Новости за 12.04.2024

Once again, a tragedy serves as a flashing red light for the citizens of this country. The catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the early morning hours on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, highlights the glaring fact that the United States faces a daunting challenge in addressing the vulnerabilities of its critical infrastructure despite significant investments and efforts.

Summary: The Zumwalt-class destroyer, once envisioned as the future backbone of the U.S. Navy, faced significant setbacks that curtailed its production after only three ships. Originally planned as a 32-vessel class to replace the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the Zumwalt's development was plagued by budget overruns and performance issues. Despite its advanced stealth capabilities, designed to reduce its radar cross-section dramatically, the practical utility of such features in close-to-shore... Читать дальше...

Together with Iran-backed regional militias, including Hamas in the Palestinian territories, the Houthis in Yemen, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and other smaller armed groups in Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon forms Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance,” an informal alliance that Iran has built up across the Middle East since the inception of the Islamic Republic. Its objectives are to reduce and eliminate the United States’ presence in the Middle East and destroy Israel. Hezbollah has recently... Читать дальше...

On March 6, 2024, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and U.S. Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Adriano Espalillat (D-NY) introduced the “Americas Trade and Investment Act” (Americas Act). Aiming to counter Chinese influence in the region, this marks a significant shift that strengthens U.S. foreign policy within the region and institutionalizes the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP). While the Act was heralded as an essential step forward in parts of the region... Читать дальше...

Summary: The Mako Multi-Mission Hypersonic Missile, named after the fastest shark in the sea, was showcased at the Sea Air Space 2024 conference. Developed by Lockheed Martin and CoAspire, initially for the U.S. Air Force's Stand In Attack Weapon (SiAW) program, it is now being pitched to the U.S. Navy. The Mako, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 5, has been tested on the F-35 Lightning II and can be fitted on various U.S. military aircraft. Its versatility and speed position it as a significant advancement in hypersonic weaponry... Читать дальше...

Turkey’s patronage of Hamas is well-established and widely known. Ankara has hosted the terrorist organization inside of its borders since 2011.

Summary: The Dassault Rafale, a French fighter platform that first flew in the mid-1980s, has recently seen a surge in popularity, becoming the second most purchased Western fighter since 2022, trailing only the F-35. This versatile aircraft, capable of conducting air supremacy, reconnaissance, and ground support missions, has been ordered by multiple countries including Greece, the UAE, Indonesia, Egypt, Qatar, and Croatia, in addition to the French military. With over 495 orders since the start of 2024... Читать дальше...

Summary: During the Cold War, the aviation race led to the creation of vertical/short-takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft, with the UK's Harrier becoming a standout. In response, the USSR developed the Yakovlev Yak-38, designed to mimic the Harrier's capabilities but with significant differences. The Yak-38, which first flew in 1971, lacked the payload capacity and advanced radar of the Harrier, limiting its effectiveness as a defense fighter. Despite deployment on Soviet carriers, the Yak-38... Читать дальше...

Summary: The USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier, has entered the second phase of its Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), currently 65% complete and projected to finish in late 2026. Conducted at HII-Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, this mid-life overhaul involves flooding the dry dock for ship transit, significant upgrades to propulsion, electronics, and living areas, and testing of the newly installed systems. Once completed, the USS John C. Stennis... Читать дальше...

Summary: The significance of aircraft carriers in projecting power from the oceans remains crucial, but their role faces scrutiny as vulnerabilities increase amidst rising geopolitical tensions. Critics argue that these ships are costly and prone to attacks by advanced weapons like anti-ship missiles from adversaries like China and Russia. Despite the development of new technologies such as the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray drone, which extends the operational range of carrier-based jets, there's no solid replacement yet for the aircraft carrier. Читать дальше...

The United States and Israel are awaiting a threatened “significant” Iranian response to the attack on its consulate in Syria, but this is just part of a much larger challenge: Iran is accelerating its long-standing goal, a push for regional hegemony. The key manifestation is its current push to get U.S. forces out of Iraq and Syria. Among other things, Tehran is using its proxy militia leaders and pro-Iran-Islamist parties to oblige Iraqi prime minister Mohammad Shia’ Ali Sudani to push Washington... Читать дальше...

Lockheed Martin and CoAspire unveiled a new hypersonic missile project that could be matched with the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet.