Latest
on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
May
6
***
War what is it good for?
May 5
***
#Rheinmetall
pitches unmanned mothership full of tiny attack #drones.
https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/2023/05/04/rheinmetall-pitches-unmanned-mothership-full-of-tiny-attack-drones/
***
Eind vorig
jaar dreigde #Turks president #Erdogan met een nieuw #grondoffensief
in Noord-Syrië. De bewoners van de ook al door de aarbeving
geteisterde regio bereiden zich voor op het ergste. ‘Het is
niet de vraag of het offensief er komt, maar wanneer.’
https://www.mo.be/reportage/alsof-we-niet-genoeg-geleden-hebben-onder-de-aardbevingen
***
The defense
industry and lobby groups in #Germany have been working to lift the
ban on exporting offensive weapons to #Saudi Arabia.
#MBDA Deutschland is said to be part of these efforts.
The results of these efforts are
answered in a 339-word report.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/61845-saudi-arabia-mbda-deutschland-and-efforts-to-lift-german-offensive-weapons-ban
May 4
***
Security?
#UK arms exports to South #Sudan
(2012-2022).
https://aoav.org.uk/2023/uk-arms-exports-to-south-sudan-2012-2022/
UK
arms exports to Somalia (2012-2022)
https://aoav.org.uk/2023/uk-arms-exports-to-somalia-2012-2022/
***
“All the
instruments of European defence policy are open, be it participation
in crisis management operations, in developing defence capabilities
through the #EDF – all of it is open to third countries... So these
policies are open as well to the #UK.” #EU
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/04/new-eu-envoy-recognises-willingness-to-rebuild-relationship-between-uk-and-eu
***
RFE/RL:
#China’s peace-broker role for #Ukraine can’t be discounted. Xi
has been engaging with world leaders on this issue for months, and
China has diplomatic capital to spend on the issue that could
translate into momentum in the future.
https://www.rferl.org/a/china-in-eurasia-briefing-standish-ukraine-china-russia-war-peace/32391309.html
***
Airbus,
Eutelsat, Hispasat, SES & Thales Alenia Space will jointly bid
for the EC Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, &
Security by Satellite #IRISS or #IRIS2, intended to provide more
secure space-based communication to the EU by 2027.
https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/airbus-reports-first-quarter-2023-results-i44r01b4
***
Revenues at
Airbus Defence and Space decreased 6 percent, mainly driven by lower
volume in Military Air Systems and in Space Systems. One A400M
transport aircraft was delivered in Q1 2023.
https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/airbus-reports-first-quarter-2023-results-i44r01b4
***
#Turkey’s
weapons exports to #Africa, although still relatively small, were
increasing rapidly – from $83m in 2020 to $460m in 2021. A study by
a German institute #SWP described its rapid growth as ‘impressive’.
https://www.timesaerospace.aero/features/defence/why-african-militaries-now-want-to-talk-turkey
***
#Egypt is
said to have made progress to procure the Lockheed Martin #THAAD
system.
How advanced are the talks?
Will the US #DDTC approve the deal?
What about the talks with Lockheed?
A 231-word report to answer these
questions and more BEHIND PAYWALL.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/61841-egypt-lockheed-martin-and-talks-over-thaad-update
***
Whether they
emanate from the right or the left, proponents of bringing Pentagon
spending back down to earth will face bipartisan opposition by
members who support high spending based on the desire to pour
Pentagon funding into their states/districts.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhartung/2023/04/26/will-the-pentagon-win-the-debt-ceiling-fight/
***
Full
guns blazing, but US #microchip export controls imposed last year to
freeze China’s development of supercomputers used to develop
nuclear weapons and AI are having only minimal effects on China’s
tech sector.
https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2023/05/03/chinas-ai-industry-barely-hampered-by-us-chip-export-rules/
***
Extra
information:
EU member states reach deal on joint
ammunition procurement for Ukraine
https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/eu-member-states-reach-deal-on-joint-ammunition-procurement-for-ukraine/
Defence: €500 million and new measures to urgently boost EU defence industry capacities in ammunition production https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/nl/ip_23_2569
Thanks to @_ENAAT
Brussels
backs use of EU budget to fund arms
factories
https://www.ft.com/content/56adcea4-2538-4ef3-9fde-f80edf6ca4a0
***
No
large-scale cases of illegal circulation of firearms in connection
with the year-long Russian war against Ukraine have been recorded.
This was stated by the EU delegation to international organizations in Vienna.
***
Hearing
tomorow on:
Modernizing US Arms Exports and a
Stronger #AUKUS.
https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/modernizing-u-s-arms-exports-and-a-stronger-aukus/
***
Onrust heerst
bij het korps commandotroepen vanwege een vermeend onveilige
werksfeer. De landmacht onderzoekt de situatie en de commandant van
de elite-eenheid zit thuis hangende het onderzoek. Hierover bericht
het AD woensdag als eerste. #KCT #SOF
https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/crisis-bij-commandos-over-onveilige-werksfeer-commandant-zit-thuis~a0266f65/
***
Helping at
the cost of EU members. EU central budget resources usually set aside
for infrastructure projects in poorer countries will now boost
European arms production.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/03/eu-brussels-ukraine-weapons-arms-building-roads/
***
Armed
police have used ‘intimidation and blanket detention’ to break up
a peaceful protest at the Leicester factory of Israeli weapons
manufacturer Elbit Systems.
https://skwawkbox.org/2023/05/03/armed-police-arrest-33-for-peaceful-protest-vs-israeli-arms-maker-including-palestine-action-founders/
***
Starting
with sexual harashment in the Japanese military in one jump the
article goes to: "experts say that there need to be far broader
changes in Japan" like "the expansion of its arms exports
industry" to strengthen the impact of the record spending.
https://www.ft.com/content/2e8dd852-47d3-4276-aabb-21bccb31dff0
On
the other side of the Pacific. Sexual assault reporting by US
military increased around 1 percent in 2022 compared to the previous
year. In FY 2022, there were 8,942 reports. (Annual Sexual Assault
Prevention and Response Report.)
https://news.usni.org/2023/04/27/annual-pentagon-sexual-assault-study-shows-increase-in-navy-reports-overall-trends-unclear
May 3
***
While some
ask if president Erdogan will be finally thrown out of Turkish
politics,
https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2023-04-27/ty-article/.premium/is-turkey-finally-ready-to-throw-out-erdogan/00000187-c19e-d0b0-a5b7-d59e48be0000
others highlight his presence at the next weapon system Turkey
produces. He formally named the country’s new TF-X indigenous
fighter on May 1.
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/turkish-fighter-christened-kaan-formal-rollout
***
By the end of
2023 an unusual deal for the #F35 fighter′s spare parts could be in
place that would upend the current ineffective & cosly supply
model. But can it handle wartime demands, also for global partner
countries? A detailed look into this question.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/05/02/lockheed-eyes-new-f-35-parts-deal-but-can-it-handle-wartime-demands/
***
#Czech arms
manufacturers have seen their reputations transformed, from being a
burden on the country’s international image to the government's
main conduit of support for #Ukraine.
Profitable exports to authoritarian regimes and conflict zones however also revealed they do not much care about human rights and ethical standards when making those deals.
They have already started campaigning
for the lifting of existing restrictions on commercial banks lending
to the arms sector.
https://balkaninsight.com/2023/05/03/weapon-supplies-to-ukraine-help-repair-tarnished-image-of-czech-arms-makers/
May 2
***
The Korea
JoongAng Daily publishes showroom with the weapons Seoul has on offer
for export.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/05/02/national/defense/Korea-weapons/20230502174605764.html
***
According to
Defense News, the #US House committee dedicated to countering #China
is preparing bipartisan proposals for the fiscal 2024 defense
authorization bill that would accelerate US munitions production and
arms transfers to #Taiwan.
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2023/04/27/china-focused-panel-preps-proposals-to-rapidly-arm-taiwan/
***
AUKUS
initially drew sharp responses from several Southeast Asian states.
Malaysia and Indonesia were the most vocal critics, expressing fears
that AUKUS could lead to a regional arms race and further
instability. Nowadays responses are more muted.
https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/australia-aukus-and-southeast-asia/
***
#India
thinking big about military #exports to Africa, Tejas jets on radar.
Nigeria will be the first country to receive an unspecified number of
domestically built light attack helicopters from state-owned
Hindustan Aeronautics buys via soft credit.
https://newsbeezer.com/zimbabwe/india-thinking-big-about-military-exports-to-africa-tejas-jets-on-radar/
May 1
***
Next #F35
order. Again billions into #Lockheed's pockets.
The Pentagon approved the start of production for Lot 17 of the #JSF aircraft, which will include 126 aircraft for the USAF, USMC, USN & foreign forces, valued $7.8 Billion (= annual ME of Norway). https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/pentagon-awards-78-bln-f-35-contract-lockheed-martin-2023-04-28/
***
Myanmar
National Unity Government is bereft of any meaningful external
support while the junta is assisted by its fellow authoritarians
since the 2021 coup.
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/myanmars-military-junta-and-the-neo-authoritarian-bloc/
Totally despicable, but one may ask is the Cold War 2.0 is in the interest of Myanmar people's.
***
While Europe
buys US fighters Germany, Spain and France have formally agreed on
the next stage in the development of the European fighter aircraft
known as #FCAS (Future Combat Air System). For France and #export
only?
https://defence-industry.eu/germany-france-and-spain-confirm-next-stage-in-development-of-fcas/
***
De Guardiao
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardiao_(P511)) is een schip gebouwd
door #Damen Shipyards en deels gefinancierd door #Nederland. Maar dit
patrouille vaartuig ligt al twee jaar werkeloos en stuk in dok. Een
obetaalbare miljoenenstrop voor het straatarme #Kaapverdië.
https://www.volkskrant.nl/kijkverder/v/2023/het-straatarme-kaapverdie-knokt-tegen-de-dreiging-van-een-narcostaat~v664672/
***
#Germany is
planning to produce 250,000 155mm artillery #shells for #Ukraine,
which is a quarter of the total amount of ammunition the European
Union intends to provide to Ukraine.
That’s according to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3702317-germany-planning-to-produce-250000-artillery-shells-for-ukraine-media.html
***
BOOKS
Why Active Non-Alignment Should Be the Basis of Latin America’s Modern Foreign Policy.
https://thewire.in/books/active-non-alignment-latin-america-book-review
***
Debate on #Japanese arms export
policy continues. EDITORIAL in the Asahi Shimbun: Restrictions on
defense exports should remain for deadly arms. The ruling LDP however
envisioned the lifting of the ban on transfers of lethal weapons
countries in conflict.
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14898215
The
Yomiuri Shimbun takes a more agressive stance. It is important to
promote exports of defense equipment in order to rebuild the defense
industry that supports Japan's security policy.
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20230430-106703/
***
The
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) called for an end to what it
called "the pipeline of public funding to arms companies".
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/23489891.profitable-scots-arms-firms-benefit-8m-public-grants/
