Latest
on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
October 12
***
The Netherlands operates the F-35A variant.
***
What the #US
Should Do to Keep Its Lead in the Chip War?
#China next-generation lithography tool—which uses a form of lithography one generation shy of Dutch industry leader #ASML’s most advanced technology—is set to be launched this year."https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/china-goes-offensive-chip-war
***
Turn it up
side down. #France confirmed future military sales to #Armenia . If
there is a new conflict, the #Azerbaijani President says, France will
be responsible. https://www.azernews.az/analysis/215923.html
Weren't it #Israel & #Turkey his sources for arms than, responsible for ethnic cleansing?
***
Stop the fools.
Under Giorgia Meloni's government's new proposal, #Italy
would be able to export arms to countries at #war as well as to those
with a poor track record of #human_rights violations, #evading_bans
that currently stop it from doing so.
https://www.euronews.com/2023/10/11/italys-government-is-trying-to-make-exporting-arms-easier-but-activists-say-itd-be-a-disas
***
Next. The Belgian
government said it will provide an undisclosed number of F-16
fighters to Ukraine from 2025, a decision some are calling a
compromise between the political factions that make up the country’s
ruling coalition.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/10/11/belgium-agrees-to-send-f-16s-to-ukraine-but-not-before-2025/
October 11
***
Norwegian
#Kongsberg is sending its integrated #counter-#drone system to
#Ukraine to help guard against incoming Iranian-made kamikaze drones,
and hopes to convince the US Army and Marine Corps to consider the
system for future vehicle programs.
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2023/10/10/kongsberg-sending-counter-drone-network-to-ukraine-pitching-it-to-us/
***
#Qatari Emir
Tamim is following up with #Hamas’ Political Bureau Chief Ismail
Haniyeh on the ongoing military conflict with Israel.
Emir Tamim is said to have received from Haniyeh a proposal for a #ceasefire agreement. https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/62239
***
#France's
Direction Générale de l'Armement #DGA has proposed offers to #SAMI
to enhance #Saudi space capabilities in various fields. France is
competing with China to supply Saudi Arabia with #satellites.
Satellites are imporant for miltary activities. https://www.tacticalreport.com/
***
At least 2
Western companies have supplied critical components for the Turkish
#Bayraktar drones. Used in conflicts in Africa, Asia and Europe.
#Hensoldt told Reuters it has been equipping the #Bayraktar TB2 with
its ARGOS II optical sensor since 2020. L3Harris Wescam, a Canadian
subsidiary of US defence contractor #L3 #Harris Technologies, has
also supplied drone technology to #Turkey in the past.
https://www.todayonline.com/world/western-firms-have-supplied-critical-components-turkish-drones-2278081
***
European
Network Against Arms Trade #ENAAT News from the Brussels' Bubble
- EU funding for the arms industry
- Other aspects of EU militarisation
The news letter is full of information on recent developments and links to documents, reports and article.
https://enaat.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ENAAT-NBB-2023-07_09.10.2023.pdf
***
Wie vrede
wil, moet een vredesbeleid voeren. Dus niet meer wapens en hogere
militaire uitgaven, maar de-escalatie, diplomatie, afschaffing van
kernwapens en een streng wapenexportbeleid.
De verkiezingsflyer van @CTWnl en
@KerkenVrede
hier ->
https://stopwapenhandel.org/kies-voor-vredesbeleid/
***
#Turkey’s
Baykar to spend $100 million on #Ukraine #drone production.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/10/10/turkeys-baykar-to-spend-100-million-on-ukraine-production-plant/
***
Nederland
sluit niet uit dat 8 aan Oekraïne geleverde Pzh2000 houwitsers
worden gebruikt om onder voorwaarden #clustermunitie af te vuren.
https://www.tweedekamer.nl/downloads/document?id=2023D41566
Dit terwijl de Convention on Cluster
Munitions #CCM het gebruik ten alle tijden verbiedt.
https://disarmament.unoda.org/convention-on-cluster-munitions/
October 10
***
#Pentagon has
started delivering #military #equipment to #Israel by air, as the DoD
is searching its stocks for possible additional equipment &
urging the US industry to accelerate deliveries of materiel that is
in production, officials announced Oct. 9.
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/dod-providing-military-aid-israel-surging-forces-region
***
US Defense
Production Act of 1950: History, Authorities & Considerations for
Congres.
DPA authorities incl:
Priorities & Allocations
Expansion of Productive Capacity &
Supply
General Provisions eg establishing
voluntary agreements with private industry
***
Selection of Dutch
military licenses Dec 2022:
- 22 not specified licenses for militairy products, #Ukraine;
- #submarine parts, #Taiwan, € 788,487;
- 33 small arms (+ ammo) export licenses, #Turkey; &
- 12 licenses in December were larger than € 1 million.
***
Selection of
Dutch licenses dual use licenses Jun-Aug 2023:
- 4 for Image intensifiers (military purp), #Brazil, total €153,945;
- thermal camera's, #India, €75,126; &
- several licenses (Montenegro, Spain and #Tanzania) via Israel for image intensifiers.
***
In February
2023 nearly 1.2 million bullets were shipped fropm the US to Ukraine
passing the harbout of #Rotterdam by ship.
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/exportcontrole-strategische-goederen/documenten/rapporten/2016/10/01/overzicht-doorvoer-militaire-goederen
The caliber isn't provided anymore for all transits by car, ship and plane since October 31, 22. See also: https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2023/10/who-stops-decline-of-arms-export.html
***
In the first
nine months of 2023, the #German government approved #arms_exports
vallued +/- € 100 million from Rheinland-Pfalz. This is according
to federal government information as answer to a question by Die
Linke Bundestag member Dagdelen.
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/ruestungsindustrie-berlin-ruestungsexporte-fuer-100-millionen-euro-genehmigt-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-231008-99-482819
***
Remember
Eisenhower's remarkts on the MIC:
Support for Ukraine preparing US for future wars
The Pentagon plans to reach the target of 1 million rounds per year by autumn 2025.
This increased capacity is there to
stay even when the war in Ukraine ends.
https://asiatimes.com/2023/10/support-for-ukraine-preparing-us-for-future-wars/
***
The
#Naval_Group has just launched the Kimon, the first defence and
intervention #FDI frigate. Norway & #Saudi Arabia are potential
customers for the new French frigate.
The Lorient site is ready: it has reorganized itself to deliver two FDIs per year. https://www.challenges.fr/entreprise/defense/fregates-de-naval-group-apres-la-grece-la-norvege-et-larabie-saoudite-pourraient-se-laisser-seduire_869873
***
The Pentagon
is expected to share information with the Saudi MoD about the
performance of U.S.-made weapons in Ukraine.
Note that the U.S. Biden administration
previously withheld such information from non-NATO countries. https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/62233
***
Analysts
tell Breaking Defense that there has been a shift in how #Ukraine
uses its Turkish TB2 #drones, as the direct result of Russia's change
in air defense tactics over the course of the war.
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/10/with-turkish-drones-in-the-headlines-what-happened-to-ukraines-bayraktar-tb2s/
October 7
***
Israeli
artillery seen with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan against the
Sudanese army. The possession of advanced weaponry heightens concerns
about its potential for future acts of violence.
https://www.military.africa/2023/10/israeli-artillery-seen-with-rsf-forces/
***
David
Arakhamia, the leader of #Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's
party, criticised #Swiss #neutrality policy. This policy has effects
on the arms exports position of Bern which are not in the interest of
Kyiv.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/ukraine-official-criticises-switzerland-over-arms-exports/48869366
***
Report on
United Nations First Committe (on disarmament and international
security) Meeting. "Regulating the flow of conventional arms
should not restrict States’ right to acquire such weapons for
self-defence," the representative of Saudi Arabia states.
https://press.un.org/en/2023/gadis3713.doc.htm
October 6
***
Damen is
behaving pitiful these days:
Damen asks for compensation from Romania for termination of agreement over shipyard. https://www.romania-insider.com/damen-compensation-romania-shipyards-2023
But still is selling large naval
vessels:
https://www.marinelink.com/news/know-ship-hours-board-damen-delivers-508548
***
Dutch
military arms reports on individual licenses are provided only up to
December 22. In September 23 some new information on transit consents
has been provided. Reporting on dual use slowly continues. But
instead of catching up the backlog is growing.
https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2023/10/who-stops-decline-of-arms-export.html
***
Kuwaiti-French
relations have dramatically deteriorated due to the controversial
sales of Airbus Caracal H225M heli's. The deal, include allegations
of corruption & bribery, and Kuwait suspended the acceptance of
the heli's by the Kuwaiti military in 2022.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/in-depth/62230
***
The Italian
Navy has received its final #NH90 military helicopter from Leonardo.
The first delivery was made in 2011.
https://www.leonardo.com/en/press-release-detail/-/detail/02-10-2023-italian-navy-s-nh90-helicopter-deliveries-complete-as-state-of-the-art-mission-simulation-centre-is-established-at-maristaeli-luni-base
(The European heli of #Fokker #GKN, #Leonardo & #Airbus
http://www.nhindustries.com/website/en/ref/The-Company_150.html
is even more notorious for its faillures as the US F-35.)
***
#Japanese
self defence force Minister Minoru Kihara seeks deal to speed up
#Tomahawk buy from US. The Tomahawk is the subsonic cruise missile
used to open US interventions since the 1990's or to punish an enemy
after it crossed a red line.
Self defence?
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/10/japanese-defmin-seeks-deal-to-speed-up-tomahawk-buy-from-us
***
#Thales will
equip the #Polish Navy MIECZNIK frigates with the #TACTICOS combat
management system, sonars, infrared sensor and radars providing the
warships with multiple functions for detection, identification,
command and control and decision making.
https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/THALES-4715/news/Thales-to-deliver-the-Combat-Management-System-and-sensor-suite-to-Polish-MIECZNIK-Frigates-44987839/
***
A global
investigation into the Israeli Predator spyware firm has revealed
documents showing the former prime minister was invited to pitch a
deal to a German spy agency. Olmert admits working with #Intellexa,
recently sanctioned by the US, until recently.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2023-10-05/ty-article/.premium/ex-israeli-pm-olmert-worked-for-u-s-blacklisted-spyware-maker-intellexa/0000018a-fe96-d95d-a3be-ff9774710000
***
UK arms
exports almost double to £8.5bn, with most sales to repressive
regimes, campaigners reveal.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/arms-exports-almost-double-to-8bn-with-most-sales-to-repressive-regimes-campaigners-reveal
With
#UK arms supplies to Ukraine soaring, the CAAT raised concerns about
waste, corruption and where weapons end up after the conflict.
UK arms exports nearly doubled in 2022
to €9.8bn, according to a new report by the Campaign Against Arms
Trade #CAAT.
https://www.euronews.com/2023/10/06/amid-surging-global-bloodshed-uk-arms-exports-double-report
***
The
Dysfunctional Superpower shoots down a drone of an autocratic member
of NATO after it came too close to troops.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2023/10/05/us-shoots-down-turkish-drone-after-it-came-too-close-to-us-troops/
***
How
Israel helped Azerbaijan retake Nagorno-Karabakh and why (the 'why'
is not translated into English and still in Albanian, automatic
translation helps).
https://www.voxnews.al/english/kosovabota/si-izraeli-ndihmoi-azerbajxhanin-per-te-rimarre-nagorno-karabakun-dhe-i49715
October
5
***
New blog: Who
stops the decline of arms export transparency?
https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2023/10/who-stops-decline-of-arms-export.html
***
Surprising?
Top lobbyists for European (military) air industry:
#ASD Pres, Guillaume Faury
V-chair of the board, Micael Johansson
&
Sec Gen, Jan Pie
demand more investments, more production & a buy Europe policy. How wonderful: flying will be sustainable.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/opinion/europes-time-to-act/
***
#AI Goes to
War
Will the #Pentagon's Techno-Fantasies
Pave the Way for War with #China?
https://tomdispatch.com/ai-goes-to-war/
***
The #US is
unable to rely exclusively on existing human-operated weapons systems
to prevail in a future war with #China and will need to field vast
numbers of autonomous weapons systems controlled by #AI, stated
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2023-10/news/pentagon-plans-mass-autonomous-weapons-deployment
***
Biden
Administration to tighten chip export rules amid escalating Us-China
tensions.
https://www.cryptopolitan.com/biden-administration-to-tighten-chip-export/
***
#Israeli-#Azerbaijani
arms trade comes under scrutiny
There's widespread speculation [bit
more than just that, MB] Azerbaijan relied heavily on Israeli
weaponry to stage its offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh. Hadas Gold
reports.
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/10/04/exp-gold-live-hit-azerbaijan-israel-fst-10049aseg1-cnni-world.cnn
Like
this artcle published yesterday (Oct. 4):
#IAI #Israel Aerospace Industries sells
#spy #satellites to #Azerbaijan.
https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2023/10/04/israel-aerospace-industries-sells-spy-satellites-to-azerbaijan/
***
Poland to
Borrow Billions for Defence, Beyond the Budget
https://defence24.com/defence-policy/poland-to-borrow-billions-for-defence-beyond-the-budget
***
PLN 47.0 billion - at the end of 2023;
PLN 86.6 billion - at the end of 2024;
PLN 156.8 billion - at the end of 2025;
PLN 239.5 billion - at the end of 2026;
PLN 314.6 billion (approx. USD 71 billion) - at the end of 2027;
Poland to Borrow Billions for Defence, Beyond the Budget https://defence24.com/defence-policy/poland-to-borrow-billions-for-defence-beyond-the-budget
October 4
***
Refugees
International calls for Investigation into #UAE #arms Shipments to
#Darfur. https://sudantribune.com/article277923/
***
French
Foreign Minister Colonna said on a visit to Armenia that Paris agreed
to deliver military equipment to Armenia. France's top diplomat
declined to provide any details.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20231003-french-fm-catherine-colonna-visits-armenia-to-underline-continued-support
And 'our' allies Israel and Turkey provide arms to the other side.
October 3
***
Nyan Lwin
Aung, a 36 year old #Myanmar #crony close to the ministries of
defence and home affairs who bought weapons for the military regime
was #shot dead in Yangon on Monday night, claims Urban Owls, a Yangon
resistance group.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/junta-crony/myanmar-crony-arms-dealer-gunned-down-in-yangon-guerrilla-group.html
***
Saudi Arabia
is making a push for nuclear power as part of any US-brokered pact
with Israel - and Riyadh won't be shy about seeking what it wants.
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/10/in-nuclear-push-saudi-arabia-could-play-us-china-off-each-other/
***
Tactical
Report previously covered the talks between #Egypt and #Naval_Group
regarding a Barracuda-class attack #submarine deal. #French concerns
regarding the deal and Egyptian demands.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/62220
***
#Damen the
supplier of almost all Dutch royal navy ships sues its major
customer over Russia sanction losses.
Damen says it ‘suffers damages’ as a result of sanctions. Dutch company seeking compensation in case against government.
The Dutch citizen has to pay?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-03/largest-dutch-shipbuilder-sues-state-over-russia-sanction-losses
***
1/2 Singapore and
Indonesia in Spotlight Over Illegal Arms Exports to Myanmar. Three
state-owned Indonesian arms manufacturers – PT Pindad, PT PAL, and
PT Dirgantara Indonesia – have sold supplies to Myanmar’s
military, in violation of Indonesian and international law. .../2
2/2 A
localSingaporese dealer managed to get around official restrictions
on arms sales by issuing false end-user certificates. The equipment
was bought from Kongsberg Maritime, a Norwegian firm
https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-column/singapore-and-indonesia-in-spotlight-over-illegal-arms-exports-to-myanmar.html
State-owned defense holding company
Defend ID denied allegations that its 3 firms exported military
products to Myanmar since the coup.
Former Indonesian attorney general
Darusman reported the companies to KomnasHAM for allegedly exporting
arms to Myanmar.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1779813/indonesian-weapon-producers-defend-id-deny-selling-arms-to-myanmar-junta
***
The
resistance of tiny Grossenhain to a new arms plant shows how the
government's plan for a more assertive foreign policy is struggling.
16 Of 22 members of the City Council signed a letter to Chancellor
Olaf Scholz urging him to block the project.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/world/europe/germany-defense-ukraine-war-weapons.html
***
The arrest of Ariane Lavrilleux worries journalists. Her
work revealed France's involvement in state crimes in Egypt, as well
as arms sales abroad. During the 2 days behind bars the DGSI
questioned her about her sources and those of Disclose. (L'Humanité
Cactus ; Vol. 4; N°1718)
October 2
***
#UAE defense
giant buys into #Brazilian smart weapons specialist in latest Latin
American move
Abu Dhabi-based #EDGE Group has made several high-profile plays to establish itself in the Brazilian market.
***
#Czech
government has claimed acquiring & operating #Lockheed’s F-35
will be cheaper than operating #Saab’s #Gripen E, as it provides
more details on the selection process around the #F35 decision.
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/f-35-cheaper-gripen-czech-republic-says
I am curious for the opuinion of SAAB
on this!
***
Spike in
number of #clients for #Israeli #arms. When they were cross-checked,
it showed that 59 of the countries were likely "authoritarian
regimes", 36 classed as "hybrid regimes" and only 24
countries in the list were deemed as being "full democracies".
https://www.newarab.com/news/ukraine-and-gulf-spike-countries-buying-arms-israel
October 1
***
Forget about
arms export control to defend peace, security & human rights.
It's all about grandeur & power politics.
President Erdogan of NATO-member Turkey
announced that Ankara aims to reach the value of its arms exports to
six billion dollars annually.
https://7enews.net/en/news-en/world-news-en/erdogan-announces-a-plan-to-increase-turkish-arms-exports-to-6-billion-annually/
***
EU High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell
said that more than 27,000 Ukrainian servicemen have already received
training in the EU.
https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/938208.html
More than the number of active military in Belgium & comparable with those of Portugal.