* The US Senate Armed Services Committee released a redacted report [PDF] on repeated Chinese intrusions into US military logistical systems:
“Hackers associated with the Chinese government successfully penetrated the computer systems of U.S. Transportation Command contractors at least 20 times in a single year.”
* At an exhibition in Beijing, China is showing aerial photos of the contested Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands they say were taken with a UAV. And the Chinese are not content with challenging ownership of islands in the East China Sea, they’re also manufacturing new ones [BBC] in the South China Sea. It’s, like, “totally justifiable” [The Diplomat], showing that Chinese diplomats are serious challengers to American teenagers for the most unjustified displays of outraged entitlement.
Russia
* Anatoly Isaykin, General Director of Russia’s state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said [RIA Novosti] the organization may become a shareholder in foreign companies for joint production in countries such as South Africa.
* Russian Prime Minister Medvedev gave government backing [Moscow Times] to loans meant to finance the fulfillment of government orders by defense contractors such as MiG. We wrote that sentence and can’t make sense of it either. Do they mean that until that announcement the Russian government may not have paid for what it had ordered?
Islamic State Franchising
* The Australian government launched massive anti-terrorist raids involving 800 police personnel in Sydney and Brisbane. They arrested 15 people and charged one on allegations that he’s connected to ISIL and planned to behead a random member of the public. The Australian | ASPI video.
* The Islamic State demonstrated its talent for video editing with the release of an ominous trailer claiming that “flames of war” are “coming soon”, implying that the US had better not deploy troops in Iraq. ISIL should be careful what they wish for, as they might well get it. As if in anticipation, a video posted by MBDA 2 days earlier shows actual combat firings of Brimstone missiles. Their dual MMW/laser seeker, small size, fast jet capability, and multiple carriage per hardpoint make it an attractive option against the kinds of targets ISIL presents. Its main competition? Laser-guided 70mm and 127mm rockets.
* The Netherlands will provide F-16s in the fight against ISIS, as well as weapons for Kurdish forces, according to Trouw [in Dutch] via Dutch News. Just a month ago the headline was: “no Dutch troops, weapons in Iraq.” [NL Times]
Unbearable Lightness of Flying
* Mike Hixenbaugh, a reporter at the Virginian-Pilot, took a ride with Lt. Ryan Chamberlain of the Blue Angels. Here come the Gs: breathe deeply (don’t faint, don’t faint, don’t faint.) What, no Gatorade onboard? This video should put a smile on your face, while Mike will have to make amends with his lovely wife.
State of the World
* The London-based IISS think tank released its 2014 strategic survey of world affairs. Exec summary: it’s a messy world, in case you hadn’t been paying attention. They discuss the report in the video below:
