Mil News Middle East Military News

[BravoZulu]

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has approved a major new procurement deal to acquire five new corvettes for the Israeli navy and “hundreds” of new Joint Light Tactical Vehicles for the ground forces.

Israel has not specified how much each deal is worth, but in a statement described the two packages as a “multi-billion Shekel” expenditure. The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 has led to the fast-tracking of a number of procurement deals, but this most recent announcement is the first to come from the Nagel Committee, a commission stood up in August. Chaired by Prof. Jacob Nagel, the commission was established by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the goal of “formulating recommendations on the force building needs and the security budget in the coming decade.”

 

[haze99]

Israel

Military establishes 1st Israeli Air Force technicians unit for ultra-Orthodox men

* * *

www.timesofisrael.com

 

[BravoZulu]

Qatar:
Fincantieri has officially handed over the amphibious vessel “Al Fulk” (Landing Platform Dock – LPD) to the Ministry of Defence of Qatar. 29 Nov 2024

The craft can perform various missions, including defense operations, support for ground forces, and humanitarian support. The delivery ceremony was attended by several officials, including the Commander of Qatar Naval Forces, Abdullah Bin Hassan Al Sulaiti, the Director of Italian Navy Military Personnel Andrea Gueglio, as well as Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero.

 

[Soldier35]

Iran tests Russian Spartak VPK-Ural armored vehicles. Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian security forces, Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan familiarized himself with the Russian Spartak armored vehicle, also called VPK-Ural. The VPK-Ural armored vehicles are currently actively used by the Russian army. It is not yet clear whether Iran will purchase Spartak armored vehicles. Most likely, the Russian Spartak armored vehicles will be used in areas bordering Pakistan to reinforce Iranian border guard units.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[BravoZulu]

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has contracted three more Avante 2200 corvettes from Spanish firm Navantia

The three new corvettes will join the existing fleet of five Avante 2200 corvettes already in service as part of the Sarawat project signed between KSA and Navantia in 2018.

Navantia said in a statement Wednesday that work on the first new corvette will start later this year, and the delivery is scheduled to conclude in 2028.

“This second batch series of corvettes for Saudi Arabia will be similar to the first batch, with a design based on Navantia’s Avante 2200 model, which is a multipurpose vessel specially designed for patrolling and monitoring of the Exclusive Economic Zone, maritime traffic surveillance and control missions, search and rescue missions and assistance to other vessels, among others,” Navantia said. “In addition, the vessels will have an important capacity for the defense of strategic assets, intelligence, and anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, anti-surface and electronic warfare capabilities.”

Navantia said SAMINavantia, a joint venture between the Spanish firm and the Kingdom’s Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), will install the Hazem Combat System for the ships.

Hazem is the first-ever combat management system developed and produced inside KSA by SAMI.

The installation, integration and trials of the second and third corvettes in KSA comes in line with Saudi Vision 2030, that target localizing 50 percent of defense production in the Kingdom.
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/12...3-avante-2200-corvettes-from-spains-navantia/

 

[haze99]

Iranian SSM

Exclusive: Iran Unveils Locally-Made BM-300 Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile at Vietnam Defense Expo

Exclusive: Iran Unveils Locally-Made BM-300 Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile at Vietnam Defense Expo

armyrecognition.com

 

[BravoZulu]

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of Abrams Tank Refurbishment, Support, and Equipment, and related equipment for an estimated cost of $4.69 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Egypt has requested a possible sale to refurbish and upgrade five hundred fifty-five (555) M1A1 Abrams tanks into M1A1SA configuration tanks. Included are five hundred fifty-five (555) AN/VAS- 5B Driver Vision Enhancer (DVE-A) Kits; five hundred fifty-five (555) Thermal Imaging System (TIS) Gunner's Sights; M250 Smoke Grenade Launchers; AGT-1500 tank engines; X-1100 tank transmissions; spare parts; support equipment; depot level support; Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE); repair parts; repair and return program; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total program cost is $4.69 billion.

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of Hellfire AGM-114R Missiles and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $630 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Egypt has requested to buy two thousand one hundred eighty-three (2,183) Hellfire Air-to- Ground Missiles, AGM-114R. The following non MDE items will also be included: spare and repair parts; U.S. Government technical assistance; integrated logistics support; hardware equipment; technical publications; repair and return services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated cost is $630 million and an additional $30 million in precision-guided munitions.

 

[CemalPasha]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[haze99]

Iraq buys from South Korea

South Korea signs $93.7M helicopter deal with Iraq – Defence Blog

defence-blog.com

 

[Soldier35]

During the exercises of the Iranian IRGC units, the new Iranian loitering munition "Rezvan" was shown for the first time. The drone "Rezvan" is launched from a container, its concept is similar to the Russian drone "Lancet-53" or the Israeli "Hero-120". It is officially reported that the drone "Rezvan" was created on the basis of a number of IRGC innovations, including systems such as the drone "Sina", presented two years ago. The drone is equipped with an optical module with day and thermal vision channels. It is stated that the drone "Rezvan" has a flight range of up to 20 km, flight time up to 20 minutes. The estimated weight of the drone's warhead is 3-5 kg.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Soldier35]

Iranian media have published footage of Commander Major General Hossein Salami visiting one of Iran's underground missile bases. The footage shows the impressive stockpiles of ballistic missiles that are at the disposal of the IRGC.
According to Petr Shpagin, a former employee of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, underground bases can withstand nuclear weapons strikes. Iran has long been known for its extensive complex of underground facilities housing missile systems. Such bases ensure the secrecy and protection of weapons from possible attacks. The underground base is equipped with modern missile systems that are capable of hitting targets at long distances.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Soldier35]

Footage of the use of the TOLUN gliding guided aerial bomb by the Turkish ANKA III UAV, manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries. The ANKA-III UAV dropped the bomb and successfully hit the target from an altitude of 6,100 meters at a flight speed of 333 km/h. The TOLUN bomb is manufactured by Aselsan and has a flight range of about 100 km, the bomb weighs about 127 kg, the bomb is guided to the target using GPS signals and inertial navigation data. The ANKA 3 jet UAV is capable of carrying up to 1,200 kg of payload, with a flight range of up to 700 km and a cruising speed of up to 460 km/h.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Soldier35]

IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri has released footage of the new Iranian underground IRGC naval base. Iran's underground naval base is located 500 meters below the surface and has several outlets to the Persian Gulf. Judging by the video, the base is mainly home to various missile and torpedo boats, minelayers, including air defense boats. IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri called the base a well-protected underground city of ships, which allows boats to be quickly launched. According to him, only part of the Iranian Navy's ships are located underground.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Soldier35]

Iran has released footage of exercises with the Shahed-149 Gaza heavy reconnaissance and strike UAV. The video shows the Shahed-149 dropping a Sadid-345 bomb at one of the training grounds. The Shahed-149 Gaza UAV has been produced by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation since 2022. The UAV is equipped with a new chassis system and weapon suspension points. It can stay in the air for more than 35 hours and cover more than 7,000 km in one sortie. The drone's flight speed is up to 400 km / h, flight altitude is up to 11,000 meters. The UAV's power plant is a 750 hp engine. The Iranian Sadid-345 aerial bomb is guided to the target via a video channel, a laser beam, or an IR homing head. The bomb weighs 34 kg, the warhead is cumulative, the flight range is up to 6 km.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Soldier35]

Iran has commissioned the aircraft carrier drone carrier "Shahid Bahman Bagheri" with the hull number C-110-4. The ship "Shahid Bahman Bagheri" was built on the basis of the former container ship "Perarin", built in South Korea. Iran has long been using such a scheme for building aircraft carriers, it is inexpensive and feasible in a short time.
The container ship, 240 meters long and 32 meters wide, was modified into an aircraft carrier at the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex. The aircraft carrier drone carrier "Shahid Bahman Bagheri" is equipped with a runway with a ramp for taking off heavy UAVs. Inside there is a hangar and a lift for drones. The ship also carries light missile boats, sea drones and Mi-8 and Bell 214 helicopters. The armament of the ship "Shahid Bahman Bagheri", various artillery, launchers of anti-ship missiles, air defense is represented by boats with Kowsar-222 missiles. The displacement of the ship is 41,315 tons, the cruising range is up to 22,000 nautical miles, the speed is 22 knots.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Soldier35]

The Israeli Defense Ministry held a test in the south of the country, during which Israeli startups and defense companies demonstrated drone interception technologies and systems. The tests tested developments by defense companies Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael and six other smaller weapons suppliers, presenting various solutions to combat the drone threat. The tests were a follow-up to the first series of tests conducted in October 2024 and were organized under the direction of Director General Maj. Gen. (ret.) Eyal Zamir. The systems on display included drone interceptors, missile interceptors, and systems “based on artillery guns.”

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Soldier35]

The Russian version of the "Mangal" protection was spotted on Iranian T-72S tanks. In this case, "Mangal" protects only a small part of the tank's turret from drones. In fact, it is only protection from drones dropping ammunition. It is worth noting that the protection is too low, it will be difficult for the tank crew to leave the combat vehicle. Previously, "Mangal" protection was installed on French Leclerc tanks, Japanese Type-10 tanks and Argentine TAM tanks.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Soldier35]

The Russian version of the "Mangal" protection has also appeared on the T-72 tanks of the new Syrian army. It is worth noting that it is quite difficult to understand where the new and old armies are in Syria now. This version of protection against drones has a simplified version and protects the tank only from ammunition dropped by drones from above. The tank is additionally equipped with first-generation dynamic protection "Contact-1".

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[BravoZulu]

The State Department has approved Israel’s three foreign military sales requests worth approximately $3 billion combined for munitions, guidance kits, bulldozers and related equipment and support services.

Israel requested to buy $2.04 billion worth of MK 84 or BLU-117 General Purpose bomb bodies; I-2000 Penetrator warheads; spare parts; accessories, repair and return support; transportation; logistics; technical; U.S. government and contractor engineering; and program support.

The proposed $675.7 million sale of MK 83 MOD 4/MOD 5 General Purpose 1,000-pound bomb bodies; BLU-110A/B GP 1,000-pound bomb bodies; MU-559C/B Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, guidance kits; KMU-559J/B JDAM guidance kits and related technical, program, engineering and logistics support will enable Israel to further develop its self-defense capability and improve its deterrence against threats.

Israel also requested to procure Caterpillar D9 Bulldozers from the U.S. government through a $295 million FMS deal to help its ground forces better defend its borders, population centers and critical infrastructure.
https://www.govconwire.com/2025/03/state-department-israel-fms-deals-munitions-bulldozers/

 

[Soldier35]

The Iranian army, in line with new trends in military technology, showed the first exercises using Iranian FPV drones. The drone models are not reported, but as elsewhere, the drones are assembled from Chinese components. The combat unit is somewhat different from Russian and Ukrainian analogues.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies