I - On Defense Podcast

For review: 1. US CENTCOM X (Twitter); 17 Jan: one-way attack UAS, launched from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen, struck M/V Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden (Marshall Islands flagged, U.S. owned/operated bulk carrier ship). No injuries and some damage reported.  Vessel is seaworthy and continuing underway. 2. Statement from US National Security Advisor (Jake Sullivan): US to Designate Houthis a...

For review: 1. US CENTCOM X (Twitter): 14 Jan- US Fighter shoots down anti-ship cruise fired from Houthi-Controlled Yemen. No injuries or damages reported.  2. US CENTCOM X (Twitter): 15 Jan- Iran backed Houthi Rebels  fired and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle- Marshall Islands-flagged/US owned and operated container ship. The ship reported no injuries or significant damage and continue journey. La...

For review: 1. 3 x US Foreign Military Sales: 1. Kosovo: Javelin Missiles with Light-weight Command Launched units worth $75 million; 2. Egypt: 28-meter Patrol Craft kits worth $129 million; & 3. Light Tactical Vehicle Chassis and Fleet build (AM General), worth $200 million. 2. US Strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles fired by US Navy Destroyer Carney (DDG-64).  3....

For review: 1. US and UK repel complex Houthi attack in Red Sea. Combination of F/A18 Warplanes from the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69), US Navy Destroyers, and a UK Naval Vessel (HMS Diamond) downed incoming UAVs and missiles. 2. US & UK Strike Houthi Targets in Yemen. Targets include UAV, Ballistic & Cruise Missile, Coastal Radar, and Air Surveillance capabilities.  3. UN Security Council passe...

For review: 1. Pentagon Press Secretary MG Patrick Ryder, explains US Secretary of Defense's hospitalization and timeline of notification to key leaders in the administration. 2. US CENTCOM X (Twitter) Post: 06 Jan 2023, USS Laboon (DDG-59) shoots down UAV launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen. 3. IDF strikes central figure in Syria responsible for cross-border rocket attacks. 4. Commander of...

For review: 1. US Strikes Terror Leader in Iraq (self-defense strike). 2. Analysis of assassination strike of Hamas Deputy in Beirut by Zoran Kusovac (Al Jazeera). 3. Israel Defense Minister Post-War Gaza Plan. Four "pillars": 1. Israel will coordinate and plan oversight in civil governance; 2. Multi-national task force will run civil affairs and economic rehabilitation; 3. Egypt (and Is...

For review: 1. Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah warns Israel against war after the killing of Hamas #2 political leader (Salah al-Arouri) in Beirut.  Israel has not spoken about the strike but is preparing for any scenario. 2. Israel shifting to a new stage in Hamas ground operations. Will new stage include raids and precision strikes based upon intelligence? 3. Joint Statement from 13 nations con...

For Review- last episode of 2023: 1. From CENTCOM X (Twitter) post: US Navy Helicopters from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69),  Sink Houthi Boats in the Red Sea. 2. Ukraine counteroffensive analysis from Washington Post article (December 2023. 3.  Kyiv Post summary of Washington Post counteroffensive analysis (December 2023). 4. Happy New Year.

1. US Foreign Military Sale to Israel (155mm Artillery Ammunition) is worth $147.5 million. 2. US Central Command (US CENTCOM) releases 2 x statements via X (Twitter) announcing US Navy Destroyers downing Houthi drone and ballistic missiles over Red Sea. US Navy Destroyers are: USS Mason (DDG-87); 1 x drone; 1 x anti-ship ballistic missile & USS Gravely (DDG-107); 2 x anti-ship ballistic missi...

For review: 1. IDF Destroys Tunnel Complex Under Gaza (Rantisi) Hospital. 2. IDF Requests (additional) AH-64 Apache Helicopters from the US, to reinforce two IDF (organic) Flight Squadrons. Requested amount is unknown. 3.  Latest US Security Assistance to Ukraine is worth $275 million. Includes Stinger missiles, TOW & Javelin Missiles, and 155mm & 105mm artillery munitions, plus other mate...

For review: 1. US Foreign Military Sale: Flight training for Royal Saudi (Arabia) Air Force worth $1 billion. 2. US retaliatory airstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah after US Troops wounded in Erbil Base (Iraq) drone attack.  3. US Guided Missile Destroyer Laboon (DDG-58) and F/A 18E/F Super Hornet warplanes from the Carrier Strike Group USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), down drones, cruise missiles, an...

For review: 1. UN Security Council adopts Resolution #2720 calling for immediate delivery of humanitarian aid and to create conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities. 13 Nations vote In Favor; US and Russia Abstain. 2. IDF destroys tunnel network underneath Palestine Square in Gaza City. 3. IDF combat footage from the IDF Nahal Brigade engaging Hamas terrorists in multi-story building...

For review: 1. Russian President Vladimir Putin open to negotiations with Ukraine, US, and Europe. Adamant about no NATO membership for Ukraine. 2. Israel rejects Hamas demand for cease fire and Gaza withdrawal as preconditions for hostage(s) release. 3.  IDF Update. Ground operations in Northern Gaza almost complete. Focus will shift to Southern Gaza. 4. International Naval Force to operate in Re...

For review: 1. USMC Squadron Operating in Red Sea Can Fly Ospreys. 2. US and UK Naval Warships down drones launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen. 3. IDF discovers large (4k) Hamas tunnel near North Gaza crossing of Erez. 4. US Army 1st Cavalry Division with 36th Engineer Brigade- conducts wet gap crossing exercise at Fort Cavazos, Texas in support of modernizing the US Army Armored Division Force...

For review: 1. US Senate & House of Representatives pass the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with topline of $886 billion.  NDAA sent to President for signature. 2. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine worth $200 million. Includes Anti-tank weapons, Air Defense components, and Artillery ammunition. 3. IDF floods Hamas tunnels with seawater.  Combat method proves suc...

For review: 1. IDF Ground Operations update. 2. French Guided Missile Frigate Downs Two Drones in Red Sea. 3. Ukraine President Zelenskyy  visits Washington D.C- meets with President Biden; addresses Senate. 4. UK, Norway, and Netherlands to aid Ukraine in increasing Black Sea maritime capabilities with minehunter vessels and Marine Corps development. 5. UK Army Mobile Fires Platform program (155m...

For review: 1. Yemen Houthi rebels to target ships in Red Sea bound for Israel. 2. IDF ground operations in Gaza update. 3. 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) highlights. 4. US Navy NDAA 2024 highlights. 5. 2024 NDAA directs independent review of USMC Force Design 2030 concept. 6. US Army 30mm Stryker Infantry Carrier development. 7. US Foreign Military Sale of 80 x MK 54 Lightweight T...

For review: 1. US Military grounds all variants of the V-22 Osprey (USAF, USMC, & US Navy). 2. US vetoes UN Security Council Cease Fire Resolution, UK abstains. 3. Jerusalem Post interviews 2 x Reservists Officers: 1 x Armor Officer & 1 x Engineer Officers.  Officers provide perspective on ground operations in Gaza.  4. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine is worth $175 million...

For review: 1. USAF identifies Special Operations Airmen lost in CV-22 Osprey crash off the coast of Japan. 2. White House warns that lack of military assistance funding could cause Ukraine to lose the war. 3. USS Carney (DDG-64) shoots down 3 x drones over the Red Sea.  Provides assistance to 3 x commercial vessels. 4. IDF Chief of Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi provides insights on the 3d Phase of the...

For review: 1. Israel Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) press conference.  Emphatically states that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will not control Gaza after the defeat of Hamas. 2. Israel informs several Arab states (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, & Egypt) and Turkey- that it will propose security-buffer zone between Gaza and Israeli territory at the war's end. 3. Oshkosh...

For review: 1. US Air Force Special Operations CV-22B Osprey crashes off Yakushima Island (Japan). 2. USS Carney (DDG-64) downs Iranian-produced drone, (KAS-04 unmanned aerial vehicle), over Red Sea. 3.  Israel - Hamas temporary truce ends.  Fighting resumes in Gaza Strip. 4. Israel - Hamas war by the numbers. Analysis by Seth Frantzman (Breaking Defense article). 5. Ukraine to build defensive for...

For review: 1. Israel - Hamas temporary truce extended. Combat actions occurred on Monday, but truce continues to hold. Potential for more Israeli hostages (women and children) to be released in return for Palestinian prisoners. 2. Germany and Israel finalize deal for Arrow 3 Air Defense Systems.  Delivery expected in 2025. 3. German Air Force plans large Indo-Pacific deployment in the Summer of 2...

For review: 1. Day 1 analysis of Israel - Hamas Temporary Truce,  by Zoran Kusovac. 2. Latest in release of Israeli Hostages & Hamas prisoners- through Day 2- of temporary truce. 3. Germany to provide $1.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Package includes:  4 x IRIS-T medium-range air defense systems; drone defense systems; electronic warfare equipment; artillery munitions; surveilla...

For review: 1. USAF AC-130 gunship strikes Iranian-backed Militia in Iraq. 2. US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer, USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) shoots down multiple one-way attack drone over Red Sea. 3. IDF exposes tunnels under Al-Shifa Hospital Complex. 4. Israel - Hamas temporary cease fire (4 days) begins on Friday at 0700, Israel time.  First Israeli hostages to be released at 1600. 5. Enforcing...

For review: 1. US Foreign Military Sales: South Korea- SM 6 missiles + AIM 9 Sidewinder Missiles; & Japan- Tomahawk Missiles. 2. US Security Assistance to Ukraine is worth $100 million.  Includes 1 x HIMARS; 155 & 105mm artillery rounds; AT weapons, etc. 3. US Secretary of Defense visits Ukraine. 4. IDF locates and explores tunnel in the Al-Shifa hospital complex. 5. IDF 36th Division grou...