Americas
The US Marine Corps finished the first flight of its XQ-58A Valkyrie military aerial drone at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The test is part of the Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer – Portfolio (PAACK-P) initiative, a program seeking an “agile, expeditionary, and lethal” drone to support the marines and the joint force in austere environments. The US Marine Corps works with the US Navy and the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense to facilitate the ongoing research, developments, and assessments for PAACK-P.
American shipbuilding firm Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has launched the US Navy’s third America-class amphibious assault ship named “Bougainville.” The vessel was launched into the Pascagoula River in southeastern Mississippi last week, following a series of preparation and dry dock trials. According to HII, the Bougainville is the first ship in the America class to be built with a well deck, supporting surface assault capability.
Middle East and Africa
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean, as part of the US efforts to strengthen regional deterrence efforts in the region and provide support to Israel following Hamas’ devastating surprise attack. The deployment includes US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy, the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. The strike group, carrying some 5,000 troops, is already in the Mediterranean and has begun movement towards Israeli shores.
The Israeli military said it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, signs it could be planning a ground assault there to defeat Hamas after it launched a humiliating attack. In a further signal of Israel’s rapid shift on to a war footing, a cabinet member from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party said it could set up a national unity government joined by opposition leaders within hours. Hamas’ armed wing said it fired rockets towards Jerusalem in response to Israel’s bombing of civilian homes in Gaza. Four people in an area on the outskirts of the city were wounded, the ambulance service said.
Europe
Spain will deliver six additional Hawk air defense systems to Ukraine to help it fend off Russian attacks. Madrid announced the decision following a meeting between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “The Government of Spain will make 6 Hawk launchers available to Ukraine to face possible Russian bombings against civilian targets and critical infrastructure, as well as for the defense of the new grain corridor,” a Spanish government statement read.
Asia-Pacific
Japan has advanced the procurement of Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US by a year. Tokyo will start receiving the Raytheon missiles from fiscal 2025 in light of the “worsening” security situation in Asia, Kyodo News reported citing Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara. Japan will acquire 200 Tomahawk Block 4s between fiscal 2025 and 2027.
Today’s Video
WATCH: How Israel’s Iron Dome Works | WSJ
