Deterrence of nuclear terrorism in the context of South Asia

Stability among the great powers during the Cold War is widely theorized in terms of nuclear deterrence. Rationality of states and their preference for survival are the basis of nuclear deterrence. The rationality of non-state terrorist groups is different from that of nation-states. Even though they are also rational actors with their own hierarchy of preferences, survival may not be their ultimate goal. Deterrence of nuclear terrorism is therefore different from deterrence against states. South Asia is more vulnerable to nuclear terrorism than any other region of the world for many reasons. This article analyzes the possibility of nuclear terrorism and the ways of deterrence against it in the context of South Asia.     

武器装备体系评价指标系统研究

近年来,武器装备体系研究成了复杂系统问题的一个研究热点,然而对它的评价方法、评价指标等方面的内容还处于争议状态.针对武器装备体系评价指标问题进行了系统分析,提出了建立装备体系评价指标系统的原则;根据原则给出了一个装备体系评价指标系统的框架,并对框架中各个指标的意义进行了说明.而要把这些指标综合起来,即将多指标转化成单指标的问题,就要用到系统效用分析方法,此方法在作者的其他文章中有详细的论述.     

Nuclear weapons and alliance institutions in the era of President Trump

The swearing in of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States presages, at the very least, a period of flux in American strategy with respect to the relationship between nuclear weapons and alliances. In this response to three thoughtful rejoinders to our article, “Nuclear weapons, the United States and alliances in Europe and Asia: Toward an institutional perspective,” we clarify key aspects of our argument and discuss why alliance institutions are likely to be relatively robust in the face of change, how they can influence national decision-making, and argue that they may exert a moderating influence over the new administration.     

基于同心筒结构的共架发射系统武器发射空域协调方法

为保证舰艇和武器系统安全,针对多武器共架发射时的发射协调问题,提出了空域协调的方法。首先,定义了空域协调的概念,分析了燃气排导、初始飞行弹道交叉对空域协调的影响;然后,通过判断发射活动、隔舱距离排序、隔舱属性赋值、判断隔舱相邻及弹道交叉等影响因素提出了空域协调的具体步骤;最后,对空域协调方法进行了算例验证。结果表明:通过空域上合理地选择武器(弹位)可以有效避免共架武器发射时产生干涉,保证系统安全。该方法对解决多类型舰载武器发射协调问题有借鉴意义。     

Indian Military Modernization and Conventional Deterrence in South Asia

In recent years, headline grabbing increases in the Indian defense budget have raised concerns that India’s on-going military modernization threatens to upset the delicate conventional military balance vis-à-vis Pakistan. Such an eventuality is taken as justification for Islamabad’s pursuit of tactical-nuclear weapons and other actions that have worrisome implications for strategic stability on the subcontinent. This article examines the prospects for Pakistan’s conventional deterrence in the near to medium term, and concludes that it is much better than the pessimists allege. A host of factors, including terrain, the favorable deployment of Pakistani forces, and a lack of strategic surprise in the most likely conflict scenarios, will mitigate whatever advantages India may be gaining through military modernization. Despite a growing technological edge in some areas, Indian policymakers cannot be confident that even a limited resort to military force would achieve a rapid result, which is an essential pre-condition for deterrence failure.     

Missile Strategy in a Post-Nuclear Age

While the arrival of nuclear weapons coincided roughly with the development of short, medium, intermediate, and eventually intercontinental missiles, the contribution of missile technology to the deterrence equation is often lost. If nuclear weapons were eliminated, even new generation missiles with conventional payloads could struggle to render effective deterrence. But some of the physical and psychological effects commonly ascribed to nuclear weapons could still be in play. And in a world without nuclear weapons, thinking about the use and control of force from the nuclear age would also deserve renewed attention.     

空降兵装备发展仿真实验研究

开展空降兵装备发展仿真实验研究,是促进空降兵装备快速发展的有效途径。提出了空降兵装备发展实验研究体系结构,在此基础上,重点对仿真实验研究的技术框架和模型体系的柔性设计进行了分析与研究,并对发展需求论证环境和作战运用研究环境的部署与运行方式进行了阐述,旨在为空降兵装备发展仿真实验研究的顶层设计及具体实现提供参考。     

复杂战场环境下的防空反导光学成像制导技术

光学成像制导技术是提升精确制导武器防空反导能力的核心技术之一,对提高复杂战场环境下精确制导武器的防空反导能力具有十分重要的作用。针对复杂战场环境下防空反导的需求,首先深入分析了各种复杂战场环境要素给光学成像制导武器带来的挑战,然后对未来光学成像制导技术发展趋势进行预测,最后结合我国光学成像制导技术发展现状,介绍了未来几年间需重点探索的几种新型光学成像制导技术。     

The Chinese and Asian impact on Russian nuclear policy

Asia, where nuclear powers already interact (including North Korea), exerts a growing influence on the thinking and policy underlying Russia's current and future nuclear (and overall defense) posture. China's rise is forcing Russia into a greater reliance on strategic offensive weapons and tactical nuclear weapons. These in turn will reinforce its opposition to US missile defenses, not only in Europe but also in Asia. Russia must now entertain the possibility of nuclear use in regional conflicts that would otherwise remain purely conventional. It cannot be postulated blindly that nuclear weapons serve no discernible purpose other than to deter nuclear attacks by other nuclear powers. The strategic equation in Asia and in the Russian Far East convincingly demonstrates the falsity of this approach. Nuclear weapons will be the essential component of Russia's regional defense policy if not of its overall policies – and this also includes contingencies in Europe.     

Are non‐lethal weapons a viable military option to strengthen the hearts and minds approach in Afghanistan?

Commanders of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have repeatedly stressed the hearts and minds approach in Afghanistan, in saying that the human terrain is decisive for a successful outcome of the mission. Avoidance of civilian casualties is considered of strategic importance, and by nature highly dependent on the management of tactical level Escalation of Force (EoF) situations. Non‐lethal weapons (NLWs) are expected to enable tactical commanders to avoid innocent civilian casualties in such situations. This article considers a selected NLW on its potential to accomplish this requirement. It uses a defence technology assessment approach to analyse EoF situations experienced by Dutch ISAF forces in which the NLW is inserted. The analysis demonstrates that a range of contextual factors in the Afghanistan high‐risk environment tend to narrow down the window of opportunity for the NLW to help defuse the risk of unintended civil casualties.