#defence procurement deal

[mariacallous]

This week, as every week, Brexit enfeebled the UK. It was not a one-off disaster, like a fatal heart attack. Rather Brexit is showing itself to be a debilitating disease that never grants us a moment’s peace.

In the past few days

The post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and Canada collapsed. Despite all the promises of global Britain crossing the clear blue oceans and cutting deals with India, the US, Canada and China, we remain isolated.

After years of being too scared to actually take control of the UK’s borders, the government promised checks on imported food from the EU. The effect, according to the food industry, will be to raise prices and produce shortages. (Romantics searching for flowers for Valentine’s Day may well have their work cut out, despairing florists are already warning.)

Brexit took away the right of Brits to live and work where we pleased in the EU. For a while in 2023 it looked as if France would allow British expats to stay for longer than 90 days at a stretch. But the French courts blocked that concession to second home owners in the Dordogne.

Meanwhile the Brexit inspired border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK continued to enrage Ulster Unionists, who in their hearts must now know that English Tories have played them for fools.

Finally, the Guardian reported that the EU's plans to increase bulk medicine procurement across the bloc risk creating shortages in Britain.

That’s just in the past few days.  

And yet the politicians who promised the electorate that leaving the EU would turn us into a world leader are simply not held to account.

You would have to be 35 or older to remember how the BBC used to deal with politicians who failed to deliver on their promises. In 2003 Tony Blair backed the US invasion of Iraq on the grounds that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

He didn’t.

BBC journalists tore into the then Labour government. Its ministers had taken us to war on a false prospectus, they claimed. Lied, in short.

And yet in a dereliction of journalistic duty the BBC has let the false prospectus of Brexit pass without the smallest attempt to remind its authors of their false promises.

Here is Daniel Hannan, the Zelig of British nationalism. For more than two decades, he popped up at what felt like every right-wing meeting and rally, urging ever more Utopian fantasies on the luckless British public.  

In 2016, he promised the revival of depressed British cities, a Silicon Valley in the East End of London, and falling prices and booming wages for us all.

Is he or any other Conservative or Faragist politician questioned to within an inch of his life by the BBC?

Of course not. Continuous funding cuts and right-wing attacks have destroyed the corporation’s ability to provide a vital news service. It’s given up on democratic accountability.

I can make one argument in its defence. If a BBC presenter were in the room with me now, I am sure they would say that the Labour opposition is giving them nothing to report. It is staying silent for fear of alienating elderly voters. The Liberal Democrats shut up for the same reason.

In its politicians and media, the UK is like the caricature Victorian family that puts on a show of respectability and says nothing about its dirty secrets.

No one, however, can shut up Professor Chris Grey, and our culture is the better for it. His Brexit & Beyond blog is the best source of information on our national malaise, and I was delighted to have him on podcast.

I will write a longer piece, which will bounce off our conversation about the purity spiral on the right Brexit set off. With a bit of luck that should be up tomorrow or on Wednesday. I am also working of a read on the lessons from the 1920s for the 2020s.

[eretzyisrael]

Today Israel confirmed that Germany is buying the Arrow air defense system. The overall cost is thought to be around $4 billion. Israel and Germany had been in talks since last year. The system was developed by IAI with support from Israel and the US. This system is designed to defend against the top tier of long range threats, such as ballistic missiles, the kind of missiles that are exoatmospheric.

This is a big purchase. It follows Israel selling David's Sling to Finland. What this means is that Israeli defense tech is now increasingly integrated throughout Europe. Hardly a week goes by without another announcement. Elbit, for instance, has a series of recent deals, including an EW deal in Germany announced this week for helicopters. Greece is getting Rafael's Spike missiles. Central and Eastern Europe is a big market.

As European countries empty inventories to send to Ukraine they need new and modern systems. Israel is well placed to provide systems that are proven. Also Israel exports are not an all-time high for defense products; a total of $12 billion last year. Of this around one quarter went to the Abraham Accords countries.

Israel is now more than just providing "weapons", these are systems and system of systems that help integrate radars in central Europe to countries defenses; and also provide multiple layers of defense tech. Israel also has strategic partnerships in India, with a lot of partnerships for India's local production; and with Azerbaijan and increasingly in Asia/Pacific. In the US Israeli companies partner with major US companies such as Lockheed and Raytheon; and unique Israeli defense products, such as items that protect against drones, or the Trophy system for tanks, are being outfitted to US forces. The talk and critique we hear sometimes of "the US should end aid to Israel" has no basis in reality. The R and D partnerships and deals are so deep and complex today that the critics have no idea what they are talking about.

Here is Israel's statement*

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Israel Ministry of Defense and Israel Aerospace Industries welcome the German Ministry of Defense and the Bundestag’s Budget and Defence Committees’ approval of the commitment to initiate the necessary steps to acquire the Israeli “Arrow 3” air and missile defense system.

The professional teams led by the Director General of the IMOD, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir, the DDR&D’s Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries are continuing discussions with their German counterparts to finalize the procurement contract. Israel Ministry of Defense officials maintain ongoing communication with the American administration to ensure the necessary sales approval.

The German commitment letter will be signed after the American administration grants approval for the sale.

Please find photos of the Arrow 3 system below for your use.

Photo credit: Ministry of Defense Spokesperson’s Office

Seth J. Frantzman

[garudabluffs]

PERHAPS MORE than any other book published in recent years, The Palestine Laboratory demonstrates why Israel is a menace, not only to Palestinians and other Arabs whose countries it has invaded or bombed at one time or another, but really to people around the globe. Anyone who criticizes or mobilizes against their own authoritarian governments will likely have to contend with an Israeli weapon or technology designed to enhance government control over them and make dissent costly, if not impossible.

READ MORE https://www.wrmea.org/middle-east-books-and-more/the-palestine-laboratory-how-israel-exports-the-technology-of-occupation-around-the-world.html

Antony Loewenstein: Israel Is Testing New Weapons on Gaza as Arms Dealers Profit from Gaza War

NOVEMBER 14, 2023 Worldwide protests calling for a ceasefire are drawing attention to the role of weapons manufacturers and distributors supplying machinery to Israel’s assault on Gaza, with demonstrators blocking shipping tankers and entrances to weapons factories, and unionized workers refusing to handle military materiel over the war in Gaza. There is “a growing public awareness and anger” about the global connection between Western powers and the Israeli military industry, says Antony Loewenstein, who has investigated how Israeli weaponry and surveillance technology are used on Palestinians and exported around the world. “Israel is already, as we speak … live-testing new weapons in Gaza,” says Loewenstein. He also discusses what he characterizes as the “intelligence” and “political” failures of the October 7 Hamas incursion.

LISTEN READ MORE Transcript https://www.democracynow.org/2023/11/14/israel_weapons

LINKS

"The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World"

19 October 2023

"Although we had always heard that people could be monitored through cell phones, we did not imagine that this could happen to us." +"When people ask us for something, we cannot afford to ask questions about ideology. The only type of regime that Israel would not aid would be one that is anti-American. Also, if we can aid a country that it may be inconvenient for the US to help, we would be cutting off our nose to spite our face not to.’ There’s rarely been a more honest appraisal of Israel’s entire weapons industry."

ISRAEL’S INSURANCE POLICY =>>"Israel’s arms sector, and its spyware industry in particular, is an insurance policy against political headwinds that may develop against the occupation."

"The lack of serious oversight benefits one actor in particular – Israel. As the lead exporter of these tools, the state is at the forefront of the intrusion technology industry. Founded in 2010, NSO Group Technologies Ltd is just one firm among a wider ecosystem of Israeli cyber-weapons companies. Of the 75 governments that have procured spyware and digital forensic technologies worldwide, 56 bought them from firms that are either based in or connected to Israel, such as NSO Group, Cellebrite, Cytrox and Candiru. These deals are all monitored and approved by the Israeli Ministry of Defence.

For Israel, spyware is not just a highly lucrative industry, but a strategic weapon to curry diplomatic favour."

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up May 15-16, 2023

Under the cut:

The UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch leader Mark Rutte have agreed to build an “international coalition” to help procure F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine, the British government has announced.

Ukrainian forces have taken back about 20 square km (7.5 square miles) of territory from Russian forces around the eastern city of Bakhmut in recent days, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Tuesday.

The renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is critical to limit "future shock" to the security of global food supplies, the International Rescue Committee said in a statement on Tuesday. "The looming expiration of the Black Sea grain deal risks further food market instability at a time of record food insecurity," the humanitarian organization said. "With 349 million people across 79 countries estimated to experience acute food insecurity this year, the Black Sea grain deal must be extended."

Ukraine said on Tuesday it had shot down six Russian Kinzhal missiles in a single night, thwarting a weapon Moscow has touted as a next-generation hypersonic missile that was all but unstoppable.

Drone attacks were reported in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk oblasts over the past 24 hours, according to local officials and independent media.

The UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch leader Mark Rutte have agreed to build an “international coalition” to help procure F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine, the British government has announced.

A Downing Street spokesperson said Sunak and Rutte “would work to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with combat air capabilities, supporting with everything from training to procuring F-16 jets”.

“The prime minister reiterated his belief that Ukraine’s rightful place is in Nato and the leaders agreed on the importance of allies providing long-term security assistance to Ukraine to guarantee they can deter against future attacks.

“The leaders agreed to continue working together both bilaterally and through forums such as the European Political Community to tackle the scourge of people trafficking on our continent.”

The statement on Tuesday came a day after Ukraine’s president hinted that Kyiv could soon receive F-16 fighter jets, saying he was hopeful of “very important” decisions on the subject with the help of the UK.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy flew in by helicopter for a one-to-one unnanounced meeting with Sunak on Monday at Chequers, the prime minister’s country retreat.

Standing next to Sunak after the meeting, Zelenskiy said they had discussed fighter planes “because we can’t control the sky”, and was positive about persuading the US and other western nations to supply them.

“We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think, very important decisions, but we have to work a little bit more on it,” he said.

At the meeting, Britain also promised to supply “hundreds of attack drones”.

The UK said in February that it would begin training Ukrainian pilots in standard Nato techniques, and Downing Street repeated that on Monday, saying the plan was to help “build a new Ukrainian air force with Nato-standard F-16 jets”.

Britain does not use F-16s, which are made by the US defence firm Lockheed Martin in South Carolina. Ukraine has been seeking to obtain them for some time to augment its small Soviet-standard air force because they are widely available, with about 3,000 in service in 25 countries.

Both countries will have to persuade the US if Ukraine is to receive F-16s. Asked later on Monday if the US had changed its position on supplying the jets to Ukraine, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the White House’s national security council, gave a one-word reply: “No.”

-via The Guardian

~

Ukrainian forces have taken back about 20 square km (7.5 square miles) of territory from Russian forces around the eastern city of Bakhmut in recent days, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Tuesday.

She said on the Telegram messaging app that Russian forces had advanced “somewhat” in the city of Bakhmut itself, and that heavy fighting continued.

She said: “The enemy is advancing somewhat in Bakhmut itself, completely destroying the city with artillery. In addition, the enemy is raising units of professional paratroopers.

“Heavy battles continue with different results. In the current situation, our troops are doing their best and even more.

“The fact that the defence of Bakhmut lasts for so many months and there are advances in certain areas is the strength of our fighters and the high level of professionalism of the defence command.

“I will remind you that the enemy has an advantage in the number of people and weapons. At the same time, thanks to the actions of our military, he has not been able to implement his plans in the Bakhmut direction since last summer.”

-via The Guardian

~

The renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is critical to limit "future shock" to the security of global food supplies, the International Rescue Committee said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The looming expiration of the Black Sea grain deal risks further food market instability at a time of record food insecurity," the humanitarian organization said. "With 349 million people across 79 countries estimated to experience acute food insecurity this year, the Black Sea grain deal must be extended."

The grain initiative, which is set to expire on May 18 if not renewed, is a deal between Russia and Ukraine allowing the safe exportation of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.

According to the IRC, as much as 90% of imports into East African countries are shipments supported by the grain deal. Should these imports stop, there will be a "spike in the number of undernourished people" to almost 19 million in 2023, it said.

IRC East Africa Emergency Director Shashwat Saraf said in the statement that food shortages and a lack of affordable fertilizer are increasing food prices, making it difficult for people in countries like Somalia to "predict if they will be able to afford a meal the next day."

"The expiration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is likely to trigger increased levels of hunger and malnutrition, spelling further disaster for East Africa," he continued. "Constructive extension of the grain deal means bringing in more food into the global system and, as a result, helping to lower soaring costs and to maintain market stability." "It is crucial the international community unequivocally stands behind maintaining Ukraine’s grain exports," he added.

-via CNN

~

Ukraine said on Tuesday it had shot down six Russian Kinzhal missiles in a single night, thwarting a weapon Moscow has touted as a next-generation hypersonic missile that was all but unstoppable.

When asked about the Ukrainian claim, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu dismissed it, the RIA news agency reported.

The number of claimed Ukrainian missile intercepts in general is "three times greater than the number we launch", RIA quoted Shoigu as saying.

"And they get the type of missiles wrong all the time. That's why they don't hit them," he said, without elaborating.

It was the first time Ukraine had claimed to have struck an entire volley of multiple Kinzhal missiles, and if confirmed would be a demonstration of the effectiveness of Kyiv's newly deployed Western air defences.

The United States and the European Union have supplied Ukraine with weaponry to defend itself since Russia invaded in February 2022. EU and NATO member Hungary has refused, however, to provide any military equipment to neighbour Ukraine, and on Tuesday, the government said it had blocked the next tranche of the EU's off-budget military support known as the European Peace Facility.

Air raid sirens blared across nearly all of Ukraine early on Tuesday and were heard over the Ukrainian capital and the surrounding region for more than three hours.

"A year ago, we were not able to shoot down most of the terrorists' missiles, especially ballistic ones," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in praising the military's claim to the Council of Europe rights body in Iceland by video link.

"And I am asking one thing now. If we are able to do this, is there anything we can't do?"

The meeting of European leaders over two days was to focus on ways to hold Russia to account for its war, officials said.

Russia says its invasion was necessary to counter threats to its security posed by Ukraine's growing ties to the West. Kyiv and its allies call it an unprovoked war of conquest. Kyiv says it won't stop fighting until all Russian forces leave its land.

The six Kinzhals were among 27 missiles Russia fired at Ukraine over the past 24 hours, Ukraine's military General Staff said in its evening update on Tuesday, lighting up Kyiv with flashes and raining debris after they were blasted from the sky.

It was not clear which Western weapon Ukraine used to defeat the Kinzhals. The Pentagon had no immediate comment.

For its part, Russia's defence ministry claimed to have destroyed a U.S.-built Patriot surface-to-air missile defence system with a Kinzhal missile, the Zvezda military news outlet reported.

But the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, said all had been successfully intercepted.

Kyiv authorities said three people were wounded by falling debris.

"It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, said on Telegram.

Zvezda quoted the Russian ministry as saying the attacks had been aimed at Ukrainian fighting units and ammunition storage sites.

Zaluzhnyi said his forces had intercepted the six Kinzhals launched from aircraft, as well as nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three Iskanders fired from land.

Two S-300 missiles targeted infrastructure in Kostyantynivka, west of the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut, the General Staff update said.

-via Reuters

~

Drone attacks were reported in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk oblasts over the past 24 hours, according to local officials and independent media.

Independent Russian media publication Astra reported on May 16 that "three rounds of ammunition" were dropped by a drone onto a building of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in the village of Glushkovo in Kursk Oblast.

According to Astra, the incident took place at around 11:00 p.m. local time on May 15.

Five border guards were allegedly hospitalized with shrapnel wounds to the neck, stomach, and face.

Meanwhile, Kursk Oblast Governor Roman Starovoyt reported on May 15 that a "Ukrainian drone" dropped an explosive device on a construction worker near the village of Plekhovo in the region. The construction worker was "lightly wounded" on his shoulder, Starovoyt said.

Bryansk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz claimed on May 16 that a "Ukrainian drone" was shot down over the town of Klintsy in the region.

According to Bogomaz, there were no casualties and only the balcony of a residential building was damaged.

Russia's Investigative Committee publicly acknowledged on May 16 the drone attacks in Plekhovo and Klintsy, but not the alleged attack on the FSB office in Glushkovo.

There have been multiple reports since the start of the full-scale invasion about fires, explosions, and other acts of sabotage within Russia and the Ukrainian territories occupied by Moscow.

-via Kyiv Indpendent

[libertineangel]

The first of Emry Sloan's training missions with the Empyrean Curs was with Ace, their top pilot, and was the most straightforward of the three: a simple trade ship robbery, classic bread-and-butter space piracy. Ace led her to an electronics factory, where they lay in wait to scan a suitably slow and capacious target, found one dealing in valuable components then trailed them some ways off before bullying them into dropping their cargo; Ace let her keep her share of the booty, and she returned to the Arcadian Dream with a quarter of a million credits' worth of microchips as well as some valuable experience.

Next, Maestro sent her to a defence platform some sectors away, where she picked up an encoded transmission: a certain purveyor of goods, by the name of Pa t'Tn, was willing to do business with Sloan in exchange for some unstable crystals (of the sort, incidentally, that make perfect catalysts in personal EMP explosives). Thus a crystal hunt was afoot, which entailed first finding a suitable asteroid field and then hoping the asteroids would have the right soft of crystals; they did*, and Sloan returned to the defence platform, securing a very helpful new contact, and crucially the access codes to Woodworm Scrubs, which she was told held many former members of the Curs that Maestro was eager to rescue.

The third and final training mission was with Axiom, her brief former jailmate, who promised to teach her the art of station hacking, just as soon as she built a suitable decryption device. This first required some machine learning processors, which thankfully Mx t'Tun was able to procure for her; it also required a Decryption Module, which she was not.

Having no idea where the fuck to find one now, she thought perhaps it could help to follow up on that invitation to the Hatikvah Free League and see if she could make any useful contacts there. She met with their administrator, Reen Omara, who - as a test of loyalty and basic competency - gave her a ship full of medical supplies and a place to deliver them to, with the promise that Sloan could keep the ship upon completion; this was obviously an easy job and a great deal - the ship was thoroughly unremarkable, an old cargo hauler with a lot of space and not much else, but two ships is always better than one, especially if one intends to build a galaxy-spanning criminal empire and the new ship is perfectly suited to transporting large quantities of contraband.

Upon delivery of the medical supplies, their recipient was very glad to see the League engaging in legitimate business practices and moving away from their controversial roots, which Sloan tried not to laugh at, and upon returning to Omara found her discussing the loss of a Hatikvahn freighter with her intelligence chief, Dal Busta. It was believed to be the work of the Scale Plate Pact, the League's former criminal benefactors whom they were attempting to cut ties with, and so Sloan was enlisted to help Busta investigate and assist in the split.

Hardly the work she had planned on doing there, but if the League didn't want underworld contacts anymore she was more than happy to fill the void.

*They also netted her 300,000CR in harmless and entirely legal crystals, causing her to briefly consider whether a simple honest living as a miner would be both more lucrative and safer. This thought only lasted a moment, of course, because forming an interstellar empire of crime sounded much more fun.

[beardedmrbean]

The papers on Wednesday are full of reaction to Finland's historic accession to full Nato membership, which finally took place on Tuesday.

Ilta-Sanomat carries a piece (siirryt toiseen palveluun) with analysis from foreign policy expert Mika Aaltola on Russia's reaction, suggesting that there will be attempts to test Finland's resilience as a member of the alliance.

Part of that will be an increase in troop numbers close to the Finnish border. Aaltola also expects rhetoric demonising Finland to dial up a notch in the Russian media.

But he says there is a dual reality in Russian debate. What people say in public is not usually what they believe in private.

That said, accusations will fly and Finland should be ready to be seen by Russia as an enemy just as the US, the EU and NATO are seen as enemies.

"That's ahead for Finland too, that Russia will test Finland as a Nato country from time to time," siad Aaltola.

Finland got a taste of that on Tuesday, when Russian hackers attacked several websites with deliberate denial of service attacks.

Helmet acquisition

Iltalehti reports (siirryt toiseen palveluun) on Finland's first acquisition of military materiel as a Nato country, which is the 25 million euro purchase of infantry helmets from the US firm Galvion Ballistics.

The deal was executed through the Nato Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), a body that may play a bigger part in Finnish defence spending in future.

The Defence Forces said that this equipment strengthens the army's night vision capabilities, and represents an improvement on the current models troops are using.

The deal isn't to everyone's liking, however. Former Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö tweeted in response to the Defence Forces' announcement that he would much rather have purchased the headwear from a Finnish company.

"The traditional domestic helmet manufacturer was apparently not good enough. That's a shame from a security of supply perspective."

Those concerns may become more pronounced in future, as Finland sources more defence procurements through Nato channels — and more equipment is produced abroad.

Snus criminals

Helsingin Sanomat has a report (siirryt toiseen palveluun) on the sale of snus on social media, which is apparently a growing phenomenon.

The Swedish oral smokeless tobacco is illegal in Finland, but still widely used, and it is traditionally acquired on ferries plying the routes between the two countries.

It remains banned in every EU country bar Sweden, however, and that creates a market that is largely filled by illicit dealers. Officials don't want to single out platforms, but HS mentions Facebook as one arena for snus deals.

Some sellers work on social media, according to the Finnish Customs agency, which has requested companies clamp down on this kind of activity.

Once they ask for a particular group or thread to be removed, companies usually act, but they do not actively work to remove snus selling spots.

Drugs are treated differently, as there are clear legal sanctions in place for selling narcotics and indeed Finnish courts have convicted the administrator of a Tor network that was used to sell drugs.

Officials tell HS that they would like the possibility of tougher sanctions for snus sellers too, but that would require changes to the legislation.

[zvaigzdelasas]

14 Dec 22

[lisakapoorblogs]

Analysis of the share prices of BEL and Hindustan Aeronautics in the Defence Sector

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are major players in India's defence sector, each contributing to strategic operations and defence readiness. An examination of the BEL share price shows how this company has performed in the financial markets, reflecting investors' confidence and the government's defence procurement and indigenisation policies.

BEL, known for its comprehensive range of products in the areas of radar, communication, and electronic warfare, has seen its share price influenced by several factors, including order inflows, government defence spending, and developments in defence technologies. The company's financial health often mirrors the current state of defence sector dynamics and investor sentiment towards defence stocks, which are considered somewhat resilient to economic fluctuations due to steady government contracts.

Moving to the Hindustan Aeronautics share price, it provides insights into another facet of the defence sector, primarily focusing on aerospace. HAL, a state-owned enterprise, is pivotal in the manufacturing and assembly of aircraft, jet engines, helicopters, and spare parts. Similar to BEL, the performance of HAL in the stock market can serve as a barometer for the government's focus on enhancing air defence capabilities and promoting domestic manufacturing under the 'Make in India' initiative.

Both companies have benefited from India's increasing defence budget and the push towards modernising and enhancing the capabilities of the armed forces. However, while BEL deals with a range of electronic warfare and radar systems, HAL's focus is more concentrated on aircraft and aeronautics, which means their market dynamics and challenges can differ significantly. For example, BEL might experience a quicker turnover in product deliveries compared to HAL, which deals in more complex and time-consuming projects such as aircraft manufacturing that can affect its share price differently.

Investors considering these stocks must look at various factors, including the size of backlog orders, the pace of order execution, government defence policies, and international collaborations for technology transfers and co-productions. These elements are crucial, as they directly impact the financial performance and growth prospects of companies like BEL and HAL.

Moreover, both companies' share prices are also influenced by global geopolitical tensions and defence-related announcements by the Indian government, which can lead to sudden surges in investor interest and share prices. For example, announcements related to significant defence deals or strategic partnerships with foreign defence manufacturers can lead to positive movements in their stock prices.

Both BEL and Hindustan Aeronautics play pivotal roles in India’s defence sector, each contributing to different segments of defence technology and manufacturing. While BEL's share price reflects its stronghold in defence electronics, HAL’s share price is an indicator of its role in aerospace and aircraft production. Investors interested in defence stocks should keep a close eye on government policies, defence budgets, and sectoral trends that could influence the performance of these stocks in the market. Understanding these dynamics will provide investors with better insights into the potential risks and rewards associated with investing in the defence sector.

[militaryleak]

Saab Awarded Contract with Poland for Carl-Gustaf M4 Weapon Enters Into Force

Saab announced on 4 March 2024 that a contract had been signed with the Polish Ministry of National Defence’s procurement authority for delivery of the Carl-Gustaf® M4 weapon, ammunition and training equipment. The agreement has now entered into force as all conditions have been met. The Carl-Gustaf® recoilless rifle is a man-portable, multi-role weapon system that allows dismounted soldiers to effectively deal with multiple challenges on the modern battlefield. Adaptable and flexible, the system is constantly evolving to satisfy future user and market needs. As a result, Saab has today booked a value of approximately SEK 12.9 billion in order intake. Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 22,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world. Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

Saab announced on 4 March 2024 that a contract had been signed with the Polish Ministry of National Defence’s procurement authority for delivery of the Carl-Gustaf® M4 weapon, ammunition and training equipment. The agreement has now entered into force as all conditions have been met. The Carl-Gustaf® recoilless rifle is a man-portable, multi-role weapon system that allows dismounted soldiers to…

[christinamac1]

Pentagon sparks fresh AUKUS doubts on anniversary of Australia's nuclear-powered submarine plans

ABC, By defence correspondent Andrew Greene, 13 Mar24 In short: Defence Minister Richard Marles says AUKUS partners are working to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines despite changes to procurement plans in the US. The US Navy says it will order just one fast-attack nuclear submarine in 2025, rather than two. What’s next? As part of the AUKUS deal, Australia will provide more…

[reportafrique]

President Tinubu Inducts 2 TK-129 ATAK Helicopters and a King Air 360i Aircraft

President Bola Tinubu presided over the induction ceremony of two TK-129 ATAK Helicopters and a King Air 360i Aircraft at Nigeria Air (NAF) Base in Makurdi, Benue State. Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Tinubu at the event, emphasizing the government's commitment to national security by investing in air assets. The helicopters, designated as NAF 500 and NAF 501, along with the King Air 360i aircraft as NAF 205, were officially integrated into the Nigerian Air Force. Dignitaries present included Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Minister of Defence Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, members of the National Assembly from Benue State, and members of the State House of Assembly. The induction ceremony underscores Nigeria's ongoing efforts to bolster its military capabilities in addressing security challenges across the nation. In related news, Report Afrique previously reported that the United States Department of Defense recently approved a $1 billion arms sale aimed at enhancing Nigeria's military capabilities. The arms deal includes the procurement of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and associated equipment, along with 32 mission computers supplied by Northrop Grumman. Approved in response to Nigeria's formal request, the arms sale seeks to address persistent security challenges, such as the Boko Haram insurgency and rising incidents of banditry. Scheduled for completion by June 2024, the arms package includes advanced guidance systems, night vision imaging systems, and comprehensive training programs to empower Nigeria in tackling its multifaceted security concerns and contribute to regional stability in Sub-Saharan Africa. Read the full article

[thxnews]

UK-Poland Defence Deals Boost Frigate Program

Strengthening Defence Ties: UK and Poland's Frigate Endeavour

The United Kingdom and Poland have embarked on a significant defence collaboration with the advancement of the Miecznik frigate programme, marking a new era in NATO defence cooperation and showcasing the UK's robust defence industry expertise.  

The Miecznik Frigate Programme

A Step Forward in Defence The Polish Navy’s Miecznik frigate programme, meaning "Swordfish" in Polish, signals the beginning of its next development phase. This milestone is supported by pivotal agreements between the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and three of the UK’s top defence contractors - MBDA UK, Babcock, and Thales UK.   Projected Timeline and Expectations The programme envisions the construction of a fleet of state-of-the-art multi-mission frigates, with the first ship expected to enter service by 2029. This initiative is set to significantly enhance the capabilities of the Polish Navy.  

UK’s Leading Role in Global Defence

Investment Minister's Endorsement Lord Dominic Johnson, the UK Investment Minister, has expressed strong support for these agreements. He highlights them as a testament to the UK's world-class industrial expertise and a major vote of confidence in the country’s defence export capabilities.   Economic and Strategic Benefits This agreement not only strengthens the UK's position as a leader in the global defence sector but also contributes to economic growth, investment, and job creation within the country.  

Collaborative Efforts and Strategic Partnerships

Role of UKDSE The UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE), a division of the UK Department for Business and Trade, played a crucial role in facilitating these agreements. Their involvement underscores the UK’s commitment to fostering long-term economic and defence cooperation with Poland.   Boosting NATO’s Collective Security These partnerships are more than just bilateral defence agreements; they represent a concerted effort to bolster the economic and security infrastructure of a key NATO ally. The technology and skills transfer involved in building the frigates in Poland highlight the strategic importance of this cooperation.  

Impact on NATO Capabilities and Interoperability

Minister for Defence Procurement’s Statement James Cartlidge, Minister for Defence Procurement, emphasized the significance of Poland choosing warships based on the AH140 design. This choice not only enhances the Polish fleet but also bolsters NATO capabilities and supports interoperability between the UK and Poland.   Building on Existing Relations These agreements symbolize the strengthening of the already robust relationship between the UK and Poland, particularly in the defence sector.  

Integral Roles of UK Defence Companies

Babcock’s Contribution Babcock is set to provide the platform design for the frigates and play a strategic role in overseeing the design and construction process as part of the Programme Management Office.   Technology and Systems by Thales and MBDA Thales UK will equip the frigates with advanced combat management systems, sensors, and radars. Meanwhile, MBDA UK will supply its renowned Sea Ceptor naval air defence system, further enhancing the fleet's capabilities.

A Strategic Alliance for the Future

The collaboration between the UK and Poland on the Miecznik frigate programme signifies a powerful alliance in defence and technology. It represents not just a boost to the respective countries' naval capabilities but also a strengthening of NATO’s collective defence mechanism. As the programme progresses, it will serve as a model for international defence cooperation, combining technological innovation with strategic partnerships for a more secure future.   Sources: THX News, Department for Business and Trade, Ministry of Defence, Lord Johnson, & James Cartlidge MP. Read the full article

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up March 4-6, 2023

Under the cut:

Ukraine said on Monday its troops were still fighting against the attempted encirclement of Bakhmut, while Washington said that even if the eastern city should fall to Russia's offensive, it would not necessarily give Moscow momentum in the war.

NATO intelligence estimates that for every Ukrainian soldier killed defending Bakhmut, Russian forces have lost at least five, a military official with the North Atlantic alliance told CNN on Monday. The official cautioned the five to one ratio was an informed estimate based on intelligence.

The city council in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia has declared Monday a day of mourning after 13 people were killed when a rocket hit a high-rise residential building earlier this week, the council's secretary Anatoliy Kurtiev said.

Most of Ukraine’s winter grain crops – winter wheat and barley – are in good condition and could produce a good harvest, Ukraine’s academy of agricultural science was quoted as saying on Monday.

Negotiations to return the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to Ukraine’s control are not progressing, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said Sunday.  

According to the U.K. Defense Ministry's intelligence update on March 6, the Russian military has been deploying 60-year-old T-62 main battle tanks as a result of continued heavy equipment losses. Furthermore, there is a "realistic possibility" that the 1st Guards Tank Army, Russia's elite tank force, will be re-equipped with the T-62s, the U.K. Defense Ministry added.

“Ukraine said on Monday its troops were still fighting against the attempted encirclement of Bakhmut, while Washington said that even if the eastern city should fall to Russia's offensive, it would not necessarily give Moscow momentum in the war.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said he discussed the Bakhmut operation with the chief of the general staff and commander of ground forces, who both spoke in favour of "further strengthening positions in Bakhmut" to continue the defensive operation.

Russia is trying to surround Bakhmut to secure what would be its first major gain in more than half a year, at the culmination of a winter offensive that has brought the bloodiest fighting of the war.

After Russian gains in recent weeks, Ukrainian troops have been reinforcing positions west of Bakhmut in apparent preparation for a possible retreat. However, the reports from commanders on Monday suggested they had not yet decided to pull out.

The intense battle has depleted both sides' artillery reserves, with thousands of shells fired daily along the eastern and southern fronts. Kyiv's European allies are working on a deal to procure more ammunition for the fight.

In the latest sign of a feud between Russia's military and the Wagner private army leading its Bakhmut assault, Wagner's boss demanded more ammunition and said his aide had been barred from the military's operational headquarters.

Speaking to reporters in the Middle East, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would not predict when or if Ukrainian troops might leave the city, but that its fall "won't necessarily mean that the Russians have changed the tide of this fight".

"I think it is more of a symbolic value than it is strategic and operational value," Austin said.

Moscow says capturing the city would be a step towards its major objective of seizing the full territory of the surrounding Donbas region. Kyiv says Russia's losses in trying to seize a city reduced to rubble could determine the future course of the war by destroying combat power ahead of decisive battles later this year.

Ukraine's ground forces commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, visited Bakhmut on Sunday, according to the military. He said that Wagner had thrown additional forces into the fight but that Ukraine's soldiers were fighting on.

Volodymyr Nazarenko, a Ukrainian commander in Bakhmut, said there had been no order to retreat and "the defence is holding", albeit in grim conditions.

"The situation in Bakhmut and around it is utter hell, as it is on the entire eastern front," Nazarenko said in a video posted on Telegram.”-via Reuters

~

“NATO intelligence estimates that for every Ukrainian soldier killed defending Bakhmut, Russian forces have lost at least five, a military official with the North Atlantic alliance told CNN on Monday.

The official cautioned the five to one ratio was an informed estimate based on intelligence.

The official spoke to CNN on the condition they remain anonymous because they are not allowed to discuss this intelligence. Despite the favorable ratio, they also said Ukraine was suffering significant losses defending the city.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly claimed they were inflicting heavy losses on Russia as Moscow tried to take Bakhmut.

“Our defenders inflicted significant losses on the enemy, destroyed a large number of vehicles, forced Wagner's best assault units to fight and reduced the enemy's offensive potential,” Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ukraine’s land forces said after a visit to Bakhmut on Sunday. The Institute for the Study of War also said Russia’s efforts to capture Bakhmut had significantly deteriorated its capacity for additional offensives.

“The Russian military will likely struggle to maintain any subsequent offensive operations for some months, giving Ukraine a chance to seize the initiative;” it said on Monday.”-via CNN

~

“The city council in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia has declared Monday a day of mourning after 13 people were killed when a rocket hit a high-rise residential building earlier this week, the council's secretary Anatoliy Kurtiev said.

“This is a great grief for the whole Zaporizhzhia. That is why tomorrow is declared a day of mourning in our city. Together, let us honor the cherished memory of everyone whose life was cut short forever on that tragic night in March,” Kurtiev said on Telegram Sunday.

Rescuers from the State Emergency Service searched for survivors for four days after the strike hit Thursday. Crews found men, women and a small child deceased.

Nine people — including one pregnant woman — were rescued from the rubble early Thursday, the State Emergency Service reported. Five others remain missing, Kurtiev said.

“Let's also thank the rescuers of the State Emergency Service who have been clearing the rubble for almost four days, day and night, without a break. They are our heroes. We bow to them,” he said. Kurtiev added that a city council meeting will be held Monday with the surviving residents of the affected building.”-via CNN

~

“Most of Ukraine’s winter grain crops – winter wheat and barley – are in good condition and could produce a good harvest, Ukraine’s academy of agricultural science was quoted as saying on Monday.

“The analysis of the viability of winter wheat … showed that the vast majority of plants were in relatively good condition,” the APK-Inform consultancy quoted a report by the academy as saying, despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Reuters reports the winter wheat area sown for the 2023 harvest decreased to about 4.1m hectares from more than 6m sown a year earlier as a result of Russia’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February last year.

Of the winter wheat sown last year, only 4.9m hectares were harvested in Ukrainian-controlled territory, as Russian forces occupied some areas.

Ukraine’s wheat harvest declined to 20.2m tonnes in 2022 from 32.2m tonnes in 2021. Overall grain output fell to around 54m tonnes from a record 86m in 2021.”-via The Guardian

~

“Negotiations to return the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to Ukraine’s control are not progressing, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said Sunday.  

“The situation is currently at a standstill,” the energy minister said during the Ukrainian national telethon “United News.”

The nuclear plant, which is Europe’s largest, has been under Russian control since March last year.  

“Our position, which we voice on all international platforms, is that any negotiations on ZNPP should be based on: first, demilitarization of the plant, second, withdrawal of (Russian nuclear company) Rosatom employees from ZNPP. Thirdly, Ukrainian personnel should be able to operate the nuclear facility without pressure,” the minister said. “But in response to this, we received (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's null and void decree that ZNPP is 'federal property,'" the energy minister said.

Zaporizhzhia is among the Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia in violation of international law, and as part of that seizure, Putin has declared the plant Russian property and installed workers there.

As Russia continues to occupy the plant, Halushchenko claimed Ukraine is receiving “alarming signals” from experts with the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency working at the plant. The minister accused the Russian side of “behaving extremely unprofessionally” at the nuclear site.

Last week, the head of IAEA, Rafael Grossi, expressed concern about the situation in the plant, citing delays in rotations of its team of experts in the facility, an increased security presence on-site and nearby fighting.”-via CNN

~

“According to the U.K. Defense Ministry's intelligence update on March 6, the Russian military has been deploying 60-year-old T-62 main battle tanks as a result of continued heavy equipment losses.

Furthermore, there is a "realistic possibility" that the 1st Guards Tank Army, Russia's elite tank force, will be re-equipped with the T-62s, the U.K. Defense Ministry added.

According to the ministry, about 800 T-62s have been taken out of storage and equipped with better sighting systems that will "highly likely improve" their performance during nighttime operations.

The report also states that Russian BTR-50 armored personnel carriers, first fielded in 1954, have also been deployed in Ukraine in recent days.

According to the defense ministry, these older tank models are subject to "many vulnerabilities on the modern battlefield" due to the lack of modern explosive reactive armor.

According to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Russia has lost 3,423 tanks, 6,703 armored fighting vehicles, 5,307 vehicles and fuel tanks in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.”-via Kyiv Independent

[edenfelled]

This headcanon was originally posted on @rosafulmen ! I have tidied it up for this blog.

this is my au verse for xv lightning ! like all au's, any character connections i make here do not need to be set in stone for people playing canons from the universe, but it does allow me to more seamlessly incorporate her into a universe rather than default to a 'traveller from another world' or attempt to mash the xiii lore into a blend of xv and verses xiii.

at the tender age of ten years old, claire farron's parents were killed on the outside of the crown city by an out of control daemon attack. with her and her sister ( verse dependant ) orphaned at a young age, this forced her to grow up quickly to survive.

knowing there was financial security in the ranks of the kingsglaive claire began to train in the hopes of being accepted into their ranks but was rejected on account of her age. however, her determination was quickly caught by cor who offered her a deal in exchange for her services. if she undertook all the correct training, both in combat and etiquette, he would consider giving her a place in the crownsguard as a shield for lunafreya, in the same way gladio was for noctis, once the oracle was safe in lucis. given her malleable age, he knew he had a fighting chance of shaping her to be the perfect guardian for his prince's bride.

upon accepting these terms, claire changed her name to lightning and threw herself completely into her training. throughout the years she would have seen the boys from time to time ( most often gladio, due to their training ), but her desire for strength and unbreakable will kept her at a distance and cost her a lot of chances at closer friendship. however, she would have kept regular correspondence with luna on account of her semi-official appointment and worked closely with nyx once she was in the city.

in my mind, the au then has two diverging paths — though i consider one to be more 'canon' than the other. the first, less canon path, is that light was able to help luna to escape the city and go to altissia. however, this is limiting in that it stops me from being able to roleplay light within the road trip section with the boys. if luna roleplayers are interested in that, though, i am happy to play her within that part of the verse. they would have travelled together after the events of the film until noct and the boys arrived in altissia and stayed by her side until her untimely death.

the other more canonical is that light, being a crownsguard rather than a kingsglaive, is unable to use magic. the roles of her duty pertain more to the defence of the people than the war or the killing of daemons and, from a political standpoint, she would not be able to guard luna until she and noctis were married. she would have escaped the city with cor and the other guards but, much like the boys, is waylaid from getting to luna on account of the ports and other political roadblocks. i enjoy the idea of her being an occasional accompaniment for the boys, helping out certain side quests and occasionally camping with them, but doesn't properly accompany them on account of her duties being strictly for Luna and the importance of reaching her as soon as she is able.

i also really like the idea of her owning a motorbike. she probably helps cindy procure parts for it at the beginning of the game, similar to how we upgrade the regalia, and continues to let her tweak it over the years.

after altissia and luna dying, a bruised, battered and grief striken light returned to lucis and joined the kingsglaive. there, with her expertise, she would dedicate herself to keeping her people safe and waiting for the king's return.

[beardedmrbean]

The U.S. has cast doubt over whether Russia has enough artillery to keep up a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow burning through more ammunition than it can restock.

On Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told journalists that Russians "have struggled with logistics from the very beginning" of the war and "are still struggling with logistics" now. He added that they are "experiencing significant shortages of artillery munitions and reaching out to Iran and North Korea to get help from them."

For nine months, Russia has been burning through its military equipment stocks, losing hundreds of armored vehicles and artillery, at least 71 helicopters, and over 1,000 tanks. That's according to Oryx, a website that records military equipment losses in Ukraine.

The country's ability to replace the lost equipment has been significantly reduced since the beginning of the war on February 24, as Western sanctions have inched away at Russia's capacity of producing precision-guided weapons.

According to Austin, Russian forces rely heavily on artillery, firing large numbers of rounds before maneuvering on the ground—an operation that requires a lot of ammunition.

"I'm not sure that they have those kind of munitions to be able to support that going forward," Austin said, adding that he's not sure Russia will be able to quickly replace the lost ammo.

"These kinds of claims have been made before—around April onwards—and, yet it seems like there is no realistic estimate of how many missiles Russia has left," Marina Miron, from the Defence Studies Department of the King's College London, told Newsweek.

"For instance, some reports claim Russia was almost out of missiles by end of April and recently—on November 23, 2022—the Ukrainian intelligence stated that Russia had used up 50 percent of its missiles."

Miron added that while it's unclear how many missiles and how much ammo Russia has left in its stocks, it's certain that "Russia has used a great deal of missiles and artillery shells and will have to replenish its stocks, which might be much more difficult due to the existing sanctions."

Unable to replenish its stocks domestically, "it might be wiser for Russia to get cheaper ammo and missiles elsewhere," Miron said. For this, the Kremlin has been reaching out to Iran and North Korea.

"While there is no exact number known of how much artillery Russia is importing, what seems to be more important is that other countries, such as Iran and North Korea, have both the willingness and the capacity to provide Russia with ammo, missiles, and drones faster than Russia can manufacture its own; and most likely cheaper," Miron said.

"Thus, even if the imported 'goods' are inferior to Russian-made ones, for Russia it makes much more sense to import them anyway as it cannot afford to use up its own stockpiles completely, and manufacturing takes time and requires procurement of other parts such as microchips—in case of missiles.

"That said, the 'special military operation' in Ukraine is perhaps less about precision—though Iranian Fateh 110 and Zolfaghar do offer precision—than it is about the ability to create a barrage of fire for which a large quantity of artillery shells are needed. Certainly, Russia has done its cost-benefit analysis prior to making those purchases. In addition, working with Iran, Russia has the ability to outsource its own manufacturing there."

Who's Arming Russia?

At the moment, Iran and North Korea remain the only two countries known to be exporting weapons to Russia. Both are under international sanctions, and North Korea is cut off from the global commercial system.

According to a declassified American intelligence report mentioned by the New York Times in early September, Russia is buying millions of artillery shells and rockets from North Korea.

Iran, which has recently provided Moscow with hundreds of explosive drones and other guided munitions, is preparing to send 1,000 additional weapons—including ballistic missiles and more attack drones—to Russia, CNN reported on November 1.

"For Iran and North Korea this is a great opportunity not only to make money and battle-test their equipment, but also to show their way of disapproval of the Western world," said Miron.

"As for Russia's reliance on these countries, the ancient aphorism holds true here: 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' Russia's behavior is also driven by geopolitical reasons as well as by economic and military. Building relationships with so-called 'rogue' states creates a counterbalance to what Russia perceives as Western dominance of international relations."

How Much Longer Can Russia Keep Fighting?

"This will depend on how quickly Russia can achieve some of its military aims," Miron said. "We need to differentiate between artillery shells used on the battlefield and missiles used to strike targets deep into Ukrainian territory."

According to Miron, the use of missiles targeting Ukrainian cities might decline once Russia completely destroys Ukrainian the power grid and logistics.

"At present, the prospects for Ukraine in this sense are bleak," Miron commented.

"As for artillery shells, Russia is counting on a long war and to this end, artillery shells will be indispensable given Russia's tactics. While the stocks might be running low, Russia will ensure to keep replenishing those.

"The domestic production has been ramped up with factories running three shifts. In addition, Russia will try to procure whatever is indispensable to keep fighting abroad as we have seen with drones and now missiles. So, it would be unwise to measure the duration of Russia's involvement in Ukraine based on the existing ammo stockpiles. What is more important is Russia's political will and internal dynamics. These will be the determining factors of Russia's ability to fight."