https://archive.ph/iTsHV#selection-529.0-529.48
Russia Is Churning Out Smart, Cheap New Weapons Faster Than Ukraine or the U.S.
Engineers in Russia are using Chinese components to mass-produce inexpensive arms and steal a march on its adversaries.
Just as Ukraine was learning how to parry Russia’s drone attacks, Moscow has moved the goal posts with a new generation of innovative jet-powered weapons.
New Geran drones and Banderol cruise missiles are lethal reminders that Russia still has the resources and supply chains to field fresh threats, this time packed with advanced electronics that allow them to find targets accurately and evade interception. Crucially, the leap forward was enabled in large part by components sourced from China, in violation of international sanctions, say Ukraine and others, based in part on wreckage from the few shot down so far.
China has said it regulates exports of technologies that could be used in war.
Russia’s new and relatively inexpensive weapons show its military remains adaptable and innovative, say analysts and diplomats. Russia developed and fielded both weapons within a couple of years by modifying earlier models, combat-testing them and quickly starting mass production, say analysts.
In doing that, Moscow stole a march on its adversaries. Ukraine has shown it can move quickly—it developed one of the first effective jet drones—but lacks production resources and much capacity to think beyond the near future.
The U.S. and its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, meanwhile, are struggling to increase production of vital arms such as Patriot interceptors. Western governments are also grappling with how to accelerate turning innovations into mass-produced equipment.
“Here in the West, we tend to underestimate Russia, but they can go very fast from idea and experimentation to production,” said Kateryna Bondar, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Wadhwani AI Center in Washington. “This loop is something Western militaries should learn from Russia.”
Russia has largely directed its weapons at Ukraine, part of a campaign against civilian life and infrastructure. Some Russian drones and missiles have also entered NATO airspace, either accidentally due to electronic warfare or intentionally in an attempt to probe NATO defenses. Either way, say military analysts, NATO must learn from—and be ready for—Russia’s ability to unleash a range of aerial weapons at different altitudes, speeds and cost levels.
Sucks that a whole bunch more people are probably about to die.
Yes it does.
Unfortunately human competition for territory and resources has frequently resulted in the use of force.
We currently live under a dominant super power that is quite explicit in its intention to use, and actual use of force, to gain territory and resources.
War seems to be what often happens when people cannot get what they want via peaceful and productive trade.
The nation state is a major driver of the wealth and prosperity of citizens.
Glad I live in New Zealand and that we don't have large oil reserves or precious minerals within our territory.
No. You speak English, pay me. You're in my nation-state's territory.
Is this not how a "mixed economy" works? Is this not the system you prefer?
Oh to be sure US majority shareholders control over 80% of NZs banking sector and extract ~$5 billion annually as part of our tribute to the US military industrial empire...so don't you worry.
And our military, such as they are, are equally enmeshed to the US imperial forces and supply chains and largely subservient to your dictates, although when we had a socialist government we did refuse to go into Iraq with you in your fabricated fake news hunt for 'weapons of mass destruction'.
Yes, the statists. Collective governance by force. You. The market makes and the state takes.
So your US imperialism = global statist hegemony.
Yes. It's not as bad as the PRC so you have no grounds to complain.