🇺🇸 - The US Navy has started its first round of prototyping with seven companies for a medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV).

The US Navy says the objective of the contract is to "assess industry’s ability to provide a materiel solution within an accelerated timeframe at an affordable cost". With expectations that the first vessel deliveries will be within 12 months of a contract being awarded, and all contracted vessels being required within 24 months. The Navy says to achieve their goal, they require an existing design, with minor modifications, or conversions of existing vessels, with a clean sheet design not being an option.

They're interested in vessels less than 200 feet in length, and less than 500 tons in displacement. Vessel payloads will vary, and would include. but not limited to, equipment for ISR (Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance), the Navy and Army’s new Mk70 Launcher system (a Containerised platform with 4 missile silos each for long-range missiles, capable of launching Tomahawk missiles, the SM-6 anti-air and anti-ship missiles, and similar), flight deck space capable of launching unmanned drones, or two standard 40-foot shipping containers for cargo, or any other modular container based system.

🇺🇸🇬🇹⚡️- "U.S. Marine Corps General Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, completed a two-day visit to Guatemala today that included meetings with President Bernardo Arévalo; Minister of National Defense.

General Donovan was in Guatemala to continue the bilateral dialogue between senior U.S. and Guatemalan leaders on expanding the bilateral defense partnership to implement a shared commitment to counter cartel criminal activity under the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition — a hemispheric effort involving 18 nations steadfastly committed to ensuring peace, protecting sovereignty, and strengthening security in the region.

General Donovan’s visit reflects the United States’ recognition of Guatemala’s leading role in regional efforts to confront narco-terrorist networks and deny them safe haven in the Western Hemisphere. Guatemala’s recent successes in this area are a testament to its commitment and leadership." - US Southern Command.

🇺🇸 - The US Coast Guard is preparing for the launch of a new online based and modernised credentialing platform allows people to obtain merchant mariner credentials through an online portal.

This comes amid a coast backlog of over 19,000 credential applications, the federal funding lapse and government shutdown being a large contributor. The backlog and slow process of mariners obtaining credentials has long contributed to problems within the US Navy's Military Sealift Command (partly operated by civilian mariners) and led to the Navy sideling 17 support vessels (8% of their fleet) 18 months ago due to the civilian workforce shortage.

🇬🇧🇫🇷🇮🇷⚡- "Britain and France have completed preparations for a coalition mission involving up to 15 countries that would begin mine-clearance operations shortly after the United States and Iran reach an agreement restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," - Bloomberg.

🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon last night killed at least 8, and wounded 15 according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

🇸🇬🇹🇼🇨🇳⚡- An explosive leak shows footage of Singaporean troops undergoing training and military exercises in Taiwan. The footage, which dates to late April and early May, shows troops deployed to Taiwan's southern mountainous region.

Neither Taiwan, nor Singapore, have yet commented on the leaked video. It's believed approximately 3,000 Singaporean troops are stationed in Taiwan. Note, Singapore positions itself as a strong supporter of the One China Policy and rejects the Taiwan independence movement.

Singapore began seeking military training partners 50 years ago, but had rejected Chinese offers of exercises on Hainan Island in the past. In 2016 Singapore and China locked heads when Beijing seized nine Singaporean military vehicles in Hong Kong, alleging they were returning from Taiwan. Taiwan and Singapore launched its joint military exercise program (Project Starlight) in 1975 as an open secret to avoid provoking Beijing.

🇦🇿🇮🇱⚡️- According to CNN, Israel secretly deployed several dozen elite military, Mossad and intelligence units to Azerbaijan during the war with Iran.

Special forces units were deployed to several locations to carry out intelligence gather and drone operations.

Note, an Iranian drone struck Azerbaijan during the war, and there were several reports throughout the war of drone noises heard near the border.

This would make the fourth country that is reported to have allowed Israeli troops to operate in its territory against Iran.

🇦🇿🇮🇷🇮🇱⚡- Azerbaijan's embassy in the U.S. rejects the CNN report.

🇷🇴⚡️- An explosion in Constanta's port from a maritime drone was reported.

🇷🇴⚡️- Video of the smoke column after the blast.

Authorities have closed off the area and an investigation has been launched.

🇦🇿🇺🇦⚡️- Overnight Ukraine struck two grain carrier vessels in the Azov Sea heading to the Russian port. Both ships were crewed by Azerbaijan contractors, the first ship was hit 4 times and killed two crew members, the second ship was hit multiple times and three were killed.

🇺🇸⚡️- According to Public Citizen, a consumer rights advocacy group, of the 27 publicly identified donors to Trump's ballroom renovation, 14 have received new or increased government contracts over the last 6 months, totaling over $50 billion.

19 of the 27 donors received government contracts over the last 5 ½ years totaling $338 billion.

Sixteen of them are facing federal enforcement actions and/or have had federal enforcement actions suspended by the Trump administration.

🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡️- "A localized ceasefire brokered by the IAEA took effect on the frontline near the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) today, paving the way for crucial power line repairs to prevent the threat of a nuclear accident.

The 750 kV power line was disconnected more than two months ago, leaving Europe’s largest NPP entirely reliant on a single 330 kV line for the electricity it needs to cool its six shutdown reactors.

In recent weeks, the ZNPP has several times lost access also to this line, forcing it to start operating its emergency diesel generators as a last resort.

It is the sixth temporary ceasefire that IAEA DG Rafael Mariano Grossi has negotiated with Russia and Ukraine since late last year to help secure off-site power and ensure nuclear safety." - IAEA

🇾🇪⚡- Unidentified drones have been observed flying over Saudi-backed Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council government buildings, presidential offices, and oil facilities in the Hadhramaut and al-Mahrah regions of eastern Yemen.

🇷🇴🇺🇦⚡️- Ukraine has taken responsibility for the drone explosion in Romania.

"While carrying out missions in the Black Sea operational zone, one of the Ukrainian Navy’s unmanned surface vessels lost control due to enemy electronic warfare measures and drifted near the coast of Romania.

The Ukrainian Navy provided the necessary information to the Romanian Navy to prevent civilian casualties." - Ukranian Navy.