PROTON-M Launch Failure Fallout On Sept 7th, a Proton-M carrying a Japanese COMSAT exploded shortly after launch from the Baikonur (aka Tyuratam) Cosmodrome, located in Kazakhstan. In doing so, over 200 tons of toxic chemicals were dumped into the atmosphere, primarily a mixture of heptyl and amyl. The toxicity is well known and, unfortunately have…
So, we have Flightdeck Friday and now, having taken full leave of our senses, we have determined that following the MAKS 07 series and some others, perhaps there is enough interest (and fodder) out there for a recurring feature on elements of the naval- and air forces of Russia, China and North Korea – and their surrogates (Iran…
The Kommersant notes: "Several experts note that such moves ricochet the U.S. administration which has concentrated too heavily on al-Qaida and Iran and overlooked “the Russian threat.” This is an opinion of an unnamed former White House staffer, who served Ronald Reagan and George Bush Snr. “My great fear is that I wake up one…
Pops (SJS) called and asked if we had put anything up on the Guam Bears yet — we said we were busy with his other weekend rock-painting exercise article, but he said to do something. So here’s some photos from the golden era (note the interceptor of choice) and a link back to his series…
We have commented previously in these spaces about the emerging threat of the PRC, concentrating primarily on the missile and naval forces thereof. Additionally, we have also followed with interest Russian developments with their strategic forces. If that isn’t enough to grab your attention, let’s add this as well – the Commander in…
File this one under "and you were expecting maybe something different?" Outgoing DepSecDef for Asia & Pacific Affairs, Richard Lawless remarked upon the glacial pace of mil-to-mil contacts with the Chinese military during a final press conference late last month. During the course of that press conference he highlighted several concerns, noting that a continued…
North Korea to shutdown nuclear plant by July 2007. Russia’s Interfax news agency is reporting this AM that North korea will be shutting down and sealing up its controversial nuclear plant by July. This is the plant that serves as North Korea’s main nuclear reactor and source for weapons grade plutonium. The development comes on…
Yesterday, the Russians provided their official response to the US and Czech/Polish plans to place elements of the BMDS in the Czech republic and Poland. YHS has manged to obtain a copy of the document provided US representatives and is providing it FYI: After the round of posts the past few weeks leading up to…
Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin passed away today as the result of an undisclosed cause. He was 76. Remember this? …but there was also this: A portrait cast in tragic contradictions, Boris Yeltsin was the first popularly elected president in Russia’s history, garnering 57% of the vote in 1992. That followed a signatory confrontation in…
Quite a backlog of geopolitical news to sort through while YHS was gone this week including a ton on Russia, missile defense, INF and more. Here is a quick one re. India and support for arms sanctions vs. Iran and North Korea…(from New Dehli Zee News Television, 19 Apr) India has prohibited trade in all…
