Military Technology
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Global Commons
Japan, South Korea, U.S. boost electronic warfare capabilities to safeguard regional security
Felix Kim Electronic warfare (EW) — military activity conducted in the electromagnetic spectrum — is a growing priority for Indo-Pacific armed forces. Japan, South Korea and the United States are enhancing their EW capabilities in the air, at sea and on land in the face of regional threats posed by North Korea, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia.…
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Global Commons
Automation, new technologies support Japan’s defense future
Marc Jacob Prosser Japan’s plan to boost defense spending to 2% of its gross domestic product by 2027 comes as the nation faces a stark security challenge: an aging, shrinking population. In 1994, there were 17 million Japanese citizens age 18 to 26, the core of the Japan Self-Defense Forces’ (JSDF) recruitment pool. By October 2021, the number had fallen…
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Across The Region
Indian Navy Commissions Biggest Aircraft Carrier in Domestic Defense Push
India commissioned its first domestically manufactured aircraft carrier in September 2022, underlining New Delhi’s efforts to boost domestic production to supply a military deployed on two contentious borders. After 17 years of construction and tests, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the INS Vikrant, pictured — the Navy’s second operational aircraft carrier and the largest warship ever built in India…
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Features
Improving Strategic Deterrence
Brig. Gen. Glenn T. Harris/U.S. Air Force and Maj. John Yanikov/U.S. Army, U.S. Strategic Command There is a reason that nuclear deterrence remains the most important mission within the United States military. U.S. Navy Adm. Charles Richard, former commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), the command in charge of deterring strategic attacks and providing a decisive response should deterrence fail,…
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Global Commons
Singapore Navy adding multirole combat vessels with AI capabilities
Tom Abke The Republic of Singapore Navy is tapping into artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics and other technology to counter maritime threats, with plans for six multirole combat vessels (MRCVs) to replace Victory-class missile corvettes beginning in 2028. The new vessels will serve as “motherships” for planned uncrewed systems, and much of the advanced technology will be provided through a…
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Features
Weapons with dual missions
Forward-deployed Strategic Long-Range Precision Fires (SLRPF) are major assets in the United States’ arsenal to leverage if the nation, along with its allies and partners, is forced to respond militarily to aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific region, including those by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Strategically placed, these mobile U.S. Army warfighting systems provide significant deterrence in conjunction with existing…
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Oceania
Australia plans major defense overhaul to deter CCP military buildup
The Associated Press Australia must raise defense spending, make its own munitions and develop long-range missiles to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) military buildup, according to a government-commissioned report released in late-April 2023. The Defense Strategic Review supports the partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, known as AUKUS, which in March 2023 announced an agreement…
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Partnerships
Balikatan Javelin missiles drills reinforce Philippines-U.S. defense commitment
FORUM staff The world’s premier shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons captured the spotlight as Philippines and United States forces trained in April 2023 to bolster modern capabilities, enhance interoperability and demonstrate a shared defense commitment. During Exercise Balikatan, troops from both nations participated in live-fire drills with Javelin surface-attack guided missiles. The weapons have a range of 2 kilometers and feature advanced…
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Global Commons
Japan considers lifting arms export ban to support threatened countries
Marc Jacob Prosser The symbolism was unmistakable as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s surprise visit to Ukraine coincided with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping’s trip to Moscow. The March 2023 visits underscore expanding geopolitical divisions that contribute to Japan considering a significant shift in policy to allow the export of weapons to countries such as Ukraine. The…
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Conflicts - Tensions
South Korea counters North Korean threats with AI-based drones, robots
Felix Kim Contesting North Korea’s asymmetric threats is the core aim of Defense Innovation 4.0 (DI 4.0), the latest technology-centered endeavor of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense (MND). The initiative accelerates the development of unmanned and manned defense systems that use artificial intelligence to enhance performance. New command structures will emerge from DI 4.0, including units…
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