Yuri Dolgorukiy begins sea trials

June 25, 2009 · Posted in Blogroll, Uncategorized · Comment

Pavel Podvig reports that the Yuri Dolgorukiy, the first vessel of the new Borey class SSBNs, has begun sea trials.

The real prize in this case is the first public photo of the submarine at sea (click to enlarge):

NASIC report: Ballistic & cruise missile threat to US

June 24, 2009 · Posted in Blogroll, Uncategorized · Comment

The FAS Strategic Blog comments on a new report released by NASIC regarding the threat of ballistic & cruise missiles to US forces:

The latest update continues the previous user-friendly format and describes a number of important assessments and new developments in ballistic and cruise missiles of many of the world’s major military powers.

The report also helps dispel many web-rumors that have circulated about Chinese, Russian, Indian and Pakistani nuclear forces.

The entire report is available here.

Tags: Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles

Designing the next supercarrier

June 22, 2009 · Posted in Blogroll, Uncategorized · Comment

Popular Mechanics has a very interesting article about the new design techniques applied to the next USN aircraft carrier:

on a complex project of this scale, there is little margin to correct design mistakes. If not found and fixed, one small flaw can have ramifications that cost tens of millions of dollars, months of hot-metal work or even the life of a sailor not yet born. “These ships are like entire planned cities,” says Eric Wertheim, editor of The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World. “It’s like building Disney World.”

Tags: aircraft carrier

Rafael’s PR department does it again

June 21, 2009 · Posted in Blogroll, Uncategorized · Comment

After stunning the defense industry with an amazing Bollywood-themed promotional video, Rafel has one-upped itself with a mime-themed video about missile defense: