ISAF-INTERNATIONAL SEURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)  is a NATO led mission which was created by the UN Security Council  on 20 December 2001. It states as it’s mission; supporting the Government of the Islamic Republic Of Afghanistan, conduct operations in Afghanistan to reduce the  capability and will of the insurgency, support the growth of in capability and capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), and facilitate improvement in governance and socio-economic development, in order to provide s secure environment for sustainable stability that is observable to the population. The ISAF is made up approximately 102,554 troops from over 42 countries. The US is the largest contributor of troops with over 62,415 US troops in the ISAF. This accounts for over 61% of troops in the ISAF other major contributors include; United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Poland, Netherland, Turkey and Australia.

There is also a surge of 34,000 US troops from Spring 2010 onwards.

QUICK FACTS-THE TOMAHAWK CRUISE MISSILE

Tomahawk cruise missiles are designed to fly at extremely low altitudes at high subsonic speeds, and are piloted over an evasive route by several mission tailored guidance systems. The first operational use was in Operation Desert Storm, 1991, with immense success. The missile has since been successfully used in several other conflicts. In 1995 the governments of the United States and United Kingdom signed a Foreign Military Sales Agreement for the acquisition of 65 missiles, marking the first sale of Tomahawk to a foreign country. After a November 1998 launch and live warhead test, the U.K. declared operational capability.

Description

The Tomahawk is a long range, subsonic cruise missile used for land attack warfare, launched from surface ships and submarines.

Features of the Tomahawk Cruise Missile

Tomahawk Block II uses a Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) and Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) missile guidance system. Block III adds a Global Positioning Satellite guidance capability to TERCOM and DSMAC. Radar detection of the missile is extremely difficult because of the small radar cross-section and low altitude. Tomahawk has two warhead configurations: a 1,000-lb. blast/fragmentary unitary warhead and a general-purpose submunition dis

penser with combined effect bomblets. Because of its long range, lethality, and extreme accuracy Tomahawk has become the weapon of choice for the U.S. Department of Defense. The capabilities of the new Tomahawk, Block IV or Tactical Tomahawk,  includes battle damage assessment, in flight retargeting, and mission planning from the launch platform with GPS-only missions. With added capabilities Tactical Tomahawk will carry on the superior tradition of its predecessor into the 21st Century. It is entered service in late 2004.

General Characteristics

· Primary Function: long-range subsonic cruise missile for striking high value or heavily defended land targets.

· Contractor: Raytheon Systems Company, Tucson, Arizona.

· Unit Cost: approximately $600,000 (from the last production contract)

· Power Plant: Williams International F107-WR-402 cruise turbo-fan engine; CSD/ARC solid-fuel booster

· Length: 18 feet 3 inches (5.56 meters); with booster: 20 feet 6 inches (6.25 meters)

· Weight: 2,900 pounds (1,315.44 kg); 3,500 pounds (1,587.6 kg) with booster

· Diameter: 20.4 inches (51.81 cm)

· Wing Span: 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 meters)

· Range: 1350 nautical miles (1553 statute miles, 2500 km)

· Speed: Subsonic - about 550 mph (880 km/h)

· Guidance System: TERCOM, DSMAC, and GPS (Block III only)

· Warheads: 1,000 pounds or conventional submunitions dispenser with combined effect bomblets.

Date Deployed: 1986 - IOC; 1994 - Block III; 2003 - Tactical Tomahawk

·  Weight: 2,900 pounds (1,315.44 kg); 3,500 pounds (1,587.6 kg) with booster

· Diameter: 20.4 inches (51.81 cm)

· Wing Span: 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 meters)

· Range: 2,500 km

· Speed: Subsonic - about 550 mph (880 km/h)

· Guidance System: TERCOM, DSMAC, and GPS (Block III only)

· Warheads: 1,000 pounds or conventional submunitions dispenser with combined effect bomblets.

· Date Deployed: 1983 - IOC (Initial Operations Capability); 1993 - Block III; 2004 - Tactical Tomahawk.

Boeing Receives US Air Force F-22 Mission Planning System Contract | Air Force News at DefenseTalk

Boeing Receives US Air Force F-22 Mission Planning System Contract | Air Force News at DefenseTalk

GLOBAL CYBER THREAT INCREASING

The Global Cyber threat is on the rise . Across the World the rate of  cyber crime being committed has been steadily increasing and experts say this is driven by state-sponsored hackers. The situation is made worse by the open nature of the web, making it difficult to track down the attackers. While most individuals move in the safety of the herd, top companies (especially those heavily involved with  high technology and also conduct broad and intensive science and technology research as well as financial companies)   and governments are much more obvious targets. The sophistication of these cyber attacks which have become more prevalent is steadily evolving leaving experts to worry about the potentials of future cyber wars as governments have now stepped up their response and are spending billions in developing defensive as well as offensive capabilities. Also Companies are also investing heavily in cyber defense to protect their Intellectual property (IP). From nations, to terrorist networks, and organized crime groups the list of sponsors of cyber terrorism is long and growing.  China has been named as a top source of cyber terrorism with a lot these cyber activities targeted at the militaries of other countries with an advanced Industrial base. Chinese cyber attacks also target countries with an advanced civilian Industrial base. The US Cyber Command which is it’s response to Cyber attacks against it’s military recently gained full operational status. Other countries have followed suite establishing  agencies to deal with cyber threats.

IS WIKILEAKS PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF PRESS FREEDOM?

The year 2010 saw Wikileaks making headlines as it’s actions won it both praise and criticism. WikiLeaks is an international new media non-profit organization that publishes submissions of otherwise unavailable documents from anonymous news sources and news leaks. Its website, launched in 2006, is run by The Sunshine Press. But it was until 2o10 that it gained international recognition. First came the posting of a video from a 2007 incident in which Iraqi civilians and journalists were killed by U.S. forces, on a website called Collateral Murder in April 2010. In July of the same year, WikiLeaks released Afghan War Diary, a compilation of more than 76,900 documents about the War in Afghanistan not previously available for public review. In October 2010, the group released a package of almost 400,000 documents called the Iraq War Logs in coordination with major commercial media organizations. Perhaps in it’s most controversial and bold move yet, in November 2010, WikiLeaks began releasing U.S. State department diplomatic cables. The release of these new cables from the US State department has sparked outrage from the US and has seen Wikileaks now become the target and focus of many governments. WikiLeaks and its members have seen  continuing harassment and surveillance by law enforcement and intelligence organizations, including extended detention, seizure of computers, veiled threats, “covert following and hidden photography” and this has gotten worse since the release of the US Diplomatic cables. Even private organizations and companies have also been cutting off Wikileaks. It’s director Julian Assange has felt the pressure the most and has an extradition request against him approved. The US diplomatic cables  are classified documents of detailed correspondence between the U.S. State Department and its diplomatic missions around the world. The contents of the cables describe international affairs from 300 embassies dated from 1966–2010, containing diplomatic analysis of world leaders, an assessment of host countries, and a discussion about international and domestic issues. They take an unaltered look and describe in detail events and incidents surrounding international affairs from 274 embassies dating from 28 December 1966 to 28 February 2010. The diplomatic cables revealed numerous unguarded comments and revelations: critiques and praises about the host countries of various U.S. embassies, discussion and resolutions towards ending ongoing tension in the Middle East, efforts and resistance towards nuclear disarmament, actions in the War on Terror, assessments of other threats around the world, dealings between various countries, U.S. intelligence and counterintelligence efforts, U.S. support of dictatorship and other diplomatic actions. While the extent of the Damage done by the cable leaks is yet to be seen, reaction to the US cable leaks has been split along two lines. Western governments have led the criticism and a wide range of efforts to undermine Wiki leaks which is paying off while News outlets, Human right organizations and left leaning Nations have praised Wikileaks and it’s director Assange. The support for Wikileaks and the lack of crticism by several influential media organizations has raised fears that Western governments which might now begin to curtail media freedom more than ever and that this could be done in the shadows. The Diplomatic cable leak has once again spurned the debate on Press freedom. Experts argue that these leaks which gives access to information that is suppose to be secret would force the US and other western governments to begin to take black actions in order to protect their secrets. This kind of leak would not be tolerated by Russia or China who would do anything to prevent such a leak.  Since 9/11, press freedom in the West has come under attack as governments argue that national security is more important than transparency. The Diplomatic cable leaks by Wikileaks only gives more credibility to this claim. In countries that have enshrined the right to free speech in their constitutions, it has until now been taken for granted that disclosures of confidential government information must be measured by the yardstick of the law. The Wikileaks saga has seen talks about limiting Press freedom for National security reasons arise again in western nations. While Julian Assange claims to have done good in publishing the diplomatic cables by claiming that it will help keep the US government in line, these so-called "legitimate and newsworthy" government secrets which entail publications of secrets that may harm national security and have substantial "value as a step to truth", it’s effects and blowback has not been fully seen. Western Governments might be forced to refrain from taking action against organizations like Wikileaks in public because of their nations Ideals and Values but what is to stop them from doing so in secret.

ASTUTE CLASS SUBMARINE

 The Astute class submarines are the next generation  Nuclear attack submarine of the British Navy. The Astute class submarines is the first new class of  submarines to be fielded by the British navy in over three decades. These boats are expected to set a new standard for the Royal navy in terms of weapons load, improved communications facilities, stealth and crew comfort.  The boats are being built by BAE System Submarine.

DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW

The end of the Cold war has seen the Royal Navy change it’s submarine employment strategy from emphasis on anti-submarine warfare to the concept of “Maritime Contributions to Joint Operation.” This called for a new class of submarines in order to replace Cold War-era submarines which were developed around the concept of deep sea underwater operations. In an age were

terrorism is a constant threat, the design called for a new class of submarines would be able to perform a wide range of operations while retaining it’s primary task as an anti-submarine platform. Some of these operations include; intelligence gathering, underwater reconnaissance, and special forces insertion, task which older classes of submarines could not perform.

Plans by the navy is for seven boats to replace the existing two classes of submarines (Swiftsure and Trafalgar).

SERVICE

The first of the Astute Class submarine, the HMS Astute was commissioned

on 27 August 2010. The 7,400 ton vessel is the most capable submarine ever operated by the British navy. The submarine is equipped with some of the most sophisticated technology in the world. It’s sonar is capable of identifying and tracking vessels across thousands of square miles of ocean. It is also the first submarine to replace a conventional periscope with two optical mast incorporating digital video technology. The Astute  carries a heavy weapons payload. It’s six  torpedo tubes can launch a variety of weapons which include: harpoon anti-ship missile, spearfish torpedoes, and naval mines. The submarine can also launch the latest Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets more than a thousand miles away with pinpoint accuracy in support of land operations. The submarine’s design to undertake a wide range of tasks makes it a formidable force at sea. The submarines  operations range is only limited by food and maintenance requirements. The Astute class submarine has been designed with long-term technological innovation in mind and would be one of the submarines at the  fore-front of open-ocean and littoral operations for decades to come.