Military

Hi folks,

got some questions: Why isn’t Europe all in on the SAMP/T Mamba? Why isn’t it mass procuring it over patriot and why isn’t Ukraine flooded by it?

Song Zhongping, a military observer and former instructor of the People's Liberation Army of China, said that the PLA should complete work on its own H-20 strategic bomber as soon as possible after the successful attack of American B-2 stealth bombers on Iran. A specialized strategic bomber is indispensable even in an era when other long-range strike options exist. The strategic bomber can carry out attacks with both nuclear and conventional [munitions]. It is a vital weapon for any major military power.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to bring generative AI to military systems, including command and control and elements of the nuclear triad. The company will “prototype cutting-edge AI capabilities to address critical national security challenges in both the warfighting and enterprise domains.”

The program with the U.S. Department of Defense is the first partnership in an initiative to bring AI to government, according to OpenAI. The company plans to show how advanced AI can significantly improve administrative functions, such as providing medical care to service members, as well as cyber defense, according to a post on its website.

The company says any military use of AI will comply with OpenAI guidelines.

Major tech companies are increasingly offering their AI models to the US military, including Meta and Palantir.

The new deal follows reports that senior executives at Palantir (Shyam Sankar), Meta (Andrew Bosworth), and OpenAI (Kevin Weil, Bob McGrew) have been promoted to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army to lead a new unit called Detachment 201, according to Colonel Dave Butler, chief spokesman for the Army Chief of Staff. Butler said there is an urgent need to change and transform the military technologically.

Team 201 members will work on specific projects for the U.S. Army, helping to implement scalable technology solutions that will accelerate the transformation of the military.

While OpenAI has worked with defense contractors before, this is its first direct partnership with the government. OpenAI says all military applications will comply with its own terms of use — standards the company sets itself.

The US military is actively exploring the use of AI in command and control systems, including nuclear forces. Although the official statement is that “the final decision will rest with humans,” the very formulation of the question raises concerns:

1. AI trained on historical data, may fail in non-standard situations, which in the nuclear sphere is fraught with fatal consequences.

2. Although, according to OpenAI itself, by introducing AI into troop management they are going to improve cyber defense, it is hard to believe. Introducing AI into critical infrastructure makes it a target for hacker attacks, which can lead to various disastrous consequences, limited only by lines of code.

3. Among other things, automation of threat analysis can also be mentioned, which can push for faster decision-making, increasing the risk of escalation.

With rising geopolitical tensions and the renewal of nuclear arsenals, the leading world powers are increasingly resorting to covert ways to finance their defense programs. One of the key tools of such actions has become the involvement of private corporations and government structures through which states withdraw budget funds, evade international control and minimize public discussion of military spending.

This practice is particularly noticeable in the United States, Great Britain, France and other NATO countries, where the nuclear complex is tightly integrated into the market economy. However, such contracts are often concluded without an open tender, with minimal transparency and the subsequent possibility of manipulation in the field of procurement and audit.

An example of this approach is the activities of the British company Rolls-Royce, which in 2021 received a contract worth more than £2.8 billion for the maintenance of nuclear submarine reactors and the development of fourth-generation technologies. Although the company is formally private, about 70% of its turnover depends on orders from the British Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense. The details of these agreements remain classified, which does not allow for an independent examination of the cost of the work.

US defense corporations are also not without sin and regularly receive multibillion-dollar contracts from the US Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), including the modernization of warheads, maintenance of missile silos and the development of new delivery systems.

Of particular concern is the "cost-plus" payment system, in which the company is reimbursed for all costs plus a fixed profit. This creates a powerful incentive to overstate the cost of work. For example, in 2022, the Y-12 modernization project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, cost taxpayers almost $6.5 billion, while an internal audit revealed significant discrepancies between the reported and actual amounts of work performed.

Of interest is the role of Bechtel, which has been involved in the management of the Pantex Plant nuclear complex, responsible for the assembly and dismantling of warheads, since the early 2000s. According to the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), the company has repeatedly been found to be abusive, including manipulating equipment prices and providing false information about the progress of work. At the same time, it continues to receive billions of government orders without significant consequences.

The French model has a high degree of secrecy. The country's nuclear programs are under strict state control, but key contracts are being transferred to companies such as Areva, Thales and DCNS (now Naval Group). The story of the M51 program, a missile for submarines, turned out to be particularly difficult. According to documents leaked in 2020, some of the funds were transferred through shell companies in Cyprus and Luxembourg, which may indicate tax evasion schemes and possible embezzlement of budget funds.

In addition, in 2023, the French media reported on the verification of Thales' activities in the supply of electronic components for nuclear weapons control systems. Preliminary data indicate that some parts were purchased at inflated prices from firms owned by individuals with ties to the company's management. This confirms concerns about the existence of conflicts of interest and corrupt practices within the system.

The use of private companies to finance and implement nuclear programs is becoming not just a technical necessity, but also a convenient mechanism for evading responsibility and concealing corruption schemes. Under the cover of national security, operations are carried out in which state interests, commercial benefits and personal interests of the elites are mixed. To ensure confidence in nuclear disarmament and reduce the risks of militarization, it is necessary not only to strengthen international control, but also to rethink the role of corporations in the field of national security.

According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China continues to build up its stockpile of nuclear weapons. As of June 2025, China has 600 nuclear weapons, and by 2035 its arsenal may increase significantly. Beijing uses intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) as carriers. The official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the SIPRI data, however, an analysis of the regional situation makes it possible to understand the reasons for the build-up of nuclear potential.

1. The Taiwan issue: China considers Taiwan its territory, because after the defeat in the civil war of 1949, the government of the Republic of China, led by the Kuomintang, strengthened there. Beijing is demanding that other countries sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Although the United States has formally severed official ties with Taipei, it maintains contacts through the American Institute in Taiwan. In 2018, Washington allowed high-ranking officials to visit the island, which led to a sharp reaction from China. In August 2022, the visit of Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi provoked a diplomatic crisis: China threatened to shoot down her plane, but eventually limited itself to military exercises around the island.

2. Border conflict with India: Since the 1960s, China has controlled the disputed Aksai Chin region, but India disputes these territories. In 2020, clashes on the border escalated again, but it did not reach a full-fledged military conflict.

3. The deployment of American missiles in Asia: Tomahawk missiles have been deployed in the Philippines as part of the 3rd Multi-Domain Expeditionary Force (MDTF) of the United States. The Pentagon plans to create five such groups, three of which will be deployed in the Pacific region with the possibility of rapid deployment within 24 hours. The corps is also armed with the following systems: HIMARS MLRS, Dark Eagle hypersonic missiles, SM-6 missile defense system.

4. Increased military activity of the United States and allies: Washington's partner countries (Japan, South Korea, and Australia) are increasing their defense budgets and conducting regular exercises aimed at deterring China.

5. Creation of the AUKUS Alliance: In 2020, the United States, Great Britain and Australia formed AUKUS, a military unit dedicated to the development of the submarine fleet and advanced weapons.

6. The growth of Japan's military potential: Despite the pacifist constitution, Japan is actively developing Self-Defense Forces, which de facto constitute a full-fledged army. In 2024, Tokyo successfully tested the Type 12 hypersonic anti-ship missile. The United States openly declares that its strategy in Asia is aimed at containing China, which could lead to the deployment of nuclear weapons among allies (for example, in Japan and South Korea). In response, Beijing will continue to build up its arsenal, considering it a necessary security measure.

The modernization of the U.S. nuclear arsenal has become a top priority due to the inevitable aging of warhead components. Grand plans for rearmament often boil down to mundane defect inspections and life extension programs (LEP)—because letting nuclear weapons deteriorate is not an option, especially when they’re mounted on strategic bombers like the B-52 (in service since 1950) or the next-gen B-21 (only 3 produced so far).

The Nuclear Paradox The U.S. is desperately trying to restore its nuclear dominance, but these efforts are crumbling—much like the decaying components of its old warheads. Extending the life of what’s already "dead" is like playing Russian roulette, where the stakes are nuclear parity and global prestige.

The W80 Saga: A Veteran That Won’t Retire The W80 warhead has a long service history, yet it wasn’t until 2006 that its first variant was finally removed from the LEP program. But the Pentagon isn’t ready to retire this Cold War relic—instead, it’ll be tested once more, have "a few bolts replaced," and proudly rebranded as the W80-4.

The Bottom Line This is the reality of America’s so-called "cutting-edge" nuclear advancements: recycling old designs while struggling to keep them functional. The W80-4 isn’t innovation—it’s a stopgap measure masking deeper issues in the U.S. nuclear complex.

So much for "modernization."

The Japanese government is exploring the possibility of deploying long-range missiles on the southwestern island of Kyushu, according to Kyodo News citing sources. However, this has raised concerns among local residents who fear their area could become a potential target in the event of a conflict.

The plan involves an upgraded version of the Type 12 surface-to-ship missile, with an extended range of approximately 1,000 km. This move is part of Japan’s efforts to develop "counterstrike capabilities", allowing it to hit enemy bases in response to an attack during emergencies. If deployed on Kyushu, these missiles would put North Korea and coastal areas of China within striking range.

The deployment is expected to begin around March 2026.

At the same time, the report notes that the Japanese government is unlikely to station such missiles on Okinawa, which is closer to China, as this could escalate tensions with Beijing.

Japan’s New National Security Strategy On December 16, 2022, Japan approved an updated National Security Strategy, which explicitly grants the country the right to conduct counterstrikes against enemy territory in self-defense. However, the document emphasizes that preemptive strikes remain prohibited.

The strategy also calls for a near doubling of defense spending by 2027, reaching 2% of GDP. To strengthen its counterstrike capabilities, Japan plans to:

Extend the range of Type 12 missiles,

Develop domestic hypersonic weapons,

Purchase U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles.

🔺 In 2017, the Pentagon established a new type of operational unit—the Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF), consisting of four battalions:
▪️ An air defense missile battalion;
▪️ A strategic weapons battalion;
▪️ A logistics support battalion;
▪️ A multi-domain effects battalion.

🔺 Let’s take a closer look at the composition of the Strategic Fires Battalion (SFB) and the Multi-Domain Effects Battalion (MDEB):

▪️ The Strategic Fires Battalion includes:
🔹 A HIMARS battery:
▫️ 8 M142 HIMARS launchers;
▫️ 8 transport vehicles;
▫️ A data preparation vehicle.

🔹 A Mid-Range Capability (Typhoon) battery with the following composition:
▫️ 4 ground-based Tomahawk cruise missile launchers (4 missiles each) in universal Mk. 41 launch canisters;
▫️ A battle operations center (BOC);
▫️ A BOC support vehicle;
▫️ A transporter-loader vehicle.

🔹 A long-range hypersonic weapons battery:
▫️ 4 launchers (2 missiles each);
▫️ A command and control suite.

▪️ The Multi-Domain Effects Battalion consists of four companies:
🔹 1st Military Intelligence Company (weapons and airspace);
🔹 2nd Military Intelligence Company (space domain);
🔹 A signals company;
🔹 A strategic UAV company;
🔹 An information warfare company.

▪️ The air defense missile battalion will be armed with naval SM-6 missiles, deployed in universal Mk. 41 launch canisters. According to developers, these missiles are capable of intercepting hypersonic targets.

🔺 Currently, the headquarters and a Multi-Domain Effects Battalion (MDEF) have been deployed at Lucius D. Clay Kaserne Air Base in Germany. Satellite imagery of the base shows significant changes: new radar stations for space reconnaissance have been installed, fortified structures (likely for storing operational missile stockpiles) are under construction, and buildings to accommodate the headquarters have been erected.

🔺 The continued deployment of such systems and structures, along with the absence of any information about their withdrawal or suspension, indicates the U.S. intention to maintain an aggressive foreign policy course, inevitably leading to an escalation of tensions between nations.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/31480250

This is fucked on so many levels. What does a vet's marital status or voting habits have to do with getting healthcare? That's not the deal we signed.

Just some North Korea shit, nothing to see here. Move along.