Watch: Egypt, Kuwait Conduct Joint Air Drills

 

Elbit Systems in Q2 2017: Backlog of Orders at $7.3B; Revenues at $818M

Elbit Systems reported today its consolidated results for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. Revenues in the second quarter of 2017 were $818.3 million, as compared to $804.5 million in the second quarter of 2016. The Company’s backlog of orders totaled $7,329 million, as compared to $6,818 million as of June 30, 2016. Approximately 72% of the current backlog is attributable to orders from outside Israel. Approximately 57% of the current backlog is scheduled to be performed during 2017 and 2018.

Epsilor Unveils New Family of Rechargeable 6T Lithium Batteries

Epsilor, developer and manufacturer of mobile energy products for defense and aerospace applications, has launched a new line of rechargeable 6T lithium batteries.

Developed in collaboration with a strategic customer, the new batteries are designed primarily for next-generation armored vehicles but are also suitable as drop-in replacements for traditional lead-acid batteries.

The company markets the 6T batteries come in two main configurations: Li-Ion-based 4.3kWh (176Ah) battery and LiFePO4-based 2.0kWh (80Ah) battery

New Smuggling Route Between Russia and Iran

Iranian military hardware had been allegedly sent to Russia in violation of UN Security Council resolution 2231.

Citing an anonymous source in Western intelligence services, the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported that Tehran had secretly sent some components of heavy offensive weapons to Russia for maintenance in an alleged violation of the 2231 UNSC resolution via the Syrian territory.

Iran to Develop Research Reactors for Nuclear Power Production

Iran plans to develop research reactors for nuclear power production, Tehran Times reported Sunday. Nuclear Power Production & Development (NPPD) Company of Iran will design, construct and utilize research reactors in line with the goals and missions of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

The news was announced Saturday in a directive by Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri to the AEOI chief Ali Akbar Salehi.

New IAF Commander: Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin

Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin was officially appointed IAF Commander in a ceremony held last week in the Chief of General Staff’s office situated in IDF HQ. The ceremony was held in the presence of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, and the members of the General Staff Forum.

Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, who previously served as Head of the IDF Planning Directorate, will replace Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, who commanded the IAF during the past five years and will retire from the IDF after 40 years of military service.

Mossad Chief: ISIS Out – Iran In

During a security briefing to cabinet ministers, the head of Israel's spy agency, the Mossad warns that as the Islamic State terrorist group is beaten back, Iran and its proxies are rushing in to take over its territory, primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.

Watch: Hezbollah Claims to Have Uncovered Israeli Spying Device in Lebanon

Hezbollah said on Sunday that its forces uncovered Israeli espionage equipment in southern Lebanon.

The organization said, through its media mouthpiece al-Manar and social media arm al-'ilam al-Harbi, that a technical team discovered an Israeli spying device on the “strategic heights” of Barouk mountain in the Bekaa valley, overlooking the village of Saghbine.

The report said the device had been remotely exploded by Israel some time ago "out of fear it would be discovered," and that its pieces were scattered throughout the area.

US Spends Over $76B on Building Afghan Army; So Far Without Success

The United States has spent more than $76 billion in the last 16 years on arming the Afghan security forces, says a new report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO).

According to dawn.com, the report noted that despite spending so much money, the United States has not yet achieved its primary objective: enabling the Afghan security forces to operate independently.

Between Pyongyang, Washington and Jerusalem: Intersecting Nuclear Nightmares

"The terrible 'ifs' accumulate." (Winston Churchill)