322: Israel - Hamas Negotiation Update + US Carrier & Guided-Missile Submarine Moving Toward CENTCOM AOR + AUKUS Countries Lower Arms Export Restrictions + More

I - On Defense Podcast

For review:
1. US Carrier (USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72) & Guided-Missile Submarine (USS Georgia SSGN-728) Moving Toward CENTCOM AOR.
2. Israel - Hamas Negotiation Update.
The US “bridging proposal” does not provide for an ongoing Israeli presence along the Gaza-Egypt border or for a mechanism in central Gaza to prevent the return of armed Hamas forces to the Strip’s north.
3. Bulgaria to procure IRIS-T Air Defense Systems in support of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). The deal includes five additional IRIS-T SLM systems and one long-range IRIS-T SLX (Surface-Launched Extended-Range) system by 2032.
4. Australian Army Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles to receive vehicle display that hosts C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) applications. 129 x Redback IFVs ordered for the Army will be delivered by 2028.
5. French Navy Frigate FS Bretagne (D655) operates in the Indo-Pacific Region with naval forces from the US, Japan, and Philippines.
Royal Australian and US Navy Sailors to cooperate during a Submarine Tender Maintenance Period (STMP) over the next several weeks during a US submarine port visit at Stirling Naval Base in Western Australia.
6. AUKUS Countries Lower Arms Export Restrictions.
The United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom have agreed to new rules for sharing arms — a major step to make their defense industries more accessible to one another.
7. US Navy to secure a Multi-ship procurement deal for 4 x amphibious ships.
The four ships that will be purchased under the deal are 3 x San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks (LPD-33 in fiscal 2025, LPD-34 in FY27, & LPD-35 in FY29) and 1 x amphibious assault ship (LHA-10 in FY27).