Military & War News and Discussions

[wjfox]

Rishi Sunak pledges to hit 2.5% GDP defence spending target by 2030

14 minutes ago

The UK will increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2030, Rishi Sunak has promised.

The move, which No 10 said would see £75bn more for the military over the next six years, follows pressure from Conservative MPs and ministers.

The government says it plans to spend 2.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence this year.

It had previously said it would raise spend to 2.5% when economic conditions allowed, without setting a date.

But the announcement of a specific date, made by the prime minister during a visit to Poland, hardens the spending commitment ahead of the general election, which could come as soon as July.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68880171

[weatheriscool]

Lockheed's Skunk Works teases a new aircraft it's developing for the 2040s
May 13, 2024

https://newatlas.com/military/lockheed- ... aft-2040s/
Lockheed Martin's paradoxically famous/secret Skunk Works has released the first image of its futuristic stealth tanker aircraft designed to refuel US and allied warplanes at long distances close to combat zones sometime in the 2040s.

Officially known as the Advanced Development Programs (ADP), the Skunk Works division was founded sometime between 1939 and 1943, depending on who's telling the story, and its engineers living under conditions of tight security cranked out the P-38 Lightning, P-80 Shooting Star, the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, F-117 Nighthawk, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II.

In their spare time, they also worked on supersonic transports, hypersonic research planes, space launch vehicles, a fusion reactor, and even a stealth boat that was featured in a Bond thriller.

Today, the US government is pushing to develop a new family of aerial tankers to replace the aging fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers. These tankers are essential to US and allied flight operations because they allow warplanes to operate far out of range of their bases. They are what made it possible for B-52s to reach anywhere in the world from the 1950s onward, and for British Vulcan bombers to strike Stanley Airport in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War in 1982 from bases in southern England.

[weatheriscool]

US Air Force releases first official pics of B-21 bomber in flight
By David Szondy
May 22, 2024

https://newatlas.com/military/usaf-firs ... er-flight/
Although snapshots of the B-21 Raider nuclear bomber in flight have been taken previously by the public in the vicinity of Edwards Air Force Base in California, these weren't with permission. Now the United States Air Force has released the first official images of the aircraft in the air.

Despite having a wingspan of 132 ft (40 m), an empty weight of 70,000 lb (31,751 kg), and the least inconspicuous profile in the world, the US Air Force is keen to keep tight security around the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. The aircraft, which is slated to become the third leg of the US nuclear deterrent force by the 2050s, quietly shifted from ground tests to flight tests sometime around November 2023, though officials were reluctant to admit this until video footage started showing up on X (formerly Twitter).

[weatheriscool]

I know you don't like the source but it does show that china is investing big time into robotic killing machines.

[weatheriscool]

Bell's High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing X-plane takes next step
By David Szondy
June 02, 2024

Bell has been selected as one of two companies for Phase 1B of DARPA's Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program to create a prototype High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) aircraft for the US military.

NASA's program to develop a new class of aircraft combining the hovering ability of a helicopter with the high-speed of a jet took a step up on May 28 when Bell Textron announced that it was given the go ahead to develop its concept for the SPRINT X-plane. This comes in the wake of Aurora Flight Sciences unveiling its concept for a blended wing aircraft for the project.

Bell has made considerable progress with its tilt rotor design. Earlier this year, it carried out ground track tests to demonstrate flight control systems and how the engine nacelles can convert from rotor to forward jet propulsion, then folding back the rotors into the nacelle to reduce drag.

https://newatlas.com/military/bell-hvtol-x-plane/

[weatheriscool]

[wjfox]

House passes defense bill automatically registering men 18-26 for draft

Fri, June 14, 2024 at 9:59 PM GMT+1·2 min read

The House of Representatives passed a measure on Friday automatically registering men aged 18 to 26 for selective service.

It was part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets out the U.S. government’s military and national security priorities over the next fiscal year.

This year's NDAA authorizes $895.2 billion in military spending, a $9 billion increase from fiscal 2024.

While it hasn’t been invoked in over half a century, it’s mandatory for all male U.S. citizens to register for the selective service, also known as the military draft, when they turn 18. Failure to register is classified as a felony and comes with a host of legal challenges.

Supporters of the amendment argue that it would cut down on bureaucratic red tape and help U.S. citizens avoid unnecessary legal issues, as well as cutting down on the taxpayer dollars going toward prosecuting those cases.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-passes ... 54045.html

[caltrek]

^^^Here is more on that defense bill:

by Julia Conley
June 14, 2024

Extract:

(Comon Dreams) (A)mendments pushed through by Republicans include one proposed by Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), which would block a Biden administration policy that reimburses members of the military for travel costs they incur when seeking an abortion, and one put forward by Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), which would block funding for gender-affirming medical procedures for service members.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) proposed a ban on any funds in the legislation being used to implement President Joe Biden's climate change executive orders.

Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) proposed placing Pentagon jobs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on a permanent hiring freeze, and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) added an amendment requiring the Reconciliation Monument, a Confederate memorial, to be relocated to Arlington National Cemetery.
...

The NDAA in its current form is unlikely to pass in the Democratic-led Senate, where the Armed Services Committee held a markup this week on its own version of the legislation.

(Rep. Pramila) Jayapal (D-Wash) expressed hope that after the November elections, the NDAA process will be "led by a Democratic House that allows an open and robust debate on the issues Americans care about—national security and peace, upholding human rights, protecting our servicemembers and their families, and taking on the climate crisis and corporate corruption—not cynical attacks on vulnerable Americans."

Read more here: https://www.commondreams.org/news/ndaa-passed

[Powers]

House passes defense bill automatically registering men 18-26 for draft

Fri, June 14, 2024 at 9:59 PM GMT+1·2 min read

The House of Representatives passed a measure on Friday automatically registering men aged 18 to 26 for selective service.

It was part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets out the U.S. government’s military and national security priorities over the next fiscal year.

This year's NDAA authorizes $895.2 billion in military spending, a $9 billion increase from fiscal 2024.

While it hasn’t been invoked in over half a century, it’s mandatory for all male U.S. citizens to register for the selective service, also known as the military draft, when they turn 18. Failure to register is classified as a felony and comes with a host of legal challenges.

Supporters of the amendment argue that it would cut down on bureaucratic red tape and help U.S. citizens avoid unnecessary legal issues, as well as cutting down on the taxpayer dollars going toward prosecuting those cases.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-passes ... 54045.html

So it is draft then?

[firestar464]

Nah; it's the same thing muricans have to do manually anyway; just done by default now

[weatheriscool]

US forces destroy Houthi radars in Yemen that allowed Iranian-backed group to target commercial ships, CENTCOM says

Source: CNN Politics

Updated 6:17 PM EDT, Sat June 15, 2024

CNN — US forces launched successful attacks late this week on Houthi radars that helped facilitate the Iranian-backed group’s ongoing assaults on ships in the Red Sea, according to US Central Command.

CENTCOM said the US military destroyed seven radars in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, which had allowed “Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping.”

The strikes followed a Wednesday Houthi attack on a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned and operated ship that left one civilian mariner missing. The attack on the ship caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room, CENTCOM said. The crew abandoned ship and was rescued by US and partner forces, including the USS Philippine Sea.

The cargo ship is still in the Red Sea and is taking on water, CENTCOM said. The ship is drifting from its last reported position, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations. In addition to the attacks on the radars, US forces destroyed one uncrewed aerial system launched from Yemen and two uncrewed surface vessels in the Red Sea, according to the CENTCOM statement.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/14/politics ... index.html

[wjfox]

US forces destroy Houthi radars in Yemen that allowed Iranian-backed group to target commercial ships, CENTCOM says

Source: CNN Politics

Updated 6:17 PM EDT, Sat June 15, 2024

CNN — US forces launched successful attacks late this week on Houthi radars that helped facilitate the Iranian-backed group’s ongoing assaults on ships in the Red Sea, according to US Central Command.

CENTCOM said the US military destroyed seven radars in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, which had allowed “Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping.”

The strikes followed a Wednesday Houthi attack on a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned and operated ship that left one civilian mariner missing. The attack on the ship caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room, CENTCOM said. The crew abandoned ship and was rescued by US and partner forces, including the USS Philippine Sea.

The cargo ship is still in the Red Sea and is taking on water, CENTCOM said. The ship is drifting from its last reported position, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations. In addition to the attacks on the radars, US forces destroyed one uncrewed aerial system launched from Yemen and two uncrewed surface vessels in the Red Sea, according to the CENTCOM statement.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/14/politics ... index.html

We have a thread for the Red Sea:

viewtopic.php?p=47594#p47594

You might wanna post this stuff there.

[Time_Traveller]

Ex-Afghan special forces to have UK relocation claims re-examined

8 hours ago

Former Afghan special forces who served alongside the British but were denied relocation to the UK will have their cases re-examined, the government says.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said ineligible applications with credible claims of links to Afghan specialist units would be reassessed.

The so-called "Triples" were elite units set up, funded and run by the UK.

But hundreds had their relocation claims denied following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

Campaigners have been fighting for them ever since the Taliban swept into Kabul in August 2021, with one describing the government announcement as "a momentous decision and a life-changing day."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68152923

More on this: -

Minister: Special forces had veto on Afghan troops

2 hours ago



The government has admitted misleading Parliament in its response to a BBC report about former Afghan special forces being denied entry to the UK.

BBC Panorama reported in February that UK Special Forces had vetoed resettlement applications from Afghan commandos - known as the “Triples” - who had fought alongside the SAS.

The veto was controversial because it gave UK Special Forces decision-making power at a time when the Afghan commandos were potential witnesses to a war crimes inquiry investigating the SAS.

Former members of the elite regiment said that was a clear conflict of interest, saying it could stop members of the Triples giving evidence by keeping them out of the country.

The BBC report prompted the shadow armed forces minister, Luke Pollard, to write to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in February to ask whether UK Special Forces did have a veto over Triples applications.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn00d2ndnlgo

[Time_Traveller]

Starmer pushing ahead with EU security pact to reshape Brexit relations

3 hours ago

Keir Starmer appears to be prioritising his plans to reshape Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU with a new security pact.

Speculation that talks are set to begin on the fringes of the Nato conference in Washington DC was heightened by his decision to bring his new minister for European relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds.

The new prime minister is also set to host the European Political Community (EPC) next week, a forum created by Emmanuel Macron to facilitate European relations post-Brexit.

It is expected the subject of the security pact will be broached there too, leading to speculation Labour will begin the process of integrating UK forces with those of the EU.

However, on the flight to the US, Sir Keir insisted that Nato “will remain the cornerstone” of UK defence relations but the work with the EU will be “complementary”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 77039.html

[caltrek]

Inside the Next Era of Warfare: How Tech is Reshaping the Battlefield
by Colin Demarest
July 10, 2024

Introduction:

(Axios) Conflicts abroad and defense-contract competitions at home illuminate in real time the future of America's war machine.

Why it matters: Today's closely watched fights are shaping those of tomorrow, and the pace of battlefield innovation is only accelerating.

• Cheap, abundant drones are devastating far more expensive systems in Eastern Europe. In waters off Yemen, they embroil the U.S. Navy in fighting so intense it's been compared to World War II.

• Disinformation campaigns shape international perceptions, including in Africa, where Russia's playbook colors a U.S. withdrawal from Niger.

• Directed-energy weapons that fry electronics from afar and intercept overhead threats are leaping from sci-fi to reality. Powerful lasers and microwaves are headed to the greater Middle East.

• Data is currency — or ammunition, depending who you ask. And artificial intelligence is parsing it all to aid maintenance, targeting and every application in between.

• Increasing access to overhead imagery empowers commanders on the front lines and hobbyists at home to keep tabs on movements halfway across the globe. You are always being watched.

• Nuclear arsenals are growing as transparency shrinks. While the U.S. and Russia boast by far the largest numbers, other players such as China and North Korea are inching upward.

Read more here: https://www.axios.com/2024/07/10/us-mi ... -warfare

[caltrek]

U.S.-Japan Patriot Missile Production Plan Hits Boeing Component Snag
by Nobuhiro Kubo and Tim Kelly
July 20 , 2024

Introduction:

(The Japan Times) A U.S. plan to use Japanese factories to boost production of Patriot air defense missiles — used by Ukraine to defend against Russian attacks — is being delayed by a shortage of a critical component manufactured by Boeing, four sources said.

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) already makes about 30 PAC-3 missiles each year under license from defense contractor Lockheed Martin and can increase that number to about 60, two Japanese government officials and two industry sources said.

The U.S. hopes to increase production from about 500 a year to more than 750 per year globally as soon as possible, a person familiar with the program said. But no expansion at all will be possible in Japan without additional supplies of the missiles' seekers, which guide them in the final stages of flight, the officials and industry sources said.

"It could take several years before MHI is able to raise output" because of the shortage, said one of the industry sources, who like the others declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

The production snag in Japan shows the challenges Washington faces in plugging industrial help from its global allies into its complex supply chains.

Read more here: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024 ... roadblock

[weatheriscool]

Tempest 6th-gen fighter jet concept features next-gen power and aeros
By David Szondy
July 21, 2024

https://newatlas.com/military/tempest-6 ... rnborough/
At this year's Farnborough International Airshow, Britain, Italy and Japan are showing off the latest concept model of the sixth-generation fighter being developed by the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), highlighting its advanced aerodynamics.

Officially known as the Tempest in the UK, the new fighter is a joint effort by Britain, Italy and Japan that was born in December 2023 when the three countries agreed to team up, combining the British-led BAE Systems Tempest being developed with the help of Italy, with the Japanese Mitsubishi F-X fighter project.

The new concept to be unveiled at Farnborough shows off the greatly improved aerodynamics of the fuselage, with the most obvious improvement being the enlarged modified delta wing for greater control and mission flexibility. The air intakes are angled for better stealth and a raised section that can be seen forward of the v-shaped tail holds the S-shaped ducting for the engine air inlets that reduces the forward radar signature.

[Time_Traveller]

Army chief says UK must double its lethality or be prepared for war in 2027

Tue 23 Jul 2024 16.30 BST



Britain has to double the lethality of its army or be prepared to fight a war in three years’ time as separate threats from Russia, China and Iran come to a head around 2027, the new head of the army has warned.

Gen Sir Roly Walker, the chief of the general staff, told reporters that the west faced “an axis of uncertainty” with increasing military ambition and that a conflict involving one of the four countries could lead to “a significant detonation” in another theatre.

Walker argued that the UK and its allies had to be ready “to deter or fight a war in three years”, in an assessment based on China’s hostility to Taiwan and Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The army chief cited US assessments that China’s president, Xi Jinping, had asked for the country’s military to be ready to invade Taiwan in 2027 – as well as concerns that Iran could seek to break the nuclear deal that is intended to prevent it developing an atomic weapon while a war in Ukraine is continuing.

Shortly after the briefing, Walker said he had “a bold ambition” for the British army “to double our fighting power in three years and triple by the end of the decade”, not with extra resources but by using technology and techniques developed on the battlefields of Ukraine, such as drones.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/art ... nscription

[weatheriscool]

Custom Up-Armored Tesla Cybertruck is Heavy Machine Gun Resistant
August 16, 2024 by Brian Wang

Archimedes Defense, a recognized leader in high-power solutions for government and defense applications, has partnered with Unplugged Performance and its specialized fleet division, UP.FIT, to develop STING.

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2024/08/c ... stant.html

[Time_Traveller]

First UK military spy satellite launched that captures daytime images of Earth's surface

Saturday 17 August 2024 14:53, UK

The first UK military satellite which can capture daytime images and videos of the Earth's surface has successfully launched into space.

The "cutting-edge" satellite - named Tyche - is part of a Ministry of Defence (MoD) programme that aims to support military operations as well as natural disaster and environmental monitoring, mapping information development, and tracking the climate change impact.

Tyche was launched on Friday from a Falcon 9 rocket owned by SpaceX, the company co-founded by billionaire X owner Elon Musk.

The MoD said the launch is the first step in a future constellation of satellites that will seek to strengthen the UK's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

Maria Eagle, minister for defence procurement and industry, said: "Tyche will provide essential intelligence for military operations as well as supporting wider tasks across government.

https://news.sky.com/story/first-uk-mil ... e-13198317