All articles by jim findlay
jim findlay
American foreign policy under Trump: the logistics behind more expeditionary excursions
As the US Army withdraws from a long-term boots-on-the-ground presence in Afghanistan, reorienting logistics resources to suit more expeditionary excursions will be critical. But what’s the best way to achieve this? And can lessons be learned from past interventions? Colin Castle examines how the world’s most powerful military is adapting to the new normal – and considers whether President-elect Trump might shake things up.
War games: the battle lines in simulated combat
With an ever-increasing number of military and non-military ways in which to engage an adversary, simulation has never been more vital. Defence & Security Systems International maps the new battle lines in simulated warfare.
Drop the weight: alternatives to all-metal armour
When it comes to ballistic protection, vehicle manufacturers experience the same problem as dismounted soldiers: the weight of armour. We take a look at the ways in which manufacturers have been attempting to achieve maximum survivability with minimum mass.
Brexit strategy: what leaving the EU means for UK defence
The UK’s historic decision to leave the EU took many by surprise and could have profound consequences for its defence industry. Colin Castle speaks with King’s College London’s Ben Wilkinson, a senior research fellow at the Policy Institute, and Matt Uttley, professor of defence studies, about the likely fallout from the referendum.
Safety in numbers: GCC ballistic missile defence
GCC states are sufficiently worried by Iran’s missile tests to have begun work on an integrated ballistic missile defence system. Percy Ledger speaks to Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, about how this plan will be implemented – assuming it can rise above the problems that have persisted in the past.
World at war: US force projection and the hybridity of global threats
The judgement of a US president can serve not only to shape the character of a military deployment by US or allied forces, but also its consequences for the entire world. Defence & Security Systems International talks to Dr Eliot Cohen, Robert E Osgood professor of strategic studies at the Paul H Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, about how the lessons of force projection under the Obama administration should inform the next decade of activity for US forces overseas.
Informed attack – German infantry upgrades to Gladius
As Germany expands its international commitments, making sure its army’s infantry are kept in top-of-the-line equipment is essential. At the forefront of these efforts is the Infanterist der Zukunft programme, also known as Gladius.
Staying power: Britain’s naval presence in the Gulf
With the construction of the new UK Mina Salman Support Facility (MSSF) in Bahrain nearing completion, and signs that Royal Navy vessels may also anchor in a new private-sector development in Oman, British naval presence ‘east of Suez’ is approaching a state of permanence not seen for nearly half a century. Defence & Security Systems International dives into the details, hearing from Ministry of Defence and Royal Navy sources.
Smaller is better: the increasing importance of nano-UAV technology
Drones have long been a mainstay in long-range reconnaissance and targeted assassinations, but the increasing sophistication of nano-UAV technologies has seen their usefulness extended to combat patrols. Greg Noone talks to Staff Sergeant Jarle Mossing of the Norwegian army and Phil Cheatham of the Manoeuvre Centre of Excellence about how these miniature machines can save lives and enhance the effectiveness of infantry.
Keyboard warriors: the ground rules for online warfare
The recent cyberattack on the Democratic National Committee, if premeditated, represents the first time that hacking has been used as a tool of political manipulation. Rod James looks at the significance of the incident, what constitutes best practice in security and why it is so hard to establish ground rules for online warfare.