Transportation Technology

Military Technology

commentary
Creating the Uncrewed-Centric Navy of the Mid–21st Century
The emergence of uncrewed technologies in all domains can enable the Navy to achieve greater capacity and operate in harm's way by avoiding over-concentration of combat power in too few assets. There is a need for relentlessly committed leadership that aims for an uncrewed-centric navy by mid-century, while integrating new and legacy assets to manage the long, gradual transition.
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Nov 30, 2023
Naval News
Scott Savitz

Unmanned Maritime Vessels

commentary
Revive the Ram
In the face of aggressive maneuvers by Chinese vessels, the U.S. Navy can brandish ramming unmanned surface vessels as a capability to inhibit threats while limiting the risk of escalation. These relatively simple, inexpensive vehicles could be used alongside a variety of nonlethal weapons to manage confrontations, giving commanders more options.
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Jun 22, 2023
RealClearDefense
Scott Savitz
Taiwan

commentary
Waiting to Impale: Defending Taiwan with Artificial Reefs
Deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is arguably the most important defense problem of the next few decades. Artificial reefs could help to deter China simply by waiting to impale any potential invasion force.
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May 10, 2023
RealClearDefense
Scott Savitz
Military Technology

commentary
Coast Guard Leans Forward in New UxS Strategy but Faces Significant Challenges
The rise of unmanned systems creates a challenging landscape for the U.S. Coast Guard as it endeavors to conduct its diverse missions in the future. To address emerging technologies and prepare for forthcoming threats, the service recently released a strategic plan.
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May 3, 2023
The RAND Blog
Eric Cooper, Scott Savitz
Trade Regulation

commentary
Do Car Companies Know Where Their Critical Minerals Come From?
The initial slate of electric vehicles qualifying for a new federal tax credit was announced in April. Key to eligibility is the source of critical minerals used in their batteries. While the list of acceptable nations of origin is still being worked out, there's an important practical question the IRS should ask: Do carmakers really know where their critical minerals come from?
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Apr 28, 2023
Barron's
Tom LaTourrette, Fabian Villalobos @doktor_wolfhaus
Supply Chain Management

commentary
Militaries, Metals, and Mining
Securing access to supply, increasing global and domestic capacity, and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals should be at the top of the agenda for both nations and private industry. Failure could jeopardize climate mitigation strategies and U.S. military readiness.
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Apr 18, 2023
New Security Beat
Fabian Villalobos @doktor_wolfhaus, Morgan Bazilian
Ukraine

commentary
Why Blockading Rather Than Retaking Crimea Might Be Kyiv's Best Option
Ukraine may lack the military capability to retake Crimea from Russia. But Kyiv might still achieve some of its key objectives by blockading the peninsula. New technology may ease this task.
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Apr 10, 2023
The Moscow Times
Scott Savitz, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Military Ships and Naval Vessels

commentary
How Big of a Fleet? A Look at the U.S. Navy's Size and Readiness Needs
Congress is trying to nudge the Navy to expand the size of the fleet. But without comparable levels of funding for personnel, maintenance, technology upgrades, logistics and other support functions, a larger fleet could come at the cost of readiness.
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Jan 11, 2023
Defense News
Bradley Martin, Scott Savitz
Unmanned Maritime Vessels

commentary
Could Taiwan Defend with Uncrewed Surface Vessels?
Ukraine has demonstrated the ability of explosive uncrewed surface vessels to target ships. These weapons could play a role in preventing Chinese forces from successfully invading Taiwan in potential future scenarios.
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Jan 9, 2023
RealClearDefense
Scott Savitz
Autonomous Military Vehicles

commentary
As F-15s Leave Okinawa, an Opportunity to Change Indo-Pacific Air Tactics with Unmanned Options
As it considers its future force mix and posture in the Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere, the U.S. Air Force has options that go beyond traditional platforms. Among them are rapidly maturing concepts for generating and sustaining high-tempo operations in forward areas with autonomous, runway-independent air vehicles.
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Nov 28, 2022
Breaking Defense
David A. Ochmanek
Unmanned Maritime Vessels

commentary
The Age of Uncrewed Surface Vessels
A new age of naval warfare has been inaugurated in the Black Sea, defined by an emerging weapon. Uncrewed surface vessels could become a centerpiece of naval warfare in the coming decades, one that navies may ignore at their peril.
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Nov 15, 2022
The RAND Blog
Scott Savitz
Military Strategy

commentary
Beware the Explosive Vessels
The initial explosion that damaged the Kerch Strait Bridge may have come from an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV). If it was indeed caused by a USV, it could be a portent of future warfare. Military and homeland security authorities may need to anticipate the potential use of USVs by adversaries or terrorists.
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Oct 20, 2022
RealClearDefense
Scott Savitz
Military Budgets and Defense Spending

commentary
Why It Makes Sense to Keep Mine-Hunting Dolphins on the Navy's Payroll
Mine-hunting dolphins—none of whom have ever been harmed by a mine—make the seas safer for naval ships and other vessels. Yet budget cuts could spell the end of the program that trains them.
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Jul 22, 2022
Los Angeles Times
Scott Savitz
Autonomous Vehicles

commentary
Developing a Winning Safety Strategy for Automated Vehicles
When policy problems involve many different groups with diverging interests along with significant uncertainty about the future, games can be a valuable way to explore the potential consequences of important policy decisions. What could gaming bring to the area of AV safety?
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Feb 18, 2022
The RAND Blog
Laura Fraade-Blanar, Brian A. Jackson
Surface Transportation

commentary
Micromobility: How Will We Know When It's Working?
Micromobility was positioned as a solution for every urban problem from traffic congestion to air pollution to transit deserts and inequality. Is there a way to know if micromobility can fulfill these ambitious goals?
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May 18, 2021
The RAND Blog
Liisa Ecola, Laura Fraade-Blanar
Autonomous Vehicles

commentary
If You Build Automated Vehicles, Will Older Adults Come?
Whether older adults benefit from autonomous vehicles may hinge on taking explicit steps. Lessons can be learned from experiences with other technologies.
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Apr 28, 2021
Inside Sources
Laura Fraade-Blanar, Marjory S. Blumenthal @MarjorySB, et al.

Page 1 of 11

Quoted

The COP decisionmaking process reflects its members' consensus views. And therein lies the problem. The Paris Agreement should have achieved the socially better outcomes of binding emissions control to finance and binding each country to its target of emissions and finance.…That it did not do so was because the coalitions' views prevailed rather than the social good.

Rafiq Dossani

Director, RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy

Source: United Press International

Women have fought in wars for as long as humans have waged them. Yet that long history has been either lost or purposefully hidden, complicating efforts to expand women's military roles even as we have steadily gained greater equality in other fields.

Kayla M. Williams

Senior Policy Researcher

Source: Association of the U.S. Army

What Climate-Related Conflict Could Mean for U.S. Central Command

National Identity and the Origins of the War in Ukraine

Can NATO Supercharge Military Greening?

Book Review: 'Forgotten Warriors: The Long History of Women in Combat' by Sarah Percy

Preventing Domestic Violent Extremism: Insights from RAND Research

The Policy Currents Podcast

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Transportation Technology

Creating the Uncrewed-Centric Navy of the Mid–21st Century

Revive the Ram

Waiting to Impale: Defending Taiwan with Artificial Reefs

Coast Guard Leans Forward in New UxS Strategy but Faces Significant Challenges

Do Car Companies Know Where Their Critical Minerals Come From?

Militaries, Metals, and Mining

Why Blockading Rather Than Retaking Crimea Might Be Kyiv's Best Option

How Big of a Fleet? A Look at the U.S. Navy's Size and Readiness Needs

Could Taiwan Defend with Uncrewed Surface Vessels?

As F-15s Leave Okinawa, an Opportunity to Change Indo-Pacific Air Tactics with Unmanned Options

The Age of Uncrewed Surface Vessels

Beware the Explosive Vessels

Why It Makes Sense to Keep Mine-Hunting Dolphins on the Navy's Payroll

Developing a Winning Safety Strategy for Automated Vehicles

Micromobility: How Will We Know When It's Working?

If You Build Automated Vehicles, Will Older Adults Come?

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