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Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Ukraine Downs russia’s New Kh-101 Variant with Dual Warhead, The New US Aid Package May Include FrankenSAM and ATACMS

russian Tu-95MS bomber loaded with Kh-101 cruise missiles / Open source illustrative photo
russian Tu-95MS bomber loaded with Kh-101 cruise missiles / Open source illustrative photo

Digest of Defense Express on the main events of the week

Strengthening the Ukrainian Army: The New US Aid Package May Include FrankenSAM and ATACMS

ATACMS launch from an M270 rocket system, Defense Express
ATACMS launch from an M270 rocket system / Photo credit: John Hamilton, White Sands Missile Range press service

What is the full inventory of this package, and how will it bolster Ukrainian troops on the front line?

Production Tempo at Su-35S and Su-57 Assembly Lines in russia Look Nothing Like You'd Expect From a Country at War

Production of Su-35 and Su-57 aircraft at the premises of KnAAZ, spring 2024
Production of Su-35 and Su-57 aircraft at the premises of KnAAZ, spring 2024 / Screenshot from a russian video clip

A glimpse at the current situation in the industry of making russia's top-tier aviation

Read more: Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Ukraine Won't be Running Short of ATACMS, Kronos Stealth Submarines Can Threaten russian Black Sea Fleet

France Finds Sending SCALP Missiles to Ukraine Four Times Cheaper than Scrapping Them

SCALP-EG cruise missile of the French Air Force, Defense Express
SCALP-EG cruise missile of the French Air Force / Photo credit: Frédéric Lert/Aerobuzz

Paris has established a win-win mechanism where dusted missiles slated for disposal get spent in Ukraine, while the French military gets new missiles from the factory; and a few details about the time needed to deliver SCALPs to Ukraine.

Ukraine Downs russia’s New Kh-101 Variant with Dual Warhead (Photos)

russian Kh-101 cruise missile, Defense Express
russian Kh-101 cruise missile / Defense Express

Defense Express acquired a photo of russian Kh-101 cruise missile that had been downed during a large-scale strike on Ukraine on May 8, 2024. Notably, the missile had a serial number indicating it was manufactured in the second quarter of 2024, suggesting it was freshly taken from the production line for use against Ukraine.

Ukrainian Warriors Tell About Pros and Cons of American M1A1 SA Abrams Tanks

Recently, Western media reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had allegedly withdrawn American Abrams main battle tanks from the frontline, but the 47th Mechanized Brigade denied this information, saying that these vehicles had proven themselves on the battlefield.

M1 Abrams, Defense Express
M1 Abrams / Illustrative photo credit: U.S. Department of Defense

At the same time, on May 6, Army TV, Ukrainian military channel, released a video where journalist talked to tankers from the 47th Brigade who were destroying russian occupiers with American M1 Abrams tanks. They spoke about pros and cons of these tanks.

Satellite Armed with Nukes is Already Being Tested in russia, to Turn Space Orbit into Debris Graveyard

Out of all the possible options for an anti-satellite weapon, the russian federation chose the most outdated and dangerous one.

Open-source illustrative photo

The United States Department of Defense has disclosed new details about the russian effort to deploy a nuclear weapon in space.

Another Version of russian Tank Shed with a New Approach to Armor, and Mine Warfare

Another version of the tank shed has emerged among the enemy ranks, fully armored with a solid metal sheet structure.

Tank shed based on T-72 with mine trawl, Defense Express
Tank shed based on T-72 with mine trawl

Note that such decisions are no longer the result of individual inventors' work but have become a widespread phenomenon, as the number of tank sheds in the russian army is indeed increasing.

The Long-Awaited Solution: Ukrainian Magura V5 Drone Equipped with R-73 Anti-Aircraft Missiles

Video screenshot

About the transformation of Ukrainian naval drones into something more than kamikaze drones, this was known earlier, and their role as air defense means is quite expected

Slovakian Government Accused of Sending Barrels Intended for Ukraine's Zuzana 2 to Azerbaijan for DITA Instead

Zuzana 2 self-propelled artillery systems, Defense Express
Zuzana 2 self-propelled artillery systems / Photo credit: KONŠTRUKTA-Defence

Robert Fico's government of Slovakia allegedly took the artillery gun barrels produced for Zuzana 2 SPGs earmarked for Ukraine and redirected them to install on DITA systems ordered by Azerbaijan — a detailed situation review by Defense Express

Read more: Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Assessing Abrams Tank Effectiveness in Combat, AFU Receive Kozak-5 Vehicles, What Ukrainians Do with French AMX-10RC APCs