For review:
1. Egypt Proposals Hostage Deal to Hamas - Israel Open to Discuss.
Reportedly, the proposal is not for an end to the war, but an extended ceasefire that will allow the elderly, children, women, ill and badly wounded hostages to be released.
2. Israel Cautiously Observes Fighting in Syria.
Statement from IDF: “The IDF will not allow a threat near the Syrian-Israeli border and will act to thwart any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel.”
3. Argentina and Israel sign accord to increase defense ties.
The agreement will involve a focus on joint projects “in cyber defense, unmanned aerial vehicles, border protection, satellite communications, and future government-to-government (G2G) contracts in light arms, light munitions, radios, and related equipment.”
4. Latest US Assistance Package to Ukraine worth $725 Million.
Package includes air defense capabilities; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons.
5. Despite recent prospect of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news outlet in an interview published Wednesday that Russia sees "no grounds for negotiations yet."
6. Australia down-selects two companies for development of general-purpose frigates- in program worth A$10 billion.
- Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
7. Australian leaning toward development of sovereign produced maritime mobile strike platform based upon Bushmaster system- equipped with two Naval Strike Missiles (StrikeMaster). The StrikeMaster is similar to the USMC- Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), which pairs Naval Strike Missiles with a modified unmanned Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
8. President-elect Donald Trump selects Daniel Driscoll as the nominative Secretary of the Army. Mr. Driscoll served in the Army and deployed to Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division as a Cavalry Scout platoon leader.
9. USAF kicks the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) can (Program) down the road for the next administration to solve.
USAF Statement: “The Secretary of the Air Force will defer the Next Generation Air Dominance way ahead decision to the next administration, while the Department of the Air Force continues its analysis and executes the necessary actions to ensure decision space remains intact for the NGAD program.”