The Gravity of Arms

The aim of this paper is to investigate the determinants of international arms transfers in a gravity model framework. By distinguishing between the decision to export arms (extensive margin) and the value of the arms exported (intensive margin), while also considering its interdependence, is what differentiates this paper from previous research. A theoretically justified gravity model of trade augmented with political and security motives is estimated using a two-stage panel data approach for 104 exporting countries over the period from 1950 to 2007. In addition to the usual gravity variables related to the economic mass of the trading countries and the trade cost factors, the model is extended with political and security factors. The level of democracy in both trading partners, political differences between trading partners and voting similarity with the United States in the UN General Assembly of the countries engaged in trade are the main political factors, whereas the existence of conflicts, military pacts, and embargoes are taken as security motives. The key result indicates that both political and security motives are an important determinant of an arms trade, but their effects on the extensive margin of exports (the decision to order a transfer) differs from their effect on the intensive margin (average value of exports). Moreover, the relative importance of the factors under study has changed since 1989. In the post-cold war period, countries that are less democratic are more likely to export arms, military pacts are less relevant and embargoes play a role.     

Buy now,pay later: American military intervention and the strategic cost paradox

This paper explores the notion that US efforts to evade the political costs of war paradoxically contribute to the subsequent exacerbation of costs over time. Leaders seek to purchase political capital in the short term by limiting the costs and requirements of military operations, but in doing so cause strategic and political liabilities to mount in the long run. While identification of such behaviour is not new, insufficient attention has been devoted to explaining its causes, dynamics, and manifestations in relation to key decisions on and in war. Evidence derived from studies of recent American discretionary campaigns is analysed to advance an argument with respect to this pattern of self-defeating strategic behaviour.     

智能化作战指挥模式需求

智能装备已经走入军队、走向战场,创建智能化作战指挥模式是智能化时代作战指挥的必然发展趋势,智能化作战指挥模式需求分析可为智能作战问题研究提供有效的信息。智能化作战指挥模式的需求分析已经具备了一定的物质、理论和技术基础,同时,也具有了一定的构建思路、实践条件和实验平台。在此基础上,本文从军事需求、功能需求和技术需求以及构建要求四个不同角度进行需求分析,以找准创建需求,为后续工作进一步展开奠定基础。     

On the roles of free play in army exercises and the Russians

The article outlines the essential role of free play elements in various types of exercises for the development of in-depth and practical military professionalism. It thereafter argues why such use of free play contradicts the military science founded Russian Way of War.     

Analysis of some critical aspects in hot machining of Ti-5553 superalloy: Experimental and FE analysis

In this study, a newly developed titanium superalloy, i.e., the Ti-5553 alloy has used for hot machining. This material replaced Ti-grade-5 alloy in the application of aerospace, automobile, and biomedical sector. However, similar to Ti-grade-5 alloy, the Ti-5553 alloy has a low thermal conductivity which makes it difficult-to-cut material categories hence, high tool wear, cutting force and bad surface finish. Hot machining of Ti-5553 has been studied at different machining condition (room and hot) using Deform-2D finite element analysis. The result from the simulation test was compared with the experimental value and reduction of cutting and thrust forces was observed. The experiment was carried out with the same input parameters as simulation, and good coherence between them observed. Additionally, cutting zone temperature, effective stress, etc. for both room and elevated the temperature are also discussed.     

Regular and irregular forces in conflict: nineteenth century insurgencies in South America

ABSTRACT

In the decades following independence from Spain, ‘civil wars’ ravaged the newly established polities in South America. Former vice-regal capitals inherited a larger portion of the colonial administration and had larger economic resources and a hegemonic project they were able to have permanent and professional armed forces, capable of leading the offensive and giving battle following the European rules of military art. The central hypothesis of this work is that there is a necessary relationship between the shape of these asymmetrical conflicts, their outcome and the political territorial configuration of each country in post-revolutionary Spanish America. When permanent armies took over from local militias, the capital kept the integrity of its territories and there was a tendency towards political centralization. When this did not happen and the militias managed to find a way to defeat their centralizing enemies, the local powers had an opportunity to renegotiate their participation in the political body, and sought to maintain their independence, which was manifest in federal agreements, otherwise a process of territorial fragmentation began. More than a difference between regular and irregular forces there was one between intermittent, and permanent mobilization.     

阵列雷达自适应多零点单脉冲群目标测角算法

针对阵列体制雷达,由极大似然估计导出自适应多零点单脉冲测角原理。分析发现迭代步长过大导致双零点单脉冲技术在多目标条件下失效,因此提出加权步长改进角度估计的迭代过程,只需要较少计算量就能实现群内多个目标的精确测角。仿真结果表明：该算法在较高信噪比条件下可以精确测量群内三个目标角度,测角误差约为0.15倍波束宽度;当群目标数较多或者目标相位差接近于0时,算法性能下降明显。     

北斗系统新民用导航电文历书参数算法与性能分析

研究新公布的北斗民用导航电文中的两类历书与北斗二号导航电文历书的差异,对比分析各类历书对接收机首次定位时间的影响。利用实际的历书数据,比较不同历书类型的用户算法,分析不同龄期数据对接收机首次定位性能的影响。结果表明,高精度历书在1周的数据龄期内性能较为稳定,中等精度历书精度稍逊于高精度历书,但由于简化了电文空间,能接近高精度历书性能。简约历书进一步简化了参数数目和电文空间,尽管位置误差达到了数百千米,但却能在数月之后保持相应精度,有利于缩短接收机首次定位时间。     

轻量级SpaceFibre节点高速传输系统的优化设计

为满足卫星有效载荷间SpaceFibre链路的高带宽、高可靠性和轻量化的应用需求,提出一种SpaceFibre节点传输系统的优化设计。该设计采用基于帧累计的增量化计算方法减少了计算电路的冗余;通过四级流水架构满足了错误检测操作的时序要求,使用循环冗余校验共享机制平衡了硬件资源的使用;采取基于完整应答的双层控制策略提升了系统的可靠性,通过构建面向资源优化的控制状态机和存储架构简化了确认重传算法的实现逻辑。使用型号为XC7Z100FFG900-2的FPGA搭建双节点系统,板级验证表明:该设计满足协议规范,与同类设计方案相比,最高工作频率提高1.5倍,支持最高6.25 Gbit/s的传输速率,查找表资源和存储资源降低,寄存器资源相近,为开发具有自主知识产权的高速可靠SpaceFibre编解码器提供了参考。     

远距离反坦克导弹最新发展述评

系统地论述了当前世界范围内各式远距离反坦克导弹的研究、发展、应用、升级改造思路和更新换代情况,以及一些知名公司的研制和发展特色;指出远射程、高精度、大威力,以及良好的适配能力和多用途化将成为其发展的重点。