News
US Army to buy remote-controlled weapons from Israel’s Rafael for $150 million
The US Army chose American company Oshkosh Defense and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to provide it with remotely operated weapons positions in a deal worth $942 million. Rafael’s share of the deal is estimated at $150 million.
The positions are a Rafael development and are referred to in the IDF as “lethal” positions. They are used by the IDF’s ground forces on Armed Personnel Carriers (APC), as well as on navy ships. The US Army is expected to equip three brigades with about 900 APCs in total, with the new positions carrying a 30mm cannon.
The positions will provide the APCs with stronger firepower, and better protect soldiers thanks to their remote control operation that will allow the crew to shoot while remaining inside the APC.
Meanwhile, it appears that Rafael is also on its way to seal another deal for the Iron Dome defense system. The US Marine Corps has announced it is looking into combining the Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptors with an American-made radar and operation system to protect American forces and interests against cruise missiles, which Iran and its proxies have proven to accurately use. The Iron Dome has displayed its capabilities against such a threat in past tests.
According to a report by Janes, a global open-source intelligence company, the plan to integrate the Israeli missile into American systems has recently received engineering approval, and a decision on whether to proceed with a deal and acquire the interceptors by 2022 will be taken soon. It is unclear whether Rafael, and its American partner Raytheon, will receive a direct order for the interceptors, or whether they will have to bid in a tender. The two already announced a year ago that they are preparing for joint, American-based production of Tamir interceptors.
“The US Army has already purchased two full Iron Dome batteries for $373 million in a deal that includes IAI radars, a Prest control system, and 480 interceptors.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz visited the US last week and discussed special assistance the Americans could provide Israel, including the restocking of Iron Dome interceptors, replacing those used by the Israeli Air Force to intercept rockets from Gaza during last month’s Operation Guardian of the Walls.
According to reports, the aid package could reach around $1 billion, including funding for the purchase of American precise weaponry for Israeli aircraft, which was also widely used during the Gaza operation. The United States has financed most of the cost of equipping the IDF with its Iron Dome batteries to date, with about half of the system’s components being manufactured in the US and transferred to Israel for final assembly.
We are nearing the endgame leading to an attack on Iran’s nuclear program – or to serious new nuclear negotiations.
US President Donald Trump against backdrop of Iranian missile (illustration).(photo credit: Canva/DavorLovincic, Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker)
It’s been several weeks since US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran giving it two months to arrive with him to a nuclear deal or it would likely face military force.
No one knows exactly how Trump will calculate the deadline: two months from when the letter was sent, two months from when the Islamic Republic received the letter, two months from when it responded, or two months from when talks may start.
But after Trump’s deadline, European countries Germany, France, and England (the E-3), set June as a deadline for Tehran to reach a nuclear deal lest it face global sanctions being snapped back on it according to a provision of the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with the West.
So whether his deadline is early May or closer to early June like the E-3, we are down to one to two months for a new Iran nuclear deal or for some significant interim progress sufficient to extend the deadline.
Why is Iran facing increased pressure on its nuclear program?
The increased tensions are not just based on Trump’s deadline threat.
In recent days, including again on Sunday, Trump threatened Tehran more explicitly with being attacked, including, “bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
His latest threat was also unusually ambiguous in that some interpreted it not merely as giving Israel a green light to strike the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, but potentially having the US participate as well.
In a different atmosphere this might be seen as a bluff, but Trump has put forth a large and sustained series of airstrikes against the Houthis of Yemen now for multiple weeks.
This, and the fact that Trump ordered the targeted assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the former Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force chief, in 2020, makes the threat of US participation on some level suddenly real.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei not turning the other cheek
Meanwhile, Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not turning the other cheek.
He and his lieutenants have said unmistakably that if their nuclear program is struck by anyone, even if it is “just” by Israel, that they will retaliate by attacking every single US base in the region.
They then went out of their way to broaden that definition to even include bases the US shares with other countries, such as the UK Diego Garcia Base in the Indian Ocean and American bases even in countries like Turkey.
This would be in addition to the more obvious US troops in Middle Eastern countries like Syria, and in addition to attacking Israel and Gulf countries like the Saudis, all of whom Khamenei has ordered attacked in the past.
Iran is signaling in public that it will make no new concessions beyond what it was willing to make to the Biden administration and that it will not negotiate under pressure, but the fact is that it is saying it will consider indirect negotiations at a time that Trump is threatening it will bombing and instituting a host of tougher sanctions.
Khamenei knew that Biden would try to hold Netanyahu back from attacking Iran’s nuclear program as he did on April 19, 2024 and October 26, 2024.
However, he also knows that either Trump will definitely give Netanyahu the green light to attack at some point if there is no deal, or is deeply worried that Trump would approve such a dramatic game-changing strike.
Not only that, but with Iran’s five S-300 air defense systems all destroyed by Israel in 2024, it knows that the Israeli air force’s capability to destroy or deeply harm and delay the nuclear program has moved from a difficult challenge to being close to a certainty.
Also, Khamenei has seen that Israel was able to shoot down most of its hundreds of ballistic missiles on two separate occasions. Does Khamenei really think his threats of a ballistic missile response will block Israel or the US or both from acting?
All of this makes negotiations much more likely.
Real negotiations between US, Iran will have to begin next month
In terms of when Khamenei must start negotiations and by when he would need to agree to a sufficient enough interim deal to gain a further reprieve, this is harder to say.
Probably real negotiations need to start in around the next month.
Reaching an interim deal could drag out longer, until September, given that the global sanctions snapback does not expire until October and that Trump’s deadline was somewhat arbitrary.
But there is no question that we are either nearing the end game leading to an attack on Iran’s nuclear program or to serious new nuclear negotiations which will kick the can down the road a few months, but not much farther than that.
The clock is ticking.
The Honourable Minister of Defence, H.E. Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle extends heartfelt congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his 73rd birthday. The Minister commended the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the realm of national security, which has been bolstered by the unwavering dedication of the Nigerian Military.
Dr. Matawalle acknowledged the President’s exceptional leadership and decisive actions that have significantly enhanced the safety and security of Nigerians across the nation in a remarkably short period. He stated, “President Tinubu has taken bold and transformative steps that are already yielding positive results in our collective pursuit of peace and safety.”
The Minister emphasized that history will undoubtedly recognize President Tinubu for his courageous and intentional efforts to reset and reposition the country across various sectors for a brighter future. The positive outcomes of these initiatives are becoming increasingly evident.
“On this special occasion of his birthday,” Dr. Matawalle continued, “I, on behalf of my family, the Ministry of Defence, and all Nigerians, wish the President long life, good health, and the fortitude to continue making the courageous decisions necessary for our nation’s development during this pivotal time.”
Your transformative policies strengthens our faith in Nigeria. Mr President, I salute your excellence.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has arrived the ancient city of Kano on a condolence visit over the gruesome killing of 16 hunters on Thursday 27th March, 2025.
The governor was received by his counterpart inKano, Abba Yusugu o Monday afternoon.
Earlier, Governor Okpebholo visited the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau whomis also an indegene of Kano, disclosing that 14 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing.
According to him, those arrested have been moved to Abuja for further interrogation.
Okpebholo was received in Kano by Governor Abba Yusuf and some of his cabinet members.
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