The ARMS (Affordable Radio Frequency Multifunction Sensors) program is focused on developing new manufacturing processes to improve manufacturing for ASEA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar components, whether that means reliability improvements or decreases in cycle time and costs. AESA radars have a number of advantages over previous radar technologies, including far better reliability, better range and resolution, and the ability to recruit groups of individual transmit/receive modules for tasks like high-bandwidth communications and electronic warfare.
The biggest barrier to widespread adoption of AESA radars has always been their cost, in part due to the effort required to make their thousands of individual Transmit/Receive modules. Anything that improves AESA radar manufacturing helps to cement an advantage for American firms in a critical future technology. Hence ARMs…
ISIS militants posted pictures to back up their claim they had executed hundreds of Iraqi soldiers near Tikrit. The pictures leave a lot of room for interpretation about what actually happened, but they seem to be working to escalate the situation into a full-blown sectarian confrontation.
The military depot and jail in Taji are probably high on ISIS’ list of goals, but rumors that the depot has been taken by the insurgents have not been confirmed.
A senior Iranian government adviser told the Financial Times:
“The US has no choice but to clear up this mess in Iraq, otherwise its achievements and credibility in the region would be gone. The US should help remove this infection [Sunni extremists] from the region.”
There will be talks between the US and Iran this week. Cooperation seems unlikely, but there may be some amount of coordination so that both countries can look like they’re doing something to help Iraq.
The US is pondering the use of air strikes, having already ruled out the deployment of ground troops. Secretary of State John Kerry hasn’t yet reassured Congress that such attacks would be unbelievably small, but so far the US Administration has downplayed expectations in Iraq.
Britain’s Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is “not anticipating sending in military support” to Iraq, though the UK is offering the usual technical assistance and advice.
Philip Hammond