Bilateral Training Exercise With S. Korea Concludes
Source: U.S. Navy
December 18 2022
South Korea
USA
U.S. and South Korean special operations forces have just concluded a joint exercise, reports the U.S. Navy.
The two-week exercise involved the U.S. Navy and SEALs from South Korea's Special Warfare Flotilla.
The exercise included weapons training, close-combat drills, joint mission planning, casualty care and cultural exchange.
Drills concluded with force-on-force assault scenarios, simulating urban combat environments.
The training enhanced readiness and demonstrated interoperability between the two forces, the Navy said.
Raytheon Wins Deal For F-35 Engines
Source: Dept. of Defense
December 18 2022
USA
Naval Air Systems Command has awarded a contract modification to Raytheon Technologies for fighter engines, reports the Dept. of Defense.
The $619 million modification covers materials, parts and components for Lot 17 F135 propulsion systems for the F-35 Lightning II program.
The deal also includes production and delivery of four F135-PW-600 propulsion units in support of Lot 15 and 16 F-35s for non-Defense Dept. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers.
Under the contract, Raytheon will also provide integration support for an unspecified FMS customer into the F-35 program.
Work is scheduled to be completed in October 2030.
Military Exercises To Be Hosted In Belarus
Source: Moscow Times
December 18 2022
Belarus
Russia
Russian troops are set to conduct military exercises with Belarus, reports the Moscow Times.
The drills are intended to assess the combat capacity and readiness of Russian forces stationed in Belarus, the Russian Defense Ministry said, as cited by Interfax.
The date and location of the drills were not made public.
The announcement comes as President Putin visits Belarus for talks with his counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko.
It is unknown what role the Belarusian military would play in the planned exercise.
Russia deployed 9,000 troops to Belarus in October as part of a regional task force.
The drills have raised concerns that they could be used as a pretext for Belarus to join the war in Ukraine, potentially opening a second front north of Kyiv.
Water On Arctic Patrol Vessels Believed To Be Contaminated By Lead
Source: Ottawa Citizen
December 18 2022
Canada
Drinking water on Canada's new Arctic patrol ships is believed to be contaminated with lead, reports the Ottawa Citizen.
Bottled water has been distributed to crews following allegations of water contamination.
The fittings and valves in several of the ships' water systems were manufactured from alloys that exceeded the allowable amounts of lead, the Dept. of National Defense said.
Irving Shipbuilding was responsible for the installation of all fittings and valves on the new Harry DeWolf-class Arctic patrol vessels.
Sailors alleged that the navy and Defense Dept. tried to hide the contamination from the public.
Water testing measures are now ongoing for the Harry DeWolf and Margaret Brooke. Testing measures are under consideration for the Max Bernays, which has not yet begun operations, and the William Hall, which is expected to be delivered in the fall of 2023.
Agni V Nuclear-Capable Missile Passes Test
Source: Hindustan Times
December 18 2022
India
India has conducted another successful test-firing of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, reports the Hindustan Times.
On Dec. 15, the Agni V missile was launched from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off of the coast of the eastern Odisha state.
The night trials confirmed the missile's capabilities and speed and validated new lighter weight technologies and equipment, officials said.
The last Agni V test took place on Oct. 27, 2021, at the same facility.
The missile weighs 123,460 pounds (56,000 kg) and a range of 3,100 miles (5,000 km).
Russia Continues To Target Civilian Infrastructure
Source: Deutsche Welle
December 18 2022
Ukraine
Russia
Russia has continued its missile attacks on civilian targets across Ukraine, reports Deutsche Welle.
On Friday, Russian missiles hit several key cities, targeting critical infrastructure and causing blackouts and interruptions to the water supply and energy system.
Two people were killed and at least five wounded in the central city of Kryvyi Rih.
Ukrainian authorities said that Russia had fired 76 missiles, 60 of which were downed by air defenses.
Friday's attack included 72 cruise missiles, such as the Kh-101, Kh-22 and Kalibr, and four air-to-surface guided missiles, including the Kh-59 and Kh-31P.
Islamic State Courts Multiethnic Recruits in Afghanistan, Says U.S.
Source: Voice of America
December 18 2022
Afghanistan
The Islamic State branch in Afghanistan is seeking out multiethnic recruits, according to U.S officials cited by the Voice of America News.
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) has conducted numerous attacks in the past year as it battles the Taliban for control of the country.
ISIS-K has mostly consisted of Pashtun fighters. U.S. officials have expressed concern that the group is now recruiting fighters from Afghanistan's Central Asian neighbors.
Last week's attack on a hotel in Kabul frequented by Chinese citizens has fueled concerns of growing ISIS-K capabilities.
The U.S. has enhanced coordination with Central Asian states in an effort to prevent spillover from ISIS-K's insurgency in Afghanistan.
Indigenous Special Operations Boat Receives Remote Weapon Station
Source: Naval News
December 18 2022
Greece
The Greek navy has fielded its first remote weapon station (RWS) on a domestically developed special operations craft, reports the Naval News.
The Agenor special operations boat, designed by Phi-Mechaniseas and built by Hellenic Shipyards, has now been equipped with the Shark lightweight dual-axis 12.7-mm weapon station from Israeli firm General Robotics.
The Agenor, measuring 59-feet (18-m) long and displacing 22.5 metric tons, is designed for operations in the Aegean Sea, including inserting and extracting special operations forces, interdiction, patrol and combat search-and-rescue support.
The boat has a crew of four and can accommodate up to 10 fully equipped troops.
It is Greece's first domestically built, special operations boat, and the first vessel in the Greek navy to receive a remote weapon station.
Tehran Seeks More Naval Cooperation With Russia
Source: Breaking Defense
December 18 2022
Iran
Russia
Iran is seeking Russian support in procuring and constructing new naval vessels, according to Israeli sources cited by Breaking Defense.
Israeli defense sources say that Iranian officials have traveled to Russia to bolster naval cooperation, including production of new warships.
Tehran is interested in purchasing existing Russian vessels and acquiring support and designs for new naval capabilities.
If successful, these initiatives could see Russian warships armed with Iranian missiles and systems operating in the Gulf, or Iranian vessels produced in Russian shipyards.
Tensions between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regular Iranian navy could hinder efforts to coordinate on naval projects with Russia, analysts said.
7 Police Killed In ISIS Attack In Kirkuk Province
Source: Rudaw
December 18 2022
Iraq
At least seven federal Iraqi police officers have been killed in a roadside bombing in northern Iraq, reports Rudaw (Erbil, Iraq).
The improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a police vehicle in the Riyadh subdistrict in southern Kirkuk province, after which suspected Islamic State (ISIS) militants opened fire, according to Iraqi state media on Sunday.
At least seven police officers were killed in the attack, including one senior officer. One militant was also confirmed dead.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani announced an investigation into the incident, vowing retribution for the fallen officers.
Separately, three people were killed by an ISIS bomb in Iraq's Nineveh province on Saturday.
U.N. Peacekeepers Killed Near Timbuktu
Source: Al Jazeera
December 18 2022
Mali
Two U.N. peacekeepers have been killed in a militant attack in northern Mali, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar).
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on troops from the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) near Timbuktu on Dec. 16.
Two Nigerian peacekeepers and a Malian soldier were killed in the attack. Four others were wounded.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault.
Government Successfully Completes Test For Spy Satellite
Source: Reuters
December 18 2022
North Korea
North Korea has completed a final phase test for a new satellite ahead of its launch, reports Reuters, citing North Korean media.
On Monday, the North Korean National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) conducted the test to review its satellite imagining, data transmission and ground-control systems.
The test at the Sohae satellite launching station involved the launch of a dummy satellite equipped with a 65-foot (20-m) full color camera, two multispectra cameras, image transmitters and receivers, a control device and a storage battery. The rocket was launched at a range of 310 miles (500 km).
The test satellite also captured two low-resolution images of the South Korean cities of Seoul and Incheon.
The test was intended to support the development of a new spy satellite, which Pyongyang hopes to complete by April 2023.
Pair Of Ballistic Missiles Launched Into Sea Of Japan
Source: Japan Times
December 18 2022
North Korea
North Korea has launched two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, reports the Japan Times.
On Sunday, the missiles were launched from North Korea's western coast, traveling about 310 miles (500 km) and reaching a maximum altitude of 341 miles (550 km) before landing in the Sea of Japan.
Defense Minister Toshiro Ino announced that the missiles had hit waters outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone, which extends 230 miles (370 km) from its coast.
The missile firings come after Japan released its revised National Security Strategy last week, which called for the development of counterstrike missile capabilities to disrupt and prevent attacks on Japan.
With the latest launches, North Korea has conducted more than 60 missile test-firings this year.
Government Protests Renewed Japanese Claim On Dokdo Islands
Source: Yonhap News Agency
December 18 2022
South Korea
Japan
The South Korean government has formally protested the latest Japanese territorial claims on the disputed Dokdo Islands in the Sea of Japan, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul).
In its revised national security strategy approved last week, Tokyo renewed its sovereignty over the disputed islands, which it calls Takeshima and are also known as the Liancourt Rocks.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says the islets, which lie in rich fishing grounds and may contain energy resources, are inherent Japanese territory. The region has been the source of contention between the countries for more than a century.
On Friday, the South Korean Foreign and Defense ministries summoned a senior diplomat and defense attache from the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to lodge a formal protest of the Japanese claims.
South Korea has warned that such claims would obstruct the deepening of "future-oriented" ties.
U.S. Building New Base In Raqqa
Source: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
December 18 2022
USA
Syria
The U.S. is preparing to build a new base in Raqqa in northern Syria, reports the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
In November, U.S. forces announced the start of construction of a military base and airfield in the former headquarters of the Syrian 17th Division near Raqqa.
Sources told the observatory that the base would be built in the center of the city, near the Al Rashid bridge.
U.S. forces have had a limited presence in the region since withdrawing during Turkey's Peace Spring operation in 2019.
American troops patrolled the city for the first time on Dec. 14 while flying the U.S. flag. Previous military and intelligence patrols were made without flying the flag.
The city has been under control of the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces, since it was seized from ISIS in 2017.
Rescue Operations Underway After Navy Ship Sinks In Storm
Source: Bangkok Post
December 18 2022
Thailand
Search and rescue operations are underway after a Thai navy ship sank in a storm, reports the Bangkok Post (Thailand).
The Rattanakosin-class corvette Sukhothai sank on Sunday night during a storm in the Gulf of Thailand near Prachuap Khiri Khan.
High waves caused the vessel to heel over 60 degrees to starboard.
Thirty-one sailors from the crew of 106 were reported missing, prompting a search effort, including Dornier aircraft and Seahawk helicopters.
The vessels Angthong, Bhumibol Adulyadej and Kraburi were also deployed to locate the missing sailors.
Thai navy sources denied a report that 10 of the missing sailors had been recovered by a patrol boat.
Another report claimed that a separate rescue operation had taken place for the survivors of a freighter, which had also been damaged during the storm.
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