I - On Defense Podcast

For review:1. US Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen.2. US Navy F/A 18F Super Hornet Downed by friendly fire over the Red Sea. The Super Hornet, assigned to aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), was flying over the Red Sea when guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64) fired upon it, according to the CENTCOM statement. The two pilots ejected safely, and were recovered. 3. Israel Turns Attention Toward Houthis.The Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel in the past year. 4.  US Authorizes $571 Million in Military Assistance to Taiwan.The White House said in a brief statement that President Biden had authorized the drawdown "of up to $571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan."5. USAF study supports manned-6th Generation fighter- potentially in support of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.6. US Army Self-Propelled Howitzer (155mm) Modernization.

For review:1. Israel Strikes Houthi Ports, Depots, & Power Stations.Fourteen fighter jets, alongside refuelers and spy planes, flew some 2,000 kilometers in the early hours of Thursday morning and dropped over 60 munitions on Houthi “military targets,” the IDF said.2. Russian President Putin addresses country during four-hour news conference- with broad range of topics.The news conference saw Mr. Putin address a possible end to the war, as he said he is "ready to compromise" in possible talks with US President-elect Donald Trump.3.  UK Troops in Ukraine for Training Mission? UK Forces could be sent to Ukraine to directly train soldiers there, the British defense secretary (John Healey) suggested — as he unveiled a further £225 million worth of weapons and other military gear for Kyiv. 4. Slovakia to purchase 12 x UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters.5. Hanwha (S. Korea) Purchases Controlling Stake in Philly Shipyard.6. USAF Secretary (Frank Kendall) has public disagreement with Elon Musk over the future of manned fighter aircraft. Secretary Kendall said Musk’s idea of a drone Air Force that can take the place of the current crewed fleet is still years away from having the necessary technology to work.7. Senate Armed Service Committee Chairman (Senator Roger Wicker) to introduce legislation designed to streamline and improve the Department of Defense's Acquisition process.

For review:1. Israeli PM visits Mount Hermon on Syrian Side.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that Israeli troops would remain stationed inside Syria for the foreseeable future.2. New Syrian Leader (Abu Muhammad al-Julani) speaks with journalists- presents moderate proposals and ideas for new Syrian State.Speaking to journalists at the prime ministerial headquarters in Damascus, Julani said rebel factions in Syria would be disbanded, and their fighters placed under the defense ministry. He played down the prospect of a Syria run by Islamic law, and vowed to protect minority rights. He also called for sanctions to be lifted so refugees can return.3. International Atomic Energy Agency: Iran has Enriched Uranium at Military Grade.According to an IAEA report, Iran has begun dramatically expanding its production of uranium enriched to near-weapons grade levels, collecting enough material for several bombs already.4. Top Russian General Killed by Explosive in Moscow.Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside an apartment building on along with his assistant. 5. Armor Not Dead: Lithuania to procure 44 x Leopard 2 Tanks- with the goal is to have the tanks by 2030. The Lithuanian government is calling the procurement, the single largest defense acquisition project in the country’s history.6. Portugal to procure 12x A-29N Super Tucano Aircraft in a deal worth $210 million.7. US Navy & USMC LSM Program Stalled due to Cost.After receiving bids from industry, the Navy canceled the request for proposals for the Landing Ship Medium. While the USMC has pushed for a more affordable ship- built to commercial standards- the Navy’s requirements for improved survivability have increased the cost.

For review:1. Israel - Hamas Potential Hostage Deal in Two Weeks.An unnamed Israeli official told the Israel Hayom daily on Sunday that a ceasefire-hostage deal will likely be completed by Hanukkah, which begins this year on the evening of December 25.2. Hezbollah leader (Naim Qassem) acknowledges that the supply route from Iran- through Syria- to Lebanon, has been cut. “Yes, Hezbollah has lost the military supply route through Syria at this stage, but this loss is a detail in the resistance’s work,” Qassem said.3. Kurdish-led forces in Syria (allied with the United States), accidently shot down a US MQ-9 Drone on Monday. Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces were conducting operations when they downed the MQ-9, a U.S. official familiar with the situation confirmed to Defense News.4. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to procure more Avante 2200 Corvettes from Spanish-firm Navantia.5. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warns European countries to prepare for war with a volatile Russia. Rutte listed a series of recent “hostile actions” by Russia against NATO allies, including cyber-attacks, assassinations, an explosion at a Czech ammunition depot, the jamming of radars in the Baltic region to disrupt air traffic, and the “weaponization” of migrants to destabilize Europe.6. Japan to Purchase T-6 Texan Trainer Aircraft. The Japanese government has selected the US-built basic trainer aircraft and associated ground equipment for its air force’s pilot training program.7. Australia Test Fires Tomahawk Cruise Missile from Destroyer.On Tuesday, Australia announced that destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) conducted a successful first firing of an RGM-109E Tomahawk cruise missile off the US West Coast.