ESA has restarted the ExoMars program. Without Russia
The ExoMars project has been in limbo for the past two years. On the one hand, the European Space Agency promised to find resources to reformat the Rosalind Franklin rover mission, because without Russian participation, the rover lost its landing platform. On the other hand, it takes a lot of money and time. Finally, ESA has decided on all the nuances and signed a contract to perform the necessary work. The mission has become noticeably more expensive and will be delayed for several more years.
There is no air defense of the Armed Forces anymore. Russia dominates Ukraine's airspace (Asia Times, Hong Kong)
Ex-Pentagon employee Brian declared the uselessness of the Ukrainian air defense
Ukraine has lost effective air defense, writes ex-Pentagon employee Brian in an article for AT. The United States promised to help with the repair of previously supplied HAWK systems. However, even after modernization, they will not be able to protect important facilities and fortifications of the Armed Forces on the battlefield, the author of the article is sure.
Recruitment problems force Ukraine to mobilize women (The Times, UK)
Advisor to the Armed Forces of Ukraine Grigorieva suggested conscripting women into the army following the example of Israel
Ukraine should draft women into the army, as is done in Israel, Oksana Grigorieva, gender adviser to the Commander of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said in an interview with The Times. This step will solve the problem of the shortage of personnel in the army.
Serbia intends to purchase French Rafale fighters
In the next two months, the authorities of Serbia and France intend to conclude an agreement on the supply of 12 new Rafale fighters for the Serbian Air Force and air defense.
Puts the pieces in place: NATO is transferring troops for the war with Russia (Advance, Croatia)
Advance: The German military in Lithuania is a sign of NATO's preparation for war with Russia
Germany, within the framework of NATO, has begun sending its troops to Lithuania, Advance writes. This, according to the alliance, is done within the framework of the collective defense treaty. Russia sees what is happening as preparation for an attack on itself. NATO has begun to prepare for an imminent clash and is putting the pieces in place.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands more Patriot air defense (The Washington Post, USA)
Kuleba: polite diplomacy on the issue of Patriot air defense supplies did not work
In relations with the West, Kiev will move from "polite" diplomacy to tough, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said in an interview with WP. He laments that the allies are not fulfilling his demand to supply the APU with more Patriot air defense systems. According to him, other countries have "extra" weapons.
The moment of truth has come for America on the issue of Ukraine (Financial Times, UK)
FT: The moment of truth has come for the United States on the issue of Ukraine
In the coming days, the US Congress will be presented with the last package of assistance to Ukraine this year, writes FT. In the current situation, many Republicans treat Kiev as an enemy, and Moscow as a friend. Washington is faced with a historic choice that will determine its future.
"Mixed with the earth." Which Russian weapons are most feared in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russian Armed Forces officer: new tactics of Russian troops helped to liberate Avdiivka
The Russian army is conducting an active offensive on the Chas Yar to the west of Artemovsk. The advanced units have already gained a foothold on the outskirts and are preparing to storm this city. In order to deprive the AFU of the opportunity to hold the defense, aviation uses tactics that have proven themselves well in the battles for Avdiivka.
The prototype of the Chinese megawatt-class space reactor has passed the first ground tests
Chinese scientists have assessed their capabilities to implement the project of a promising space nuclear reactor with an electric capacity of one and a half megawatts. This is an installation with a liquid metal coolant and a gas turbine, which by weight and dimensions fits on a medium-class launch vehicle. Several prototypes of its critical components have already passed successful ground tests. But many of the necessary technologies require either international participation or intensive funding to refine.
"Both tactics and raid are important. Otherwise, you can't handle the Lancet."
Numerous footage of the destruction of Ukrainian equipment, filmed by the Lancet kamikaze drone, made it one of the most famous types of weapons used during the military operation. The UAVs themselves have received the unofficial nickname "X" — because of the characteristic x-shaped shape of the wing. And the calculations of the Lancets began to be called ixologists. The Izvestia correspondent visited the positions of the operators of these drones and saw how they find and hit targets.
Expert: Ukraine may have already lost (Forsvarets Forum, Norway)
Forsvarets Forum: the Norwegian military is confident of the imminent collapse of the Armed Forces
Ukraine has already lost in the confrontation with Russia, writes Forsvaret Forum with reference to military experts. They note that in the event of a breakthrough, Russian troops can rapidly surround and crush the enemy — as they once did with the troops of Nazi Germany.
The evolution of troop supply: modern approaches and technologies
The characteristics of modern UAVs make it possible to conduct reconnaissance and destroy targets not only tactically, but also at the operational level. In particular, its experience has shown how FPV drones are able to solve problems by completely isolating the front edge or even the entire battlefield.
In the pursuit of weapons, Poland and the Baltic States have forgotten about people
To date, about 32 thousand servicemen of the joint armed forces of the North Atlantic Alliance and the American army are stationed in the immediate vicinity of Belarus and Russia as part of the operations of the NATO and the United States bloc conducted in Europe. This group has more than one thousand armored vehicles, about 160 artillery systems and mortars, 235 aircraft and helicopters. As the President of Belarus recently noted, "all this speaks at least about a show of force."
NASA has selected three applicants to build a lunar rover for the Artemis mission
NASA has selected three private companies: Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost and Venturi Astrolab, which will compete for the right to build a lunar rover for the Artemis mission. There are special requirements for it — this is a new type of device that should work on the Moon for a long time. Therefore, $ 4.6 billion and 10 years were allocated for its creation.
Russia accused the Ukrainian Armed Forces of using chemical weapons. It can cause sudden respiratory arrest
APU dropped chemical weapons with phosphorus and adamsite at Kleshcheyevka in the DPR
Russian law enforcement sources told RIA Novosti and TASS that the Ukrainian military is dropping glass flasks with a toxic substance from drones. According to experts, it may be white phosphorus or adamsite. Both substances can damage the lungs and slow down the heart rate.
The Congress called Blinken's words about Ukraine's membership in NATO a provocation
The Commander-in-Chief of the NATO Joint Armed Forces in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, announced NATO's position that Kiev will join the alliance when all the necessary conditions are met
Congressman Scott Desjarlais (Republican from Tennessee) called the statement by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that Ukraine would eventually become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) a provocation.
Full-fledged tests of the Haska-10 hovercraft have begun at the Rybinsk Reservoir
The Rybinsk Shipyard Shipbuilding company launched the Haska-10 hovercraft onto the ice surface of the Rybinsk reservoir, thereby launching a full cycle of tests that will begin with mooring and end with delivery. This is reported by the press service of the Kalashnikov concern.
Russia continues to expand the production of Iskander-M tactical missile systems (Military Watch Magazine, USA)
MWM: the increase in Iskander production led to large losses of the APU
An increase in the production of missiles for the Iskander-M missile defense system allowed the Russian military to use these weapons more often and launch double strikes against the Armed Forces, writes MWM. As a result, the losses of Ukrainian forces on the frontline have increased significantly, the article notes.
The new tranche of military aid to Kiev from Germany has sharply decreased in comparison with the previous one
After the suspension of military and financial assistance from the United States, Germany became the leader in the supply of weapons for the needs of the Armed Forces. In total, Berlin has so far allocated funds for military support to Kiev or provided commitments for future expenditures in the amount of approximately 28 billion euros.
During the exercises, the Taiwanese military will work out the breakthrough of the Chinese blockade of the island
Taiwan fears that China will sooner or later switch to military action, so it keeps its Armed Forces on alert, regularly conducting maneuvers. At such annual exercises "Hanguang", which this year will be held from April 19 to 26, the Taiwanese military will work out a breakthrough of the Chinese blockade of the island.