The danger of “hybrid warfare” from a sophisticated adversary: the Russian “hybridity” in the Ukrainian conflict

The term “hybrid warfare” is a new one that the West began to use to explain its failure to cope with asymmetric threats. Focusing on the war on global terrorism, the West temporarily withdrew its attention from traditional adversaries, such as Russia, which has used this gap and has audaciously returned to the stage as a global actor. Until the Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and inflaming the Ukrainian crisis, most Western authors attributed “hybrid threats” mostly to non-state actors. But the Ukrainian scenario showed the true face of “hybridity” in the modern battlefield when practised by a powerful state actor. Russian “hybrid warfare” in Ukraine has already been seen as a combination of conventional and unconventional methods, that have been complemented with other instruments of national power – diplomatic, economic and information. The purpose of this article is, through an analysis of the Ukrainian scenario, to demonstrate that although the term “hybrid” is new, the concept itself is old and is a continuation of already seen doctrine from the Cold War era. Although “hybrid threats” can come both from state and non-state actors, the Russian interference in Ukraine is proof that they are especially dangerous for the West if, or when, they are initiated from a traditional, sophisticated adversary that has the capacity to use all forms of warfare.     

Capturing Contemporary Innovation: Studying IDF Innovation against Hamas and Hizballah

The question of what enables some militaries to innovate effectively is of great interest to both scholars and commanders. However, the traditional models of military innovation fail to capture the complex innovation process. This study develops a new analytical framework that examines the pressures on and incentives for military innovation in the international, civil/military, organizational, and cultural planes and uses it to evaluate Israel Defense Forces (IDF) innovation between 2000 and 2009. Based on interviews with Israeli commanders and extensive research in Israel, this work finds that the IDF struggled to innovate before the 2006 war against Hizballah, but innovated effectively after the conflict once military and civilian leaders understood threats similarly. New models are needed to analyze the contemporary multi-dimensional innovative process.     

基于路径规划的敏捷卫星姿态机动反馈控制方法

为了避免奇异状态,单框架控制力矩陀螺(SGCMG)操纵律要求框架角进行快速转动,需要消耗较多的能量,并会对SGCMG和卫星系统带来一系列潜在危害。针对该问题,提出基于路径规划和反馈控制相结合的姿态机动控制方法。根据固定时间姿态机动的任务需求,以能量为优化指标,采用伪谱法优化机动路径并回避奇异状态;将最优控制量作为参考数输入,并利用基于系统限制状态的反馈控制方法消除不确定性和扰动的影响。反馈控制基于名义输入进行数值积分得到的预测状态量,并与期望终端状态比较形成控制误差信号。该方法将卫星和SGCMG作为整体规划姿态运动,能够有效避免奇异状态。结合工程实际,在闭环控制仿真中考虑了卫星角速度和SGCMG框架角的初始偏差。仿真结果表明:本文算法能够有限避免奇异状态,且能消除初始姿态角速度和框架角不确定的影响。     

基于贝叶斯混合源分离方法的声纳探测误差模型

声纳的探测误差模型是声纳仿真的核心技术。针对现有的声纳误差白噪声模型仿真逼真度低的问题,提出了基于贝叶斯混合源分离方法,建立了声纳的探测误差模型,提高了声纳误差模型的性能。与传统的白噪声仿真方法相比,基于贝叶斯混合源分离方法的声纳误差仿真模型具有较好的逼真度,可以有效地对声纳探测误差进行建模和预测。     

Effects of jute fibre content on the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the composites in structural applications

Due to notable characteristics, sustainability concept and environmental issues, hybridisation natural with synthetic fibres to fabricate composites have been rapidly gaining market share in different applications (structural, military, aerospace and automotive vehicles). Compression, tension and fatigue tests of various stacking sequences of plain jute/carbon reinforced (PVB) polyvinyl butyral by hot hydraulic press technique were experimentally conducted. Six types of fabricated composites with various constituents (jute, carbon and their hybrids) were fabricated and tested. Notably, fatigue lifetime of hybrids increases with increasing the carbon content relative to the jute fibre content. On the other hand, Jute composites possess high strain compared to pure carbon composite, which gives an overall improvement in mechanical behaviours. Interestingly, H1 hybrid with Carbon/Jute/Carbon sequences offers similar fatigue stiffness behaviour of H3 hybrid with Carbon/Jute/Carbon/Jute sequences when subjected to cyclic loading. Carbon composite (C) exhibited the highest fatigue resistance, whiles jute composite (J) possessed the highest strain and semi brittle trends in both mechanical and fatigue performance. Results concluded that plain jute fibres could partially replace high-cost synthetic carbon fibres to produce more eco-friendly hybrids to be utilised in different composites industries.