For review:
1. Israel's New Submarine.
The Israeli Navy announced on Tuesday the name of its sixth submarines, dubbed “the Dragon”, in a ceremony in Germany with the naval vessel expected to be delivered to Israel later in 2025.
2. Israeli President Isaac Hertzog presents gift to US President Biden, on what is most likely, the last official visit by a Senior Israeli Official before his term ends in January 2025.
President Hertzog presented President Biden with a gift, an archaeological finding from the foot of the Temple Mount inscribed with the name “Joseph,” an apparent reference to the Biblical figure.
3. Iran to Increase Defense Budget by 200%.
The Iranian government plans to triple its military budget for the upcoming year amid an unprecedented escalation in attacks exchanged with Israel in recent months. Previously, Iran’s military budget was reportedly $10.3 billion, significantly lower than those of regional power such as Saudi Arabia, with approximately $70 billion.
4. President-Elect Trump Picks New Secretary of Defense and other key National Security Posts.
- Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth
- National Security Advisor: Mike Walz
- Secretary of State: Marco Rubio
- Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: John Ratcliffe
5. UK, Italy, and Japan continue forward in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) effort.
Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton, RAF Chief of the Air Staff: “GCAP is very deliberately being designed to complement and enhance the capabilities of F-35, not replace it, but we also know that even a force of F-35 and GCAP will need to be augmented by what we call Autonomous Collaborative Platforms [ACPs] to defeat the threats that we see emerging.” (The acquisition of ACPs to sit alongside GCAP and F-35 jets as a way of increasing combat mass and allow crewed platforms to be less vulnerable to attack.)
6. Italian company Iveco joins Leonardo and Rheinmetall to develop combat vehicles (Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Main Battle Tanks).
Iveco said it would be looking to offer its capabilities in “advanced propulsion and drivetrain systems.