#analysis Amid China’s economic challenges, such as high youth unemployment and a troubled real estate market, some policymakers believe Beijing will need to cut its defense spending. However, China’s defense industrial base continues to grow rapidly, developing advanced weapons systems to deter and challenge U.S. military dominance. China is now the world’s largest shipbuilder and has significantly increased its production of modern fighter aircraft, warships, and missiles. With its defense industry on a wartime footing, China acquires weapons at a pace five to six times faster than the United States. To keep pace, the U.S. must urgently revitalize its own […]
Tag: Analysis
What is the Fath-360, Iran’s ballistic missile now arming Russia?
#analysis The Fath-360 is an Iranian ballistic missile recently delivered to Russia, raising concerns among pro-Ukraine nations. It has a range of 120 km and carries a 150 kg warhead, making it comparable to Russian artillery missiles like the 9M54 family. While not providing a major new capability, the Fath-360 offers Russia additional firepower in the short-range category, potentially helping preserve their longer-range missiles. Its use may force Ukraine to expend air defenses against less critical threats, adding pressure to Kyiv’s resources. Furthermore, the missile’s deployment underscores Russia’s reliance on foreign suppliers due to domestic production challenges. Original article
European militaries rush to catch up on space traffic mapping
#analysis The rapid growth of space activity has led European militaries to increase their focus on space traffic mapping to address emerging threats. The number of active satellites has more than tripled in the last four years, and most of this activity is occurring in low Earth orbit, creating new challenges for military surveillance systems designed for geostationary orbits. Companies like Safran, Vyoma, and True Anomaly are working with defense departments to improve space awareness and tracking capabilities. Military leaders stress the importance of collaboration between civilian, commercial, and military sectors to enhance space-domain awareness and avoid potential crises. As […]
Silicon Valley Hasn’t Revolutionized Warfare—Yet
#analysis The book Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War by Raj M. Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff explores the Pentagon’s efforts to incorporate commercial technology into military operations. It focuses on the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), launched in 2015, which aimed to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and the Department of Defense. DIU has faced significant bureaucratic resistance but has achieved notable successes, such as automating air operations and leveraging commercial innovations in military missions. Despite these advancements, traditional defense contractors still dominate Pentagon contracts, and widespread transformation remains elusive. However, DIU […]