333: Israel - Hamas Hostage Deal Remote + Germany to Provide 155mm Howitzers to Ukraine + Poland Offered Boeing CH-47F Block II Chinooks + More

I - On Defense Podcast

For review:
1. Israel - Hamas Hostage Deal Remote.
The chances of a phased hostage-ceasefire agreement being achieved on the basis of Israel’s May proposal are “close to zero” and there is “very broad pessimism” among the Israeli negotiators.
2. Germany to Provide 155mm Howitzers to Ukraine.
Germany will deliver a batch of 12 x Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, the Defense Minister announced. 6 x howitzers will be delivered by the end of this year and the rest next year.
3. UK to provide 650 x Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to Ukraine as part of a 162-million-pound ($212 million) contract.
4. EU spends too much money on US defense items.
A report on European Union Defense Competitiveness says that from mid 2022 to mid-2023, the 27-Member Nation contracted 63% of their defense orders with US suppliers.
5. US Defense Security Cooperation Agency- Foreign Military Sale:
The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy two hundred forty-six (246) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles. The estimated total program cost is $691 million.
6. Poland offered Boeing CH-47F Block II Chinooks.
Boeing announced today at the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) that it has formally offered the heavy-lift helicopter to Poland.
7. Norwegian Army to upgrade Sniper rifle capability with the American Barrett M107A1. The M107A1 is capable of delivering precision and rapid fire on targets up to 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) away.
8. Two USAF F-35As land on highways during exercise in Finland.
The F-35s, which were from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in England, carried out the landings on the Hosio Highway Strip in Ranua, Finland.