2013-01-04 We have just posted our latest special report of 85 pages on the USMC approach to innovation in shaping the Air Combat Element of the future. The Marines have stood up their first squadron of F-35 Bs at MCAS Yuma. But the Marine Corps approach to the aircraft is…
2013-01-03 The Canadians have an aging tanker fleet. They have refreshed the fleet with the addition of 2 Airbus MRTT tankers, which they bought at roughly the same time as did Germany. The Airbus A310 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is based on the A310 airframe and the Germans along with…
2013-01-03 By Richard Weitz In discussions outside Paris, members of the Afghan Taliban insurgency met with representatives of the Afghan government and its peaceful opposition to discuss how their war might end. Although not formal negotiations, they seemed to indicate greater Taliban interest than previously in a peace treaty. Yet, they…
[slidepress gallery='general-jacoby'] 2013-01-02 Arctic warming is creating a new Arctic environment and with it a new strategic situation. Changes are coming over time, but the strategic trajectories are very clear. New transportation routes, new resources, new security challenges and new defense dynamics are inevitable. And very little of this is at…
2013-01-02 By Richard Weitz Since the beginning of Syria’s uprising against the Assad regime, there have been worries that Lebanon’s Hezbollah could obtain and use some of Syria’s chemical weapons. This could happen either through the Assad regime’s deliberately transferring the chemical weapons to Hezbollah or through Hezbollah’s seizing them in…
2012-12-30 By Richard Weitz “Today, only Russia and China have the capability to conduct a large-scale ballistic missile attack on the territory of the United States, but this is very unlikely and not the focus of U.S. BMD,” the 2010 U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense Review explains. “Both Russia and China have…
2012-12-23 by Richard Weitz Ballistic missile defenses (BMD) are an urgent acquisition and development capability for South Korea. North Korea’s Artillery Guidance Bureau controlling some 800 mobile ballistic missiles poses a direct threat to the country. South Korea’s independent system for intercepting short- to medium-range ballistic missile, consisting of Patriot PAC-3…
2012-12-23 by Richard Weitz In South Korea’s 18th presidential election, held on December 19, Park Geun-hye of the governing Saenuri (New Frontier) Party defeated Moon Jae-in of the opposition Democratic United Party. Park’s inauguration is scheduled for February 25, when she will succeed President Lee Myung-bak. Park faces many domestic and…
