365: From US Formal Request: Qatar Directs Hamas to Leave Doha + US to Allow American Contractors to Operate in Ukraine + Switzerland Selects RCH 155mm Mobile Artillery System + More

I - On Defense Podcast

For review:
1. Newly appointed Israeli Defense Minister (Israel Katz) conducts first phone call with American counterpart- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
2. From US Formal Request: Qatar Directs Hamas to Leave Doha.
Qatar told Hamas that it must close its diplomatic office in Doha roughly ten days ago following a request by the US, senior Biden administration officials tell The Times of Israel. Qatar has hosted Hamas officials in Doha since 2012, amid requests from successive US administrations who felt it was important to have a communication channel with the terror group.
3. US to Allow American Contractors to Operate in Ukraine.
The Biden administration has lifted a ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine to help the country’s military maintain and repair US-provided weapons systems, particularly F16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems.
4. Saab (Sweden) develops "Autonomous Ocean Core" program.
Integration of this software enables surface and subsurface watercraft to function autonomously on various maritime missions, such as mine detection and clearance, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and rescue missions in remote locations.
5. Switzerland Selects RCH 155mm Mobile Artillery System.
The RCH 155 combines the firepower and the range of the operational PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer with an automated and remotely controlled gun module.
Increased automation also reduces the crew size to two (driver/operator, commander), which in turn enables a quick “shoot and scoot” capability.
6. US Navy extends life of 3 x Cruisers and 12 Destroyers.
- The Cruisers: USS Gettysburg (CG-64), USS Chosin (CG-65), and USS Cape St. George (CG-71) will now remain in service up until fiscal year 2029, rather than 2026.
- The Arleigh Burke Flight I Guided-Missile Destroyers:
One Year: USS Carney (DDG-64) and USS Stethem (DDG-63) will receive one-year extensions.
Three Years: USS Barry (DDG-52) USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) will each get extended three years.
Five Years: USS Gonzalez (DDG-66), USS Cole (DDG-67), USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), USS Laboon (DDG-58), USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) and USS Stout (DDG-55) will each get extended for five years.