If Rex Tillerson is not to become a wartime secretary of state like Colin Powell or Dean Rusk, he is going to have to speak to the Iranians, not with defiant declarations, but in a diplomatic dialogue.
Tillerson, of course, is on record as saying the Chinese should be blocked from visiting the half-dozen fortified islets they have built on rocks and reefs in the South China Sea.
A prediction: The Chinese will not be departing from their islands, and the Iranians will defy the U.S. threat against testing their missiles.There is an awful lot already on the foreign policy plate of the new president after only two weeks, as pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine are firing artillery again, and North Korea’s nuclear missile threat, which, unlike Iran’s, is real, has yet to be addressed.
High among the reasons that many supported Trump was his understanding that George W. Bush blundered horribly in launching an unprovoked and unnecessary war on Iraq.
Along with the 15-year war in Afghanistan and our wars in Libya, Syria and Yemen, our 21st-century U.S. Mideast wars have cost us trillions of dollars and thousands of dead. And they have produced a harvest of hatred of America that was exploited by al-Qaida and ISIS to recruit jihadists to murder and massacre Westerners.
Osama’s bin Laden’s greatest achievement was not to bring down the twin towers and kill 3,000 Americans, but to goad America into plunging headlong into the Middle East, a reckless and ruinous adventure that ended her post-Cold War global primacy.
Unlike the other candidates, Trump seemed to recognize this.
It was thought he would disengage us from these wars, not rattle a saber at an Iran that is three times the size of Iraq and has as its primary weapons supplier and partner Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
When Barack Obama drew his red line against Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons in Syria’s civil war, and Assad appeared to cross it, Obama discovered that his countrymen wanted no part of the war that his military action might bring on.
President Obama backed down — in humiliation.
Neither the Ayatollah Khamenei nor Trump appears to be in a mood to back away, especially now that the president has made the threat public.
The US president tweeted that “Iran is playing with fire,” warning Tehran that he won’t be as “kind” as his predecessor, Barack Obama.
A landmark deal, brokered during Obama’s time in office, stated that Iran would dramatically curb its nuclear potential, but not completely, cutting the number of its centrifuges by two-thirds.
The deal also obliges Tehran to cap its uranium enrichment program below the level necessary for bomb-grade material, and involves Tehran agreeing to reduce its enriched uranium stockpile from around 10,000kg to 300kg for 15 years. In exchange, long-standing international sanctions against Tehran were lifted.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also took to social media to respond to Trump’s allegations, saying that Iran was “unmoved” by US threats and “will never initiate war.”
'groundskimmer' cargo plane to carry heavy loads that will fly just 10 FEET above the ground and sea
B-52 set for 'Star Wars' weapons upgrade: Veteran bomber could get laser pods to shoot incoming missiles out of the sky
- The US Air Force is developing defensive laser weapons for B-52 bomber
- The lasers could defend the jet by incinerating air-to-air or air-to-ground missiles
- System could also jam the navigation system of approaching weapons
It is one of the Air Force's longest serving bombers, having been in service since 1952.
Yet the B-52 bomber could soon get a radical overhaul, making it one of America's first military planes to have a laser weapon system.
Air Force bosses are experimenting with fitting external laser pods to the giant plane, allowing it to blast incoming missiles out of the sky or jam their navigation systems.
The Boeing-manufactured bomber (pictured) has been in use since 1952 and is expected to remain operating until 2040, when it'll be replaced by the Northrop Grumman's B-21. Air Force bosses are experimenting with fitting external laser pods to the giant plane, allowing it to blast incoming missiles out of the sky or jam their navigation systems.
Air Force Chief Scientist Greg Zacharias told Scout Warrior: 'You can take out the target if you put the laser on the attacking weapon for a long enough period of time.'
The researchers say the older, larger plane cold be perfect for laser weapons, and attaching an external pod would not affect its capabilities.
Zacharias said the laser system would not be expected to work on stealthy aircraft such as F-15's or F-35's.
Lasers use extreme heat and light to burn targets without creating a large explosion.
They work at very high speeds so they have an almost instant ability to destroy rapid targets and defend against enemies.
Zacharias also said that if for some reason a pilot doesn't want to destroy an incoming missile but throw it off course, lasers could jam them.
Lasers use extreme heat and light to burn targets without creating a large explosion. They work at very high speeds so they have an almost instant ability to destroy rapid targets and defend against enemies. The lasers could even be synchronized with telescopes to make them more precise for tracking and destroying attackers
The lasers can be synchronized with telescopes to make them more precise for tracking and destroying attackers.
Aircraft lasers for fighter jets such as the B-52 could eventually be applied to a wide range of uses such as air-to-air combat, air support, counter-drone, counter-boat and ground attacks.
The Air Force Research Laboratory has said that they aim to have a plan in place for a laser weapon program by 2023.
Aircraft lasers for fighter jets such as the B-52 could eventually be applied to a wide range of uses such as air-to-air combat, air support, counter-drone, counter-boat and ground attacks. The Air Force Research Laboratory has said that they aim to have a plan in place for a laser weapon program by 2023
Ground level testing for a weapon called the High Energy Laser has been taking place for the last few years at White Sand Missile Range in New Mexico, with the first airborne tests set to take place by 2021.
Air Force leaders told Scout Warrior that they plan to also integrate the lasers in large platforms such as C-17s and C-130s, and eventually on smaller jets such as the F-15.
But these laser weapons may not stick solely to aircraft platforms.
The US Navy has plans to incorporate these lasers on US naval ships to help defend ships from drones and missiles.
The lasers could also play a crucial role in defending against ballistic missiles.
According to Air Force experts, one of the clearest advantages of this laser technology is that instead of carrying a limited number of missiles on an aircraft, an energy based weapon such as a laser could fire thousand of shots using one gallon of jet fuel.
If the US Navy can turn science fiction into reality by developing a real-life laser gun (pictured), they can use this sea skimmer as an ultrafast platform to engage enemy ships, planes, missiles and blow up targets in an instant. Although they won’t be using it to fight space aliens any time soon, but super lasers deployed around 2018 like the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) has been successfully tested at sea, proving that it is capable of blowing up moving targets on aerial drones.
- Huge craft capable of carrying 500 tonnes of cargo in a single trip
- Uses an effect known as ground effect to trap a air underneath its giant wing
Russian researchers have revealed a radical new cargo plane that could radically change the way goods are shipped around the globe.
The new 'groundskimmer' is a huge craft capable of carrying 500 tonnes of cargo in a single trip.
To do this, is uses an effect known as ground effect to trap a cushion of air underneath its giant wing.
- DARPA awarded 8 contracts to a group of defense contractors and research institutes to develop technology
- The Ground X-Vehicle Technology program (GXV-T) will develop an array of technology in four areas for the combat machines: radically enhanced mobility, survivability through agility, crew augmentation and signature managementThe U.S. Army has been plagued with costly acquisition failures in recent decades, chief amongst them the Future Combat System (FCS) program. This $200 billion program initiated in 2000, the largest U.S. military acquisition program ever attempted, failed to produce results on a multitude of levels and was abandoned by 2009.The Armored Ground Vehicle (AGV) and Armored Gun System (AGS) programs also wasted tens of billions of dollars before being cancelled without achieving their intended goals. These programs were chiefly defeated by an overly bureaucratic Army acquisition system, and the fact that the Army had asked for far too much from the defense industry, demanding many new and unproven technological advancements.The FCS was the most expensive, most ambitious, and most transformative modernization program ever undertaken by the U.S. Army. It is often hypothesized that the U.S. experience in the first Gulf War of 1991 and in the NATO Kosovo intervention of 1999, led to the desire for a more rapidly deployable U.S. Army expeditionary force.FCS envisioned a highly mobile new Army, light enough to be air-deployable, yet lethal enough to survive on the modern battlefield. This survivability would be provided through the leveraging of new technologies, as well as superior command and control capabilities that would tie together all the various armed forces in a seamless information sharing and communications network.The Army set very high deployment goals as part of FCS, which would prove to be unattainable. The U.S. Army would strive to attain the ability to deploy a combat brigade anywhere in the world within 96 hours, a full division within 120 hours, and no less than five divisions in 30 days. Often referred to as “18+1+1”, FCS envisioned 20 different components integrated together to form the new warfighting system. Eighteen new manned and unmanned vehicles were planned, one computer network integrating all components, communications, information and services, and most importantly, the fighting soldier.Currently, the U.S. Army relies overwhelmingly on armored vehicle systems that were developed in the 1970s. These systems proved their worth over the last two decades. These “legacy” systems have been repeatedly improved since their introduction. These improvements have consisted of more powerful and efficient engines and drivetrain, modernized communications equipment, targeting and sensory upgrades, improved armor and improved weapons systemsThe U.S. Army currently fields the M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Package) MBTs which are a significant improvement over older models. The latest improvement on the design is the SEPv.3 (version 3). The SEPv.3 achieves notable improvements in its fire control system, ballistics computer and thermal imaging sights.
The SEPv.3 has been strengthened against IED attacks, and has additional layers of graphite coated depleted uranium added to its composite armor. It is considered one of the best protected MBTs in the world, despite the fact that it currently lacks an Active Protection System (APS). It has been proposed that the M1A2 SEPv.3 can be retrofitted with the Israeli Trophy APS, or the Quick Kill APS system being developed by Raytheon. - DARPA says the US Army and Marine Corps have expressed interest in future GXV-T capabilities
Armored tanks are built to protect, but they weren't designed to manuvere through rough terrain or avoid incoming threats.New concept vehicles have dropped the extra thick steel padding, allowing future machines to travel over 95 percent of available terrain and with more speed.Created by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), the Ground X-Vehicle Technology program is working to produce 'nimble, fast and smart' combat trucks that are able to shield themselves from enemies and deflect targeted missiles.
A new concept design drops the extra thick steel padding from the machines, allowing the future fighting vehicles to travel over 95 percent of available terrain and with more speed. Created by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), the Ground X-Vehicle Technology program is working to produce 'nimble, fast, smart' combat trucks that can shield itself and deflect missiles'DARPA's performers for GXV-T are helping defy the 'more armor equals better protection' axiom that has constrained armored ground vehicle design for the past 100 years,' said Major Christopher Orlowski, DARPA program manager.DARPA awarded a total of eight contracts to a group of defense contractors and research institutes.Corporate units include Raytheon, Honeywell International, Ledios, QuinetiQ and Pratt & Miller.Also in the mix are Carnegie Mellon University, the Southwest Researcher Institute and SRI International.The Ground X-Vehicle Technology program (GXV-T) will develop an array of technology in four areas for the combat machines: radically enhanced mobility, survivability through agility, crew augmentation and signature management.The program is looking at new capabilities that will allow the machines to travel up steep slopes and travel around uneven elevations.For instance, the group has interest in revolutionary wheel/track and suspension technology that would give vehicles access to all type of terrain and move faster on- and off-road.The contract also includes ways to improve situational and threat detection, as well as technology that provides a 360-view from a control base-- technology used in commercial airline cockpits.These cutting-edge machines are set to be autonomous, so they will need technology that can recognize incoming threats on their own.And the program is interested in technology that includes vertical and horizontal movement of armor that can react in real-time to incoming threats, such as missiles.
'DARPA's performers for GXV-T are helping defy the 'more armor equals better protection' axiom that has constrained armored ground vehicle design for the past 100 years, and are paving the way toward innovative, disruptive vehicles for the 21st Century and beyond,' said Major Christopher Orlowski, DARPA program manager
DARPA awarded a total of eight contracts to a group of defense contractors and research institutes. Corporate units include Raytheon, Honeywell International, Ledios, QuinetiQ and Pratt & Miller. Also in the mix are Carnegie Mellon University, the Southwest Researcher Institute and SRI International. Without the heavy steel shells, these vehicles will be much lighter and easier to transportGXV-T plans to explore ways to provide semi-autonomous driver assistance and the augmentation of key functions.And although the vehicle will be able to see for miles, it will be designed with infrared, acoustic and electromagnetic stealth capabilities to reduce detectable signatures.'We're exploring a variety of potentially groundbreaking technologies, all of which are designed to improve vehicle mobility, vehicle survivability and crew safety and performance without piling on armor,' said Major Orlowski.DARPA says the US Army and Marine Corps have expressed interest in future GXV-T capabilities.Autonomous machines are the future of the military, as there have been many discussions and plans surrounding autonomous weapons.And although these futuristic devices would ease the burden for human soldiers, it also poses a threat to our safety and security, experts have warned.At a recent meeting, researchers said they were concerned these war machines could engage in unethical behavior and become a playground for hackers.Unlike today's drones, which are entirely controlled by humans, autonomous weapons in the future could potentially select and engage targets on their own.These concerns, among others, were highlighted at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switerland in January.'It was one of the concerns that we itemized last year,' Toby Walsh, professor of artificial intelligence (AI) at the school of computer science and engineering at the University of New South Wales, told FoxNews.com.'Most of us believe that we don't have the ability to build ethical robots.'
The contract will also include ways to improve situational and threat detection, as well as technology that provides a 360-view from a control base-- technology used in commercial airline cockpits. These cutting-edge machines are set to be autonomous, so they will need technology that can recognize incoming threats on their own
The program is looking at new capabilities that will allow the machines to travel up steep slopes and travel around uneven elevations. For instance, the group has interest in revolutionary wheel/track and suspension technology that would give vehicles access to all type of terrain and move faster on- and off-road'What is especially worrying is that the various militaries around the world will be fielding robots in just a few years, and we don't think anyone will be building ethical robots.'Others say we are just 'jumping the gun' altogether when talking about an AI revolt.'For the most part weapons like this don't exist today,' Paul Scharre, senior fellow and director of the Ethical Autonomy Project at the Center for a New American Security, told FoxNews.com.'Most systems are still fire and forget and even the advanced systems are designed not to choose a target, but to correct to hit the target.'Scharre, who gave a press note at the World Economic Forum, also mentioned that even though autonomous weapons are not forbidden in war, it will be a challenge to create ones that comply with accepted rules of engagement.'Even if they could operate lawfully, however, autonomous weapons raise serious moral and ethical challenges. Is it right to give a machine the power over life and death?', he said.'And finally, even if autonomous weapons would be legal and moral, they may be extremely dangerous.'
The Ground X-Vehicle Technology program (GXV-T) will develop an array of technology in four areas for the combat machines: radically enhanced mobility, survivability through agility, crew augmentation and signature management. The program is looking at new capabilities that will allow the machines to travel up steep slopes and travel around uneven elevations
GXV-T also plans to explore ways to provide semi-autonomous driver assistance and the augmentation of key functions. And although the vehicle will be able to see for miles, it will be designed with infrared, acoustic and electromagnetic stealth capabilities to reduce detectable signatures'The consequences of a malfunction or enemy hacking of an autonomous weapon could be severe.'Autonomous weapons are not being used by any nation at the moment, but some have deployed unmanned vehicles in combat zones.If the security systems safeguarding the autonomous technology can be overridden by hackers, it could cause havoc on the battlefield.'There have been efforts to harden the data link's encryption to make the connection with the operator more secure,' said Huw Williams, editor of IHS Jane's International Defence Review.'It remains a concern, no encryption is perfect and there is still the danger that a data link can be broken.'Hijacking risks will increase as the system becomes more automated, regardless if the platform is still controlled by a human operator.
'We're exploring a variety of potentially groundbreaking technologies, all of which are designed to improve vehicle mobility, vehicle survivability and crew safety and performance without piling on armor,' said Major Orlowski. DARPA said the US Army and Marine Corps have expressed interest in future GXV-T capabilities- The amphivious GEV craft can be used as a mobile platform for artillery and missles launchers dropping the need for heavy guns on wheels. The goal here is to deploy a division of fighting men anywhere in the world in less than 30 hrs. Imagine these GEV as flying LST that can deploy inland and move anywhere as fast 300 mph avoiding the enemy.
The new 'groundskimmer' is a huge craft capable of carrying 500 tonnes of cargo in a single trip. To do this, is uses an effect known as ground effect to trap a cushion of air underneath its giant wing. Pictured, wind tunnel tests of the strange design
'The layout combines functions of a wing with those of a body to take optimal advantage of the aircraft interior and to enhance the aerodynamic efficiency,' said Russia's Central AeroHydrodynamic Institute, which is developing the project.
'The aircraft is intended for intercontinental transportation of large amounts of cargo — up to 500 tonnes, including transportation in approved containers.'
HOW IT WORKS
The strange craft is known as a Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV).
It uses short, wide wings to trap a layer of air between the undersurface of the aircraft and the ground.
This creates vortices and downdraughts to generate more lift and less drag at very low altitudes - letting a plane carry heavy loads with far less fuel.
The radical design combines the wing and the fuselage of the aircraft, yet only reaches an altitude of between three and 12 m (10 and 40 ft) over water and land, while still being able to use existing runways.
It would be loaded with containers in compartments inside a wing and loaded via flap doors of fore-sections (leading edges) in the aircraft’s center, the scientists say.
As part of the concept research, a model has already created and tested by the Institute’s specialists in a subsonic wind tunnel.
The strange craft is known as a Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV).
The unique design would be loaded with containers in compartments inside a wing and loaded via flap doors of fore-sections (leading edges) in the aircraft’s center, the scientists say
It uses short, wide wings to trap a layer of air between the undersurface of the aircraft and the ground.
This creates vortices and downdraughts to generate more lift and less drag at very low altitudes - letting a plane carry heavy loads with far less fuel.
'The largest part of this aircraft’s flight takes place at an altitude of 3-12 m above water, ice or ground: these surfaces produce a screening effect which improves the lift/drag ratio considerably, leading to a decrease in fuel consumption and a significant increase in flight range,' the researchers say.
The aircraft will use liquefied natural gas, which has a higher energy efficiency and lower noxious emissions compared to aviation kerosene.
LASER WEAPONS
The US Navy has turned science fiction into reality by developing a real-life laser gun that can blow up targets in an instant.
Although they won’t be using it to fight space aliens any time soon, the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) has been successfully tested at sea, proving that it is capable of blowing up moving targets on aerial drones and small boats.
The weapon, which has been installed on board the USS Ponce, consists of six commercial welding lasers joined together, and can deliver 30 million times as much power as a hand-held laser pointer.
It is operated using an Xbox-style controller and can be used to simply disable a target’s sensors and instruments, or destroy it completely.
As well as improved accuracy, another big advantage of LaWS is its cost, as the price of firing the laser is just 59 cents (39 pence) per shot, compared to the $2 million (£1.3 million) needed for a traditional missile.
The US Navy has turned science fiction into reality by developing a real-life laser gun (pictured) that can blow up targets in an instant. Although they won’t be using it to fight space aliens any time soon, the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) has been successfully tested at sea, proving that it is capable of blowing up moving targets on aerial drones and small boats
Right now, there is an immediate use of these crafts to patrol the Black Sea. The treaty can be preserved with this rapid deployment and not to depend on slow capital ships for defense of the Black Sea, if not only to reduce the presence of the 6th Fleet.
Right now, there is an immediate use of these crafts to patrol the Black Sea. The treaty can be preserved with this rapid deployment and not to depend on slow capital ships for defense of the Black Sea, if not only to reduce the presence of the 6th Fleet.
The length of time that US ships patrol the Black Sea could be extended from the current operating level of about four months, Navy staff director Vice Adm. James Foggo told everybody at the Defense Forum in Washington, DC. The US is thus sending a message to Europe that it could augment its naval presence in the Black Sea. The negative impact of this decision is hard to miss as most Europeans believe that America has done a poor job as a world leader since the 1991 Soviet breakup.
In keeping with the 1936 Montreux Convention, US naval ships cannot stay in the Black Sea more than 21 days, but it looks like the Pentagon could disregard these limitations. NATO, meanwhile, is equally ready to contribute to this dangerous escalation. During their October 26-27 meeting in Brussels, the defense ministers of the 28 member —states disused measures to boost the alliance’s presence in the Black Sea region. US Sixth Fleet The US Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples is operationally organized into six task groups consisting of carrier ships, amphibious forces, landing forces, logistics forces and special operations units that are present in the Mediterranean for a period of 6 to 8 months.
The Sixth Fleet has at its heart a task force of one or two aircraft carriers, two missile cruisers, sixteen frigates and destroyers in addition to submarines, landing ships, Marine units and bases in Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Turkey and other European countries. The Fleet’s area of responsibility includes the Mediterranean and Black Seas, part of the Atlantic Ocean and the coast of Africa (Gulf of Guinea). The Sixth Fleet’s command and control ship, the USS Mount Whitney, bristles with the most sophisticated communications and surveillance equipment ensuring effective command of the Fleet’s Air Force and Marine units.
US naval ships with the Aegis integrated naval weapons system on board are part of the US missile defense system and can weaken the impact of Russia’s retaliatory missile strike. In addition, there is a number of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles regularly patrolling waters off Russia’s Crimean peninsula.
Both the United States and NATO are seeking to expand their presence in the Black Sea following the 2014 reunification of Crimea with the Russian Federation, a move that NATO sees as a violation of international law. Moscow maintains the legitimacy of the 2014 Crimea’s popular referendum to rejoin Russia.
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