Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Digital Battlespace
Shephard Media
30 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/digital-battlespace/smartshooter-seeks-us-military-interest-in-remote-controlled-fire-control-stations/
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Air Warfare
Shephard Media
30 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/xtend-aims-to-expand-uas-footprint-in-us-and-app-store/
Israeli UAS developer XTEND will open a production facility in Florida to meet demand from DoD clients and also has signed a partnership with software development company SightX
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Air Warfare
Shephard Media
29 June 2023
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/quantum-systems-clientele-grows-globally-as-the-company-seeks-to-create-a-family-of-suavs/
The US subsidiary of Germany's Quantum-Systems has chalked up a number of new orders and customer demonstrations for its Vector UAS and plans to build up a family of different models.
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Land Warfare
Shephard Media
29 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/gm-defense-selected-by-dod-showcases-concept-vehicles/
"Black Knight identifies US opportunities for expeditionary fuel cell"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Land Warfare
Shephard Media
28 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/black-knight-drums-up-us-interest-for-expeditionary-fuel-cell/
Black Knight Group sees the US Marine Corps' expeditionary light vehicles as an application for the SFC Energy EMILY 3000 fuel cell.
"Polaris adds remote weapon station to MRZR Alpha light vehicle"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Land Warfare
Shephard Media
28 June 2023
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/polaris-adds-remote-weapon-station-to-mrzr-alpha-light-vehicle/
"What Did Iran’s Raisi Accomplish with his Latin American Tour?"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
International Policy Digest
23 June, 2023
Originally published: https://intpolicydigest.org/what-did-iran-s-raisi-accomplish-with-his-latin-american-tour/
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi embarked on a Latin American tour in mid-June, visiting Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. During his visit, he held meetings with Presidents Miguel Díaz-Canel, Daniel Ortega, and Nicolás Maduro, respectively. The tour lasted five days and resulted in several agreements, although none were groundbreaking. However, considering the well-known tensions between Washington and these four governments, Washington viewed the visit with some concern. It is worth noting that this visit followed a controversial port call by two Iranian warships to Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro a few months prior.
"Illegal Coltan Mining Fuels Colombian Narco-Insurgents"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Report
Geopolitical Monitor
20 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/illegal-coltan-mining-fuels-colombian-narco-insurgents/
Illegal mining is a widespread problem whose negative consequences include pollution, destruction of local ecosystems, and hazardous working conditions, not to mention the crime itself. In Colombia, illegal mining has an even more problematic dimension: coltan (and gold) is mined to finance narco-insurgents.
"Bauxite: Jamaica’s Lucrative 'Red Dirt'"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Report
Geopolitical Monitor
16 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/bauxite-jamaicas-lucrative-red-dirt/
Jamaica is a global producer of bauxite, a critical material used to produce aluminum. The Caribbean island, most well-known globally for its vibrant tourism industry, has exploited this “red dirt” for decades. While the industry remains profitable, there has been significant push-back recently, including a recent landmark Supreme Court ruling against a new mining project.
"Argentina, Uruguay continue search for new combat aircraft"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Air Warfare
Shephard Media
13 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/argentina-uruguay-continue-search-for-new-combat-aircraft/
Argentina has held discussions with India's HAL about acquiring Tejas fast jets and helicopters, while Uruguay awaits funding for an A-37 Dragonfly replacement.
"Argentina boosts Antarctic airlift with lease of C-130"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Air Warfare
Shephard Media
8 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/argentina-adds-antarctic-airlift-with-lease-of-c-130/
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Report
Geopolitical Monitor
7 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/this-machine-runs-on-water-lithium-in-latin-america/
Lithium is the next big mining boom given that the mineral can be utilized for lithium batteries which are currently, and for the foreseeable future, in high demand as the world craves green energy. South America has the world’s largest lithium deposits, among other critical and rare minerals, with Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile forming the so-called Lithium Triangle and neighboring Peru looking to export lithium and locally-made lithium batteries sometime this decade. (I have discussed lithium deposits in Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru in previous analyses for Geopolitical Monitor). One vital issue to remember though, lithium’s dirty little secret, is the water usage and water pollution involved in the extraction process.
"Acercamiento en materia de defensa y seguridad de China con Centroamérica y el Caribe"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Reporte
Expediente Abierto
31 de Mayo, 2023
A pesar de los esfuerzos del gobierno de China por proveer armamento y equipos militares a Latinoamérica y el Caribe, la incidencia de sus acercamientos respecto al sector de seguridad y defensa es limitada. China ha transferido por medio de donaciones, tecnología y equipos para las fuerzas policiales y de seguridad pública de la región. Beijing también ha sido exitoso en establecer acuerdos de cooperación de defensa con la región, incluyendo el entrenamiento de personal militar latinoamericano en Asia. Sin embargo, países centroamericanos y caribeños no han comprado equipo militar, como también ha sido la generalidad en Latinoamérica, que prefiere adquirir sus equipos con socios más tradicionales (salvo Venezuela y Bolivia).
"Ecuador Confronts a Storm of Violence"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Militant Wire
01 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.militantwire.com/p/ecuador-confronts-a-storm-of-violence
Ecuador is experiencing a wave of violence. The armed forces have
been sent to the streets to support police forces to maintain control
and peace. However, an incident in late April, in which over ten people
were killed and several injured during a shootout in Guayaquil,
demonstrates that the Ecuadorian defense and security forces have a long
war ahead of them.
To worsen the situation, the
violence occurs during a period of political turmoil, as President
Guillermo Lasso announced on 17 May his decision to dissolve the opposition-controlled National Assembly and call for early elections.
"Chile sails ahead with construction of new naval transport vessel"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Naval Warfare
Shephard Media
1 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/chile-sails-ahead-with-construction-of-new-naval-transport-vessel/
