Year in review: Top stories from 2023

Russia sends a symbolic message to Turkey, Britain orders new rifles and Hungary clashes with a U.S. senator over weaponry: Here are the top stories from the year. (And click here to see what made the 2022 list!)

US Air Force may remove 105mm cannon from AC-130 gunship

The days of the AC-130J Ghostrider’s hefty 105mm cannon may be numbered. U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command confirmed to Defense News it is considering removing this howitzer-sized weapon, used to carry out punishing strikes on ground targets, from the aircraft as early as 2026. Read more here.

Russia sent a message to Turkey when it bombed Motor Sich, say experts

“We take it [the Russian missile attack on Motor Sich] as a symbolic Russian warning reflecting Russia’s discontent over a few Turkish initiatives,” a senior Turkish diplomat told Defense News on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic. Read more here.

When will the war in Ukraine end? Experts offer their predictions.

Defense News spoke with national security analysts, lawmakers and retired officials, asking each how the conflict could end. Their answers are glum: The war will be expensive, cost lives and likely last at least a few years — or even become interminable. It will tax the American and European defense industries, especially when it comes to munitions, and could cause economic ruin in Russia. All this while the possibility of nuclear escalation remains. Read more here.

China, Russia propaganda wither as cameras multiply, US admiral says

If bad-faith behavior is not exposed, it will continue to “thrive in the shadows, like a mushroom,” said Rear Adm. Mike Studeman, who previously served as the director of intelligence at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Read more here.

British forces to get new rifles designed in the US

To be known as the Alternative Individual Weapon System, or L403A1, in British service, the weapons will be manufactured in the United States by Knights Armaments, but assembled in the U.K. by Macclesfield, northwest England-based arms company Edgar Brothers. Read more here.

After Washington’s refueling woes, US Navy eyes new plans for carriers

The aircraft carrier Washington’s refueling ran two years long, due to the pandemic, industrial base challenges and unplanned work in the propulsion plant. Read more here.

US Navy mulls timing of new double-carrier award amid Enterprise delay

Construction delays on the carrier Enterprise are one factor in ongoing discussions about when to sign a contract for the next two carriers, 82 and 83. Read more here.

Hungary responds after US senator says he blocked HIMARS purchase

The Hungarian government has said it abandoned plans to order High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems after last year’s bilateral talks failed to produce an agreement with the United States. Read more here.

Germany to send Ukraine $1B in air defense tech, plus more tanks

“To protect critical infrastructure at the onset of winter and to provide further military support, Germany is supplying Ukraine with additional air defense,” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said. “With this new `winter package’ we are further increasing the operational readiness of the Ukrainian armed forces in coming months.” Read more here.

US Navy considers Cold War-era squadrons to boost readiness

The sea service is poised to establish “surface groups” meant to renew the Navy’s focus on maintenance and training. Read more here.

俄罗斯向土耳其发出象征性信号，英国订购新型步枪，匈牙利与美国参议员就武器问题发生冲突：以下是年度十大新闻。（点击此处查看2022年榜单！）

美国空军或将从AC-130炮艇机上拆除105毫米机炮。

AC-130J“幽灵骑士”攻击机那门威力巨大的105毫米机炮的时代可能即将终结。美国空军特种作战司令部向《防务新闻》证实，他们正在考虑最早于2026年从该型飞机上拆除这门用于对地面目标进行强力打击的榴弹炮级火炮。点击此处阅读更多内容。

专家称，俄罗斯轰炸马达西奇公司是在向土耳其发出信号。

一位土耳其高级外交官匿名告诉《防务新闻》：“我们认为（俄罗斯导弹袭击马达西奇公司）是俄罗斯发出的象征性警告，反映了俄罗斯对土耳其一些举措的不满。” 由于该话题的敏感性，他要求匿名。点击此处阅读更多内容。

乌克兰战争何时结束？专家们给出了他们的预测。

《防务新闻》采访了国家安全分析人士、议员和退休官员，询问他们这场冲突将如何结束。他们的回答令人沮丧：战争将耗资巨大，造成人员伤亡，而且很可能至少持续数年，甚至旷日持久。它将给美国和欧洲的国防工业带来沉重负担，尤其是在军火方面，并可能给俄罗斯造成经济崩溃。与此同时，核冲突升级的可能性依然存在。点击此处阅读更多内容。

美国海军上将称，随着摄像机数量的增加，中俄宣传正在衰落。

美国印太司令部前情报主管、海军少将迈克·斯图德曼表示，如果不揭露恶意行为，它就会像蘑菇一样在暗处滋生蔓延。点击此处阅读更多内容。

英国军队将获得美国设计的新型步枪。

该武器在英国军队中被称为“替代单兵武器系统”（Alternative Individual Weapon System，简称L403A1），将由美国奈茨军械公司（Knights Armaments）制造，但由位于英格兰西北部麦克尔斯菲尔德的埃德加兄弟公司（Edgar Brothers）在英国组装。点击此处阅读更多内容。

在华盛顿号航母遭遇加油困境后，美国海军正在考虑新的航母发展计划。

由于疫情、工业基础挑战以及推进装置厂的计划外维修，华盛顿号航空母舰的补给工作持续了两年之久。点击此处阅读更多内容。

美国海军正在考虑何时授予新的双航母建造合同，此前“企业”号航母建造项目有所延误。

企业号运输线的建设延误是目前关于何时签署第 82 和 83 号运输线合同的讨论中存在的一个因素。点击此处阅读更多内容。

美国参议员称其阻止了HIMARS导弹的采购后，匈牙利作出回应。

匈牙利政府表示，由于去年与美国的双边谈判未能达成协议，已放弃订购高机动性火箭炮系统的计划。点击此处阅读更多内容。

德国将向乌克兰提供价值10亿美元的防空技术以及更多坦克。

德国国防部长鲍里斯·皮斯托里乌斯表示：“为了在冬季来临之际保护关键基础设施并提供进一步的军事支持，德国正在向乌克兰增派防空力量。通过这项新的‘冬季援助计划’，我们将在未来几个月进一步提升乌克兰武装部队的作战准备水平。” 点击此处阅读更多内容。

美国海军考虑组建冷战时期的中队以提升战备水平

海军正准备组建“水面舰艇群”，旨在重新聚焦海军的维护和训练。点击此处阅读更多内容。