Latest
on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
(Between July 14 and August 19 no tweets were created by me.)
August 31
***
When it comes
to contributing to the European Defence Fund #EDF, #Spain “punches
above its weight,” according to a new Spanish report
(https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/analyses/investing-and-innovating-spain-and-the-european-defence-fund/),
even outspending Germany, despite Berlin having a military budget
more than 3x that of Madrid.
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/08/spain-punches-above-its-weight-in-european-defense-fund-investments-report/
***
The “One
China policy” has kept the peace in the Taiwan strait.
The understanding has been strained in recently by statements and
actions on both sides. But renewing it in one form or another will do
more to prevent war than all the drones in the world.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhartung/2023/08/29/can-building-swarms-of-drones-head-off-war-with-china/?sh=2e75e5d6338b
***
September 26,
Military Emissions Gap Conference 2023--Military and Conflcit GHG
Emissions: From Understanding to Mitigation, hosted by Conflict
and Environment Observatory and others.
https://ceobs.org/conference-military-and-conflict-ghg-emissions-from-understanding-to-mitigation/
***
#Damen
Digital Solutions, the digital services division of Damen Shipyards
Group, and the British Royal #Navy’s innovation programme NavyX
will work on the development of new solutions to enhance maritime
operations based on the Damen Triton data platform.
https://english.defensearabia.com/damen-triton-and-british-royal-navy-announce-collaboration/
August 30
***
English
Schadenfreude
Berlin and Paris clash over Europe’s next-generation fighter jet. Both countries have differing views on how to fund the project and who the jets should be sold to.
***
Remarkably,
there is limited research and publicly available information about
the connection between #climate change and militarism, but the impact
of war and the military #industry on climate change can be observed
on various levels.
https://nation.cymru/opinion/the-arms-trade-and-the-climate-crisis/
***
The arrest of
the Egyptian father of a German activist is the latest in an
escalating trend of targeting families of outspoken activists to
silence dissent, while the world turns a blind eye. Cairo is even
still a major destination for German arms exports.
https://www.newarab.com/analysis/egypt-relatives-regime-critics-face-state-reprisal
***
In 'Kijk eens
aan, nu bewapent #Israël Europa' ontkent Robbert de Witt niet dat er
talrijke rafelrandjes aan Israël zitten, maar we moeten toch vooral
zien dat het land een succes is. 't Bewapent nu al her-en-der Europa,
zo slaat hij de juichtoon aan.
Elseviers Weekblad EW 020923
***
#Netherlands
doubles order of MQ-9 Reaper #drones, plans to #arm them.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/08/29/netherlands-doubles-order-of-mq-9-reaper-drones-plans-to-arm-them/
August 29
***
#Hanwha
Defense #Australia has awarded #Israeli firm #Epsilor a contract to
supply NATO-standard Li-Ion vehicle batteries for its Huntsman
self-propelled #howitzers.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/08/25/australia-huntsman-howitzer-batteries-epsilor
***
Surprising:
Dutch maritime technology lobby organisation (NMT) advertises
shipbuilding fair Marintec China
https://maritimetechnology.nl/nl/agenda/marintec-2023/
the first mentioned suporter is the Equipment Department of PLA
[Chinese] Navy. https://www.marintecchina.com/about_the_fair/
***
Like in
Norway
(https://www.europeansanctions.com/2023/07/norway-to-establish-sanctions-and-export-control-agency/)
also a separate department for export controls and sanctions will be
created in the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
(https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/en/home/seco/nsb-news.msg-id-97397.html).
From 1 September 2023, sanctions, arms control and arms control
policy, export controls on industrial products and export control
policy dual-use will be separated from the previous area of bilateral
economic relations and combined under their own management.
***
The
DOJ Aug. 24 filed an administrative lawsuit alleging
that Elon Musk’s private rocket manufacturer #SpaceX engaged in
“routine, widespread, and longstanding” #discrimination by
refusing to hire asylees and refugees. The company wrongly stated
that it could only hire US citizens and lawful permanent residents
because of #export_control_laws limiting access to defence and
national security-related technologies, the DOJ said.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/spacex-hiring-case-shows-export-control-immigration-law-clash
SpaceX
CEO Elon Musk is hitting back at the Justice Department over a
lawsuit alleging that the company engaged in employment
discrimination against asylum recipients and refugees.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/elon-musk-hits-back-at-doj-over-lawsuit-alleging-hiring-discrimination-by-spacex/ar-AA1fR0Ju
August 28
***
The Federal
Government gives in its answer (20/8053
https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/080/2008053.pdf)
on a small request (20/7954
https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/079/2007954.pdf)
from the Die Linke for information on ammunition and armaments
exports via the Port of Hamburg in the first quarter of 2023.
https://www.bundestag.de/presse/hib/kurzmeldungen-963564
***
Allegations
of #corruption at Ruag.
Geheimakte #Ruag Ermittlungen gegen Walliser Manager. Korruptionsvorwürfe beim Rüstungskonzern – internes Papier legt brisante Details offen.
#Leopard tanks, #Ukraine, lax/creative
rules, #Swiss, #Germany.
https://www.blick.ch/news/internes-papier-legt-brisante-details-offen-geheimakte-ruag-spur-fuehrt-zu-einem-walliser-manager-id18881069.html
***
Klimaat is een issue
bij #Damen. Het gaat wel eens mis. De Australische #Nuyina van de
scheepsbouwer mag niet onder een brug door en moet 100den km's
omvaren om te bunkeren. Door de problemen werd ook een
poolijsonderzoeksexpeditie afgelast.
https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2023/08/25/damens-ijsbreker-nuyina-mag-brug-in-tasmanie-niet-door/
See also Australia’s $528m Antarctic icebreaker too big to fit under Tasman bridge to refuel: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/24/australias-528m-antarctic-icebreaker-too-big-to-fit-under-tasman-bridge-to-refuel
***
#UAE
Major-General Al-Alawi indicated that #MBDA approached the UAE with
offers for an air defense system and AShMs for the Gowind corvettes.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/62125
***
EDITORIAL in
major Japanese daily:
Arms exports rules must not be gutted without full public debate.
"the administration must not be
allowed to make this grave decision in the rash manner"
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14989145
***
The #UAE's
#Edge_Group has expanded its footprint in the #Brazilian military
sector by signing cooperation agreements with the Brazilian Air
Force’s Department of Aerospace Science and Technology and engine
developer Turbomachine.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/edge-group-deepens-brazil-defence-ties-with-new-technology-agreements/
UAE’s
EDGE Group to co-develop defense systems with Brazilian military
organization.
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/08/uaes-edge-group-to-co-develop-defense-systems-with-brazilian-military-organization/
***
#India has
lifted a ban on #AgustaWestland and its parent company, Italian firm
#Leonardo, allowing them to participate in ongoing projects and
upcoming defence contracts. They were banned in 2015 for alleged
#corruption in a helicopter supply contract.
https://the1014.co.nz/uncategorized/agusta-westland-ban-revoked-law-asia/47859/
***
A notorious
arms fair in London is to be targeted for two weeks of resistance by
protesters.
The annual #DSEI fair is attended by delegates from the world’s most repressive and murderous regimes, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Qatar and Israel.
***
#South_Korea
uses a warship (with exhibition booth) on a training mission (the
#Hwacheon) to globally promote exports for its military industry.
The ship will visit the US, #Saudi
Arabia, #Egypt, India and #Germany and several other countries.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/08/113_357929.html
***
How Europe is
shifting its Middle East policy: choosing geopolitical interests over
values – OpEd
Includes a number of reasons/interests why European countries have choosen to lower normative standards.
August 24
***
Dutch
government receives parliamentary questions on European arms exports.
https://www.asser.nl/about-the-asser-institute/news/dutch-government-receives-parliamentary-questions-on-european-arms-exports/
***
UK #Labour
conference set to host weapons manufacturers and a controversial
#spyware firm.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/labour-party-conference-greenwashing-weapons-boeing-palantir-babcock/
Arms
firms, oil companies and private healthcare among firms sponsoring
this autumn's Labour conference
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/arms-firms-oil-companies-and-private-healthcare-among-firms-sponsoring-autumns-labour
***
German
critics are linking the Israle-German Arrow deal to Chancellor Olaf
Scholz allegedly blocking a statement on the legality of Israeli
occupation recently, and pointing to possible ramifications for the
Palestinians.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-08-23/ty-article-magazine/.premium/insanely-complex-germany-israels-arrow-3-system-and-the-occupation/0000018a-224d-da97-a7cb-66ffd86a0000
August 23
***
The Israeli
government has announced that it will sell the Arrow 3
missile-defence system to Germany, a $3.5 billion deal, marking it as
Israel’s largest military export ever.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-arrow-3-missile-killer-sale-germany-approved-by-us-2023-08-17/
***
Netherlands
to double MQ-9A Reaper order to 8 drones
“We are doubling the number ... so we can increase our maritime and overland intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance (ISR) capacity,” said Lt-Col Ruedisueli, cdt of the Dutch Air Force's 306 Squadron. https://breakingdefense.com/2023/08/netherlands-to-double-mq-9a-order-to-eight-aircraft/
***
US TOW
anti-tank missiles potentially combined with Bradley armour for
Morocco. The latest addition to a significant increase in the
firepower of the Morroccan Royal Army
(https://ledesk.ma/enoff/des-missiles-antichars-americains-tow-potentiellement-combines-a-des-blindes-bradley-pour-le-maroc/)
involved in the illegal occupation of Western Sahara
(https://press.un.org/en/2023/gacol3370.doc.htm).
***
“Japan’s
New Chip Equipment Export Rules Take Effect” Effective 23 July
2023, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (“METI”)
imposed export regulations on 23 types of advanced semiconductor
manufacturing equipment. “General Bulk License (一般包括許可)
for the Netherlands, the US, Taiwan, India, & Lithuania. And e.g
China requires a “Specific Bulk License (特定包括許可)
https://www.engage.hoganlovells.com/knowledgeservices/news/japans-new-chip-equipment-export-rules-take-effect/
August 22
***
President
Biden is warned, when he isn't friendly to Riyad the Saudi's/SAMI
will cooperate with China on killer drones.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/62126
***
"As a
nation we have [the UK has] to stop sitting down to tea with human
rights abusing dictatorships, without exceptions. That means imposing
sanctions on Saudi Arabia and withdrawing military support, not
rolling out the red carpet.”
Retweet
with comment @FisherAndrew79: Looking
forward to the stern public condemnations from Rishi Sunak and Andrew
Bailey any second now ... "the median pay of a FTSE 100 chief
executive was £3.91m in 2022, up 16% from £3.38m in 2021"
https://bbc.co.uk/news/business-66574218
***
Israeli
Elbit Systems will supply a multilayered counter-drone system to the
Netherlands in a deal worth $55 million, the Israeli firm announced
Monday.
https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2023/08/21/netherlands-buys-counter-drone-defense-from-israels-elbit-systems/
August 21
***
#Riyadh is
interested in U.S. ground platforms, particularly ones that the Saudi
Armed Forces possess, such as the M2 #Bradley vehicle.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/62122
***
Dutch group
#Damen has been compelled to give up management and operational
control of the #Mangalia shipyard, #Romania’s largest shipbuilder
and the biggest in Damen’s international network.
https://www.motorship.com/vessels-and-shipyards/strain-on-damens-romanian-links/1486766.article
***
There’s
only one way to control AI: nationalization.
True of more strategic products. But control of the economy and improve security is not the priority of the neoliberal political system we live in.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/08/20/its-time-to-nationalize-ai-00111862
***
Preparing the
next war. #China, #US test intelligent-#drone_swarms in race for
military #AI dominance.
Beijing and Washington prioritize autonomous vehicles and surveillance, study shows. https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-u-s-test-intelligent-drone-swarms-in-race-for-military-ai-dominance-db361265
***
How many
#Dutch F-16s will be delivered to #Ukraine and when they will be made
available hasn't been announced.
Government report in Dutch https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2023/08/21/zelensky-krijgt-in-nederland-toezegging-voor-f-16s-en-voortdurende-steun
So the 42 fighters (all Dutch #F16s) mentioned by Ukrainian & UK press isn't communicated by the Dutch government.
***
On 2 August,
MBDA, leaders of the HYDIS consortium, announced that the European
Commission has backed the project framework for research on a
hypersonic interceptor, through the #EDF. The consortium contributes
to the AQUILA concept for an endo-atmospheric hypersonic interceptor
capability that can reach 100km above the surface of the Earth.
https://www.army-technology.com/news/quantum-interceptor-technology-showcased-for-missile-defence/
***
The question
of Saudi Arabia's participation in the #GCAP project (#UK, #Italy,
#Japan fighter programme) could be decided this fall, during a
meeting of the three partner states in London or during the visit of
#Saudi prince MbS to the English capital.
https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/avion-de-combat-du-futur-le-gcap-anglo-italo-nippon-prend-de-lavance-sur-le-scaf-franco-allemand-1971136
London
speeds up negotiations with Riyadh on Typhoon order and sixth
generation fighter programme membership. [Paywall]
https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2023/08/22/london-speeds-up-negotiations-with-riyadh-on-typhoon-order-and-sixth-generation-fighter-programme-membership,110034552-eve
***
Biden should
rethink the Saudi Arabia-Israel normalization deal.
What does Riyadh (civil nuclear knowledge, advanced weaponry, security guarantee) and Washington (more oil production...), want from the deal? What will be effects on Saudi foreign policy? https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4158677-biden-should-rethink-the-saudi-arabia-israel-normalization-deal/
***
The British
Armys AS90 turret training system (developed and manufactured by Van
#Halteren Technologies #VHT) has recently reached 100,000 simulated
firings since its introduction into the UK Armed Forces in 2005.
https://www.army-technology.com/news/uk-as90-turret-trainer-hits-100000-firings-milestone/
August 21
Last year In Europe military budgets increased by 13%, faster than in any other region. That is translating into big business for European military contractors, who have secured a flurry of new contracts for military ware in recent months. The Economist, August 19, 2023
***
German
businesses knows very well how important Hungarian factories, skilled
workers and engineers are to the global success of German vehicle
production and the military industry, PM Orban said at the
inauguration of Rheinmetall Hungary's plant in Zalaegerszeg on August
18.
Moreover on the
military cooperation between Berlin and Budapest: the Airbus factory
in Gyula manufacturing parts for combat helicopters started operating
a year ago, Orban said.
https://www.budapesttimes.hu/hungary/orban-hungary-germany-natural-allies-on-competitiveness/
***
The
German arms company Rheinmetall wants to start servicing tanks in
Ukraine in the coming days. "We will start the service this
month," said Armin Papperger, CEO of the "Frankfurter
Allgemeine Sunday newspaper"
https://www.indonewyork.com/business/russian-war-of-aggression-rheinmetall-begins-servicing-tanks-directly-h93873.html
