On Nov. 7, 1917 (Oct. 25, 1917 according to the old Russian Calendar): Bolshevik forces — led by Vladimir Lenin — attacked and overthrew the provisional government of Alexander Kerensky in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), marking the “October Revolution” that led to the bloody civil that spanned until 1923.
Central Asia is the third largest point of origin for Salafi jihadist foreign fighters in the conflagration in Syria and Iraq, with more than 4,000 total fighters joining the conflict since 2012 and 2,500 reportedly arriving in the 2014–2015 timeframe alone. As the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) continues to lose territory under duress from U.S.-led anti-ISIL coalition activities, some predict that many may return home bent on jihad and generating terror and instability across Central Asia. Yet several factors indicate that such an ominous foreign fighter return may not materialize. Among these factors are that a majority of Central Asians fighting for ISIL and the al-Nusra Front in Syria and Iraq are recruited while working abroad in Russia, often from low-wage jobs under poor conditions making the recruits ripe for radicalization. In addition, many of those heading for jihad in Syria and the Levant expect that they are on a “one way journey,” some to martyrdom but most for a completely new life, and do not plan a return.
On Nov. 2, 1988, a software worm written by Robert Morris infected an estimated 6,000…
Rear Adm. Bill Merz, USN, the U.S. Navy’s director of undersea warfare division (N97), discusses high attack submarine utilization rates in the Pacific, the attack sub shortfall, and new undersea weapons with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the Naval Submarine League’s 34th annual symposium Oct. 26-27 in Arlington, Va.
In the early 1990s, any time you asked US Navy leaders how many aircraft carriers American had, their answer was “not enough.”
Today, the same thing can be said about the Navy’s submarine force.
At the moment, America has 52 nuclear attack submarines. That’s more than any other nation in the world, but still not enough to support US global needs.
Despite rising Russian and Chinese investment in newer, more capable and quieter submarines combined with more powerful and longer-range cruise and ballistic missiles that hold land bases and surface ships at risk, Navy leaders several years ago decided 48, more modern subs are enough.
Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the alternative defense strategy recommendations from Washington’s top think tanks — CSIS, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Center for a New American Security, the American Enterprise Institute and the CATO Institute — during an interview on Oct. 18 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Vice Adm. Mike Connor, USN Ret., the former commander of the U.S. Submarine Force who is the CEO of ThayerMahan, discusses how the new company will help improve Navy undersea warfare capabilities with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the Naval Submarine League’s 34th annual symposium Oct. 26-27 in Arlington, Va.
Don Jagoe, the senior business development director of Liquid Robotics, discusses autonomous sea surveillance systems with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the Naval Submarine League’s 34th annual symposium Oct. 26-27 in Arlington, Va.
Chris Vanslager, the president of AM General Defense, discusses how the company is keeping its Humvee current with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian on Oct. 4 during the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting and trade show. The meeting was held Oct. 3-5, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
As Congress considers more changes to how the Pentagon buys goods and services, lawmakers should read DoD’s latest annual report on the performance of the defense acquisition system.
The report illustrates consistent efforts by Pentagon leaders over the past eight years are paying off: cost growth on major programs is now at a 30-year low.
That’s a remarkable achievement for senior leaders like Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall who made cost control a priority by curbing requirements, mitigating risk, increasing competition, improving acquisition workforce professionalism and making decisions based on data rather than emotion.
The combination is saving billions of dollars a year.
You’d think that such progress would be rewarded by Congress. Instead, the future of Kendall’s office – created by the landmark 1986 Goldwater-Nichols legislation to bring oversight over out-of-control military programs – is, again, in jeopardy.