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Abrams-maker GDLS announces $1.1 billion tank deal for Poland Dollars will start flowing toward Poland’s long-planned purchase of tanks, as the U.S. Army taps General Dynamics Land Systems to make 250 Abrams in the newest configuration, the company announced. The $1.148 billion contract — awarded in late July, according to the Army — will get Poland new features in communications, firepower and armor for its future Abrams fleet, per an Aug. 25 company statement. Initially requested by Poland a year ago, the first M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams are expected to reach the country’s military in early 2025, according a U.S. Army statement. Training for Polish soldiers began following the inauguration of an Abrams Tank Training Academy at Biedrusko Training Area, the Army announced earlier this month. The service made 28 Abrams tanks available to the country last month for that purpose. Poland is rushing to modernize its armored capabilities, as officials study the course of Russia’s assault on Ukraine. In that conflict, tanks and artillery have played a critical role on both sides. Western military support of these weapon types to Ukraine, including from Poland, has reportedly helped Ukrainian forces hold Russian invaders at bay in the east. “NATO’s strength lies in its unity, which has never been greater than it is today,” said Doug Bush, the Army’s acquisition chief. “This award is an example of the Army’s continuing work with our industry partners to increase production of critical military equipment capabilities to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our partners and allies.” resource news : https://www.defensenews.com/ video by : https://www.dvidshub.net/

America to buy Cold Weather All-terrain Vehicle from BAE Systems Swedish business a $278 million contract The U.S. Army has selected BAE Systems to produce its new Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle, picking the contractor over an Oshkosh Defense-ST Engineering team. The service awarded BAE Systems’ American unit and its Swedish business a $278 million contract that includes production units, spare parts and contractor logistics support, according to an Aug. 22 company statement. To replace its aging Small Unit Support Vehicle, the Army evaluated both offerings in Alaska’s Cold Regions Test Center from August to December 2021. The SUSV — also built by BAE Systems — is based on 1960s and 1970s technology, and was last procured in the early 1980s. The Army plans to buy 163 Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicles. BAE submitted to the competition Beowulf, an unarmored, tracked vehicle that can carry people and payloads in either of its two compartments. “Beowulf can traverse snow, ice, rock, sand, mud, and swamp conditions, and can operate in steep mountain environments,” the company statement said. “Its amphibious feature also allows it to swim in flooded areas or coastal waters.” The Army is the first customer for Beowulf, which is based on the BvS10 armored variant used by five European countries: Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Austria. The U.S. military is increasingly focusing on preparedness in the Arctic region. The Army released its Arctic strategy last year, which stresses the need to modernize and ramp up the service’s presence as Russia and China continue to assert dominance in the region. The strategy outlines how the Army will generate, train, organize and equip its forces to partner with allies, secure national interests and maintain regional stability. Earlier this year, the Army announced it will reactivate the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska and remove Stryker combat vehicles from the force structure there. It also plans to install one of its five multidomain task forces in the Arctic. resource news : https://www.defensenews.com video by : www.baesystems.com

️Russian Aerospace Forces shot down two Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force in the residential area of ​​Chervony. As a result of the attack of the Russian Aerospace Forces with high-precision weapons on the control points of the Vostok air command in the Dnepropetrovsk region, as well as missile and artillery weapons and ammunition depots of the 60th infantry brigade in the Novovorontsovka region of the Kherson region, up to 70 nationalists and 14 vehicles specifically removed. Ground-based high-precision weapons in the residential area of ​​Marganet, Dnepropetrovsk region, hit: temporary deployment points and ammunition depots of the 108th territorial defense brigade, as well as field camps of the Nazi formations "Aidar" and "Azov". More than 100 militants, 20 units of military equipment and more than 3,000 rockets for several rocket launchers were destroyed. With fire attacks concentrated on the combat positions of the 53rd mechanized brigade and the nationalist formation "Kraken" in the Artyomovsk residential area of ​​the Donetsk People's Republic, more than 30 nationalists were killed and more than 50 others were killed. wound. ️ The Russian Aerospace Forces shot down two Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force in the residential area of ​​Chervony Yar in the Zaporozhye and Kurdyumovka regions of the Donetsk People's Republic in a day. Operational-tactical aviation and army, missile and artillery troops continue to attack military facilities on Ukrainian territory. During the day, nine command posts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were attacked in the residential areas of Konstantinovka, Artemovsk, Raygorodok, Slavyansk and Nikolskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic, Kamyshevakha and Veselyanka in the Zaporozhye, Nikolaev and Partizanskoe regions of the Nikolaev Region, as well as 52 artillery, manpower and military units. military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 142 districts. In addition, six depots of weapons and rocket and artillery ammunition were destroyed in the Vodyanskoye, Kramatorsk, Dobrovolye and Zvanovka regions of the Donetsk People's Republic, as well as Aleksandrovka in the Kharkov and Belousovo regions of the Kherson region. Russian air defense systems shot down six unmanned aerial vehicles in the residential area of ​​Stepnoye, Ivanovka from the Donetsk People's Republic, Konovalovo from the Zaporozhye region, as well as Maxim Gorky and Novaya Kakhovka in the Kherson region in a day. In addition, three Ukrainian ballistic missiles "Tochka-U" and 21 rocket launcher shells "Vilkha" and "HIMARS", manufactured by the US, were intercepted near Novaya Kakhovka, Kherson region. In total, since the start of special military operations, 276 aircraft, 148 helicopters, 1,832 unmanned aerial vehicles, 370 anti-aircraft missile systems, 4,408 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 822 multiple launch rocket system combat vehicles, 3,354 artillery and field gun fields mortars, as well as 5,266 units of special military vehicles. resource news : @mod_russia_en video by : @mod_russia_en

F-22, F-35, Gripen and Eurofighter: Ukraine Air Force openly requests for western fighters As the war against Russia continues and approximates to its 200th day, Ukraine is still fighting and denying air supremacy to the Russian Air Force. However, the perspective of a long and hard attrition war is forcing the Ukrainians to request increasing amounts of western materiel to maintain the pressure on the occupancy forces. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has released today a social media campaign called «I have a Dream» in which it expresses its desire of receiving modern fighters currently in stock of western allies:

Are 12 Navy Aircraft Carriers Enough to Stop a Rising China?Nothing in the world can project power like a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, which brings the ability to launch massive offensive strikes from waters offshore, holding targets and enemies at risk. This proven reality explains why the mere forward presence of a carrier can have a “calming” type of deterrent effect. At times, the Navy and Pentagon’s leaders have called for eleven carriers, and have most recently asked for twelve. However, the U.S. Navy now only operates ten aircraft carriers, so it makes sense that the Navy’s newly released “Chief of Naval Operations Navigation Plan 2022” has called for twelve aircraft carriers as the Navy moves into the future. “Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, which will remain the most survivable and versatile airfields in the world, provide long-range, persistent sea control, power projection, and organic sensing in contested seas, as well as flexible options across the spectrum of conflict,” the text of the plan states. There are many reasons why the service would cite twelve carriers as the optimal number, the first of which is combatant commander demand. Fleet commanders across the world, including in the Mediterranean, Pacific, Persian Gulf, and Baltic Seas, regularly see the need for a forward carrier “presence” given the need to deter potential aggressors or even secure vital strategic international waterways. Certainly, the possibility of a two-front war in various parts of the world at the same time would require carriers for both “presence” and “power projection

This Advanced Helicopter Will Replace the Black Hawk The Defiant X is Sikorsky/Boeing’s entry into the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program, which aims to replace the Black Hawks that were introduced into Army service in the early 1980s. Although the UH-60 has been a reliable workhorse and regularly updated with new tech, the Army believes it’s time for a new, clean-sheet aircraft that can take advantage of the last 40 years of aircraft research and development.

Air Force Putting Software First for Next-Gen Air Dominance The Air Force already determined that the replacement for the F-22 Raptor will not be a single plane, but a portfolio of next-generation capabilities to face warfare in a contested environment. Now, Pentagon leaders say to reach air dominance by the end of the decade, the service needs to shift focus from the hardware to developing software. The Next-Generation Air Dominance program — known as NGAD — centers around building a new sixth-generation fighter aircraft with an unknown number of manned and unmanned systems among its ranks. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recently announced the fighter — which would be similar to the F-22 or F-15EX — has moved into the development phase. But the manned fighter may not be the linchpin for air dominance, according to a new report published by the Hudson Institute. Without uncrewed systems and sensors for situational awareness, a manned fighter “would be unlikely to deliver more than an incrementally improved version of today’s fighters,” the report posited.

Network security solution provider Clavister has won a Proof of Concept (PoC) contract from the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) for a cyber security technology. As part of the contract, the company will deliver a specialised technology to help military organisations trace specific issues in satellite communications. The contract was awarded following the company’s participation in a contest ‘TechDay’, hosted by FMV. Clavister Defence Solutions head Stefan Brodin said: “We are proud to have been awarded this contract and to have been chosen as the most innovative solution provider among a group of hugely impressive businesses. “This win underlines the strength of our capabilities across industries and is a specific signal of intent for the applications of our AI (artificial intelligence) technologies to the space sector.” Clavister’s advanced technology won the contest in the latest edition of FMV’s military innovation programme that was based on space technology.

Why Can’t Sweden Sell Its Gripen Fighter Jets? In December, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the United Arab Emirates. He left with a $19 billion order for French Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft. You wouldn’t see Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson performing energetic sales pitches for Sweden’s equally fine Gripen jets the way Macron does for French military equipment—or the way most leaders of other countries with defense industries do for their local companies. Since the end of the Cold War, the Swedish government has mostly been putting defense exports in the hands of the globalized market. But with other countries’ leaders pitching their companies to governments now investing more in defense, it’s a flawed strategy. Oddly, Swedish governments of different stripes have put their faith in an invisible hand that simply does not exist when it comes to defense equipment. Last September, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia unveiled their so-called AUKUS agreement, which will see Australia build nuclear-powered submarines aided by British and American technology. That, in turn, meant that Australia relinquished an agreement with the French company Naval Group for diesel-powered submarines. Apoplectic anger ensued from Paris, with allegations that friends had stabbed France in the back. In December, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the United Arab Emirates. He left with a $19 billion order for French Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft. You wouldn’t see Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson performing energetic sales pitches for Sweden’s equally fine Gripen jets the way Macron does for French military equipment—or the way most leaders of other countries with defense industries do for their local companies. Since the end of the Cold War, the Swedish government has mostly been putting defense exports in the hands of the globalized market. But with other countries’ leaders pitching their companies to governments now investing more in defense, it’s a flawed strategy. Oddly, Swedish governments of different stripes have put their faith in an invisible hand that simply does not exist when it comes to defense equipment. Last September, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia unveiled their so-called AUKUS agreement, which will see Australia build nuclear-powered submarines aided by British and American technology. That, in turn, meant that Australia relinquished an agreement with the French company Naval Group for diesel-powered submarines. Apoplectic anger ensued from Paris, with allegations that friends had stabbed France in the back. A few years earlier, Sweden’s Gripen suffered a similar setback. In 2012, Switzerland was getting ready to buy new fighter jets, and having investigated its options, the government—backed by the armed forces—opted for the Gripen over other top contenders, France’s Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon. NEWS Source : https://upjobsnews.com/

This discovery by US scientists turns the B-52 Stratofortress into an air monster. The b-52 stratafortress is a long-range heavy bomber designed to carry out a multipurpose mission that was created to carry, a large number of weapons and is now considered an important part of the United States strategic bombing force. The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters). It can carry nuclear-guided or precision-guided conventional weapons with precision navigation capabilities around the world. In conventional conflict, the B-52 can conduct strategic strike, close air support, air interdiction, air counterattack and maritime operations. During Desert Storm, the B-52 delivered 40 percent of all weapons dropped by coalition forces. It is particularly effective when used for marine surveillance and can assist the US Navy in anti-ship and mine-laying operations. In two hours, two B-52s can monitor 140,000 square miles (364,000 square kilometers) of sea level. All B-52s can be equipped with two electro-optical display sensors, forward-looking infrared, and an advanced targeting pod to enhance targeting, combat assessment and flight safety, further enhancing their combat capabilities. Pilots wear night vision goggles, or NVG, to improve their vision during night operations. Night vision goggles provide greater safety during night operations by increasing the pilot's ability to visually clear the terrain, increasing peacetime and combat situational awareness of the flight crew and increasing their ability to visually acquire other aircraft.

The Russia – Ukraine War At Six Months: The War That Should Have Never Been Could the Ukraine War Have Been Avoided? Military expert Daniel L. Davis, a retired U.S. Army Officer with combat experience, kicks off a multi-part series looking at the Ukraine war: As we mark the six-month mark of the Russo-Ukrainian War tomorrow, it’s time to finally ask the hard question that few in Washington want answered: did hubris in Kyiv, Washington, and Brussels doom the Ukrainian people to a war that could and should have been avoided? We must get an accurate, truthful answer to this question because if the answer is ‘yes’, war could have been avoided, then tens of thousands of Ukrainian people have been killed, millions driven from their country, and hundreds of their cities demolished for little more than to satisfy the arrogance of a handful of men – and still with no genuine chance for Kyiv to win. A sober analysis of available evidence leads to the distressing conclusion that, indeed this war could and should have been prevented. Thousands of lives could and should have been saved. The utter destruction of the Ukrainian economy could have been prevented. The serious consequences to American and European economies that have resulted – and the worst is almost certain to come this fall and winter – were unnecessary. Exposing the truth is more than merely an academic exercise. The longer this war grinds on, the longer Western leaders and media perpetuate the myth that Ukraine can win the war, that all the Western sacrifices are necessary and worth it, and that our suffering should continue “as long as it takes”, yet more people will unnecessarily die, tens of millions of Americans and Europeans will see their quality of life continue to erode, and the greater the risk that the war escalates – whether by error or miscalculation – and spills beyond Ukraine’s borders. It is therefore vital to American national interests and our future security to honestly and accurately determine whether or not the war in Ukraine was avoidable. The overwhelming majority of government officials and so-called expert military and foreign policy pundits claim the war was foisted on the West by a power-hungry Putin and that war was unavoidable. As this analysis will show, however, with even a modest willingness on the part of Ukrainian and Western leaders to use diplomacy, war almost certainly could have been averted.

Sweden Offer NATO an Edge as Rivalry Warms Up North The first surprise, for the Finnish conscripts and officers taking part in a NATO-hosted military exercise in the Arctic this spring: the sudden roar of a U.S. Marine helicopter assault force, touching down in a field right next to the Finns' well-hidden command post. The second surprise: Spilling out of their field headquarters, the Finnish Signal Corps communications workers and others inside routed the U.S. Marines — the Finns' designated adversary in the NATO exercise and members of America's professional and premier expeditionary force — in the mock firefight that followed. Finnish camouflage for the Arctic snow, scrub and scree likely had kept the Americans from even realizing the command post was there when they landed, Finnish commander Lt. Col. Mikko Kuoka suspected. “For those who years from now will doubt it,” Kuoka, modestly stunned by the outcome of the random skirmish, wrote in an infantry-focused blog recording the outcome, of an episode he later confirmed for The Associated Press. “That actually happened.” As the exercise made clear, NATO's addition of Finland and Sweden — what President Joe Biden calls “our allies of the high north” — would bring military and territorial advantages to the Western defense alliance. That's especially so as the rapid melting of the Arctic from climate change awakens strategic rivalries at the top of the world. In contrast to the NATO expansion of former Soviet states that needed big boosts in the decades after the Cold War, the alliance would be bringing in two sophisticated militaries and, in Finland's case, a country with a remarkable tradition of national defense. Both Finland and Sweden are in a region on one of Europe's front lines and meeting places with Russia.

The Hungarian government and Sweden’s FMV defense materiel administration have concluded negotiations over the upgrade of Hungary’s leased Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen fighters to the latest Mission System (MS) 20 Block 2 configuration. Under the deal—announced by Saab on January 12—the aircraft will receive enhancements to sensors and communications, as well as expanded weapons options. Improvements to the PS-05/A Mk 4 radar increase the sensor’s air-to-air target tracking range, as well as other performance improvements. They include better clutter suppression and enhanced detection capability against small aerial targets. The radar also offers growth potential for additional air-to-air and air-to-ground modes. MS20 Block 2 also enhances the functionality of the NATO-standard Link 16 datalink and updates voice communication to the latest NATO secure standard. In addition, the upgrade introduces the latest Mode 5 identification friend or foe (IFF) standard. The modernization program also opens up three new weapons to Hungary’s Gripens: the GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II dual-mode (laser, GPS/inertial) guided bomb, the IRIS-T within visual range air-to-air missile, and the long-range MBDA Meteor. Hungary ordered the IRIS-T in December to replace the current AIM-9M Sidewinder, the European missile offering significant engagement envelope improvements, as well as better flare rejection performance. It has a longer range against head-on targets thanks to better target discrimination, and its thrust-vectoring nozzle and lock-on after launch capability allow it to engage targets behind the launch aircraft, turning at rates of up to 60° per second with 60g loads. “Thanks to the modernization of the Hungarian Gripen aircraft, the operational capabilities of the Hungarian Air Force will be significantly increased,” said Major General Nandor Kilian, Hungarian Defence Forces Air Force Inspector. “Our staff has appreciated a close and fruitful cooperation with the Swedish side on this specific modernization project as well as the cooperation during the 15 years that we have operated Gripen aircraft.” Hungary signed a contract in November 2001 to lease 12 JAS 39A single-seaters and two JAS 39B two-seaters from Sweden, for service with 1. Vadászrepülö Század “Puma” at the 59th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kecskemét. The deal was subsequently amended to JAS 39C/D aircraft, and the first five arrived in Hungary in March 2006. The "Puma" squadron's primary mission is the air defense of Hungarian airspace. In 2014 Hungarian Gripens also began defending Slovenian airspace, and were responsible for NATO’s Baltic air policing detachment in Latvia in 2015 and 2019. In May/June 2015 two Gripens were written off in non-fatal crashes but were replaced by more aircraft from Sweden. Having examined the option of buying the aircraft outright in 2011, Hungary decided to extend the lease contract to 20 years in January 2012. In February 2017 the deal was amended to increase the annual flight time allowance from 1,600 to 2,000 hours. At the same time, the commitment to upgrade the aircraft to MS20 was also made. The latest upgrade deal signals the intention of Hungary to extend its lease beyond the current end date in March 2026.

Meet The F-52: The Stealth Fighter Donald Trump ‘Loved’ Meet The F-52: The Stealth Fighter Donald Trump ‘Loved The F-52 was a twist of words when then-President Donald Trump was referring to the F-35 stealth fighter. And yet, the F-52 does have some basis in the video game world: Well, he got the “F” for fighter right. In 2018, President Donald Trump referred to what at first could have been considered a new warplane. He initially stoked flames of speculation by mentioning a mysterious American-made F-52 that was just sold to Norway. But the F-52 only exists in the fictional world of a video game. The slip of the tongue most likely happened because Trump read his briefing book wrong or there was an error in his bullet points written by a staffer. F-52: What Did He Just Say? “In November we started delivering the first F-52s and F-35 fighter jets,” Trump said. “We have a total of 52 and they’ve delivered a number of them already a little ahead of schedule,” he said in an announcement. F-52 Flies Only in Call of Duty Could the F-52 be a new fighter that was stealthier than the F-35 or F-22? Was it a sixth-generation airplane? No, you just had to be a gamer to recognize it. The F-52 is a warplane you could pilot in the video game “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.” In that rendition of the popular franchise, the F-52 had something called a “drop pod” that allowed the pilot to sneak into enemy territory in secrecy to accomplish a kidnapping mission. Lockheed Martin Refers to Foreign Military Sales The Washington Post was curious, and it checked with Lockheed Martin, the builder of the F-35 Lightning II, about the F-52. The Norwegians had ordered 40 F-35s at the time and had taken possession of 10. Lockheed failed to mention the F-52. It appeared the F-52 was simply Trump misspeaking. Finland and Switzerland Have Deals to Buy F-35s Fast-forward to 2022 and Scandinavian countries are still ordering F-35s in great numbers. Finland announced this month that its military is going to buy 64 F-35s. The Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) said the Finns will also receive engines, spare parts, and maintenance equipment. Finland will have air-to-air missiles such as Sidewinders and AMRAAMs (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles). The Swiss bought 36 F-35s, its military said last year. This sale is going to set Switzerland back about $6.4 billion. The deal also includes technical support, training, and ammunition. The Swiss parliament is expected to approve the acquisition and an LOA will be signed at that time. Other European Countries Are Flying It, Have Ordered It, Or Are Planning to Buy It Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands already have some variant of the F-35s or are getting ready to take possession of the stealth fighter. Lockheed is also exploring new customers for the F-35 such as Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Romania. These countries value the advanced capabilities of the F-35. It’s able to fight, bomb, and collect intelligence data to be shared with other units of the military to better coordinate offensive and defensive operations. Countries can also pack additional weaponry on the plane when it operates in “beast mode.” Russia is another driver of European F-35 sales as Vladimir Putin threatens Ukraine with a potential invasion. Maybe Not a F-52, But the Future Is Here Now going back to the fictitious F-52 video game fighter. There is indeed a new program for a sixth-generation fighter. This is called the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. The U.S. Air Force has reportedly overseen the building of a prototype. The diamond-shaped NGAD technology demonstrator is expected to be stealthier than the F-22 and F-35. Trump may not have exhibited a handle on the all-things military while he was president and the “F-52” slip was embarrassing, but the F-35 is spreading around Europe and there are plans for a next-generation fighter, so maybe the mercurial leader was actually on to something.

Sukhoi Su-75 - Russia's new 5th generation fighter shocked USAF Russia's new 5th generation fighter, the Sukhoi Su-75 Skakmat, has its maiden flight date postponed from 2023 to 2024. The change was confirmed by Denis Manturov, Russia's Minister of Industry and Trade, to the Interfax agency. “Changes were made to the design, which corrected the time of the first flight. But at the same time, the principles of modularity and modern digital technologies make it possible to make these changes in the shortest possible time, and in early 2024 we plan to start flight tests," said Manturov. The Su-75 was announced by Rostec, Russia's state-owned technology conglomerate, in July last year during the MAKS 2021 air show in Moscow. The aircraft is the second 5th generation fighter aircraft project developed in Russia. The first is the Sukhoi Su-57, which was introduced to the Russian Air Force several years ago. “During the time that has passed since the presentation of the project at MAKS 2021, we have received feedback from potential customers. Work is also being carried out to optimize costs and analyze individual technical solutions, which will make it possible to significantly increase competitiveness, commercial attractiveness and reduce technical risks in creating domestic single-engine machines”, said the minister. Manturov, however, did not comment on changes to the production schedule for the new jet, which is scheduled to start in mid-2027. The checkmate project is the result of advances in Russian science and engineering, achieved mainly through the progress seen today from the Su-57, which was the country's first Russian stealth fighter. Russia, however, focused the Su-75 on foreign markets and for that Rostec demonstrated two aspects of the fighter it considered "invincible". The first advantage is the aircraft's weight-to-power ratio, "unique in its class", according to the company. The second is the purchase price of the new fighter, estimated to be between $25 million and $30 million. Estimates are between 30% and 40% of the amount charged for the F-35A, a 5th-generation Lockheed Martin fighter that has won several competitions around the world.

State Department approves $8 4 billion F 35 sale to Germany The U.S. State Department has approved a potential sale of over $8 billion worth of F-35 aircraft to Germany, moving closer to providing Berlin with new fighter aircraft for nuclear deterrence missions. The State Department on Thursday announced the foreign military sales (FMS) approval for up to 35 F-35A aircraft, along with munitions and related equipment, for a total estimated cost of $8.4 billion. These fighter jets, built by Lockheed Martin, will take over by 2030 the nuclear weapons mission from the German Air Force’s aging fleet of PA-200 Tornado aircraft, based at Tactical Air Wing 33 in Büchel, Germany. German Air Force Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz and Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced in March the decision to procure the joint strike fighter, in a major reversal from previous plans to buy Boeing-made F-18 aircraft. In that statement, the two military leaders justified the decision by pointing to “a need for unity within NATO, and a credible deterrent” to Russia. U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown met with Gerhartz earlier this month in Rostock, Germany, ahead of the Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference and the Farnborough Airshow in London. The joint strike fighter was a major point of conversation between the two air force leaders, with Gerhartz telling Defense News “we are shaping our future” with the F-35. Joining the joint strike fighter program is “an important milestone that will further intensify our ties,” Gerhartz said in an emailed statement to Defense News after the meeting in Rostock. “Shared weapons systems are the best basis for even closer cooperation.” A source close to the F-35 program told Defense News that should the sale to Germany be approved, the aircraft would likely be built at the Lockheed Martin facilities in Fort Worth, Texas. Alongside Lockheed Martin, the principal contractors involved with this F-35 sale include Pratt & Whitney, providing 37 F135 engines, as well as Boeing and Raytheon Technologies. Proposed munitions packages include the AIM120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); GBU-53 small diameter bombs; AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles-Extended Range (JASSM-ER); Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits; and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. Germany is but one of several European nations that has opted for the U.S.-made F-35 to replenish its fighter jet fleets. Most recently, Greece has sent an official letter of request to procure 20 F-35As by 2028, while the Czech Republic wants the aircraft to replace its aging fleet of Saab JAS 39 Gripens. Meanwhile, Finland plans to spend $10 billion to buy 64 F-35 aircraft to replace its F-18 Hornets, with initial deliveries to start in 2026. Switzerland also selected the joint strike fighter in 2021, committing to 36 aircraft that will replace its own Hornet fleet. Poland will receive 32 F-35A aircraft beginning in 2024, after a letter of agreement was signed between Warsaw and Washington in January 2020. Belgium also selected the F-35 in 2018, and will receive 34 aircraft, per Lockheed Martin.

Gripen Joins B-52 for Bomber Task Force Mission. Multiple B-52 explosions from Minot Air Base, ND, arrived at RAF Fairford, UK, on ​​August 18 as part of a development task force mission in the US Air Force in Europe announced. “The Bomber Task Force missions across Europe provide a great opportunity to enhance our joint preparedness, improve interoperability, and demonstrate our global strength estimate with our Allies,” General James Hecker, commander of USAFE-AFAFRICA, said in a statement. “Our primary strength in the European area of ​​operations is lethal joint force—our ability to train and operate with our Allies and partners as a layered, capable and credible combat team.” Flying to Fairford, the B-52 of the 5th Bomb Wing began training quickly with the allies, integrating with fighters from Norway and Sweden. For Sweden, in particular, the interaction is not to be missed another milestone as the country continues to advance towards NATO membership. "Watching our nation's Gripen fighters fly alongside some of America's most powerful aircraft visually illustrates NATO's strength and solidarity," Major General Carl-Johan Edström, commander of the Swedish Air Force, said in a statement. “These moments really capture the military power that is within NATO—as individual nations, but, more importantly, as a unified Alliance.” Media reports in the UK noted four of the iconic bombers landed at Fairford, attracting much attention from local residents. "The mission of developing our strategy demonstrates our ever-present global strike capability," Lt. Col. Ryan Loucks, commander of the BTF's 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron. “The B-52 remains a universally recognized symbol of American assurance to our Allies and partners.” This is the second time this year a B-52 from Minot has flown to RAF Fairford on a tourist task force mission. In February, four developed suddenly in Europe . Previously, B-1B bombers from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, were deployed to RAF Fairford in November 2021. RAF Fairford is the only forward operation location for building the US in Europe, so expanding task forces are usually based from there, with missions flying across continents and sometimes further afield within US air power estimates and as opportunities for aircrews to integrate. with allies and partners. The latest BTF since the first Air Force has announced Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, increasing security across the region and leading NATO to significantly increase policing and air defense missions along its eastern flank. The USAFE release on the mission did not mention Russia, and did not specify whether the B-52s would fly over Eastern Europe during their time in the region.

Sweden's new submarine has advanced powers. As Sweden prepares its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), it has also passed milestones in strengthening its military capabilities. Last month, the country laid the keel for its first submarine in more than 20 years - the so-called HMS Blekinge - manufacturer Saab said in a press release. The laying of the keel is an old shipbuilding tradition where coins are placed under the keel of the ship during the construction phase to bring good luck. In the manufacture of submarines, a ceremony is carried out when the first part of the hull is to be joined. The project began in 2014 when the Swedish government began making plans to strengthen its underwater capabilities. The next year, the country ordered its two new submarines in two decades. The Blekinge-class submarines The new crafts are Blekinge-class submarines. At 213 feet (66 m) in length, each of these subs will have a displacement of 1,925 tons and be propelled by three diesel engines and three Stirling engines. The latter of the engines uses air-independent propulsion (AIP) that will allow the submarine to dive for a period of more than 18 days, Naval News reported. The submarine has a standard complement of 26 sailors but can be modified to have up to 35 sailors onboard. Options are also available to further expand the submarine design to have 50 sailors but a smaller variant with a footprint of 164 feet (50 m) and displacement of 1,100 tons is also possible in the future. Even the smaller submarine can be equipped with AIP while all can be armed with torpedoes and mines while being equipped with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) as well as magnetic silencing facilities (MSF). The importance of being silent in the sea Swedes already excel in noise cancellation technology used in underwater warfare, 1945 reported. With the Blenkige-class, the country is spending another $840 million to improve its previous designs. Flexible mountings designed on the submarine are expected to help it withstand shocks, reduce transient noise and further reduce the chances of detection by adversaries. The frame of the submarine will also absorb noise while its air ducts and pipes are expected to be quiet as well. With options of deploying UAV and ROV, the submarine can stay away from risky missions while still being able to carry out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks. The unmanned vehicles could use active sonar to increase the submarine's reach, even as it remains quietly hidden at a safe distance, poised to stealthily exit the area if the robotic vehicles are detected and destroyed.

Russia news today -The 44th Artillery Brigade Unit of the AFU plans to launch an artillery attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant area from a firing position located in Nikopol' on August 19. the Kiev regime is preparing another provocation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant during the visit of UN Secretary General António Guterres to Ukraine, as a result of which the Russian Federation will be blamed for creating a man-made disaster at the power plant. ️To prepare for the provocation, the command of the Dnepro operational-tactical group deployed a radiation observation post near Zaporozhye on August 19. Also, the command organized exercises for units of the 108th Territorial Defense Brigade, 44th Artillery Brigade and military units deployed in Zaporozhye on measures to be taken in conditions of radioactive contamination in the area. ️In addition, units of the 704th NBCP Regiment of the AFU will complete concentration in the Zaporozhye area on August 19 and are ready to repair the accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as well as to carry out a series of actions for the demonstration of the alleged liquidation of its consequences. ️The 44th Artillery Brigade Unit of the AFU plans to launch an artillery attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant area from a firing position located in Nikopol' on August 19. The Russian Armed Forces will be blamed for the consequences. ️The Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly spread rumors that Russian troops have occupied nuclear power plants and shelled the AFU with long-range artillery systems while protecting themselves with nuclear power plants. We would like to point out that the Russian troops do not have heavy weapons either in the factory area or in the surrounding area. Only security units are stationed there. ️️The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. resource news : @mod_russia_en video by :@mod_russia_en

The Russian government makes an application for Humanitarian Aid for Ukrainian Citizens The Russian government makes an application for Humanitarian Aid for Ukrainian Citizens Joint Coordination Headquarters Statement for Humanitarian Response (16 August 2022) August 16, 2022 The Joint Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response, in collaboration with the competent federal executive authorities, continues to record various facts of criminal acts by the Kiev regime against civilians, as well as the use of medical infrastructure for military purposes by Ukrainian armed formations: in the Donetsk People's Republic: in Aleksandrovka, Ukrainian armed formations are concentrated in the hospital building (Dzerzhinskogo Street), armored vehicles are deployed in the surrounding area, and residents of nearby houses have not been evacuated; in Artemovsk, AFU units were placed on the territory of the tuberculosis hospital (Mariupolskaya Street), roadblocks and shooting points were deployed, and approaches to the building were mined, but the local population was deliberately not warned about this; in Kramatorsk, AFU units have equipped the barracks and armory of the city mental hospital (Ye. Bilokur Street), and artillery and MLRS have been deployed on the territory of the institution, from where they systematically opened fire on nearby settlements; In Novye Sanzhary, Poltava Region, fighters of the Azov battalion were stationed in the medical center (Kurartnaya Street), ammunition depots were equipped, while medical staff and patients were cynically expelled from medical facilities by the nationalists. Such actions by the criminal authorities of Ukraine demonstrate complete disregard for the fate of their own citizens and absolute disregard for all norms of morality and the principles of international humanitarian law. Once again, we call on all international organizations, especially the World Health Organization, to influence the Kiev officials and take effective measures to prevent the use of medical infrastructure for military purposes. Despite all the difficulties and obstacles imposed by the Ukrainian side, over the past day, without the participation of Kiev, 25,501 people were evacuated from the dangerous area, 14,242 of them children, and in total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 3,420,866 people have been evacuated , where 555,902 are children. The state border of the Russian Federation is crossed by 574,387 private vehicles including 5,262 per day. More than 9,500 temporary accommodation centers continue to operate on the territory of the Russian Federation. Refugees are dealt with individually and immediately assisted with urgent matters relating to subsequent accommodation, employment assistance, housing for children in kindergartens and educational institutions, and the provision of the right to social benefits. Over the past 24 hours, the hotlines of the Interdepartmental Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response, federal executive authorities, constituent entities of the Russian Federation and various NGOs received 27 requests from foreigners and Ukrainians to flee to Russia, Donetsk and the People's Republic of Lugansk, as well as territory controlled by the Russian Armed Forces in the Zaporozhye, Nikolaev, Kharkov and Kherson regions. In total there are 2,760,255 such applications from 2,139 locations in Ukraine and from the Kiev-controlled territory of the Donetsk People's Republic in the database. However, 56 foreign ships from 14 countries remained blocked at six ports (Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhny). As part of the implementation of the Secure Grain Transport Initiative from Ukrainian Ports since August 1, 2022, a total of 16 ships have left Ukrainian ports since August 1, 2022, with 453,246 tonnes of food exported, including: 379,981 tonnes of corn, 6,000 tonnes of sunflower oil, 50,300 tonnes of flour and 11,000 tons of soybeans, 3,050 tons of wheat and 2,914 tons of sunflowers. There is still a danger of navigation and damage to port infrastructure from the drifting of Ukrainian mines from anchor along the coasts of the Black Sea countries. The Russian Armed Forces have created conditions for the operation of two maritime humanitarian corridors, which are safe passages for ships: on the Black Sea - leaving the ports of Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhnyi in a southwest direction from the Ukrainian territorial sea, 307 miles long and 20 miles wide; on the Sea of ​​Azov, leaving the port of Mariupol 115 miles long and 2 miles wide for the Black Sea. @mod_russia

Russian News Today 1,000 soldiers have arrived in Nikopol. Statement of the Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response (August 15, 2022) It is known that AFU command is preparing large-scale provocations near Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. To implement them, a separate regiment of radiation, chemical and biological protection troops with up to 1,000 servicemen have already arrived in Nikopol', Dnepropetrovsk Region, equipped with special protective kits for action in conditions of radioactive contamination, as well as technical means of radiation reconnaissance and control. We warn the international community and international organizations in advance of the provocations being prepared by the Ukrainian authorities, which could result in a real threat to the nuclear security not only of Ukraine, but also of Europe, while the criminal regime in Kiev and Western countries will blame the Russian Armed Forces for their possible consequences, following a well-established scenario with extensive media coverage. Russian Federation's Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response, in cooperation with the authorized federal executive authorities, continues to record numerous facts of criminal actions by Kiev regime against civilians, as well as the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes by Ukrainian armed formations: source : https://telegra.ph/Statement-of-the-Joint-Coordination-Headquarters-for-Humanitarian-Response-August-15-2022-08-15

Today: Russia Continues Large-Scale Offensive Into Ukraine The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue special military operations in Ukraine. As a result of the offensive actions of the allied forces, the settlement of Peski in the Donetsk People's Republic was completely liberated. More than 70 soldiers of the 30th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed and more than 300 soldiers of the 30th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed and more than 300 soldiers of the 30th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed and more than 300 injured by high-precision long-range sea and land missile strikes, as well as several rocket launch systems against enemy reserves in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe Gavrilovka railway station in the Kharkov region. Traffic on this section of the rail is completely blocked. Up to 170 nationalists and 12 units of military equipment were destroyed by high-precision strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces at the temporary deployment point of the 10th mountain assault brigade in the residential area of ​​Pereezdnoye in the Donetsk People's Republic. During the offensive operation of the allied forces in the Artyomovsk residential area of ​​the Donetsk People's Republic, two companies of the 72nd mechanized brigade were completely destroyed. As a result of concentrated fire attacks on the command posts of the units of the 66th mechanized brigade and the armed formation "Right Sector" in the Starye Terny residential area of ​​the Donetsk People's Republic, more than 100 nationalists and ten military equipment were destroyed. Operational-tactical aviation and army, missile and artillery troops continue to attack military facilities on Ukrainian territory. Near the settlement of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People's Republic, a HIMARS launcher and a depot with ammunition for it were destroyed. In the Domanevka area of ​​the Mykolaiv region, two Mi-24 helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force were destroyed in the helipad. Four posts, personnel, weapons, military and defense equipment in 143 sub-districts were also hit.

Big Warning : The Russian War is entering a heated New Phase ! The Defense Ministry designated Putin's troops as "almost certainly gathering in the south" near Kherson Oblast and heading for Zaporizhzhia. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson were both under Russian control, with Ukrainian forces concentrating their efforts on retaking Kherson Oblast. The area was one of the first to fall to Russia at the start of the invasion. The mass movement of Russian troops towards Kherson was "in anticipation of a Ukrainian counterattack or in preparation for a possible attack", the Defense Ministry said. russia ukraine war,ukraine russia war,ukraine war,ministry of defence warns,russia war ukraine,ukraine war set to enter 'new phase',ukraine,war in ukraine,ukraine russia,russia ukraine,russia ukraine news,russia ukraine tensions,ukraine russia news,ministry of defense of russia,russia ukraine conflict,russia vs ukraine war update,ukraine russia conflict,ukraine news,russia vs ukraine

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue special military operations in Ukraine. As a result of the active offensive hostilities of the Allied forces, more than 50 percent of the personnel in the 14th and 66th mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Artyomovsky and Avdiivka directions were eliminated. Mass desertions and unauthorized abandonment of positions by the nationalists were noted. Attacks by operational-tactical aviation and army, missile and artillery troops on military facilities on Ukrainian territory continue. During the day, twenty brigade and battalion-level command posts, eight ammunition depots in the residential areas of Konstantinovka, Seversk, Zaitseve, Novoselka, Ocheretino, Vodiane from the Donetsk People's Republic and Trudovoye from the Zaporozhye region were hit. Destroyed: an arsenal of missiles and artillery in the Kharkiv area, radar guidance of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system in the Kramatorsk area, as well as 264 areas of accumulation of manpower, weapons, military and special equipment. Warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Mi-24 helicopter near the town of Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region. Russian air defense systems destroy seven unmanned aerial vehicles per day in residential areas of Brigadirovka, Grakovo, Suligovka, Andreevka, Babenkovo, Zavody and Lipchanivka in the Kharkiv region. In addition, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe city of Lisichansk, four shells of a dual-launch rocket system were intercepted in the air. In total, since the beginning of special military operations, 267 aircraft, 146 helicopters, 1727 unmanned aerial vehicles, 365 anti-aircraft missile systems, 4287 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 797 combat vehicles of several launch rocket systems, 3290 field artillery and mortars, as well as 4820 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed.

Ukraine war set to enter 'new phase', Ministry of Defence warns Russian forces are "almost certainly" massing in the south in preparation for a possible attack, the Ministry of Defence has said - with the heaviest fighting set to shift to a 217-mile (350km) frontline from near Zaporizhzhia to Kherson in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine is set to enter a new phase, British military intelligence chiefs have said this morning. Russian forces are "almost certainly" massing in the south in preparation for a counter-offensive from Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) warned on Saturday. Long convoys of military trucks, tanks and towed artillery are moving southwest away from the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, the MoD tweeted in an intelligence update. "Russia's war on Ukraine is about to enter a new phase, with the heaviest fighting shifting to a roughly 350km frontline stretching southwest from near Zaporizhzhia to Kherson, paralleling the Dnieper River," the tweet said Battalion tactical groups - made up of between 800 and 1,000 troops - have been deployed to annexed Crimea and are expected to support Russian troops in Kherson, according to the MoD update. Equipment is also believed to have been moved from mainland Russia and areas occupied by Moscow - including Melitopol, Berdiansk and Mariupol - via the Kerch Bridge into Crimea. Kyiv is focusing targeting on bridges, ammunition depots and rail links with growing frequency in southern regions. Key to this strategy is the important railroad spur linking Kherson to Crimea, with a combination of "block, damage, deny, destroy and disrupt" effects due to be deployed in the hope of hindering Russia's ability to logistically