Latest
on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
April 15
***
Brazilian
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Saturday that the United
States should stop "encouraging war" in Ukraine "and
start talking about peace".
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230415-us-should-stop-encouraging-war-in-ukraine-says-brazil-s-lula
***
All involve growth compared to 2017. https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2023/04/13/five-scenarios-for-the-fy24-defense-budget/
***
China won’t
sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine, the country’s FA
minister said, responding to concerns that Beijing could provide
Russia military assistance. Qin Gang is the highest-level Chinese
official to make such an explicit statement.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/04/14/china-vows-not-to-sell-arms-to-any-party-in-ukraine-war/
***
Arms
industry diplomacy. Emirati defense conglomerate #EDGE Group to open
first international office in #Brazil
The move, which came alongside defense deals with local firms, signals “confidence” in South American defense market, company says. https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/emirati-defense-conglomerate-edge-group-to-open-first-international-office-in-brazil/ #UAE
April 14
***
Retweet
@westpapuamedia:
Indonesia:
Activists on Trial for Criminal Defamation.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/14/indonesia-activists-trial-criminal-defamation
“The
17-page report concludes that the Indonesian government conducted
“illegal military operations” in Papua’s Central Highlands, and
that the military sought to control huge gold deposits on the
northern side of Mt. Grasberg, an area known as the “Wabu Block”
in Intan Jaya regency. The report alleged that the military
deployment was intended to reduce the Indigenous population in the
area, thus making it easier to move forward with mining operations. A
1999 survey estimated that about 117
million tons of gold ore
in
the Wabu Block.
”
***
Informatie
MinDefensie over type goederen en middelen die aan Oekraïne zijn
geleverd sinds 24/02/22 ter waarde van € 1,2 miljard.
https://defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2023/04/13/defensie-maakt-meer-informatie-over-leveringen-aan-oekraine-openbaar
Brief aan Kamer, ‘Leveringen militaire goederen aan Oekraïne’
https://tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/brieven_regering/detail?id=2023Z06693&did=2023D15753
en ook
https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/oostflank-navo-gebied/militaire-steun-aan-oekraine
***
Latest leak
suggests US spying on UN chief Guterres over Russia. US document says UN secretary general
accommodated Russia during Black Sea grain deal negotiations.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/13/pentagon-leak-suggests-us-felt-un-chief-soft-to-russia-report
April
13
***
Harsh condemnation of
US policies concerning Yemen in Pakistani paper Dawn. From the start
"the US could have made it nigh impossible for the Saudis to
pursue their sordid mission in Yemen by halting arms sales and
cutting off technical & logistical aid."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1747195
***
US Himar
rocket launchers to Morocco
https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press%20Release%20-%20Morocco%2021-27%20CN.pdf.
Power politics lead to different outcomes here and there, depending
on what suits the powers at the helm best. Rabat illegaly occupies
Western Sahara. Not all land robbing is regarded the same.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-morocco-524m-sale-himar-rocket-launchers-approves
This article
states that de the deliverances made in a situation of "dispute
over Western Sahara, which Morocco claims to be its own territory and
where Algeria backs the Tindouf-based Polisario Front rebel group."
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/us-approves-potential-750m-sale-of-himars-jsow-other-arms-to-morocco/
If it is just a conflict between A & M
See here the lates
UN report on Western Sahara (3 October 2022).
https://minurso.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/sg_report_october_2022_0.pdf
***
#Lockheed,
#Raytheon and #General_Dynamics, three of the five largest US
military contractors, supported war crimes by selling weapons to
#Saudi's and #UAE-led coalition forces during the civil war in
#Yemen, seven Yemeni civilians alleged in a #lawsuit.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2023/04/12/us-defense-companies-sued-by-yemenis-over-weapons-used-in-civil-war/
April 12
***
#Danish #arms
exports have entered a new era. The change began when the Danes voted
yes to abolishing the reservation for military cooperation in the EU.
Now it is part of EU military research. And the weapons are developed
to be sold, also outside the EU.
https://arbejderen.dk/blog/dansk-vaabeneksport-er-traadt-ind-i-en-ny-epoke/
***
#South_African
Justice Minister accused the #UAE of "non-cooperation"
because of a court ruling against extraditing tycoons Atul and Rajesh
Gupta. Rajesh Gupta is separately embroiled in an arms scandal, in
which he allegedly took #bribes from #Thales.
https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20230407-uae-rejects-extradition-of-s-africa-s-graft-accused-gupta-brothers
***
#Senegal is
confronted with one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts, that in
the #Casamance. Recently Senegal has been expanding its armed forces,
receiving patrol boats, trainer aircraft, armoured vehicles and more.
See for types and companies. #France
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/senegal-reveals-new-military-hardware-during-independence-day-parade/
***
An overview
of arms export policies and visions by a wide range of member states
of the UN during an open debate on the risks posed by the illicit and
unregulated export of weapons and military equipment at the Security
Council.
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/security-council-examines-risks-illicit-weapons-exports-hears-international-instruments-are-paramount-debate-arms-control
***
Ukraine
war: Leak shows Western special forces on the ground. UK has 50 #SOF
in #Ukraine followed by Latvia 17, France 15, US 14 and the
Netherlands 1. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65245065
#Nederlandse #commando vecht in
#Oekraïne tegen Rusland, blijkt na lek.
https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/buitenland/artikel/5377502/nederlandse-commando-vecht-oekraine-tegen-rusland
'NL militair in #Oekraïne is verkenner maar hij vecht niet'. Hij zou horen bij de speciale, pas opgerichte 102-compagnie van het Korps Commandotroepen en #elitemilitairen van het Korps Mariniers.
Meer:
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/183980127/bronnen-na-lek-geheime-documenten-nederlandse-elitemilitair-in-oekraine-is-lid-speciale-compagnie
Verkennen
kan wel deel zijn van de oorlogsvoering.
April 11
***
US sharing of
intelligence with #India in border clash with #China seen as pivotal
in partnership.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3216606/us-sharing-intelligence-india-border-clash-china-seen-pivotal-partnership
#French president’s call for Europe to avoid bloc politics over the island is part of his non-confrontational approach to Beijing. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3216590/will-macrons-take-taiwan-tilt-balance-chinas-favour
***
Is this the
policy the factions of the peace movement against aiming for stronger
diplomacy efforts want?
Russia's war against Ukraine caused a
serious increase in orders for various types of weapons, which
reflects on Sweden’s military industry.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3693181-sweden-ramping-up-arms-production-capacity-amid-russian-war-on-ukraine.html
***
The as always
interesting @ENAAT paper 'News from the Brussels' Bubble.'
About:
- EU funding for the arms industry
- EU military spending reaches 2% of
the community budget and continues growing
- EU Peace Facility & related news
& more #EDF #EDIP #EDA
https://enaat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ENAAT-NBB-2023-02_31.03.23.pdf
***
S #Korea
plans to extend $75.84 million in trade #financing to subcontractors
in the military industry per year in the latest efforts to boost the
country's global arms sales and prop up the domestic industry
ecosystem, the industry ministry said Thursday.
https://m.koreaherald.com/amp/view.php?ud=20230406000509
***
US MoD wants
to take full advantage of the authorities Congress recently granted
to #transfer #arms to Taiwan. First it needs the lawmakers who
control the purse to follow through with hard cash. Congress
greenlighted $3bn military aid to #Taiwan in 2023.
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/04/06/pentagon-to-use-new-taiwan-arms-transfer-authority-similar-to-ukraine/
***
Tech failure
no. XXX: The F-35 Joint Program Office has issued a directive
recommending that all Pratt & Whitney F135s powering the fleet of
#Lockheed #F35s be retrofitted within 90 days with a fix for a
vibration problem that caused an #crash on Dec 15.
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/f-35-engine-undergo-fleetwide-retrofit
***
“Japan to
Strengthen its Export Control Regulations to Control Various
Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment”
https://sanctionsnews.bakermckenzie.com/japan-to-strengthen-its-export-control-regulations-to-control-various-semiconductor-manufacturing-equipment/
***
Not all happy
with the Japanese support for the military production bill. Expanded
secrecy and a mechanism for pushing the export of military equipment
are developments of concern.
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14881668
***
Athens shops
in the arms bazaar of Apartheid and signs $400m contract with #Israel
for anti-tank missiles. But it isn't the only one. Spike missiles are
used by several members of NATO and by EU countries
https://thecradle.co/article-view/23494/greece-signs-400m-contract-with-israel-for-anti-tank-missiles,
the #Netherlands included.
https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/materieel/bewapening/spike-lr-antitankraket
***
Again
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/02/nsa-files-spying-allies-enemies-five-eyes-g8
& again
https://www.politico.eu/article/spying-allies-normal-us-denmark/
US MoD speaks to S Korean MoD in wake
of leak US was spying on Seoul’s internal talks on arms sales.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/11/pentagon-leaks-us-seeks-to-mend-ties-after-claims-washington-spied-on-key-allies There is little sentimentality about
comradeship even among allies.
***
Cold War
2.0 sable rattling: French President Emmanuel Macron begins a state
visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday featuring a speech on Europe that
will be keenly watched after his controversial remarks on its ties
with the US and China.
https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Macron_to_visit_Netherlands_amid_row_over_China_comments_999.html
***
#Turkey’s
Erdogan runs an election campaign based on fighter jets, drones, war
ships and tanks.
But “For many [youngsters], the situation is
we have great weapons but I have no prospects of getting a Schengen
visa to travel in Europe."
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/turkeys-erdogan-runs-an-election-campaign-based-on-fighter-jets-drones-war-ships-and-tanks/
April 6
***
Slovakia is
implementing new measures which will expand artillery ammunition
production 'fivefold' to aid Ukraine, announced Acting Defence
Minister Jaroslav Nad.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/slovakia-to-increase-ammo-production-fivefold-says-defence-minister/
***
A notable
interception came in October 2022 when at least 28 BATT UMG vehicles
from the UAE. The Armoured Group were intercepted en route to #Libya
aboard Dutch merchant vessel #Meerdijk.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/eu-med-naval-force-notches-up-9-000-ship-checks/
Ship is still often in the Med and without #AIS turned on for days.
***
Spain arrests
two for smuggling military kit to Russia. Investigators were tipped
off in June 2021 about a married couple, both Ukrainians, who were
running a Spanish company "evading existing export controls,
thereby committing a smuggling offence".
https://apnews.com/article/spain-russia-smuggling-defense-aeronautics-police-8ef20ee671e20ee5edc3613ffce1fac7
An
alleged Russian spy due to be extradited from #Italy on charges of
#smuggling #military #technology to Moscow fled the country in a Fiat
Punto, it has emerged.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/04/05/russia-ukraine-war-spy-escapes-italy-fiat-punto/
***
#Indian
Bharat Electronics #BEL in March has won export orders worth about
$52m & large volume government contracts. BEL said customers are
located in France, Israel, the US & others. #Offset deals for
C295 transport and Rafale aircraft play a major role.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/bel-gets-defence-export-orders-worth-52-million/article66684085.ece
***
International
debate over controlling #AI & #autonomous weapons systems, often
called “killer robots”, is heating up, with the contending
approaches generally falling into 2 camps: voluntary (US & many
of its allies) or binding (Austria, Latin, NAM) rules.
https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2023-04/news/dueling-views-ai-autonomous-weapons
***
‘The #UK
arms export regime is defined by a chronic lack of #transparency’,
Katie Fallon of #CAAT, said.
‘That the public might never know how
a large part of the weaponry budgeted for #Ukraine is being spent,
not only raises the risk of #corruption ..."
https://www.newagebd.net/article/198677/uk-lethal-aid-for-ukraine-stays-secret
Ukraine was the
second-largest recipient of German arms exports, receiving (EURO)500
million worth of deliveries in the first quarter of 2023 amid
promises of further support from Berlin.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/ukraine-second-largest-destination-for-german-arms-deliveries/
Dutch
transparency on licenses for military products to Ukraine in 2022
(December not included)
https://rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/exportcontrole-strategische-goederen/documenten/rapporten/2016/10/01/overzicht-uitvoer-militaire-goederen
 |
 |
 |
Addition April 14: Policy changed Dutch
MoD published info on shipments since 24/02/23 vallued 24/02/22 €
1.2 billion.
https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2023/04/13/defensie-maakt-meer-informatie-over-leveringen-aan-oekraine-openbaar.
Letter to Parliament, ‘Leveringen
militaire goederen aan Oekraïne’
https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/brieven_regering/detail?id=2023Z06693&did=2023D15753
and MoD
https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/oostflank-navo-gebied/militaire-steun-aan-oekraine
***
Units of
Moroccan naval SOF received French assault riffles, the Verney-Carron
VCD-15. The naval special forces can operate at sea, on land and have
arial capacity. Two of its four bases are in the illegally occupied
Western Sahara (Dakhla and Laâyoune).
https://nieuws.marokko.nl/82050/marokkaanse-marine-krijgt-nieuwe-franse-aanvalsgeweren/
April 4
***
The new face
of war.
Watch Australian soldiers control
combat drone with their minds
Pushing battle tech forward into the
realm of sci-fi, Australian troops tested out a method of controlling
a combat drone with simple instructions just by think.
https://www.militarytimes.com/video/2023/04/03/watch-australian-soldiers-control-combat-drone-with-their-minds/
***
US DoD sued to find
out what #sickened troops at #Uzbek air base. Pentagon did
environmental tests to look for toxins like jet fuel, asbestos,
uranium, and residue from chemical weapons. But those reports have
not been publicly released.
https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2023/04/03/advocates-sue-dod-to-find-out-what-sickened-troops-at-uzbek-air-base/
***
#Drones for
supply to hotspots. Army Special Forces #SOF soldiers have tested a
brand new unmanned aerial delivery system to enable the quick
resupply of friendly forces in the most contested environments
(#Taiwan?), the service announced on Thursday.
https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/army-green-berets-test-silent-arrow-gd-2000-cargo-delivery-drone/
***
Militair
zaken doen met #Apartheidsregime? De landmacht koopt het #Israëlische
Puls-systeem. Dat kan op grotere afstand doelen raken dan de #PzH2000
(weet je wel die van #Chora) die nu gebruikt worden en die de 50
kilometer halen.
https://nos.nl/artikel/2470027-defensie-koopt-voor-miljarden-aan-nieuwe-schepen-en-raketsystemen
Ministerie
Defensie kiest ervoor om #fregatten & #onderzeeboten te bewapenen
met Amerikaanse #Tomahawk-#kruisvluchtwapens (die wapens waar de VS
hun interventies in de Golf mee startten of afvuren als
strafmaatregel) met een bereik van duizend kilometer.
https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/04/03/defensie-bestelt-voor-miljarden-euros-aan-nieuwe-wapens-en-materieel-a4161160
The #Netherlands & #Belgium have announced the acquisition of 2 ASW Frigates each, at a joint estimated cost of nearly €4 billion. Separately, the Dutch MoD expects to conduct testing of #Tomahawk cruise missiles from an LCF-frigate in 2024 or early 2025. https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/netherlands-and-belgium-agree-4-4-billion-deal-for-4-asw-frigates/
***
France races
for small suicide drones after seeing effectiveness in Ukraine
The French military recently narrowed a field of 19 competitors to two (MBDA/Novadem’s and Nexter) in a race for hundreds of small, deadly UAVs.
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/france-races-for-small-suicide-drones-after-seeing-effectiveness-in-ukraine/
***
And
the winner is? #Germany’s military procurement arm has signed an
estimated €184 million framework agreement for the acquisition of
10 Krauss-Maffei Wegmann #KMW Panzerhaubitzen 2000 #PzH2000
self-propelled howitzers to replace those gifted to Ukraine.
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/germany-signs-201m-contract-for-10-pzh2000-howitzers-to-replenish-stocks-sent-to-ukraine
Retweet @lodevanoost: 56% van alle Belgen wil onderhandelde vrede. Dit resultaat is zéér merkwaardig, vooral als je weet dat de bevolking in de grote media alleen de andere boodschap te horen krijgt. Hoe groot zouden de percentages voor vrede zijn als de media aan alle stemmen een forum zouden bieden?
***
Doubling of the French military budget in a decade, but there is no money for health care or pensions
Retweet @letysedou: Doublement du budget militaire en un décennie, mais il n'y a pas d'argent pour la santé ou les retraites https://rfi.my/9KOU
April 3
***
Human rights
loving (-; #Bahrain has been approved by the State Department for a
possible #FMS of equipment and services to refurbish 24 AH-1W
multi-role #helicopters. The estimated total cost is $350 million.
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/bahrain-ah-1w-helicopter-refurbishment
***
As Egypt and
Turkey mend ties, could defense deals follow?
After an upgrade in diplomatic relations, some experts told Breaking Defense that defense cooperation may be in the interest of both countries, but there’s a long way to go. https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/as-egypt-and-turkey-mend-ties-could-defense-deals-follow/
***
Eindfase #F16
ingegaan
https://magazines.defensie.nl/defensiekrant/2023/12/01_afscheid_f-16_12
Nu is het de vraag naar wie de F-16's zullen
worden geëxporteerd als ze worden afgetoten.
***
Pilar II of
the #Aukus pact is about: #AI-enabled & autonomous capabilities
(in particular, #robotic and uuv's), quantum computing projects on
precision, navigation, and timing, cyber, #hypersonic and
counter-hypersonic technology, ET warfare etc.
https://www.cfr.org/blog/aukus-alliance-has-lot-more-offer-submarines
***
European
Defence Fund: €1.2 billion to boost EU defence capabilities and
innovation. #EDF https://ec.e
http://uropa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_2021
***
European
Commission = investigating the takeover of #Estonia’s #Milrem, a
company deeply rooted in the #EU’s military #robotics efforts by a
#UAE state-owned conglomerate because of concerns that security
interests could be tapped by actors outside the EU.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/03/31/eu-scrutinizes-emirati-takeover-of-estonian-robotics-firm/
***
On the
different perspectives for #German #Leopard and South #Korean #K2
tanks entering European inventories. In 2023 Oslo decided to order 54
Leopard 2 A7Vs for $1.9bn. Germany still has the upper hand,
according to the writer.
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/can-germanys-big-cats-resist-south-koreas-black-panther-invasion/
***
Which are
the wrong choices. Independent sources – in Poland and South Africa
– have confirmed that export permits for artillery ammunition sales
to Poland have not been granted while applications to supply
munitions to Turkey and the UAE have been accepted.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-02-in-apparent-effort-not-to-upset-putins-russia-anc-government-bans-arms-sales-to-poland/
