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What You Need to Know: The defection of Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko in 1976 revealed critical insights into the capabilities of the feared MiG-25 Foxbat, which he flew to Japan. The U.S. and Japanese engineers found the Foxbat’s performance vastly overestimated.

-Though fast, the MiG-25 was heavy, fuel-inefficient, and limited in altitude and airspeed without risking engine failure. Originally designed to intercept high-flying bombers, it was unfit for modern low-level strategies. Belenko’s defection influenced U.S. aircraft development, reinforcing the importance of the F-15 Eagle.

-The revelation of the MiG-25’s limitations downgraded its myth and led the Soviet Union to begin exporting the Foxbat.

The MiG-25 Foxbat: How a Soviet Pilot’s Defection Exposed a ‘Paper Tiger

As the war in Ukraine grinds on, it’s not without its share of drama. At the end of the summer in 2023, Ukrainian intelligence revealed that a Russian aviator piloting a Mi-8 had defected with his craft. Several months in the making, the escape culminated in a daring flight into Ukraine.

As the pilot described it: “I realized that I was near the border. I relayed my location. I said: ‘Let’s try it; I’m not far away.’ And, having made a final decision, I flew at an extremely low altitude in radio silence mode. No one understood what was going on with me at all.”

While this defection doesn’t carry as much weight  as the say, an Su-37 or MiG-25- the Mi-8 has been in service for five decades, and a single utility helicopter is unlikely to turn the tide of the war - it is still a remarkable feat for the Ukrainian intelligence service, the GUR. It also brings to mind other pilots’ defections, such as when Soviet Lieutenant Viktor Belenko flew his MiG-25 Foxbat to Japan. 

The MiG-25 Defection

At the time of his defection, 1976, Belenko was stationed at Chuguyevka Air Base in the Soviet Far East as part of the Air Defense Forces, a branch separate from the Soviet Air Force and arguably more prestigious. At the time, conditions at the air base were dismal, with poor facilities and morale. Belenko attempted to raise the issues with superiors but was essentially laughed off. Compounding his problem, his wife had grown tired of life as a military spouse and filed for divorce. Disillusioned with the Soviet system, Belenko decided to defect. 

Upon making his decision, Belenkosimply had to wait until he was scheduled for a routine sortie out East with a full tank of gas. He thoughtfully brought along the training manual for the Foxbat, something that was strictly prohibited. As the flight concluded and his wingmen headed home, Belenko turned and headed for Japanese airspace while gradually descending. As he closed in on the islands, he entered a precipitous dive, building airspeed to escape his pursuing squadronmates.

Nearing the Japanese airspace, he began popping up to reveal his position on the radar and prevent the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) from shooting him down. Cloudy weather and limitations of the F-4E Phantoms operated by the JSDF prevented them from locating Belenko to provide an escort. 

The same weather also worked against Belenko as he attempted to locate Chitose Air Base, the only airfield shown on his map of Hokkaido. Expecting to be escorted by JSDF fighters if he was unable to find it, he was dismayed to find himself alone.

Compounding his problems, the Foxbat guzzled fuel at an alarming rate, and he only had just enough to make the trip even with a full load. Lacking the proper navigational aids and frequencies, he eventually located the civilian Hakodate Airport.

As he lined his aircraft up for landing, Belenko faced one final challenge: a departing 727 jetliner. Quick reflexes prevented a tragic conclusion to the story however, he now found himself out of position to land and flying dangerously fast, particularly considering the 6,500-foot-long runway was too short for the Foxbat.

Despite deploying his drogue parachute and stamping on the brakes - hard enough to cause the nosewheel tire to explode - he ran nearly 800 feet off the runway. When the dust had settled and he shut the plan down, he had only 30 seconds of fuel remaining. 

The MiG-25 Foxbat

Japanese and American engineers were quick to jump on the opportunity to examine the MiG-25.

While the Japanese government refused to allow anyone to fly the aircraft fearing reprisals from the Soviet Union, engineers were able to tear it apart and see just what they were facing. 

This opportunity proved crucial as the Foxbat had until now been the boogeyman of the skies.

First flying in 1964, it proceeded to set several speed and altitude records, some of which still stand today. U.S. and Western nations were highly concerned about its perceived abilities and feared it could even compete with the mythical SR-71 Blackbird

In response, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) radically revised its requirements for the F-X program currently in development. Initially conceived to counter the air-to-air imbalance over Vietnam in which fast, maneuverable MiG-21s had proven to match, and even the best American aircraft, the arrival of the Foxbat caused the USAF to greatly increase the capabilities required for the F-X program.

The resultant aircraft was the F-15 Eagle, one of the best air superiority fighters ever designed. Over its prestigious career, it has claimed 104 shootdowns with no Eagles lost in return. 

Belenko’s delivery of a MiG-25 to American specialists proved that the F-15 was, in fact, incredibly overengineered against its opponent. Lacking titanium, the Foxbat was a stainless steel construction, meaning it was very heavy. A fully fueled MiG-25 weighed 64,000 pounds, by contrast, the U.S. Navy’s F-18 only weighs 48,000 pounds in the same state.

Furthermore, its vaunted airspeed and altitude records were mostly flukes. Its true service ceiling was not 89,000 but 79,000 feet, and then for two minutes and without a full load of missiles. Its Mach 3.2 airspeed was actually only Mach 2.83, any higher, and the engines would come apart. 

To add insult to injury, tactics and strategy had already moved beyond the Foxbat’s capabilities. Initially conceived to shoot down American strategic bombers flying high toward their targets, the Foxbat was designed to counter a threat that no longer existed. By the early 1960s, American planners understood the dangers of Soviet surface-to-air systems and recognized the futility of flying bombers directly into Soviet territory. New doctrine dictated low-level ingress below radar coverage. The Foxbat’s highly inefficient engine and already short range made it impractical for this mission. Additionally, it lacked a look-down shoot-down radar capable of tracking targets flying low to the ground. 

Following the dissection of the MiG-25, American planners breathed a sigh of relief, realizing they were facing a paper tiger. Following 60 days of inspection, the aircraft was disassembled, boxed up, and shipped back to the Soviet Union, which billed Japan $10 million for damage to the aircraft. In return, Japan sent a bill of $40,000 for damage to the airfield and shipping fees.=

Lieutenant Belenko was granted asylum in the U.S. and, following an extensive debrief with the Air Force and CIA, went on to be a contractor and businessman. The defection of Belenko revealed the inadequacies of the MiG-25 to the West and removed the veil of secrecy surrounding the aircraft, allowing the Soviet Union to begin export. It saw combat in the Middle East during the Iran-Iraq war and Israeli conflicts with Syria and Lebanon.

About the Author

Maya Carlin is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

All images are Creative Commons. 

What You Need to Know: The Soviet-era MiG-23 "Flogger," designed as an affordable, swing-wing alternative to the MiG-21, ultimately fell short of its intended role as a formidable air superiority fighter.

-Though technically advanced at its 1970 debut—with variable wing geometry, improved radar, and BVR capabilities—the MiG-23 suffered from reliability issues, short engine life, and limited combat success.

-It was often bested in combat by Western aircraft, most notably by Israeli and U.S. jets, which outmaneuvered and outperformed it in several conflicts. Despite its poor record, 5,000 Floggers were produced, and the fighter remains in limited use with countries like Syria and North Korea.

MiG-23 Flogger: The Soviet Fighter that Failed to Impress

The MiG-23 is one awful fighter, and the U.S. Air Force thankfully has no fighter jet that can match its terrible history. Pity the poor MiG-23 "Flogger" jet fighter. Built to replace the older – as in 1955 vintage – MiG-21 Fishbed, and intended to contend with America's F-4 Phantom, the MiG-23 instead became the proverbial "redheaded stepchild" of Soviet-designed fighters.

Instead of living up to its NATO codename "Flogger" in actual aerial combat, the plane far more often ended up on the receiving end of the proverbial floggings.

MiG-23: Not Necessarily Born to Fail…

On paper, the MiG-23 didn't seem like such a bad aircraft when it was developed. In fact, its variable “swing” wing geometry and advanced radar and fire control systems made it a fairly advanced aircraft when it was first introduced in 1970 and began entering operational service in 1971.

Of particular note to its pilots was a beyond-visual-range (BVR) intercept capability from more powerful onboard sensors. In addition, the fighter had robust landing gear that enabled it to operate from short, remote runways.  

…But Built On the Cheap

However, the Soviets purposely designed the Flogger as a lower-cost export fighter and therefore didn't build into it the sort of effort and quality control that would be expected for a fighter jet intended primarily for defending the precious "Rodina” (Motherland) itself.

The Soviet arms industry certainly had no shortage of customers for the MiG-23, as it was purchased by not only every member nation of the Warsaw Pact but by a veritable laundry list of official Communist allies as well as ostensible Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) states around the globe.  This customer list included Algeria, Cuba, India, North Korea, and Syria.

The phrase "penny wise, pound foolish” comes to mind; the plane was reported to be difficult to fly and expensive to maintain, while its engines had a short service life. And then there was the warbird's combat record. As noted by Senior Editor Peter Suciu:

“There is no ambiguity here: the MiG-23 boasts a long, well-documented, and deeply embarrassing service record. The full extent of its failures is too great to recount in detail, but here are a few highlights. Over a dozen Syrian MiG-23 jet fighters were shot down by Israeli F-15s and F-16s throughout the Arab-Israeli Wars. Iraqi MiG-23 jet fighters also fared even more poorly against Iran during the Iran-Iraq War, reportedly suffering upwards of fifty losses against Iranian F-14s, F-5s, and F-4s. Libyan MiG-23s were routinely outperformed by Egyptian MiG-21 jet fighters during the Libyan-Egyptian War, and two of these fighters were destroyed by two U.S. F-14 Tomcats during the 1989 Tobruk skirmish.”

During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, one lucky Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) MiG-23 pilot managed at least a token bit of success when he damaged an F-111 Aardvark with an R-24T missile as the American fighter-bomber was on a bombing run.

The Aardvark still managed to return safely to base, and this partial victory was slim comfort for the IqAF in light of the seven Floggers they lost to F-15Cs in air-to-air combat.  

The Lingering MiG-23 Flogger

Despite these design flaws and a poor combat record alike, the MiG-23 has soldiered on.  The Russians built 5,000 Floggers of all types between 1967 and 1985, and the Russian Air Force kept them in service until 1999.

Meanwhile, it still remains in the aerial arsenals of Angola, Ethiopia, North Korea, and Syria.

Specifications (MiG-23MS)

Crew: One (Pilot)

Length: 54.7 feet (16.7 meters)

Wingspan: 45.6 feet (13.9 meters) fully spread; 25.26 feet (7.7 meters) fully swept

Height: 15.81 feet (4.82 meters) 

Empty weight: 10.2 tons 

Maximum takeoff weight: 17.8 tons

Armament: One twin-barreled 23mm GSh-23L cannon; six air-to-air missiles (mixture of infrared-homing close-range, AA-2 “Atoll” or AA-8 “Aphid”, and medium-range AA-7 “Apex” missiles)

Engine: One Tumansky R-29-300 turbojet of approx. 27,500 lbs (12,473 kg) thrust

Maximum speed: Approx. Mach 2.4 (1,553 mph/2,499 kph)

Wing sweep settings: 16, 45, and 72 degrees; adjustable in flight

About the Author

Christian D. Orr is a former Air Force officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon).  Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU).  He has also been published in The Daily Torch and The Journal of Intelligence and Cyber Security.

Image Credit: Creative Commons. 

Yello App, une application tout en audio qui révolutionne la révision au BAC

With his triumph against Vice President Kamala Harris, Donald Trump is being likened to Grover Cleveland, the first Democrat elected after the Civil War who won non-consecutive terms in 1884 and 1892. But Trump’s election also bears comparison to another president—Ronald Reagan. When Reagan was elected in 1980 against Jimmy Carter, liberal elites were dumbfounded. Reagan entered Washington promising to overturn the bureaucracy and restore American greatness after the dolorous Carter-Mondale era. It was thunder on the right.

But there the similarities end. Trump has reinvented the conservative movement in his own strongman image by breaking with the verities of the Reagan era. The old Republican establishment is out. The young populists are in.

With JD Vance at his side, Trump will more than likely staff his administration with a new generation of conservatives intent on carrying out his mandate to topple the Deep State at home and retrench abroad. These are not the cautious technocrats of the Biden era. They have a vision and a plan. Writing in Foreign Affairs, for example, Sumantra Maitra calls for the creation of a “dormant NATO” in which America would “remove its ground forces from Europe in order to shift the burden of defending the continent away from Washington and toward the region’s own governments.” Elbridge Colby, a defense department official in Trump’s first term, is propounding a Trump doctrine--a shift from an emphasis on Europe to countering China’s quest for suzerainty over the South China Sea. Then there is William Ruger, Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Afghanistan, who avers that “voters were given a choice, made more stark by Harris-Cheney embrace, and they chose greater realism over left-right elite liberal internationalism.”

For Trump himself a second term represents an opportunity to enact his longstanding dream of upending America’s alliances. There will be few voices in the Senate to oppose him. Mitch McConnell is a spent force whom Trump, during one of his final rallies, ridiculed for dutifully supporting him. Mitt Romney is retiring.

Nor is this all. Trump’s hand is strengthened by the fact that he repudiated the party machine during the campaign. In running for reelection, scorned the seasoned party professionals who claimed that he should mute his strident statements and relied on outside PACs to mobilize his supporters. Elon Musk, who lavishly supported his run, will occupy a prominent role in his administration.

Disheartened Democrats are already debating the reasons for Harris’ loss. One explanation is that Trump didn’t win so much as Harris lost. Jonathan Chait declared that “The American public has not embraced Trump. The decisive bloc of voters always evinced deep misgivings about Trump’s character and rhetoric, even if they didn’t fully recall all his crimes and offenses (who could?). Trump didn’t win by making people love or even accept him. He won because the electorate rejected the Biden-Harris administration.”

But this risks underestimating the magnetic attraction that Trump seems to exert upon his followers and supporters. John F. Harris’ explanation in Politico may be more plausible: “For a significant portion of his supporters, he didn’t win in 2016 in spite of his notorious remark to Access Hollywood about grabbing women by their private parts, or in 2024 in spite of his election denialism. He won in some measure because of these things — and the indignation they inspired.”

Daniel McCarthy in the New York Times takes it one step further, elevating Trump’s election to “a public vote of no confidence in the leaders and institutions that have shaped American life since the end of the Cold War 35 years ago.”

But that is a purely negative verdict. The question for Trump, as McCarthy acknowledges, is whether he can deliver more than destruction in Washington. Speaking in West Palm Beach, Trump announced that he would usher in a new “golden age for America.” 

About the Author: 

Jacob Heilbrunn is editor of The National Interest and is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. He has written on both foreign and domestic issues for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Reuters, Washington Monthly, and The Weekly Standard. He has also written for German publications such as Cicero, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and Der Tagesspiegel. In 2008, his book They Knew They Were Right: the Rise of the Neocons was published by Doubleday. It was named one of the one hundred notable books of the year by The New York Times. He is the author of America Last: The Right’s Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators.

Image Credit: Creative Commons. 

What You Need to Know: Iran’s recent direct missile barrage against Israel marks a shift from its usual proxy warfare, signaling Tehran's expanding missile capabilities. According to CSIS, Iran's arsenal includes thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles, with ranges that could easily reach Israel.

-Most troubling, however, is Iran’s advancing space program, potentially doubling as a front for ICBM development. With solid-fuel technology and missile expertise potentially bolstered by cooperation with Russia, Iran appears to be closing in on a viable ICBM and nuclear delivery capability.

-These advancements highlight an urgent threat for U.S. and Israeli defense officials as tensions in the Middle East persist.

Iran’s Escalating Missile Arsenal: How Close Are They to an ICBM?

Iran’s recent barrages targeting the Jewish state indicate that the regime is inching toward acquiring the technology needed to field an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). In April, Tehran engaged in direct warfare with Israel for the first time when it launched more than 300 projectiles in an escalatory fashion. The Islamic Republic typically utilizes its region-wide proxy groups to launch similar attacks since it is positioned further from Israel. 

However, Tehran’s ability to carry out such a barrage is exemplary of its growing weapons arsenal.

An Overview of Tehran’s Missile Arsenal

According to a 2021 report published by the Missile Threat Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Iran possesses thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles with a variety of capabilities and ranges. Tehran’s stockpile of cruise missiles is the most deadly, as they can fly at several times the speed of sound and can reach Israeli territory from Iran in under fifteen minutes. 

The most threatening missiles built by Iran are the Sekkil, Kheibar, and Haj Qasem models. The Sekkil is a medium-range weapon capable of carrying a payload of 700 kg and reaching targets up to 1,550 miles away. The Kheibar and Haj Qasem have ranges of 1,240 and 870 miles respectively.

How Iran’s Space Program is Linked to its ICBM Quest:

While Tehran currently does not field an ICBM, a weapon that can reach targets of more than 3,400 miles, experts believe that its space program could quicken the development of these lethal missiles. Since space launch vehicles and carrier rockets are generally identical to the technology and components required to launch an ICBM, Tehran is potentially using its space program to get closer to fielding these missile types. 

According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, “Iran’s space program has long served as a cover for developing and testing components for an ICBM. With Iran sending missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine, Russia may well be reciprocating by supplying Iran with the tools and knowledge necessary to grow its space launch program. Paired with Iran’s recent acceleration in enriched uranium production, this space launch capability inches the country closer to fielding a nuclear weapon that can threaten the U.S. homeland.”

The turning point in Iran’s quest to acquire ICBM technology occurred in 2020 when the regime launched its first successful military satellite (Noor-1), carried by its domestically built Qased three-stage space launch vehicle. This notable launch displayed a solid-fuel capability that had the potential to elevate the country’s future missile designs.

Building up its weapons programs across the board is a top priority for the Islamic Republic as Iran is the largest proliferator in the region. Once Tehran achieves its nuclear breakout time, it will undoubtedly pour its resources into building a capable delivery system for the weapon- an ICBM. 

The ongoing war in the Middle East between Israel, Iran, and its proxy groups does not appear to be simmering down anytime soon. With this in mind, Iran’s efforts to build up its weapons programs should be a top concern to U.S. and Israeli officials alike.

About the Author: 

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

 Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.

The contours and consequences of a second-term foreign policy.

Wage War: The USS North Carolina was America’s first “fast battleship,” designed for both speed and strength. Launched in 1937, she could reach 28 knots, allowing her to escort carriers while retaining battleship-level armor and firepower.

-Armed with nine 16-inch guns and substantial anti-aircraft defenses, she served extensively in the Pacific Theater, participating in major battles like Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

-After the war, plans to convert her for modern uses were scrapped, and she was eventually saved from demolition by James Craig’s fundraising efforts.

-Today, the USS North Carolina serves as a museum ship in Wilmington, preserving her legacy.

USS North Carolina: America’s First ‘Fast Battleship’ Finds New Life as Museum Ship

The battleship was the preeminent warship class of the early twentieth century. And typically, when people think of battleship attributes, firepower is front of mind. But one class of battleship wasn’t built so much with an emphasis on firepower, but with an emphasis on speed: the North Carolina class.

Introducing the USS North Carolina

The USS North Carolina was the lead ship of the North Carolina class, which happened to be the U.S. Navy’s first-ever “fast battleship.” The term fast battleship is applied to a class of ships that was fast enough to perform tasks like escorting aircraft carriers, but did not make sacrifices to armor or armament (like a battlecruiser may have), and hence could engage with a battleship as a peer.

The North Carolina was laid down in 1937, before the Japanese had trained their eyes on Pearl Harbor. Commissioned in April 1941, while the United States was still at peace, the North Carolina would be hastened into action following the Japanese surprise attack.

The boat was fast, capable of reaching 28 knots. For propulsion, the North Carolina relied on eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers, which could generate 121,000 horsepower. Fully loaded, the vessel displaced over 45,000 tons. The North Carolina measured 728-feet long with a 108-foot beam and a thirty-two-foot draft.

And while the North Carolina was built for speed, she was still expected to hold her own with respect to firepower. Accordingly, she was outfitted with nine 16-inch Mark 6 guns; twenty 5-inch dual-purpose guns; sixteen anti-aircraft guns; and eighteen .50-caliber machine guns. To withstand an onslaught from rival battleships, the North Carolina was outfitted with armor measuring 16 inches thick along the gun turret and 12 inches thick along the belt.

The North Carolina at war

The North Carolina spent the majority of World War II in the Pacific Theater. For much of the war, the North Carolina was used for her speed, to screen for aircraft carriers; as a carrier screen, the North Carolina saw action early, in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, and later at the Gilberts, Marshalls, Mariana, and Palau Islands. The North Carolina also participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the Battle of Okinawa.

During the war, the North Carolina was used extgensively. She was damaged, too, surviving a torpedo strike from a Japanese submarine, and surviving Typhoon Cobra, an epic storm that sank three American vessels and killed nearly 800 sailors.

The North Carolina in retirement

After the war, the North Carolina was decommissioned. Originally, the Navy had hoped to convert the ship for other purposes; some hoped to make the North Carolina even faster, or to convert her into a helicopter carrier. Conversion projects were eventually abandoned, however. Yet, the North Carolina would remain in the navy’s registry for over a decade, before finally being struck in 1960.

The North Carolina was set to be scrapped. But a man from North Carolina, James Craig, initiated a campaign to postpone the scrapping, and then raise the quarter of a million dollars necessary to prepare the vessel for display as a museum ship. Thanks to Craig’s efforts, you can still visit the North Carolina today, in Wilmington, North Carolina.

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.

What You Need to Know: According to Moscow, Ukraine’s intelligence service attempted to sabotage Russia’s only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, in March by recruiting a crewmember to set incendiary devices on board. However, the plot failed when the crewmember reported the attempt to Russia’s FSB, which then turned him into a double agent, gathering intelligence on Ukrainian operations.

-The incident underscores the symbolic importance of the dilapidated Kuznetsov for Russia despite its outdated status, prompting Ukraine’s focus on the carrier as a target.

-Russia later deployed the Kuznetsov's crew to the Ukraine front, though the ship itself remains in drydock, likely far from true operational capability.

Ukraine Tried to Sabotage Russia’s Only Aircraft Carrier

Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the ancient Admiral Kuznetsov, has languished in port for years. But even before it was permanently consigned to floating in the safety of its homeport, the Admiral K was a global laughingstock; an awful sign to the world that Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union and its defeat in the Cold War by the United States was no longer a great power. 

Despite the fact that the Admiral Kuznetsov is a perennial reminder of the bad old days in Russia’s recent history, Moscow keeps the boat afloat. Because of its symbolic importance, though, it recently became a target of Ukrainian intelligence.

The Intelligence Operation: A Comedy of Errors

According to the public arm of Russia’s shadowy intelligence service, the FSB, the Russian security services foiled a plot by Ukraine’s military intelligence service to attack the Admiral Kuznetsov while it was in port. The FSB Public Relations Center claimed that way back in March of this year, the Ukrainian intelligence service attempted to recruit a crewmember of the Admiral Kuznetsov.

Under “psychological pressure” and financial inducements, the lowly Admiral K crewmember was promised rapid exfiltration from Russia by Ukraine to Finland if that crewmember set off incendiary devices onboard the dilapidated Russian boat.

The crewmember apparently alerted the Russian security services as soon as that individual was contacted with the offer from Ukrainian intelligence. Again, according to Russian government sources, the FSB then turned the targeted Admiral Kuznetsov crewmember into a double agent, who pretended to work for the Ukrainian intelligence service while soaking up all the information on other Russian-based Ukrainian operatives and operations. 

Ultimately, this Admiral Kuznetsov crewmember working for the FSB supposedly gleaned from his Ukrainian handler that the “entire operation was personally supervised by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov.” 

Needless to say, the attack did not occur as Ukraine had planned. But this incident highlights two things: first, despite it being a global embarrassment, the Admiral Kuznetsov continues to be a symbol of Russian power projection, which is why the Ukrainians wasted so much precious time and resources trying to sabotage the glorified garbage scowl. 

Second, Ukraine continues to prove that it is both desperate to strike at Russian symbols of power and that, in its desperation, it is making major mistakes. Who knows what other, more important, intelligence the Russians were able to learn from this complex FSB operation. 

Anyway, the operation from the Ukrainian perspective was a failure.

An End of an Era

Even though the crewmembers of the Admiral Kuznetsov apparently alerted the Russian security services as soon as he was contacted by the Ukrainian intelligence operative, Moscow still decided to send the crew of the ship to the frontlines in Ukraine shortly after that incident. The intelligence operation wrapped up around July of this year.

And the Admiral Kuznetsov has been removed from its port to a drydock facility. The Russian government insists the Admiral K will be restored to full operational capability and will be sent back to leech Mazut fuel across the world’s High Seas next year.

That is doubtful. What’s not doubted, though, is the special place that the Admiral K holds in the hearts of Russia’s leadership. That symbolic importance makes it a target even as it is kept far away from the world’s hotspots. It would seem this awful carrier brings out the worst in everyone. 

Eventually, Moscow will have to end this miserable ship’s existence.

About the Author

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is available for purchase wherever books are sold. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.

What You Need to Know: China’s quest to field a stealth fighter that rivals the U.S. F-35 faces setbacks due to material science challenges, particularly in developing advanced Radar Absorbent Material (RAM).

-As former U.S. Navy Operations Specialist Eric Wicklund explains, while replicating the F-35’s stealthy design may be possible, reproducing the F-35’s RAM capabilities remains elusive. Wicklund compares China’s situation to reverse-engineering Damascus steel without understanding the underlying process.

-This gap leaves Chinese stealth fighters less effective in evading radar. Meanwhile, the F-35’s advanced avionics, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare systems ensure it maintains an edge in situational awareness and networked capabilities.

Why China’s Fighter Jets Still Lag Behind the F-35: Material Science Matters

Months back, Quora user Eric Wicklund, a former U.S. Navy Operations Specialist, explained why the Chinese cannot yet field a true competitor to the F-35. 

“Just producing a stealthy-looking shape is only one part of many different aspects of stealth,” Wicklund began. “Even internal structures, and how they’re configured, matter.” One respect where China is deficient, Wicklund argues, is in materials science, and this shortfall has impacted Beijing’s ability to develop effective Radar Absorbent Material (RAM), which can absorb or scatter up to 80% of incoming radar waves.

According to Wicklund, stealing a stealth shape from a computer is simple enough, but developing cutting-edge RAM is a more difficult task. “I could hand the Chinese a chunk of RAM,” Wicklund wrote, “they could analyze it, and realize it is genuine, but the problem is in reverse-engineering it. They know what it is, but wouldn’t know how to make it.”

Wicklund explained that giving American RAM technology to the Chinese would be like giving a Damascus steel blade to an Egyptian swordmaker. The Egyptian would recognize the superior quality of the blade but would not be able to reverse-engineer the thing. That’s the problem the Chinese are currently facing with RAM technology.

Wicklund equated China’s trouble with RAM to their recent troubles developing the WS-15 jet engine. For years, the Chinese struggled to create fan blades that could withstand the heat generated within a jet engine. Finally, China’s material science caught up to the task, and the WS-15 has since entered production. “RAM is going to be another difficult stepping stone, and until they master it, China’s stealth fighters will be outmatched by the F-35.” 

F-35 Fighter: On the Cutting Edge

The U.S. is currently the only nation capable of developing and producing an aircraft as sophisticated as either the F-35 or the F-22.

Designed for air superiority and strike missions, the F-35 is also equipped to perform electronic warfare and ISR functions. The most notable features of the F-35 are the advanced avionics and sensor fusion, which grant the pilot an unmatched level of situational awareness.

Curiously, the F-35 was not designed to be as kinetically capable or as maneuverable as the F-22 fifth-generation fighter. While the F-35 can keep up with fourth-generation aircraft, the airframe was designed with stealth and sensor fusion as priorities, rather than maneuverability.

Key sensors aboard the F-35 include the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array radar; the BAE Systems AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare system; the Northrop Grumman/Raytheon AN/AAQ-37 Electro-optical Distributed Aperture System; Lockheed Martin’s AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System; and the Northrop Grumman AN/ASQ-242 Communications, Navigation, and Identification suite.

The sum of all of the advanced systems is an aircraft with better situational awareness, better command-and-control capabilities, and better network-centric capabilities than any aircraft in production. 

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Image Credit: Creative Commons. 

What You Need to Know: Poland is rapidly strengthening its position as a major tank power within NATO, set to receive its first M1A2 Abrams SEP V3 MBTs and additional armored support by late 2024. This follows a $6 billion purchase agreement, with Abrams tanks currently en route and Polish soldiers trained for their maintenance.

-Concurrently, Poland is receiving K2 Black Panther MBTs and K9A1 howitzers from South Korea, marking a historic multi-billion dollar deal that includes potential for domestic production under license.

-These advanced tanks will fortify Poland’s defense posture, reinforcing NATO’s eastern front against growing threats from Russia.

NATO’s Tank Wall: Poland to Produce K2 Black Panther MBTs

NATO member Poland is on track to receive its first M1A2 Abrams with the SEP V3 update before the end of 2024, and ahead of schedule. Warsaw received approval to purchase 250 of the Abrams from the U.S. State Department in February 2022. Soon after the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notification to Congress, altering lawmakers of the terms of the $6 billion deal.

In addition to the main battle tanks (MBTs), Poland will receive 26 M88A2 Hercules Combat Recovery vehicles, 17 M1110 joint assault bridges, 250 counter IED systems, 276 M2 .50 caliber machine guns, and assorted other small arms and ordnance – as well as other equipment, spares, training, and logistics personnel services.

The M1A2 Abrams SEP V3 MBTs are now being "transported by sea" and "are anticipated to arrive in Poland within weeks, though GDLS has withheld specific delivery dates and the number of units being shipped, citing security considerations," Army Recognition reported.

The announcement that the tanks will arrive soon comes just weeks after the first 25 Polish soldiers completed their nine-week training in maintaining the M1A2 SEPV3 Abrams tank at the newly built Army Pre-position Stocks-2 (APS-2) facility in Powidz, Poland. It is located in Powidz about 250 miles from the Ukrainian border – is a state-of-the-art depot that includes 650,000 square feet of humidity-controlled warehouse space that can be used for storage and maintenance of a variety of armored vehicles.

South Korean Tanks Also Bound for Poland

The M1A2s are the only MBTs set to arrive in Poland in the coming weeks, as Defence 24 reported that a shipment of K2 Black Panther tanks, along with K9A1 self-propelled howitzers, was "spotted at the Masan port in South Korea."

Those armored vehicles are part of the 69 South Korean MBTs and 124 self-propelled guns that Warsaw purchased from Seoul in another multi-billion dollar deal.

"Poland is expected to have 84 K2GF tanks and 132 K9A1 howitzers," Defence 24 added, noting previously acquired vehicles.

"More #K2BlackPanther tanks for #Poland! Seven K2s of the 9th batch were spotted loading at Masan port on October 25th. With this, #HyundaiRotem has completed the delivery of 56 K2GFs a month ahead of schedule this year, with 96 more expected next year. #FastDelivery #K2GF," South Korean open-source military analyst Hwarang announced in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The K2 MBTs could be seen being loaded on freighters bound for Poland.

Tank Producer

Poland will continue to receive the U.S. and South Korean MBTs and other vehicles through next year and likely beyond, but Warsaw's dependence on Washington and Seoul could diminish as Poland and South Korea are set to sign a deal in the coming weeks that could see the Eastern Europe nation produce the K2 under license.

The K2 Black Panther MBT was developed utilizing indigenous technology, and the initial prototype was unveiled in 2007, while production commenced for the first 100 K2 tanks in 2014. It is considered one of the most advanced MBTs in the world, outclassing any tanks in service with North Korea or even China or Russia.

Though it was designed to counter North Korea, the K2 Black Panther might be enough to deter the "Russian bear" and protect NATO's eastern flank.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.

Why panic about birthrates is overblown.

Der erneute Einzug von Donald Trump ins Weiße Hauswirft seinen Schatten voraus.

Im Weißen Haus wird ab Januar erneut Donald Trump regieren. Er siegte deutlich gegen die Demokratin Kamala Harris, wie schon 2016 gegen Hillary Clinton. Auch den Senat dominieren die Republikaner künftig. Die USA steuern auf große Umbrüche zu.

L'Amérique n'aura pas sa première femme présidente en 2024. Selon The Associated Press (AP), le candidat républicain, Donald Trump, a remporté les élections américaines devant son adversaire la démocrate Kamala Harris.

La derrière mise à jour (10h59) du mercredi 6 novembre 2024 donne les résultats suivants : 277 votes du collège électoral pour Trump contre 224 pour Harris.

Le candidat républicain devient ainsi le 47e président de la première puissance mondiale après avoir été le 45e ( 2017-2021).

Note: ">Lire aussi : Jean Bouda, Burkinabè résidant aux Etats-Unis : « Beaucoup d'électeurs sont mécontents du flux des migrants dans les villes, ce qui pourrait coûter cher à l'électorat des démocrates »

Lefaso.net
Source : The Associated Press

– Sa Majesté le Mogho Naaba Baongo , Empereur des Mossé ;
– Le Ouidi Naaba , Ministre du Mogho Naaba ;
– Le Naaba Koanga, Chef coutumier de Saaba ;
– Les grandes familles KOMBASRE, OUEDRAOGO, KALMOGO, DENGTOUMDA, ROUAMBA, KOBENDE, KIENTEGA, BALKOUMA, NIKYEMA et SIMPORE à Saaba, Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso, Bassinko et à Pabré ;

– Mr Raphael OUEDRAOGO à Wemtenga ;
– Mr Jean-Baptiste KOMBASRE à Saaba ;
– Pasteur André Rimdoungdou OUEDRAOGO ;
– Mr Henri OUEDRAOGO ex Maire de Saaba ;
– Song Kologh-naba de Saaba ;

– La famille de feu André BALKOUMA à Ouagadougou ;
– La famille de feu Paul NIKIEMA à Ouagadougou ;
– La famille de feu Paul BALKOUMA à Ouagadougou ;
– La famille de feu Félix TIENTARABOUM à Ouagadougou et en France ;
– Mme veuve KOMBASRE née SEDOGO Perpétue et ses enfants à Ouagadougou ;
– Mme veuve KOMBASRE née ZOUNDI Béatrice et ses enfants à Saaba et à Ouagadougou ;

– La grande famille GUISSOU à Koudougou, Palogo ( Youlou), à Ouagadougou et Bobo-Dioulasso ;
– Mme GAMBERE née GUISSOU Félicité, ses frères et sœurs à Ouagadougou ;
– La famille SILHARET à Bassnéré (Kaya), Ouagadougou, Abidjan et à Dakar ;
– Les familles alliées KYELEM, YAMEOGO, YETTA, ZOUNDI, BAKOUAN, SIMPORE, YERBANGA, KABORE à Koupéla, à Koudougou, à Pabré , à Tanlarghin, à Réo, à Tensobtenga, à Goghin, et à Kombissiri ;

– Les enfants : Josiane, Adeline, Evelyne, Brice, Aimée Wendy, Pascaline ;
– Les petits enfants et arrières petits enfants à Ouagadougou, Canada et France
Ont la profonde douleur de vous annoncer le décès de leur épouse, mère, fille, sœur, tante, grand-mère et arrière grand-mè+re KOMBASRE/GUISSOU Madeleine Sophie, enseignante à la retraite à Kologh-Naaba.

Programme des obsèques

Mercredi 06 novembre 2024
16h : Levée du corps à la morgue du CHU de Bogodogo
20h : Veillée de prières à son domicile à Kologh-Naaba

Jeudi 07 novembre 2024
08h : Messe d'absoute à l'église de Kologh-Naaba, suivie de l'enterrement au cimetière de Gounghin

Que par la miséricorde de Dieu, son âme repose en paix.

Union de prières !

Donald Trump kehrt wohl ins Weiße Haus zurück. Nicht wirklich überraschend, sagt Laura von Daniels, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik. Die politische Führung Europas habe in den letzten Jahren jedoch keine Antworten auf einen solchen Wahlausgang entwickelt.

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, INC.
Programme du Burkina

AVIS D'APPEL D'OFFRE

Reference : RG/001/Pro Sahel 2/SC/2024

L'international Rescue Committee (IRC) répond aux crises humanitaires dans le monde et aide les populations à survivre et à reconstruire leurs vies. Fondé en 1933 à la demande d'Albert Einstein, l'IRC offre des soins vitaux et une assistance qui change la vie des réfugiés forcés de fuir la guerre ou une catastrophe. IRC travaille aujourd'hui dans plus de 40 pays et 22 villes américaines, nous rétablissons la sécurité, la dignité et l'espoir de millions de personnes déracinées et qui luttent pour survivre.

Au Burkina Faso, IRC a lancé une réponse humanitaire et la première phase a ciblé la région du Sahel. Avec l'octroi de nouveaux projets, IRC a élargi ses zones d'interventions au Centre, au Nord, à l'Est et dans la région du Sahel.

L'objet de cette invitation à soumissionner est de solliciter des propositions compétitives pour l'identification d'un/ une consultant(e)/ cabinet pour l'évaluation Finale du Projet Pro Sahel au Burkina Faso, Mali et Niger.

Le dossier d'appel d'offre peut être retiré gratuitement à partir du 30/10/24 Physiquement à l'adresse suivante :
– Retrait physique : Tous les prestataires intéressés peuvent passer au bureau de IRC sis à Zogona, Parcelle 07 (H), Lot 03 (02) Section ET Secteur 22 Ex 13, A 200 m de la clinique du Bois. Tel : 05 00 40 88 ou 07.00.37.06

Ou téléchargement directement sur ce lien : Evaluation_Prosahel2

AVIS IMPORTANT
1) Se munir d'une clé USB ou d'une adresse électronique pour le retrait physique des dossiers d'appels d'offre ou en envoyant un message aux adresses emails ci-dessus :
2) Aux heures ouvrables :
– Du lundi au jeudi : 08h-17h 30 mn
– Vendredi : 08h-13h00
3) La date limite de dépôt des offres est fixée au 11/11/24 à 23h 00 aux adresses ci-dessus :

 Dépôt physique : Les soumissionnaires doivent signer le formulaire du registre des offres à la réception du bureau de IRC en indiquant le nom de leur société, le numéro de téléphone et la date de Retrait/soumission.

– Par émail à : IRCBurkinaFaso.RFP@rescue.org et copie à magloire.abale@rescue.org et OUEDRAOGO.Boureima@rescue.org avec la mention : « Identification d'un/ une consultant(e)/ cabinet pour l'évaluation Finale du Projet Pro Sahel au Burkina Faso, Mali et Niger »

NB : TOUTES LES OFFRES ARRIVÉES APRÈS L'HEURE LIMITE DE DEPOT NE SERONT PAS RECEPTIONNÉES.

Wizz Air Hungary/ Kommission (TAROM II; Covid-19)
Staatliche Beihilfen
Staatliche Beihilfen: Das Gericht weist die Klage von Wizz Air wegen einer Beihilfe, die Rumänien der nationalen Fluggesellschaft TAROM zum Ausgleich der durch die COVID-19-Pandemie entstandenen Schäden gewährt hat, ab