🪖Drones vs… Birds?🐦

Plus: Israel gives Hezbollah March 15 deadline

Hi there! 👋 Today's lineup is hotter than a barrel of jalapeños – from the Philippines' grand military extravaganza at Balikatan 2024, featuring the debut of the Spyder air defense missile system, to Singapore's urban warfare training that's straight outta a sci-fi flick!

But wait, there's more – we've got Israel wagging its finger at Hezbollah, naval deals that'll make you go "whoa," Latvia fortifying its borders like it's building a giant LEGO set, and a whole lot of other shenanigans. Happy reading!

Today’s edition is a 5.1 minute read: 

• 🇵🇭 Philippines: Get ready for the ultimate military showdown in the Philippines at Balikatan 2024. The star of the show, the Israeli-made Spyder air defense missile system, will be making its debut too. The acquisition forms a key component of the Philippines’ military modernization strategy. See it first-hand at Balikatan 2024 from April 22 to May 8.

• 🇸🇬 Singapore:: The Singapore Army is gearing up for some seriously high-tech urban warfare training. Picture this: 2D human targets flipping and spinning like Beyblades, mobile 3D targets zipping around on wheels like Mario Kart racers, and virtual enemies popping up like Whack-a-Moles. It's like playing Call of Duty, but in real life! Welcome to the future of military training.

- The WarLytics Team

Was this forwarded to you? We're a team of intelligence analysts committed to bringing you the latest in geopolitics and defence industry news. It’s free to subscribe!

📰 THE WORLD TODAY

1. 🇮🇱 Israel: Israel throws down the gauntlet to Hezbollah. Israel has reportedly given Hezbollah until March 15 to dance to pull back grom the border, or risk a full-blown war. Defense Minister Gallant spilled the tea to US envoy Hochstein, warning that Hezbollah's incessant attacks are inching Israel closer to the brink. Is a Third Lebanon War on the horizon?

2. 🇺🇸 Unites States: Satellite leader Planet Labs snags seven-figure deal with the U.S. Navy. They're lending their spy-like imagery to help the Navy spot vessels and keep tabs on the high seas. SynMax AI, the brainiacs using AI to decode satellite secrets, is teaming up with Planet Labs for this naval escapade. Just make sure you get my good side.

3. 🇱🇻 Latvia: Latvia’s Cabinet approves Eastern border makeover. The Baltic state is basically saying, "Russia and Belarus, you better think twice before messing with us!" They're turning the eastern border into a fortress, complete with anti-tank ditches, dragon's teeth (not the dentist kind), and obstacles that scream, "You shall not pass!"

4. 🇫🇷 France: France's stealthy moves in the Caucasus fly under NATO's radar. With Russia’s back turned, and Putin’s reticence to support Armenia in its territorial dispute with Azerbaijan, Macron is sliding into Armenia’s DMs with words of support. But Azerbaijan isn’t happy, and the conflict is far from over.

5. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Colchester's 16 Air Assault Brigade gets a futuristic upgrade with SmartShooter SMASH tech, making drone hunting a breeze. Armed with AI precision, soldiers are now trained to nail targets with ease. The anti-drone tech market is poised to explode as UAVs continue to prove their utility on the battlefield.

🤿 DEEP DIVE

Bird vs. Drone… Birds of a feather?

🖼️ Background:

• The Indian Army showcased two eagles trained for anti-drone activities, during the "Dharma Guardian" military exercise with Japan.

• China’s Northwestern Polytechnical University also tested a bird-like reconnaissance drone dubbed “Little Falcon.”

• According to Indian media, the eagles have successfully taken down or destroyed hundreds of quadcopter (small) drones during training.

• This highlights the trend of militaries worldwide incorporating nature-inspired solutions, like bird-based technology, to counter modern warfare challenges.

• Drone technology proliferation in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war has led to the development of advanced anti-drone technology and the exploration of alternative solutions.

✍️ Key Takeaways:

• The use of bird-based technology offers stealthier options for surveillance and interception, providing a critical advantage over conventional drones.

• Trained birds like India’s "Arjun" and "Deep" demonstrate precision and effectiveness in intercepting drones.

• The adoption of such innovative solutions underscores the evolving nature of warfare and the need for adaptive strategies to counter emerging threats posed by UAVs.

• A new crank mechanism enables the bird-like drone to fold its wings while flapping, allowing for nimble flight controls and rapid descent.

🌏 ON ANOTHER NOTE…

1.  🇹🇼 Taiwan: China ups the grey-zone ante with Taiwan. China has begun saturating the Taiwan Strait with balloons, drones, and civilian boats, to mess with Taiwan without throwing punches. Taiwan's not taking it lying down, though.

2. 🇾🇪 Yemen: Red Sea's telecom cables severed by Houthi rebels. As if putting a stop to maritime trade wasn’t enough, the Houthis are coming for your internet too.

Share WarLytics with your network!