Americas
General Dynamics won a $96.4 million modification for Long Lead Time Material associated with the Virginia Class submarines SSN 812 and SSN 813. Work will take place in Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and other locations within the US as well as the United Kingdom.
The United States and Britain launched new strikes on Yemen’s Houthis Monday, saying their second round of joint military action against the Iran-backed rebels was in response to continued attacks on Red Sea shipping. American and British forces carried out a first wave of strikes against the rebel group earlier this month, and the US launched further air raids against missiles that Washington said posed imminent threats to both civilian and military vessels.
Middle East & Africa
The German government has tacitly agreed to an Israeli request for tank shells following long deliberations, according to Der Spiegel. Israel requested a total of 10,000 120-millimeter Rheinmetall precision rounds in November to replenish ammunition used in the Gaza operation, the German outlet added, citing sources. Other countries have also received requests, with US President Joe Biden agreeing to deliver 14,000 rounds in early December, bypassing Congress.
Europe
The British Royal Navy’s Sea Viper air defense system is set for a significant upgrade, marking a major step forward in both national security and for the European defense industry. The $514 million project, announced in a joint statement by the UK government and MBDA, the prime contractor, promises to strengthen the UK’s maritime defenses against evolving threats while also providing a lucrative boost for the company. At the heart of the upgrade lies the need to counter the growing threat of anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs). The existing Sea Viper system, already capable of engaging a variety of air threats, will be enhanced with upgraded warheads and software for its Aster 30 missiles, enabling them to tackle these emerging dangers. This enhanced capability will be crucial in protecting the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and vital shipping lanes from potential adversaries.
The US Navy, which took over the Aegis Ashore system in Poland after a five-year delay, immediately moved the system into an upgrade and maintenance effort, Defense News reports. The Aegis Ashore system, meant to offer regional missile defense for Europe, has been operational in Deveslu, Romania since 2016, but the Missile Defense Agency struggled to reach operational capability at the second Aegis Ashore site in Redzikowo, Poland, because of construction issues.
Asia-Pacific
North Korea said Friday that it had tested an “underwater nuclear weapon system” in response to joint naval exercises by Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo that involved a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The drills were “seriously threatening the security” of the North, so in response, Pyongyang “conducted an important test of its underwater nuclear weapon system ‘Haeil-5-23’ under development in the East Sea of Korea,” according to a statement from the defence ministry carried by state news agency KCNA.
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