Agrégateur de flux

The Czech Senate Committee on Security has called on the government to investigate the possible misuse of Orthodox churches in the Czech Republic for Russian influence operations and recommends deregistration if any legal violations are found.

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium pitch is undergoing urgent maintenance ahead of Ghana 39;s opener of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Angola. The edifice, which remains the only stadium to host CAF and FIFA sanctioned games was left in a bad state after a five-day crusade was held on the pitch.

Talks to award credit lines and buy shares of ailing ship maker Meyer, who also produce key offshore equipment, amounting to €2.8 billion had progressed far, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on visit to the firm

Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Boateng has finalized his transfer to Al-Orobah FC, a club in the Saudi Pro League. The 28-year-old completed the move on Thursday, August 22, after departing from Portuguese team Rio Ave.

The Club Licensing Department of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has granted approval to just four stadiums for the upcoming 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season. Following a preliminary inspection in August 2024, only the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Complex, Nsenkyire Sports Arena, Dun 39;s Park, and WAFA Park met the required infrastructu .

Ghana defender, Baba Abdul Rahman scored in PAOK 39;s dominant 4-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League playoff round on Thursday. PAOK, having previously fallen short in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds against Malm ouml; FF, is determined to secure a spot in European competition.

With the European Union's new leadership soon in place, Ukraine is looking to the bloc's new team for more assistance and a swifter accession, Kyiv's envoy to Brussels, Vsevolod Chentsov, told Euractiv.

Foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday (22 August) that he wanted more African students to come to Italy, in remarks that may exacerbate a coalition squabble over immigration and citizenship rights.

The European Commission defended the legality of its trade tariffs on China-made electric vehicles (EVs) on Thursday (22 August) as several legal experts said it might have flouted World Trade Organisation rules in its anti-dumping investigation.

The term “novel foods” is becoming more popular by the day. But to make it to the European supermarkets it needs to be assessed by the EU food safety authority and then get the greenlight from the European Commission.

Americas Sikorsky won a $97.3 million deal for various H-60 Black Hawk configurations. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of August 21, 2029. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Oshkosh Defense has received a $1.5 billion follow-on contract to supply Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) for the US Army. The project will continue providing the service with new and recapitalized heavy tactical platforms as well as their corresponding trailers until 2031. FHTV configurations ordered include the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT A4), Palletized Load System, and Heavy Equipment Transporter. Middle East & Africa A Greek-flagged oil tanker traveling through the Red Sea came under repeated attack Wednesday, leaving the vessel “not under command” and drifting ablaze after an assault suspected to have been carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the British military said. The attack, the most serious in the Red Sea in weeks, comes during a monthslong campaign by Houthis targeting ships over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that has disrupted a trade route through which $1 trillion in cargo typically passes each year. Europe The US […]

Whether Trump wins or loses, the continent needs a new strategy toward the United States.

The NATO air base in the German town of Geilenkirchen has raised its security level "based on intelligence information indicating a potential threat," it said late on Thursday (22 August).

Talks on forming a Belgian coalition government were thrown into turmoil Thursday as the chief negotiator handed his resignation to King Philippe, threatening further political limbo for the country two months after elections.

Ce vendredi 23 août, le bulletin météo de l’Office National de la Météorologie (ONM) annonce des conditions variées à travers les différentes régions du pays. […]

L’article Prévisions météo en Algérie : temps et températures attendus ce vendredi 23 août ! est apparu en premier sur .

A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent.

M10 Booker Looks To Be Making Progress: The U.S. Army is expanding its fleet of M10 Booker Combat Vehicles, with General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) continuing low-rate initial production (LRIP) under a $322.7 million contract.

-The M10 Booker, designed for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs), features a 105 mm cannon, advanced sensors, and a modular design for future upgrades.

-Although it resembles a main battle tank, it was developed from the Mobile Protected Firepower Vehicle program and named after two heroic soldiers, Private Robert Booker and Staff Sergeant Stevon Booker.

U.S. Army Expands Fleet with Advanced M10 Booker Combat Vehicles

The vehicle is crucial for the Army's transformation to dominate large-scale combat operations.

The U.S. Army Could Increase Its Fleet of M10 Booker Combat Vehicles

In April, the United States Army took the delivery of its first M10 Booker Combat Vehicle in a ceremony at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Developed by General Dynamics Land Systems, the M10 Booker is equipped with a 105 mm cannon and advanced sensors for night and urban combat. The U.S. Army will employ the modular vehicle to enhance Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs).

The platform entered low-rate initial production (LRIP) in July.

Testing of the vehicle has continued at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, while the 82nd Airborne Division has been slated to put the M10 through additional gunnery training and testing at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

LRIP to Continue

This week, GDLS announced that it had been awarded a $322.7 million contract from the U.S. Army for continued LRIP of the vehicle.

"As part of low-rate initial production, multiple Booker vehicles have been delivered to the Army to support government testing and logistics efforts," GDLS stated on Tuesday. "The Booker employs a four-person crew and features an enhanced thermal viewer, a large-caliber cannon, a lightweight hull and turret, and a modern diesel engine, transmission and suspension system. It has been designed from the start for capability upgrades, based on future operational needs."

According to the defense contractor, work will be provided at the company's facilities in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Anniston, Alabama, Lima, Ohio, Tallahassee, Florida, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. The estimated completion date of the LRIP is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2026.

"The M10 Booker is named after two American heroes who gave their lives in service to their country, and we are honored to design, build and deliver these vehicles to the Army," said Gordon Stein, General Dynamics Land Systems vice president and general manager for U.S. operations in a May 15, 2024 statement. "These latest Bookers incorporate improvements and lessons we learned from the Middle Tier Acquisition phase of the program, and we’re confident that Soldiers will find them highly useful in completing their missions."

Not a Tank

Though it could be mistaken for a main battle tank (MBT) with its tracked chassis and turret, the Booker was born out of the Mobile Protected Firepower Vehicle (MPFV), it was officially designated the M10 last year.

It is unique among American military platforms as it actually is named to honor two different soldiers named Booker.

The first was Medal of Honor recipient Private Robert Booker of the 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, who was killed on April 9, 1943, near Fondouk, Tunisia, during the Second World War; while the latter was tank commander and Distinguished Service Cross recipient Staff Sergeant Stevon Booker, Company A, 1st Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, who was killed in April 5, 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"The Army is undertaking its most significant transformation in several decades to dominate in large-scale combat operations in a multidomain environment, and the M10 Booker is a crucial part of that transformation," said Doug Bush, the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, in April.

The GDLS prototype beat out a design from BAE Systems in 2022.

It is the first major combat vehicle developed for the U.S. Army since the late stages of the Cold War in the 1980s. The finalized M10 Booker is operated by a crew of four, including a commander, a driver, a gunner, and a loader. Its armament consists of a 105 mm M35 primary weapon, a 7.62 mm coaxial weapon, and a .50-caliber M2 commander's weapon. It has a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour, and a C-17 can transport two of the vehicles.

"The M10 Booker provides IBCTs with a safe and effective platform to complete their mission – one that may include bunkers, machine guns or armored vehicle," said Gordon Stein, General Dynamics Land Systems vice president and general manager for U.S. operations. "We are honored to continue to manufacture the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle."

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Summary and What You Need to Know: Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel highlighted the growing use of drones in modern warfare, particularly against armored vehicles like main battle tanks (MBTs).

-However, Israel’s Merkava MBTs, equipped with advanced protection systems like the Trophy Active Protection System, proved resilient against these drone assaults.

-Designed for survivability with features such as thick armor and a unique front-positioned engine, the Merkava has been a critical asset for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for over four decades, helping to protect Israel’s borders even in the face of sophisticated drone threats.

How Israel’s Merkava Tanks Can Survive Hamas’ Deadly Drone Assault

Hamas’ October 7 massacre against Israel showcased the true capacity of the Gaza-based terror group’s drone arsenal. Like other non-state actors, Hamas heavily relies on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in barrages. Since drones are cheaper to develop and far simpler to produce than other explosive devices, their presence in modern warfare—as seen in the Russian-Ukrainian and Israeli-Hamas Wars—has increased. Drones can carry out a range of functions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and lethal attacks, which can threaten nearly all military systems and equipment. Tiny, explosive-laden UAVs can be particularly threatening to main battle tanks (MBTs) and other armored vehicles.

As part of Hamas’s offensive strategy this October, the terror group launched lethal drones against Israel’s tanks. However, the Israel Defense Force’s (IDF) fleet of Merkava MBTs is better equipped than most of its counterparts to survive these types of drone barrages.

Introducing the Merkava

The Merkava series of main battle tanks has remained in service with the IDF’s armored corps for more than four decades. Equipped with a range of advanced capabilities, the “Chariot” battle tank is often referred to as one of the best-armored vehicles of its kind across the globe. The Merkava tank can be linked back to the early days of the Israeli state. During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel’s armored corps attained victory by deploying its fleet of American-made M48 Patton and British-made Centurion tanks across the Sinai Peninsula and into the Golan Heights. Israel’s pre-emptive attack was not well received by some of the new country’s European allies.

In fact, the United Kingdom decided to reverse the joint-tank initiative it was developing with the Jewish state that would have provided Israel with its Chieftain tanks. At the same time, France further embargoed deliveries of its Mirage fighter jets and missile boats to Israel. At this point, Israeli officials understood that it could not rely on foreign allies for security.

To rectify this situation, the then-commander of the IDF armored corps, Maj. Gen. Israel Tal, spearheaded the Jewish state’s MBT domestic production capability. The primary function of Israel’s new tank would be survivability. In order to keep personnel losses down in combat, the new tank was designed with thick-spaced armor and unique engine/transmission positioning to provide extra protection for crews.

By installing the engine and transmission in the front of the tank, more space was created in the MBT’s rear, increasing storage capacity and access to enemy fire for the crew. Other tanks being developed around this time sported a rear-positioned engine, emphasizing the Merkava’s unique internal structure.

Operational history

The Merkava first proved to be a critical asset for the IDF during the 1982 Lebanon War. Outperforming Syria’s fleet of Soviet-designed T-62 armored vehicles, the Merkava became the mainstay of the IDF’s armored corps.

Over the years, several new Merkava variants have been introduced, all sporting new enhancements for the platform to retain an edge over competitors. Perhaps the most significant improvement added to the Merkava was the Trophy Active Protection System. This countermeasure, designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, is installed on the newer Merkava 4 and Merkava 5 variants.

The homegrown system protects the Merkava from an array of projectiles, including anti-tank rockets, anti-tank guided missiles, and high-explosive anti-tank rounds. Additionally, the Trophy system improves the tank’s capacity to locate enemy MBTs, therefore increasing the crew’s survivability. With the Trophy system in place, the Merkava can act more offensively on the battlefield.

As explained by the executive office of the IDF’s tank commander school, “The first and foremost difference in the tank commander’s behavior (pre and post Trophy), we used to be a lot more defensive, and we found ourselves sort of hiding on the battlefield and trying to get out of the range of the anti-tank systems. With Trophy, you feel you have the ability to be more offensive and put yourself out there a little more and allow yourself to accept a little more risk than what we did before.”

Israel’s prioritization of survivability when it comes to the Merkava has boded well for the IDF. Since the Merkava tanks are better protected from top-done drone attacks than its counterparts, Hamas terrorists were unable to destroy as many of these MBTs during its October 7 invasion. While the Merkava may not be invulnerable, it is certainly a critical asset that helps protect Israel’s borders.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Summary and What You Need to Know: The Russian Tu-160 "Blackjack" strategic bomber, a symbol of Russia's military might, recently made headlines when President Vladimir Putin took a short flight in the modernized aircraft.

-Despite Russia's challenges in Ukraine, the Tu-160 remains an impressive weapon system, boasting a new low-observable coating, improved engines, and enhanced electronic warfare capabilities.

-Capable of carrying almost 100,000 lbs of ordnance, including nuclear weapons, the Tu-160 has been used in Ukraine for strategic bombing missions. However, its limited stealth capabilities restrict its effectiveness in non-nuclear deep-penetration strikes.

Tu-160 Blackjack: Russia's Strategic Bomber with Massive Firepower

The Russian military might be taking a serious beating in Ukraine, but it still fields some impressive weapon systems. The Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber is one of them. And in February, the aircraft got a rare day in the news after a visit from the top.

In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin flew in a modernized Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber.

The short flight took place in central Russia, far away from hostilities in Ukraine.

The Russian leader took the event as an opportunity to tout the Russian defense and aerospace industries after 25 months of failure in Ukraine.

“It's a new machine, a lot about it is new. It's easier to control. It's reliable,” Putin said afterward.

Of course, the flight had an aroma of propaganda. The Tu-160 bomber took off and landed from a runway near the factory that produces the aircraft in Kazan.

The aircraft is manufactured by Tupolev and requires a crew of four men. Approximately 20 of these bombers are active with the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The Modernized Tu-160 Blackjack Strategic Bomber 

The modernized version of the Tu-160 features a new low-observable coating to reduce the strategic bomber’s radar signature and make it stealthier. It also uses new engines with increased performance and better operational range. It has an improved cockpit and new electronic warfare capabilities and countermeasures, as well as better communications and control systems. 

Overall, the Tu-160 Blackjack is an impressive aircraft. Operational since 1987, the nuclear-capable strategic bomber is the largest and heaviest supersonic military aircraft in history. An impressive feat of aerodynamics and engineering, the Tu-160 Blackjack has one main mission: strategic bombing. In the event of a conflict with the United States and NATO, the Russian Aerospace Forces would use the Tu-160 Blackjack against high-value targets or as a platform to launch nuclear weapons, depending on the level of escalation.

The Russian bomber can fire twelve Raduga Kh-55SM/101/102/555 cruise missiles in two internal rotary launchers, or twelve AS-16 Kickback short-range nuclear weapons. All told, the Tu-160M Blackjack can carry almost 100,000 lbs of ordnance. The Russian Aerospace Forces have been using the aircraft in Ukraine in strategic bombing missions against Ukrainian urban centers, critical infrastructure, and the country’s power grid.

With a range of approximately 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles), the Tu-160 Blackjack can deliver its payload at great distances. Mid-air refueling can extend its operational range.

The aircraft uses four Samara NK-321 jet engines, each of which can produce almost 31,000 lbs of thrust at normal speeds, and 55,000 lbs each with afterburner. As a result, the aircraft can reach speeds over Mach 2, exceeding 1,500 miles per hour.

The Tu-160 Blackjack is a powerful, dangerous aircraft that could pose a serious threat in a near-peer conflict. However, the aircraft significantly lacks in stealth capabilities, thus limiting its ability to conduct deep-penetration strikes in a non-nuclear environment.

About the Author

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense and national security journalist specializing in special operations. A Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), he holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He is pursuing a J.D. at Boston College Law School. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

Images Credit: Shutterstock and/or Creative Commons. 

Summary and What You Need to Know: The Mikoyan MiG-31 "Foxhound" is a supersonic interceptor that replaced the flawed MiG-25 "Foxbat." Developed in the 1970s, the MiG-31 was designed to address the shortcomings of its predecessor, particularly in radar capability and low-altitude performance.

-The aircraft, built with a strong airframe and advanced radar, can track multiple targets, including low-flying cruise missiles and bombers. Despite its impressive speed and altitude capabilities, the MiG-31 is not designed for close combat.

-Still in service, the MiG-31 has been used by Russia during the invasion of Ukraine, proving effective against Ukrainian aircraft.

How the MiG-31 Foxhound Replaced the Flawed MiG-25

Known to NATO as the “Foxhound,” the Mikoyan MiG-31 is a supersonic interceptor produced from 1975 to 1994 and is still flown today. 

Designed to replace the MiG-25 “Foxbat,” the MiG-31 was one of the fastest operational combat aircraft of its time. The MiG-31 is expected to remain in service with Russian and Kazakh forces until 2030 or later.

MiG-31: Replacing a Flawed Fighter

The MiG-25 was a single-seat fighter with impressive speed, altitude, and rate of climb. However, it was flawed in certain respects. It lacked maneuverability at the high speeds required for interception, and it proved especially difficult to fly at low altitudes. The MiG-25’s top speed was indeed impressive. The jet could reach Mach 3.2, although designers did not recommend exceeding Mach 2.83 for the risk of sustaining engine damage. 

The Soviets began working on a replacement for the flawed MiG-25 in the early 1970s. By 1975, a prototype known as the Ye-155MP made its first flight. 

The prototype that would become the MiG-31 looked much like the MiG-25, but it was an improved aircraft. One of the most important differences between the two jets was radar capability. The MiG-31, featuring a fuselage lengthened to accommodate a radar operator’s cockpit, was capable of both look-up and look-down/shoot-down engagement, and it could track multiple targets simultaneously. 

The result was an interceptor aircraft that could track low-flying cruise missiles and bombers at long range. Although built as a predecessor to the MiG-25, the MiG-31 would also serve as a replacement for the Tu-128 long-range interceptor.

The Specifications of the MiG-31

The MiG-31 is a large two-seater with two engines and side-mounted air intakes. The wings are shoulder-mounted. The design was crafted around a specific set of mission objectives, which included intercepting cruise missiles and the aircraft from which the missiles originated, finding and eliminating low-flying missiles, UAVs, and helicopters, escorting bombers, and providing air defense.

However, the MiG-31 was decidedly not designed for close combat or rapid turning. Accordingly, the jet is only rated for five Gs while traveling at supersonic speeds. The wing load is marginal, and its thrust-to-weight ratio is respectable.

The MiG-31 was built with stronger wings and a stronger airframe than the MiG-25, which allows for supersonic flight in the dense air of low altitude. The aircraft was built from a nickel-steel alloy that permits the MiG-31 to tolerate the kinetic heating created at Mach 3 airspeeds. In all, the MiG-31 airframe is composed of 49 percent arc-welded nickel steel, 33 percent light metal alloy, 16 percent titanium, and 2 percent composites.

The MiG-31 carries two D30-F6 jet engines, which are rated for 152 kilonewtons of thrust. The D30-F6 is capable of propelling the MiG-31 to Mach 3.2 – but speeds above Mach 3 pose substantial risks to the engine and airframe and are not recommended. The MiG-31 is, therefore, redlined at Mach 2.83.

The Russians have relied on the MiG-31 during the invasion of Ukraine. Reportedly, MiG-31s shot down several Ukrainian aircraft, mostly with the long-range R-37 air-to-air missile. The Ukrainians do not have an aircraft that can match the MiG-31’s speed or altitude, meaning the MiG-31s have been able to operate in Ukrainian airspace virtually unopposed.

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Images: Shutterstock and/or Creative Commons.