Americas
The US Navy has accepted the 72nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer from Bath Iron Works as part of a deal awarded in 2013. The USS John Basilone is a Flight IIA guided missile destroyer incorporating an advanced mine countermeasure solution, helicopter hangars, blast-hardened bulkheads, and additional electronic and networked systems. A keel-laying ceremony for the ship was held in 2020, followed by its christening two years later.
In June 2024, during a joint training exercise at RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, two United States Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B pilots from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214 successfully flew Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A aircraft. This accomplishment signifies a significant step towards interchangeable operations between the two forces. Lt. Col. Robert Guyette, VMFA-214’s commanding officer, emphasizes the distinction between interoperability, where forces can work together, and interchangeability, where resources like pilots and aircraft can be freely shared. This pilot exchange program represents a key step towards achieving the latter.
Middle East & Africa
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday that 60 percent of Hamas fighters had been “eliminated or wounded” in the Gaza war since the militant group’s October 7 attacks. Gallant reaffirmed in a statement to parliament on the first nine months of the conflict that Israel was “determined” to meet its war goals of eradicating Hamas and bringing all hostages back from Gaza.vThe minister praised Israeli soldiers for “performing their work with dedication, sacrifice and success” and said “the achievements are many.”
Europe
Saab, the Swedish defense giant, has secured a contract to deliver its Mobile Short Range Air Defence (MSHORAD) system to Lithuania. This agreement, valued at approximately $123 million, signifies a significant boost for Lithuania’s air defense capabilities. Deliveries of the MSHORAD system are expected to occur between 2025 and 2027. The contract builds upon a preexisting framework agreement established between Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), and the Lithuanian MoD. This framework allows Lithuania flexibility in future procurements of Saab’s RBS 70 NG short-range air defense missile solution.
Asia-Pacific
The Indonesian government is being encouraged to form a separate military branch dedicated solely to cyber warfare. Discussions are ongoing in Jakarta about creating a fourth military branch, with former National Resilience Institute governor Andi Widjajanto saying the proposed move is now becoming inevitable. He also said that state and non-state entities appeared to be capable of mounting attacks on the country through cyberspace, so it is “crucial for the government to act swiftly on this idea.”
