US officials are asking the war-torn nation to clearly outline its combat objectives for requesting expanded use of US-supplied long-range missiles.

Ukraine has stated that it plans to use the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of 300 kilometers (186 miles), to strike Russian airfields, command centers, and weapons depots deep in enemy territory.

President Joe Biden’s administration currently allows Kyiv to use the weapon only for strikes within Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.

US officials remain skeptical that lifting the restrictions would have a significant impact on the war, noting that it may also come with greater risks.

Growing Pressure

The US has been facing increasing pressure from NATO allies to allow Kyiv greater freedom to hit targets inside Russia to level the battlefield.

Moscow’s forces have been using long-range aircraft, missiles, and drones to attack Ukraine, quickly gaining the upper hand in the ongoing war.

Washington has expressed concerns that doing so would further escalate the war and allow Russia to reverse-engineer some of America’s most sophisticated weapons.

It has also argued that the Ukrainian military is already using long-range drones to strike deep into Russia, which is a cheaper and more strategic method than firing costly missiles.

Additionally, the White House downplayed the capabilities of its ATACMS, stating they would be ineffective now because Moscow has likely moved its most immediate threats to facilities beyond the missile’s range.

“I don’t believe one capability is going to be decisive, and I stand by that comment,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed.

Russian Warning

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any strikes using Western weapons deep inside its territory will lead to a significant change in the nature of the conflict.

He said such a move would be viewed as an escalation of the war, making the US and its NATO allies directly involved.

“And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us,” Putin told reporters.

The post US Seeks Clarity From Ukraine on Expanded Use of Long-Range Weapons appeared first on The Defense Post.

Some of the Australian Army’s obsolete patrol vehicles, troop carriers, and Land Rovers are on eBay-style auction websites, inviting “off-road enthusiasts” to place their bids, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The phrase “there’s a vehicle to suit every adventure” can be seen in the postings to promote the military-grade products.

According to local reports, a long-range patrol vehicle used by the Special Air Services in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars was sold for 113,000 Australian dollars ($77,246).

These vehicles are now reportedly being used for camping, off-road driving, and commercial purposes.

“The Australian government would rather auction off military equipment than offer it to Ukraine,” retired army major-general Mick Ryan wrote on X. “A story of parsimony and mean spiritedness towards a country in need… Shameful!”

‘A Default Position’

Australia’s Senate’s foreign affairs and defense committee has urged the government to establish a “default position” for handling its decommissioned military assets.

The committee suggests that defense materiel being retired or disposed of should be automatically gifted to Ukraine unless there is a “compelling case.”

As the Senate Inquiry I chaired said in our report this week, Australia should as a default position be providing retiring or surplus defence equipment to Ukraine. https://t.co/codclw9r4X

— Senator Claire Chandler (@SenatorClaire) September 19, 2024

Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations co-chair Kateryna Argyrou said it was a “short-sighted and baffling” move to see retired military equipment being sold online when they could be useful for Ukraine on the battlefield.

“Ukrainian soldiers are outnumbered, exhausted and working with whatever they are given, so it’s upsetting that this equipment hasn’t been considered for Ukraine,” she lamented. “Our community is in touch with frontline troops every day, who tell us these ex-ADF platforms are exactly what they need.”

In addition to adopting a “default position,” the committee is calling for the re-opening of an Australian embassy in Kyiv to oversee military aid.

Support for Ukraine

Despite the controversy, the Australian government maintains its “unwavering support” for Ukraine, having donated over $1.1 billion in military aid since the invasion began in February 2022.

In July, it announced its “largest military aid” package to Ukraine, totaling 250 million Australian dollars ($168.5 million), which included air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons, and guided weapons.

The Australian defense industry has also committed to helping the war-torn nation with EOS Defence Systems, expressing its interest in launching arms production in Kyiv.

The post Australia Puts Obsolete Military Vehicles for Sale Despite Ukraine’s Interest appeared first on The Defense Post.

In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine explained that army units are struggling to fend off devastating Russian attacks due to being under-equipped.

He emphasized that Kyiv needs at least 14 fully-equipped brigades “to be ready,” but recent military aid packages were not enough to sufficiently arm even a third of that.

“We need to equip 14 brigades — we still don’t have it. Out of this package, we have not even equipped four brigades… Therefore, we need to produce drones domestically. It’s not enough, but we have done it,” Zelensky stated.

Ukraine is continuing its surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, but reports suggest Moscow is preparing to mount a counter-offensive.

‘We Used All We Could’

Zelensky noted that an eight-month hiatus in US military aid had significantly depleted Ukraine’s weapons reserves.

He was referring to a $61-billion supplemental aid bill for Kyiv that had been stalled in the US Congress until April 2024.

The president explained that the Ukrainian Armed Forces “had used everything they had” to defend themselves from Russian assaults.

“We transferred everything that was in the stockpiles – in warehouses and in reserve brigades,” he said. “We took everything [we] had – all [our] weapons.”

‘Make Ukraine Strong’

Zelensky argued that the number of brigades protecting Ukraine’s territories is irrelevant if “half of them are not equipped.”

He pointed out that Kyiv’s forces lack armored vehicles and artillery shells, with the Russians firing 12 times more rounds than Ukrainian troops.

He also challenged Western nations to make Ukraine strong to see Russian President Vladimir Putin “sit down and negotiate.”

The post Zelensky Says Western Aid ‘Can’t Even Equip 4 of 14’ Ukrainian Brigades appeared first on The Defense Post.

According to two European diplomats who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, Kyiv initially requested that Washington allow the use of its ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, to strike Russian airfields housing glide bomb-carrying warplanes.

However, US National Security Advisor John Kirby argued that the requested targets are well beyond the missile’s effective range, which is only 300 kilometers (186 miles).

“We’ve done the math on this — 90% of them (Russian airfields) lie outside 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, deep inside Russia,” he noted.

As a result, the sources said Kyiv revised its target list to focus on Russian military command centers, fuel and weapons depots, and troop concentrations, hoping to persuade the US to permit strikes deeper into enemy territory.

‘Working That Out’

While Kirby already indicated there will be no change in US policy regarding the weapons it supplied to Ukraine, President Joe Biden has hinted at the possibility of authorizing it amid Moscow’s increasing aggression.

He told reporters last week, “We’re working that out right now,” after his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly called for the restrictions to be lifted.

Biden also recently met with newly installed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the matter, signaling openness to consider Kyiv’s persistent request.

Meanwhile, some US officials are skeptical about the impact of granting Ukraine greater freedom to use Western weapons.

They argued that Moscow has likely moved its most immediate threats to facilities beyond the range of US-supplied missiles.

Additionally, they noted that Kyiv already uses kamikaze drones for deep strikes into Russia, which are significantly cheaper than the ATACMS or other long-range weapons.

The post Ukraine Revises ATACMS Target List After US Downplays Capability appeared first on The Defense Post.

A comprehensive investigation into the UK’s military support for Kyiv found that the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) prioritized transferring items that were due to be scrapped or replaced.

For example, in March 2022, the MoD shipped more than 17,000 pairs of unused military boots that were nearly slated for disposal.

“Had the MoD been unable to sell this surplus stock, it would have been sent to landfill,” the report noted. “In some cases, donating supplies has reduced waste or costs relating to disposal.”

Despite transferring obsolete items, the NAO reported that the MoD believed these supplies still had immediate military value for the Ukrainian forces.

$225M From Stockpiles

As of March 2024, the UK had donated 171.5 million pounds ($225 million) in military equipment coming from its stockpiles.

Though not specified, the items were reportedly valuable military assets that would help Kyiv’s forces survive on the frontline.

However, in mid-2023, Britain sharply reduced its donations from stockpiles due to “unacceptable risks” to the UK’s military readiness.

The NAO has already found that the British Army’s ongoing training of Ukrainian troops has affected its capacity to train its own soldiers.

A quarter of the army’s training facilities are reportedly being utilized by Ukrainian military recruits, resulting in reduced access for some British soldiers.

“As the MoD plans its future support, it must continue to balance the UK’s strategic interests with maintaining the UK’s own military capabilities,” NAO head Gareth Davies said.

The post UK Flooded Ukraine With Obsolete Military Gear: Report appeared first on The Defense Post.

Named DOT-Chain, the digital system simplifies the entire logistics process, reducing delivery time from the usual two months to just 15 days.

It enables military units to digitize requests, sales invoices, and other essential logistical procedures.

“Our task was to change the old system so that non-lethal support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine would be more effective,” State Logistics Operator adviser Alona Zhuzha said.

Currently, the DOT-Chain handles only food and clothing supplies. Zhuzha noted that the team plans to enhance the system to include additional categories of goods.

‘A Few Clicks in the System’

The traditional process of supplying non-lethal materials to the frontline involves manually processing hundreds of documents for approval.

However, with the DOT-Chain, bureaucratic paperwork will be significantly reduced, as the process can now be completed with just “a few clicks” in the system.

Expenditure invoices will also be instantly accessible in the system, enabling the military to make payments and initiate shipping right away.

Additionally, DOT-Chain will automatically display necessary supply data, including the number of requests and the quantities of goods accepted or rejected by military units.

“Digitizing procurement processes in defense is a strategic step toward improving the efficiency of supplying everything needed by the Armed Forces,” Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said. “Creating an effective supply management system for the army has been a priority for our team.”

Focusing on Logistics

In addition to deterrence, the Ukrainian military is placing significant emphasis on effectively supplying its troops with materials necessary to survive the war.

In 2022, Rheinmetall sent 26 logistics trucks for transporting weapons and equipment through mine-laden routes. However, the vehicles are too large for covert operations, prompting Ukraine to explore robotic platforms for cargo and medical transport.

The Ukrainian military has also deployed cargo drones donated by the UK, capable of delivering up to 180 kilograms (397 pounds) of equipment to frontline troops.

The post Ukraine Launches New System That Expedites Military Supplies Fourfold appeared first on The Defense Post.

In a recent report, the public spending watchdog revealed that over a quarter of the army’s training facilities are being used by Ukrainian military recruits undergoing basic infantry training.

As a result, British Army units bidding for training areas were reportedly rejected eight times more often in 2023 than the previous years.

The issue also nearly affected the Royal Marines, but they refused to compromise their own training needs, forcing the Ukrainian Marines to train in the Netherlands instead.

NAO head Gareth Davis has called on the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to balance its support for Ukraine with its own strategic and defense needs.

“This includes making sure there are appropriate stocks of equipment and sufficient training provision for UK forces,” he noted.

Still Lacking

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has trained more than 45,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its soil, according to the MoD.

Most of the trainees reported feeling better prepared for the battlefield.

Despite the significant resources allocated, some Ukrainian soldiers have found the training lacking in some areas such as counter-drone tactics and strategic vehicle use.

The MoD explained that they are unable to meet Ukraine’s counter-drone training requirements due to the existing military and civil aviation restrictions in the UK.

It also noted that the training does not include exercises involving military vehicles due to associated risks.

‘Outdated Training’

This is not the first time UK military training has been scrutinized publicly.

In July, senior air force official Blythe Crawford claimed that the country’s military training program is a decade out of date, affecting its preparedness for a full-scale war.

He further said nobody in the British Armed Forces is training for modern battlefield scenarios similar to what is observed in Ukraine.

The post UK’s Ability to Train Own Troops ‘Constrained’ by Ukraine Support: Report appeared first on The Defense Post.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the surface-to-air system was part of a build-up of German and European defenses launched after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the Ukraine invasion in 2022.

“Russia has been massively rearming for many years, especially in the field of rockets and cruise missiles,” Scholz said at the inauguration ceremony at a base in Todendorf near the northern city of Hamburg.

Putin had broken disarmament treaties and “deployed missiles as far as Kaliningrad,” a Russian exclave located some 530 kilometers (330 miles) from Berlin, he added.

“It would be negligent not to respond to this appropriately,” the chancellor said. “A failure to act would put peace at risk. I will not allow that.”

Scholz, who was joined by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, said the system was part of the European Sky Shield Initiative, which also includes long-range defenses against ballistic missiles.

The German military has ordered six of the Iris-T SLM systems at a total cost of 950 million euros ($1 million) from manufacturer Diehl Defence, to be delivered by May 2027.

Iris-T Success in Ukraine

Germany, the second-largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, has already supplied four Iris-T SLM systems to Ukraine and pledged another eight.

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov was visiting Germany on Wednesday, a day after a Russian missile attack killed at least 51 people in the Ukrainian city of Poltava, one of the single deadliest bombardments of the war.

The Iris-T systems sent to Ukraine feature truck-mounted launchers that fire missiles to intercept aerial threats at a range of up to 40 kilometers (25 miles).

Scholz said that “in Ukraine, Iris-T has shot down over 250 rockets, drones, and cruise missiles to date and saved countless lives.”

The German leader said that Europe, aside from defensive systems, would also need more precision missiles of its own “so that there is no dangerous gap with Russia in this strategically important field.”

In July, Washington and Berlin announced that the “episodic deployments” of long-range US missiles, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, to Germany would begin in 2026.

Scholz stressed that “our sole concern is to deter potential attackers. Every attack on us must mean a risk for the attacker. Our concern is to secure peace here and prevent war, and nothing else.”

The post German Army Activates Air Defense System, Citing Russia Threat appeared first on The Defense Post.

Revealed by Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, the package includes technical maintenance, associated equipment, and training services.

Ukraine’s upcoming fleet was used by the Netherlands Marine Corps for personnel and medical transport across austere environments.

Amsterdam noted that the platforms can also be deployed as command vehicles or mobile fire support.

“With a front and rear carriage and coupled steering mechanism, the Viking effortlessly lands on the beach from a landing craft,” the Dutch Ministry of Defence wrote in a press release.

“The vehicle is armored, which provides additional protection against enemy fire. The Viking can operate in the most diverse weather conditions.”

Following the donation to Ukraine, the Dutch Marine Corps’ Viking systems will be replaced by the incoming 124 tracked vehicles planned in 2020 as well as 179 small all-terrain patrol vehicles announced in 2021.

Distribution of the approximately 250-million-euro ($276.4-million) tracked fleet is scheduled from 2024 to 2027, while the patrol systems are expected to arrive next year until 2028.

Oekraïne heeft onze hulp hard nodig in het gevecht tegen de Russische agressor.

Nederland levert nu 28 Viking rupsvoertuigen. Het Korps Mariniers heeft hiervoor de Oekraïense militairen getraind.

Onze steun aan Oekraïne blijft doorgaan om Rusland op afstand te houden. pic.twitter.com/58jz5pvWAF

— Ruben Brekelmans (@DefensieMin) August 31, 2024

All-Terrain System

The Viking or BvS10 vehicle was first introduced by Swedish defense contractor BAE Systems Hägglunds in the early 2000s for the British Royal Marines, with its maiden deployment being in Afghanistan in 2006.

It was offered in different variants, including the unarmored Beowulf, and has undergone multiple upgrades since its launch.

Alongside Sweden, the UK, and the Netherlands, the all-terrain system has served under the Austrian, French, German, and US armed forces.

The Viking

BAE’s Viking measures 8 meters (26.2 feet) long and weighs about 5 tons.

It incorporates a front and rear car that can accommodate up to 12 passengers in total, while its chassis is covered with NATO standard armor against small arms fire and artillery.

The vehicle is equipped with a Cummins six-cylinder diesel engine and an Allison six-speed automatic transmission for a top speed of 70 kilometers (43.4 miles) per hour and a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles).

It can carry 5.56 to 12.7-millimeter machine guns, a 40-millimeter automatic grenade launcher, mortars, and smoke grenades.

The post Ukraine to Receive Viking Amphibious Vehicles From the Netherlands appeared first on The Defense Post.

The announcement marks the first reported destruction of an F-16 in Ukraine, just weeks after Kyiv began taking delivery of the supersonic aircraft.

“F-16 fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were used to repel a missile attack on the territory of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, along with units of anti-aircraft missile troops,” the Ukrainian army said.

“During the approach to the next target, communication with one of the planes was lost. As it turned out later, the aircraft crashed, killing the pilot,” it added.

Official Statement: F-16s in Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/llTh7QQoy5

— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) August 4, 2024

It did not identify the pilot, but a unit of Ukraine’s air force said one of its pilots, Oleksiy Mes, had died in a crash on Monday while repelling a Russian air attack.

“On 26 August, while repelling a Russian massive combined missile and air strike, Oleksiy destroyed three cruise missiles and one attack drone,” Ukraine’s Western air command unit said.

“Oleksiy saved Ukrainians from deadly Russian missiles. Unfortunately, at the cost of his own life,” it said.

The announcements come as a blow to Ukraine, which had long relied on a fleet of aging Soviet-era MIG-29 and Sukhoi jets and had asked for the F-16s to defend against intense Russian aerial bombardment.

Moscow fired a wave of attack drones and missiles at Ukraine on Monday this week in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called one of the “largest” attacks of Russia’s two-and-a-half year invasion.

The post Ukraine Says US-Made F-16 Fighter Jet Crashed, Killing Pilot appeared first on The Defense Post.