Current Events

U.S. To Test 700-Ton Explosive By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE DefenseNews The U.S. military plans to detonate a 700 ton explosive charge in a test called “Divine Strake” that will send a mushroom cloud over Las Vegas, a senior defense official said March 30. ”I don’t want to sound glib here but it is the first time in Nevada that you’ll see a mushroom cloud over Las Vegas since we stopped testing nuclear weapons,” said James Tegnelia, head of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Tegnelia said the test was part of a U.S. effort to develop weapons capable of destroying deeply-buried bunkers housing nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. ”We have several very la…

The Evolution of the Modern Carrier Air Wing (CIMSEC)

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…

From AOL Defense [excerpt]

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.

Nightfall: Machine Autonomy in Air-to-Air Combat (Air and Space Power Journal, May-June 2014, pdf)

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!

Six Rules for Wargaming: The Lessons of Millennium Challenge ‘02 (War on the Rocks)

Promise and Reality: Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-To-Air Combat (pdf, a research paper by Lt Col Patrick Higby, USAF, submitted to Air War College in March 2005)

This directory of international air forces (with useful order of battle (OOB) information) is available for free at Flight Global. World Air Forces 2013

Once again, HCE proving it is ahead of the curve. Raytheon floats idea for offshore missile batteries (Jane's) Seriously, though, I hate the SAM barges. Please don't use them in your scenario building if you can possibly avoid it.

Something to consider, in light of a seemingly 'more troubled than usual' world. No, Great Power War Isn't Obsolete (The Diplomat)

Nuclear-conventional Firebreaks and the Nuclear Taboo (CBSA)

I'm not sure if this belongs in "Military History" or another part of the forums, but this seemed like the best place for it... What do you think are the five most likely wars (regional or global) that we could see in the next five to ten years? Syria and Turkey? India and China? The US and Iran? Indonesia and Australia? Who will fight these wars and what will cause these nations to come to blows?

Are Fighters the New Capital Ships? (The Diplomat, Flashpoints)

Fleet Battle School: Innovative Ideas through Wargaming (CIMSEC)

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

Air Power Abandoned: Dropping the F-22 in 2009 (Defense Media Network)

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