Military Equipment

Air Defense
commentary
Drone-Era Warfare Shows the Operational Limits of Air Defense Systems
John V. Parachini, Peter A. Wilson
Jul 2, 2020
RealClearDefense
External powers have intervened in the civil wars in Libya and Syria, supplying advanced conventional weapons that have intensified the conflicts. But not all of the weapons have performed as claimed.
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Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
Take the Bird in the Hand. Strike a Nuclear Weapons Deal with Russia
Luke Griffith
Jul 1, 2020
RealClearPolicy
By extending New START, the Trump administration would preserve verifiable constraints on Russia's nuclear arsenal, buy time to negotiate a more comprehensive agreement, and pave the way for arms talks about intermediate-range missiles.
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Nuclear Weapons and Warfare
commentary
Nuclear Testing Not Needed Now
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Frank G. Klotz
Jun 11, 2020
Newsweek
Trump administration officials are reported to have recently discussed conducting a nuclear test, breaking a moratorium the United States has observed since 1992. Such a move is not necessary to ensure the continued reliability of the U.S. nuclear arsenal and could increase threats to U.S. and allied security by giving a green light to other countries to conduct nuclear tests of their own.
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Military Acquisition and Procurement
commentary
Spending Smart or Spending Big: The Value of Systematic Assessments of Weapons Procurement
Peter A. Wilson, John V. Parachini
Jun 8, 2020
The RAND Blog
Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and inevitable economic difficulties, national governments should be encouraged to weigh their military requirements in a more cost-effective manner. Countries need to think strategically about the life cycle costs of equipment, not just the original purchase price.
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North Korea
commentary
North Korea Post–Kim Jong Un Reappearance: Expect Business as Usual in the Hermit Kingdom
Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
May 19, 2020
The National Interest
Kim Jong Un's return, while it leaves much to be desired in the way of explanation, should send one message to the international audience: North Korea's fate rests still in the hands of Kim Jong Un. And judging by appearances in recent days, Kim does not appear to intend to change the course of his strategy to reduce tensions with the United States.
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North Korea
commentary
North Korean Provocations, Not Denuclearization
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
May 8, 2020
The National Interest
Kim Jong-un's reappearance raises questions about the course of U.S.–North Korea relationships in the coming year. What should we expect? What can we learn from the past?
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Philippines
commentary
Are Military Purchases in SE Asia for Political Balancing a Good Use of National Defense Resources?
Chandler Sachs, John V. Parachini
May 7, 2020
Asian Military Review
The Philippines has embarked upon a multi-phase, multi-year modernization of its armed forces, but some of the acquisition decisions appear to be driven by political symbolism rather than responsible military decisions. Using military procurement for political symbolism and paying a high price for it takes resources away from other pressing national security and domestic needs.
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Capacity Building
commentary
Protecting the U.S. Supply on Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles
Bonnie L. Triezenberg
May 6, 2020
The RAND Blog
Our recent RAND report on the global heavy lift launch market highlights the potential for a near term shortage of launch vehicles needed to lift U.S. defense and intelligence satellites to orbit. These satellites are the eyes, ears, networks and timekeepers of U.S. armed services, and an inability to launch them in times of need could compromise national security.
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Missile Defense
commentary
Russian S-400 Surface-to-Air Missile System: Is It Worth the Sticker Price?
Peter A. Wilson, John V. Parachini
May 6, 2020
The RAND Blog
Many countries do not fully appreciate that effective air defense requires a networked system and not just one missile system component. Getting the true defensive value out of the S-400 surface-to-air system requires additional components that add costs and complexities.
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North Korea
commentary
North Korea After Kim Jong Un: 'How' Matters More Than 'Who'
Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
Apr 28, 2020
Nikkei Asian Review
With rumors swirling that Kim Jong Un has suffered a health crisis, some are already asking who might succeed him as leader of North Korea. But who is not the most important question. What will matter more is what the new regime does to establish its legitimacy and how the United States and its allies respond.
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Nuclear Disarmament
commentary
New START Is Not NAFTA
William Courtney @courtneywmh, John Lauder
Apr 8, 2020
The Hill
The 2010 New START Treaty with Russia reduces long-range nuclear arms. President Trump may seek a different deal, however, as he did in renegotiating NAFTA. But NAFTA talks succeeded because America had predominant leverage and because Canada and Mexico are friends. Neither holds true with Russia.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Maximizing Bargaining Leverage with Beijing: Developing Missiles as Bargaining Chips
Luke Griffith
Apr 3, 2020
RealClearDefense
Arms negotiations may offer the only way to reduce the grave threat posed to the United States and allied security by China's missiles. U.S. owned and operated missiles could provide the best bargaining chips.
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Military Equipment
commentary
Indications of Institutional Inertia: The FY2021 USMC Budget
Jonathan P. Wong @jonpwong
Mar 26, 2020
The RAND Blog
The Grim Reaper is a 700-foot-tall series of hills that Marine Corps recruits must summit to graduate from boot camp. As the Marine Corps attempts to transform from a second land army and counterinsurgency force to operate within contested maritime spaces, its recent budget request suggests that it will need to climb its own Grim Reaper to get there.
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Russia
blog
New START, Trump's Middle East Peace Plan, New Tobacco Products: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 21, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on why the United States should extend the New START agreement, Trump's Middle East peace plan, new tobacco products, and more.
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Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
Jumpstarting Arms Control Talks with Russia: A Low-Risk Gambit
Luke Griffith
Feb 13, 2020
Defense One
In 2019, Russia proposed a moratorium on missile deployments in Europe. If the United States does not accept, it could increase the threat to NATO allies and provide Moscow with more bargaining chips in future arms negotiations.
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Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
Stabilizing the Nuclear Cold War
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Bruce McClintock @BHMcClintock
Feb 13, 2020
Inkstick
Russia and the United States are still locked in a nuclear cold war. Thousands of nuclear weapons are deployed, some on high alert. Although the United States prudently withdrew from several past arms control treaties with Russia, it could be in America's interest to extend New START.
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…

Understanding Media Use and Literacy in Schools

The Strategic National Stockpile and COVID-19

Drone-Era Warfare Shows the Operational Limits of Air Defense Systems

Book Review: 'The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare' by Christian Brose

When Should We Stop Social Distancing?

The Policy Currents Podcast

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Military Equipment

Drone-Era Warfare Shows the Operational Limits of Air Defense Systems

Take the Bird in the Hand. Strike a Nuclear Weapons Deal with Russia

Nuclear Testing Not Needed Now

Spending Smart or Spending Big: The Value of Systematic Assessments of Weapons Procurement

North Korea Post–Kim Jong Un Reappearance: Expect Business as Usual in the Hermit Kingdom

North Korean Provocations, Not Denuclearization

Are Military Purchases in SE Asia for Political Balancing a Good Use of National Defense Resources?

Protecting the U.S. Supply on Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles

Russian S-400 Surface-to-Air Missile System: Is It Worth the Sticker Price?

North Korea After Kim Jong Un: 'How' Matters More Than 'Who'

New START Is Not NAFTA

Maximizing Bargaining Leverage with Beijing: Developing Missiles as Bargaining Chips

Indications of Institutional Inertia: The FY2021 USMC Budget

New START, Trump's Middle East Peace Plan, New Tobacco Products: RAND Weekly Recap

Jumpstarting Arms Control Talks with Russia: A Low-Risk Gambit

Stabilizing the Nuclear Cold War

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