Best Supporting Actors
Armada International|June - July 2017

The nature of modern day operations means that air strikes are often the primary form of attack used against targets, and traditional battlefields, which generally only involve the two opposing sides but that are away from civilians, reside for now in the history books.

Beth Stevenson
Best Supporting Actors

Insurgents today, as they have been throughout history, are integrated into everyday societies: “The guerrilla must move amongst the people as a fish swims in the sea,” noted Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People’s Republic of China. Practitioners of political violence have the advantage of being indistinguishable from civilians, and relatively safe from large scale bombardments, because opposing forces, notable the US and its allies, want to keep collateral damage to a minimum, to avoid adverse publicity in the global court of public opinion. Close Air Support (CAS) is therefore utilised to ensure that when an air strike has to be made near civilians, the enemy is the only target that is hit. While aircraft now have an array of sensors available to them that allow for a near-perfect situational awareness in the air, pilots do not always know exactly what is going on, on the ground, despite the detail of the intelligence picture they have available to them.

The missing pieces of this intelligence jigsaw can be found by having personnel on the ground whom can provide the information that is missing to the pilot, offering a picture of what is happening on the ground and feeding this up to the aircraft. Typically these personnel are referred to as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) that are highly trained, and responsible for directing air power to the right target. JTACs use a range of different technologies, which incorporate a number of different communication feeds that allows JTACs to transfer the information they have received to a commander, or directly to a pilot.

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Best Supporting Actors
Armada International

Best Supporting Actors

The nature of modern day operations means that air strikes are often the primary form of attack used against targets, and traditional battlefields, which generally only involve the two opposing sides but that are away from civilians, reside for now in the history books.

time-read
8 minutos  |
June - July 2017
Suits Of Armour
Armada International

Suits Of Armour

Helicopter armour that protects aircrew members and passengers from small arms fire is a proven requirement driven by recent, and ongoing, conflicts in the Iraq/Syria and central Asian theatres, meanwhile the drive towards lighter armour will continue.

time-read
8 minutos  |
June - July 2017
Up Close And Personal
Armada International

Up Close And Personal

Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) are effectively the ‘last line of defence’ for naval vessels. CIWS have evolved in recent years as the immediate threats to ships have grown more complex, with new avenues of development in the domain for companies and navies alike.

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8 minutos  |
October 2017
Small Targets Present Big Challenges
Armada International

Small Targets Present Big Challenges

Counter Insurgency (COIN) campaigns present some of the most demanding missions for military aircraft involved in Close Air Support (CAS). Yet improvements in sensors and weapons are honing the ability of air power to deliver decisive effects in this regard.

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10 minutos  |
October 2017
Commercial Break
Armada International

Commercial Break

Despite a reduction in US strategic commitments around the world, the commercial Satellite Communications (SATCOM) industry is confident that military demand will increase as countries seek to diversify supply and augment nationally-owned capabilities.

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10 minutos  |
October 2017
Doctor And The Medics
Armada International

Doctor And The Medics

Responding to emerging requirements in battlefield medicine associated with increases in expeditionary deployments, special forces continue to evolve their practices to safely operate in areas lacking even the most basic support infrastructure.

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10 minutos  |
October 2017
Wheels And Tracks For The God Of War
Armada International

Wheels And Tracks For The God Of War

Self-Propelled Artillery (SPA) has many inherent advantages over towed artillery. These include its greater tactical mobility, the ability to provide protection to the crew, the carriage of onboard ammunition, and the possibility for automation of all firing functions.

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10 minutos  |
October 2017
Superiority Complex
Armada International

Superiority Complex

The world’s air forces deploy a variety of Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM). This article profiles some of the leading European, Israeli and North American efforts for prosecuting within visual range and beyond visual range engagements.

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9 minutos  |
June - July 2017
Over The Ocean
Armada International

Over The Ocean

While they are primarily used by air forces, with armies, following closely behind, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming an asset that naval forces are increasingly interested in operating, although the introduction of them comes with a number of challenges.

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10+ minutos  |
June - July 2017