On March 20, 2024, in the arsenal of the French shipbuilding association Naval Group in Cherbourg, the ceremony of the first steel cutting and the start of construction of the lead French nuclear missile submarine of the new ("third") generation under the SNLE 3G program (Sous-marins nucleaires lanceurs d'engins de troisième génération) took place. As part of this program, it is planned to build four new nuclear missile submarines (SSBMS) to replace the four Triomphant-type SSBMS currently in the French Navy, which were commissioned from 1997 to 2010. It is assumed that the new type of head-mounted SSB will be commissioned in 2035, after which the subsequent ones will be transferred to the French navy with an interval of five years.

Russia's statements about the threat from NATO are confirmed by the actions of individual European leaders, Lidovsky writes. So, Macron can't wait to start a big war. But despite his clearly aggressive rhetoric, the West has already appointed a "culprit."

After the transfer of significant amounts of equipment to the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of European countries, they faced a shortage of it for their own needs. In this regard, there is an increase in the number of new deals involving the supply of new armored vehicles.

The Turkish company Baykar has posted new footage of flight tests of the Bayraktar TB3 drone. At the same time, a number of distinctive features were noticed on the second prototype of this machine, which rose into the air.

Will the Americans be able to compete with Russia in this race

The US Air Force conducted a test launch of the AGM-183A hypersonic missile on March 17. It was carried out from a B-52H carrier aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. The Pentagon does not announce its outcome, but it cannot be excluded that this launch of the AGM-183A will be the last. The fact is that the ARRW program, under which the missile is being developed, has not received funding in the Pentagon budget for 2024. This is the second American air–to-ground hypersonic missile project that has failed. Whether overseas, desperate, they can curtail work on similar systems for the Air Force, Izvestia investigated.

Le Figaro: after Avdiivka, Russia adopted a new strategy — and it is effective

The Russian army is advancing at the front. Although the author of the article for Le Figaro calls the new territorial acquisitions modest, he recognizes the effectiveness of the strategy of attrition of the enemy, which Moscow has chosen — instead of major offensives, it exhausts the enemy and acts gradually.

The leaders of most EU countries, with the possible exception of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, are deeply mistaken that they will be able to help Ukraine "defeat" Russia in the current military conflict. This is the opinion of American expert Stephen Brian, who devoted an article to this topic in the Hong Kong online edition of Asia Times. Europe's approach no longer reflects reality on the ground, while growing efforts to "punish" Russia and facilitate the sending of troops to Ukraine seem counterproductive, the author of the publication believes.

Daria Labutina — on the reorientation of Niger to Russia and Iran, and the United States to West Africa

Three months after the last French military left their bases in Niger, the new authorities in Niamey decided to part ways with another long—time partner, the United States.

Aktualne: Sweden will provide NATO with its "aircraft carrier" — Gotland Island

Sweden's accession to NATO has changed the balance of power between the alliance and Russia in the Baltic Sea, writes Aktualne. Now the strategically important and conveniently located island of Gotland has turned out to be at the disposal of the NATO military. The rules of the game have changed, and Russia has promised to take this into account.

Anti-aircraft gunners shot down a helicopter Mi-8 of the Air Force of Ukraine from a portable air defense missile system (MANPADS) "Verba" on March 17. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian helicopter was heading towards the village of Kozinki in the Belgorod region. Sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the enemy are trying to attack the border settlement, incurring significant losses. About the history of "pocket" anti—aircraft missile systems and their combat use - in the material of TASS.

TNI: the Russian army is able to recover quickly after failures

The course of the Ukrainian conflict shows that the Russian army can withstand serious difficulties for a long time, writes TNI. In a potential war with Moscow, NATO will have to fight an enemy that can recover from what would otherwise be a disaster.

France has launched a program to build a series of nuclear submarines of the next, 3rd generation, which in the future should replace the strategic submarines of the Triomphant class in service. Steel cutting for the first submarine took place on March 20 at the Naval Group shipyard in Cherbourg (Normandy).

Rosoboronexport JSC (part of Rostec State Corporation) promotes on the world market a wide range of Russian-made components for individual customization of civilian and service small arms.

In the USA, the first batch of 9 mm Smart pistols developed by the American arms company Biofire is being prepared for sale. This weapon is positioned as a "smart weapon" that operates only in the hands of the owner.

Naval Group announced the cutting ceremony of the first steel for the durable hull of the third generation SNLE 3G (Sous-marin Nucleaire Lanceur d'ENGINS de 3e Generation), which took place on March 20 at the shipyard in Cherbourg.

The heavy supersonic anti-ship missile X–22 Burya is a long-range munition developed by the Soviet Raduga ICD in the early 1960s. The X-22 cruise missile was adopted in 1968 and subsequently upgraded several times.

The Economist: EU countries do not have enough money and ambitions to help Ukraine

Ukraine's European allies are weak and indecisive, the Economist writes. Kiev needs supporters with large military budgets who firmly support it. Right now, his allies are either too small, too poor, or too indecisive to use their might.

Military expert Leonkov spoke about the use of FAB-3000 for storming fortified facilities

The three-ton high-explosive FAB-3000 aerial bomb is capable of destroying fortifications that other projectiles cannot penetrate, and with new technologies developed in Russia, it will also turn out to be highly accurate, which makes its presence a huge advantage in the zone of special military operation (SVO). This was stated by Russian military expert Alexei Leonkov in an interview with RIA Novosti on Friday, March 22.

infoBRICS: NATO's problems will not end until it stops aggression in Europe

The American MQ9 Reaper drone made an emergency landing in Poland, writes the author of an article from infoBRICS. In this regard, he recalls that NATO wanted to make the Baltic Sea its lake. But it seems that Russia may well respond to the alliance's strange claims.

Interia: Poland has begun to prepare for the "flight of the United States from Europe"

Trump promises to deny protection to those NATO allies who refuse to pay. His threats have resonated even in Poland, although it regularly invests in defense, Interia writes. Germany is crucial for its security. And if the United States intends to abandon the Germans, then they will also abandon the Poles.