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The arsenal of Russian artillery was extended with 120-mm high-explosive mortar shells made in North Korea.

The supporting pictures were published on social media.

An article by Vodohrai on Militarnyi notes that Russian guidance documents call 120-mm North Korean-made mines “Izdeliye 120-1”.

When firing this ammunition, the mortar crew must consider the range correction using standard artillery range tables.

The documents indicate that when fired from a 2S12 mortar, the “Izdeliye 120-1” arrives closer than the Soviet “brother” OF-843B.

North Korean “Izdeliye 120-1” 120mm mortar round. Photo from social media

It is noted that when firing, it is necessary to make corrections of 4-5% depending on the charge number:

“Sixth” charge – plus 4% range;
“Fifth” charge – plus 5% range;
“Fourth” charge – plus 4% range;
“Third,” “Second,” and “First” charges – plus 5% range.

Militarnyi has repeatedly reported on the supply of ammunition from the DPRK to Russia.

The statements by South Korean MPs revealed that North Korea had shipped more than a million artillery shells to Russia since August.

Read more about Russian ammunition of North Korean origin in the article “Juche projectiles: North Korea tracks in Russo-Ukrainian war“

The DPRK also deployed advisors to Russia on the use of ammunition, which would be enough for about two months of shelling.

Intelligence also reports that North Korea’s munitions plants are operating at full capacity to meet Russia’s needs.

122mm artillery shells of the DPRK, which are supplied to Russia. October 2023. Photo credits: Ukraine Weapons Tracker

The main advantage of DPRK-made ammunition is that it can be used with Soviet-type artillery systems.

Recently, John Kirby, Coordinator of the National Security Council at the White House, reported that North Korea supplied Russia with more than 1000 containers of military equipment and ammunition for their further use in the war against Ukraine.

Finland purchased David’s Sling missile defense systems from Israel.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced this.

The contract, described as historic, is valued at around €317 million. Within the agreement, Israel would hand over Israeli-American missiles, launchers, and Israeli-made radars to Finland.

The purchase consists of a main contract for approximately €213 million and the immediate exercise of options related to the main contract for €103 million.

No other details of the deal and the number of systems were disclosed by either party.

Signing of the agreement to purchase the David’s Sling system. Photo credits: Israeli Ministry of Defense

In August, Militarnyi reported on the United States approving Finland’s purchase of this missile defense system.

Finland will receive its own version of the system, which will be jointly developed by Israeli, American, and Finnish industrial enterprises led by Rafael Advanced Systems and Raytheon Technologies Cooperation.

The system will further be integrated into the command and control systems of the Finnish Defense Forces.

Finland placed an order for David’s Sling in April 2023. According to the Finnish Ministry of Defense plans, the system would perform the role of a long-range air defense system.

The Finnish Ministry of Defense notes that the new system will significantly expand the range of Finland’s ground-based air defense facilities.

Test launch of the David’s Sling missile system. Photo from open sources

Militarnyi recently reported that Azerbaijan purchased additional Barak MX air defense systems from Israel, with the agreement’s value estimated at $1.2 billion.

A few months ago, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) successfully demonstrated Barak MX systems in Azerbaijan.

Armenia received a batch of Bastion armored vehicles from Acmat as part of a military cooperation program with France.

Azerbaijani Telegram channels reported on this.

The batch, visually consisting of 22 armored vehicles, arrived at the Georgian port of Poti, from which it left for Armenia by rail.

It is noted that the French company ARQUUS is the consignor of the cargo.

During her recent visit to Armenia, Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, stated that Paris agreed to sign an agreement with Yerevan on supplying military equipment necessary to meet Armenian defense needs.

Bastion armored vehicles in Georgia. Photo from social media

In addition to armored vehicles, France promised to sell Armenia air defense systems to protect the country’s airspace.

The French refused to specify which military equipment and weapons would be supplied to Armenia within future contracts.

Based on the statements of French high-ranking officials, it can be assumed that Armenia purchased armored vehicles and not received them free of charge.

Azerbaijan perceives the Armenian-French defense cooperation in a negative way. Baku warned that France’s supply of arms to Armenia could provoke a new conflict in the South Caucasus.

In addition to the French defense industry, Armenia is considering the Indian one. India previously supplied Armenia with the Pinaka multiple rocket launchers of its own design, which were sold abroad for the first time.

Associated equipment of Bastion armored vehicles in Georgia. Photo from social media

Anti-tank missiles and a batch of ammunition were also transferred. The supply of weapons was executed via the transport corridor going through the territory of Iran.

According to the Indian Defence Research Wing, in early August, the Indian defense company Bharat Forge Ltd. handed over six 155-mm ATAGS howitzers to Armenia within a $155.5 million contract.

The agreement provides for the supply of 90 artillery howitzers of this type within three years.

Sweden has ultimately withdrawn from the international Global Combat Air System (GCAP) program, which assumes the creation of a sixth-generation manned fighter jet.

Defence24 reported on this.

Sweden’s next steps are currently unclear. One of the possible options is to create its own program.

The Global Combat Air System is a multinational initiative led by the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy to create a sixth-generation fighter jet.

The joint program should result in the Tempest fighter jet, which should take to the sky by 2035.

Illustrative image of a Global Combat Air System fighter. Photo from open sources

The promising aircraft is to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2.

Alongside the GCAP, French, German, and Spanish companies are developing a fighter jet under the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) program to replace the Rafal, Typhoon, and Spanish EF-18 Hornet.

Prior to participating in the GCAP program, the Swedish Air Force funded its own Flygsystem 2020 program to develop a fifth-generation fighter.

The Program assumed the development of a heavily single-engine multirole aircraft. It was supposed to be an aircraft that would replace the latest version of the Gripen after 2035.

The Swedish project was at a conceptual stage when, in 2019, Saab and the Swedish authorities joined the newly announced Tempest fighter program.

The fighter jet model under the Future Combat Air System program. Photo from open sources

The reason for the withdrawal from the program could have been a difference in fighter jet concepts: the Swedes wanted a single-engine, low-cost aircraft with a short range, while other countries wanted a twin-engine aircraft with a long range.

Sweden now has until 2031 to conduct conceptual work and develop a new model. As a result, a vehicle is to be purchased and put into service “after 2040”. At the same time, the E/F version of the Gripen will be adopted.

Rebels from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) seized more Ukrainian-origin armored vehicles.

The photos of the captured equipment were released on social media.

It was reportedly seized near the border with China in Shang State.

On October 29, Militarnyi reported on the capture of two MT-LBMSh APCs of Ukrainian production, one of which was destroyed and the other in usable condition.

The MT-LBMSh APC with the KBA-105 Shkval RWS captured by the MNDAA rebels. Photo from social media

The fresh photos showed a new, visually intact MT-LBMSh with a KBA-105 Shkval remote weapon station and a BTR-3U with the same set of weapons.

MT-LBMSh is a Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle based on the MT-LB tracked tractor, which received the KBA-105 Shkval RWS with a ZTM-1 30mm automatic gun, a PKT 7.62mm machine gun, an AG-17 30mm grenade launcher, and a Barrier ATGM.

BTR-3U is a Ukrainian armored personnel carrier that is a deep modernization of the BTR-94К. It can be equipped with a Deutz BF6M1015 or UTD-20 engine and an Allison MD3066 automatic transmission.

In addition to weapons of Ukrainian origin, a MAM-01 122mm MLRS was captured, which visually has extensive damage and is not usable, and a 240mm MAM-02, whose degree of damage cannot be assessed.

The Brazilian wheeled reconnaissance vehicle, the EE-9 Cascavel, and the D-30 122mm towed howitzer were also captured by the rebels.

Captured EE-9 Cascavel armored vehicle. Photo from social media

Ukrainian armor in Myanmar

In 2017, Militarnyi reported that the Kharkiv Tractor Plant would manufacture armor on the MT-LB chassis for Myanmar.

In fact, Myanmar received the first Ukrainian MT-LBMSh much earlier. It is known for certain that the country received 10 combat vehicles in 2007 and 16 in 2009.

BTR-3U of the Armed Forces of Myanmar at a checkpoint in Naypyidaw. Photo credits: Myanmar media

There is unconfirmed information that Ukraine sold a slightly larger number of MT-LBMSh to Myanmar, but there is no official information about this.

It is known that Myanmar acquired about 10 BTR-3U in 2003. These armored personnel carriers were seen in 2021 during the beginning of the coup in the country.

The Buk-M1 air defense system, which uses Ukrainian air defense, was converted to use American missiles.

This was stated by Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, in his interview with Radio NV.

According to him, such modified air defense systems with American missiles have already been tested at a test site in the United States.

“There is an announcement from our Western partners (we have already confirmed it) that we have good results of combat use at the United States anti-aircraft missile systems Buk-М1, which are converted and adapted to American missiles, which can strengthen our air defense,” Ignat said.

According to the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, the missiles of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow were adapted to the launchers of the Ukrainian Buk-М1 air defense systems.

TEL of the Buk-M1 missile system. Illustration photo

“They [protect], albeit in a small radius. Sea Sparrow missiles will be able to help protect critical infrastructure facilities first,” said Yurii Ihnat.

He noted that anti-aircraft missiles for Buk-М1 and S-300 air defense systems are produced only in Russia, so Ukraine should look for ways to “crossbreed a Soviet with an American.”

The colonel also added that Ukraine needs a large number of Buks, converted to American missiles and HAWK SAMs, which, although morally obsolete, are already showing results in Ukraine.

Launcher of the MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft system

Adaptation of American missiles

Earlier, American media reported that, in cooperation with American and Ukrainian engineers, a technical solution was born that will allow the Buk air defense system to use RIM-7 missiles. In addition, the AIM-9M Sidewinder aircraft missile was adapted for other air defense systems. This decision in the media was called FrankenSAM.

For such a modification, radars and other components that were provided by the allies of the United States and Ukraine were used.

RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles have already been included in previous military aid packages from the United States and Belgium in particular.

2P25 launcher with installed RIM-7 Sea Sparrow. Photo from the open sources

The American part expects that modified air defense systems will significantly strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian air defense system during the period when a new wave of Russian rocket attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure is expected, as well as the mass use of strike drones.

The Ukrainian military destroyed a rare Russian RB-636 Svet-KU electronic warfare system with a precision strike.

A video of the hit on enemy equipment was published on the official Telegram channel of the Ukranian South Joint Task Force.

The vehicle of the Russian EW system was spotted by Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance.

The Ukrainian reconnaissance drone tracked the movement of the system and targeted rocket artillery on it. This happened in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region.

Judging by the footage of the published video, the vehicle of the Russian RB-636 Svet-KU EW system was hit by a GMLRS rocket fired from the HIMARS launcher.

The vehicle with the crew and operators of the system is located in a wooded area. Probably, the Russians planned to deploy the system and carry out a mission for its intended purpose.

Strike at the Russian RB-636 Svet-KU EW system, November 2023. Frame from the video of the JSTF

This is the third time the Russian Army has lost such an electronic warfare system during the full-scale war against Ukraine.

As is known, the first Svet-KU system became the trophy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in March 2022.

And already in August 2023, the Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed the second such Russian mobile EW system.

The vehicle of the Russian RB-636 Svet-KU electronic warfare system

RB-636 Svet-KU entered into service with the Russian army in 2012. The developers state that this system is able to assess the electromagnetic environment, search, detect, and analyze radio emissions, and determine the location of their sources.

It is unknown how many such systems were delivered to the Russian army as of today.

At the same time, it is worth noting that the Russians used these EW systems in the temporarily occupied territories and before the large-scale invasion. According to the InformNapalm project, RB-636 Svet-KU systems were spotted in Ukraine in 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

The new version of the Iranian Shahed-136 loitering munition received a jet engine and its own optical sensor for targeting.

Videos of drone engagement were featured in the recently released Iranian documentary Parchamdar (Flagship).

In the published footage, a pickup truck with a launcher installed in the cargo compartment can be seen carrying one kamikaze drone.

To launch a jet drone, the car reaches a high speed, for which it needs a straight, flat road of appropriate length. Judging by the frames of the speedometer of the car, the drone is launched at a speed of 190 kilometers per hour.

A bullet-shaped superstructure can be seen under the front part of the fuselage. That’s a drone’s optical sensor, due to which it conducts the targeting.

The documentary also shows an image received from the optical sensor. It was taken from the drone control panel. Evidently, the drone locks-on the target and flies on it, or it is controlled directly by the operator in the terminal flight stage.

The film authors state that the new drone will be a more technological and expensive addition to the existing Shahed-136 which currently has a conventional piston engine and a ‘blind’ guidance system.

At the same time, the technical characteristics of the ‘Shaheds’ with a jet engine remain unknown. This innovation is supposed to significantly increase the speed of the drone, with a reduced operational range instead.

The claimed range of the standard Shahed-136 is 2,000 kilometers, and according to the experience of the Russian-Ukrainian war, it is at least 1,000 kilometers. Missions at such ranges are carried out autonomously according to the programmable data downloaded before the flight and without communication with the control station.

The updated drone with operator communication functions at the first hundred kilometers will require the use of ground repeaters or other aircraft/drones that will perform this role. It is not known whether such systems exist in Iran’s service.

It is worth noting that with the new jet engine, the new ‘Shahed’ is approaching the niche of cruise missiles and is unlikely to become the same means of terror as its piston analog. This is due to both the cost of the product and the complexity of its production.

Presumably, the tasks of the new drone will be counter-battery warfare and the defeat of important military targets behind enemy lines, such as air defense systems, depots, and manpower locations.

The European Union explained how much money it spent on military aid to Ukraine.

According to the EU chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, this amount has already reached €27 billion.

He announced this on Monday, before the start of a meeting of the European Union’s Council on Foreign Relations.

“Our support (for Ukraine – ed.) is growing. I can tell you that our assistance to Ukraine has reached €27 billion in military assistance. This is the largest figure we have ever reached,” Josep Borrell stressed.

He emphasized that the European Union will continue its support to Ukraine as the war against the Russian invaders continues.

Josep Borrell. Photo from open sources

“We continue to train Ukrainian soldiers. We continue to stand by Ukraine,” Borrell said.

Back in the summer, it became known that the EU was planning to create a special fund to finance Ukraine’s defense over the next four years, amounting to up to €20 billion.

The proposal would not involve the EU directly paying for Ukraine’s weapons. Money from the fund will go to allied nations to cover their costs of purchasing and transferring property from their own stocks. It could be ammunition, missile weapons, armored vehicles, etc. Funding will also be able to cover the training of the Ukrainian military.

Production of DM121 155mm artillery shells. Photo credits: Rheinmetall

However, in November, Reuters news agency reported that a European Union plan to spend up to €20 billion on military aid for Ukraine faced resistance from some EU countries and may not survive in its current form.

EU defense ministers prepare to discuss the plan in Brussels on Tuesday. However, according to Reuters, multiple countries, including EU heavyweight Germany, have voiced reservations about committing such large sums years in advance.

EU officials emphasize that long-term military assistance should be coordinated with defense aid packages negotiated by individual EU countries with Kyiv.

Some members of the European Union also argue that it will be difficult for them to make large, long-term commitments due to internal budget constraints.

On Monday, November 13, the European Training Center for F-16 Fighter Pilots opened in Romania.

The pilots of the Air Force of Ukraine will also be trained here.

The Center was opened with the participation of Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr and his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren, DW reports.

The Center is located at the Romanian Feteşti Air Base, 150 kilometers east of Bucharest.

It was created jointly with other allies and Lockheed Martin, which is the manufacturer of these U.S. fighter jets. It meets the training requirements of NATO pilots.

Dutch F-16AM in Romania. Photo credits: Dutch Ministry of Defence

Lockheed Martin provided instructors and technical staff for the exercise.

In October, it became known that Ukrainian pilots would be part of the “first wave” of F-16 training at a new training center in Romania.

As part of the “aviation coalition,” the Netherlands provides its aircraft for training Ukrainians. The first three Dutch F-16AM fighter jets arrived in Romania on November 7.

Later, it became known that the Netherlands planned to increase the number of F-16 fighter jets in Romania to speed up and increase the intensity of training for Ukrainian pilots.

By the end of the year, the country aims to deploy up to 18 F-16 fighter jets to the Romanian air base. The increase in the number of these aircraft should have a positive impact on the quality and speed of training for Ukrainian pilots.

F-16 fighters of the Netherlands Air Force in Romania. November 2023. Freeze frame from the Valahia News video

While the F-16s are in Romania, they will remain the property of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Initially, the fighter jets will be used to train Ukrainian and Romanian instructors who are to undergo a refresher course. After that, pilots will be involved in the exercises for retraining.

According to the Chief of Defence of the Netherlands Armed Forces, General Onno Eichelsheim, training of Ukrainian pilots is to begin early next year.