November 8
Pentagon chief weapons buyer said he expects Congress to approve new authorities and spending to expand US weapons production in a manner unseen since the Cold War. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2022/11/07/congress-to-back-multiyear-weapons-purchases-laplante-says/
After a short post-Cold war and Obama dip it's rising ever since. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57541
November 7
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Ukrainian Military Performance and Outlook. On losses, gains, organisation, recruitment and acquisitions on both sides (in general terms). https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23276741/if12150.pdf
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Bloomberg reports that Boeing “is concerned about the ability of” Indonesia to finance the deal to buy F-15EX fighters. Earlier in February, the US government cleared the sale of up to 36 F-15EX fighters to Jakarta. The deal is worth $14bn. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/boeing-s-14-billion-indonesia-jet-deal-stalls-over-financing-1.1841879
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The other vison: The West is arming Ukraine and it won't stop until its war aims are achieved in this openly acknowledged proxy war. Meanwhile, the Western propaganda against China will continue relentlessly to blame it for not ending the war. https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/3198640/theres-only-one-way-peace-ukraine-west-says-no
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#Thales theft. It had been alleged an Australian subsidiary of Thales had unlawfully used misleading & deceptive conduct when it used confidential plans of the Austrian manufacturer NIOA, to fix a problem with the weapon. (Gun fix claims shot down 071122
https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au)
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Head of Sales for Airbus Hugues Pavie revealed that the Pleiades Neo satellite can be used for defence and intelligence analysis, which allows (restricted) users to access images of military bases. "With this satellite, we can analyze defense equipment..."
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Authoritarian governments like those in Egypt and Saudi Arabia have funded a boom in France’s arms industry. Now, with war in Ukraine, it’s setting its sights on rearming Europe. https://jacobin.com/2022/11/france-arms-exports-authoritarian-europe-military-industrial-complex
November 6
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Japan has begun to consider relaxing export conditions on used Self-Defense Forces hardware to include tanks and missiles, which are now prohibited from being supplied to foreign countries and it will also look into offering Asian countries free of charge. https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-weighs-allowing-secondhand-tank-and-missile-exports
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The war could dent Russia’s prospects as an arms exporter.
Analysts say Russia’s performance in Ukraine, coupled with Western sanctions, is likely to hurt its ability to sell weapons abroad. Southeast Asia is a case in point.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/06/world/europe/russia-weapons-southeast-asia.html
November 5
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Britse inlichtingendiensten: “Rusland zet speciale eenheden in om deserteurs en terugtrekkende soldaten neer te schieten” https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20221104_93428907
En wie wil ze geen veilig onderdak geven? https://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20220928-eu-divided-on-welcoming-russians-fleeing-military-draft
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#Thales : Strengthens its Leading Position in the #Indonesian Defence Industry. See for details: https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/THALES-4715/news/Thales-Strengthens-its-Leading-Position-in-the-Indonesian-Defence-Industry-42202121/
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China increases Ssupport for Pakistan’s naval modernization with an eye on the Indian Ocean.
Dutch deliver Islamabad OPVs and C3-equipment on naval vessels built by Turkey.
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US military equipment was allegedly misused on multiple occasions in Guatemala, and the US government does not have policies in place to address the situation, a recent GAO report said https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105856. They were used to to intimidate diplomats. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2022/11/04/us-donated-military-vehicles-misused-in-guatemala-watchdog-says/
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The US and Netherlands are splitting the cost of refurbishing 90 more Czech T-72B tanks for Ukraine in Kyiv’s fight to repel Russia, the Pentagon announced Friday. The agreement is part of a $400 million US military weaponry package to Ukraine. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2022/11/04/us-netherlands-go-dutch-to-refurbish-czech-tanks-for-ukraine
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#Egypt is producing military equipment for its own armed forces. Now Cairo is planning to export Egyptian weapons to #African countries in order to further extend Egyptian influence in the continent. https://www.military.africa/2022/11/egypt-needs-export-customers-for-its-growing-defence-industry/
It will meet many others with similar plans.
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The activity of #Damen in #Romania raises questions, from the personnel policy at Mangalia, the transfer of a key figure from the state to the private company and the way they try to have control of the company owned in association with the state Romanian. https://www.tylaz.net/2022/11/04/the-truth-the-controversies-surrounding-the-romanian-business-of-the-dutch-company-damen/
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Union support for increased defence spending is a terrible mistake. The idea that manufacturing can be boosted by demanding the government builds its bombs in the UK is wrong on many levels — e.g. by allowing public spending going from welfare to warfare. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/union-support-increased-defence-spending-terrible-mistake
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A report released on Thursday by Sprotyv, a website affiliated with the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, claims to show the route used by Iran to deliver its drones to Russia. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-721527
November 4
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US Arms Sales Regulations and Restrictions: Can the US Sell Arms to Armenia? https://mirrorspectator.com/2022/11/03/us-arms-sales-regulations-and-restrictions-can-the-us-sell-arms-to-armenia/
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Though a settlement may seem unpalatable now, only by astute and careful negotiation are Ukraine’s core interests—and the security of the region—likely to be protected for the long term. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/ukraine-war-will-end-negotiations
November 3
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Schepnet voor ballistische raket; #Thales bouwt superradars die een nucleaire aanval voor kan zijn. https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1030776158/nederlandse-superradar-moet-ballistische-raketten-detecteren
Vergelijk het eens met glasaaltjes. Als je die wegvangt moet je nieuwe uitzetten. Vang je raketten. Dan komen er meer. #Wapenwedloop https://stopwapenhandel.org/app/uploads/2017/09/fregatten-raketschild_0.pdf
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"Thales in Hengelo, scheepsbouwer Damen en GKN Fokker zijn nu al grote spelers in Nederland."https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/775841471/kwart-miljard-extra-voor-defensie-industrie-zelf-munitie-draaien-geen-prioriteit
Toevallig twitterde ik al over beide vandaag.
GKN Fokker: https://twitter.com/martinbroek/status/1588104884406083585
Thales: https://twitter.com/martinbroek/status/1588107121564045313
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The development took ages. Now the project aims for a top spot on the list of greatest failures of common European development of military equipment.
Sweden plans to join near neighbour Norway in ditching the NH90 helicopter under new defence plans. https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/sweden-to-axe-nh90-fleet-under-revised-defence-equipment-plan/150778.article
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Better call Seoul: US watches nervously as Europe turns to South Korea for weapons. Poland is spending billions, and other countries are expected to follow. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/01/europe-south-korea-weapons-00064427
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Documents reveal that a corporation implicated in corruption, served as a middleman between IAI, Elbit, and Israel Shipyards and Myanmar's brutal junta, despite international sanctions over the Rohingya genocide. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2022-10-27/ty-article/broker-for-israeli-arms-to-myanmar-arrested-in-thailand-for-drug-dealing-money-laundering/00000184-1052-d19c-ade5-335628680000
November 2
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#Microflown was founded as an innovative start-up project at the technical University of Twente. Now its accoustic technology is bought by the Indonesian armed forces #TNI.
Retweet @NIDVnews: Nieuws uit Jakarta: Microflown AVISA's akoestische technologie vindt toepassing bij Indonesische strijdkrachten! https://nidv.eu/nieuws/microflowns-akoestische-tech-beschermt-indonesische-voertuigen/
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In the discussion about Qatar, labour rights, human rights and the World Cup there is another party connected to football: the military and the arms industry. #WC2022 https://stopwapenhandel.org/wc2022-arms-rights-and-sport-wash/
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Military industries and science, a close connection. Next week 3 day conforence 'International Naval Engineering Conference and Exhibition (#INEC22)' at #Delft University. Sponsored by, among others, General Electric, BAE and Damen. https://www.imarest.org/events/category/categories/imarest-event/international-naval-engineering-conference-and-exhibition-2022
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It's seamless connected to the Israeli human rights voiolations.
The shooting training center of the Special Forces Command (#KSK) of the #German army in the town of Calw has been using training system components from the #Israeli company Trango Systems.
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Reaper MQ-9A UAVs headed to Poland in $70M lease deal
The General Atomics announcement comes amid a defense spending splurge from Warsaw.
https://breakingdefense.com/2022/10/reaper-mq-9a-uavs-headed-to-poland-in-70m-lease-deal/
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Arms transfer and SALW controls in the Middle East and North Africa: Challenges and state of play. https://www.sipri.org/commentary/topical-backgrounder/2022/arms-transfer-and-salw-controls-middle-east-and-north-africa-challenges-and-state-play
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US monitors have inspected just some of high-risk weapons sent to Ukraine. US monitors conducted in-person inspections on only 10% of the 22,000 US-provided weapons sent to Ukraine that require special oversight. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/11/01/us-weapons-ukraine-oversight/
Late last month, the State Department issued a proactive policy to track weapons being sent to Ukraine that are highly portable, highly lethal, and contain advanced technology. In essence man-portable air defense systems and anti-tank guided missiles. https://www.federaltimes.com/thought-leadership/2022/11/02/state-dept-plan-to-track-weapons-for-ukraine-should-be-starting-point/
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#India has emerged as a military exporter in recently & could fulfil #Africa’s maritime, aerospace and defence requirements, with Mauritius, Mozambique & Seychelles becoming the major buyers of Indian arms during 2017-2021, according to a research report. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/africa-major-buyer-of-indian-arms-446787
November 1
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One of the MoU's signed during a recent trip to Saudi Arabia by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa covers "cooperation in the field of military industries and procurements."https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/south-africa-and-saudi-arabia-sign-defence-mou/
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De beveiliger gerold.
Un groupe de hackers menace de diffuser des données volées à Thales : https://francetvinfo.fr/internet/securite-sur-internet/cyberattaques/info-franceinfo-un-groupe-de-hackers-revendique-une-cyberattaque-contre-thales_5450623.html
French defence and electronics group #Thales has launched an investigation after claims of data #theft by #Russian-speaking #hacker group LockBit 3.0, which recently disrupted the operation of the Corbeil-Essonnes hospital, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. https://actualnewsmagazine.com/english/targeted-by-a-group-of-hackers-thales-opens-an-internal-investigation/
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Not all European Union members have enacted national policies for screening foreign direct investments in their critical industries, according to a European Defence Agency official. Roughly half of the 27 EU members lack requisite screening policies. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/10/31/eu-officials-flag-vulnerabilities-to-foreign-control-in-defense-sector/