– The Economist – Nobody should welcome the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran. But bombing the place is not the answer.
Monthly Archives: February 2012
Iran – Attacking Iran: Up in the air
– Economist – The probability of an attack on Iran’s nuclear programme has been increasing. But the chances of it ending the country’s nuclear ambitions are low
Royal Australian Navy – US floats nuclear subs option
– Financial Review – The United States has indicated for the first time it would be willing to lease or sell a nuclear submarine to Australia in a move that will inflame tensions with China and force the Coalition to declare its policy on bolstering regional defence.
US Navy – Air-Sea Battle: Promoting Stability in an Era of Uncertainty
– American Interest – A more detailed look at how Air Sea battle is supposed to work in practice.
Terrorism – War on terror — Round 3
– Los Angeles Times – Andrew J. Bacevich writes that even as our troops march hither and yon, America seems to be losing the thread in an ‘era of persistent conflict.’
Russian Navy – Visiting Leading Shipbuilding Enterprises of Russia
– English Russia – A photo essay looking inside the factory where the Kilo-class submarines are built and overhauled.
Air Warfare – A Brief History of Drones
– The Nation – A look at the history of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in warfare.
Iran – Iran Raid Seen as a Huge Task for Israeli Jets
– New York Times – Should Israel decide to launch a strike on Iran, its pilots would have to fly more than 1,000 miles across unfriendly airspace, refuel in the air en route, fight off Iran’s air defenses, attack multiple underground sites simultaneously — and use at least 100 planes.
Iranian Navy – Iranian Ships Reported to Leave Syria
– New York Times – Two Iranian warships that docked in a Syrian port as a senior Iranian lawmaker denounced American calls for arming the Syrian opposition were reported on Tuesday to have left the Mediterranean, sailing south through the Suez Canal toward the Red Sea.
Iran – Strait of Hormuz: Iran's disruptive military options
– International Institute For Strategic Studies – Could Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, or significantly hinder traffic passing through it? A recent decision by the European Union to impose a total embargo on the purchase of Iranian oil has prompted threats from Tehran to close the world’s most important oil chokepoint. However, an assessment of military capabilities deployed in the area, and of probable tactics, suggests that Iran would find it difficult or unpalatable to cause major disruption.
(Thanks to Worda for the link!)
Iranian Navy – Iran claims its navy enters Mediterranean as tensions with Israel grow
– Daily Telegraph – Iran’s navy claimed its warships entered the Mediterranean on Saturday to show its ‘might’ to regional countries, as a high-level American official was due to arrive in Israel.
Swedish Navy – New Submarines Improve Performance
– Defense Technology International – The original stealth weapons, submarines may be second only to unmanned systems in the degree to which they have exploited new technology in the past two decades. Major advances have included air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, increasing submerged endurance and mobility; automation, reducing crew size (and consequently, life-cycle costs) and improving habitability; electro-optical masts that can sweep the horizon with high-definition in seconds and drop out of sight; and new torpedoes and other weapons. On the near horizon is the the mating of SSKs with unmanned air and underwater vehicles (UUV).
Iranian Navy – Iran Delays War Games in Strait of Hormuz?
– Stratfor – Stratfor sources have indicated that Iranian naval exercises scheduled to take place by Feb. 19 have been delayed or possibly canceled. Given other recent moves by the United States and Iran aimed at reducing bilateral tensions, the apparent delay may have been motivated by a desire to facilitate talks on Iran’s nuclear program, among other issues.
Royal Navy – Sea Ceptor is Born
– Defense Technology International – The U.K. has given the go ahead for the short-range air defense system for its Type 26 Global Combat Ship and also the existing Type 23 frigates.
US Navy – Obama’s Asia strategy gives Navy key role, fewer ships
– Washington Post – As the Obama administration reorients its military strategy toward Asia and the vital maritime trade routes in the Pacific, the bulk of the responsibility will fall on the Navy, which was largely sidelined during the land wars of the last decade.
US Navy – Next Generation Jammer will be uninhabited
– Aviation Week – The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, long touted as the follow-on to the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, is no longer heir-apparent as the king of nonkinetic warfare. The often-delayed Lockheed Martin JSF program is being more narrowly focused on its conventional attack role. Jamming is no longer a priority for the stealthy fighter. The airframes expected to carry the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) are conventional-signature unmanned aerial systems and will be followed by stealthy unmanned designs.
Russian Navy – Russian sub had nukes aboard during fire
– Russian Navy – Russian sub had nukes aboard during fire – A Russian sub had nuclear-tipped missiles and other weapons aboard when it caught fire in dry dock during December repairs in the arctic.
Indian Navy – India's Navy Leases Russian Akula II Submarine
– Defense Technology International – On January 23 the Indian Navy received the Russian Nerpa Project 971 Shchuka-B class nuclear powered attack submarine on a 10-year lease.
US Navy – USS Abraham Lincoln in Strait of Hormuz voyage
– US Navy – USS Abraham Lincoln in Strait of Hormuz voyage – The US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, close to the coast of Iran, for the second time in recent weeks.
French Navy – A Virtual Tour of the BPC Dixmude
– Defense Technology International – Today I invite you to join me on a photographic foray aboard the BPC Dixmude, the third of the multi-mission amphibious landing helicopter docks to be delivered by STX and DCNS to the French Navy.
Royal Navy – 21st century airships may join Navy fleet
– Daily Telegraph – A new generation of British-built airships may be bought by the Royal Navy to resupply ships, follwoing their use by the US Army on the front line in Afghanistan.
Geopolitics / Libya – Inside story of the UK's secret mission to beat Gaddafi
– BBC – British efforts to help topple Colonel Gaddafi were not limited to air strikes. On the ground – and on the quiet – special forces soldiers were blending in with rebel fighters. This is the previously untold account of the crucial part they played.
US Navy – U.S. admiral says forces prepared to confront Iran
– Associated Press – The top U.S. Navy official in the Gulf said Sunday he takes Iran’s military capabilities seriously but insists his forces are prepared to confront any Iranian aggression in the region.
Royal Navy – Royal Navy chief looks to the future with carrier, F-35 programmes
– Flight – The Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm entered a period of forced transformation 16 months ago, when the UK government approved major cuts to their equipment and personnel structures as part of its Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). However, with a final tranche of about 300 staff cuts having been confirmed in mid-January, the head of the UK’s “senior service” is looking firmly to the future.
US Navy – Frigates join other nations in hunt for drugs
– Military Times – Four Navy frigates and a patrol squadron operating in the 4th Fleet area of responsibility have joined a new multi-national effort to combat illicit trafficking routes in Central America.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
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