2013-04-02 In a report published in 2012, the Japanese Institute for Defense Studies provided an overview of the evolving challenge posed by how the Chinese are pursuing their defense and security efforts. The report is the third in a series and focuses upon Chinese decision-making and policy coordination involving the…
2013-04-01 By Robbin Laird and Murielle Delaporte Recently, we attended a christening of a new class of US Navy ships called the Mobile Landing Platform. As we looked at the ship from San Diego Harbor, the big gaping hole in the middle is where the change has come: The ship…
2013-04-01 by Dr. Harald Malmgren The Troika (EU Commission, ECB, and IMF) enthusiastically declared “success” in the late March bailout of Cyprus banks. Early this year European finance ministers grew increasingly worried that Cyprus banks would default. The total assets of these banks stood at 7 to8 times the total…
2013-03-30 By Scott C. Truver The U.S. Coast Guard has in place ambitious programs that will revitalize the U.S. cutter force to meet the daunting requirements of the 21st Century. Three highly capable cutter classes are underway in March 2013. First, the Legend-class high-endurance National Security Cutters (NSCs) have been…
2013-03-30 by Richard Weitz Many questions remain regarding the actual capability of Iran’s ballistic missile program, especially the range and accuracy of the missiles, how rapidly Iran could arm them with a nuclear warhead, and Tehran’s intentions and strategy regarding the possible use of these missiles. However, Iran clearly possesses…
2013-03-27 Singapore is poised to be the first user of F-35Bs buying them to operate largely from land bases. The significance of the deployment flexibility has not been lost on Singapore. The forthcoming decision will add Singapore to three other members of the B working group, namely, the USN-USMC, the…
2013-03-27 The range and speed of the Osprey is a key capability which enables the ARG-MEU. [caption id="attachment_51809" align="alignnone" width="300"] MV-22 landing at Stuttgart airport with Air Berlin flight in the background. Credit: USMC[/caption] It allows for a increased capability to disaggregate the ARG-MEU as well. And it allows for support…
2013-03-27 by Richard Weitz The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is working on an intercontinental-range missile (ICBM) capable of hitting targets as far as California and Alaska. In 1998, 2006, 2009, April 2012, and most recently in December 2012, the DPRK test launched a three-stage long-range missile designed to…
