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The Dutch gov't has ordered 4 Blacksword Barracuda submarines from the French Naval Group. They want to equip them with U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles. But according to diplomatic circles quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper, the US is not keen on sharing military secrets with the French. Hence no Tomahawks for the Dutch? 5.4 billion euro deal down the drain? SNAFU!

Lockheed Martin & Romanian company Aerostar S.A. have opened Europe's first HIMARS Sustainment Centre in Bacău, Romania. It will perform maintenance on HIMARS operated by Romania & NATO partners.

The Czech government is set to approve an agreement for the joint acquisition of Leopard 2A8 tanks in the coming weeks, according to Defense Minister Jana Černochová (ODS). Negotiations are ongoing with Germany to purchase 77 tanks. This agreement is a preliminary step towards finalizing the purchase contract, which could be signed by the end of the year. The cost is expected to be similar to that of the CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, for which the Czech Republic paid 59.7 billion CZK for 264 units.

As Diehl Defence announced at the ILA in Berlin, they intend to expand their production capacities massively for the IRIS-T SLM air defence system and its IRIS-T SL missiles.

Diehl Defence wants to produce at least ten IRIS-T SLM per year starting in 2026 and double the production of IRIS-T SL missiles from 2025.

Based on this, the following growth in terms of new produced systems is achieved

IRIS-T SLM
2023 → 3 to 4 per year
2025 → 8+ per year
2026 → 10+ per year

In terms of missiles, it's a bit more complicated. In 2023, the company reported that they want to produce 400 to 500 missiles per year in 2024, but didn't specify whether they were talking about all IRIS-T missiles, or just IRIS-T SL. If they were just talking about IRIS-T SL, it looks as following

IRIS-T SL
2022 → ~ 67 to ~ 83
2023 → 200 to 250
2024 → 400 to 500
2025 → 800 to 1000

Germany has so far delivered four IRIS-T SLM systems to Ukraine and has pledged to deliver another eight. However, the air defence system is also in great demand within and outside ESSI.

Czech Leopard 2A8CZ acquisition. Joint order with Germany . We know more now

6 versions will be acquired.

The basic number is 61 machines, delivery 2027-2029. Price is 39,8 bln CZK (1,59 bln Euro)

Option is for 16 machines, delivery of all in 2030, price is then 52,1 bln CZK (2,1 bln Euro).

Versions are: MBT, commander MBT, ARV, engineering, training and assault bridge.

Part of the price is training, military trials of 2A8CZ in 2027, and basic service.

Czech government will vote on approval this month. If it will approve.

Czech MoD will then sign an agreement for joint order of MBTs. This is expected to happen during this summer. After that, acquisition contract will be prepared between Czech MoD, German MoD and KNDS, where the specifics will be detailed.

This contract will then be presented to Czech government for final approval. This must happen until 31st december 2024.

Given this. Czech Armed Forces and its 73rd tank battalion can receive 77 Leopards 2A8CZ, that will be pretty much identical to ones acquired by Germany.

With only minor changes. Part of the negotiations is also domestic industrial share, service and some extra equipment.

On top of that. Czechia can receive 28 Leopards 2A4 and 2 Buffel ARV on top of current 14 A4 and 1 buffel. This as well will need governmental approval

In the end. Czech Forces inventory can grow to 122 Leopards 2A8, 2A4 and support variants.

This would be enough for full rearmanet and enlargement of 73rd tank battalion, that can in theory have up to 7 tank companies and one mechanized.

This is a crucial step for..

NATO capability target, that is demanding heavy mechanized brigade till 2030.

Deliveries of 246 CV90mk.IV is 2026-2030

Delivery of Leopards 2A4 is 2024-2025.

Delivery of Leopards 2A8 is 2027-2029/30.

Czech Armed Forces want to fulfill the commitment.

Defense is purchasing new 120mm mortars for the CV90 infantry fighting vehicles. These are systems from the Swedish manufacturer BAE Hägglunds. The armed forces will once again have mobile ground-based fire support for a longer period of time. The first mortar systems should be delivered in 2028.

I hear only 43 Mechanized Brigade is getting these new CV90 mortars. Six for each of the brigade's two battalions.

13th brigade will receive 120mm in due course with Manticore as a base
11th brigade will receive 120mm in due course with rheinmetal caracal as a basis

The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee's intends to require women to register for Selective Service as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY25.

US House of Representatives passes bill automatically registering men aged 18 to 26 for selective service, 217 to 199 - Fox News

Foreigners will be excluded from this obligation.

I was lucky to have the privilege of commanding the 2nd Battalion of The Rifles for a deployment which ran from late August 2021 to early December 2021. The central part of the deployment was Exercise Askari Storm, a 47-day battlegroup-level training exercise in Kenya which culminated in 14 days of battlegroup exercises. This article offers my key reflections on command and battlegroup operations and observations about how to fight.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is set to become NATO's new secretary-general, taking over from Jens Stoltenberg.

Rutte, a former businessman turned politician, has been a major player in European politics since 2010.

Known for his right-wing views and strong defense policies, he has led the Netherlands through a period of significant change.

As Prime Minister, Rutte has been a strong advocate for strengthening the military.

He pushed for increased defense spending, ensuring the Netherlands met NATO's 2% GDP target.

His government has been a key supporter of Ukraine, pledging significant military aid and leading the push to provide F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv.

Rutte's appointment comes at a crucial time for NATO, as the alliance faces ongoing challenges from Russia.

Sources: Politico, The Defense Post, VOA News

Czechia aims to become a major power in semiconductors.

Taiwan is already announcing multiple initiatives to build research and development centres in Czechia to make it a major supply chain player in the TSMC ecosystem around its Dresden fab.

Today, Czech government announced that U.S. company Onsemi will invest up to TWO BILLION USD in its semiconductor production operations in Czechia.

Huge for a 10-million country.

Big picture: Czechia is not getting any dirty Chinese state „investment“ like Hungary or Slovakia (aimed at increasing strategic leverage of Communist Party of China), we are already getting major inflow with our democratic allies.

NATO CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF RUTTE AS SECRETARY-GENERAL

NATO:

“On Wednesday (26 June 2024), the North Atlantic Council decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg.

Mr Rutte will assume his functions as Secretary General from 1 October 2024, when Mr Stoltenberg’s term expires after ten years at the helm of the Alliance.”

Source: NATO

The amphibious and land forces will be made up of 9 partner nations and 13 ships HADR exercise with 8 countries, 5 ships, 5 landing craft, 5 aircraft, multiple land forces, & over 2,500 total participants will be part of #RIMPAC 2024.

Aircraft including the F-35 Lightning II fighter, P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), and V-22 Osprey will be operating out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.

RIMPAC 2024 will include multi-domain warfare in a range of scenarios from anti-submarine warfare, multi-ship surface warfare, multinational amphibious landings, and multi-axis defense of the carrier strike group against live forces.

The list of participating ships, is as follows:
United States; Aircraft Carrier
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
Guided Missile Destroyer
USS Kidd (DDG-100)
USS Sterett (DDG-104)
USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110)
USS Gridley (DDG-101)

RIMPAC nations are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga & UK

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)