I - On Defense Podcast

For review: 1. US Completes Gaza Pier, which will be emplaced in near future. Delay is due to high winds and seas. 2. IDF conducting "Limited" Ground Operation in Eastern Rafah. Ground operation follows over 100 airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force. 3. Israel Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) denies sabotaging the latest round of talks between Israel and Hamas. 4.  From ABC: 3 x Unnamed...

For review: 1. US and Russian Forces co-located on same base in Niger, as US forces plan drawdown. 2. US construction of Gaza temporary humanitarian pier, part of the Joint Logistics Over-the Shore capability (JLTOS), is 50% complete. Once fully operational, the pier will facilitate the delivery of roughly 150 truckloads of aid per day. 3. No Israel - Hamas Hostage Deal Yet. Negotiations continue....

For review: 1. Israel Intelligence Agencies (Mossad, Shin Bet, & IDF Intelligence Chief) release unified public report- first since 07 October.  2. French President (Emmanuel Macron) Discusses French Troops to Ukraine (Again). 3. Ukraine Strikes Russian Troop Concentration with ATACMS. 4.  US Army New M2A4EI Bradley Variant.  New Variant equipped with Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS)....

For review: 1.  Israel Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu): Rafah Operation With or Without Hostage Deal. 2. Israel to Retire Patriot ADA Systems- in service since 1991. 3. International Court of Justice: No action against Germany for arms sales to Israel. 4. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) transit Suez Canal from Red Sea to Mediterranean Sea. Carrier deployed on 13 October 2023 to Red Sea. Expe...

For review: 1. Israel Awaiting Hamas Response to Truce Deal. 2. US Continues Work on Gaza Pier.  The Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) system is estimated to be operational in early May. 3. Russia continues to make gains along Eastern Ukraine front. Ukrainian Army Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi acknowledged Ukraine’s overall situation had deteriorated. “The situation at the front has escal...

For review: 1. Israel to Hamas: Make Hostage Deal or Rafah Operation. 2.  Latest US Security Package to Ukraine is Record $6 billion. Includes additional Patriot interceptors,  HIMARS munitions, cannon artillery munitions (152mm & 155mm), UAS, and UAS Components, among other materiel. 3. AP Report: Ukraine removes US M1A1 Abrams tanks from front line duty due to drone and UAV threat. 5/31 tank...

For review: 1. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine is worth $1 billion. Includes Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, air defense interceptors, artillery rounds (155mm & 105mm), armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons.  2. US quietly shipped the long-range variant Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine in March 2024.  Range up to 300 kilometers. 3.  IDF Ready for Rafah Op...

For review: 1. IDF restructures Tank Battalions. 2. Iran claims the the latest variant of the Bavar-373 Long-Range Air Defense Systems can defeat Stealth Aircraft. The systems employs the Sayyad-4B as the missile interceptor. 3. Germany to deliver the 4th IRIS-T SLM (Medium-Range) Air Defense System to Ukraine later this month. 4. Netherlands to invest $224 million in Ukraine Air Defense initiativ...

For review: 1. 19 April- Iran backed Armed Group base struck south of Baghdad. US and Israel deny involvement. 2.   Follow-Up Report: Iran S-300 Radar System Damaged from 19 Apr Strike. 3. In address to Israel- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to strike Hamas- "with additional painful blows" - hinting at Rafah Operation. 4. US to Withdraw from Niger Drone Base. The base- in the cit...

For review: 1. Missile Strike on Air Defense Radar Site inside Iran. Reported location is town of Isfahan- 75 miles south of the Natanz nuclear enrichment complex. 2. After second meeting, US & Israel Still Apart on Rafah Operation. Third meeting planned. 3.  Breaking Defense article (Agnes Helou)- lays out Iran's Air Defense Long-Range, Medium-Range, & Short-Range capabilities. 4. Uk...

For review: 1. Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu: "Israel appreciates advice and suggestions (from Allies), nevertheless- Israel will make our own decisions." 2.  IDF Strikes Hezbollah Air Defense Site in Northeast Lebanon. 3. US CENTCOM X: 16 Apr-CENTCOM Forces engaged two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas in Yemen. 4. US Secretary of Navy...

For review: 1. US CENTCOM X: 13-14 Apr: CENTCOM & EUCOM Forces engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen. 2. Israel Discusses Response to Iranian Attack & IDF Provides Target Options. 3. US CENTCOM & EUCOM Air, Ground, & Naval Assets assist Israel in repellin...

For review: 1. Navy Special Operations Forces from the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized a commercial vessel (container ship MSC Aries ) with ties to Israel, near the Strait of Hormuz. 2. Iran Attacks Israel with Missiles & Drones. Retaliation for Damascus strike in early April. 3. Russian President (Vladimir Putin) comments on upcoming round of Peace talks in Switzerland- without R...

1. US CENTCOM X: 09 Apr- US transfers an Infantry Brigade's worth of seized arms and ammunition to Ukraine. It includes over 5,000 x AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s- and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. 09 Apr- USS Mason (DDG 87) successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen over t...

For review: 1. US CENTCOM X: 06 Apr- CENTCOM Forces destroyed one mobile surface-to air missile system in Houthi controlled territory of Yemen. CENTCOM Forces also shot down one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Red Sea.  08 Apr- CENTCOM Forces destroyed an air defense system with two missiles ready to launch, a ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, and one unmanned aeri...

For review 1. US Navy Report Identifies Ship Building Delays. Columbia-Class Submarine (12-16 month delay) and Constellation-Class Frigate (36 month delay) Programs are listed. 2. Iran Army Chief of Staff (General Mohammad Reza Zahedi) promises "maximum damage" in revenge for Damascus strike. 3. IDF destroys three Hamas tunnels- one of which entered hundreds of meter inside Israel. 4. Is...

For review: 1. US CENTCOM X: 03 Apr- , USS Gravely (DDG 107) successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) and two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen towards USS Gravely in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships. Additionally, CENTCOM Forces destroyed a mob...

For review: 1. Army Fields Next Gen Squad Rifles & Automatic Rifles to 1-506 Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101 ABN Division (Fort Campbell, KY). 2. Strike in Damascus Kills 2 x IRGC Generals. 3. US and Israel continue to disagree on Rafah Operation. 4. Germany orders new 22 x Panzerhaubitze 2000 (155mm) from Rheinmetall in deal worth $145 million. First systems to arrive in mid-2025. 5.  French manuf...

For review: 1. 1000 ton lift-capacity derrick barge Chesapeake - supporting Key Bridge salvage (Baltimore, Maryland)- linked to the Hughes Glomar Explorer CIA operation to recover Soviet submarine ( K-129 sunk in 1968). 2. US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (General Charles Brown) discusses Alternatives to IDF Rafah Ground Operation. They are: Secure Gaza border with Egypt with technological adv...

For review: 1. US CENTCOM X: 27 Mar- US CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.  28 Mar- US CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen. (2d Day in a row). 2. Lebanon News Outlet via...

For review: 1. US announces that Israel is in compliance with new National Security Memorandum that assures all aid recipients act in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights laws. Announcement comes the same day as the UNSC Resolution 2728 Vote. 2. US Sec Def to Discuss Rafah Operation Alternatives with Israel Def Minister. 3. Canada House of Commons votes to pause exports of d...

For review: 1. US Security Council passes Resolution 2728- demanding an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and "the urgent need to expand the flow" of aid into Gaza. There were 14 votes in favor with the US abstaining. Ramadan ends o/a 09 April. 2. After UN Security Council Resolution passes, Israel cancels delegation to US f...

For review: 1. US CENTCOM X: 21 Mar- Coalition aircraft successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned surface vessel (USV) launched by Iranian backed Houthi terrorists. Additionally, coalition forces successfully engaged and destroyed two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists. 22 Mar- US CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed four unmanned a...

For review: 1. US CENTCOM X: 18 Mar- CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed seven anti-ship missiles, three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and three weapons storage containers in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense. 19 Mar- Coalition aircraft successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle and CENTCOM Forces successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned su...

For review: 1. Israel targets Hamas senior leaders in precision strike operations. Israel sends negotiating team to Doha. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Israel- meets with Prime Minister. 2. Russia-China-Iran Conduct Naval Drills in Gulf of Oman. 3. EU Plan to Increase Artillery Munition Production. 4. USAF Hypersonic Efforts. 5. US Army FY25 Budget discusses new Air Defense effort:  the Mul...