Iran Port Blast Caused by "Negligence" + Russian President Announces Ceasefire from 8-11 May + Australian Delivery of Older M1 Abrams Tanks Delayed + India Tests Hypersonic Engine for Missile Program + More
For review:1. Iran Port Blast Caused by "Negligence". Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said Monday that a deadly explosion at the country’s largest commercial port two days earlier was caused by “negligence” and failure to comply with safety measures.2. An Israeli official said Monday that there is “no chance” Israel would accept the five-year truce proposal with the Hamas terror group that is currently being discussed by Arab mediators. 3. Russian President Announces Ceasefire from 8-11 May. The Kremlin said in a note to the media that the ceasefire would begin at midnight local time May 8 and end at midnight May 11, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of “Victory Day,” when Russia celebrates its victory over the Nazis. 4. US Secretary of State Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov spoke on 27 April, with Secretary Rubio emphasizing the need to end the war. 5. Australian Delivery of Older M1 Abrams Tanks Delayed. The Australian Defense Ministry told the ABC that the promised tanks are "on target" to reach Ukraine in 2025. 6. India Tests Hypersonic Engine for Missile Program. The over 16-minute test was an upgrade over a previous test in January that lasted 120 seconds. It was performed at the newly-built Scramjet Connect Test Facility in India’s southern city of Hyderabad. 7. The U.S. military has hit more than 800 targets in Yemen during a 40-day airstrike campaign against the Houthis. During the recent airstrike campaign, Houthi ballistic missile attacks have fallen by 69% and kamikaze drone attacks have fallen by 55%, according to Central Command. 8. An F/-18E Super Hornet assigned to the carrier air wing embarked aboard aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) was lost at sea during a towing incident in the hangar bay Monday, according to a Navy announcement. No personnel were lost and one sailor sustained minor injuries, according to the service.
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19:34
Iranian MP Blames Israel for Port Explosion + President Trump Meets Ukraine President in Vatican City + Car Bomb Kills Russian Electromagnetic Warfare Expert + More
For review:1. Iranian MP Blames Israel for Port Explosion. MP Mohammad Siraj: “Israel was involved in the explosion. It was not accidental. Clear evidence points to Israeli involvement.” Israel’s leadership has not commented on the blast. 2. IDF strikes missile warehouse in Beirut suburbs. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that missiles stored in the Lebanese capital “posed a significant threat to Israel.” 3. US continues to facilitate peace negotiations to end the Russia - Ukraine War. President Trump meets Ukraine President Zelenskyy in Vatican City.4. Car Bomb Kills Russian Senior Officer in charge of Army Operations (General Lieutenant Yaroslav Moskalik) in the town of Balashikha, east of Moscow. 5. Car Bomb Kills Russian Electromagnetic Warfare Expert (Yevgeny Rytikov) in Bryansk- 100 kilometers north of the Russia-Ukraine Border. Mr. Rytikov headed the design bureau at the Bryansk Electromechanical Plant and was responsible for upgrading the Krasukha EW system, which Russian forces use to counter drones and airborne weapons. 6. North Korea reveals that it deployed troops to fight in Kursk Region.7. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that sustaining and modernizing the US Nuclear arsenal will cost $946 billion between 2025-2034. 8. US Army officially names the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon- "Dark Eagle".
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22:56
President Trump: Russia & Ukraine Close to a Deal + Estonia to Achieve Over 5% GDP on Defense Spending + Armor Not Dead: UK Army's Challenger 3 Tank Effort Progressing + US Reconciliation Bill includes $150 Billion for Defense + More
For review:1. IDF strikes Hamas command center in Northern Gaza.2. From interview with Time Magazine: US President Trump said he would not be dragged by Prime Minister Netanyahu into war with Iran, but vowed Washington could instead “be leading the pack” if diplomacy were to fail.3. President Trump: Russia & Ukraine Close to a Deal.4. Estonia to Achieve Over 5% GDP on Defense Spending.5. Spain to Meet NATO Goal of 2% GDP Defense Spending in 2025.6. Netherlands increases defense budget to 22 billion euros in 2025.7. Armor Not Dead: UK Army's Challenger 3 Tank effort moving forward. UK Minister for Defence Procurement (Maria Eagle) revealed that “The [Armour Main Battle Tank] programme has now delivered four prototypes, with four more currently in build,” out of the 148 tanks expected. The Challenger 3 MBTs are expected to achieve initial operational capability in 2027, with full operational capability expected by 2030 until 2040.8. US Reconciliation Bill includes $150 Billion for Defense.
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26:40
Iran Fortifies Nuclear Sites + Crimea Becomes a Key Issue in Russia-Ukraine Peace + Royal Australian Navy Enlisted Sailors Graduate US Navy Nuclear Power Training Course + More
For review:1. Houthi rebels have downed 6 MQ-9 Reaper Drones since 15 March, and 15 Reapers since October 2023. The U.S. Air Force has about 280 Reapers in its inventory, each costing about $28 million, according to the Congressional Research Service.2. Iran Fortifies Nuclear Sites. Commercial satellite images taken on March 29 showed hardened entrances to (nuclear) complexes beneath Mt. Kolang Gaz La.3. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday told Hamas to release hostages it is holding in order to eliminate what he said was Israel’s pretext to continue its war in Gaza.4. Deadly ambush by Hamas on an IDF vehicle operating inside Israeli-held buffer zone, illustrates the terror group is still a dangerous threat.5. Crimea Becomes a Key Issue in Russia-Ukraine Peace.6. Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Shandong (17) once again deployed again to the Philippine Sea, marking the second time this month.7. Royal Australian Navy Enlisted Sailors Graduate US Navy Nuclear Power Training Course. Eight Royal Australian Navy sailors graduated from the six-month course on April 18 and are now qualified to handle the reactors and other associated systems on the nuclear attack boats that Canberra is set to receive under the 2021 AUKUS Agreement.8. Northrop Grumman reported a $477 million loss on the B-21 Raider bomber in the first quarter of 2025, as higher costs for manufacturing and materials affect the company.The B-21′s inflation adjusted average procurement unit cost is about $692 million.The Air Force plans to buy at least 100 B-21s but has left the door open to buying more bombers.
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24:38
Russian President Putin Open to Bilateral Talks with Ukraine + IDF Ground Operations in Rafah Continue + US & Canada Over the Horizon Radar Effort + More
For review:1. Latest US airstrikes target Farwa neighborhood in Sanaa. US Central Command declined to answer questions about the strike.2. Israeli Air Force conducts drills that simulate Iranian missile attack on IAF bases. IAF bases were targeted in previous Iranian strikes in April and October 2024.3. IDF Ground Operations in Rafah Continue. The IDF has not only cut off Rafah from Khan Younis overground, but also located two major Hamas tunnels connecting the two cities.4. IDF experimenting unmanned D9 bulldozers. 5. Russian President Putin Open to Bilateral Talks with Ukraine.6. US & Canada Over the Horizon Radar (OTHR) Effort. The OTHR effort is envisioned as a partnership with Canada to modernize NORAD’s defenses, where original plans would reportedly see the US procure four radar systems and Canada two systems. 7. US Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) achieves Low Rate Initial Production. Raytheon plans producing eight LTAMDS per year- and based on international customers- the company said it wants to ultimately be able to produce 12 radars per year.
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