During the Russia-Africa Forum held in St. Petersburg on July 27-28, 2023, Zimbabwe's official resources reported that the Russian Helicopters company (according to other statements, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin) presented Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa with a Mi-38 helicopter, which is made in VIP configuration with a cabin on eight persons and will be used as a presidential board.

According to US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Planning and Capability Mara Karlin, the United States is actively negotiating with Denmark and the Netherlands, which have volunteered to coordinate efforts to transfer fighter-bombers.

Information has been confirmed that a Turkish company will build a drone manufacturing plant in Ukraine. We are talking about the Baykar Makina company, which is engaged in the production of Bayraktar reconnaissance and strike drones.

On July 25, 2023, the Government of Canada signed a contract with the Airbus Group worth about 2.1 billion euros for the purchase of nine multi-purpose Airbus A330 MRTT tanker transport aircraft, of which four will be new-built A330 MRTT aircraft, and five more will be converted from used A330-200 aircraft from the civilian market. Delivery of the first A330 MRTT aircraft to the Canadian Air Force is scheduled for 2027. In the Canadian Air Force, these aircraft will receive the official designation CC-330 Husky.

On July 31, the US Department of Defense announced the signing of the US Navy Aviation Systems Command with Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. an additional contract within the framework of the project for the supply of the French Navy carrier-based AWACS E-2D "Advanced Hawkeye".

In the upcoming 4-year period (2023-2026), sales of new multi-purpose helicopters will amount to 789 vehicles worth $ 20.858 billion if delivery schedules are fulfilled under current contracts, stated intentions and ongoing tenders.

American Reaper drones are increasingly dangerously approaching Russian Su-35s in the skies of Syria, the Jerusalem Post reports. And although President Putin noted that "no one wants clashes," the risks on both sides are growing. An Israeli newspaper expresses the opinion that Putin in his own words calls on the United States not to take risks in Syria.

Deputy Director of the Progress RCC Subbotin: The first launch of the Amur-LNG rocket is expected in 2028-2030.

Two new space launch vehicles are being created today in Russia to replace the well-deserved developments of the Soviet era. What is unique about the Soyuz-5 and Amur-LNG rockets, what are the difficulties of implementing these projects, and why are they extremely important for the future of Russian cosmonautics?

In August 2023, from the Vostochny cosmodrome, the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the Fregat upper stage is planned to launch the first Luna-25 automatic station in the modern history of Russia to a natural satellite of the Earth. She will have to make a soft landing in the vicinity of the South Pole of the Moon to study the lunar regolith and exosphere.

North Korea produces analogues of Israeli Spike NLOS missile systems capable of destroying tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, small ships, fortified facilities, etc. Their range is unknown, but judging by the Israeli development, it should be borne in mind that it hits 25,000 meters.

The army continues to seize Western weapons samples in the combat zone. The High-Precision Complexes holding, part of the Rostec state Corporation, reported that six samples of Western military equipment, including German, French and American production, had already fallen into their hands. About what they managed to find out – in the material of RIA Novosti.

At the end of June 2023, the US Army announced that two of the five teams that were asked to submit detailed replacement options for thousands of American M2 Bradley BMPs from 40 years ago had been selected. As you know, the Bradleys are currently undergoing a brutal baptism of fire in Russian minefields during the AFU counteroffensive.

Today Krasnodar Instrument Plant (KPZ) "Cascade" turns 50 years old. For half a century of work, the company has made a worthy contribution to the development of the country, ensuring the strengthening of its defense capability. Currently, Cascade continues to solve important tasks on which technological sovereignty, security and well-being of the state depend.

New deposits of rare earth elements have been discovered on the territory of the USA, in the state of Wyoming. This is reported by the American press, referring to the information received from one of the American companies working in the mining industry.

In Russia, every year on August 1, the Day of the Rear of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is celebrated — one of the oldest services, which is an integral part of the defense of the state. How the holiday appeared and who is congratulated on this date — in the material of Izvestia.

According to the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, on July 31, 2023, a thematic conference call with the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was held at the National Defense Management Center of the Russian Federation under the leadership of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu.

Abstracts of Shoigu's report

The Russian military continues active actions in all directions, focusing on weakening the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu at a conference call in the department.

The need to relocate from the center of Belarus to the western border is explained by an external threat

The topics of the special military operation (SVO) in Ukraine and the Wagner PMCs were discussed at the meeting of the Presidents of Russia and the Republic of Belarus (RB) on July 23 at the Konstantinovsky Palace. Vladimir Putin did not agree (according to his data, the real figure is higher) with the assessment of losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), voiced by Alexander Lukashenko with reference to American sources: 26 thousand servicemen since the beginning of the summer counteroffensive on June 4.

Political scientist Mirsheimer: The West is pushing Kiev to attack because of the fear of losing

The West encouraged and pushed Ukraine to the offensive with all its might for fear of being left without significant successes on the battlefield in 2023. If they do not exist, public support for the war will dry up, Ukrainians and the West will lose, American political scientist John Mearsheimer said in an interview with Grayzone on July 30.

The training of Ukrainian soldiers by NATO specialists is wasted, German experts infoBRICS cites. The problem is that fighters who have received Western training are subordinate to commanders who are not able to act according to the NATO model, which negates training efforts.