Addressing the “headwinds” faced by the European arms industry

ABSTRACT

The European arms industry is challenged by several adverse “headwinds.” Fragmentation leads to costly duplications and, in conjunction with stagnating budgets and sharply increasing costs, prevents firms from exploiting economies of scale and learning. This is exacerbated by size differentials vis-a-vis the leading US arms manufacturers and competition from emerging producers. As some “headwinds” are self-enforcing, far-reaching industrial and policy responses are required to improve the industry's outlook. As exports may not indefinitely compensate for low domestic demand, there is an economic imperative for further cross-border collaboration and consolidation. Despite various EU policy initiatives, progresses regarding the European Defence Equipment Market and strengthening the European Defence Technological Industrial Base have been relatively slow. It remains to be seen whether the European Defence Fund will be the proclaimed “game-changer,” raising competitiveness of the European arms industry. At the same time, the UK's withdrawal from the EU adds uncertainties.     

Economic impact of the ministry of defence’s budget: methodological design and results for the Spanish economy

This article analyses the economic impact of the expenditure budget of the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD) and its Autonomous Agencies (AA), distinguishing direct, indirect and induced effects. The input–output methodology is used to find intersectoral effects on the rest of the economy. The article quantifies the economic impact in terms of production, gross value added (GVA), employed population, tax revenue, and also in terms of its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Spain in 2010. The results show that the activity of the MoD and AA generates 1.2% of the country’s GDP and 1.7% of total employment in that year.     

Brazilian National Defence Policy: foreign policy,national security,economic growth,and technological innovation

ABSTRACT

With the world’s ninth largest economy and comprising nearly 60% of South America’s GDP, 47% of its territory, and 49% of its population, Brazil has become a regional power and an important actor in world affairs over recent decades. This scenario has led the government to re-evaluate its role in the world order, resulting in the enactment of the National Defence Policy, whose objective was to consolidate the country as a regional power while at the same time addressing national security issues, promoting economic development through a series of defence programmes, restructuring the defence industrial base, fostering innovation through technology and knowledge transfer to Brazil, and indigenous research and development. However, the policy’s implementation suffers from several challenges discussed in this article, which may test the capability and competence of Brazilian policymakers, military, industrialists, and other individuals and organisations involved in its implementation.     

The subversion of the Bulgarian defence system – the Russian way

Russia has long been pursuing an intended and calculated policy of keeping enough influence in Bulgaria in order to have control over national decisions. Together with the economic, energy, political and information tools used by Russia in its hybrid war against Bulgaria and in its bid to achieve an enduring “state capture,” defence is also a distinct target of Russian subversion now. A list of noticeable subversive actions with tangible effects can be summarised, ranging from fuelling division and manipulating public opinion, preventing the strengthening of the NATO position in the Black Sea, sabotaging defence reform to various options of subverting the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces and seeking new ways to keep legacy Soviet military equipment in operation as long as possible. This issue must be urgently addressed both nationally and in NATO.     

Feeding the Lion: China and defence development in African states

ABSTRACT

In analysing trends in Chinese defence engagement and their impact on defence development in African states, it is important to consider both China's changing policy priorities and its capabilities for the provision of defence support. China's international ambitions and its economic development contribute to its emergence as a key supporter of defence capability development in Africa, occupying a crucial niche as a provider of support, particularly arms transfers, appropriate to evolving local requirements. The economic and politico-military imperatives driving China's engagement of Africa, which stem from its economic reforms and re-emergence as a great power, are facilitating defence modernisation by accelerating the introduction of modern arms in substantial quantities. The commercial importance of arms exports and the growing importance of strategic ties strongly situate China to help sustain processes of defence capability development in African states over the long term.     

城市防空中目标优化分配的模糊聚类分析

定性和定量相结合,利用模糊聚类分析法确定目标的优先防护次序.先构造城市防空中需掩护的目标体系;再依据目标权重建立多因素模糊关系矩阵,导出等价矩阵;最后计算出基于给定参数λ的需防护目标的优先次序,得出目标分类聚类图.变模糊的、复杂的问题为直观的结论,为指挥员合理分配兵力兵器提供可靠的依据,从而最大限度地发挥防空兵器的作战效能.     

防空C3I系统作战效能评估

为了更好地认识防空C3I在现代防空作战中的作用,了解我军防空C3I的作战效能,立足我军防空C3I装备现状,根据其技术性能及作战使用方法,依托已有研究成果,采取新的研究思想,运用WSEIAC法评估了防空C3I的作战效能.这种评估思想紧贴防空作战的实际,最大限度地衡量了防空C3I在作战中的性能发挥程度,对今后进行深入的研究发展,具有一定的参考价值.     

舰艇编队反导作战评估模型研究

通过剖析舰艇编队反导作战的内容及层次,引入层次分析法,对编队反导作战方案进行定量评估,从而找出较优化的编队反导作战方案,以有限的反导资源获取最大的反导作战效益。     

基于BP神经网络的防空导弹火力单元阵地评价模型

建立了防空导弹阵地评价的指标体系。对应用人工神经网络解决防空导弹阵地评价的方法问题进行了探讨 ,并且给出了神经网络的评价模型及算法。实例证明该方法是可行的。     

防空导弹武器生存能力的综合量化评估

结合防空导弹武器的实际情况 ,给出了影响其生存能力的指标体系 ,提出并建立了防空导弹武器生存能力的综合量化评估模型。利用AHP与Delphi相结合的方法对指标的权重进行确定 ,在一定程度上克服了专家赋权时的主观因素。最后 ,通过实例表明 ,利用该模型进行评估切实有效