Current Events

Snake in a plane: http://alert5.com/2012/09/21/snake-goes-hiding-inside-mig-21/

US Overseas Military Presence: What are the Strategic Choices? From http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG1211.html [excerpt of abstract]

From Code One

From Naval Open Source Intelligence SAAB does a great job of marketing their wares. Check out the new promo for the RBS-15. Enjoy!

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt] CV32: Glad to hear it.

From Naval Open Source Intelligence Here's some rather nice video of a rescent certification test by my friends at BEA Systems. It shows their new laser-guided rocket taking on an APC and hardened structure. Enjoy!

Pakistan Today reports: Iran taking initial steps towards making nuclear submarine (http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/06/19/news/foreign/iran-taking-initial-steps-towards-making-nuclear-submarine/) Maybe those crazy Iranians were't joking after all. I think its still too soon to see. You be the judge. This ought to start some active conversation on ye olde forum!

From Aviation Week [excerpt] CV32: I thought this part was particularly interesting.

Enjoy ... 02 January AUSTRALIA Two more suspected asylum seeker boats carrying a total of 54 people have been intercepted by Australian navy patrol boats off Australia’s north-western coast. 03 January CHINA Rumours that a total of 24 JIANGKAI-II class frigates may be built eventually. IRAN +++ The Iranian Navy wrapped up ten-day exercise “Velayat 90” with naval +++ parades displaying different types of warships, submarines, hovercraft, helicopter and aircraft Iranian Army chief: wargames “proved that Iran is powerful enough to exercise full control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz” … the US Navy has moved aircraft carrier JOHN C STENNIS out of th…

Here's something interesting from the ASEAN region - VAPN is rolling their own patrol boats (with Russian assistance). Here's the story link: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/1...st-warship.html In the coming days, I'll look for some more info on the platform, for the HUCE community. FWFS, Greg Emerson, DM1(SW), USN-Retired Renton, WA, USA

From Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists [excerpt]

From AOL Defense [excerpt]

Enjoy! FWFS, Greg Emerson, DM1(SW), USN-Retired Renton, WA, USA Summary follows ... 01 January CHINA Aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG completed the third phase of sea trials and returned to Dalian. 03 January Southern Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT continues mission in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. 04 January ALGERIA Norwegian STX OSV Brattvaag is fitting out three TYPE UT 515 CD salvage tugs / rescue ships (similar to French ABEILLE BOURBON) … hulls built at STX Tulcea (Romania) … destined for the Algerian navy. First named EL MOUNDJID (HullNr 701), about to be delivered. INDONESIA The Indonesian Navy has ordered a total of 2…

Enjoy these news snippets. Maybe it will help to develop some "what if" scenarios. Enjoy ... FWFS, Greg Emerson, DM1(SW), USN-Retired Renton, WA, USA Naval News Summary: 23 December CHILE Update: Together with dock landing ship FOUDRE (renamed SARGENTO ALDEA) the French navy also sold CDIC landing ship RAPIERE and two CTM landing craft (CTM-19, CTM-24) to the Chilean navy. 28 December HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE RUSSIA KUZNETSOV deployment: Frigate LADNIY pictured in Valetta, Malta. 29 December RUSSIA KUZNETSOV deployment: Tanker SERGEI OSIPOV arrives at Valetta, Malta. 30 December HAITI Officials in Turks and Caicos have intercepted…

You asked for it, you got it. Here today's naval summary. FWFS, Greg Emerson, DM1(SW), USN-Retired - - - - - 02 January BRAZIL British BAe Systems signed a contract for transfer of three 90-m Ocean Patrol Vessels originally ordered by the Trinidad & Tobago coast guard - and cancelled by it shortly prior delivery – to the Brazilian navy … contract value given as Euro 140 million. The first two ships will be delivered in 2012 and the third will follow in early 2013. Contract said to also provide for further vessels of the same class to be constructed in Brazil. IRAN During the final day of exercise „Velayat 90“ the Iranian navy has test-fired anti-s…

From National Defense [excerpt] CV32: See how many, if any, you agree with.

Aircraft carriers gain clout in naval power (find original AP article here.) ABOARD THE CHARLES DE GAULLE – Despite growing controversy about the cost and relevance of aircraft carriers, navies around the world are adding new ones to their inventories at a pace unseen since World War II. The U.S. — with more carriers than all other nations combined — and established naval powers such as Britain, France and Russia are doing it. So are Brazil, India and China — which with Russia form the BRIC grouping of emerging economic giants. "The whole idea is about being able to project power," said Rear Adm. Philippe Coindreau, commander of the French navy task force tha…

Could I suggest that we add Alert 5 to the Intel feed?

Report of the Global Commission on Drugs [excerpt]

The Maturing Revolution in Military Affairs, by Barry Watts, 2 June 2011 The Maturing Revolution in Military Affairs [excerpt]