed that there was an attempted attack on the Singapore-flagged Propel Fortune.It said the shipping company reported two explosions in close vicinity of the bulk carrier, but all crew on board were safe and the vessel was proceeding to its next port of call."Based on sources, Propel Fortune, was likely targeted due to outdated US ownership data," UKMTO said in a statement.Sarea said the Houthis would continue their attacks "until the aggression stops and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted".

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-09 16:00:53

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Defense News ,U.K :-  Today, the United Kingdom has pledged a comprehensive package of GBP 325 million to enhance Ukraine's defense against Putin's illegal invasion, focusing on state-of-the-art drone technology.The investment, set to provide more than 10,000 drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, leverages the UK's leading defense industries to deliver advanced drone capabilities throughout 2024.Defence Secretary, on his third visit to Ukraine, made the announcement during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine.This funding, an increase from the Prime Minister's £200 million drone package in January, will deliver a variety of uncrewed platforms. These include over 10,000 first-person view (FPV) drones, 1000 one-way attack drones developed in the UK, surveillance drones, and maritime drones.The Ukrainian Armed Forces have gained attention for their effective use of drones, causing significant damage to Russian equipment and vehicles. Particularly, FPV drones have shown exceptional maneuverability, enabling operators to control movements in real-time and bypass Russian air defenses, striking targets with precision.Since Russia's full-scale invasion, these drones have played a crucial role in providing situational awareness, targeting enemy positions, and effectively striking Russia's Navy. With over £100 million allocated for maritime capabilities, Ukraine aims to assert control in the Black Sea.Following a recent meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defence Contact Group involving over 50 countries supporting Ukraine militarily, the Defence Secretary announced that the UK, along with Latvia, will co-lead an international coalition to enhance Ukraine's drone capabilities.

Read More → Posted on 2024-03-09 15:54:50