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☆ Ukraine says it destroyed glide bombs at a Russian air base that aircraft fly out of to bomb the front lines
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewUkrainian forces used long-range drones to attack a key Russian airbase overnight, destroying warehouses that stored fuel, ammunition, and highly destructive glide bombs. It appeared to mark Ukraine's latest long-range strike on an important military installation inside Russia. To work around these restrictions, Kyiv has relied heavily on locally produced, long-range attack drones to wage a monthslong campaign targeting Moscow's military and energy facilities. AdvertisementGlide bombs are dumb bombs that are equipped with special kits to turn them into precision-guided munitions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Russia used more than 750 glide bombs in a single week earlier this month.

Persons: —, 8SgIMVpQ1f, mXqoVmxVVC, Yaroslav Trofimov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Security Service, Ukraine, Business, Special Operations Forces, Russian Air Force, BI, Ministry of Defense, Russia Locations: Russia's Volgograd, Russia, Volgograd, Ukraine, Russian, Marinovka

☆ Satellite images show long-range strikes destroyed a Russian aircraft that can drop glide bombs, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewUkraine on Monday said it destroyed a Russian warplane capable of launching devastating glide bombs in long-range strikes on an airbase over the weekend. AdvertisementUkraine's military intelligence agency published a satellite image showing what it says is a destroyed Russian Su-34 aircraft. Glide bombs are equipped with special kits that convert dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions. The glide bombs are almost impossible to intercept because they have small radar signatures, travel on non-ballistic trajectories, and have fairly short flight times. Ukraine's military intelligence agency published a satellite image showing what it says are damaged Russian Su-34 aircraft.

Persons: —, HUR, Russia's Su, Russian Su, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Business, Ukrainian, Directorate of Intelligence, Army Tactical Missile Systems Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ How bombing Gaza to rubble created headaches and a tough fight for invading Israeli tanks and troops
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The IDF launched a devastating and widespread bombing campaign of Gaza immediately following Hamas' October 7 massacre in Israel, during which some 1,200 people were killed. Palestinians cycle past destroyed buildings leveled as a result of Israeli bombardment in northern Gaza in July 2024. One of the issues that arose was that Israeli tank drivers had a hard time figuring out the depth of a crater left by an explosion while using night vision. To make matters worse, the IDF has suffered from tank shortages during its monthlong campaign in Gaza. The destruction in Gaza also turned the battlespace into an "irregular, congested, and complex visual environment," the RUSI conflict analysts said.

Persons: —, OMAR AL, Jack Watling, Nick Reynolds, rubblization, Ohad Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Royal United Services Institute, Business, IDF, Hamas, Getty, REUTERS Former US, rubblization Locations: Gaza, Israel, AFP, Israeli

☆ Defeating Russia's massive 6,600-lb glide bomb may mean risking Ukraine's Patriots if it can't take out the fighter-bombers on the ground
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewRussia has increasingly been striking Ukrainian positions with its new 6,600-pound glide bomb, a highly destructive weapon that is notoriously difficult to defeat. AdvertisementA FAB-3000 glide bomb is seen in this video released on July 14 by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The new FAB-3000 glide bomb's first known combat usage was in June, and it has been used extensively in the weeks since. AdvertisementOnce released from an aircraft, glide bombs have short flight times, generate small radar signatures, and travel on non-ballistic trajectories. AdvertisementA FAB-3000 glide bomb is seen mid-flight in this video released on July 14 by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Persons: —, Russian Su, Justin Bronk, George Barros, Su, Bronk, Maxim Shemetov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden, Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Business, Warfare, Russian Ministry of Defense . Russian Ministry of Defense, FAB, Institute for, Royal United Services Institute, Holding, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, Russian Aerospace Forces, International Army, REUTERS, Russian Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Moscow, Holding Ukraine, Ryazan

☆ Read about U.S. arms transfers to Israel since Oct. 7
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Arms Transfers to Israel Since October 7 Recent U.S. decisions to withhold certain arms transfers to Israel, resume others, and the inconsistent reporting around those decisions highlight the challenges of accounting for vital resupplies to help Israel wage an unexpected, prolonged, multifront, munitions-intensive conflict. JINSA has produced an infographic detailing publicly-listed U.S. military assistance to Israel since October 7, including withheld supplies. JINSA Because arms deliveries are not publicly disclosed, it is difficult to assess exactly which supplies the United States agreed to send since October 7, versus sales that were contracted before that date and delivered afterward - nor is this list likely to be exhaustive, given backlogged and incomplete reporting of agreed arms transfers by the Pentagon. Weapon Type AGM-114 Hellfire-2 Missiles and Precision Guided Munitions Armored Vehicles, Armaments, Personal Protective Equipment, Medical Supplies, and Ammunition Artillery Ammunition and Ancillaries: M107 155mm D Quantity of Weapons & Supplies Value of Weapons MO/YR Requested MO/YR MO/YR Appropriated Approved Delivered 3,000 Missiles Yes 10,000 Tons Through 12/23 4,792 Rounds $147.5 Million 12/23 Artillery Ammunition: M795 155mm 52,229 Rounds 12/23 Bomb Live Unit (BLU)-109 Bombs: 2,000-lb 100 Bombs Yes Cannon Ammunition: 30mm 36,000 Rounds Yes Colt M16, M4, and MK18 Rifles 44,000 Rifles $34 Million 11/23 Yes $26.675 Million 5/24 ≤50 Aircraft $18+ Billion 25 Aircraft Yes Yes ཪི་ $14.1 Billion 4/24 Colt M4A1 Carbines, Suppressors, and Flash Suppressors F-15 Tactical Fighter Aircraft F-35A Multirole Combat Aircraft High Explosive Anti-Tank Multi- Purpose with Tracer (MPAT) Tank Cartridges and Related Equipment: M830A1 120mm Iron Dome Missile Defense System Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024: Iron Dome and David's Sling Systems, and Iron Beam Development Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) JP-8 Jet Fuel M141 Bunker-Buster Ammunition 13,981 Rounds $106.5 Million 2 Batteries 3,000 Rounds 41,227,000 kg ≥1,800 Rounds Delivered of 3,000 Requested 12/23 Yes Yes 12/23 Yes M4 Propelling Charges Mortar Ammunition Night-Vision Devices 30,000 Charges 12/23 $60 Million 5/24 3,500 Devices Yes Skydio X10 Series Drones 100+ Drones Yes Small Diameter Bombs (SDB): Various Types 2,600 Bombs Yes Switchblade 600 Drones 200 Drones 10/23 Tactical Vehicles $500 Million 5/24 Tamir Interceptors for Iron Dome Undisclosed Number of Rounds Yes Tank Ammunition 14,000 Rounds $700 Million Unguided Bombs: MK82 500-lb Unguided Bombs: MK82 500-lb 6,500 Bombs Unguided Bombs: MK84 2,000-lb 1,700 Bombs 14,000 Bombs Unguided Bombs: MK84 2,000-lb 1,800 Bombs 12/23 Yes 6/23 Yes Yes Yes DDDD Currently Reported to be Suspended Recently Unsuspended Transfers

Persons: ཪི, Tamir, DDDD Organizations: Pentagon, Guided Munitions, Vehicles, Armaments, Medical Supplies, Artillery, MK18 Rifles, Colt, Fighter Aircraft, Dome Missile Defense System Israel, Systems, Beam, Attack Munitions, Buster, Iron Locations: Israel, States

☆ What the West's foes may be learning from the Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementShe explained that from a tactical perspective, Ukraine and Russia are learning much about each other, and in response, the cycles of adaptation and countermeasures are rapidly compressing. "Russia's allies and their partners are learning from them, and this is now a currency that Russia has to give to Iran, China, North Korea — that learning of our equipment." Iran and North Korea have collectively outfitted Russia with a bunch of lethal aid, including missiles, rockets, artillery shells, and drones. Photo by ANONYMOUS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty ImagesChina's support for Russia as it wages war in Ukraine has been more discreet. Experts and officials have also said that North Korea is likely learning about how its weapons perform in actual combat conditions.

Persons: —, Dara Massicot, Massicot, Baiba Braže, Alina Smutko, Tehran's, Abrams, ALEXANDER NEMENOV, It's, Luke Coffey, Iran's Organizations: Service, NATO, Business, Carnegie Endowment, International, Latvia's, Mechanized Brigade, REUTERS, Getty, CNN, Russian, Army Tactical Missile, West, Ukraine —, Hudson Institute, North, General Staff, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Institute for, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Washington, Iran, China, North Korea, Moscow, Iranian, Kermanshah, Beijing, Tehran, Pyongyang, AFP, Israel, Korea, Ukrainian, X

☆ The West finally allowed Ukraine to strike back at Russia — and it seems to be working
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The newly granted permission by the United States and other allies to use Western weapons to strike inside Russia has had a huge impact, Bankir said. While Kyiv hasn’t managed to reclaim large swathes of territory, it has successfully averted what could have been a disaster: The occupation of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city. “(Russia) knew that Ukraine did not have the capacity to strike these targets on the Russian territory,” Melnyk said. While Ukraine was previously able to strike targets inside Russia using Ukraine-made drones, ATACMS make these strikes far more efficient. However, Ukraine can still use the F-16 to deny Russia control over the skies – and push away Russian aircraft delivering bombs.

Persons: CNN — Bankir, Bankir, “, ” Ivan, Kyiv hasn’t, Valentyn Ogirenko, Oleksiy Melnyk, ”, ” Melnyk, wasn’t, Melnyk, Konrad Muzyka, Rochan, –, Muzyka, it’s, ” Muzyka, Ukraine’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump, Maria Kostenko, Daria Tarasova, Markina Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Security, Artillery, 148th, Kyiv, 148th Separate Artillery Brigade, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, United Nations, Human Rights, Razumkov, Rochan Consulting, People, Reuters, US, NATO Locations: United States, Russia, Russian, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Izium, Balakliia, Moscow, Kharkiv –, Ukrainian, “, Belgorod, Voronezh, Krasnodar, Bryansk, Crimea, Washington , DC, –

☆ Russia's showing NATO its hand in the air war over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

Experts told Business Insider the Ukraine war has underscored how some elements of modern air combat are radically changing. And in fights like Desert Storm and the Iraq War, the West established air superiority by taking out its opponent's air defenses. The Russian air force can't meet Western air forces air to air in a major attack without being "shot to pieces," Bronk said. "Nobody really wants an air war with Russia," said John Baum, a Mitchell Institute expert and retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel. "It is not a highly desirable thing, I think, from either side, to want to have this air war."

Persons: It's, Justin Bronk, hasn't, DIMITAR DILKOFF, Bronk, Andrew Curtis, Mark Cancian, Guy Snodgrass, Hoshang, Giorgio Di Mizio, David Allvin, it's, James Hecker, NATO hadn't, " Hecker, that's, Maxim Shemetov, Fabian Hinz, Riivo Valge, Mattias Eken, They're, Paula Bronstein, Anthony Sweeney, US Army Cancian, REUTERS Lockheed Martin, Timothy Wright, disaggregation, Schmuelgen Jarmo Lindberg, Evelyn Hockstein Valge, John Baum Organizations: Kyiv, NATO, Business, Royal United Services Institute, Western, Getty, US Air Force, Storm, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Russian Defense Ministry Press, AP Russia, AP, Hudson Institute nonresident, International Institute for Strategic Studies, REUTERS, RAND Corp, Patriots, US Army, West, Patriot, Ukraine, REUTERS Lockheed, Finnish Defense Forces, Eurofighter Typhoons, Mitchell Institute Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, AFP, Iraq, Europe, West, Afghanistan, Baltic, Western Europe, Estonian, Finnish, Finland, Washington

☆ South Korea: Flying aboard the AC-130J Ghostrider, carrying America’s biggest gun in the sky
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Brad Lendon | Mike Valerio | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

AC-130 gunners Joe Gipson (back) and Isaac Dowell tend the 105mm cannon aboard a US Air Force AC-130J during a live-fire exercise over South Korea. A 105mm howitzer is seen at the rear of a US Air Force AC-130J at Osan Air Base, South Korea, in early June 2024. ‘Spooky’ historyUS Air Force gunships trace their lineage back to the Vietnam War, when the service set up 7.62 mm guns to fire out one side of a C-47 transport aircraft. With the AC-130J model, introduced in 2017, the Air Force removed the machine guns in favor of the more precision-guided munitions. The AC-130’s crew acknowledges the dangers of ground fire to their aircraft, and some analysts question its usefulness in any potential conflict with North Korea.

Persons: Ghostrider, Joe Gipson, Isaac Dowell, Brad Lendon, John Ikenberry, Kim Jong Un, ” Ikenberry, Heath Curtis, Mike Valerio, Curtis, ”, Justin Burris, Peter Layton, Layton, Maj, Christopher Mesnard, CNN’s Yoonjung Seo, Gawon Bae Organizations: Korean Peninsula CNN, US Air Force AC, CNN, Air Force Special Operations Command, US Air Force, Osan Air Base, South, Air Force, National Museum of, Operation, US, Griffith Asia Institute, Royal Australian Air Force, Operations Command Locations: Hurlburt Field, Florida, South Korea, Seoul, North Korea, Washington, Korea, Maj, New Mexico, United States, Vietnam, Asia, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kunduz, Iraqi, Persian, Khafji, Saudi Arabia, Korean, Australia, Operations Command Korea

☆ 'Every trench' in Ukraine needs a close-range electronic warfare shield against drones and other threats, top official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRussia and Ukraine have relied heavily on electronic warfare tactics throughout the conflict, leaning on cheap — but highly effective — technology to interfere with the targeting process of precision strike weapons like attack drones and guided munitions. With the battlefield full of such threats, especially the drones that threaten anything that moves, the need for electronic warfare systems is tremendous. "Different EW tools are needed to conduct strategic missions, but there is also a huge need for so-called 'close-range' EW," Fedorov said. Related storiesClose-range electronic-warfare systems would be particularly useful against enemy drones, specifically the small quadcopters that conduct reconnaissance and strike missions. "You can have the best drone, but what's the sense if it can't fly under electronic warfare?"

Persons: —, Mykhailo Fedorov, we've, Fedorov, Yar, Jose Colon, Doug Bush, Bush, Khrystyna Lutsyk, Nicole Petrucci, Petrucci Organizations: Service, Kyiv, Business, AP, 22nd Infantry Brigade, Anadolu, Getty, 24th Mechanized Brigade, US Space Force, Air & Space Forces Magazine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Donetsk, Kyiv, China

CNN —US officials have serious concerns that in the event of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group could overwhelm Israel’s air defenses in the north — including the much-vaunted Iron Dome air defense system, three US officials told CNN. Israeli officials have told the US they are planning to shift resources from southern Gaza to northern Israel in preparation for a possible offensive against the group, US officials told CNN on Wednesday. “We assess that at least some” Iron Dome batteries “will be overwhelmed,” said a senior administration official. Earlier this month, Hezbollah released a video purporting to show a drone striking and damaging an Iron Dome battery on an army base in northern Israel. The Iron Dome is fundamental to Israel’s defense and the US government has spent over $2.9 billion on the program, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Persons: “, ”, “ We’re, Amos Hochstein, Hochstein, Israel, Israel ‘, Antony Blinken’s, Yoav Gallant, Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah, Assad Organizations: CNN, Hezbollah, Congressional Research Service, Israel Defense Forces, Islamic, Biden, US, IDF, Hamas, Israeli, Command, Radwan Force, Rocket Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Lebanese, Jerusalem, Beirut, Rafah, ”, Cyprus, Syria

☆ Russian arms manufacturers are 'scrambling to expand their production capabilities using whatever they can get,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Rachel Hosie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewRussia is rushing to expand its arms production by buying secondhand machine tools from China through covert networks to get around Western sanctions. A report from Washington-based nonprofit think-tank The Center for Advanced Defense Studies, or C4ADS, said that Russia's arms manufacturers were "scrambling to expand their production capabilities using whatever they can get." And Russian defense industry analyst and lead researcher Allen Maggard told the Financial Times that the decades-old machine tools Russia is importing are still effective. AdvertisementGlenn Gray, the president of Gray Machinery, told the FT he'd never heard of the company.

Persons: —, Allen Maggard, Andrey Mironov, Glenn Gray, Tsugami, hasn't, C4ADS, UMIC —, ELE Organizations: Service, Advanced Defense, Business, Financial Times, Kremlin, AMG, ELE Technology, Gray Machinery Locations: Russia, China, Washington, Ukraine, UAE, Russian

☆ Airbus showcases 'Wingman' jet-like stealth drone concept at giant aerospace show in Berlin
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An Airbus Wingman air combat drone stands on display at the 2024 ILA Berlin Air Show on June 05, 2024 in Schoenefeld, Germany. Airbus this week revealed the concept for a new fighter-type drone, called Wingman, and showcased a model of it at Berlin's massive ILA Air Show. The drone would be an "unmanned escort for manned fighter jets," Airbus said in a statement, noting that it is designed to operate in a similar way to an actual wingman. In aviation, a wingman is a pilot in a secondary aircraft that supports and protects the primary one. The drone, which can be commanded by fighter jet pilots, can be deployed on riskier missions which could post a threat to manned aircraft.

Organizations: Airbus, ILA Air Locations: Schoenefeld, Germany

☆ Extreme weather blunts the US military's technological edge
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewMore extreme weather is scrambling the high-tech systems that have given the US military its edge. For example, severe weather can degrade navigation systems such as GPS and sensors on precision-guided munitions. Heavy rain ground aircraft and drones, intense heat exhausts troops, dust storms gum up tank engines, and storms damage ships at sea. The problem is that tactical units on the front lines, or in remote areas, often lack the connectivity to receive weather reports. "NOAA [the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration], the private sector and universities are actively working to improve global weather models," Regens said.

Persons: —, James Regens, Napoleon, Jason Serrit, Regens, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Business, Royal United Services Institute, Waterloo, Staff, US Air Force, Antiphon Solutions, North America, Pentagon, NOAA, National Oceanic, Administration, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: British, Iran, Iraqi, California, Oklahoma, Europe, NATO, Forbes

☆ The Ukraine war exposed serious flaws in some of the most sophisticated US weapons systems
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Analysts say the US is gaining invaluable insights into the flaws of some of its most important weapons and military production systems. AdvertisementA shortage in weaponsThe Ukraine war has exposed problems not just with the quality of weapons, but with the US' capacity to produce them in the quantity Ukraine needs. "The biggest problem that the Ukraine war has exposed with American weapons is that the Pentagon simply does not buy enough munitions for a large-scale protracted conflict," said Pettyjohn. AdvertisementShe added that the recent Ukraine aid bill, which also contains billions for US weapons production, doesn't fix the problem. But though the war has posed serious conundrums for Pentagon chiefs, it's also shown that many of its weapons systems remain much better than those of its opponents.

Persons: —, Scott Peterson, Pettyjohn, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Getty, Center, New, New American Security, Ukrainian, Russia, Pentagon Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian, New American, Afghanistan, Russia, United States

☆ The US Army's new plan to counter Russia and China has a glaring problem, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The 2024 Army Force Structure Transformation would be the Army's fifth major reorganization since 2003. The most striking aspect of the Army's plan is the large number of new units, for counter-drone protection as well as air and missile defense. In addition, there would be nine counter-small UAS batteries tasked with destroying small drones, and four more Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) battalions to stop manned aircraft, helicopters and drones. Monica K. Guthrie/US ArmyThe Army is also basing its plans on untried weapons, such as the Long-Range Hypersonic Missile and air defense lasers. China and Russia have much stronger air and missile forces than the regional opponents the army has faced for the last generation."

Persons: Monica K, Mark Cancian, Cancian, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, US Army, 2024, Army, Business, Congressional Research Service, Congress, Air Defense, Domain, Forces, CRS, Special Operations Forces, Security Force, Guthrie, Energy, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, Nuclear Forces, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Russia, China, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Forbes

☆ Russia's jamming of American weapons in Ukraine is showing the US what it needs to be ready for in a future fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Chris Panella | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Russia's electronic warfare has repeatedly foiled American precision weapons in Ukraine. Those could include different weapons, specific countermeasures, and the targeting of enemy jamming systems. Any fixes developed to effectively counter the challenge posed by electronic warfare won't just benefit Ukraine. Electronic warfare is a broad term that includes a variety of inexpensive options. Felicia JagdattEfforts to adapt precision weapons to the threat is just one facet of a multi-layered solution, Withington said.

Persons: —, Antonio Aguto, They'll, Mark Cancian, Denis Abramov, Thomas Withington, That's, JDAMs, Withington, Daniel Patt, Harry S, Cancian, it's, Doug Bush, that's, Bush, Felicia Jagdatt Organizations: Service, Systems, Attack Munitions, Security, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Business, DoD, Russian Defense Ministry, Royal United Services Institute, Getty, Hudson Institute, Truman, US, Intelligence, US Air Force, Army, US Army Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Russia, China, Withington, Bliss, Texas

☆ Biden Puts Arms Shipment to Israel on Hold Amid Dispute Over Rafah Attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden paused an arms shipment to Israel last week to prevent the U.S.-made weapons from being used in a long-threatened assault on the city Rafah, administration officials said on Tuesday night, a sign of the growing rift between Washington and Jerusalem over the conduct of the war. The president withheld 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs that he feared could be dropped on Rafah, where more than one million Gazans have taken refuge, the officials said. The administration is reviewing whether to hold back future transfers, including guidance kits that convert so-called dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions. Israeli officials disclosed the weapons pause to Axios earlier this week, but U.S. officials refused to confirm it either at briefings or privately until Tuesday night. Confirmation of the arms pause came just hours after Israel sent tanks into the city in southern Gaza.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s, Israel Organizations: Biden’s Democratic, Hamas Locations: Israel, U.S, Rafah, Washington, Jerusalem, Gaza

Here’s a look at the two Israeli systems:Iron DomeIsrael’s Iron Dome defense system can intercept many types of rockets that fly in high arcs, making them difficult to stop. It became operational in 2011 and got its first big test over eight days in November 2014, when Gaza militants fired some 1,500 rockets at Israel. The system’s interceptors — just 6 inches wide and 10 feet long — rely on miniature sensors and computerized guidance to zero in on short-range rockets. The Iron Dome was upgraded in 2021, but the details of the changes were not made public. Mr. Biden recently hinted that he could put some restrictions on weapons sales if his warnings to limit civilian casualties in Gaza are not heeded, but said defensive weapons like the Iron Dome would never be in jeopardy.

Persons: Biden, Israel — Organizations: Gaza, Patriot, U.S Locations: Iran, United States, Israel, Gaza

☆ Israel Faced a Sophisticated Attack From Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Jin Yu Young | More About Jin Yu Young | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The weapons Iran used on Saturday can travel much farther, and some of them can travel much faster. Still, Israel said that nearly all of the missiles and drones that Iran fired were intercepted, many with help from U.S. forces. In Saturday’s attack, 185 drones, 36 cruise missiles and 110 surface-to-surface missiles were fired toward Israel, according to Israeli military officials. It has a range of more than 1,200 miles — plenty to reach Israel from Iran. In recent decades, Iran has largely been focused on deterrence, long-range missiles, drones and air defenses.

Persons: Israel, Fabian Hinz, Jeffrey Lewis Organizations: Hamas, Islamic, Fajr, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, International Security, U.S . State Department Locations: Iran, Israel, U.S, Iraq, Yemen, Berlin, United States, Vietnam

☆ Some of Russia's 'prestigious' guided missiles may be malfunctioning and falling short of their targets: UK intelligence
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Some Russian missiles may be malfunctioning and missing their targets, per British intelligence. "Issues in its production" could lead to rushed production jobs, the UK MOD says. AdvertisementPremium Russian cruise missiles might be malfunctioning and missing their targets, according to new intelligence from the UK Ministry of Defence. The UK MOD said on Tuesday that it analyzed open-source images taken on March 31, 2024, which showed missile wreckage in a field in Saratov Oblast, southern Russia. The UK MOD said the debris was initially considered remnants of a "possible Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle."

Persons: — Organizations: Russian, MOD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Saratov Oblast, Russia, Russian

☆ Ukraine wants interceptor drones to take out unmanned surveillance aircraft and blind the Russians without wasting missiles
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Chris Panella | Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine is looking to build interceptor drones to hunt and take down Russian UAVs. On Wednesday, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, announced that the country wants to begin building interceptor drones to take down Russia's surveillance UAVs, specifically Orlan, SuperCam, and ZALA drones. The interceptor drones, as Fedorov suggested, are a cheaper option for shooting down drones and UAVs so that Ukraine can preserve its air defenses. The Shahed Hunter system, an anti-drone defense system bought with funds from the UNITED24 crowdfunding platform, releases interceptor drones with heavy-duty nets to capture incoming enemy drones. These anti-drone systems can: detect enemy drones, jam GPS signals, intercept devices in the sky.

Persons: —, Mykhailo Fedorov, Fedorov, Evgeniy, Hunter Organizations: Service, NATO, AP Locations: Ukraine, Brave1, Ukrainian, Russian, Russia, Kyiv, Kyiv region, AP Ukraine, Avdiivka

☆ Israeli attack that killed WCK aid workers consistent with multiple precision strikes, analysis shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Gianluca Mezzofiore | Allegra Goodwin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A deadly Israeli attack that killed seven aid workers from the non-profit World Central Kitchen (WCK) in Gaza on Monday appears to have consisted of multiple precision strikes, a CNN analysis of aftermath videos and images found. The first vehicle, which appeared to have suffered extensive fire damage, was geolocated on Al Rashid street just outside Deir al Balah. The first vehicle, which appeared to have suffered extensive fire damage, was geolocated on Al Rashid street just outside Deir al Balah. Explosive weapons expert Chris Cobb-Smith told CNN on Tuesday that the strikes appeared to have been carried out by an Israeli drone. CNN geolocated the third car, seen with its roof blown apart, to an open field 1.6 km from the second car.

Persons: WCK, Al, Deir al Balah, Al Rashid, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, “, Herzi Halevi, ” Halevi, Chris Cobb, Smith, Cobb, Patrick Senft, Senft Organizations: CNN, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Getty, British, Israeli UAV, Armament Research Services, ” CNN, Israeli, Haaretz Locations: Gaza, Deir al, Al Rashid, Al, Deir al Balah, AFP, United States, Israeli

Iran may now be compelled to respond despite its unwillingness to enter war with Israel and the United States. And it has increased such attacks since October 7, when Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250, prompting a devastating Israeli war in Gaza. “That would mean that the Israeli attack on Iran has put a target on the backs of American troops in the Middle East,” he said. Washington has, however, tried to distance itself from Monday’s Israeli attack. Attack Israeli interests abroadAfter past attacks on Iran, Israel has often anticipated Iranian retaliation on its interests in foreign countries, and beefed up security at its embassies.

Persons: Donald Trump, Qassem, Israel hasn’t, ”, Daniel Hagari, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, ” Amir, Israel, CNN’s Paula Newton, Parsi, Biden, Israel Iran’s, Houthis, Sanam Vakil, Jalal Rashidi, Vakil, Omar Sanadiki, ” Vali Nasr, “, Farzan Organizations: CNN, Seven, Revolutionary Guards, Israel Defense Forces, Iran’s, Quincy Institute, Responsible, Islamic, US National Security, Israel, Hezbollah, Chatham House, State Department, Chatham, ” stoke, UN, Global Governance Locations: Iranian, Damascus, Baghdad, Iran, Israel, United States, Syria, Gaza, Quds, Swiss, Tehran, Washington ,, Iraq, Jordan, Washington, Islamic Republic, Lebanon, Iraqi, East, North Africa, London, Argentina, India, Georgia, Thailand, Jalal Rashidi Kochi, Azerbaijan, “, Chatham House, ”, Switzerland

CNN —The Biden administration is close to approving the sale of as many as 50 American-made F-15 fighter jets to Israel, in a deal expected to be worth more than $18 billion, according to three people familiar with the matter. Since Hamas’ attack on Israel in October, which killed over 1,200 Israelis, the US has made more than 100 foreign military sales to Israel. Most of those have fallen under the specific dollar amount that requires a notification to Congress, an official familiar with the matter previously told CNN. A congressional aide told CNN that House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has also approved the transaction to proceed to formal congressional notification. “What you hear about the frustrations within the administration over the Israel policy, it is real,” one US diplomat told CNN on condition of anonymity.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Sen, James Risch, Michael McCaul, Ben Cardin, Greg Meeks, Biden administration’s, Joe Biden’s, “, ”, Israel won’t, Josh Paul, Matthew Miller, Israel what’s, Pat Ryder, ” Steven Katz, Katz Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Biden, Democratic, House Foreign Affairs, Foreign, State Department, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, House Foreign, Congressional Research Service, UN, The State Department, State Department’s Bureau, Political, Military Affairs, ”, Pentagon, Army, Defense, U.S, National Intelligence Locations: Israel, Gaza, State, Washington , DC, United States, “ Israel, Iran

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