Glimpse into an army at its peak: notes on the Somali National Army in the 1960–80s

ABSTRACT

Bagayoko, Hutchful, and Luckham correctly argue that the structures, characteristics, and operating methods of official security institutions in Africa have been somewhat neglected, with a lack of much recent research. The Somali National Army (SNA) sits among these lacunae. Its formal structures can be used as a skeletal starting point and springboard to start to draw the network diagrams that chart informal linkages. This is why recent declassification decisions by U.S. intelligence bodies, coupled with period documents released to the UK National Archives, hold significance in helping us understand early hierarchical SNA arrangements. They show the steady build-up in size of the force, to 1987, to about the time the civil war began to fragment the state.     

Study on cook-off characteristics and thermal safety venting area of RBOE charge

RBOE is a new type of DNAN-based high-energy melt-cast mixed explosive,whose safety under thermal stimulation is significantly affected by heating conditions and venting area of the warhead.Based on the thermal decomposition reaction characteristics and combustion characteristics of each component of RBOE explosive,the cook-off calculation models of RBOE warhead before and after ignition were established.In addition,closed and vented warheads were designed,as well as fast and slow cook-off test devices.The cook-off characteristics and thermal safety venting area of RBOE warhead were extensively studied.The results showed that the closed RBOE warhead underwent deflagration reaction under both slow and fast cook-off conditions.The calculation result of the shell wall temperature before slow cook-off ignition response of the warhead was 454.06 K,with an error of+1.75％compared to the test result of 462.15 K,and the temperature rise rate calculated was in good agreement with the test.The calculated ignition time of RBOE warhead under fast cook-off was 161 s,with an error of+8.8％compared to the test result of 148 s,which verified the accuracy of cook-off model of RBOE warhead before ignition.According to the cook-off calculation model of the warhead after ignition and cook-off test of the vented warhead,it was determined that the thermal safety venting area was 1124.61 mm2 for fast cook-off and 530.66 mm2 for slow cook-off,effectively preventing the reaction of warhead above combustion.Therefore,this study provides a scientific basis for the thermal safety design and evaluation of insensitive warheads.     

Missile systems: “Flexible modularity” and incremental technological change in military production∗

It is often stated that technological change in the military field is characterised by the introduction of radical innovations rather than by incremental processes of technological change. This article illustrates the diversity of military innovation by arguing that technological change in missiles systems is dominated by incremental change. While some large weapons platforms display the design rigidities normally associated with complex systems, missiles are characterised by “flexible modularity”. Flexible modularity facilitates the continuous introduction of upgrades, and makes missile systems amenable to gradual technological change. Besides, it has significant implications for the future role of missile systems, and poses special problems for missile disarmament and technology control initiatives.     

“迪卡斯”声纳浮标探潜盲区与潜艇的规避分析

针对\"迪卡斯\"声纳浮标存在探潜盲区的问题,通过分析和计算研究潜艇利用盲区规避的可行性.分析了单枚声纳浮标的探测盲区、两枚声纳浮标的重叠盲区和三种典型的声纳浮标阵型,在计算机上实现了\"迪卡斯\"声纳浮标阵探测盲区的可视化,通过大量计算和分析,得出了潜艇利用盲区规避反潜飞机跟踪的可行性;尽管利用盲区可造成迪卡斯声纳浮标探测的中断,但利用盲区并非所有情况下的最优方法,通过计算机仿真可以找出各?鼢 种态势下潜艇的最优规避方法.     

潜艇鱼雷攻击可攻区域

攻击水面舰艇是潜艇的主要作战任务之一.潜艇发现目标后,对目标进行可攻区域的分析判断是潜艇后续占位攻击行动的基础和前提.以潜艇鱼雷攻击为背景,通过对鱼雷有效射击区域和鱼雷攻击可攻性的分析研究,得出潜艇鱼雷攻击极限攻击角和与之相对应的可攻区域,为潜艇鱼雷攻击的占位机动和火控系统仿真建模提供了参考依据,完善了潜艇鱼雷攻击作战使用理论.     

新疆边境地区维稳情报基础工作研究

新疆边境地区的社会治安稳定关系到整个新疆乃至全国的安全稳定。当前,影响新疆边境地区稳定的因素较多,主要有境内外极端势力的暴力恐怖活动、经济发展不平衡、周边国家局势不稳等等。在新疆边境地区的维稳工作中,情报基础工作是前提和先导,对于维护新疆边境地区的稳定具有重要的作用。新疆边境地区维稳情报基础工作包括情报的收集、传递、核查、研判。当前,随着公安信息化建设不断深入和情报主导警务战略的全面实施,新疆边境地区维稳情报基础工作应成为维稳工作的常态化内容,在维稳工作中得到广泛应用。     

编队协同防空制导阵位配置与交接区仿真研究

协同制导是编队协同防空作战中的一种重要作战手段,制导交接又是协同制导中的关键环节,首先详细分析了舰艇编队协同制导的控制流程以及协同制导的交接方式,然后对协同制导中协同平台的阵位配置区和制导交接区分析了约束条件,进行了数学建模与仿真分析。结果表明,只有发射平台、协同平台的相对位置以及制导交接时导弹所处的空域满足一定要求,才能顺利完成制导交接。     

基于犯罪预防的高层住宅小区防卫设计策略探析

过快的城市化进程引发了包括住区犯罪在内的一系列城市问题。住宅小区的规划设计虽不是导致犯罪发生的直接原因,但其在设计上的缺陷却为犯罪的实施提供了一定的便利。高层住宅小区相比于多层住宅小区,在基于犯罪预防的防卫设计层面存在更为突出的问题。从现状入手,通过实地调研,分析了高层住宅小区在防卫设计上的难点,并从车行道路的规划、半公共领域的界定、单体设计的要点、绿化设计的布局等4个方面提出了防卫设计策略,为高层住宅小区的规划设计提供参考。