Sea, air, land and space updates
Posted By
Christopher Cowan, Thulasi Wigneswaran, Elisabeth Buchan and Alexander Vipond
on September 6, 2016 @ 12:30
Sea State
The South China Sea’s about to get more crowded, with the Russia–China naval exercise—fittingly named
Joint Sea 2016—scheduled for 11–19 September. Russia has sent a
task force of anti-submarine warfare destroyers, support ships and an amphibious landing ship to participate this year, in what’s seen as a signal of the burgeoning
Sino–Russian security relationship. Russia’s increasing naval activity around the world has led to a renewed interest in Russian naval affairs in the US, with the US Naval War College opening a
Russia Maritime Studies Institute earlier this week.
The US Navy continues to look at further diversifying the fuel supply for its fleet, with details emerging this week that the Navy had applied for a patent dubbed ‘
Bacteria-Based Gas Generator’. This generator would supposedly harness
methane and hydrogen gases emitted from microorganisms to power ships and unmanned naval systems. It’s not the first time the US Navy has looked to alternative energy sources to power its fleet. The ‘
Great Green Fleet’ is a Carrier Strike Group that generates power using alternative fuel supplies: nuclear power on the aircraft carrier and a diesel-biofuel blend for the escort ships.
Flight Path
An agreement between Aviation Industry Cooperation of China and Antonov will see
China and Ukraine restart production of a second An-225 freighter–the world’s largest transport aircraft. The first An-225, built to carry the Soviet Buran orbiter space shuttle, made its maiden flight in 1988. For those who thought size didn’t matter, the plane drew tens of thousands of spectators when it
landed in our very own backyard in May this year.
RAAF fighter-bombers might be able to attack a wider range of targets in Iraq and Syria under
changes proposed by Malcom Turnbull’s government. The new legislation, which is more aligned with the rules of engagement followed by US forces, allows targeting of militants and support facilities such as
ISIS supply lines. If passed, the legislative changes could
reduce the risk of personnel being prosecuted for war crimes. However, the RAAF insists the rigorous decision-making process to avoid civilian casualties will remain. See
here for footage of RAAF F/A-18A Hornets using precision guided weapons to target warehouses of ISIS.
In revolutionary aircraft design, this
article by PBS explains how plasma actuators could cut drag, fuel use and CO2 emissions by controlling air flows. The technology could increase flight safety, stability, efficiency and control. Check out this cool
video demonstrating how plasma flow control technology works.
Rapid Fire
Laser missile defence is nigh. The military potential of lasers was showcased as the 19th Annual Space and Missile Defense symposium, held in Huntsville, Alabama in August. Lockheed Martin leads the pack
on laser weapon systems development, using the symposium to promote its
10-kilowatt and
30-kilowatt prototypes. During tests run earlier this year the latter
disabled a static pickup truck. Whilst the initial construction costs of lasers far exceed that of guns, once built, lasers are far cheaper to operate than conventional weapons that require ammunition. With developers working to improve the cost and effectiveness of lasers,
tanks with lasers are set to become a staple of future military operations. Not since dolphins with ‘
laser beams on their freekin’ heads’ has there been a finer enhancement of military capability.
The UN met last Tuesday to discuss the
findings of independent investigators that implicate the Syrian government
in chemical weapons attacks in 2014–15. In light of the UN-mandated investigations, the Security Council will now consider whether to take
punitive action against Syria, including sanctions or referral to the International Criminal Court. Russia’s UN ambassador dismissed the evidence presented by UN investigators as inadequate. Meanwhile, recent chemical weapon
attacks by ISIS on Kurdish forces have raised concerns the group will step up attacks in the impending
battle for Mosul.
Finally, a history lesson for all military buffs out there.
Modern History Visualised present
‘Tanks 101’: Charting armour protection from 1920 to 1980.
Zero Gravity
Last week saw a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a US$200 million Amos-6 Satellite explode at Space Launch Center 40, Cape Canaveral in Florida. (Check it out
here). Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX
tweeted that the explosion originated from the upper stage oxygen tank. Spacecom, the Israeli company who owned the satellite, have asked for
US$50 million or a free spaceflight.
The United Arab Emirates has adopted a
national space policy. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced the policy, which seeks to establish the UAE as a major industry player by 2021. To do this the UAE will invest US$5.45 billion and hopes to build on their platform as the
largest regional space operator and owner of space insurance companies.
Teeing up a year-long stay in Hawaii probably sounds like a pretty good time for most people. But it was a different experience for a small team who have just finished 365 days living in a small dome inside the crater of the Mauna Loa Volcano. The group had gathered for the
Hawaii Space Exploration Analogue and Simulation, a NASA-funded investigation into living and working on Mars, which required the six brave souls to eat freeze-dried food and only venture outside in spacesuits. High time for Mai Tai’s, we reckon…
And if you’re up for an interesting discussion on the future of space law, check out
this effort from John J. Klein, a former countering WMD analyst and author of
Space Warfare.
Christopher Cowan, Elisabeth Buchan, Thulasi Wigneswaran and Alexander Vipond are research interns at ASPI.
Article printed from The Strategist: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au
URL to article: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/sea-air-land-space-updates-3/
[1] Joint Sea 2016: http://tass.com/defense/896555
[2] task force: http://thediplomat.com/2016/08/russia-to-send-anti-submarine-warfare-destroyers-to-south-china-sea/
[3] Sino–Russian security relationship: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-06/26/c_135466130.htm
[4] Russia Maritime Studies Institute: https://www.usnwc.edu/rmsi
[5] Bacteria-Based Gas Generator: http://www.vocativ.com/354562/navy-hopes-to-harness-the-power-of-bacteria-farts/
[6] methane and hydrogen gases emitted from microorganisms: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220160244706%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20160244706&RS=DN/20160244706
[7] Great Green Fleet: http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil/energy/great-green-fleet/
[8] China and Ukraine restart: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/an-225-revival-proposed-in-new-antonov-china-pact-428949/
[9] landed in our very own backyard: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-15/antonov-an-225-mriya:world
[10] changes proposed by Malcom Turnbull’s government: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australian-forces-to-expand-islamic-state-strikes-after-fears-military-members-could-be-prosecuted-20160831-gr605c.html
[11] ISIS supply lines: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/adf-given-right-to-hit-daesh-supply-lines/news-story/7d88276d2bf3408dfa91b1d91e35f695
[12] reduce the risk of personnel being prosecuted: http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/war-crime-risk-to-be-removed-by-law-change/news-story/4a01e699c22922f55c9917896aa2697c
[13] here: https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi43KfMrO_OAhVME5QKHcNxAJwQtwIIGzAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnational-affairs%2Fdefence%2Faustralian-raaf-bombers-attack-islamic-state-munitions-complex-near-raqqa-syria%2Fnews-story%2F14bd45a81712c01c008f4c538cab377d&usg=AFQjCNEDsWCmclJ8Du8K0jVW8cMs699CWw&sig2=AImq69tOF3VgI0PTEOZ65Q
[14] article by PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/space/plasma-air-control/
[15] video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVJjn1pt08g&v=mVJjn1pt08g
[16] Laser missile defence is nigh: http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a22450/laser-missile-defense-smds/
[17] on laser weapon systems development: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/what-we-do/aerospace-defense/directed-energy/laser-weapon-systems.html
[18] 10-kilowatt: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2013/may/0507-ss-adam.html
[19] 30-kilowatt: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/january/140128-mst-lockheed-martin-demonstrates-weapons-grade-high-power-fiber-laser.html
[20] disabled a static pickup truck: http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a14430/lockheed-martin-laser/
[21] tanks with lasers: https://youtu.be/Ug81gOdYLNU
[22] laser beams on their freekin’ heads: https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/dangerroom/files/DESM-ProgramOri.pdf
[23] findings of independent investigators: https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/08/30/un-security-council-ensure-justice-syria-atrocities
[24] in chemical weapons attacks in 2014–15: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=54795#.V8kVSVt9670
[25] punitive action against Syria: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/syria-war-calls-sanctions-chemical-weapons-160831045020057.html
[26] attacks by ISIS on Kurdish forces: http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/22/isis-is-using-chemical-weapons-against-the-kurds-why-wont-the-u-s-help/?wp_login_redirect=0
[27] battle for Mosul: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/isil-chemical-attacks-expected-mosul-battle-nears-160830083658352.html
[28] ‘Tanks 101’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0IbZGfTgUM
[29] here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BgJEXQkjNQ
[30] tweeted: https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
[31] US$50 million or a free spaceflight: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-spacex-blast-spacecom-idUSKCN11A0YV?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social
[32] national space policy: http://www.thenational.ae/uae/science/national-space-policy-adopted-by-uae-cabinet
[33] largest regional space operator and owner of space insurance companies: http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/cabinet-approves-national-space-policy-1.1890812
[34] Hawaii Space Exploration Analogue and Simulation: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-02/human-trials-are-the-key-to-how-we-could-survive-on-mars/7804888
[35] this effort: http://warontherocks.com/2016/08/space-warfare-deterrence-dissuasion-and-the-law-of-armed-conflict/