Captain Smollet's Column
The end of 2016 is marked by a number of deals regarding military technical cooperation signed by the US and Persian Gulf countries. Still, potentially one of the most interesting and directly affecting Russia’s interests – regarding the purchase of position-radar station – could be lost against the background of multibillion aircraft, armored vehicles and other arms-related deals.
ShortStorting—adopted the Long Term Defense Plan for the Norwegian Armed Forces. The Plan represents a historic increase in defence spending. Among major results, the Government has ordered new American antisubmarine aircraft.
ShortIt seems that the long-term dream of Polish aviators is coming true—as the U.S. Department of State has notified Congress about the admissibility of JASSM-ER long-range cruise missiles to be sold to Poland.
ShortThe issue of Canada purchasing American fighters F-35 has been open for discussion for several years, used by the Liberal government to almost accuse the Conservatives of corruption on a massive scale. One of J. Trudeau’s pre-election promises was an urgent and complete refusal to purchase the «Lighting II». And one year after winning the elections, the new government made a…
ShortPoland is on the fast-track in creating an analogue to Russia’s National Guard—the Territorial Defense Force. Expecting the law to be formally approved, Poland’s Minister of Defense held a press-conference elucidating some of the details.The work is already virtually done—a nucleus of three brigades, 3,000-3,500 men strong, will be ready by the end of the year and located in the…
ShortThese days, the Suez crisis turns 60. In the history of the Israel—Egypt confrontation, it was overshadowed by the larger wars of 1967 and 1973, but it holds a very special place in the history of the Cold war. Operation Musketeer was the UK and France’s last attempt at conducting an independent superpower policy.
ShortThe Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence that kicked off on Wednesday made a number of specific announcements regarding plans to strengthen the organization’s presence on the borders with Russia in 2017. The decision to place four battalions of the “old” member states in Poland and the Baltic States on a rotational basis was announced back in June of this year. And now NATO…
ShortThe US Air Force has secretly transferred F-16 multirole fighters and KC-135 military aerial refueling aircraft to Djibouti, a small East African state on the Gulf of Aden coast. This was done back in July, but is only now being admitted.
ShortThe long-awaited signing of the bumper contract on the delivery of French Rafale fighter aircraft to India took place in late September, 2016. However, the contract will not cover all the needs of the Indian Air Force. As a result, a new race for what could be the biggest military aviation contract for some years to come, most likely between the United States and… Sweden is slowly unfolding.
ShortThe Canadian Standing Committee on Defence has published a report on the prospects of North American defence. The report recommends that, given the worsening international situation, the country reconsider its decision in 2005 to turn down the proposal of the United States to participate in the continental ballistic missile construction.
ShortAfter a lot of red tape the US government is about to give the go-ahead to a package of major contracts for the Gulf monarchies’ procurement of arms. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., clearly expressed the feelings of stakeholders, by saying: “Let’s face it, it’s like the hostages left when the money arrived.”
ShortIt would seem that there is no end in sight to the war on terrorist organizations in Iraq and Syria. On the contrary, matters seem to be getting worse, with flagships of the French and Royal Navies being deployed to the Middle East simultaneously, and the expected date of the Russian aircraft carrier CV Admiral Kuznetsov starting its first military campaign drawing ever closer.
ShortNorth Korea keeps continues to develop and improve its nuclear deterrent forces at a rapid pace. Soon after it tested a submarine-launched solid-fuelled ballistic missile and a new version of its surface-to-surface liquid-fuelled ballistic missile, the North Korea conducted a nuclear test, its fifth overall and the second this year.
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On August 22, 2016, Lithuania signed a contract for the purchase of 88 Boxer personnel carriers worth 385.6 million euro, making it the largest defence contract in the post-Soviet history of all the Baltic States.
On July 31 – August 1, US Strategic Command conducted a demonstrative military exercise, POLAR ROAR. As part of the mission, American bombers left their continental US bases to fly over the North Pole and along the Russian border.
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More than five years after the Muammar Gaddafi regime was overthrown, the United States Air Force has once again engaged targets in Libya, this time ISIS positions. These are not the same kind of sporadic air raids that were conducted in previous years, but a full-scale military campaign that will take several weeks at the very least.
This Sunday, 31, July marks the 25th anniversary of the signing by President Mikhail Gorbachev of the USSR and President Bush Sr. of the USA of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which is now known as START-1. In spite of its unequal provisions, START 1 was of big influence on the process of nuclear arms reduction. Crowning the policy of detente, it did not contribute to peace and stability…
ShortWhile the Rio Olympic Games start on August 5 and are dominating the headlines, there is another major international sporting event that kicks off this week, and Russia will surely not be banned from this one for PED violations. The International Army Games 2016 will be held across Russia between July 30 and August 13.
ShortThe new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May passed her first test in parliament with flying colours. The topic of her first speech in Parliament on July 18, 2016 was anything but routine, approval of the programme to renew the British nuclear deterrent. The results, as expected, were in favour of the new prime minister. The full-scale funding of Successor was approved by 472 votes to…
ShortAhead of the NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland has finally done what it had long promised to do and joined the anti-terrorist campaign in the Middle East.
ShortPoll conducted
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In your opinion, what are the US long-term goals for Russia?
U.S. wants to establish partnership relations with Russia on condition that it meets the U.S. requirements 33 (31%) U.S. wants to deter Russia’s military and political activity 30 (28%) U.S. wants to dissolve Russia 24 (22%) U.S. wants to establish alliance relations with Russia under the US conditions to rival China 21 (19%)