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The #Biden administration is preparing a larger-than-normal package of military aid for #Ukraine that will include armored vehicles, in addition to urgently needed artillery and air defenses, according to two U.S. officials. Defense Department officials are still putting the finishing touches on the potential new tranche, but they want it to be ready to go soon after President Joe Biden signs off on a bill to provide tens of billions of dollars in additional aid for Kyiv, said the officials, who along with others were granted anonymity to speak ahead of an announcement. The Senate is expected to pass the legislation as early as Tuesday, sending it to Biden’s desk. The package DOD is working on now will be significantly larger than the most recent tranche of $300 million, said one of the U.S. officials, along with a third U.S. official with knowledge of the discussions. The first two U.S. officials said it would include armored vehicles; a fourth person said additional Bradley Fighting Vehicles would be part of the shipment. Older Humvees and M113 armored personnel carriers, as well as missiles, are also expected to be in the package, one of the U.S. officials said. The administration is preparing a “big package to help meet Ukraine’s battlefield needs,” said the second U.S. official, adding that it will also include artillery and air defenses. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment. DOD officials are working to finalize the details of the new package ahead of an expected Senate vote on House-passed legislation authorizing nearly $61 billion for Ukraine. That money will go toward replenishing Pentagon stocks provided to Kyiv, as well as sending new https://lnkd.in/dMMavbhE

The #Danish government will fund the production of 18 #Ukrainian 2S22 #Bohdana wheeled howitzers to be put into service with the Defense Forces. The Ministry of Defense of Denmark announced this. The Ministry of Defense said that the government has paid to produce a division of 18 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine, which will be transferred to the Ukrainian military “within the coming months.” The choice of this particular artillery system as military aid was made by representatives of Denmark based on an official recommendation from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine. In April of this year, Troels Lund Poulsen, Minister of Defense, initiated cooperation with Ukraine and placed orders for the production of weapons directly with the Ukrainian defense industry. “When I was in Ukraine this spring to visit a number of defense companies, I saw the opportunities to support Ukraine by purchasing directly through the Ukrainian defense industry. In this way, we ensure that the equipment that Ukrainians need on the front line can be manufactured and delivered nearby. This provides some obvious logistical advantages while helping build up Ukraine’s defense industry. This is where Ukrainian-made artillery systems play a central role as a pilot project,” Poulsen said. Denmark’s order of Ukrainian-made heavy weapons for the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces was the first such precedent. This was part of an official agreement between the two countries on defense cooperation signed in June this year. “I hope that more countries will choose the Danish procurement model in Ukraine. The capabilities of Ukrainians to produce equipment are greater than the funding they have now. Therefore, there is a great potential for such agreements to produce more equipment in Ukraine and at the same time help build up the defense industry in Ukraine,” Poulsen noted. According to official statements, in May of this year, the Ukrainian defense industry reached the production rate of 10 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers per month. “The state enters into serious, long-term contracts with our enterprises, which provide predictability, the ability to recruit people and attract investment. This month, our industry is producing 10 Bohdanas for the first time, and in May and beyond – even more,” President Zelensky reported on April 18. The latest versions of the 155 mm wheeled howitzers come with a shell loader. The chassis is currently based on Tatra Phoenix 8×8 or Tatra T815 trucks, which are donated in Ukraine, with a Czech Puma L2 Long armored cabin. Last December, it was reported that the Ukrainian defense industry was developing a trailer version of the 155 mm Bohdana howitzer. https://lnkd.in/dBiKg-3E

Oops: #DoD cannot track more than $1 billion in #weapons and military #equipment provided to #Ukraine to fight invading Russian forces. 59% of $1.7 billion in defense gear that the U.S. has provided Ukraine and was directed to guard against misuse or theft remained “delinquent,” but what is really ironic is that we already have commercial capabilities to track these items. Roei Ganzarski won Army xTechPrime for Alitheon's ability to track nearly anything through digital fingerprinting. If DoD is suggesting that we adopt more COTS solutions (RE: National Defense Industrial Strategy: https://lnkd.in/e75cD4Xn), here's a perfect use case for why we should be implementing these technologies yesterday to improve our #supplychain for #defense and #military applications. (Source: https://lnkd.in/e9hGw9YX)

US DoD: Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Iran's Strikes Against Israel April 13, 2024: "At the direction of President Biden, U.S. forces in the Middle East on April 13 intercepted dozens of missiles and UAVs en route to Israel, launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Our forces remain postured to protect U.S. troops and partners in the region, provide further support for Israel's defense, and enhance regional stability. We condemn these reckless and unprecedented attacks by Iran and its proxies, and we call on Iran to immediately halt any further attacks, including from its proxy forces, and to deescalate tensions. We do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our forces and support the defense of Israel. I am grateful for the professionalism and the skill of the brave U.S. troops who took part in today's actions and who continue to stand guard to prevent further conflict or escalation. I will continue to monitor the situation closely and to consult with our allies and partners." - Photo: Retired Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s pick for defense secretary. While only the Senate votes to confirm the secretary, House approval of General Austin’s waiver is also required. Credit: Hilary Swift for The New York Times - 10 jan. 2021

BIG BUCKS, BUT WHO KNOWS? The U.S. will pull together a new ensemble of $6 billion in military aid for Ukraine — the largest security assistance package that the U.S has committed so far in the effort to keep Ukraine from falling to Russian forces. But when it will get there is unclear. This aid will come through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which means the U.S. will purchase the weapons from defense contractors before sending to Ukraine. That is different from what is called “drawdown authority,," a path that pays for material the Pentagon pulls from existing stockpiles to send to Kiev. (That is reflected in $1 billion package announced by the Biden administration a few days ago). The $6 billion package will include critical air defense munitions, including for the highly valued Patriot systems,  counter-drone systems, significant amounts of artillery ammunition, and more, Pentagon officials said. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Charles Brown chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the formal announcement during a rare visit to the Pentagon press room. It came after a video meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group. When Austin was asked “What is your strategy?” for Ukraine, he said, "Our goal is to see a democratic, independent and sovereign Ukraine that has a capability to defend itself and deter aggression going forward.” No mention of Ukraine winning the war. Jeannifer Griffith of Fox News asked Brown directly “Can Ukraine win?” To which Brown replied, “The key part here is to make sure Ukraine can defend itself.” Defense officials prefer to say that Ukraine will have what they need to win — which many disagree — but that it is not a guarantee that they will because military operations are much more complicated than that.

Mystifying decision making by the Australian government and Defence: how does it make sense to refuse Ukraine's request for the now-retired Taipan helicopters and make plans to bury them instead? SAA's Peter Jennings sets out 9 questions that need better answers from Deputy Prime Minister Marles and his departmental advisers than we've heard so far. First, why was the Taipan permanently grounded after the July 2023 crash? That is the opposite of the “ordinary process” Thistlethwaite draws on to justify the decommissioning. Normally the priority is to get the platform back in the air, with crews being trained and operations mounted. Second, Thistlethwaite says: “We want to make sure that safety is first when it comes to not only the helicopter fleet but all equipment that’s used by the Australian Defence Force.” It’s true that not flying is safer, but if there is a concern about the safety of the helicopter, what communication has the government or Defence had with New Zealand and our European partners operating the MRH-90? Third, how long will the ADF be without a battlefield troop-lift capability given the new Blackhawks are not yet commissioned and only three are in country? Fourth, in accepting the decommissioning of the helicopter, what advice did the government have about the likely requirement for ADF aerial support during the summer floods and bushfire season? Fifth, what advice did the government have about the ADF’s ability to respond to a natural disaster or stabilisation task in the region given that summer is also the tropical cyclone season in Southeast Asia and the Pacific? Sixth, what arrangements does the ADF have in place to deploy our east and west coast counter-terror response teams given the Taipan has played that role? Seventh, what impact is this lengthy pause between Taipan and Black Hawk operations having on personnel retention in key units? Eighth, what steps is the government taking to assure itself that, according to policy requirements, “When disposing of surplus equipment, Defence is obliged to obtain the best outcome for the commonwealth and must use the most economical means whenever practical”? And, finally, why not provide them to Ukraine? How can disassembly and burial be a better option given Kyiv’s need for aviation capabilities? It is past time Anthony Albanese and Marles offered some clear explanations rather than veiled references about safety behind the ambiguity of “the advice of the Australian Defence Force”.

"Defense Department Stands Ready to Aid Ukraine Amid Congressional Approval Hurdles" #UkraineSupport In addition to the support mentioned in the article, other forms of assistance could include intelligence sharing, diplomatic efforts to mediate the conflict, humanitarian aid for displaced civilians, and training for Ukrainian forces. Shortcomings might include delays in congressional approval of the supplemental request, logistical challenges in delivering aid quickly, and potential limitations in the types or quantities of weapons and supplies that can be provided. Additionally, there may be concerns about escalating tensions with Russia and the possibility of unintended consequences or further destabilization in the region. It's crucial to emphasize the importance of international solidarity and cooperation in addressing the crisis in Ukraine. Additionally, highlighting the broader implications of supporting Ukraine, such as defending democratic values and deterring aggression, can underscore the significance of the aid efforts. #DefenseDepartment #CongressionalApproval #AidPackage #InternationalSolidarity

🔺 The Ministry of Defense has announced the completion of the construction of #fortifications in five directions. These are five regions, including Donetsk, where active fighting continues

Why did Avdiivka fall, because the United States of America hasn't sent enough ammunition to Ukrainians and so Avdiivka fell, OR, did Avdiivka fall because the Russians outnumbered Ukrainians seven to one and they simply defeated them in battle? Is it America's fault, the Russians fault or the Ukrainians fault that Avdiivka fell? I doubt that a shortage of ammunition is the reason Avdiivka fell. If that is true, Ukraine will fall. I think there are LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS in Ukraine because it takes a PROFESSIONAL ARMY to support and supply an Army. Ask Rommel why Patton beat him in North Africa...because of LOGISTICS. Everyone knows that Ukraine lacks the professional logistical leadership, infrastructure and combat support capabilities needed to supply an Army. No, they don't. ..... "Hundreds of Ukrainian troops may have been captured by advancing Russian units or disappeared during Ukraine’s chaotic retreat from the eastern city of Avdiivka, according to senior Western officials and soldiers fighting for Ukraine, a devastating loss that could deal a blow to already weakening morale. The Russian capture of Avdiivka has emerged as a significant symbolic loss for Ukrainian troops, a sign of the battlefield impact of the failure of the U.S. Congress, so far, to approve more military assistance as dwindling supplies of artillery shells make it even harder to hold the line. Estimates of how many Ukrainians were captured or missing vary, and a precise count may not be possible until Ukraine solidifies new defensive lines outside the city. But two soldiers with knowledge of Ukraine’s retreat estimated that 850 to 1,000 soldiers appear to have been captured or are unaccounted for. The Western officials said that range seemed accurate. The Ukrainian military command has acknowledged that some soldiers were captured in the retreat from Avdiivka but has tried to downplay the numbers and the significance. On Saturday, Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavsky, the commander of Ukraine’s military fighting in the area, said on the Telegram messaging application that the retreat had gone according to plan but “at the final stage of the operation, under pressure from the superior forces of the enemy, some Ukrainian servicemen fell into captivity.” He did not disclose how many troops were captured. A senior Ukrainian official insisted that only six soldiers had been taken prisoner in the retreat from the city. Those soldiers, from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, were captured after they ran out of ammunition and lost communication with the Ukrainian military, the official said." CNN

🔙 Looking back at 'A Backdoor Call to Arms': Foreign Fighters in National Defense, an insightful piece from September 7, 2023, by Brian Petit. The article delves into the complexities and challenges of incorporating foreign fighters into national defense strategies, with notable examples like the Wagner Group. It raises crucial points about the strategic necessity for smaller nations, such as the Baltic States, to consider foreign fighters, given their limited manpower. What are your thoughts on the reliance of small nations on foreign fighters for their defense strategies? Join the conversation. #DefensePolicy #MilitaryStrategy #ForeignFighters