Finance

Israel announces defense export record: $15 billion in 2024

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense export reached $14.79 billion in 2024, setting a new record at a 13% increase over the previous year, Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday.

Trump names nominees to take over Middle East, Africa commands

President Donald Trump is nominating Vice Adm. Brad Cooper to take over as the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, the Pentagon said Wednesday. If he is confirmed, it would mark just the second time that a Navy admiral has held the job.

Ukraine ‘well prepared’ for Russian response to drone stunt: Pistorius

COLOGNE, Germany — Ukrainian forces are “well prepared” for a Russian response to Sunday’s drone attacks against long-range bombers parked on air bases across Russia, according to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Zelenskyy asks Congress for more air defenses as Ukraine aid dwindles

WASHINGTON ― Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a last-minute visit to Washington on Tuesday to make the case for additional air defense support.

Drones, jammers in Ukraine signal new era of warfare, Del Toro says

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now nearing the end of its second year, has ushered in a “new era of war” in which drones and electronic warfare are having outsize impacts, the secretary of the U.S. Navy said.

US envoy sees European security org as key to peace on continent

STUTTGART, Germany — European nations will need a “new security architecture” on their continent once the war in Ukraine ends, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe should help lead the way, the U.S. envoy to the group said.

US manufacturers eye Javelin anti-tank missile production in Poland

WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s state-run defense group PGZ has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between Lockheed Martin and RTX, formerly known as Raytheon Technologies, to jointly produce Javelin anti-tank weapons.

Is the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy sustainable?

On Aug. 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an inspirational speech in Kyiv’s St. Sophia Square to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day. His message was familiar to anyone who has heard or read a Zelenskyy speech since he became a wartime president. “We are fighting the enemy,” he told the crowd. “And we know what we are capable of. We are capable of winning! And we will prevail!”

Ukrainian pilots will learn to fly F-16s at US Air Force’s 162nd Wing

WASHINGTON — The U.S. will begin training Ukrainian F-16 pilots within two months, Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a briefing Thursday.

As Russia moves arms on civilian ships, Ukraine’s backers must respond

Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking civilian shipping, and indeed Ukraine has conducted four or more attacks on Russian ships since the beginning of August. At least one of the ships in question were being used to transport military equipment, rendering it a legal and potentially valuable target despite being a civilian-flagged vessel.

What is the long-term strategy for Ukraine’s Air Force?

On May 19, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the country would help train and support the transfer by European allies of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. But the F-16s are older aircraft that will need to be replaced in just a few years, so some consideration should be paid now to what’s next for the Ukraine Air Force.

Ukraine dam collapse triggers emergency as Moscow and Kyiv trade blame

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The wall of a major dam in southern Ukraine collapsed Tuesday, triggering floods, endangering Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction.

Turkey’s Baykar unveils cruise missile for drones

ANKARA, Turkey —Baykar has revealed a new cruise missile for use on the Turkish company’s TB2, TB3 and Akinci combat drones.

Any perception that China doesn’t affect NATO is invalid

The United States’ most significant challenge in the 21st century is the strategic rivalry with the Peoples’ Republic of China in the Indo-Pacific region. With the PRC’s “One China” policy stating that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, a clash over the island could become the culminating issue leading to world conflict, if not addressed in an appropriate manner.

Watch Ukraine use Soviet-era helicopters in fight against Russia

DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — Skimming the treetops, three Soviet-era attack helicopters bank and swoop down on a field after an early-morning mission to the front lines in the fight against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

NATO preps tech competition to solve real-world security issues

STUTTGART, Germany — NATO’s nascent defense technology accelerator is preparing to launch the first several competition-style programs, meant to help the alliance find solutions to emerging technology problems.

House Republicans tout Ukraine oversight, brace for funding fight

WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders spotlighted Ukraine aid oversight in hearings Tuesday while pushing the Biden administration to deliver better equipment faster, even as they prepare for an intraparty clash with the right-flank of their caucus later this year over additional assistance for Kyiv.

A graphical comparison of Russian, Ukrainian forces a year into war

WASHINGTON — One year after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war has left at least 8,006 civilians dead, the United Nations’ leading human rights organization reported on Feb. 21.

Poland continues talk of a Leopard 2 ‘alliance,’ even without Germany

WARSAW, Poland — Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced his country will request Germany’s approval for the planned transfer of some of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Poland is also in talks with a group of Western European nations, including the U.K., to jointly supply a large number of Leopard 2s and other tanks to its neighbor amid its combat against Russia’s invasion, he said.

Austin meets new German defense minister over Ukraine tank support

WASHINGTON — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Germany’s newly appointed defense minister, Boris Pistorius, on Thursday to push Berlin to approve the transfer of German-made tanks for Ukraine to fight Russia’s invasion.