What China’s Army Reforms Mean for the World
By Adam Ni & Bates Gill, Asia Times: "The ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu once said, Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. Looking at the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) today, …"
Understanding Clausewitz/Corbett’s War Limited by Contingent
By Vanya Eftimova Bellinger, Military Strategy Magazine: "In recent years, the concept of war by contingent has gradually gained more attention. Partially, this is due to the revival of the legacy of Sir Julian Corbett, but also because of states’ desire to avoid costly all-out conflicts."
Iraq Moves Towards S-400 Acquisition
By Charles Forrester, Jane's: "Iraq has become the latest country to consider acquiring the Russian-made S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name SA-21 'Growler'), the Iraqi press reported on 18 April."
RUSSIA:
Russia Abandons Nuclear Destroyer, Supersized Frigate Programs
By Joseph Trevithick, The WarZone: “Russia's Severnoye Design Bureau has stopped development entirely of its Project 23560 destroyers, also known as the Lider class, and the Project 22350M frigate, an expanded derivative of the Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkovclass. The company has said these ships are among its most promising future offerings and the halting of the two programs has raised questions about its long-term financial stability."
Chinese Soldiers Seen Testing New QBZ-191 Assault Rifle
By Peter Suciu, The National Interest: "Last week Chinese state media released footage of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) next-generation assault rifle, the QBZ-191. This would replace the QBZ-95-1 bullpup that has been in service since 1997."
By Daniel Drezner, Ronald R. Krebs & Randall Schweller, Foreign Affairs: “The changing nature of power, along with its diffusion in the international system, has made it much more difficult for the United States to shape its destiny."
Affordable, Abundant, and Autonomous: The Future of Ground Warfare
By Liam Collins & Harrison Morgan, War on the Rocks: "Between the world wars, Germany developed its blitzkrieg (“lightning warfare”) doctrine while the French developed the Maginot Line. Thus, as the U.S. Army finds itself in transition after nearly 20 years of fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it must get it right."
By Paul Scharre & Ainikki Riikonen, Defense One: "Defense Department leaders agree the U.S. military must reinvigorate its technological edge. They just can't agree on which technologies matter."
By Jack Senogles, Wavell Room: "The United States Marine Corps (USMC) are undergoing a series of comprehensive reforms to its force structure, equipment, and doctrine. These reforms are geared towards countering China in the Western Pacific. General Berger, the Commandant of the USMC, has proposed plans for the Corps that suggest a profound change in U.S. strategic outlook with significant implications for NATO and the UK."
The High-Tech Arsenal of Democracy:
Economic Strength and Scientific Innovation in the Evolution of Modern Warfare
By Doug Livermore, Small Wars Journal: "The ability to leverage financial capabilities to bankroll both technological innovation and large-scale production of war materiel has increasingly driven the evolution of modern warfare. There is every indication that these interdependent elements will continue to have an even greater impact on the international security environment in the 21st century and beyond."