Russia-DPRK Economic Ties

11/16/2012
2012-11-16 By Richard Weitz In addition to their security concerns, Russian officials are eager to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula and prevent abrupt regime collapse in the North in order to achieve their economic objective of greater integration with the prosperous East Asian region. Russians hope that closer ties would…

F-35 jet project has pumped millions into New Hampshire’s economy

11/14/2012
Temco Tool in Manchester has been working with BAE Systems in Nashua on the F-35 since 2001. The high-precision machine shop produces antenna arrays and other finely engineered components for the stealth aircraft designed to be the fighter jet for the new millennium. Over the decade, the contracts have added…

Chinese Economic and Strategic Gains from the Korean Crisis

11/14/2012
2012-11-14 by Richard Weitz The PRC-DPRK relationship is no longer based primarily on ideology but relies more on overlapping national interests and mutual economic ties. Chinese policy makers continue to take steps to avert state failure in North Korea and counter other possible sources of chaos on the Korean peninsula.…

Main Reforms of the Serdyukov Era

11/14/2012
2012-11-14 by Richard Weitz The August 2008 Georgia War created an opening for Serdyukov and his team to pursue more radical military reforms. In addition to inadequate communications and other technical problems with defense equipment, these shortcomings included cumbersome command arrangements, low unit readiness, and poor leadership throughout the chain…

Putin’s Military Shakeup: Origins of Present Crisis

11/13/2012
2012-11-13 by Richard Weitz Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision last week to remove Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, Chief of Staff Army-General Nikolai Makarov, and other senior Russian defense officials and officers is an important development. And it could have a major impact on Russia’s military reform program as well as…

Yuma Air Station Prepares for the F-35 Coming November 20th

11/12/2012
With the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter scheduled to begin arriving in phases later this fall, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma has been a very busy place the past two years as it has prepared for its new aircraft, pilots and crews. Lt. Col. John Hicks, airfield operations officer, said there…