It’s been over a year since the release of ‘Rise of the Rocket Launcher: End of the Armored Division’.  The premise of the argument was that the future of conventional warfare would be rocket centred and rely heavily on the use of rocket artillery to deliver decisive blows in the...

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There are issues with the notion of deterrence in Northeast Asia (consisting of China, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan). This area is regarded by many to be one of the most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints existing in the world today.  In the past two decades, China has embarked on...

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“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility” ~ Saint Augustine. We exist as a force capable of doing difficult tasks which others cannot.  When the going gets tough, we often trust the people around...

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Be careful not to sign any pro-Tibet petitions near Regents Park in London.  The Chinese Embassy is on the corner of Portland and Weymouth, and if you don’t think the ‘pro-Tibet activists’ head back inside after a day collecting names, you haven’t been reading enough of Ben Macintyre’s espionage books....

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On 24 March 2023, ten Su-35Ss, the Russian Air Force’s most advanced fighter, conducted a bombing raid against several border settlements in Sumy province.  The attack was not just notable for the number of aircraft involved.  It was also the first reported mass use of glide bombs in the war...

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In comparing the career pathways of civilian and military cyber leaders what can we learn from both perspectives?  BLUF: As the information and communication technologies (ICT) used today by militaries are largely civilian, the cyber-security defence of these environments should be led by experienced civilian experts.  However, the weaponisation of...

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On 9 February 2023 President Putin addressed an audience of representatives from the civil airline industry on the occasion marking 100 years of domestic air travel.  He was characteristically defiant:  ‘To live with wolves is to howl like wolves,’ he said of the West and sanctions.  In a meeting earlier...

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As technology proliferates it is clear the world of intelligence analysis is getting more democratized.  But do we know how much?  And are defense leaders reacting to it in terms of personal education and contracting reform?  The Ukraine war features open source intelligence activities such as NASA satellites used to...

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The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine graphically reminds us that wars often destroy cities.  This essay responds to the numerous articles that are applying the word ‘urbicide’ to describe the fate of cities like Mariupol, Kyiv, and Kherson. The term ‘urbicide’ was popularised after the 92-95 Bosnian War and introduces...

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A report published by the House of Commons Defence Committee in February 2023 titled, ‘Withdrawal from Afghanistan’ reminds us of the significant, costly, and lengthy British intervention within the country.  150,000 British military personnel served in Afghanistan, with 457 losing their lives.  Operations cost over £27 billion between 2001 and...

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