Russia’s tactical loss in Kherson could be compounded by G20’s strategic loss
dear reader,
Celebrations took place in the streets as Russian troops retreated from the city of Kherson, which Ukrainian forces took control of, reaffirming President Putin’s lie that the populace welcomed the Russians as liberators. But the liberation of the Ukrainian side of the city still leaves the Russians in control of the land east of the Dnieper and within artillery range if they begin a retaliatory new phase of the war.
As war commentators have already pointed out, this strategically relieved pressure on the southern port city of Odessa, which appeared to be targeted for occupation by Russian forces early in the conflict. The blow of the retreat from Kherson, combined with the earlier sinking of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva, and Ukraine’s recapture of Snake Island have greatly reduced the threat to Odessa.
That doesn’t mean Russia won’t strike back in some other areas, although the wealth of intelligence the Ukrainians have from NATO sources makes surprise attacks elsewhere unlikely.
There appeared to be some initial attempts at détente between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Indonesia. During the three-hour meeting, both leaders condemned Russia’s threat to use nuclear weapons, according to White House sources.
Political observers have discussed how President Xi Jinping was somehow “caught off guard” by Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, having previously confirmed with Russian President Vladimir Putin the close relationship between the two countries – both of which are seen as looking to change the established world order. However, with China firmly in the G-20 meeting with the US, Putin looks like an outcast as he dispatches his special envoy, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to confront a possible influx of Russian invasions waves of realism and waves of dissent in Ukraine.
In a world of strategic political games, President Xi takes the lead at the G-20 negotiating table to maximize his interests in exchange for his tough stance on Russia, which increasingly looks like a weak and unreliable ally.
the best,
andrew de vega
thoughts this week
“”If you’re not preparing, you’re preparing to fail. “
– Benjamin Franklin
Boldly Unmanned, Proves Black Hawk’s Autonomous Potential
An unmanned Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is shown to the U.S. Army at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during mid-October (12, 14 and 18) during the U.S. Army’s Fusion Technology Gateway 2022 exercise .
Sikorsky, in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), conducted multiple demonstrations of a Black Hawk equipped with DARPA’s Crew Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program, which integrates with Sikorsky’s MATRIX technology With the use of.
The demonstration was organized to demonstrate to Army leadership the potential that the autonomous rotor ALIAS/MATRIX vehicle could provide in terms of additional mission capability while reducing crew workload. In this regard, as noted by Igor Cherebinsky, head of Sikorsky Innovations, this could mean that a deployed helicopter can be used 8x8x8 24 hours a day—eight hours manned, eight hours Unmanned flight and eight-hour maintenance. “This will greatly increase the UH-60’s mission efficiency,” Cherepinksy suggested.
Three different tasks were organized during the exercise. The first simulated expansion of medical supplies. The Black Hawk flew the 83-mile round trip with an internal load of 400 units of real (past available date) and simulated blood for a total weight of 500 lbs (226 kg). Aspects of the flight involved the unmanned helicopter flying 200 feet above the ground at a speed of 100 knots (185 km/h), simulating terrain-masking capabilities.
In a cargo delivery demonstration, an unmanned UH-60 used a 40-foot sling to lift a 2,400-pound (1,088-kilogram) external load. It then flies at 100 knots for 30 minutes to a pre-set landing zone. Introduce heading changes to simulate spotting potential threats en route. A soldier on the ground then took control of the helicopter, directed it to drop the load, and then collected and evacuated the simulated (manikin) casualties.
The combined scenarios were conducted at the Army’s direction, and the results will feed into their thinking about how to operate an autonomous-capable rotorcraft in challenging missions.
The ALIAS/MATRIX combination can also assist manned helicopter flights by aiding in decision making, including working with onboard sensors that can assist pilots during flights in degraded visual environments. It can also be combined with other devices such as lidar and cameras.
Major US arms sales (Defense Security Cooperation Agency – DSCA).
November 9, 2022 – The Sultanate of Oman. Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW).
The US State Department has approved a possible sale of Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) and related equipment to the Omani government at an estimated cost of $385 million.
November 9, 2022 – Lithuania. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
The US State Department has approved the possible sale of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and related equipment to the Lithuanian government for an estimated cost of $495 million.
November 8, 2022 – Belgium. Advanced medium-range air-to-air missile for the F-16 and F-35 programs.
The US State Department has approved the possible sale of the AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and related equipment to the Belgian government at an estimated total cost of $380 million.
November 2, 2022 – Australia. C-130J-30 aircraft.
The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of C-130J-30 aircraft and related equipment to the Australian government at an estimated cost of $6.35 billion.
November 2, 2022 – Finland. Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS).
The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and related equipment to the Finnish government at an estimated cost of $535 million.
upcoming events
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December 8-10, 2022
Hanoi, Vietnam
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January 17-20, 2023, Las Vegas, USA
thanks for reading,
andrew de vega
chief editor
Armada International/Asian Military Review
