For review:
1. Israel Agrees to US-backed Ceasefire in Lebanon (In Principle).
2. Russian President (Vladimir Putin): Oreshnik Missile in Production.
The Russian President said that Moscow would carry out more tests of the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile in “combat conditions- and the missile will be put into serial production.
3. Russia equips quad-copter drone with flamethrower payload to counter Ukrainian First Person View (FPV) drones.
4. US and Allies discuss cooperation between Russia, China, N. Korea, and Iran at the Halifax International Security Forum (Canada).
5. Finland Hosts NATO Artillery Exercise.
The 12-day military exercise (Exercise Dynamic Front 25) is considered the alliance’s largest-ever artillery exercise held in Europe, located in the Finnish Northern Lapland. The inaugural exercise in the series involved about 5,000 soldiers from 28 countries.
6. US to Sign Basing Agreement with Fiji.
The US is negotiating two separate deals:
- A status of forces agreement- allowing the stationing of US troops- either permanently or temporarily.
- an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA- that would allow the US to leave stores of military equipment on the island.
7. Pentagon and Boeing contracts for KC-46A Pegasus & P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
The Pentagon this week awarded Boeing a pair of separate contracts for 15 x KC-46A Pegasus tankers and 7 x P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, deals that are collectively worth more than $4 billion.