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☆ Russia's fearsome S-400 air-defense system isn't quite living up to the hype in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Russian S-400 surface-to-missile systems in the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square on i in May 2023. Ukraine in September said it destroyed two Russian S-400 batteries in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014. Rajan Menon, the director of the Grand Strategy program at the US think tank Defense Priorities, described the S-400 as Russia's "top-of-the-line air defense system." A rocket launches from a S-400 missile system at the Ashuluk military base in Southern Russia in September 2020. A Patriot air defense system test-fired during a training in Chania, Greece, on November 8, 2017.

Persons: —, Fredrik Mertens, John Hoehn, it's, Hoehn, AP Mertens, Mertens, Ian Williams, Mattias Eken, Rajan Menon, Vitaly Nevar, Mick Ryan, you've, DIMITAR DILKOFF, Ryan, haven't, hasn't, KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV, might've, Eken, Anthony Sweeney, Army Menon Organizations: Service, Business, Hague, Strategic Studies, NATO, SA, International Institute for Strategic Studies, US Patriot, Reuters, RAND Corporation, Ukrainian Air Force, Forbes, Directorate of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, South Korea Defense Ministry, AP, Patriots, Storm, Missile Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Defense, REUTERS, Australian Army, Getty, Victory Day, Patriot, Army Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, Moscow, Crimea, Screengrab, Soviet, US, Russia's, Ukraine's Luhansk, South Korea, Kaliningrad, Southern Russia, AFP, Chania, Greece, United States, West, NATO

☆ ‘Our artillery is starving:’ Ukraine holds its breath as US set to approve $60bn of military aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Andy Carey | Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Ukraine aid bill, passed in the United States’ House of Representatives on Saturday, is now due to go to the Senate on Tuesday. At the top: artillery shells and air defense systems. “To win, we need ammunition… our artillery is starving,” an artillery reconnaissance commander with the 110th mechanized brigade, callsign “Teren,” told CNN after the vote on Saturday. While Ocheretyne itself is of no strategic value, it sits on a ridge, making it a desirable military target. “We need front-line air defense as much as we need protection for our cities and villages,” Zelensky said.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Teren, Velyka, Patrick Ryder, we’ve, Mark Warner, Chasiv Yar, Rob Lee, Russian Su, Anatolii Stepanov, ” Zelensky, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba, CNN’s Andy Carey, Victoria Butenko, Daria Tarasova, Svitlana Vlasova Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, United States ’, 110th, CNN, Ukraine’s Eastern Command, Pentagon, US Department of Defense, Senate Intelligence, CBS News, Sunday, –, Kremlin, Nazi, Getty, Patriot, Tactical Missile Systems, Warner, US, Ukrainian Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, United, Russian, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Germany, Poland, Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk, Chasiv, Nazi Germany, AFP

☆ Western officials warn munition shortages could be catastrophic for Ukraine as US stalls on providing more aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Ukrainian military is “experiencing shortages in air defense munitions, mostly in the medium to long range,” a NATO official said on Wednesday. Last fall, the administration asked Congress for more than $60 billion in additional funds to help support Ukraine, but more than 6 months later the funding has not passed amid opposition from Republican lawmakers. And the separate shortages of artillery ammunition could be “potentially catastrophic” for Ukraine in the short term, the official added. The NATO official said that as of now, Russia appears to lack the necessary maneuver units to mount such a large-scale, successful attack. That is why they believe it is critical for the west to continue to support Ukraine through this period of attrition.

Persons: “ It’s, Jens Stoltenberg, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s, Olha Stefanishyna, Stoltenberg, Donald Trump, ” Stoltenberg, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, NATO, Patriots, Republican, ” Energy, “, Pentagon, Ukraine Contact Defense, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Kyiv, Brussels, Avdiivka, Russian, Belarus

☆ Russia's air force took control of the skies before seizing victory in a front-line fight, and it could be 'devastating' for Ukraine if it continues, war experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Chris Panella | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

And if it continues or expands, a real possibility as Ukrainian air defenses are under significant stress, it could be "devastating," war experts said. Confirming its retreat from the area, Ukraine said it was saving troops from being fully surrounded by Russian troops. This activity appears to indicate the employment of a combined arms tactic involving having air forces support maneuver elements on the ground. Ukraine's air defenses have largely denied Russia air superiority, preventing its jets and aircraft from conducting significant air campaigns since the beginning of the war. Even "recurring temporary localized and limited Russian air superiority," ISW explained in a recent update, "would likely allow Russian forces to more aggressively pursue operational advances along the frontline."

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin's, George Barros, Barros, Vlada, hasn't, ISW, Kostiantyn, Avdiivka, it's, John Kirby, Kirby, It's, Putin Organizations: Service, Bakhmut, The Institute, Washington DC, Institute for, Armored Infantry, National Security, Chemical Plant, Ukraine Locations: Russian, Russia, Avdiivka, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Moscow, Ukraine, Washington, Avdiivka district, Luhansk, Lastochkino, MLRS

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Authorities in Rwanda on Monday rejected U.S. calls for the withdrawal of troops and missile systems from eastern Congo, saying they are defending Rwandan territory as Congo carries out a "dramatic military build-up” near the border. The U.S. State Department in a statement Saturday criticized the worsening violence caused by M23, describing it as a “Rwanda-backed” armed group. That statement also urged Rwanda “to immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defense Force personnel from the (Congo) and remove its surface-to-air missile systems." M23 is one of more than 100 armed groups active in eastern Congo, seeking a share of the region’s gold and other resources as they carry out mass killings. After being largely dormant for a decade, M23 resurfaced in late 2021 and has since captured wide parts of eastern Congo.

Persons: FLDR, Rwanda “, U.N, Goma Organizations: —, Monday, Rwanda's Foreign Ministry, Rwandan, U.S . State Department, Rwanda Defense Force, Rwandan Foreign Ministry Locations: KAMPALA, Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, Congolese, United States, Africa's Great Lakes, Congo’s North Kivu’s, Goma

☆ Ukraine shot down 3 Russian fighter jets in one morning, says air force chief
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Ukrainian airforce says it shot down three Russian fighter jets in one morning. The Commander of the of the Air Forces said two Su-34 and one Su-35 fighter jets were downed. AdvertisementUkraine says it shot down three Russian fighter jets in a single morning. On the morning of February 17th, Ukrainian Air Force pilots bravely engaged and destroyed three enemy aircrafts at once-two SU-34 fighter bombers and one SU-35 fighter. It is unclear how Ukrainian forces downed the three Russian fighter jets this morning.

Persons: Su, —, Mykola Oleshchuk, Forbes, Sinéad Baker Organizations: Ukrainian, Air Forces, Ukraine, Service, Air Forces of, Armed Forces of, Armed Forces, Ukrainian Air Force, Patriot, U.S . Army Security, Raytheon Locations: Ukraine, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian, United States, Russia

☆ US F-16s are exceeding the expectations of Ukraine's pilots, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian pilots training on US F-16s are "very impressed" with the fighter jets, a report said. The Ukrainian service of the Voice of America report cites a Ukrainian Air Force pilot. AdvertisementUkrainian pilots are "very impressed" with US F-16 fighter jets, the Ukrainian service of the Voice of America reported. It will still be several months before they see action against Russian forces, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said. AdvertisementDespite this, it noted that "the effort spent training Ukrainian pilots, ground crews, and logisticians to operate and maintain these aircraft will have long-term value."

Persons: —, Pat Ryder, Grant Shapps, we're, Rustem Umerov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix Organizations: Ukrainian Air Force, US Air Force, Service, Air Force, Pentagon Press, Britain's Royal Air Force, UK Defence, Armed Forces, Ukraine's Defense, Russia, Russian, Getty, The Telegraph, US Air, AIM, Atlantic Council Locations: Europe, Denmark, Ukraine, AFP, Netherlands, Norway

☆ US Air Force F-35s are training for threats even tougher than what jets in Ukraine are facing. Pilots say they're 'surviving' but 'not every day is a win.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

US Air Force fighter jets recently took part in the Red Flag air combat exercise. These scenarios are meant to prepare pilots for threats tougher even than what pilots are facing in Ukraine. AdvertisementThis year's event involved airmen from the 421st Fighter Squadron and 421st Fighter Generation Squadron, as well as over a dozen F-35A Lightning IIs from Utah's Hill Air Force Base. A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A lands at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 10, 2024 in preparation for Red Flag-Nellis 24-1. AdvertisementAn F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, South Carolina, taxis prior to take off for a for Red Flag-Nellis 24-1 mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 17.

Persons: —, William R, Lewis, Nathan Heguy, Heguy, we're, Lockheed Martin, haven't, Bryan Butler Organizations: US Air Force, Flag, Service, Nellis Air Force Base, 388th Fighter Wing, 421st Fighter Squadron, 421st Fighter Generation Squadron, Utah's Hill Air Force Base, 3rd, Joint Base Elmendorf, Nellis, Nevada, Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, NATO, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Lockheed Locations: Ukraine, Nevada, Utah , Nevada, California, Richardson , Alaska, Russian, Red Flag, Russia, Flag, China, Washington, South Carolina

☆ War in Ukraine shows a need to rethink air superiority, as it may only be possible in short bursts, top US Air Force officer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The war in Ukraine has proven a need to rethink air superiority, the top US Air Force officer said. "Air superiority still matters — it may be for shorter periods of time because it's just unaffordable to do it for longer periods of time." For air operations, air supremacy means "the opposing force is incapable of effective interference," according to the Air Force, while air superiority means the military can conduct operations without significant "prohibitive interference" from air and missile threats. AdvertisementA Mig-29 fighter of the Ukrainian air force is seen on a mission in Ukraine's war-hit east Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. He emphasized that if this method is executed in short bursts, an air force can be "very effective" during that timeframe.

Persons: David Allvin, —, Allvin, it's, Keith James Organizations: US Air Force, Service, Air Force, AP, Staff, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, China, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Pacific

☆ Another mysterious Russian plane crash raises more questions than answers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Analysis Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Russian Defense Ministry said the plane was destroyed by an anti-aircraft missile system deployed in the area of Liptsy in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) from where the plane came down. Another Ukrainian military source was quoted as claiming that the plane was carrying Russian missiles, not prisoners. Another puzzling element is that according to the Russian version of events, the Ukrainian PoWs were guarded by just three Russian personnel on board the plane (besides the crew.) But a large Russian military aircraft without anti-missile defenses approaching Belgorod – itself a frequent target of Ukrainian drones – would have been a tempting and valuable target for Ukraine. There’s been no visual evidence of the wreckage, and the Russian Defense Ministry has not responded to the claim.

Persons: CNN — It’s, Andrey Kartapolov, Maksym Kolesnikov, Dmytro Lubinets, “, There’s Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian, Russian Defense Ministry, Defense Ministry, Duma Defense, IRIS, Patriot, Ukrainian PoW Locations: Belgorod, Ukraine, Liptsy, Ukraine’s Kharkiv, Ukrainian, Sumy, Russian, Moscow, US, Russia, Bryansk, Olenivka, Donetsk, Belgorod –, Azov

☆ Worried about Western jets, Russia is likely to risk its early warning planes near the front lines to give its formidable S-400s an edge, intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia has likely started using its valuable early warning planes in the Ukraine war, UK intel said. British intelligence said Moscow may be worried about Kyiv deploying Western fighter jets. Russia will likely "accept more risk" by flying A-50 Mainstay D aircraft close to the front line, the group said. "This adds to Mainstay's core mission of co-ordinating fighter aircraft," the intelligence update said. The Beriev A-50 Photo by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesAny potential concern over Western fighter jets comes as Ukrainian pilots and personnel are training on how to fly and maintain American-made F-16 fighter jets.

Persons: —, Wojciech Grzedzinski, Sefa Karacan, they're Organizations: intel, Western, Service, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Russia, US, Patriot Locations: Russia, Ukraine, British, Moscow, Kyiv, Kostiantynivka, Britain, Europe

☆ Ukraine and the US are mixing weapon systems that weren't built to play together to up Kyiv's defenses, and apparently they work
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

They've seen success in using US missiles with Buk-M1 systems and HARM missiles on Soviet fighter jets. AdvertisementWith its air defenses working overtime to defend against constant Russian strikes, Ukraine is working with the US to create new capabilities by cobbling together Western and Soviet systems that weren't built to play together. Reporting earlier this year indicated Ukraine had found ways to modify the Soviet Buk air defenses to fire the RIM-7. The US and its Western allies have offered Ukraine air defenses like Patriot batteries, IRIS-T, NASAMs, and Gepard anti-aircraft guns, but Ukrainian forces continue to operate a number of Soviet air defenses, the Buk and the S-300 being among the most prominent. AdvertisementThe new capability was promising for Ukraine and indicated future modifications to its Soviet systems could be made, like firing US missiles from Soviet Buk vehicles, which are self-propelled, mid-range surface-to-air missile systems.

Persons: They've, —, Yurii Ihnat, Ihnat, SAMs, Richard, Diana Quinlan, James Hecker, Theodore Roosevelt, Seaman Anthony N, Olaf Scholz, Germany Organizations: Soviet, Service, Ukrainian Air Force, Kyiv Independent, RIM, American AIM, New York Times, IRIS, Amphibious, NATO, Valiant, U.S . Navy, Pentagon, US Air Forces, US, Politico, Marines, Thunderbolts, Marine Fighter Attack, Radiation, Nimitz, Communication, AIM Locations: Ukraine, Soviet, United States, American, Russia, Europe, Taiwan, Russian, Crimea

☆ Russia will need to sacrifice air defense at its own borders to help cover gaps in Ukraine, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia could be forced to sacrifice air defenses at its borders, UK intelligence said. Losses in Ukraine mean that key air defense weapons will likely need to be redeployed, it said. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia may need to sacrifice air defenses protecting its borders to help cover gaps in the front lines in Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update on Thursday. Last week, Russia lost three S-400 Triumf missile systems in the Luhansk region, weakening its air defenses there, the MOD said. The British ministry added that Russia's struggle to keep its air defenses in place is proof the war is overstretching its military.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, UK Ministry of Defence, MOD, BBC, Reuters, Institute for Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Luhansk, Crimea, Russian, Olenivka

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The United States will provide $425 million worth of additional arms and equipment to Ukraine for its ongoing fight against Russia's invasion, the Biden administration announced on Friday. The package uses the last of the funds in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a more than $18 billion fund that allowed the Biden administration to buy weapons from industry, rather than pull from U.S. weapons stocks. Biden, a Democrat, is calling on U.S. lawmakers to approve more aid for Kyiv. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022 the U.S. has sent about $44 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine. Reporting by Mike Stone and Susan Heavey; editing by David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Joe Biden, congressionally, Mike Stone, Susan Heavey, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis, Leslie Adler Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, L3Harris Technologies, U.S, Reuters, Authority, Pentagon, Air Missile Systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Biden, Democrat, Kyiv, Republican, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Tel Aviv, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Kyiv, Russian

☆ Where's the Su-57? The war in Ukraine is what fifth-generation fighter jets were made for, but Russia's Felon has largely been missing in action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Russian state media has touted the Su-57 fighter jet as a formidable, fifth-generation aircraft. Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets perform at the MAKS 2019 air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, August 27, 2019. Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighter performs during International military-technical forum "Army-2020" at Kubinka airbase in Moscow Region, Russia August 25, 2020. So why is it that the Su-57 isn't doing what a true fifth-generation stealth fighter should theoretically be able to do in Ukraine? AdvertisementAdvertisementSukhoi Su-57 fighter jets perform at the MAKS 2019 air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, August 27, 2019.

Persons: it's, —, there's, Mike Dahm, Sukhoi Su, Aleksey Nikolskyi, haven't, They're, Assad, Sergei Shoigu, Maxim Shemetov There's, Su, Russia's, Justin Bronk, Bronk, Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Maxim Shemetov, Dahm, There's, that's Organizations: Aviation, intel, Service, NATO, US, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Sputnik, REUTERS, Russian, Ukraine, International, Army, Sukhoi, Royal United Services Institute, Aircraft Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Zhukovsky, Kremlin, Syria, Kubinka, Moscow Region, Russian, Ukrainian, NATO

Nearly $100 billion in military aid to UkraineIndividual countries around the world have committed nearly $100 billion in direct military assistance to Ukraine. The US Congress has approved around $46.6 billion in direct military aid to Ukraine since NATO countries began organizing support for Ukraine a month before the full-scale invasion, data shows. This is part of a total $113 billion aid budget for both defense and civilian needs – though not all of it is meant to go directly to Ukraine. The United Kingdom has pledged more than $7 billion in direct military aid. Around 78% of Poland’s direct support for Ukraine goes to refugee costs – $17 billion out of nearly $22 billion.

Persons: CNN —, that’s, –, Kevin McCarthy, Joshua Berlinger Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, Republicans, Kiel Institute, NATO, Union, European Union, Russia —, Latvia —, United Nations, UN, US Locations: Ukraine, United States, Russia, Germany, Denmark, Poland, United Kingdom, Kiel, Norway, Baltic, Russia — Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia

☆ South China Sea tensions are flaring between the Philippines and China. Here's why it matters for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Over the past two decades, China has occupied a number of obscure reefs and atolls far from its shoreline across the South China Sea, building up military installations, including runways and ports. Video Ad Feedback Why it matters who owns the seas (April 2021) 03:48 - Source: CNNWhy does the South China Sea matter? The South China Sea is home to hundreds of largely uninhabited islands and coral atolls and diverse wildlife at risk from climate change and marine pollution. The US is not a claimant to the South China Sea, but says the waters are crucial to its national interest of guaranteeing freedom of the seas worldwide. Marcos has strengthened US relations that had frayed under his predecessor, with the two allies touting potential future joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Persons: It’s, China’s, Defense Lindsey Ford, ”, Stringer, Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Jay Batongbacal, “, Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Gregory Poling Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Navy, CNN, US Energy Information Agency, Communist Party, United, US Navy, Defense, Asia, Washington -, Strategic, International Studies, Ford, Spratly Islands, University of the, Philippine Coast Guard, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transparency, Philippines Mutual Defense Locations: Hong Kong, South China, China, Beijing, Philippines, United States, South, The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, The Hague, Manila, Scarborough, Spratly, People’s Republic of China, Washington, Philippine, University of the Philippines, Asia

☆ New missiles could help Ukraine's future F-16 fighters to take on Russian jets, but the planes will likely be more useful for other missions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

The Pentagon plans to send highly capable air-to-air missiles that the jets can carry. A US Air Force aircraft fuels craftsman marshals a US F-16 at Rovaniemi Air Base in Finland during Astral Knight 23 Part 6 on August 23, 2023. These capabilities, coupled with its physical design, make the F-16 a formidable opponent for Russian fighter jets like the MiG-31 and Su-35, experts and former pilots say. AdvertisementAdvertisementAn F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 85th Test Evaluation Squadron flies a test mission March 19, 2019 near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Snodgrass said these missiles are "fairly comparable" to Russian air-to-air missiles like the R-27 and R-77.

Persons: Albert Morel Additionally, John Baum, Baum, it's, Guy Snodgrass, Russia's Su, Joshua Hoskins, Snodgrass, Biden, ANDREY SMIRNOV, Doug Birkey, Evgeniy, we've, Tannehill, ABIS Kayla Hayes, Moscow's, Perry Aston Organizations: Pentagon, Aviation, Service, AIM, US Air Force, Rovaniemi Air Base, Astral, Russian, Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Air Missiles, Air & Space Forces Magazine, Washington, Air Missile, US Navy, Getty, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, AP, Kyiv, Avionics, 3C Orion, Marine Corps Base, Australian Defense Force, NATO, Army Tactical Missile, Storm, Alabama National, 187th Fighter Wing, Joint Base, Sweden, Gripen Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian, Finland, Fla, Kyiv, Moscow, Russia, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Crimean, Md, Stockholm

☆ Ukraine could have modified its anti-ship missiles into a long-range weapon to wreak havoc against Russian targets on land, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A modified R-360 Neptune anti-ship cruise missile may be Ukraine's new long-range missile. The new weapon reportedly destroyed a Russian S-400 "Triumf" missile system in Crimea. Ukraine developed the weapon after Western states were reluctant to supply long-range missiles. Ukraine claimed that the new, domestically designed missile system destroyed Putin's highly-prized Russian S-400 "Triumf" missile system in Crimea last month. The report said the cheap cost and large supply of the bombs meant they could be used extensively in the conflict.

Persons: Danilov, Zelenskyy, Sukhoi Su, Denis Sinyakov Organizations: Service, Kyiv Post, Russia flaunts, National Security and Defense, Directorate of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, Luch, UK Ministry of Defence, NATO, Sukhoi, Zhukovsky REUTERS, Kyiv Independent Locations: Russian, Crimea, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Kyiv, Russia, Ukrainian, Screengrab, US, Moscow, Soviet, Zhukovsky

☆ A possible future mission for the US's secretive Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade drones? Hunting Russian nukes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The tense environment has been punctuated by Russian threats of nuclear strikes against the West in response to NATO's military support for Ukraine. In a future war, the secretive drones the US has supplied to Ukraine — the Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade — could get a new mission: hunting Russian nukes in Kaliningrad. NATO forces could use loitering munitions — drones designed to linger near a target before crashing into and destroying it — for such a mission in Kaliningrad. "A focus should also be on the training of these forces with the Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade drones to assist them in their search and destroy efforts," DiRubbio writes. The US has provided a few hundred of those two drones to Ukraine, including both version of the Switchblade.

Persons: Vladimir Putin's, nukes, Vitaly Nevar, William DiRubbio, DiRubbio, Sarah Pysher, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, NATO, Russian, Ukraine, Baltic Fleet, REUTERS, US Air Force, Royal United Services Institute, Russian Defense Ministry, US Army's Delta Force, Special Air Service, Phoenix, Delta Force, Lejeune, US Marine Corps, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kaliningrad, Europe, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Russia's, Baltic, Vitaly Nevar Kaliningrad, Lithuania, Poland, British, Russian, North Carolina, Johns

☆ Can expensive, American-made weapons like F-16s turn the tide in Ukraine's war against Russia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Brad Howard | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In the run-up to the Ukrainian push, weapons from Western allies — such as tanks, artillery and other equipment — poured into Ukraine. Despite some small gains, Ukrainian forces have yet to see a large breakthrough, leaving some to wonder what else is needed. Just sending F-16s to Ukraine wouldn't turn the tide overnight. It's when you have lots of different weapons systems in the air on the ground. Watch the video above to find out if more big-ticket, U.S.-made weapons such as F-16s, the Patriot missile system and HIMARS can turn the tide in Ukraine.

Persons: Bradley Bowman, that's, Dmitri Alperovitch, Mick Ryan Organizations: Moscow's, Center, Military, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Silverado, Ukrainian Air Force, Patriot, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Ukraine, United States, Russia, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine desperately wants F-16s because without them all it has are Soviet-era fighter jets that simply aren't cutting it
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Ukraine has long sought F-16s, believing the Western fighter jets would be a boon to their arsenal. Danil Shamkin/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesUkraine is currently flying Soviet-made MiG-29 and Su-27 multirole fighters against a larger and technologically superior Russian air force. The aircraft are underdogs compared to Russian fighter aircraft like the MiG-31s and Su-25s, which feature advanced radars that allow them to see and locate targets further away, among other higher-end capabilities. Ukraine's been operating much of its air force from "remote locations, places that the Russians wouldn't expect," Tannehill added. One of the biggest challenges for the Ukrainian air forces has been Russia's formidable air defenses, which have kept much of Kyiv's air force far from the front lines.

Persons: Justin Bronk, Danil, Tannehill, Taylor Crul, they'd, Joe Biden, Abrams, It's, Bronk, they're Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Soviet, Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy, Royal United Services Institute, NATO, Ukrainian Air Force, Getty Images, US Navy, Kyiv, Patriots, US Air Force, Falcon, White House, Pentagon, AIM, Air Missile, Air Force, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Soviet, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Vasylkiv, Kyiv, Getty Images Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Moscow, Taylor Crul Ukraine

The new aid package, which was first reported by Reuters, will include for the first time U.S. furnished Black Hornet surveillance drones made by Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies (TDY.N). The Norwegian-built Hornet is being used in Ukraine through donations by the British and Norwegian governments, the company said. More than $43 billion in U.S. military aid has been provided since Russia's invasion in 2022. Commenting on the aid announcement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted Russia's attacks on Ukraine ports and Ukrainian infrastructure since withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative last week. The Black Sea grain deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey a year ago to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's invasion.

Persons: Russia grinds, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle, Ismail Shakil, Katharine Jackson, Matthew Lewis, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S . Department of Defense, Ukraine, Reuters, Teledyne FLIR Defense, Teledyne Technologies, British, Systems, U.S . Army, Patriot, Air Missile Systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Stryker, Carriers, Authority, United, European Union, Thomson Locations: Russia, Norwegian, Ukraine, United States, United Nations, Turkey, Britain, Washington, Ottawa

☆ Video captures the disarming of Wagner in the aftermath of its mutiny, showing the Russian military now has its T-90 tanks and other heavy weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia's defense ministry said it has disarmed the Wagner Group, which launched a failed mutiny a few weeks ago. A video shared by Moscow shows a vast collection of weapons, tanks, artillery pieces, and more. Russia's defense ministry published a video to Telegram on Wednesday that shows a massive collection of military equipment Moscow claims to have received from Wagner Group units. Wheeled vehicles arrive on their own," Russia's defense ministry said. A Pentagon spokesperson told reporters in late June that the US had, at the time, observed "elements" of the Wagner Group in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.

Persons: Wagner, Russia's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Stringer, Alexander Lukashenko, —, Vladimir Putin, Don, Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, meanwhile Organizations: Wagner Group, Service, Russian Armed Forces, Southern Military District, REUTERS, Kremlin, Belarusian, Don REUTERS, Pentagon, NATO, Wagner Locations: Moscow, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Ukraine, Rostov, Don, Prigozhin, Belarus, Minsk, Russian

☆ How a record-setting 'Ugly Baby' mission allowed US special operators to outmaneuver Iraqi forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

US special-operations forces wanted to infiltrate northern Iraq to tied down Iraqi forces there. Operation Ugly BabyA map of the Ugly Baby mission route along Iraq's western border on March 22, 2003. US Green Berets in an MC-130H heading to Iraq during Operation Ugly Baby on March 22, 2003. A US special-operations aircraft that was forced land by enemy fire during Operation Ugly Baby in March 2003. In all, Task Force Viking numbered about 400 special operators, including elite Delta Force commandos, Green Berets from the 10th Special Forces Group, and frogmen from the UK's Special Boat Service.

Persons: —, Saddam Hussein, Elwell, JOSEPH BARRAK, Baby, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, Operation, US, Allies, US Army, Operation Iraqi, NATO, Turkish, Special Forces, Green Berets, Air, Special Operations Squadron, Detachment Alpha, Air Force, Task Force, US Army 173rd Airborne Brigade, Getty, Delta Force, 10th Special Forces Group, CIA, Republication Guard, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: Iraq, Operation Iraqi, Baghdad, reorienting, Turkey, Kurdish, Turkish, Romania, Jordan, Syria, Erbil, AFP, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Johns

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