The failure of defense planning in European Post-Communist Defense Institutions: ascertaining causation and determining solutions

By any objective measure, defense institutions in Central and Eastern Europe have all but universally been incapable of producing viable defense plans that are based on objective costing and operational planning data. This situation exists in spite the provision of considerable Western advice and assistance, let alone reporting to and receiving assessments by NATO’s International Staff under Partnership for Peace, as well as via the integrated defense planning and reporting systems. An explanation for this systematic failure across European post-Communist defense institutions can be found in the continued slow development of an over-arching policy framework which directs and approves all activities of the armed forces, as well as the de-centralization of financial decision-making down to capability providers. The essay ends with an examination of the adverse effects of the early introduction of planning programming, budgeting system (PPBS), have had on the development of effective policy and planning capabilities within these defense institutions.     

GNSS应急辅助定位及精度评估方法研究

在可视卫星数少于4颗、无法进行传统导航解算的恶劣环境下,导航接收机可利用外部高程气压计提供的高程或者内部守时模块的钟差等信息进行应急辅助定位。在该应急辅助定位工作模式的误差分析中,传统导航定位误差传递模型无法适用。针对此问题,本文在研究三星结合高程、三星结合钟差、双星结合高程钟差等几种应急辅助定位原理的基础上,给出了新的应急辅助定位误差传递的分析模型,利用仿真算例验证了该模型的正确性。最后通过对定位精度的分析,说明根据卫星分布特点可以按照本文方法量化得到伪距测量与辅助信息的精度的最优数量级关系,可以用最小代价实现定位精度的提升。该结论可指导接收机外部辅助器件的选择。     

Clash of counterterrorism-assistance-seeking states and their super power sponsors: Implications on the war against Boko Haram

ABSTRACT

Decade-long security cooperation and counterterrorism engagements in Nigeria have failed to bring down Boko Haram or at least weaken its terrorist structures and transnational spread. I argue that disconnects between counterterrorism-assistance seeking states and their superpower sponsors are implicated in the intractability of Boko Haram's insurgency in Nigeria. Why is the U.S. counterterrorism intervention to individual MNJTF countries (i.e. troop contribution, military funding and intelligence support) ‘lopsided’, ‘fragmented’ and ‘unevenly distributed;’ and how are these implicated in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism? This has impacted negatively on MNJTF countries – lack of cooperation, divisiveness and individualism in coordinating and forging offensives against Boko Haram. These concerns interface several blind spots in the picture of external influences on military’s approach to Boko Haram. I elicit primary data from top military officers. I conclude by predicting the implications and consequences of these counterterrorism complexities, and their potency to defeat or encourage Boko Haram terror.     

Revisiting money-laundering legislation in Zimbabwe and the role of international organisations

ABSTRACT

International Organisations (IOs) are crucial actors in spearheading the global adoption of anti-money-laundering (AML) legislation. However, the extent to which AML legislation has been implemented in Zimbabwe under the aegis of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and East Africa and Southern Africa Money Laundering Group (ESSAMALG) may put the efficacy of legislation passed at the behest of IOs into question. This article suggests that glocalisation may enhance the international fight against money-laundering. That is to say, international standards should be applied domestically with due regard for local legislative environment.     

通用装备保障训练集约化建设模式研究

着眼于提高通用装备保障训练的集约化水平,为信息化条件下体系作战通用装备保障能力生成提供支持,将平台的方法引入通用装备保障训练中,提出了通用装备保障专业综合训练平台的思想,建立了一个4层结构的通用装备保障基地化训练体系框架,并以某装备院校为例构设了一个通用装备（军械）保障专业综合训练平台框架．研究成果为实现通用装备保障训练资源的集约化整合探索了新的途径．     

分级智能化的武器平台——无人平台体系结构解析

通过对现有机器人体系结构的总结,结合任务需求和当前技术发展水平,构造了一种人机智能紧耦合的无人平台系统结构.该结构分为7层,具有3种导航模式,6种控制方式,能够实现从主从遥控到全自主不同智能层次的无人平台构建,为无人平台的设计提供了工程指导,并为无人平台的应用提供了方向.     

基于DoDAF的装备体系结构建模方法

美军DoDAF体系结构框架是一种重要的武器装备体系建模标准,对于保证武器装备系统之间可集成性、可互操作性具有重要的借鉴意义。为支撑武器装备体系建设的统一建模过程,优化体系结构和控制变更影响,文章力图在“能力需求牵引”作战思想指导下．提出基于DoDAF标准的结构化武器装备体系结构建模方法。采用DoDAF基线产品与用户自定义产品（基于“适用”原则）相结合的方式,从建模框架、流程、方法和支撑产品等方面对武器装备体系结构建模方法进行系统研究。由于使用结构化建模方式,在建模过程中采用与开发了相关的基础建模产品,从而使得模型更具针对性,建模过程更加直观、具体和易于操作。     

基于虚拟飞行仿真的导弹控制系统设计

根据风洞虚拟飞行仿真系统的特点以及试验要求,设计了用于风洞虚拟飞行仿真的模型导弹的俯仰、偏航和滚转通道控制系统。导弹俯仰通道采用了迎角指令控制的三回路闭环控制结构,滚转通道采用了滚转姿态角指令控制的两回路闭环控制结构,而偏航通道采用液压驱动机构来开环控制侧滑角。利用极点配置法设计了俯仰和滚转通道的控制增益。最后通过数字仿真对所设计的控制系统进行了仿真验证。从数字仿真结果可以看出,无论是时域还是频域,所设计的俯仰和滚转通道闭环控制系统均能满足风洞虚拟飞行仿真的要求。     

A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS OF THE NEXUS BETWEEN DEFENCE SPENDING AND GROWTH IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: A COMMENT

Abstract

This paper explains and assesses the UK experience with determining prices and profitability for non-competitive defence contracts. Three periods are considered, namely pre-1968, the 1968 Profit Formula Agreement and the changes introduced in 2014. Two cases of ‘excessive’ profits were major determinants of the 1968 Profit Formula Agreement; but continued dissatisfaction with the 1968 Agreement led to changes in 2014. The historical overview of UK experience provides a basis for understanding current UK policy and offers insights for other countries facing similar policy challenges. A critique is presented of UK policy on single source pricing and profitability.     

MODELLING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEFENSE SPENDING AND ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR THE FIJI ISLANDS

The goal of this paper is to examine the nexus between GDP and military expenditure. We model this relationship within a multivariate framework by including exports in the model. We use the recently developed bounds testing approach to cointegration and find that there is a long run relationship among the variables when GDP is the endogenous variable. Normalizing on GDP and using four different estimators, we find that in the long run both military expenditure and exports have a positive impact on GDP. Finally, using the Granger causality test, we find that there is evidence for military expenditure Granger causing exports and exports Granger causing GDP, implying that military expenditure indirectly Granger causes GDP in the short run. In the long run, we find that both military expenditure and exports Granger cause GDP for Fiji. Our findings are consistent with the Keynesian school of thought, leading us to derive some policy implications.