Focus - Analysis - Photo report
aa
 
 
 

On February 1st, 2021, the military junta in Myanmar launched a coup and halted the country's democratization momentum that had been ongoing since 2016. By ousting President Win Myint and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, they dashed the hopes for a popular democracy and ignited what is now a  civil war. Today, rebel fighters are modernizing their weaponry to deliver highly precise firepower discreetly.

According to the latest report issued by SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute), European countries nearly doubled their imports of major arms, seeing a 94% increase between 2014–18 and 2019–23. However, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East were the primary destinations for arms, hosting nine of the top ten largest arms importers. In this period, the United States elevated its arms exports by 17%, while Russia's exports were cut in half, making Russia the third-largest arms exporter, closely trailing France. Overall, the volume of global arms transfers dipped by 3.3%.

In a speech given on February 28 at a European Parliament plenary session, Ursua von der Leyen said that, over the past few years, Europe has faced a harsh awakening, challenging several long-held beliefs about its security, economic stability, and geopolitical standing. The ongoing war in Ukraine, initiated by Russia, has starkly highlighted these challenges, marking a significant shift in the European security landscape. This conflict, now in its third year, has grown increasingly entrenched and intense, undermining the illusion of permanent peace and revealing the limitations of Europe's previous security strategies.

Future conflicts necessitate adaptable and mobile command centers, as highlighted by Mollie Ryan in a report from U.S. PEO C3T Public Affairs. Acknowledging the dynamic nature of modern warfare, U.S. Army leaders recognize the need for commanders to lead while on the move, ready to disperse at a moment's notice. This understanding underscores the acknowledgment that a standardized approach to command posts is no longer viable in this evolving landscape.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports that the revenues from sales of arms and military services by the 100 largest companies in the industry totalled $597 billion in 2022, 3.5 per cent less than in 2021 in real terms, even as demand rose sharply, according to new data released on December 4, 2023, by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

On 23 October, the European Defence Agency (EDA), published an in-depth analysis on the impact of long-term global, capability and technology trends in defence. “Enhancing EU Military Capabilities beyond 2040” identifies key future trends that will shape capability requirements and technology advances within the next 20 years and beyond. Developed in cooperation with experts from EU Member States, EDA has identified a series of long-term capability trends that are crucial to maintaining military advantage over potential adversaries. The analysis informs part of the EU’s Capability Development Priorities, which EDA will present to EU Ministers of Defence on 14 November 2023.

There are three things that the Chinese military has that the U.S. military, allies and partners in the region do not have, said Army Gen. Charles A. Flynn, commander of U.S. Army Pacific: "First, they have interior lines" he said. He noted that they're just 100 miles from Taiwan, and they have anti-access, area-denial means to keep opposing forces at a distance—such as missiles, aircraft and ships, as well as cyber and space capabilities. "The second thing they have is mass", meaning they have a very large military force. "The third thing they have is magazine depth", which would include large quantities of stand-off munitions. David Vergun, U.S. DoD, reports.

In response to the escalating Chinese threat, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen announced on August 21 that the nation's Defense expenditure is set to experience a moderate 3.5 percent year-on-year increment, culminating in a historic peak in 2024. As indicated on channelnewsasia.com, China's intensifying displays of military prowess through expansive air and naval drills conducted in the vicinity of the island have compelled this strategic response.

Brimstone, traditionally recognized as an air-to-surface missile, found its wings on platforms such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado GR4, and the MQ-9 Reaper drone. Renowned for its precision against rapidly moving targets, its alliance with the HMT600 6x6 truck heralds a new age for the missile, transforming it into a potent anti-tank missile.

As reported in opex360.com by Laurent Lagneau.A large array of vehicles including American M1A2 Abrams and South Korean K2PL Black Panther tanks, South Korean K9 Thunder and Polono-Korean AHS Krab self-propelled howitzers, South Korean K239 Chunmoo and American M142 HIMARS MLRS, have been procured. Complementing these are South Korean FA-50 Golden Eagle light fighters and American F-35A Lightning IIs. The acquisitions extend to include strategic observation satellites, the American AH-64E Guardian/Apache attack helicopters, as well as potent air defense systems and even submarines.

On July 29, 2023, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and their Australian counterparts, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Penny Wong, met in Brisbane, Australia for the 33rd Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).

The Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCP23), which was published on 18 July, takes learnings from the war in Ukraine – and wider threats to UK’s security – and sets out a plan to deliver a credible warfighting force that will keep the British Armed Forces on track to act as a global heavyweight both now and in the future. The British MoD elaborates.

Technology, people and processes must transform “sooner rather than later” to prepare for potential large-scale combat operations against near-peer adversaries. Such was the consensus among U.S. Army leaders as they briefed industry partners during the recent network Technical Exchange Meeting X, or TEM X, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they discussed the Army’s plans to transition to division as unit of action for the Army of 2030, pushing complex technical systems up to division to free up units to maneuver and control the battlespace. Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affairs, reports.

In a new report issued on April 24, 2023, SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) exposes that the total global military expenditures increased by 3.7 per cent in real terms in 2022, to reach a new high of $2240 billion. Military expenditure in Europe saw its steepest year-on-year increase in at least 30 years. The three largest spenders in 2022—the United States, China and Russia—accounted for 56 per cent of the world total.

No one can accuse the European Union of a lack of ambition in space. It has one of the largest space budgets in the world. Two of its best-known systems are Copernicus, the EU’s Earth Observation (EO) programme, and Galileo, the EU’s Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS). The development of a new communication constellation, called IRIS2 (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite), is also underway as a new space-based secure system that aims to provide enhanced communication capacities to governmental users and businesses. It will also ensure high-speed internet broadband to cope with connectivity dead zones.

In Europe, it has become clear that especially in the area of land systems, the dominance of German houses is undeniable. Despite the purely political choices of countries such as Poland, which have driven contracts towards the US and given the opportunity for South Korea's dynamic entry, Norway's recent choice to choose the Leopard 2A7 over the rival K2 Black Panther shows that it will not be disturbed especially "balance".