Agricultural Productivity
Circular Economy
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Battlefields of Future?
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Exoskeletons are the future of body armor - Task & Purpose > .
24-3-31 Global Arms Exports - Winners, losers, trends in race to rearm - Perun > .
24-1-24 Importance of 155mm shells - WSJ > .
> EuM - European Defense >> EU Army?
Reservists
24-9-30 Reservist lethality: British Army's fighting power by 2027 - Forces > .24-9-6 Wargaming in NATO 2024 - NATO ACT > .
2030 ..
Bionic Troops?
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U.S. Official Says China Attempted To Create 'Super Soldiers' | MSNBC > .
Is China trying to make its own version of Captain America? US intelligence has suggested so. But beyond the hype, the possibility of a super soldier is not so outlandish and one that not just China is interested in. With deep pockets, and a desire to get an edge, the world's militaries have often driven technological innovation, from the state-of-the-art to the humble.
Announcing a new initiative in 2014, then-President Barack Obama told journalists: "Basically I'm here to announce that we're building Iron Man." The US military had already begun work on the project - a protective suit, known as the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit. (Talos). A video game-like promotional video showed the wearer bursting in on an enemy cell, bullets ricocheting off the armour. Iron Man was not to be. Five years on, the initiative ended, but makers hope individual components of the suit will have applications elsewhere. Exoskeletons are just one of the promising technologies militaries are exploring to enhance their soldiers.
Enhancement could mean much more than merely giving an individual soldier a better gun. It could mean altering the individual soldier. In 2017, Russia's President Vladimir Putin warned that humanity could soon create something "worse than a nuclear bomb". ... "One may imagine that a man can create a man with some given characteristics, not only theoretically but also practically. He can be a genius mathematician, a brilliant musician or a soldier, a man who can fight without fear, compassion, regret or pain."
Last year, the former US Director of National Intelligence (DNI), John Ratcliffe, went further with a blunt accusation against China."China has even conducted human testing on members of the People's Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities. There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing's pursuit of power," he wrote in the Wall Street Journal. Needless to say, China called the article a "miscellany of lies".
A 2019 paper from two US academics said that China's military was "actively exploring" such techniques as gene editing, exoskeletons and human-machine collaboration. The report was based primarily on comments from Chinese military strategists. Ratcliffe was referring to testing on adults. While some characteristics could be altered in adults using gene editing, changing the DNA of embryos would offer one of the most plausible routes to a "super soldier".
Some analysts see China's efforts as a direct response to the US. A 2017 report in the Guardian said that a US military agency was investing tens of millions in genetic extinction technology that could wipe out invasive species, something UN experts warned could have military applications. China and the US are not the only countries seeking an advantage. France's armed forces have been given approval to develop "enhanced soldiers" with a report laying out ethical boundaries for the research.
> EuM - European Defense >> EU Army?
Budgets (Military) ..
Future of War ..
Future Conflict? ..
Future US Army Weaponry? ..
Intel - Past & Future ..
Kit of Future? ..
Future of War ..
Future Conflict? ..
Future US Army Weaponry? ..
Intel - Past & Future ..
Kit of Future? ..
Announcing a new initiative in 2014, then-President Barack Obama told journalists: "Basically I'm here to announce that we're building Iron Man." The US military had already begun work on the project - a protective suit, known as the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit. (Talos). A video game-like promotional video showed the wearer bursting in on an enemy cell, bullets ricocheting off the armour. Iron Man was not to be. Five years on, the initiative ended, but makers hope individual components of the suit will have applications elsewhere. Exoskeletons are just one of the promising technologies militaries are exploring to enhance their soldiers.
Enhancement could mean much more than merely giving an individual soldier a better gun. It could mean altering the individual soldier. In 2017, Russia's President Vladimir Putin warned that humanity could soon create something "worse than a nuclear bomb". ... "One may imagine that a man can create a man with some given characteristics, not only theoretically but also practically. He can be a genius mathematician, a brilliant musician or a soldier, a man who can fight without fear, compassion, regret or pain."
Last year, the former US Director of National Intelligence (DNI), John Ratcliffe, went further with a blunt accusation against China."China has even conducted human testing on members of the People's Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities. There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing's pursuit of power," he wrote in the Wall Street Journal. Needless to say, China called the article a "miscellany of lies".
A 2019 paper from two US academics said that China's military was "actively exploring" such techniques as gene editing, exoskeletons and human-machine collaboration. The report was based primarily on comments from Chinese military strategists. Ratcliffe was referring to testing on adults. While some characteristics could be altered in adults using gene editing, changing the DNA of embryos would offer one of the most plausible routes to a "super soldier".
Some analysts see China's efforts as a direct response to the US. A 2017 report in the Guardian said that a US military agency was investing tens of millions in genetic extinction technology that could wipe out invasive species, something UN experts warned could have military applications. China and the US are not the only countries seeking an advantage. France's armed forces have been given approval to develop "enhanced soldiers" with a report laying out ethical boundaries for the research.
British Forces - 21st C
21-3-23 RADICAL RESHAPE For The UK Military - Forces > .
24-2-6 Exclusive: Head of UK Strategic Command's full in-depth interview - Forces > .
24-2-1 Could National Service fix British forces recruitment crisis? | Sitrep > .
24-1-20 Can Ruscia win the military production race? - Anders > .
24-3-31 Global Arms Exports - Winners, losers, trends in race to rearm - Perun > .
24-1-24 Importance of 155mm shells - WSJ > .
> EuM - European Defense >> EU Army?
Reservists
24-9-30 Reservist lethality: British Army's fighting power by 2027 - Forces > .Future - British Forces - Fyrd Færeld >> .
Manpower, Training
Geostrategic Projection
European Geostrategic Projection ..Logistics, Modeling, Strategy
Mahan & Naval Strategy .. 22-6-27 Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to call for more military spending over Russian threat: Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is set to issue a call for more spending on the UK's armed forces in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He will give a speech on Tuesday - but has reportedly already asked the prime minister to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2028.
The UK is currently spending around 2% of GDP on defence, matching the target set by the NATO for member nations. The government announced an increase in military spending in 2020.
Wallace told a conference organised by the Royal United Services Institute think tank that, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the threat has changed and governments must be prepared to invest more to keep people safe.
In 1990, the UK had around 1,200 main battle tanks in its inventory, today it has 227 - the report states. It said armoured vehicle capability had reached "a point of batch obsolescence, falling behind that of our allies and potential adversaries".
The report comes ahead of publication of the government's Integrated Review of foreign, defence, security and development policy, which will be set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 21-3-16. Described as the most important defence review since the end of the Cold War, it is expected to focus on developing new technology such as robots, autonomous systems and meeting new threats in the domains of space and cyber.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We thank the Defence Committee for their report and acknowledge their recommendations as we look to improve the management of our large and complex equipment programmes.
The UK is currently spending around 2% of GDP on defence, matching the target set by the NATO for member nations. The government announced an increase in military spending in 2020.
Wallace told a conference organised by the Royal United Services Institute think tank that, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the threat has changed and governments must be prepared to invest more to keep people safe.
21-3-13 Ageing equipment puts [British] Army 'at risk' - [CDC] report:
The British Army is likely to find itself "outgunned" in any conflict with Russian forces, MPs have warned. In a damning report, the Commons Defence Committee described efforts to modernise the Army's fleet of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) as "woeful". In the report - entitled 'Obsolescent and outgunned' - the committee highlighted the "bureaucratic procrastination" and "general ineptitude" which had "bedevilled" attempts to re-equip the Army over the past two decades. The ageing and depleted fleet puts the Army at "serious risk" of being outmatched by adversaries, it states. The Ministry of Defence has promised "an upgraded, digitised and networked armoured force to meet future threats".In 1990, the UK had around 1,200 main battle tanks in its inventory, today it has 227 - the report states. It said armoured vehicle capability had reached "a point of batch obsolescence, falling behind that of our allies and potential adversaries".
The report comes ahead of publication of the government's Integrated Review of foreign, defence, security and development policy, which will be set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 21-3-16. Described as the most important defence review since the end of the Cold War, it is expected to focus on developing new technology such as robots, autonomous systems and meeting new threats in the domains of space and cyber.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We thank the Defence Committee for their report and acknowledge their recommendations as we look to improve the management of our large and complex equipment programmes.
Selection and training, British Army w
23-3-22 Defence review: British army to be cut to 72,500 troops by 2025 [=4K fewer]:
Following the publication last week of the separate so-called integrated review [above] of foreign and defence policy, ministers have said big changes are necessary to create a more agile military. As part of that review, the government increased the cap on UK nuclear warheads from 180 to 260.
"The size of the Army is to be reduced to 72,500 soldiers by 2025 as part of a move towards drones and cyber warfare. The Army currently has 76,500 personnel and has not been at its "established strength" of 82,000 troops since the middle of the last decade.
The changes set out in the paper - titled Defence in a Competitive Age - include £3bn for new vehicles, long-range rocket systems, drones, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities. The government plans to increase the UK defence budget by £24bn over the next four years. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace set out plans for new capabilities such as electronic warfare and drones in a command paper in the Commons. He said "increased deployability and technological advantage" meant greater effect could be delivered by fewer people. "These changes will not require redundancies and we wish to build on the work already done on utilising our reserves to make sure the whole force is better integrated and more productive."
Announcing the major overhaul of the armed forces, Wallace said it marked a shift from "mass mobilisation to information age speed", insisting they must be able to "seek out and understand" new threats to the country's security.
A cut to the size of the Army - with a reduction of 10,000 - had been anticipated. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced a cut to the target for the number of fully-trained people in the Army, from 82,040 today to 72,500 in 2025. "Full-time trained strength" is the number of soldiers who have completed both their general, basic training and a second phase of specialised training for a specific role.
However, the Army is not currently meeting its target - there are actually 76,350 such soldiers in the Army, which is almost 6,000 short [of prior target]. So the Ministry of Defence is already well on the way to getting down to its new target.
The changes set out in the paper - titled Defence in a Competitive Age - include £3bn for new vehicles, long-range rocket systems, drones, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities. The government plans to increase the UK defence budget by £24bn over the next four years. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace set out plans for new capabilities such as electronic warfare and drones in a command paper in the Commons. He said "increased deployability and technological advantage" meant greater effect could be delivered by fewer people. "These changes will not require redundancies and we wish to build on the work already done on utilising our reserves to make sure the whole force is better integrated and more productive."
Announcing the major overhaul of the armed forces, Wallace said it marked a shift from "mass mobilisation to information age speed", insisting they must be able to "seek out and understand" new threats to the country's security.
The plan sets out how forces will spend more time overseas to support allies and deter hostile powers, such as Russia. Wallace said previous reviews had been "overambitious and underfunded leaving forces that were overstretched and underequipped".
As part of the military restructure, the Royal Marines will be transformed into a new Future Commando Force, taking on many of the traditional tasks of the special forces - the SAS and SBS (Special Air Service and Special Boat Service).
The force will receive more than £200m of direct investment over the next decade to carry out maritime security operations and to "pre-empt and deter sub-threshold activity, and counter state threats".
Other changes announced include:
Boris Johnson spoke to NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the announcement and gave reassurances that increased investment would take the UK's total defence spending to 2.2% of GDP - above the NATO target
Defence reforms 'will help make UK match-fit' .
UK to lift cap on nuclear stockpile after review .
Does size matter for Britain's shrinking Army? .
The Army Needs to look hard at retention, not just recruitment.
"Throughout the last year and a half the issue of recruiting has become increasingly public, resulting in the Chief of the General Staff and the Chief of the Defence Staff having to defend the Army and explain the situation openly. In April 2018 the National Audit Office reported that regular personnel across the military were down by 5.7% or 8200 people, with the Army being down by 4000 troops. Meg Hillier MP, chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee has branded this ‘unsustainable’.
However, it is not just recruitment that is the issue; the British Army has a less well reported, but unsustainable problem with retention. After all, recruitment would be far less of an issue if soldiers were not leaving the Army at such a rapid rate. This speed of this exodus means that currently the Army cannot recruit in anything like the numbers required to fill the gaps of those leaving, resulting in an ever shrinking army and serious pinch points developing in key areas such as Engineering and Intelligence. Retention is a huge problem and something must be done to address it.
Many regiments are seriously affected by this, The Scots Guards, for example, has only 469 soldiers, a deficit of 260 or 37%. This leaves them, as well as other units in a similar position, frankly unable to deploy in their primary warfighting role without ‘borrowing’ companies from elsewhere, affecting the combat effectiveness of the Army as a whole."
Mutual Support: Maximising the Army Reserve:
As part of the military restructure, the Royal Marines will be transformed into a new Future Commando Force, taking on many of the traditional tasks of the special forces - the SAS and SBS (Special Air Service and Special Boat Service).
The force will receive more than £200m of direct investment over the next decade to carry out maritime security operations and to "pre-empt and deter sub-threshold activity, and counter state threats".
Other changes announced include:
- the Army will reorganise into seven brigade combat teams
- a newly-formed Security Force Assistance Brigade will provide skills to build capacity of partner nations
- the replacement of counter-terrorism Reaper drones with Protector drones by 2024
- a £2bn investment in the Future Combat Air System over the next four years
- £1.5bn to be invested over the next decade to build a "digital backbone" to share and exploit vast amounts of data
- the creation of the National Cyber Force based in the North West of England
Defence reforms 'will help make UK match-fit' .
UK to lift cap on nuclear stockpile after review .
Does size matter for Britain's shrinking Army? .
The Army Needs to look hard at retention, not just recruitment.
However, it is not just recruitment that is the issue; the British Army has a less well reported, but unsustainable problem with retention. After all, recruitment would be far less of an issue if soldiers were not leaving the Army at such a rapid rate. This speed of this exodus means that currently the Army cannot recruit in anything like the numbers required to fill the gaps of those leaving, resulting in an ever shrinking army and serious pinch points developing in key areas such as Engineering and Intelligence. Retention is a huge problem and something must be done to address it.
Many regiments are seriously affected by this, The Scots Guards, for example, has only 469 soldiers, a deficit of 260 or 37%. This leaves them, as well as other units in a similar position, frankly unable to deploy in their primary warfighting role without ‘borrowing’ companies from elsewhere, affecting the combat effectiveness of the Army as a whole."
Mutual Support: Maximising the Army Reserve:
Monday, April 25, 2016
DEW - Directed-Energy Weapons
23-9-15 Directed Energy Weapons in Future Weaponry - nwyt > .
A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is a ranged weapon that damages its target with highly focused energy without a solid projectile, including lasers, microwaves, particle beams, and sound beams. Potential applications of this technology include weapons that target personnel, missiles, vehicles, and optical devices. In the United States, the Pentagon, DARPA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, United States Army Armament Research Development and Engineering Center, and the Naval Research Laboratory are researching directed-energy weapons to counter ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles. These systems of missile defense are expected to come online no sooner than the mid to late-2020s.
Xina, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, and Pakistan are also developing military-grade directed-energy weapons, while Iran and Turkey claim to have them in active service.
drones
Companies are now developing and deploying sophisticated new defences, from frying the electronic circuits with powerful beams of microwave radiation (phasers), to precise jamming systems.
The first use of directed-energy weapons in combat between military forces was claimed to have occurred in Libya in August 2019 by Turkey, which claimed to use the ALKA directed-energy weapon. After decades of research and development, most directed-energy weapons are still at the experimental stage and it remains to be seen if or when they will be deployed as practical, high-performance military weapons.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49984415
Drones (UAVs) ..
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By programming a UAV to fly around numerous points before arriving at its target it can avoid the obvious directions from which an attack is expected. This may explain why existing radars failed to spot the drone formation which attacked Abqaiq.https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49984415
Drones (UAVs) ..
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sī vīs pācem, parā bellum
igitur quī dēsīderat pācem praeparet bellum therefore, he who desires peace, let him prepare for war sī vīs pācem, parā bellum if you wan...
