338: Pager & Hand-Held Radio Explosions in Lebanon - Iranian Ambassador Wounded + Sweden Increases Defense Spending to 2.4% GDP in '25 + Italy Procuring More F-35 Warplanes + USAF B-21 Raider Program Progressing Well + More

I - On Defense Podcast

For review:
1. Israeli Defense Minister tells US Envoy that only "military action" can restore security and return residents to the border region.
2. Pager & Hand-Held Radio Explosions in Lebanon - Iranian Ambassador Wounded.
Thousands of Hezbollah group pagers exploded on Tuesday, killing nine people and wounding nearly 3,000.
In addition, a fresh wave of explosions ripped across Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting hand-held radios used by Hezbollah members.
Mojtaba Amani, the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, lost one eye and his other was seriously wounded in the Tuesday pager attack, according to The New York Times. Iran told the UN in a letter that “reserves its rights under international law to take required measures deemed necessary to respond.”
3. Sweden Increases Defense Spending to 2.4% GDP in '25.
Also, the Swedish Army is reportedly moving to three mechanized brigades and one infantry brigade by 2030; upscaling air defense capabilities to counter drones; and planning additional orders of air-to-air and cruise missiles.
4. Italy Procuring More F-35 Warplanes plus new Tranche 4 Eurofighter Typhoons.
The F-35 order, is split between 15 x F-35A variants for the Italian Air Force and 10 x F35B variants for the Italian Navy.
24 x Tranche 4 Eurofighters will be procured as a replacement for 26 x older Tranche 1 models.
5. USAF B-21 Raider Program Progressing Well.
USAF Officials say that the flight test program for the B-21 Raider is moving along- with the bomber periodically flying up to 2 x times a week.
6. AFSOC Commanding General says that CV-22 Ospreys are 60% operational, with the remainder of the fleet following in late 2024 or early 2025.
The CV-22 units in Japan and the United Kingdom “are almost back to full mission readiness.
7. Kongsberg to build missile facility in James City County, Virginia (between Richmond & Norfolk). The company’s new Virginia factory will focus on producing the Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile.