HARSH TRAJECTORIES

Aviation Week & Space Technology

8/7/2006, Vol. 165, Issue 6

Israel continues to attack Hezbollah's rocket arsenal, but larger and more destructive threats loom

Israel's ability to sustain prolonged around-the-clock air combat operations is partially due to fielding of sophisticated sensors. But the technology advance has not enabled the Israelis to avoid costly targeting missteps, or to suppress the Hezbollah rocket threat or pinpoint the adversary's weapons supplier.

Hezbollah rocket launchers have been a primary target for the Israeli air force's F-15s, F-16s and bevy of unmanned aircraft, which have all been fitted with electro-optical/infrared sensors to spot and engage those targets. And, while launchers are taken down daily, the rate of Hezbollah operations appears unaffected, and there are signs of potential escalation in the projectiles' lethality and range.

Moreover, information gathered by the airborne sensors is raising as many questions as it answers for military planners, particularly when it comes to identifying the main suppliers of weaponry to Hezbollah.

(Full text can be accessed through the NLB eDatabases)

Improved Outer Tactical Vest

While the Interceptor vs Dragon Skin debate rages on, improvements to the Interceptor body armour are coming online.

NLB eResources

opswarfare was recently introduced to a new database offering on-line versions of print articles, eBooks, music, video, and the such.

This treasure trove of information can be found under the "eResources" heading under the National Library Board (NLB) website. Only registered NLB Digital Library users are allowed to access the information, but that's not an issue as registration is free.

List of military titles available (opswarfare is still searching through the database)

1. Aviation Week & Space Technology
• EBSCOHost Military & Government Collection
2. Armada International
• EBSCOHost Military & Government Collection
3. Armor
• Proquest 5000 International
4. Defence Studies
• EBSCOHost Academic Search Premier
5. Defense Daily International
• Proquest 5000 International
6. Defense & Security Analysis
• EBSCOHost Academic Search Premier
7. Flight International
• Proquest 5000 International
8. Journal of Electronic Defense
• EBSCOHost Academic Search Premier
9. Marine Corps Gazette
• ProQuest Research Library
  
10. Military Technology
• ProQuest Research Library
• EBSCOHost Military & Government Collection

Learning from the Three Lions

AAJ_Autumn07_Elwin.pdf

1. British Army
2. Infantry Battle School
3. Platoon Commander’s Battle Course (14 weeks)
   
4. explain, demonstrate, imitate, act
5. immersion training
6. overseas training, and with local civilians as non-combatants
7. 3 block war scenarios
   
8. urban operations
9. brilliance at the basics
10. combined arms at the lowest level (at section level)

Afterthoughts
Regular readers of opswarfare will know that this article epitomises the ethos of opswarfare. That is not to say that there is nothing new here. The immersion training is a great idea, with new trainee platoon commanders being inserted into a foreign country, totally different from conditions back home, plus local civilians going about their normal lives around them. Perfect conditions for training for the 3 block war.

Urban Warfare: A Soldier’s View

scales.pdf
Most readers would know of the emphasis placed by opswarfare on analyzing close combat in urban warfare, which remains an important part of winning wars. The above link is a look at what a soldier needs for the close fight in urban terrain.