Military News

Kongsberg Secures Historic Air Defense Agreement with the Netherlands Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace recently unveiled its most substantial air defense contract to date, revealing a deal with the Netherlands for NASAMS and NOMADS systems through an announcement on social media. Strengthening Defense Through the CITADEL Program The landmark contract, executed on November 21, comes in the wake of a recommendation from the Dutch government tendered to Parliament on October 14 under the CITADEL program. This governmental initiative is geared towards enhancing the country's integrated air and missile defense proficiencies. Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg…

Kim Jong Un Accuses U.S. of Pushing Thermonuclear Conflict Potential In what can be seen as a strong statement on international relations, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on November 21 blamed the United States for inciting global discord that may culminate in a catastrophic thermonuclear war. While addressing a military showcase in his nation's capital, Pyongyang, Kim relayed his belief that past negotiations with the U.S. revealed an inherent hostility and aggression from the U.S. towards North Korea. Kim was quoted as saying, "Never before has the situation on the Korean peninsula been more perilously poised towards a catastrophic thermonuclear war". He e…

Russia Allegedly Fires ICBM at Ukraine On the morning of November 21, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the eastern city of Dnipro. This would mark a significant development, as it would be the first time Russia has incorporated this type of weapon in an assault against Ukraine. Russia has yet to confirm this information. A national air raid alert was triggered in the early hours, citing the menace of ballistic missiles and the subsequent deployment of several Russian Tu-95MS bomber aircraft. The attack reportedly targeted Dnipro with a diverse array of missile types. Among these were Kh-47M2 'Kinzha…

A Boost to Ukraine's Defenses: U.S. Unveils $275M Military Package In a recent statement made by the Pentagon, the U.S. government has announced plans to fortify Ukraine's defenses with a noteworthy military package. Valued at an estimated $275 million, the financial aid aims to boost the Ukrainian military amidst ongoing crisis and conflict. The provision includes HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) ammunition, artillery shells, and Javelin surface-to-air missiles among others. A vast array of spare parts and equipment will also form a substantial part of the package. In adherence with the U.S.' enduring commitment to Ukraine's cause, this selected aid wil…

Ukraine Reportedly Launches U.S.-made Missiles into Russian Territory Late November brought with it surprising reports, as several Ukrainian news outlets disclosed that Ukraine had fired U.S.-manufactured ATACMS missiles into Russia's Bryansk Oblast region. This marked an unprecedented shift, where Ukraine was alleged to have altered its previous military tactics of merely targeting Russian-controlled sectors within Ukrainian borders. Unverified Reports of Missile Strikes on Russian Military Facility These developments, rumored to have transpired on November 19, drew public attention due to anonymous Ukrainian military figures asserting that a Russian militar…

U.S Embarks on a Significant Policy Shift: Biden Permits Ukraine to Use U.S.-Delivered Long-range Missiles In an unprecedented move, U.S. President Joe Biden has sanctioned the use of American-provided long-range ATACMS missiles by Ukraine for operations inside Russia, according to a report published by the New York Times on November 17. This critical change in U.S. policy gives Ukraine the ability to respond to threats on its soil from Russian and North Korean forces, beginning in the Kursk Oblast region. A cadre of unidentified official sources has suggested Washington could further greenlight the missile deployment in other regions. Even though specific details rem…

US Military Tests Groundbreaking Anti-Drone System The US military has begun trialing the Teledyne Cerberus XL, an innovative anti-drone (counter-UAS) device capable of concurrently detecting as many as 500 targets. The high-tech system not only significantly enhances the military's drone detection capabilities but also proves valuable amid escalating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) threats globally. The Power of the Cerberus XL C-UAS Earlier this year, the cutting-edge Cerberus XL C-UAS made its debut in a US-led military exercise, showcasing its adeptness in long-range sensing and counter-UAS action. The advanced gadget combines next-gen thermal and visual …

US Opens New Missile Defense Base in Poland Amidst Mixed Reactions On November 13, the United States unveiled a fresh air defense base in Redzikowo, northern Poland. As per Polish President, Andrzej Duda, this establishment highlights the assured defense of NATO's eastern territories. Russia's Stance on the New Base The strategically located base, in close proximity to the Baltic coast, extends NATO's missile defense shield across Europe. However, Russia criticized this development, terming it as a tactical demeanor to counter Russian military might. Historical Development of the Base and It's Significance The construction of the base traces back …

Democratic Senators Call for Investigation into Elon Musk's Alleged Contacts with Russia Leading Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen and Jack Reed have urged both the Pentagon and U.S. law enforcement agencies to look into reports about Tesla and SpaceX CEO's Elon Musk's communicative encounters with Russian officials. The senators' call to action includes communications allegedly held with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Senators Express Their Concerns Over Musk's Involvement in Government Projects Jeanne Shaheen is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, while Jack Reed chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. Both expressed their nat…

Almost One Million Shells Delivered to Ukraine, Reveals EU Diplomat According to recent reports in The Kyiv Independent, over the course of 2024, the European Union (EU) has dispatched 980,000 artillery shells to Ukraine. This is in relation to one million that were initially pledged, as disclosed on November 11 by Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat. The Challenge of Fulfilling the Promise The delivery shortfall was elucidated by Borrell who stated that it occurred due to the unintended constrain of production capacity. Despite this setback, the total yield of EU-provided ammo to Ukraine is expected to surpass 1.5 million shells by the conclusion of the yea…

North Korea Officially Enters Mutual Defense Treaty with Russia In a recent development, North Korea has announced the ratification of a defensive alliance with Russia, based on statements from official state media on November 12. This agreement obligates both countries to provide military aid to each other in the event of an armed attack. Rising Tensions and Mutual Goals The proclamation follows initial skirmishes between the Ukrainian forces and North Korean troops placed near Kursk, a border region of Russia. This comes after recent reports noted the first instances of conflict between Ukraine's military and North Korean soldiers stationed within the bou…

Report: Iran Develops Fentanyl-Based Chemical Weapons According to a recent report from Business Insider, Iran is suspected of developing pharmaceutical-based agents (PBAs) with lethal or incapacitating properties. These PBAs function by affecting the victim's central nervous system, resulting in severe harm or death. The situation may escalate dangerously if these advanced tools are provided to Iran's militant allies, such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Pharmaceutical-Based Agents: A New Approach in Warfare An expert from the US claims that Iran has developed synthetic opioid-based chemical weapons, such as fentanyl. These powerful agents have the potential to inca…

Policy Shift Allows US Contractors in Ukraine for Military Maintenance The Pentagon has reportedly relaxed restrictions to permit a select group of American defense contractors to operate within Ukraine for the repair and maintenance of essential military equipment. This significant modification of policy includes providing support for F-16 fighters and Patriot air defense systems. Heralded by the Department of Defense, this recent approach is aimed at enhancing the upkeep process of key equipment used by Ukrainian forces in their ongoing confrontation with Russia. This move enables American firms to bid for contracts and provide on-site assistance in Ukraine, ma…

US Marine Corps Commences Full-Scale Production of ACV-30 Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been awarded a contract from the US Marine Corps marking the beginning of full-rate production for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm program (ACV-30). The USD 51 million contract comprises subcomponents related to the 30mm remote turret. These parts will be manufactured by Kongsberg at their facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Extended Contract Worth Estimated USD 329 Million The contract issued to Kongsberg can be viewed as a component of a larger framework agreement, otherwise referred to as an “undefinitized contract action”. The total value of this agreement …

Expansion of the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) Satellite System: Japan and Poland set to join Access to the U.S. military's Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite network will be facilitated for Japan and Poland, marking a strategic development in the expansion of the system, according to recent agreements. This system already serves the U.S. and various partner nations, and it is set for further growth. Reflecting the Emergence of Space-based Communications in Military Strategy The enlistment of these countries into the WGS network is indicative of the escalating significance of space-based communication in military coordination and response. This, officials …

Concerns Raised Over Su-57’s Construction at Zhuhai Air Show In an unexpected turn of events, the recent display of the Sukhoi Su-57 at the forthcoming Zhuhai air show has raised eyebrows over its perceived subpar construction quality. A close examination of a widely circulated video raises questions about the overall build of Russia's prospective stealth fighter. Insight into the Su-57 at Zhuhai The aircraft set to grace the air show—the model 054 prototype—has been showcased at various air shows, particularly in its Russian homeland. According to the 2024 World Air Forces directory by FlightGlobal, the Russian Air Force includes 14 such aircraft in its flee…

Hyundai Introduces Silent Stealth Battle Tank Fueled by Hydrogen Due to Hyundai subsidiary Rotem, South Korea is poised to be the first country to design and introduce entirely hydrogen fuel cell-operated battle tanks. Rotem recently revealed its envisionment of the future of core battle machinery for the Republic of Korea (ROK) - tanks driven by hydrogen energy. Transition from Diesel to Hydrogen Power in Battle Tanks ROK's K-series battle tanks will transition into the next version, K3, powered by hydrogen and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, making it one of the most technologically advanced tanks globally. The K3 tank, designed in partnership wi…

Northrop Grumman Introduces Aerial Data Center to Boost Military Intelligence Northrop Grumman, the renowned defense contractor, has released new technology destined to supersede traditional methods of intelligence gathering for military operations. The technology, informally known as a flying data center, transforms an aircraft into a hub for real-time processing of data garnered from satellites, drones, and sensors on land and at sea. Deep Sensing and Targeting: A Game-changer for Real-time Intelligence Branded as the Deep Sensing and Targeting system (DSAT), this latest innovation saw its debut at a U.S. Army exercise last month. Brent Swift, the director …

Imminent Arrival of Mirage 2000 Jets Enhances Ukraine's Defence Arsenal In a pivotal move to bolster Ukraine's defense capability, France is set to deliver Mirage 2000 aircraft to the Eastern European nation in the forthcoming months. This revelation was made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot during a recent press conference he held jointly with his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The first of these aircraft is anticipated to touch Ukrainian soil in the early months of 2025. French Support Bolsters Ukraine’s Defense Sector Further emphasizing France's undeterred commitment to Ukraine, Barrot cited concrete instances of this al…

A New Approach to Battle Command Systems: Stryker and UGV 'Wingmen' The modern battlefield is about to take on a new look thanks to an ambitious concept spearheaded by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). This innovative strategy centers on command-and-control operations evolving to become more nimble, highly protected, and versatile. Crucial to realizing this concept is the Mission Command On The Move (MCOTM) Stryker, an initiative reimagining how command systems could be managed on the battlefield. Forward-thinking Tech Unveiled at AUSA At the recent Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference, GDLS introduced the MCOTM concept, which combines …

The Netherlands to Purchase 46 Leopard 2A8 Tanks and Boost Defense Capabilities Against Rising Threats In response to a surging Russian aggression, the Netherlands has announced its plans to reinstate its heavy armor capacity by procuring 46 Leopard 2A8 tanks from the French-German defense company, KNDS. This €1 billion (US$1.1 billion) purchase is a notable initiative towards fortifying military deterrents, only ten years after the country's last batch of tanks were sold to Finland. A Strategic Investment in Missile Defense Further strengthening their defense system, the Dutch government will also be acquiring four short-range and six medium-range air-defens…

Revamping the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle: Two Teams Undertake Preliminary Design Reviews In the quest to replace the renowned Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), key industrial teams have completed preliminary design evaluations, a major prerequisite ahead of the projected milestone for 2025. The announcement was made by Major General Glenn Dean, the Army Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems. Two Industry Teams Selected for the Next Phase General Dynamics Land Systems and American Rheinmetall Vehicles were singled out from a group of competitors in June 2023 and will now proceed to a comprehensive design segment of the XM30 Mechaniz…

Australia to Boost Ukraine's Defense with 49 Abrams Tanks In an unprecedented turn of national security events, Australia has offered a massive boost to Ukraine's land defense forces. Converging in an agreement, Australia will transfer 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, thereby enriching Kyiv's armored capabilities. This groundbreaking move brings an end to speculations about Australia's potential provision of vital armor to Ukraine. Unveiling of Australia's Defense Support The official announcement of the military assistance is due to be unveiled in Brussels by Pat Conroy, Minister for Defense Industry and Capability, at the NATO Defense Ministerial meetings. …

Decisive Action by U.S. Against Houthi Targets in Yemen In a formidable response to the Houthi’s year-long disruption of global shipping in key waterways, the U.S. military deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers for an operation in Yemen on October 17. Noted for their stealth capabilities and billion-dollar price tag per unit, B-2s were utilized for the first time in operations against the Houthis in collaboration with other U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets, according to the U.S. Central Command. State-of-the-art War Machines for Precision Targeting A minimum of two B-2s struck five underground weapons storage facilities, hitting a range of sophisticated weap…