Christian P. Martin, M.A.’s Post

People’s Republic of China has ordered the largest military build-up of any nation in the world since Germany in the 1930s, raising concerns about the military threat presented by China. DeVore points out that while the American military has spent over $5.4 trillion on wasted wars such as the “War on Terror” and subsequent attempts at “nation-building,” China has been strengthening its military. “China is engaging in an unprecedented military build-up that the world frankly hasn’t seen since Adolf Hitler in the 1930s,” said DeVore in an interview following the publication of his article. “They’re massively building up their nuclear arsenal. We expect it to expand to at least 1,000 warheads by 2030, only five years from now. Probably going to be bigger than that,” DeVore explained. “The Chinese Navy, not by tonnage, but by numbers is now larger than the U.S. Navy. China has something like 250 times the ship building capacity that America does.” Among other expansions, China has increased the arsenal of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) by 50 new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), bringing the new total to around 400. The Department of Defense (DOD) also reports that 300 more medium-range ballistic missiles and 100 long-range cruise missiles have also been added. https://lnkd.in/gPWupz-m

New Russian navy development strategy to be finalized by 2025 The draft development strategy for the Russian Navy will be finalized by 2025, Izvestia has learned. The Russian Maritime Board is currently completing it, according to the board’s Chairman, Russian Presidential Aide Nikolay Patrushev. A separate document will be prepared for the FSB’s naval personnel. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the preparation of these documents in the summer of 2024. Experts believe the strategy should focus on shortened timelines and increased production of various types of warships and submarines. The Navy’s development strategy is the document that defines the potential threats to Russia from the sea and develops a clear framework for responding to these threats and determining which resources to employ, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov explained to Izvestia. According to the expert, the main objectives of the strategy must include the accelerated construction of assault carriers, ocean-going vessels, frigates, and the modernization of existing ships. Military expert Viktor Litovkin believes the document should also cover the continued development of Russia’s strategic nuclear naval fleet, equipped with both ballistic and multipurpose missiles. "We must build war cruisers with missiles, nuclear propulsion systems, destroyers, and corvettes. A complete range of such ships. And we must also advance the shipbuilding industry, which is currently facing challenges in production," he noted. Military expert Vasily Dandykin agreed that it is crucial to reduce shipbuilding timescales and boost construction volumes. "Naturally, it is necessary to explore artificial intelligence and various surface drones. This should be considered as a distinct area of focus. They must be part of a warship’s inventory," he argued. Another key priority is the development of naval aviation as a separate branch of the armed forces, as well as reconnaissance aviation within the Navy. "Undoubtedly, it is vital to develop naval aviation," said Litovkin. "Although there are debates over whether we need aircraft carriers. In my view, Russia must have carrier strike groups," he concluded. #business #finance #financialservices

India has reportedly conducted a successful test of its nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the recently commissioned nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal. The test, which took place on Wednesday morning off the coast of Visakhapatnam, was conducted in the Bay of Bengal. The K-4 missile, which is solid-fuelled and has a strike range of 3,500 km, was launched from the 6,000-tonne submarine. The commissioning of INS Arighaat marks a substantial upgrade in India’s naval nuclear capabilities, as it provides the country with the ability to launch missiles from a nuclear-powered submarine positioned underwater, enhancing the survivability and effectiveness of its strategic deterrence. The K-4 missile test from INS Arighaat is also indicative of India’s ongoing expansion of its nuclear submarine fleet. Indian Navy Indian Navy MyGov India #NuclearTest #K4Missile #INSArighant #NuclearSubmarine #IndianNavy

🇨🇳❄️🇺🇸 U.S. Air Force fighters based in #Alaska recently intercepted a Chinese H-6 bomber near the state's airspace, highlighting the increasingly assertive military posturing by both the United States and China in the Pacific region. The intercept was carried out by fighter jets under the command of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The #H6bomber, a long-range aircraft capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, was detected approaching the Air Defense Identification Zone (#ADIZ) off the coast of Alaska. Although the bomber did not enter U.S. sovereign airspace, its proximity triggered a rapid response from NORAD. This incident is part of a broader trend of Chinese military aircraft operating near #sensitive #areas, demonstrating China's increased willingness to #test U.S. defenses and extend its #strategic #influence.

Ranked: World’s Largest Submarine Fleets Russia ranks first with 65 submarines, followed by the U.S. (64) and China (61). When it comes to technology, however, the U.S. is ahead. According to Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. submarine technology is one generation, or 10 to 20 years, ahead of counterparts like China. The latest addition to the U.S. Navy, the Columbia-class nuclear submarine, is the most sophisticated vessel of its kind. It is stealthy and equipped with 16 missile tubes. The American fleet also has the Seawolf class, designed to address the threat of Soviet ballistic missile submarines and replace the aging Los Angeles class of submarines. During the 1980s, a fleet of 29 submarines was to be built, which was reduced to 12. With the end of the Cold War and each submarine costing about $3 billion, the program was reduced to only three units. Among the Russian fleet, the Sierra II Class, also known as Project 945A Kondor Class, remains one of the most expensive and deep-diving submarines. These vessels were explicitly developed for search and destroy missions against U.S. nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Design & animation by yours truly.

#Pentagon Freak Out: #China's Military is Quickly Catching Up The #Chinese military is currently undergoing one of the largest #military modernizations since World War II. The #PRC's national strategy is to achieve 'the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation' by 2049. The #strategy is a determined pursuit of political, social, and military modernity to expand the PRC's national power, perfect its governance, and revise the international order in support of the PRC's system of governance and national interests. https://lnkd.in/eEKDAd5b ⬇️ Our insights in the comments below ⬇️ #DoD #technology #DontSleepOnChina

Strategic Missile Forces’ mobile group’s missile systems fully modernized — commander The planned rearmament of the Strategic Missile Forces' military compounds and units has led to an 88% share of modern missile weapons, Colonel General Sergey Karakayev, the commander of the Russian Armed Forces’ branch said MOSCOW, December 17/ Missile systems of the mobile group of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces have been completely updated, Colonel General Sergey Karakayev, the commander of the Russian Armed Forces’ branch, stated. "The planned rearmament of the Strategic Missile Forces' military compounds and units has led to an 88% share of modern missile weapons and provided the Strategic Missile Forces grouping with new capabilities to perform tasks on nuclear deterrence. Moreover, this figure has already reached 100% in the mobile group of the Strategic Missile Forces," he told the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper in an interview in view of the Strategic Missile Forces Day. #business #finance #financialservices

https://lnkd.in/dANUF8Dy A Discussion on the Defense Department’s 2024 China Military Power Report Center for Strategic & International Studies 18 Dec 2024 Please join the CSIS China Power Project on Wednesday, December 18 from 1:00-2:00 pm EST for a discussion of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) forthcoming 2024 report on the Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—commonly known at the China Military Power Report (CMPR). Required every year by Congress for over 20 years, the CMPR offers an authoritative assessment of the PRC's national strategies and its regional and global ambitions. It also outlines key developments pertaining to People’s Liberation Army (PLA) modernization and the expansion of its nuclear, cyberspace, and space capabilities.  What are the major takeaways from the 2024 report and what is the current assessment of China’s military power? How are China’s defense and security strategies evolving, and what does it mean for the United States?  Joining us to highlight the report’s findings are Dr. Ely S. Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and Dr. Michael S. Chase, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia.