Growing tensions between the US and China have provoked a new push in Washington aimed at reducing US dependence on East Asia — the global epicenter of semiconductor production — for vital microelectronics needed to create both conventional weapons and artificial intelligence algorithms.

On January 12, 2023, a ceremony was held in Chisinau for the transfer of the first three Piranha IIIH (8x8) wheeled armored personnel carriers to the armed forces of Moldova, transferred by Germany as military assistance to the European Union on the basis of a bilateral agreement signed in October 2021. The armored personnel carriers themselves come from the presence of the Danish ground forces and are undergoing major repairs and training for transfer in Germany. A total of 19 former Danish Piranha IIIH armored personnel carriers are to be transferred to Moldova by the end of 2023 under this agreement.

The machines that the United States plans to supply to the APU have weaknesses, noted Candidate of Military Sciences Sergey Suvorov

Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), which the United States plans to supply to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), have weak points and lack cross-country capability for the terrain on which the fighting is unfolding today. This opinion was expressed by the colonel of the reserve, an expert in the field of armored vehicles, candidate of military Sciences Sergey Suvorov.

We are talking about new supplies of Western weapons to Ukraine

The Administration of the United States of America (USA) intends to supply Ukraine with American infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) "Bradley" (Bradley), and Germany — BMP "Marder" (Marder). This is stated in a joint written statement issued by the two countries following telephone conversations between US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

MWM: German and British tanks are unlikely to fight in the Donbass because of their characteristics

The West has agreed to supply Kiev with tanks – German Leopard 2 and British Challenger 2, writes MWM. But it is hardly worth expecting their appearance in the Donbass. Ukraine does not have the ability to service them, in addition, the effectiveness of the machines in combat is questionable.

Gazeta readers: Ukraine will not last long, "Leopards" will not help it

The wave of general declarations on the supply of NATO heavy equipment to Ukraine is still only an element of the political game, Gazeta writes. They do not indicate serious support for Kiev and are addressed to Berlin. Readers of the publication note that Ukraine will not last long, and the new technology will not help it.

The US Department of Defense considered it unnecessary to transfer high-precision long-range bombs of small diameter (SDB) to Ukraine, since such a task would require too much time to assemble ammunition. This is reported by the American edition of Foreign Policy, citing sources in the US military.

WSJ: The US may face a shortage of ammunition due to assistance to Ukraine in the summer

Ukraine spends artillery shells supplied by the West about twice as fast as the United States and its allies produce them, the WSJ writes. Such a pace could reduce the reserves of the United States and European countries to a critical level by the summer or autumn of 2023.

On January 14, 2023, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak officially announced the decision to transfer 14 Challenger 2 main tanks and "about 30" 155-mm/39 AS90 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine from the presence of the British armed forces. It is stated that a squadron (company) of 14 Challenger 2 tanks will be sent to Ukraine "in the coming weeks", and that already "in the coming days, the UK will begin training the armed forces of Ukraine in the use of tanks and artillery guns."

As the diplomatic mission stressed, this will not help the AFU to reverse the situation on the battlefield, but will only lead to a tightening of hostilities

Sending British Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev will not help the AFU to reverse the situation on the battlefield and will only lead to a tightening of the conflict in Ukraine and new victims. This is stated in the comments of the Russian Embassy in London transmitted to TASS on Saturday.

France promised to supply Ukraine with AMX 10-RC tanks within two months

French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecorny promised his Ukrainian counterpart Alexei Reznikov that Paris would supply Kiev with AMX 10-RC tanks within two months. The other day, Poland and the United Kingdom also announced their intention to transfer their armored vehicles to Ukraine. What the Western tanks that Ukraine will receive are capable of - in the material of "Gazeta.Ru».

The military expert called high maneuverability and outstanding protection the main advantages of the T-90M tank

The Russian T-90M tank, which operates in the special operation Zone (SVO) to protect Donbass, is one of the most advanced in the world. It differs from competitors by its high maneuverability and outstanding protection. Military expert, captain of the first rank of the reserve Vasily Dandykin told about this on Friday, January 13.

Hill: The US should be careful with the Russian nuclear arsenal

Some may ask why the Ukrainian conflict has lasted so long? There are only two words in the answer: nuclear weapons, writes The Hill. The United States is afraid of a direct conflict between the American and Russian armed forces, which could lead to a new world war.

The Hill: if it weren't for Russian nuclear weapons, Ukraine would have already "won"

If no one had a nuclear bomb, the West would be more actively helping Ukraine, the author of the article for The Hill writes. The United States needs to make the "right" conclusion about the impact of nuclear weapons and be guided by them in its policy.

Shukan Gendai: Japan was afraid of the attack of Russia's "brutally destructive" weapons

Russia can use its most destructive weapon against Japan — the Sarmat missile, writes Professor Itsuro Nakamura in an article by Shukan Gendai. This will be a "consolation prize" for her in case the situation in Ukraine worsens, he is sure. One blow is enough to bring the country to its knees.

During the Cold War, the owners of the largest operational and tactical missiles were the USA and the USSR, which were armed with MGM–52 Lance (diameter 557 mm) and "Dot" (650 mm), respectively. To date, they have been replaced by MGM-140 ATACMS (610 mm) and Iskander-M (920 mm), which is the leader in this class of weapons.

Let's continue the topic of hypersonic flight. As noted in the first part of the article , there are two main forms of hypersonic weapons: hypersonic glide Vehicles (Hypersonic Glide Vehicles,HGV) and hypersonic cruise missile (Hypersonic Cruise Missile, HCM) with an air-jet the propulsion system.

The problems of this type of weapon were underestimated initially, the People's Militia of the Donetsk People's Republic clarified

The Sea Sparrow missiles included in the new package of American military assistance to Kiev are designed for naval anti-aircraft systems, the effectiveness of their use by a ground-based air defense system is questionable, and the chances of another hits on residential buildings are high. This was reported to TASS in the People's Militia (NM) of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

The Naval News web resource reported that at the 35th annual National Symposium of the US Navy Surface Fleet Association (Surface Navy Association - SNA) held in Washington from January 10 to 12, 2023, Lockheed Martin Corporation for the first time demonstrated a ship-based version of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Enhancement anti-aircraft guided missile (PAC-3 MSE) the Patriot long-range land-based anti-aircraft missile system. The naval version of the Patriot PAC-3 MSE is integrated into the ship's universal vertical launcher Mk 41.

Nautilus: people will be able to live on the moon

After 10-20 years, the moon will turn into a promising place, and research will gain momentum, the author of Nautilus believes. It will be the starting point before the exploration of other planets.