Sappertek XYZ
New challengers are popping up around the world. by Sebastien Roblin Back in the 1990s I recall reading Tom Clancy’s loving paean to the M1 Abrams, Armored Cav, in which he related that the unkillable tank had never been knocked out by hostile fire. The Abrams’ 120mm cannon effortlessly peeled the turrets off of T-72 tanks in … Read More “Is America’s M1 Abrams Tank Still the Best in the World?” »
It made Asia what it is today. by J. Michael Cole Twenty-one years ago this week, as Taiwanese were readying to hold their country’s first direct presidential election later in March, China flexed its military muscles by holding a series of military exercises and firing missiles within thirty-five miles off the ports of Keelung and Kaohsiung, … Read More “The Third Taiwan Strait Crisis: The Forgotten Showdown Between China and America.” »
Marines won’t turn into holograms, but they will embrace digital training more than in the past. by Caleb Larson The United States Marine Corps—the United States’ force-in-readiness—is looking to “industry partners” to bring the Live Virtual Constructive-Training Environment (LVC-TE) into service. The LVC-TE is a “software-intensive system” that the Marine Corps hopes to use to “provide … Read More “Virtual Battlespace: The U.S. Marine Corps Is Going Digital.” »
Various emerging laser and radar technologies will be used by the drone to detect and destroy enemy subs, ships, and mines. by Kris Osborn The U.S. Navy is expanding the operational scope of its helicopter-like, vertical-take-off-and-landing Fire Scout drone as part of an effort to increase its impact in major maritime warfare. In addition to extending … Read More “Submarine Hunter: How the Fire Scout Drone Has the Navy Covered.” »
Refocusing professional military education on China could produce a future U.S. military better prepared for likely challenges, more adept at deterring conflict, and succeeding if deterrence fails. by Steven Metz The U.S. military has an elaborate professional education system to prepare its leaders as they take on higher levels of command and increased responsibility. Selected officers attend … Read More “Focusing on China Will Prepare the U.S. Military for the Future.” »
These autonomous drones could transmit threat data back to surface ships in time for them to deploy life-saving countermeasures. by Kris Osborn The U.S. Navy is increasingly relying on drones and unmanned systems as reconnaissance tools able to operate within a network of nodes designed to process and transmit time-sensitive targeting data. There is a progressive … Read More “Can the Fire Scout Drone Change Defensive Maritime Warfare?” »
China‘s J-20 stealth fighter is clearly a threat to the U.S. military as Washington and Beijing square off to dominate in the Pacific. However, the J-20 was surely built with stolen U.S. military secrets, with some speculating that Beijing’s potential ‘loyal wingman’ project could have similar origins. In Western fantasy mythology the offspring/hatchlings of dragons are referred to as “whelps” … Read More “J-20: How China Stole Its Way To Getting A Stealth Fighter (And More)” »
Zelensky faces a political future that is no laughing matter. by Melinda Haring Poor Volodymyr Zelensky. In April 2019, the comedian-turned-presidential candidate won Ukraine’s highest office by a nearly three to one margin before trouncing the country’s established political parties a few months later in the parliamentary elections. His new party won so many seats that … Read More “Five Reasons Why Zelensky is Failing in Ukraine” »
U.S. disagreements with Saudi Arabia and the UAE with regard to Russia and Ukraine could foretell far more serious disagreements over China and Taiwan later. by Mark N. Katz The ongoing war in Ukraine has done much to clarify the geopolitical landscape of the current era. On the one hand, America and its Western allies have … Read More “What Saudi and Emirati Attitudes About Russia Mean for China and Taiwan” »
It just hasn’t succeeded yet. by Paul Heer It has been four years since Kurt Campbell and Ely Ratner—now senior Biden administration officials responsible for policy toward China—published a seminal article arguing that Washington’s post-Cold War “engagement” with Beijing had failed because it was based on unrealistic expectations about democratizing China and flawed assessments of Beijing’s intentions and … Read More “Engagement With China Has Not Failed” »