Monthly Archives: November 2012
Rough Waters For the Canadian Navy?
By Milos Zak The Canadian navy’s recent rebranding back to its “royal” roots constitutes one in a series of initiatives best described as a “renaissance” for the Canadian armed forces. The navy is set to replace aging vessels and fundamentally alter Canada’s power projection on the high seas – most notably, taking a definitive step [...]
Swarms at Sea and Out-swarming the Swarms?
This week Foreign Policy posted a new article by Navy Postgraduate School professor John Arquilla, in which he discusses the how “swarm” tactics employed by the Russians caused the failure of Napoleon’s 1812 invasion. Arquilla is a prolific author who regularly writes about swarms and “net-centric” operations. In the above piece he cites successful maritime [...]
Read MorePoland’s Heightened Defense Priorities
As national defense gains more attention in Poland, the Navy should benefit after years of neglect. Specifically, the renewed focus raises hopes that all of the projects laid out in Poland’s recently published modernization plan will receive political support. During only the last 2 months Poland has declared its intent to participate in NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance project and [...]
Read MoreHighlighting Catastrophic Threats
Earlier this month the Federation of American Scientists held its annual Symposium on Catastrophic Threats and Awards Ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The date – November 9th – was chosen to coincide with the November U.S. presidential election and provide a forum for policy recommendations to a newly elected administration. The symposium provided [...]
Neuro-Navy and Future War Impact
In my current capacity as a military student, one of my requirements is to complete a master’s thesis focused on future warfare. This year I have decided to write on the implications of future neuroscience developments and the impact on naval warfare, (up to ~15 years out). Below is my thesis proposal, which I [...]
Israeli Naval Options For Gaza
As fighting continues Friday between Israel and Hamas, the region braces for an expanded Israel Defense Force (IDF) incursion into the Gaza Strip – a possibility indicated by the government approval of a mobilization of up of 30,000 reservists. Such a move would consist mostly of air and ground forces, but the Israeli Navy would also have a [...]
Read MoreSymmetric Warfare – The Return to Symmetry
Asymmetry is a very popular word these days and, in my estimation, one applied too frequently to too many things. Prof. Robert Farley makes the point that asymmetric expectations lie at the foundations of decisions about all battles. “Combatants engage because they have different expectations about likely outcomes,” he says. But not every search for gaining advantage in battle is [...]
Despite Lavish Funding, Russian Navy Dead In The Water
As of 31 October, the Russian Navy moved its headquarters back to the Admiralty building in St. Petersburg where it had been based until 1925. This is further, if superficial, evidence of President Vladimir Putin’s desire to revitalize and modernize the Russian fleet, and “maintain Russia’s place as a leading sea power.” Also on 31 [...]