The five-domains update
Posted By
Jessica Clarence, Christopher Dixon, Amelia Meurant-Tompkinson and Melissa Liberatore
on April 24, 2018 @ 12:48
Sea state
Albayrak Savunma, a Turkish drone manufacturer, says it has developed a
‘mobile naval mine’ capable of destroying any ship. The Wattozz sea mine features two cameras mounted in the eye sockets of its titanium and aluminium ‘stingray’ body. The mine is designed for both surveillance and assault missions. A creative CGI video of the Wattozz in action can be viewed
here.
It has been a big week for new ships. The US Coast Guard has commissioned its 27th Sentinel-class cutter, the
USCGC Richard Snyder (WPC-1127), named after a World War II hero. And when the Coast Guard has a new ship, the Navy must have one too. It christened its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship the
USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) in Wisconsin. It’s the fourth ship to bear the name. The Royal Navy also commissioned the
HMS Forth (P222). It’s the first of five planned offshore patrol vessels.
French frigate FS
La Fayette (F 710) apprehended over
400 kilograms of heroin from a dhow in the Indian Ocean. The
La Fayette is deployed as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, a multinational naval force focused on intercepting drug shipments in the Horn of Africa area. Earlier this month the French destroyer FS
Jean de Vienne intercepted
530 kilograms of heroin while also assigned to CTF150.
Flight path
The UK Defence Secretary ‘
cut the first turf’ of the UK’s new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) facility. The site will house nine P-8A Poseidons are
submarine hunters which are
planned to become operational just as the site is completed in 2020. Last year the
NATO chief warned of Russia’s increasing submarine activity. Recent reports say that Russian submarines
may have chased a British nuclear submarine off Syria’s coast.
Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, a subsidiary of Chinese state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation, announced that it had sold
over 50 Y-12 series aircraft to other countries as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The Y-12 is mainly used for passenger and cargo transportation and surveillance. During the National People’s Congress in March, Zhu Huarong, an executive of China South Industries,
hinted at a plan to build a US-style military–industrial complex and export arms to Belt and Road countries.
The US Air Force is set to
reorganise its equipment procurement procedures following last week’s Space Symposium. ‘
Fast prototyping’ is the name of the procurement game, with the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center playing a central role in expediting the USAF’s development and testing of new missile and data processing technology.
Rapid fire
Australian soldiers are
no longer permitted to wear symbols of death. Chief of Army Lieutenant General Angus Campbell issued an edict that such ‘violent’, ‘murderous’ and ‘vigilante’ symbolism eroded the Army ethos and undermined its most serious responsibility: the legitimate and discriminate taking of life. In contrast, the
Australian reports that the symbols—dubbed ‘morale patches’—
have a long history in the armed forces. The pervasiveness of such symbolism is apparent in Campbell’s recent retweet to Duntroon troops that
included a now-banned Spartans helmet patch.
Saudi Arabia is holding talks with the US
about deploying Saudi troops to Syria as part of an Arab coalition to replace US forces.
Concerns abound about the strategy’s operational feasibility because Saudi Arabia remains bogged down in Yemen and is locked in a dispute with Qatar. But Qatari armed forces
participated in the Gulf Shield 1 military exercise in Saudi Arabia last week, hinting at a thaw in relations.
According to the
Guardian, the more likely option for Saudi Arabia is
to fund an army of private contractors and to recruit soldiers from elsewhere, such as Sudan. Though contentious, this wouldn’t be the first time that private contractors are used.
US contractors and
Russian private military corporations are already deployed on a large scale in Iraq and Syria. Sudan also
participated in Gulf Shield 1, suggesting deepening military cooperation between Khartoum and Riyadh. However, using contractors ‘
could bring major powers to the brink of direct conflict’.
Zero gravity
Happy
Space Day of China. Today China celebrates the 46th anniversary of its first man-made satellite, sent into space in 1970. In the lead up to this official celebration, a spokesperson for the China National Space Authority commented that China will
‘continue to strengthen its international cooperation in peaceful utilisation of outer space’. However, that cooperation may not be with the US. At the 34th US Space Symposium, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson outlined
America’s new space training courses, saying it will invite US allies Australia, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, France, Germany and Japan to participate.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the 1969
Apollo 11 moon landing—an all-male mission—it’s timely to reflect on how many women have flown into space. According to NASA statistics,
59 women have flown as ‘cosmonauts, astronauts, payload specialists and foreign nationals’. Germany is yet to send a women into space. It
intends to send its first female astronaut to the International Space Stationin 2020. Netflix released a new documentary that tells
the story of the 13 US female pilots who underwent the same training as the ‘Mercury Seven’ male astronauts but weren’t permitted to join any missions.
Although rocket launches tend to capture the headlines, an American analytics company argues that we should be focusing our attention on
space technology patents. In a report by
Govini, the number of patents related to space technologies gives a good indication of the level of development of a country’s space program. The report states that the number of Chinese patents has increased by
approximately 13% over the past five years.
Wired watchtower
Israel has claimed second place in the global number of cybersecurity deals,
according to a report by CB Insights. The US accounted for 69% of the market, followed by Israel’s 7% share. The number of deals and investments in cybersecurity increased in 2017. This isn’t surprising given the increased global awareness of cyberattacks following the
WannaCry ransomware and
NonPetya ransomware attacks last year.
China
called on the UN Security Council to ban ‘lethal autonomous weapon systems’ (LAWS). While this was a surprising move for a country ahead of the curve in
military applications of artificial intelligence, the ban has
limited applicability—an earlier position paper narrowly defined LAWS, excluding systems that in any way involves a human when executing tasks or in terminating the device,
leaving untouched huge segments of the sector.
The Tow Center for Digital Journalism
delves deeply into misinformation and political polarisation propagated on WeChat. WeChat is widely used by first-generation Chinese immigrants. TOW finds that fake news on WeChat influenced rates of conservativism among Chinese Americans using the platform. In contrast to analyses that fake news has ‘
wide reach but little impact’, TOW highlights WeChat’s effectiveness in the
cultivation of loyal target audiences, which come to closely resemble echo chambers.
Jessica Clarence, Christopher Dixon, Amelia Meurant-Tompkinson and Melissa Liberatore are research interns at ASPI. Image courtesy Simonwoolley via Wikimedia Commons.
Article printed from The Strategist: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au
URL to article: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/five-domains-update-19/
[1] ‘mobile naval mine: https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2018/04/16/this-remote-controlled-naval-mine-attaches-to-ships-explodes-on-command/
[2] here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTDcb2nyzJk
[3] USCGC Richard Snyder (WPC-1127): http://seawaves.com/2018/04/17/coast-guard-to-commission-new-cutter-in-atlantic-beach-nc/
[4] USS Indianapolis (LCS 17): http://seawaves.com/2018/04/13/navy-to-christen-littoral-combat-ship-indianapolis/
[5] 400 kilograms of heroin: http://seawaves.com/2018/04/16/18473/
[6] 530 kilograms of heroin: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/five-domains-update-16/
[7] cut the first turf’: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-secretary-launches-132m-scots-sub-hunting-aircraft-home
[8] submarine hunters: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/a-look-at-the-p-8-poseidon-britains-new-submarine-hunter/
[9] planned to become operational: https://www.naval-technology.com/news/uk-defence-secretary-launches-poseidon-aircraft-facility/
[10] NATO chief warned: https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-submarine-activity-highest-since-cold-war-warns-nato-chief/
[11] may have chased a British nuclear submarine: http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/did-russias-diesel-submarines-really-hunt-down-british-25464
[12] over 50 Y-12 series aircraft to other countries: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-04/21/c_137126860.htm
[13] hinted at a plan: https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/China-up-close/Next-phase-of-Belt-and-Road-Xi-s-own-military-industrial-complex
[14] reorganise its equipment procurement procedures: https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/us-air-force-enhances-relationship-space-training-allies/
[15] Fast prototyping’ is the name of the procurement game: http://spacenews.com/a-test-for-air-force-space-technology-buyers-fast-prototyping/
[16] no longer permitted to wear symbols of death: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-19/army-bans-troops-from-wearing-skulls-death-symbols/9673242
[17] have a long history: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/afghanistan-vet-justin-huggett-flies-flag-for-death-symbols-in-defiance-of-defence-chiefs-ban/news-story/5d550485d325359c0cdc91dd88b0f0d1
[18] included a now-banned Spartans helmet patch: https://twitter.com/ChiefAusArmy/status/985417537784430593
[19] about deploying Saudi troops to Syria: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/saudi-talks-troop-deployment-syria-180417193232765.html
[20] Concerns abound about the strategy’s operational feasibility: https://www.vox.com/2018/4/17/17247208/syria-trump-assad-war-arab-force
[21] participated in the Gulf Shield 1 military exercise: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180419-qatar-joins-military-exercise-in-saudi-arabia/
[22] to fund an army of private contractors: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/18/us-syria-arab-force-replace-american-troops-saudi-arabia-egypt-uae
[23] US contractors: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/national-security-wrap-110/
[24] Russian private military corporations: http://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/wireStory/thousands-russian-private-contractors-fighting-syria-51734245
[25] participated in Gulf Shield 1: http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article65244
[26] could bring major powers to the brink of direct conflict: http://theconversation.com/by-fighting-wars-with-private-armed-forces-russia-risks-conflict-between-major-powers-94373
[27] Space Day of China: http://www.iafastro.org/evenements/april-24-space-day-of-china/
[28] ‘continue to strengthen its international cooperation in peaceful utilisation of outer space’: http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_strengthens_international_space_cooperation_999.html
[29] America’s new space training courses: https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/space-symposium/2018/04/18/air-force-looks-to-ramp-up-space-training-info-sharing-with-international-partners/
[30] Apollo 11 moon landing: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html
[31] 59 women have flown as ‘cosmonauts, astronauts, payload specialists and foreign nationals: https://history.nasa.gov/women.html
[32] intends to send its first female astronaut: http://www.dw.com/en/one-of-these-two-women-could-be-germanys-first-female-astronaut/a-38497247
[33] the story of the 13 US female pilots: https://www.space.com/40369-netflix-mercury-13-doc-women-spaceflight.html
[34] space technology patents: http://www.govini.com/research-form/?post_title=SPACE+PLATFORMS+%26%23038%3B+HYPERSONIC+TECHNOLOGIES+TAXONOMY&post_link_redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.govini.com%2Fresearch-item%2Fspace-platforms-hypersonic-technologies-taxonomy%2F&post_id=4240
[35] Govini: http://www.govini.com/
[36] approximately 13% over the past five years: http://spacenews.com/one-way-to-measure-chinas-rise-as-a-space-power-patent-applications/
[37] according to a report by CB Insights: https://www.cbinsights.com/research/report/cyber-defenders-2018/
[38] WannaCry ransomware: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-northkorea/u-s-blames-north-korea-for-wannacry-cyber-attack-idUSKBN1ED00Q
[39] NonPetya ransomware attacks: http://www.afr.com/news/special-reports/cyber-threat/afrdec13srcapabilitiescyber-threat-special-report---20171213-h0452r
[40] called on the UN Security Council: http://www.janes.com/article/79311/china-s-shock-call-for-ban-on-lethal-autonomous-weapon-systems
[41] military applications of artificial intelligence: https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/battlefield-singularity-artificial-intelligence-military-revolution-and-chinas-future-military-power
[42] limited applicability: https://www.stopkillerrobots.org/2018/04/convergence/
[43] leaving untouched huge segments of the sector: https://www.lawfareblog.com/chinas-strategic-ambiguity-and-shifting-approach-lethal-autonomous-weapons-systems
[44] delves deeply into misinformation and political polarisation propagated on WeChat: https://www.cjr.org/tow_center_reports/wechatting-american-politics-misinformation-polarization-and-immigrant-chinese-media.php
[45] wide reach but little impact: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/health/fake-news-conservative-liberal.html?mtrref=www.google.com.au
[46] cultivation of loyal target audiences: https://supchina.com/2018/03/27/how-self-media-in-china-has-become-a-hub-for-misinformation/