A war which lasted only a couple weeks (27 Sept – 10 Nov 2020) before Armenia, harassed by Azerbaijan's use of drones, surrendered. Azerbaijan then posted lots of high-res videos of their attacks and showed them in the town square.

They autonomized their jets and when Armenia fired on them, they identified the Armenian forces and attacked them. Instead of firing weapons, the drones just flew into them.

Loitering munition (drones) has no single effective countermeasure. Things that are used together to thwart them are radio jammers, EMP, laser defense, acoustic detection, net traps and kinetic power (bullets). This is all limited, however, by ambient stuff like traffic.

Drones were also used in 2019 to attack SA's oil refineries that flew below radar. SA couldn't do anything and had to shut down half their production.

They were also used against a Russian base during the Syrian 'civil' war in 2018, and no one claimed responsibility. Russia said the US did it, but it could have been anyone. They used plywood drones.

People have drawn lines of comparison with hackers, who also attack from a safe location, anonymously, and without identifying themselves.

Miniature drones, Autopilot and image recognition software open source and developed by sellers.

Are we even going to be able to have any drones allowed to exist in the air?

#Drones #Autonomous #Military #NaKa

They travel 5x the speed of sound and can't be tracked by radar.

China responded saying US was basically lying.

Russia and NKorea have said they've fired this type of weapon.

US says it's working on the technology.

Last week China flew a bunch of war jets over Taiwan.

Xi made new comments China would unify with Taiwan, the day before Taiwan's national day. In the past, Xi has threatened he might take Taiwan by force, but the recent statements were considered to be much softer than that.

One way to view Taiwan is as another province like those that have already been returned to China (Hong Kong and Macao in the 90s). A breakaway province.

#Military #China #Taiwan

French forces prepare to close bases in Mali

'The mission for the National Guard has to be changed,' said one vet.

Traditionally, the National Guard is activated by the states to deal with domestic emergencies (natural disasters, civil disturbances, pandemics). And support and backup for overseas military operations. Lots served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They were a strategic reserve, and are now 'a combat operationally-focused reserve capability,' according to some.

States are obligated to make them available in 'national security threats.' The issue is 'What is a national security threat?' The 2001 War on Terror resolution has allowed the last 4 presidents to use them for their wars, and they all have done so. Afghanistan and Iraq.

Some, like Congresswoman Idaho Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin, believe undeclared wars (all American wars since WWII) are not included, according to Article 1 of the Constitution. Article 1, for allowing Federal use of the state's militia, is for executing the laws of the nation, suppressing insurrection, and repelling invasions.

'Defend the Guard' is the name of one of the groups doing this.

However, the states might not be able to limit Federal control of the Guard after it 'has been mobilized for Federal service in the context of any law, or mobilized for Federal training as a reserve of the army or air force, the states have no control over what the president or the DoD does with those units once they're in that status.' (Brig. Gen. David McGinnis (Red.))

One thing the Fed can do is limit funding for the Guard if they don't come when called on. Hundreds of millions per year.

Some say the Guard, as a result of it's militarization and combat deployments, is better trained, equipped, and more integrated with the active military.

But is that a good type of better for doing state domestic emergencies?

#US #NationalGuard #Military #MIC

“I believe that it is wrong to kill, but it is especially wrong to kill the defenseless,” Hale told the court. He said he shared what “was necessary to dispel the lie that drone warfare keeps us safe, that our lives are worth more than theirs.”

“Hale did not in any way contribute to the public debate about how we fight wars. All he did was endanger the people who are doing the fighting.” This was said by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg.

“You are not being prosecuted for speaking out about the drone program killing innocent people. You could have been a whistleblower ... without taking any of these documents." This was said by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.

The defense said it was a public service. WP reported: 'The documents included a report finding that reliance on deadly attacks was undermining intelligence gathering. During one five-month stretch of an operation in Afghanistan, the documents revealed, nearly 90 percent of the people killed were not the intended targets.'

#Publishing #Drones #Military

WP: Daniel Hale, who leaked information on U.S. drone warfare, sentenced to 45 months in prison

UK's Royal Marines, using the Gravity Jet Suit (1000bhp)