Editorial

Stormy times ahead…
The military tactics and objectives of established armies have changed beyond recognition in the last 60 years. In the light of a recent report suggesting the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s naval force is now gearing itself towards asymmetric warfare, what technologies and operational strategies are being developed by manufacturers and governments? This kind of warfare poses real challenges for military commanders and their political chiefs who want to protect their personnel so how much more work needs to be done to counter multiple new threats? Joyce Borgen, deputy director of the Center for Asymmetric Warfare and current acting naval program manager, investigates.

Under the radar
Despite a move by China to upgrade its submarine fleet, a recent US intelligence report concluded the People’s Liberation Army Navy still has a number of hurdles to overcome, namely the technology being used and the fact that its nuclear-powered Jin-class ballistic missile submarines are louder than those used by the Soviets more than 30 years ago. Ronald O'Rourke, a specialist in naval affairs, looks at the challenges China is facing, its desire to bolster its naval force and opportunities for manufacturers, as well as what this exercise means for regional stability.

Communicating pain
The global military communications market is worth an estimated $15 billion. However, tightening defence budgets could mean its growth is severely hit by the recent global economic downturn. Professor James Lehner, recently recognised for this work in this field with the 2009 Military Communications Conference Award for Technical Achievement, analyses the options available to those that hold the purse strings at a time when domestic and international defence policy is of increasing importance and the need to provide forces with the very latest technology is not just an operational one but now a matter of public concern.

Up, up, and away…
Whilst jet makers in the commercial sector have been hit hard by the downturn, spend on military jets remains untouched for many manufacturers, partly the result of high purchasing levels by the US government. But what are the long-term prospects for this sector, where are the opportunities and what should manufacturers be doing to help individual air forces? In this special report, former Pakistani Air Commodore Azfar A Khan investigates.

An enemy within
In a warzone, the base is usually seen by active service personnel as the closest thing to home. While mortar attacks can be a daily threat, there is increased risk in some of the world’s most troubled spots from enemy groups seeking to access the base and launch an attack from within. We assess the latest technologies aimed at reducing this threat.

Going nowhere?
There has been huge interest in the issue of military vehicles and the question of whether they’re up to the job. With disagreements over helicopters and concerns over the vehicles on the ground, this special report investigates the issue and asks how much more room for manoeuvre officials have to increase the reliability of their vehicles with dwindling budgets and what manufacturers are doing to help in this aim.

Coming on-stream
The Warthog will be the latest all-terrain vehicle to enter active service for the British Army in Afghanistan. More than 100 will ultimately operate in the country costing an estimated £150 million and coming on the back of the Jackal 2’s deployment in 2009. Meanwhile, the Americans and other international forces have their own preferred vehicles. We compare the capabilities of the models being used and look ahead to developments in technology that will shape the next generation of vehicles.

A sitting target
The global logistics function of any armed forces is something that requires massive resources in terms of its management and functionality. However, during times of conflict, the ways in which it is coordinated can change dramatically and without warning depending on the situation on the ground. What issues can have an impact and how can commanding officers utilise their resources to best respond? Dr Dean Golden, director of the Logistics Management Agency, US Air Force, investigates and offers some practical advice, including looking at the purchasable resources and technologies currently available.

Morning call
How crucial is IT and communications links to loved ones back home in helping to keep up the morale of serving personnel and what steps can commanding officers take to ensure these essential links are well managed, including all of the emotional and practical resources it might require? The US National Guard’s Captain Paul Rickert, who worked on a video conference project with active soldiers, offers some practical advice.

No stab in the dark
The development of night vision capabilities has recently been described as being of ‘critical importance’ by one former commander. But with the two main products being either thermal imaging and near infrared it is sometimes difficult to know what product would be better suited for individual environments and operational needs. We look at some of the latest developments in this field and what you should be taking into account before deploying each product.

Dressed to kill
When encountering an IED explosion it is usually the bodily extremities of a soldier that are most at risk because of the Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP). Body armour manufacturers have developed torso protection to a high degree but now they are under pressure to do the same for other areas of the suit. For British forces in particular groin protection has become a key issue as, unlike their US colleagues, the number of injuries relating to the genitalia is rising. We report on the work being undertaken at the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to protect soldiers at the same time as preserving mobility.

Debrief
A look at the stories behind the news and what they mean for personnel on the ground.

FIST
Feature article to be confirmed