ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

Collected and analyzed by J.Hawk Executive Summary Even as the airstrikes in Syria are continuing, the Russian military appears to be preparing for all manner of contingencies dependent on the outcome of the multi-party negotiations in Vienna on the future of Syria. These contingencies include reinforcing or rotating the aircraft contingent in Syria, deploying special operations troops to help identify targets and guide aerial and artillery munitions, deploying a ground combat continent to fight alongside the Syrian Army, and even sending the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean or even the Persian Gulf. Strategic Forces 1. Yars launch from Plesetsk Location: Plesetsk; Kamchatka It was a test launch of an operational missile with a payload of multiple training warheads, which struck targets on the Kura proving ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Ground/Airborne Forces 2. Vikhr-1 missile deliveries begin Location: Izhevsk Vikhr-1 is a supe

This is the newst update of the ‘U.S. Carrier Strike Groups Locations Map’ exclusive series showing the approximate locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups on a weekly basis. SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence tracks locations of U.S. aircraft carriers using the available open-source information. No classified information was used in production of the map. A carrier strike group (CSG) is an operational formation of the United States Navy. It is centered on an aircraft carrier and a carrier air wing (CVW) of 65 to 70 aircrafts. It’s composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or frigates. A carrier strike group also, on occasion, includes submarines, attached logistics ships and a supply ship. Carrier strike groups comprise a principal element of U.S. power projection over the world’s oceans.

Two Russian Tu-142 “Bear” naval reconnaissance aircraft made low-level approaches to within a mile of the U.S. Navy carrier USSRonald Reagan, prompting it to scramble four F/A-18 Super Hornets in the latest incident ratcheting up tensions in the South China Sea region. As reported by Stars and Stripes, the Russian planes made their approach at 500 feet as the Reagan conducted exercises with elements of the South Korean navy Oct. 27, according to 7thFleet spokeswoman Lt. Lauren Cole. The incident took place in waters east of the Korean Peninsula. U.S. Navy officials attempted to make contact with the Russian aircraft but received no radio response. One U.S. ship followed the Russian planes as they withdrew, Navy officials told the paper. The Tu-142 approach was just the latest in a series of incidents involving Russia. On several occasions over the past year, Russian military aircraft have tested international boundaries either by violating a sovereign nation’s airspace or engaging in w

By Moon Of Alabama During the last days a large attack on the Syrian government supply line to Aleppo city was carried out by Jabhat al-Nusra (aka al-Qaeda in Syria) and the Islamic State seemingly in coordination with the U.S. military. During September the U.S. anti-IS coalition carried out an average of 4.2 airstrikes on IS in predominately east Syria. This after an average of 6.8 per day in August. The rate in October was about the same as in September until Thursday October 22. Then, according to the U.S. Military Times, the strike rate decreased markedly : ~4 strikes per day up to Oct 20 4 - Oct 20 Tuesday 8 - Oct 21 Wednesday 1 - Oct 22 Thursday 0 - Oct 23 Friday 0 - Oct 24 Saturday 0 - Oct 26 Sunday 1 - Oct 27 Monday 0 - Oct 28 Tuesday 0 - Oct 29 Wednesday The Islamic State used the lull in airstrikes in east Syria to move hundreds of fighters and heavy equipment towards the supply line that connects Damascus with the government held areas (green) of Aleppo. After two days of