Iran Threats, Ukraine Radar Strikes

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — NOV 4 2024

Good morning. Today’s email brings you news from Israel and Ukraine again.

1 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

Iran is threatening a "crushing response" against Israel, with Iranian officials indicating the attack could come before the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday and may be launched from Iraqi territory.

The context 

Iran launched 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, prompting Israel to conduct strikes on Iranian military facilities on October 26 that damaged air defenses and missile production capabilities. Now Iran wants to retaliate.

While Iran initially downplayed the damage from Israel's strikes, satellite photos revealed significant impacts on military bases near Tehran, including facilities linked to Iran's ballistic missile program.

More from the region

The Biden administration has reportedly warned Iran directly that it "won't be able to hold Israel back" if Iran launches another attack, and the U.S. is deploying additional military assets to the region, including ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadrons, and B-52 bombers. 

Meanwhile, U.S. envoys Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein are in Israel discussing potential ceasefire deals with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, with reports suggesting a deal with Hezbollah could be reached within two weeks.

In the news

• Iran’s planned response

• Iranian leader threatens Israel

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: KE-W ARMOR PIERCING ROUND

The KE-W APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) is a modern armor-piercing round fired from tanks. It’s an arm-length tungsten dart, fired at a speed of around 5,700 feet per second (more than 5 times the speed of sound.) The round uses a design called a "sabot", a lightweight jacket that falls away after the round leaves the barrel, letting the tungsten penetrator fly freely toward its target.

When it hits the target, the dart punches a narrow hole through the defending armor using sheer force. The dart creates a focused point of impact that can pierce through multiple layers of the toughest tank armor. If it penetrates, it creates a shower of super-heated metal fragments inside the target vehicle. 

What it’s used for

The KE-W is used as an armor piercing round in NATO 120mm tank guns, including the American M1 Abrams and German Leopard tanks. 

2 - UKRAINE

1 thing to know

Ukraine reportedly damaged or destroyed several pieces of radar equipment across the frontlines.

The context 

Ukrainian air attacks reportedly struck radar stations in the occupied Donetsk region, as well as in Crimea. The station was targeted with six missiles, three of which were intercepted by Russian defenses. Drone attacks on other frontline locations also caused damage to radar equipment used by air defense systems, which could potentially limit the use of glided bombs against Ukrainian targets, by limiting how close pilots are willing to operate to the frontline.

Among some of the equipment destroyed was the high-tech Harmon-M radar station, and its loss is hoped to have a negative impact on both Russian defensive and offensive operations.

More from the region

Another $425 million in military aid to Ukraine was announced by the Pentagon, in response to the 10,000 new North Korean troops expected on the battlefield. The new package includes weapons from US stockpiles, such as missile defense systems, rocket and artillery munitions, and Strykers and other armored vehicles.

The South Korean Foreign Minister has also stated that sending weapons to Ukraine is under consideration, and that they will continue to monitor the North Korean troop deployments, as well as the developing relationship between Russia and North Korea.

In the news

• Harmon-M radar destroyed

• Other radar station damage

• US Aid

P.S. If you have a source, tip, or piece of information we missed, please reply to this email and tell us about it. Thank you!