Latest
on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
June 30
***
‘#Masculiene
oriëntatie #krijgsmacht complex probleem’
https://magazines.defensie.nl/defensiekrant/2023/24/02_onderzoek-masculiniteit_24
Ja en al vele decennia. Het leger maakt een man van je, door Marcel Bullinga, 1984! https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/leger-maakt-een-man-van-je/1001004005127022/ Kan je 't niet oplossen of heb je er belang bij? Maneuvers door Cynthia Enloe stelt het 2de.
***
The U.S.
State Department has approved the sale of F-35 fighter jets,
munitions and related equipment to the Czech Republic in a deal
valued at up to $5.62 billion, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-state-department-oks-possible-sale-f-35-aircraft-czech-republic-2023-06-29
***
Turkish Vice
President Cevdet Yilmaz met on 22/6/2023 with UAE President Sheikh
Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during an official visit to Abu Dhabi
they discussed UAE’s interest in additional Bayraktar TB2 drones.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/61993
***
Amid
intensifying tech war, SiFive a US chip design firm, sees opportunity
in China. It does not solve China’s problem of how to manufacture
advanced semiconductors given Western export restrictions on
chip-making tools.
https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3225944/amid-intensifying-tech-war-one-us-chip-design-firm-sees-opportunity-china
***
A senior
official in Kazakhstan has said that a certain volume of dual-use
goods is being delivered to neighboring Russia, despite efforts to
prevent that from happening. The minister of Trade said that more
than 100 companies are under close scrutiny.
“When the
sanctions [against Russia were first imposed, representatives of
Western countries responsible for enforcement] handed us a list of
7,000 types of goods that were the object of sanctions,” he told
RFE/RL. “Currently, there are …. 104 types of goods."
“Currently, there are …. 104 types of goods.
https://eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-says-some-dual-use-goods-getting-to-russia
June 29
***
Even retirees now called upon to
expand arms production. Raytheon wants them to help restart Stinger
missile production used against Russian planes in Ukraine.
https://www.defenseone.com/business/2023/06/raytheon-calls-retirees-help-restart-stinger-missile-production/388067/
***
Pentagon uses Ukraine funds to
find new sources of weapon grade alluminium, cobalt and chemicals for
manufacturing propellants and explosives away from Russian &
Chinese sources. Investment in Canada is sought, aswell as coop with
the Australia & the UK.
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2023/06/27/pentagon-uses-ukraine-funds-to-split-supply-chains-from-russia-china/
***
Rights? Peace? Development? No.
#Saudi Arabia & #France step up strategic collaboration. It will
reduce Saudi reliance on US arms, the Economist intell unit notes.
Look away from the nasty aspects, enjoy exports, foreign relations &
military ties. Cynical. https://country.eiu.com/Saudi%20Arabia
***
#German arms exports again at
high level of €4.62 in the 1st half of 2023 (12% more as same
period last year); #Ukraine (€1.18 bn) and #Hungary (€1.03bn) are
most important recipient countries. The information is in reaction to
questions by Die #Linke.
https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/politik/waffenexporte-deutschland-ruestungsindustrie-ampel-100.html
German
Pax Christi criticized German arms exports.
https://www.domradio.de/artikel/friedensbewegung-pax-christi-kritisiert-ruestungsexporte
The critisism is two fold: arms exports to countries outside EU/NATO
are opposed; and the arms trade is seen as part of the Western
enormous rearmament programme.
***
#Dutch Arms export policy &
Region of Tension criterium? The #Pakistan Navy has been increasing
its strength in the Indian Ocean Region #IOR recently through a
combination of upgrades and new acquisitions like the PNS #Yarmouk, a
#Damen-Built frigate.
http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/csas/PDF/2_38_1_23.pdf
The
ship is 4 times as expensive as a modern Leopard tank. Two nuclear
armed states are opposing each other, a conflict which regulary
translates in armed confrontations, but nobody seems to care; not
even the left opposition. It is to technical for them. Tja.
***
#Nederland koopt
#raketartilleriesystemen van #Israël. Maar raakt Nederland dan niet
betrokken bij de Israëlische militaire praktijken, de bezetting van
de Palestijnse gebieden en de schending van mensenrechten, vraagt
Simone Korkus zich af in #DeGroene.
https://www.groene.nl/artikel/uitgetest-op-de-palestijnen
Doet het er toe? De Israëlische
minister van Defensie, legt het gedrag van westerse landen pijnlijk
bloot. "Terwijl ze ons veroordelen ... sturen ze hun officieren
naar ons toe om te leren hoe wij tot zo'n lage ratio [mbt doden aan
eigen zijde] zijn gekomen. Dat heet hypocrisie."
***
Waalse wapenexport naar
Indonesië verzesvoudigd: ‘onverantwoordelijke praktijken’, zegt
Amnesty gezien de inzet op #Papoea. https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20230628_94661749
Walon arms exports to #Indonesia increased six fold and this is irresponsible, Amnesty stated, because of operations in West #Papua.
***
#Japan is including provisions
in its security policy blueprint that would allow the export of
next-generation #fighters (Japan cooperates on the UK led #Tempest)
to other countries, despite the country's strict regulations on
international #arms_sales.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230628/p2g/00m/0na/051000c
***
Agitprop: #Switzerland vetoes
export of 100 tanks to #Ukraine despite never using vehicles. Bern cites #neutrality laws for
blocking sale of mothballed Leopard tanks stored in Italy.
https://www.ft.com/content/f33417b0-89a6-4212-a052-41da96f75234
As if the practice of using them or not
changes an political idea.
See #background blog on Swiss
neutrality policy:
https://stopwapenhandel.org/why-switzerland-doesnt-export-arms-to-ukraine/
***
US congress
creates bipartisan task force to modernise foreign arms sales.The task
force will aim to oversee the US government's foreign military sales
process.
Republican Congress
member from Texas McCaul said in May that he was willing to sell the
#F16s to Ankara, on the condition that #Turkey accepts #Sweden's
membership into #NATO in line with #Biden's policy but against the
views of Congress.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-congress-bipartisan-task-force-modernise-foreign-arms-sales
Congress
is ratcheting up legislative efforts to accelerate the lengthy U.S.
Foreign Military Sales process mere weeks after the Pentagon released
a series of its own proposals to help untangle the byzantine system.
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/06/28/congress-aims-for-faster-arms-sales-with-defense-bills-and-task-force/
***
Hummm. New
York Cityto purchase over $90,000 worth of high-powered submachine
guns for a specially trained emergency security unit working at the
troubled Rikers Island jail complex.
https://www.democracynow.org/2023/6/28/headlines/new_york_city_to_spend_90_000_purchasing_submachine_guns_for_rikers_prison_guards
***
On the
details of the details of how Biden feted Modi, who heads a far-right
authoritarian regime that is relentlessly fomenting Hindu communalism
and who was himself long barred from entry to the US for his role in
the 2002 Gujarat anti-Muslim pogrom.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/06/29/lxip-j29.html
Full agreement
between #India & the US can be found here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/22/joint-statement-from-the-united-states-and-india/
The cooperation between the superpower and the autocratic racist regime includes: "the joint development and commercialization of Artificial Intelligence #AI and #quantum technologies."
June 28
***
Partly
surprising, isn't it?
238,000 people died in conflicts worldwide in 2022 – more than in 30 years. Most died in a war that goes largely unnoticed in Europe: the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia. https://globeecho.com/news/europe/germany/wars-and-conflicts-more-deaths-than-at-any-time-in-30-years/
Report (see p. 52): https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GPI-2023-Web.pdf
***
Report on
reporting fuel purchases by the US #MoD. Guess what? It is about
several aspects, but the words #climate_change or #emissions are
missing.
So most costs of burning #fosil_fuels aren't included. An ommission even in a report on purchasing them. https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23862067/gao-report-on-dod-bulk-fuel.pdf
June 28
***
Overview of
the 2nd calls for proposals under the #EDF, 41 collaborative
military research and development projects with a total EU
support of almost €832 million are selected for funding.
https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-grants/calls-proposals/result-edf-2022-calls-proposals_en
Clear layout of factsheets but the
level of information is low.
Involved
Dutch companies:
42 SOLUTIONS
Adimec Holding
AEROSPACE PROPULSION PRODUCTS
Aircraft Development and Systems
Engineering
Damen
DELFT DYNAMICS
EclecticIQ
Embedded Acoustics
Emproof
ISIS - INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IN SPACE
Losberger de boer
MICROFLOWN AVISA
Offroad Apps
Optics11
Philips Electronics Nl
RHEA SYSTEM
Science and Technology B.V.
Thales Nl
Invoved Research Institutes &
Universities
ACADEMISCH MEDISCH CENTRUM, UvA
Marin
NLR
TNO
TU Delft
TU EINDHOVEN
***
6 years
ago Israel Aerospace Industries #IAI announced it was investing
millions in 2 promising foreign firms: #Inpedio in the #Netherlands
providing “cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions,” #Cytrox
registered in Hungary and focusing on “cyberintelligence” for
governments.
Both were however set up by the same Israeli's,
Rotem Farkash and Abraham Rubinstein, selling the spyware known as
Predator. Both comanies worked closely together Haaretz
investgatuions found.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2023-06-28/ty-article/israel-invested-in-spyware-that-brought-down-greek-spymaster/00000188-dd36-d5fc-ab9d-df7edbf20000
June 27
***
Julian Cooper
at @SIPRI: Despite difficulty in accessing information on budget
spending, total budgeted military spending in 2023 can be estimated
at 6648 billion roubles (€71.1 bn). This represents 4.4% of
forecast Russian gross domestic product.
https://www.sipri.org/publications/2023/sipri-insights-peace-and-security/russias-military-expenditure-during-its-war-against-ukraine
***
Apartheid
meets authoritarian state. #Bahrain continues efforts to acquire
Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems #drones. In this context, Manama is
in talks with #Israel Aerospace Industries #IAI for the procurement
of the Scorpius electronic warfare system.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/61980
***
#Rheinmetall
is supplying 20 additional Marder infantry fighting vehicles to
#Ukraine. #Berlin awarded the multi-million-euro deal in May as part
of a $1.9 billion defense package for Ukraine. The vehicles are
scheduled to be delivered this summer.
https://kyivindependent.com/rheinmetall-to-send-ukraine-further-20-marder-infantry-fighting-vehicles/
***
#German
coalition of SPD, Greens & FDP aimed for a “restrictive arms
export policy” & “more binding rules”. Then came the
turning point, and now the coalition slips from values to economic
and military interests. Eg by trying to sell #India 6 #submarines.
https://www.lr-online.de/nachrichten/politik/strengere-regeln-fuer-waffenausfuhren-geplant-neuer-koalitionskrach-wegen-ruestungskontrollen_-67139807.html
***
The EU on the
road to militarisation.
Europe's military #industries have called on EU institutions to clarify the sector's status in line with the bloc's sustainable #finance #legislation in order to open doors for more public and private investment. https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/eu-defence-industry-pressures-commission-eu-countries-to-step-up-financing/
***
Washington
wants European defense euros to go to American companies; EU leaders
hope to boost their own industries.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/23/boosting-ammunition-production-in-the-eu-defence-industry-council-ready-to-negotiate-with-the-european-parliament/
Boosting ammunition production in the
EU defence industry.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/23/boosting-ammunition-production-in-the-eu-defence-industry-council-ready-to-negotiate-with-the-european-parliament/
***
België
eist een onderzoek, nu blijkt dat Belgische wapens bij Russische
anti-Poetin-milities zijn terechtgekomen. Volgens experts hebben
Oekraïense autoriteiten zelf geen flauw benul van wat er met de
wapens gebeurt.
https://www.demorgen.be/oorlog-in-oekraine/in-het-spoor-van-belgische-wapens-in-oekraine-inlichtingendienst-heeft-ze-aan-russische-verzetsstrijders-gegeven~bd8d670e/
***
#Reapers. The US State Department approved a FMSale to the the #Netherlands of 4 MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $611 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification in June. https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/netherlands-mq-9a-block-5-aircraft
June 26
***
International
control forum?
China’s cyberspace chief raises concerns over the power of generative AI, pledges to make it ‘controllable’
The director at the Cyberspace Administration of China, wants to ensure chat bot technology is ‘reliable & controllable https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3225366/chinas-cyberspace-chief-raises-concerns-over-power-generative-ai-pledges-make-it-controllable
***
Business.
#Venture_capitalists & #tech_firms beg US Defence Sec. to speed up #innovation. Executives controlling $100bn in assets co-signed a letter to Sec. Lloyd Austin, urging him to adopt acquisition reforms put forward by a Atlantic Council commission. https://breakingdefense.com/2023/06/venture-capitalists-tech-firms-beg-defense-secretary-to-speed-up-innovation/
***
#Turkish
officials affiliated with military company #Aselsan are trying to
sell SİPER missiles #SAM to the #UAE. Official stated to Aselsan
that there is no interest in the procurement unless the deal would
include a transfer of technology agreement.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/61978
***
Belgium
approves agreement to increase costs of 2 ASW frigates because of
extra systems. The Netherlands will place compensation orders in
Belgium in the next 10 years to offset some of the cost increase.
https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2023/june/13264-belgium-approves-agreement-to-increase-costs-of-2-asw-frigates.html
COMMIT
& Thales have signed a contract for the production/delivery of
the AWWS fire control cluster and sensor suite for the 4 new ASW
Frigates that Damen Naval will build for the Belgian and Netherlands’
Navies. Follows an earlier contract signed in 2018.
https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/group/press_release/thales-equip-new-dutch-and-belgian-frigates-leading-edge-above-water
***
Delivery of
#F35 II wheels & brakes assemblies serviced/maintained at GKN
#Fokker landing gear facility in Nld. The servicing of wheels, brakes
and struts in the Nld marks the first Maintenance, Repair &
Operations #MRO work for the F-35 fleet in Europe.
https://www.gknaerospace.com/en/newsroom/news-releases/2023/gkn-aerospace-overhauls-first-f-35-wheels-and-brakes-assemblies-for-european-fleet/
***
Romania
issues ultimatum to Naval Group 4 Gowind 2500 class corvettes.
Minister Angel Tlvr issued a stern warning: If the French party fails
to sign the contract within the next three days, MoD will commence
discussions with Damen, the runner-up contender.
https://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2023/june/13240-romania-issues-ultimatum-to-naval-group-for-gowind-2500-class-corvettes.html
***
German
labour union IG Metall suggests that local industrial group
#Thyssenkrupp should consider selling its #submarines business to
sector players. Reportedly, Dutch shipbuilder #Damen and Swedish
defence group #Saab AB may be interested.
https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/THYSSENKRUPP-AG-436698/news/Thyssenkrupp-should-consider-industrial-players-in-sale-of-defense-division-IG-Metall-44156511/
June 25
***
The
Belgium (Kortrijk) company #ScioTeq is selceted by #Airbus Defence
and Space to deliver the computers and displays abaord the latest
generation of A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transportplanes #MRTT.
Dutch: https://www.pilootenvliegtuig.nl/2023/06/24/belgisch-bedrijf-levert-nieuwe-displays-a330-mrtt/
***
A demand on
the Elysée: “Let us do our part by refusing to
arm those who do not respect International Law and human rights,” because France has one of the most
horrible arms export policies.
https://globeecho.com/news/europe/france/let-us-do-our-part-by-refusing-to-arm-those-who-do-not-respect-international-law-and-human-rights/
***
The
#Netherlands signed a contract with #Belgium for the production of FN
MAG machine #guns for the #Ukrainian army. The number of FN #Herstal
machine guns is not reported, but the contract value is € 111
million. https://en.topwar.ru/219985-niderlandy-zakljuchili-kontrakt-s-belgiej-na-proizvodstvo-pulemetov-fn-mag-dlja-ukrainskoj-armii.html
Nl info zie:
https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2023/06/22/nederlands-belgische-samenwerking-bij-anti-submarine-warfare-fregatten
It leaves the
question how they are marked and will be traced after arriving in
Urkraine.
***
"The
name of the game has changed from “free” trade to “weaponised”
trade."
It is this receipt "after which ramping up arms production may be seen (as in the 1930s) as the only escape route." https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3225005/trouble-de-risking-world-needs-make-trade-not-war
The world needs regulated trade, not war.
June 24
***
Why
#Switzerland doesn’t export arms to #Ukraine. Guest blog by Andreas
Weibel – GSoA, Group for Switzerland Without an Army for @CTWnl.
Switzerland could and should have a much more immediate impact on
issues like humanitarian aid, support for ...
https://stopwapenhandel.org/why-switzerland-doesnt-export-arms-to-ukraine/
***
On June 12
'23, the US DoD's Office of Inspector General released a report
evaluating the quality of the accountability controls for US weapons
sent to Ukraine through Poland. The findings suggest a lack of
accountability even worse than skeptics imagined.
https://www.federaltimes.com/opinions/2023/06/16/us-failure-to-track-weapons-for-ukraine-has-consequences/
***
The EU on
Tuesday revealed plans to prevent European companies from
making sensitive technologies such as supercomputers, artificial
intelligence and advanced microchips in countries like China.
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-ban-companies-make-sensitive-tech-china/
***
The UK
Divisional #Court has dismissed a second challenge by Campaign
Against Arms Trade (#CAAT) to the Secretary of State’s decision to
continue granting licences for the export of arms to the Kingdom of
#Saudi Arabia for use in the conflict in #Yemen.
https://essexcourt.com/divisional-court-rejects-second-challenge-to-export-of-arms-to-saudi-arabia/
June 23
***
Human rights
are easy to swap aside. #Saudi Scopa Industries and #Airbus signed
(19/6/2023) an agreement to jointly produce civil & military
helicopters in the Kingdom. Crown Prince #MbS congratulated
the Chairman of Scopa Industries for this result.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/61975
***
#UAE
MoD received field reports about the #Ukrainian counteroffensive and
held several evaluation meetings with high-ranking #US and #Russian
officers to evaluate the performance of the weapons used.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/61973
***
US places
sanctions on Myanmar’s defence ministry, banks
Military has used foreign sources,
including Russian entities under sanctions, to purchase and import
arms, Washington says. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/6/21/us-places-sanctions-on-myanmars-defence-ministry-banks
***
By CRS:
#AUKUS Pillar 2: Background and Issues for US Congress June 20, 2023.
AUKUS may have a blowback: "i.e. provoking a destabilizing response from regional competitors such as China." https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23854931/aukus-pillar-2-background-and-issues-for-congress-june-20-2023.pdf
***
The #EU on
Wednesday agreed to add €3.5bn to a fund used to pay for weapons
for #Ukraine.
Overall, #Brussels says that some 15
billion euros have been provided by EU member states and the bloc's
joint fund to arm Ukraine since #Russia's all-out invasion.
https://www.spacewar.com/reports/EU_adds_35_billion_euros_to_Ukraine_weapons_fund_999.html
***
The UAE MoD
is in talks with the Chinese MND for a transfer of technology (TOT)
agreement to locally manufacture laser weapon systems (LWS).
The UAE is also looking to procure Chinese LWS.https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/61968
***
Western
defence companies are interested in making weapons in Ukraine - but
not until after the war, according to half a dozen executives
contacted by Reuters at the Paris Airshow.
https://hypeaviation.com/story/western-defence-firms-wary-on-ukraines-weapons-production-pitch/121072/
***
#Russia uses
#loopholes in export controls to buy tech from the West to fight its
war against Ukraine, with much of the material passing through China,
Newsweek stated. More than 60% of the critical #components in Russian
weapons are coming from US corps.
https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-russias-vast-sanctions-evasion-secures-us-european-tech-weapons-1807939
***
Suspected
Illicit #Swedish arms exports to Myanmar’s Military via #India
sparks controversy. The Indian company, Sandeep Metalcraft Private
seems to supply #Myanmar with FFV-447 projectile fuzes for use with
the Swedish 84 mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles.
https://bnn.network/conflict-defence/suspected-illicit-swedish-arms-exports-to-myanmars-military-via-indian-channels-sparks-controversy/
***
US Senators
@SenWarren and @ChuckGrassley introduced a bill Tuesday seeking to
better bring to light the secretive process in which retired US
service members work as consultants and contractors for foreign
governments.https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4059497-senators-introduce-bill-restricting-retired-troops-work-for-foreign-governments/
***
#Belgium
joins European #FCAS warplane program as observer.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/06/20/belgium-joins-european-fcas-warplane-program-as-observer/
Peculiar this tiny country just bought its new fighter jets at the workshops of Uncle Sam.Industrial policy?
***
"Zelfs
op het hoogtepunt van de Koude Oorlog is er niet zo veel geld naar
wapens gegaan... over de wapenindustrie klinkt er geen kwaad woord.
De gangsters van het kapitalisme zijn heilig verklaard..."
https://volkskrant.nl/economie/is-dit-het-finest-hour-voor-de-wapenindustrie~b8e38048/
***
The
#Pakistani government has requested a nearly 16% increase to its
defense budget, despite a standoff with the #IMF over economic
stagflation.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/06/22/pakistan-unveils-increased-defense-budget-imf-decries-spending-plan/
How does the Dutch government consider this stand-off. Karachi is a major client in #Gorinchem.
June 4
***
Majority of MPs
votes against proposal that would have allowed other states to supply
#Swiss-made war material to Ukraine. Opponents, incl. the Greens and
conservatives from the SVP, feared a violation of neutrality and too
close a rapprochement with NATO.
https://www.usmuslims.com/swiss-parliament-votes-to-block-indirect-arms-exports-to-ukraine-210093h.htm
June 2
***
Premier
Rutte roept op tot meer steun, meer Patriots en meer #F16-trainingen
voor #Oekraïne. #Nederland gaat meer steun geven en wil dat ook
andere landen dat doen. Die boodschap bracht premier Rutte donderdag
op een top van Europese leiders in Moldavië.
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1594620612/rutte-roept-europese-leiders-op-om-oekraine-te-steunen-meer-hulp-niet-minder
June 1
***
1 Juni gaat
'n nieuwe wet in die overnames van Nederlandse bedrijven kan
terugdraaien. Het kabinet gaat als eerste de acquisitie van de
Delftse chipmaker #Nowi onderzoeken. Nowi werd in 2022 overgenomen
door #Nexperia uit Nijmegen met 'n #Chinese eigenaar.
https://www.quotenet.nl/zakelijk/a44055747/nieuwsoverzicht-fixers-nuijten-nowi-sanderink-ryanair/
***
#Morocco has
turned to #China to bolster its military capabilities. The Royal
Moroccan Navy recently showcased its newly-acquired Chinese HJ-9A
anti-tank #AT_missile system, the Red Arrow 9A.
https://www.defensa.com/africa-asia-pacifico/sistema-misiles-antitanque-chino-hj-9a-exhibido-infanteria-real
***
Yeah again,
higher costs! #F35’s Block 4 upgrade 55 percent over target costs,
up $1.4B since last review.
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/05/f-35s-block-4-upgrade-55-percent-over-target-costs-up-1-4b-since-last-review-gao/
***
For what it
is worth (absolutely nothing).
https://www.army-technology.com/dashboards/influencers-dashboards/social-media-posts-soldier-modernization-aerospace-defence-security-industry/
***
As #EU member
states consider boosting the military production capacity of the
bloc, they must also decide how much power Brussels gets. There are
worries the EC is granting itself far-reaching powers with few
guarantees that information will be protected.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/defence-industry-nervous-about-sharing-trade-secrets-with-eu/
***
#Arms_deals
also serve to bolster use of #yuan. A growing number of countries,
particularly those in the Middle East, are diversifying their
purchases of weapons, with many turning to #China and willing to
settle payments in the Chinese currency.
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3222118/arms-deals-also-serve-bolster-use-yuan
***
Contracts to
overhaul US #prepositoning stocks in #Kuwait are worth millions
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3082010/,
but the work's poorly done. #Ukraine was provided
with dangerous howitzers a Pentagon report stated (contractor not
named).
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/05/31/equipment-for-ukraine-drawn-from-kuwait-wasnt-combat-ready-ig-says/
Report https://media.defense.gov/2023/May/25/2003230073/-1/-1/1/DODIG-2023-076.PDF
***
Italy has
lifted an embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the government said
in a statement yesterday. The decision comes after two years of
partial or total restrictions on military equipment exports to the
kingdom.
https://bnn.network/finance-nav/business/italy-resumes-arms-exports-to-saudi-arabia-after-two-years-of-restrictions/
***
Protest
of over a 100 people disrupts opening of North America’s largest
arms fair CANSEC, in Ottawa, #Canada, where 10,000 attendees were
expected to gather.
https://www.pressenza.com/2023/06/protest-disrupts-opening-of-north-americas-largest-weapons-fair/
CANSEC
barred independent media outlet The Breach from attending because of
it’s “critical anti-war journalism.” “We don’t want people
coming in…and writing a headline like, ‘Warmongers gather in
Ottawa.,” the arms fair stated.
https://breachmedia.ca/cansec-2023-the-breach-blocked-critical-reporting/
