Current Events

Even if you're not interested in buying George Friedman's book, The Next 100 Years, this excerpt does make for some potentially interesting discussion ... From Stratfor OVERTURE: An Introduction to the American Age Imagine that you were alive in the summer of 1900, living in London, then the capital of the world. Europe ruled the Eastern Hemisphere. There was hardly a place that, if not ruled directly, was not indirectly controlled from a European capital. Europe was at peace and enjoying unprecedented prosperity. Indeed, European interdependence due to trade and investment was so great that serious people were claiming that war had become impossible—and if no…

JFCOM releases study on future threats By John T. Bennett - Staff writer Posted : Thursday Dec 4, 2008 15:49:23 EST A new U.S. Joint Forces Command planning document offers insights into planning for irregular conflicts, urges long-promised acquisition reform, and outlines potential threats and enemies. Released Thursday, the “Joint Operating Environment” document is a “historically informed, forward-looking effort to discern most accurately the challenges we will face at the operational level of war, and to determine their inherent implications,” Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, JFCOM commander, writes in its foreword. “Its purpose is not to predict, but to s…

This month's issue of Foreign Affairs has several thought provoking articles that you may want to check out, including: The Logic of Zero, Toward a World Without Nuclear Weapons, by Ivo Daalder and Jan Lodal Summary: Washington must lead the way to a world without nuclear weapons. The first step will be dramatically limiting the U.S. nuclear arsenal's declared size and purpose.

Interesting subject matter, for sure ... Lethal autonomous systems: The ethics of programming robots for war

A useful tool for all of you current and prospective scenario writers ... "This report is Flight International’s annual compilation of the aircraft inventories of the world’s air forces (and other military services). Presented in the form of tables, the report provides for each country a list of military aircraft types in service, broken down by the number of active, stored and on-order aircraft. Some country entries are illustrated by photographs. While very handy as a quick-reference guide, the report provides little information other than aircraft numbers, and so must be used in conjunction with other sources to provide a comprehensive overview." World air forc…

Russian forces have entered this breakaway territory of Georgia. This looks like turning into a war. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, including a Georgian friend of mine.

Naval battles in the high Arctic may have to wait ... Arctic ice refuses to melt

More thought provoking stuff ... From Stratfor The Real World Order August 18, 2008 By George Friedman On Sept. 11, 1990, U.S. President George H. W. Bush addressed Congress. He spoke in the wake of the end of Communism in Eastern Europe, the weakening of the Soviet Union, and the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein. He argued that a New World Order was emerging: “A hundred generations have searched for this elusive path to peace, while a thousand wars raged across the span of human endeavor, and today that new world is struggling to be born. A world quite different from the one we’ve known. A world where the rule of law supplants the rule of the jungle. A …

Has to be the Orlan/"Kirov" for me...

An excellent 'detailed analysis' of the Soviet/Russian S-300P SAM system by Sean O'Connor can be found at his (also excellent) IMINT & Analysis Blog site here: http://geimint.blogspot.com/

Greetings, and here we are with my first textual spillage of absolutely useless information about Electronics Warfare and how it's employed in Naval/Maritime warfare. So what is Electronics Warfare (EW)? I'll start by telling you what is isn't; It's not shooting missiles, guns or torpedoes, if you want skin on skin contact with targets and ordnance, I suggest going down the passageway and talking to those Fire Control guys. EW is often the red-headed stepchild of warfare in general, especially in Naval Warfare, as the benefit of EW Technicians is pretty much discounted unless the ship is staring down several incoming Anti-Shipping Cruise Missiles (ASCMs) and m…

Alright gang, What is everyone's favorite, or most capable, modern day fast attack craft. I'm still “littoral-ly entrenched” and looking to re-invigorate my naval gaming. Please give country of origin and major weapon systems so that I could research more about them. Thanks

Mine Countermeasures Face Setbacks Warfighters The U.S. Navy's first destroyer fitted for modern mine countermeasure operations has begun searching for mines in the Mediterranean Sea. The USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) is forward deployed and has begun using the AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System (RMS). Mines are a major concern for U.S. warships operating in forward littoral waters, such as the Persian Gulf. Beginning with Operation Desert Storm in 1961, three U.S. Navy ships have been severely damaged by mines in the Gulf-a helicopter carrier, an Aegis missile cruiser, and a guided missile frigates. Mine are cheap, readily available, and can be clandestinely emplac…

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed CNN has just recently confirmed that the former PM was shot in the back of the neck shortly after a suicide bombing at a rally where she was due to speak. Minutes ago CNN confirmed that the former Prime Minister died at 0616 EST this morning. Reports indicate that at least 5 shots were fired at her resulting in one hit. No further information is available at this time. Later D

From DTI September 2007 issue Long Shots Sep 7, 2007 Bill Sweetman Naval gunnery is back in fashion as surface ships go for greater impact Guns on warships are like the guns on fighter aircraft, in that they have often been considered on the road to extinction. When the U.S. Navy's gigantic Iowa-class battleships were decommissioned in 1992, the era of 16-in. guns firing 2,700-lb. shells ended forever. Arguably, advances in ship gunnery had stopped long before, with the automatic high-rate-of-fire 8-in. (203-mm.) weapons on the Des Moines cruisers. The 4.5-in., 5-in. and 130-mm. guns on more modern warships -- all in the same overall class -- were second…

From Stratfor Stratfor, 17 September 2007 Red October: Russia, Iran and Iraq By George Friedman The course of the war in Iraq appears to be set for the next year. Of the four options we laid out a few weeks ago, the Bush administration essentially has selected a course between the first and second options -- maintaining the current mission and force level or retaining the mission but gradually reducing the force. The mission -- creating a stable, pro-American government in Baghdad that can assume the role of ensuring security -- remains intact. The strategy is to use the maximum available force to provide security until the Iraqis can assume the burden. The forc…

Where would you prefer articles/information about Indian Ocean (READ: India) air/naval issues be posted? Middle East/Africa and Pacific Rim do not seem entirely appropriate to cover the Indian Navy, Chinese encroachment, the flow of oil to both of these entities, Pakistan vs India, Sri Lanka vs itself, etc. Could/Should there be another folder option? Thanks

ausairpower.net you all may have seen this...but.

From Stratfor The Limitations and Necessity of Naval Power By George Friedman It has now been four years since the fall of Baghdad concluded the U.S. invasion of Iraq. We have said much about the Iraq war, and for the moment there is little left to say. The question is whether the United States will withdraw forces from Iraq or whether it will be able to craft some sort of political resolution to the war, both within Iraq and in the region. Military victory, in the sense of the unfettered imposition of U.S. will in Iraq, does not appear to us a possibility. Therefore, over the next few months, against the background of the U.S. offensive in Baghdad, the political…

From The Virginian-Pilot Nuclear ships: Millions to build, and now millions to trash By JACK DORSEY, The Virginian-Pilot © July 4, 2007 For more than two decades, the Hyman G. Rickover plied the North Atlantic and other oceans, stealthily traveling the equivalent of 26 times around the world. The nuclear-powered sub and its crew of 160 sailors packed torpedoes and missiles to help keep Cold War foes in check and support ground troops in the war on terror. The Rickover will soon face its demise when it is shredded into millions of pounds of recyclable steel and lead, plus lesser bundles of aluminum, brass, bronze, copper and zinc. Only its radioactive “hea…