Christian Baghai

  The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation stealth fighter that can perform a variety of missions, such as air superiority, strike, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. One of the key features that makes the F-35 so stealthy is its ability to use the ALE-70 Towed Decoy, a small device that can create a false target for enemy radar-guided missiles. In this article, I will explain how the ALE-70 works, how it can be used in different scenarios, how it compares to other towed decoy systems, and why it gives the F-35 a significant advantage over its adversaries. How the ALE-70 works The ALE-70 is a small device that is stored under a hatch next to the flare dispenser on the F-35. It can be deployed on a fiber optic cable behind the aircraft, creating a false target for the enemy radar. The ALE-70 can emit jamming signals that confuse or deceive the enemy radar, making it think that the decoy is the actual aircraft. This can lure the missile away from the F-35, or make it miss its t...

  The history of warfare is marked by periods of radical transformation, when new technologies and ideas change the nature and conduct of military operations. One such period was the interwar years of the 20th century, when the United States and Japan competed for naval supremacy in the Pacific, and developed carrier aviation as a decisive capability for sea power. Another such period is the present day, when the United States and other countries are investing in artificial intelligence (AI) as a key enabler for modern warfare. This essay compares the naval aviation revolution in military affairs (RMA) in the Second World War with the current military AI innovation, and argues that the Pentagon can learn from the history of naval aviation, especially in terms of realistic experimentation, bureaucratic navigation, and visionary personnel, to harness the potential of AI for military purposes. The US-Japan Interwar Competition in the Pacific The First World War demonstrated the import...

  Russia has been accused of disrupting GPS signals in the Baltic Sea region from its enclave of Kaliningrad, a small territory wedged between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. According to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the GPS interference poses a risk for civil aviation and could also affect other critical infrastructures that rely on satellite navigation. The GPS jamming is seen as part of Russia’s electronic warfare (EW) strategy, which aims to hinder NATO’s activities and operations in the area. Russia has a large EW arsenal, including jammers, spoofers, hackers, and cyber weapons, that it has used in various conflicts and exercises, such as in Ukraine, Syria, and Zapad 17. One of the suspected sources of the GPS jamming from Kaliningrad is a secretive Russian EW complex called Tobol, which is capable of disrupting satellite communications and navigation over a wide range. Tobol is one of the few EW systems that Russia has deployed outside its mainland, al...

  The Voyager 1 and 2 probes, launched in 1977 by NASA, are remarkable achievements of human exploration and science. They have visited four giant planets of the solar system and beyond, and have sent back invaluable data and images that have revolutionized our understanding of these worlds. However, these probes are also relics of a bygone era of technology, and they face many challenges and limitations as they continue their journey into the unknown. One of the main challenges is the outdated computer systems that control the probes. The Voyager probes use plated wire memories to store their binary data. These are non-volatile storage devices, which means they retain the data even when the power is off. This is an advantage for the probes, as they rely on radioisotope thermoelectric generators that produce less and less electricity over time. However, these memories are also very limited in capacity and speed, compared to modern flash memories or hard disks. The Voyager probes ha...

  Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world, is facing a humanitarian catastrophe, with 80% of its population dependent on food aid, and dwindling water and oil reserves. The country is also torn apart by a civil war that pits the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, against the forces loyal to President Hadi, recognized by the UN and supported by a Saudi-led coalition. The war has caused thousands of civilian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure. Could a division of Yemen into two states be a solution to end the conflict and the suffering of the Yemeni people? A troubled history of unification and division Yemen has a long and complex history of unification and division, reflecting its religious, cultural, and geographical diversity. The Zaydi Shiites, who follow a branch of Islam close to Sunni Islam, predominate in the northern highlands, while the Sunnis form the majority in the rest of the country. The north and the south were also influenced by different colon...