Defence News
Ukrαine got ‘in greatest secret’ T-72 parts to fight Russiα
KYIV ($1=36.57 Ukrainian Hryvnias) — The war between Russia and Ukraine is being fought in Europe, but in reality, on a diplomatic level, it is being fought all over the world. From Japan is its decision to revise the rules for the export of Japanese weapons, through Russia’s former socialist and communist servants in the Balkans, through Europe and its influence in some Latin American countries, and all the way to Africa.
T-72M1R, Twitter
Yes, Africa, is a continent that enjoys Russian influence that has been increasing over the years. Many countries have good political and trade relations with Russia. Many of them are mainly armed with Soviet or Russian weapons. It is hard to think that there is a country on this continent that would choose Ukraine as the right side in the conflict.
However, Morocco chose Ukraine. Not without the help of the USA, of course. In secret diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Rabat, business and political shuttles on various axes of understanding, Rabat agreed to supply Ukraine with spare parts for Ukrainian T-72 tanks. It is the most used tank in the war, both by Russia and Ukraine, but more so by Ukraine.
Morocco is the first African country to agree to support Ukraine. This is an important fact, especially from a historical point of view. Russia has been a friend of Morocco for years. Moscow helped Rabat eliminate the French colonial presence in the 1920s with the help of the Soviet Comintern. Going back years, Russia was actually the first European country to establish ties with Morocco.
It is even more painful for the Kremlin that during the Cold War Morocco was one of Russia’s biggest trading partners. Especially after gaining independence from France. Morocco did not even participate in the UN vote that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And despite the deteriorating relations between Russia and Morocco in the 1980s, at the expense of Egypt, Rabat remains a sore subject for Moscow.
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Morocco is one of several African countries operating the Soviet-designed T-72 tank. At the beginning of the new millennium, Rabat acquired the tanks from “brotherly” Belarus. The Moroccan army operates T-72B/BK version tanks.
Such involvement of Morocco with military aid might never have happened if Russia had not invaded Ukraine. Despite the peace in 2015, the Moroccans refused to sell spare parts for Ukrainian main battle tanks to the state-owned Ukrainian company Ukroboronservice. It now appears that, after some pressure from the US, Rabat will help keep Kyiv’s T-72s.
A deal has been made, and that much is clear. But apparently, Morocco’s initial neutrality regarding the Russia-Ukraine war was read correctly by Moscow, as the Russians never bothered to look to Morocco for the acquisition of Moroccan spare parts for the Russian T-72s. On the contrary, Russia turned to Iran and North Korea, which opened the door wide for Western secret diplomacy to turn “Moroccan opinion” in the “right direction”.
Sweden-based aerospace and defense company Saab announced on Friday that it has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to ensure the continued operability of and provide capability enhancements to the fighter aircraft JAS 39 Gripen C/D.
As noted by the company, the order value is approximately SEK 3.5 billion ($340 million) and the contract period is 2023-2029.
The contract also includes options that enable FMV to place additional orders for capability enhancements during 2023.
The enhancements will provide Sweden with a more effective and powerful fighter capability. The aircraft will be equipped with a new version of the engine, which will enhance flight performance. A more effective electronic warfare system will also be introduced and the upgrade will create conditions for increased attack capability with a new payload.
The order encompasses an upgrade to Saab’s latest fighter radar, which provides increased performance with emphasis on enhanced fighter capability and extended detection and tracking range. It also includes an upgraded and future-proof avionic system which, among other features, enables fast software updates of the sensor function.
“This upgrade will provide the Swedish Air Force with a significantly stronger fighter capability. The contract is a big leap ahead in terms of radar performance and functionality, both for the hardware and software, and will future-proof the operational capability of Gripen C/D,” says Jonas Hjelm, Head of Saab’s business area Aeronautics.
The capability enhancement will enable better interoperability between Gripen C/D and Gripen E, for example by the upgrade of support systems and data links. Interoperability is a prerequisite as the platforms will be used in parallel over many years.
Defence News
Major General Kovalchuk: We are preparing for possible offensive from Belarus in late February
Head of the Operational Command South, Major General Andrii Kovalchuk has said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are preparing for a possible offensive of the Russian troops from the north, from the territory of Belarus at the end of February.
“We are considering a possible offensive from Belarus at the end of February, maybe later. We are preparing for it. We are investigating. We look at where they accumulate strength and means. We are preparing,” Kovalchuk said in an interview with Sky News.
He does not rule out another wave of mobilization in Russia. At the same time, he notes that no matter how many soldiers the president of the aggressor country sends to war, the Ukrainian defense forces are ready to fight, but they need even stronger support from Western allies.
“I believe that our position and the position of our partners today should be clear. If Putin carries out a full mobilisation, our partners are ready to provide us with all the force and means to stop not an army of 300,000, but an army of a million,” Kovalchuk said.
In the immediate term, the general said Ukraine needs weapons from Western allies that are intended for offensive operations. In particular, Ukraine needs both tanks and planes, as well as “a reliable air defence system that is at least 95% effective”.
“We need more collective weapons – not an assault rifle, but a machine gun; not a projectile, but a cluster munition. There is a corresponding counteraction to the enemy’s actions. We are sure that our partners will help us in this matter – those who want [us] to win. Because it is not only Ukraine winning today, but the entire civilized world. And we must win,” he said,
The general is convinced that Ukraine will retake all its territories occupied by Russia, including Crimea.
“Crimea is a must – it is only a matter of time,” the general said, sitting in front of a line of flags representing different regions in the south of Ukraine, including the peninsula,” Kovalchuk said.
Source: ukrinform
The United States has provided Ukraine with more than $19.3 billion in security aid since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression.
Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said this at a briefing in Washington, Ukrinform reports.
“Since 2014, the United States has committed approximately $22.1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine and more than $19.3 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and brutal full scale invasion on February 24th,” he said.
He assured that to meet Ukraine’s evolving battlefield requirements, the U.S. will continue “to work closely with our allies and partners to provide Ukraine with key capabilities and assistance, to include training.”
As Ukrinform reported, the United States on December 9 announced a new military aid package worth $275 million for Ukraine, which includes missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), ammunition for artillery, as well as new capabilities to boost Ukraine’s air defenses.
Source: ukrinform
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