CV32

Four new HCCE scenarios for your enjoyment: Shroud over Turin - for EC2003 MEDC Pinger Charlie - for EC2003 GIUK Bad Moon Rising - for Westpac Waking the God of the Dead - for EC2003 IOPG Grab them at the HC Scen/AAR page. Have fun.

It has been said in recent years that modern warfare clearly favors the attacker. Whether true or not, it is also said that this perception may encourage countries to favour pre-emption. It is certainly clear from recent conflicts that early battles usually determine the success of entire campaigns, and in fact, a highly successful pre-emptive strike may prevent (or at least delay) future war. Israel is no stranger to pre-emption. In the late 1970s, Iraq persuaded France to construct a research reactor near Baghdad. This light water nuclear reactor was named Osiraq by the French, an amalgam of the name of the Egyptian god of the dead, Osiris, with that of Iraq. This expansion of Iraqi nuclear know-how was alarming to Israel, so much so that when Israeli intelligence discovered Baghdad's intent to use Osiraq to produce weapons, the decision was made to attack and destroy the facility before it went hot. In the words of the then Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces: "The alternative is our destruction". On 7 June 1981, the elite pilots of the IDF/AF finally spotted their target after a long low level flight through neighboring Jordanian and Saudi airspace. In little over a minute, the gleaming dome of the Osiraq reactor had been ruined by a rain of 2,000 lb iron bombs. The attack raised considerable debate over the legitimacy of anticipatory self-defence and the application of international law. Years later, when Desert Storm swept through the Gulf, the Iraqi nuclear site was struck again. But it wasn't until the concluding days of the campaign, after some nine different air strikes, that the ability of the facility to conduct nuclear research or processing was severely degraded. Now, 25 years after the Osiraq raid, Israel once again faces a monumental decision about the value of pre-emption. Iran is pressing ahead with nuclear research despite broad international opposition and concern about it possibly acquiring nuclear weapons. The Iranian leader has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map". Its time to wake that old god of the dead. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

The eruption of a new civil war in the Balkans on the eve of the XX Winter Olympics drastically complicated European efforts at achieving security in Torino. The air forces of Switzerland and Italy were already working closely to ensure the Games were safe from terrorist attack, but the sudden outbreak of armed conflict on their doorstep was completely unexpected. Their accord did not cover military threats. The situation in the Balkans was still very unclear, but it appeared that several of the former territories of Yugoslavia were ganging up on Slovenia. Preliminary intelligence analysis indicated that the conflict may be rooted in tensions arising from Slovenia having joined NATO in March 2004, and if this was in fact the case, the possibility of attacks against neighboring NATO countries cannot be ruled out. The aggressors are warning against outside intervention, and previously little known factions within the former Yugoslav republics are threatening attack against the Games should NATO interfere. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

During the Cold War, the Baltic Sea was the "playground" of maritime reconnaissance and electronic surveillance assets of both NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Both sides employed their assets to continuously monitor each other's activities. The West German Naval Air Arm's Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) of Marinefliegergeschwader 3 (MFG3) "Graf Zeppelin", based at Nordholz, flew continuous patrols over the Baltic Sea and Danish approaches to monitor the buildup of Soviet naval forces which would have to transit through these waters to reach the North Atlantic. The area was vital to NATO's overall defence strategy, which depended on countering any offensive brought by Warsaw Pact forces in the event of war. ASW operations in the region were all the more difficult by constantly changing temperatures, the salinity of the shallow water, and numerous shipwrecks. ["Pinger Charlie" is the nickname given to a certain sonobuoy pattern used by MFG3 Atlantics]. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

The launch of a Chinese lunar module experiment has failed, with the spacecraft returning to earth somewhere in the central Sea of Okhotsk (according to USAF Space Command). What is alarming, however, is that a scientist from the Chinese space program has defected to Japan, and he has some ominous news. He claims that the rocket was actually carrying an anti-satellite weapon that was being launched by the PRC as a prelude to an impending attack against Taiwan. The race is on to recover the module. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

Well done, Akula. That was quick. The AGM-45 Shrike was the first dedicated air-surface anti-radiation missile used by the US armed forces, intended to counter the then new Soviet S-75 SAM (NATO SA-2 Guideline) by homing on the SA-2's SNR-75 (NATO Fan Song) guidance radar. The Kh-28 (NATO AS-9 Kyle) and its Filin targeting system was initially suitable only for engaging the Nike Hercules/Thunderbird systems. Although the Filin was able to detect the HAWK SAM system, it was outside the capabilities of the missile's seeker. Eventually the Kh-28M missile received a new seeker able to deal with the HAWK's MPQ-33 and later MPQ-39 target illumination radars, and also the MPQ-34 low level acquisition radar.

New trivia question ... The AGM-45 Shrike is to the SA-2 Guideline as the Kh-28M is to … ?

I hear ya. When I get a sub contact with an uncertain position, and the sub is already within lethal distance of me, I will immediately slow to creep speed (5 kt or less). Then I will use my helo (if I am lucky to have some) to hammer that contact with sonobuoys and/or active dipping sonar until I get that precise fix. Then comes the ASROC (or equivalent) or airborne lightweight torpedo (or both). Btw, same deal for torpedoes. They are very inaccurate if you drop without a good fix on the contact. Good hunting.

Yeah, this is correct. The relevant PH is with the weapon payload (torpedo, depth charge, etc). Here's a tip for using the standoff ASW weapons. Never fire at a submarine that has an area of uncertainty, especially a large one. Make sure you get a good fix first.

Seven new scenarios have been released for Harpoon Classic Commander's Edition: Constant Glance - EC2003 MEDC Last Stan - EC2003 IOPG Thirst for Victory - Westpac Stage Fright - Part Two - EC2003 IOPG Storsjoodjuret - EC2003 GIUK My Pet Dragon - Westpac Blame it on the Kellys - Westpac Grab them at the HC Scen/AAR page. Enjoy.

Chinese political influence over the path of the Asian Super Highway has threatened plans for the future expansion of Indian trade ties in Indochina. China has convinced Bangladesh and Myanmar that their economic interests would be better served by linking Chittagong with a trilateral road network with Myanmar and Kunming in China. While the Super Highway is being purpose built to advance multilateral commerce, China has been keen to extract military advantages. There is strong Indian opposition to the Chinese "meddling" in plans that they had already believed finalized. In reply, the PRC has followed up on its political pressures by convincing both Bangladesh and Myanmar to participate in high level "joint" military exercises on very short notice. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

Iran's stubborn refusal to submit to the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with regard to its nuclear program led to its emergency reference to the UN Security Council. Resolutions aimed at sanctioning Iran and leaving the door open for further action were vetoed by both Russia and China. The EU3 (France, Germany and the UK) and the United States nevertheless pressed ahead with their cooperative efforts to find a way to bring punitive action against Iran. The debacle in Pakistan, however, badly aggravated the situation. US intelligence discovered (thanks to a tip from the Mossad) that Pakistan had covertly assisted in the escape of mastermind Osama bin Laden across the border into Iran, and that the Al Qaida mastermind was now rebuilding its terror camps with the help of Tehran. The apparent link between terrorism and the Iranian nuclear program was too much for the EU/US coalition to accept, and the wheels were put into motion to put a stop to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Russia, China and Pakistan denied there was sufficient evidence of any such link, and vowed to oppose any aggression against Iran that had no Security Council support. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

Relations between the Ukraine and Russia have degraded into a shooting war after a prolonged dispute over gas supplies. Elements of the US-Eastern European Task Force (EETAF), established at a forward location in Romania, are being called into action to support and defend the West friendly government in Ukraine. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

The worst case scenario for Sweden has just come to pass. Failed promises of prosperity after EU integration, combined with persistent high unemployment, have suddenly brought down the government in Finland and replaced it with one friendly to an aggressive Russian Federation. Russian armed forces have been granted access to Finnish airspace and territory as part of a mutual defence pact. This includes the Aland Islands, which are rumoured to have been "leased" (some say sold) to Russia, and already military forces are reported to be digging in around the islands and constructing fortifications there. This is extremely alarming to Sweden, whose protests have gone unanswered in Helsinki and Moscow. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

A growing dispute between Indonesia and Papua-New Guinea about rights to a newly discovered uranium deposit on their mutual border has led to the intervention of China and Australia on opposite sides. China, eager to gain access to the uranium, has sent a sizeable force into the region to support the Indonesian claim. Indonesia has likewise shifted considerable military assets eastward into the disputed area. Overflights of Papua-New Guinea airspace by unknown (and presumably Chinese) aircraft have already been reported. Meanwhile, Australia is moving to support its old colony, and New Zealand is pledging assistance. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

The European Union has long been unhappy with American economic and military sanctions against the People's Republic of China. In recent years, the EU has grown increasingly concerned that the sanctions were unduly stifling European prosperity by blocking access to a huge market. The EU continued to bring diplomatic pressure to bear on Washington as the sanctions dragged on, hoping that eventually they would be lifted. Instead, when American intelligence community insisted that it had discovered an apparent link between China and the Iranian nuclear weapons program, the sanctions were tightened, much to the chagrin of the EU. The focus has now shifted away from diplomacy, and the EU is determined to exploit potential economic opportunities in the PRC. Cargo ships are now enroute from the EU to China, carrying Ariane 5 rocket components from France and Type 212 submarine technology from Germany. The convoy is defended. The Americans are incensed and vow to stop the shipment. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

The relationship between Singapore and Malaysia has never been particularly great, due in large part to historical sensitivities, some stemming from the time of their separation in 1965. Diplomatic level interventions by Australian in the 1980s (through the Five Power Defence Arrangement, or FPDA) helped to encourage better dialogue and cooperation, particularly in defence matters, but there remains an underlying friction between Singaporeans and Malays. Modern era difficulties include unresolved territorial and airspace disputes, customs and immigration issues, new cross-border bridges and railways, and the continued reliance of Singapore upon fresh water supplies from Malaysia. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

From DefenseNews Chirac Warns Would-be Attackers France Could Respond With Nukes By PIERRE TRAN, PARIS President Jacques Chirac extended France’s nuclear doctrine Jan. 19 with a warning that states considering using terrorist attacks or weapons of mass destruction run the risk of a nuclear retaliation. “Leaders of states which might resort to terrorist methods against us, just as those envisaging to use, in one way or another, weapons of mass destruction, should understand they expose themselves to a firm and proportionate response on our part,” Chirac said in a keynote speech on a visit to Le Vigilent, the most modern of France’s nuclear ballistic missile submarines. “This response could be conventional. It might be otherwise,” he told officers at a naval base near Brest in northern France. France’s nuclear armory is being modernized and reduced to give it the capability to strike power centers rather than threaten whole populations. This means that against a regional power, France is not powerless in the face of threats, Chirac said in his first speech on deterrent doctrine in five years. As head of state and chief of the armed forces, the president is constitutionally charged with defining France’s vital interests, but what those interests are have changed with time, Chirac said. Those interests could include strategic supplies and defense of allied nations, he said. The nuclear arsenal, composed of four ocean-going submarines and an air wing, costs some 3 billion euros ($3.6 billion) a year to maintain. That is 20 percent of the equipment budget, or 10 percent of the total defense budget. Critics say the nuclear element takes too much of the defense budget, and scrapping the deterrent force would release funds for other capabilities — notably, network-enabled systems for a light, agile military. With the 2007 election year looming, some analysts wonder whether a new president would retain the nuclear force, developed by President Charles de Gaulle in the 1960s as the ultimate expression of France’s autonomy and sovereignty.

From DefenseNews Chirac Warns Would-be Attackers France Could Respond With Nukes By PIERRE TRAN, PARIS President Jacques Chirac extended France’s nuclear doctrine Jan. 19 with a warning that states considering using terrorist attacks or weapons of mass destruction run the risk of a nuclear retaliation. “Leaders of states which might resort to terrorist methods against us, just as those envisaging to use, in one way or another, weapons of mass destruction, should understand they expose themselves to a firm and proportionate response on our part,” Chirac said in a keynote speech on a visit to Le Vigilent, the most modern of France’s nuclear ballistic missile submarines. “This response could be conventional. It might be otherwise,” he told officers at a naval base near Brest in northern France. France’s nuclear armory is being modernized and reduced to give it the capability to strike power centers rather than threaten whole populations. This means that against a regional power, France is not powerless in the face of threats, Chirac said in his first speech on deterrent doctrine in five years. As head of state and chief of the armed forces, the president is constitutionally charged with defining France’s vital interests, but what those interests are have changed with time, Chirac said. Those interests could include strategic supplies and defense of allied nations, he said. The nuclear arsenal, composed of four ocean-going submarines and an air wing, costs some 3 billion euros ($3.6 billion) a year to maintain. That is 20 percent of the equipment budget, or 10 percent of the total defense budget. Critics say the nuclear element takes too much of the defense budget, and scrapping the deterrent force would release funds for other capabilities — notably, network-enabled systems for a light, agile military. With the 2007 election year looming, some analysts wonder whether a new president would retain the nuclear force, developed by President Charles de Gaulle in the 1960s as the ultimate expression of France’s autonomy and sovereignty.

From Jane's Defence Weekly China develops anti-ship missile By Ted Parsons JDW Correspondent Virginia, US The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is in the advanced stages of developing a revolutionary anti-ship ballistic missile to supplement its well known Ying-Ji family of anti-ship cruise missiles. The development programme has been confirmed by both US government and Asian military sources, with the latter estimating that the PLA may be able to deploy the space targeting systems needed to make its anti-ship ballistic missile operational by 2009. PLA efforts to provide terminal guidance capabilities to both its 600 km-range DF-15 (CSS-6) short-range ballistic missile and DF-21 (CSS-5) medium-range ballistic missile with a range of 2,150 km, or 2,500 km for the DF-21A (CSS-5 Mod 2), have been known since the mid-1990s. The existence of a terminally guided DF-21C has long been reported. Asian military sources said that the PLA will be using a version of the DF-21 for its ballistic anti-ship missions. However, the PLA would need to make substantial advances in missile guidance and countermeasures in order to achieve the very high precision required to attack a moving target. To do so, the US Office of Naval Intelligence noted: "The current TBM force would be modified by changing some to the current missiles' re-entry vehicles to manoeuvring re-entry vehicles with radar or infra-red seekers to provide the accuracy needed to attack ships at sea."

From DefenseNews N. Korea Says No Point in Nuclear Talks with U.S. By JON HERSKOVITZ, REUTERS, SEOUL North Korea said Jan. 17 it was unthinkable for it to return to nuclear disarmament talks that include the United States because it believes Washington wants to bring down its communist rulers with financial sanctions. Pyongyang has already threatened to boycott the talks until the sanctions are lifted, but the fresh remark from the official KCNA news agency came as media reports suggested North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was in Beijing for discussions with Chinese leaders about the stalled six-way talks. Talks among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States have hit a snag since the last round was held in November 2005 because of a U.S. financial crackdown. The United States, which clamped down on companies it suspects of aiding North Korea in counterfeiting, money laundering and the drug trade, has urged Pyongyang to resume the talks without preconditions. “As the U.S. financial sanctions are an issue directly linked with the talks, it is unthinkable for the DPRK to negotiate the nuclear issue with the party seeking to isolate and stifle it while being exposed to sanctions,” KCNA reported. North Korea, whose official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), repeated its call for the United States to end the sanctions, saying they are “little short of an act of suffocating the DPRK to bring down its system.” North Korea threatened to take tough countermeasures, but did not elaborate. Pyongyang said last week it was illogical to return to talks because of the U.S. sanctions. The United States has said the suspected illicit activity that prompted the sanctions has helped finance North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. Washington has also said the financial crackdown is separate from the six-party talks. In September 2005, the United States banned American institutions from doing business with a Macau-based bank due to U.S. suspicions it helped North Korea launder money. A month later, it blacklisted eight North Korean companies it suspects supported Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program. Although the presence of Kim Jong-il in China has not been confirmed, many reports — including those in Hong Kong papers controlled by the mainland — say he spent recent days peering under the hood of China’s trade juggernaut in southern Guangdong province, looking for lessons and maybe deals. The South Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper said Kim was due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Jan. 17 to discuss the stalled six-party talks. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted witnesses as saying 40 sedans were seen pulling into the Diaoyutai state guesthouse in Beijing.

From DefenseNews Russia, China Want Talks, Not Sanctions on Iran By OLEG SHCHEDROV, REUTERS, MOSCOW Russia and China made clear on Jan. 17 they do not favor U.N. sanctions to induce Iran to scale back its nuclear program, and Tehran urged the European Union to return to the negotiating table. A senior British official dismissed as “vacuous” the Iranian offer, contained in a letter from Javad Vaeedi, deputy head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tehran should first halt all uranium enrichment work. “Talks presuppose an obligation. The Iranian obligation was to stick to the moratorium,” Lavrov said. “Now Iran (has departed from) the moratorium on scientific research.” Britain, France and Germany called off the talks last week after Tehran resumed uranium enrichment research, deepening Western suspicions that it is bent on acquiring the bomb. Washington and its EU allies say it is time the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency sent Iran’s case to the U.N. Security Council, which could eventually decide to impose sanctions on Iran. A senior Iranian official said Tehran’s decision to resume nuclear fuel research is legal and “irreversible.” Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh, Iranian representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also told the students news agency ISNA that he would meet the agency’s chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, later on Jan. 17 to discuss Iran’s plans. An IAEA spokesman could not confirm a meeting was planned. Soltaniyeh reiterated Iran’s threat to halt snap IAEA inspections of its nuclear sites if its case goes to the Security Council. The senior British official said referral to the council would not automatically lead to punitive measures. “We don’t see this leading straight into sanctions,” the official told reporters under condition he not be named. “We want to build gradual, sustained pressure over time. We are not going to New York to impose punitive economic sanctions.” Lavrov also said talk of sanctions was premature. “The question of sanctions against Iran puts the cart before the horse. Sanctions are in no way the best, or the only, way to solve the problem,” he told a news briefing. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Beijing favors diplomacy, urging all parties to “keep patient and make utmost efforts to resume the negotiations between the EU3 and Iran.” Germany earlier said council members remained at odds on the Iranian nuclear issue after talks on Jan. 16 in London among the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. However, participants did agree to call an emergency meeting of the IAEA board on Feb. 2. An Iranian source in Vienna said Iran had written to the EU trio proposing that talks resume immediately and saying Tehran was ready to “remove existing ambiguities regarding its peaceful nuclear program through talks and negotiations.” Russian Proposal Iran’s letter also said it wanted to pursue scheduled talks with Russia over Moscow’s proposal to enrich uranium for Iran in a joint venture to prevent any diversion for military use. “Iran believes that negotiations with Russia will continue seriously and constructively, and as planned, they will be on Feb. 16 in Moscow,” Vaeedi wrote. Lavrov said that Russia’s offer to enrich uranium for Iran remained on the table. Tehran has previously sent mixed signals on the idea, which has EU and U.S. support. German Deputy Foreign Minister Gernot Erler said Iran must keep its promises if it wants more talks with the EU3. “Western states and the Europeans are ready at any time to restart talks, but only if Iran fulfils the pledges it has made,” he said. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy plans to go to Moscow on Jan. 18 to discuss Iran’s standoff with the West. “Iran will be at the top of the agenda,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said, citing the importance of Russia’s stance. Any Security Council action would need the consent of its five permanent members, including Russia and China, both wary of jeopardizing their major economic interests in Iran. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said: “We hope the Iranian side can cooperate with the efforts by the international community to restart the diplomatic negotiations.” China gets about 12 percent of its oil imports from Iran. Arguing against sanctions, Lavrov said a U.N. embargo against Iraq had failed to change Saddam Hussein’s behavior. Asked under what conditions Russia would back sending Iran to the council, he said the IAEA’s role had not been exhausted. Moscow’s $1 billion stake in building Iran’s first atomic reactor gives it potential leverage over Tehran.

From Defense Aerospace UK Astor Radar Goes “Live”, Delivers Quality Target Imagery (Source: Raytheon Systems Ltd.; issued Jan. 10, 2006) LONDON --- The flight test programme for the U.K. Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) programme is progressing well in the U.S. and the U.K. As of December, 2005, a/c #1 (based in Greenville, Texas) was well into its series of check flights while in the U.K. a/c #2 had completed its first phase of flight testing. According to the test team, the DMR in a/c #1 was producing good quality imagery on only its second operational check flight. Successful system connectivity was demonstrated on the first attempt with virtual end-to-end data flow demonstrated from the aircraft to the ground station in near real-time. Hand in hand with the radar and system testing regime, software release-vetting continues with additional image-manipulation features enabled such as pan and zoom controls. Justin Monger, U.S. ASTOR programme manager, said, “We are well into the flight test programme and making very good progress, especially regarding the radar and its imaging quality. The ASTOR integration and test programme is proving out the revolutionary capabilities of this system and securing its role in network enabled coalition operations – from SAR and GMTI, connectivity with air to ground and interoperability with systems like Joint STARS.” Separate from aircraft testing of the Sentinel Mk.1, ground segment elements have now completed environmental testing and are in the midst of speed and mobility tests in the U.K. Raytheon Systems Limited President and Managing Director, Jack Cronin, said, "We exceeded our expectations for ASTOR in 2005 and finished the year on a high with all segments deep into their test schedules. 2006 will see the culmination of all this hard work and these images show just what a superb system it will be." When it enters service, the MoD’s ASTOR system will be the most advanced of its type in the world. The complete system will include five Sentinel R Mk I aircraft, each equipped with dual-mode (SAR and Moving Target Indicator) radar and operator workstations where the mission management and imagery can be exploited and then transmitted to the various brigade and divisional/joint level ASTOR ground stations by datalink. The system operates in near real time to give battlefield commanders rapid access to highly accurate information about what is happening in their area of interest. RSL, the UK-based subsidiary of Raytheon Company, employs over 1500 people. The company is a prime contractor and major supplier to the UK Ministry of Defence and is involved in numerous, high priority programmes for the US Department of Defense. RSL designs, develops and manufactures a range of high technology defence and commercial electronics. Raytheon Company, with 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, is an industry leader in defence and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services and special-mission aircraft. Headquartered in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.

From Defense Aerospace Langley Celebrates Raptor's Initial Operational Capability (Source: US Air Force; issued Jan. 13, 2006) LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --- The 1st Fighter Wing held a ceremony here today to celebrate the F-22A Raptor's initial operational capability. The event comes after the 27th Fighter Squadron was officially declared IOC on Dec. 15 by Gen. Ronald E. Keys, commander of Air Combat Command. The IOC declaration proves the F-22A is mission ready. The base now has 19 Raptors. The 27th FS -- the Air Force's oldest fighter squadron -- is now the first operational unit to fly the service's newest fighter aircraft. "This next generation fighter can now be employed by combatant commanders and the national command authority for various missions both at home and in other areas of responsibility," wing commander Brig. Gen. Burton Field said. Guest speaker at the event was Gen. John Corley, Air Force vice chief of staff. Dr. James Roche, former Air Force secretary, and retired Gen. John Jumper, former Air Force chief of staff, also attended he event. "I can't thank each of you enough. You all played a critical role," General Corley said. "Your children and children's children will reap the benefits of the technology (of this aircraft)." General Field praised the cooperative efforts of the many people it took to see the F-22A reach the milestone. "This aircraft, and more importantly, the people who have brought it to the realm of operational flying, deserve to celebrate and be celebrated," General Field said.

Thanks, Mark. Very helpful.