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La boxeuse congolaise Marcelat Sakobi a été éliminée, ce mardi 30 juillet, aux 16e de finale des Jeux Olympiques Paris 2024.

La pugiliste congolaise est tombée devant l’Ouzbeke  Sitora Turdibekova  au points 2-3 dans un combat très serré à trois rounds, catégorie de -57 kilo 

A revamp of Poland's drug reimbursement law is underway. Government officials and industry representatives have advanced discussions, and a final draft of the amendment is expected by the end of the summer.

Cet article L’Allemagne bloque toujours la vente d’Eurofighter Typhoon à la Turquie est apparu en premier sur Zone Militaire.

The rising cost of transformative therapies, which can run into millions of euros for each treatment, has prompted calls for innovative funding solutions, including support from the EU budget.

Rising healthcare costs are straining Slovak health insurance companies. The state-owned General Health Insurance Company (VšZP) took the worst hit with a predicted €169 million year-end loss.

Avec leur couleur rouge vif et leurs grands yeux, les Phryges, mascottes des Jeux de Paris-2024, sont reconnaissables entre mille. Mais obtiennent-elles les faveurs du public venu à Paris spécialement pour les Jeux olympiques et paralympiques ?

L'ONG Plan International Burkina tient ce 30 juillet 2024, la revue annuelle de l'année fiscale qui s'est étalée du 1er juillet 2023 au 30 juin 2024. Une occasion pour faire le bilan des activités menées durant cette période, analyser les forces et acquis, faire des recommandations pour l'année fiscale 2024 et présenter la planification de l'année fiscale 2025. On note qu'au cours de l'année fiscale écoulée, ce sont une trentaine de projets qui ont été mis en œuvre et plus de 10 milliards investis au profit de plus de deux millions de personnes.

Malgré un contexte sécuritaire difficile et une mobilisation des ressources rendue difficile par les différentes crises à travers le monde, Plan International Burkina a pu dérouler son programme d'activités de l'année fiscale 2023-2024. Une trentaine de projets répartis dans trois domaines, ont été implantés dans 4 régions du pays, afin de faire progresser les droits des enfants et l'égalité en faveur des filles. Ces domaines sont l'éducation de qualité et inclusive et le développement de la petite enfance ; l'autonomisation économique des jeunes et l'entreprenariat ; la santé et droits sexuels et reproductifs et la protection contre la violence.

En ce qui concerne l'éducation inclusive et de qualité, ce sont plus de 148.000 personnes qui ont été touchées. 129 centres d'apprentissage ont été ouverts au profit des élèves déplacés et communautés hôtes, 3 491 enfants y ont été inscrits et 3 404 d'entre eux ont été transférés dans les écoles primaires. La construction et la réhabilitation de salles de classes équipées, la réalisation de latrines et de forages et l'appui à la cantine scolaire, a aussi permis d'améliorer l'offre éducative au profit de 25.041 élèves dont 14.780 filles.

Pour ce qui est des opportunités d'emploi et d'entreprenariat pour les jeunes, on note que 777 personnes ont été formées en agro écologie, maraîchage et saponification ; 776 jeunes formés en entreprenariat et gestion des petites unités économiques ; 1 922 jeunes formés en coupe-couture, coiffure, mécanique, énergie solaire, tissage, soudure, etc. 159 d'entre eux ont bénéficié de financement pour leurs plans d'affaires.

Vue des participants

Au niveau de la santé sexuelle et reproductive, 66 646 personnes ont bénéficié de diverses activités. Celles-ci ont consisté en des séances de sensibilisation et formation sur les droits sexuels et reproductifs, le mariage et les unions précoces des enfants, la gestion des menstrues, l'éducation à la sexualité et au dialogue positif, etc.

Les activités en lien avec la protection contre la violence, ont permis de sensibiliser plus de 14 000 personnes sur les mesures de prévention et de protection, les violences faites aux enfants, le mariage précoce, les mécanismes de référencement des cas, etc. De plus, 2 223 femmes et filles à risque de violences basées sur le genre ont été dotées en kits de dignité et 22 familles d'accueil soutenues en vivres et matériel d'hygiène au profit de 97 enfants. Au total, ce sont plus de 26 000 personnes qui ont bénéficié des actions menées dans le domaine de la protection contre la violence.

Rafiou Aboudou, représentant pays résident par intérim de Plan Burkina

Pour le représentant pays résident par intérim de Plan Burkina, Rafiou Aboudou, ces chiffres sont plus que des statistiques, « ils représentent des vies transformées, des communautés renforcées et des espoirs ravivés ». Il se dit pleinement satisfait des résultats atteints, au regard des deux millions de personnes impactées par les projets, dont plus de la moitié est constituée de femmes et de filles.

Pour l'année fiscale 2024-2025, Plan International entend poursuivre ses actions, pour l'avènement d'un monde plus juste et équitable pour tous les enfants, en particulier les filles. 33 projets seront déployés à cet effet. Un plan stratégique pays est également en cours d'élaboration.

Armelle Ouédraogo
Lefaso.net

« Genre et santé de la reproduction au Burkina Faso : Implication des hommes dans la santé de la mère et de l'enfant et jeu d'acteur dans la cellule familiale à Koudougou ». C'est sous ce thème que Mariam Bationo/ Congo a soutenu sa thèse de doctorat en Sociologie le vendredi 7 juin 2024 à l'université de Lomé au Togo. Cette thèse qui a été rédigée sous la direction du Pr Tossou Atchrim, Pr titulaire en Socio-anthropologie de la santé à l'université de Lomé (Togo), lui a valu à l'issue de l'appréciation du jury d'être élevée au rang de docteure avec la mention très honorable avec félicitation du jury.

À l'issue de la présentation des résultats de recherche de l'impétrante, ainsi que les questions et observations du jury présidé par le Pr Ali Pitaloumani Gnakou, Pr titulaire à l'université de Lomé(Togo), Mariam Bationo/ Congo est admise au grade de docteure avec la mention Très honorable, avec félicitation du jury. A travers cette thèse, l'impétrante s'est penchée sur les questions de santé maternelle et infantile et l'implication des hommes au niveau du Burkina Faso. Car les taux de décès de ces cibles constituent un problème de santé publique et de société.

En clair, selon elle, plusieurs facteurs ont été étudiés, mais ces taux restent alarmants. La présente recherche interroge de ce fait l'implication des hommes dans l'accompagnement de la santé mère-enfant au sein de la cellule familiale dans la zone de Koudougou.

Dr Mariam Bationo/Congo

Avec pour objectif d'analyser les perceptions sociales, les interactions et le milieu de résidence sur la participation des hommes dans les questions de santé de la mère et de l'enfant.

Adoptant une approche qualitative, 85 entretiens individuels semi-structurés et quatre focus groups ont été réalisés avec une diversité d'acteurs, (femmes enceintes, mères d'enfant, hommes, professionnels de santé et leaders religieux). Aussi, des groupes de discussion ont été animés avec des hommes mariés (4 groupes de discussion de 6 à 8 participants par groupe). Des observations directes et des prises de vue ont également été effectuées. Ces personnes ont été recrutées dans cinq centres de santé et de promotion sociale du district sanitaire de Koudougou, dont 2 en périphérie de la ville et 3 à l'intérieur et parmi les 3 figure un centre privé.

Photo de famille

Les résultats démontrent que les perceptions socioculturelles sont fondées sur des normes de genre (féminisation et masculinisation de la maternité), les interactions entre les membres de la famille, entre agents de santé et les hommes d'une part, et le milieu de résidence (urbain/rural et le type d'habitation), influencent l'engagement des hommes dans le parcours des soins maternels et infantiles dans la cellule familiale.

Yvette Zongo
Lefaso.net

Le Ministère de l'Urbanisme, des Affaires foncières et de l'Habitat, a organisé la cérémonie officielle d'installation des membres de l'unité de gestion du Programme de restructuration des zones d'habitat spontané et d'apurement du passif du foncier urbain (PRO-REST-APUR), le lundi 29 juillet 2024, à Ouagadougou.

Mettre en œuvre la stratégie de résorption des habitats spontanés encore appelés zones non-loties dans les 13 capitales régionales ainsi que Pouytenga. C'est la mission assignée à l'unité de gestion du Programme de restructuration des zones d'habitat spontané et d'apurement du passif du foncier urbain (PRO-REST-APUR), installée le lundi 29 juillet par le Ministre de l'Urbanisme, des Affaires foncières et de l'Habitat, Mikaïlou Sidibé.

Selon lui, le programme dont l'objectif est de contribuer à l'amélioration du cadre et des conditions de vie des populations urbaines a pour finalité, entre autres, d'améliorer la fonctionnalité du tissu urbain, faciliter l'accessibilité des quartiers et de résorber le passif du foncier urbain. « Les nombreux lotissements conduits au lendemain de la communalisation intégrale, ont laissé un lourd héritage en termes de difficultés d'attribution de nombreuses parcelles issues desdits lotissements. Ces espaces ‘'lotis'', partiellement ou pas attribués, ont pris, au fil des années, la configuration d'habitat spontané dense avec des constructions en matériaux définitifs. Conséquence, nombreuses sont les populations qui n'arrivent pas à accéder à leurs parcelles tandis que d'autres cherchent encore à être recasées pour leur bien-être. C'est fort de ce constat que mon département a élaboré le Programme de restructuration des zones d'habitat spontané et d'apurement du passif du foncier urbain, qui pour rappel, est en gestation depuis 2014 », a expliqué le ministre.

Le ministre a fait une mention spéciale aux membres de l'équipe chargée de l'évaluation du passif de la promotion immobilière privée, installés en août 2023

Il a, en outre, soutenu que suivant les orientations des premières autorités, le programme mettra l'accent dans un premier temps, sur l'apurement du passif du foncier urbain dans l'arrondissement 7 de Ouagadougou et dans l'arrondissement 5 de Bobo-Dioulasso. Et pour y arriver, un ensemble d'actions sont prévues par le programme dont la mobilisation sociale et foncière, l'aménagement et la viabilisation des sites, la réalisation des équipements socio-collectifs de base, la facilitation de l'accès au logement décent et l'appui institutionnel.

Le ministre Sidibé a fait savoir que le programme comporte plusieurs étapes partant des concertations jusqu'à la viabilisation des sites avec des phases intermédiaires d'enquêtes foncières, de levé d'état des lieux, d'aménagements urbains, d'implantation parcellaire. C'est pourquoi, il a sollicité la participation de plusieurs départements ministériels à travers leurs services techniques pour l'atteinte des objectifs.

Le Coordonnateur de l'unité de gestion du PRO-REST-APUR, Solimane Hamed Ouattara a remercié le ministre pour la confiance placée en eux pour conduire cette mission. « Nous prenons la pleine mesure de la mission qui nous est ainsi confiée. Nous tacherons de la mener avec rigueur et probité », a soutenu M. Ouattara.

Le ministre en charge de l'Habita, Mikaïlou Sidibé a dit compter sur l'engagement des membres de l'Unité et l'accompagnement de l'ensemble des structures du Ministère ainsi de tous les partenaires étatique

Il a précisé que le programme doit s'exécuter sur une durée de sept ans et consistera entre autres, à l'aménagement et la viabilisation de plus de 40 563 hectares pour la restructuration au sens strict, l'apurement et la viabilisation de plus de 6 354 hectares concernés par le passif du foncier urbain à Ouagadougou et Bobo-Dioulasso, la mise en place d'une base de données informatisée des parcelles et des attributaires. A l'occasion de cette cérémonie, le ministre a fait une mention spéciale aux membres de l'équipe chargée de l'évaluation du passif de la promotion immobilière privée, installés en août 2023.

« Il vous souviendra qu'en août 2023, j'installais ici même une autre équipe. C'était celle qui avait la charge d'évaluer le passif de la promotion immobilière privée. Je voudrais saisir cette tribune, pour faire une mention spéciale à l'endroit des membres de ce comité dont l'abnégation et l'engagement ont permis à notre département de formuler, à l'endroit du gouvernement, des recommandations pratiques dont certaines sont déjà en cours de mise en œuvre, notamment par le Ministère en charge de l'économie », a-t-il déclaré.

Sosthène NIKIEMA

Cet article Immobilisé pendant six mois, le porte-avions HMS Queen Elizabeth est de nouveau opérationnel est apparu en premier sur Zone Militaire.

Summary and Key Points: The U.S. Navy’s Seawolf-class attack submarines, conceived during the Reagan era's military revolution, are among the most technologically advanced in the world. Initially planned for a fleet of 29, only three were built due to the post-Cold War peace dividend and high costs.

-These submarines excel in covert missions, special forces transport, and Arctic operations. Despite their superiority, their limited numbers pose a strategic risk, as seen when USS Connecticut was damaged and will be out of service until 2025.

-The decision to curtail the Seawolf fleet may have significant repercussions as the U.S. faces near-peer challengers like China and Russia.

The U.S. Navy Should’ve Built a Fleet of Seawolf-class Subs

The 1980s saw an explosion of capabilities in the U.S. military. A little less than a decade earlier, there were radical changes in America’s technological capabilities. These changes were not only felt in the civilian economy of the West, such as with the rise of personal computing, but with the advent of advanced microchips that were folded into military systems. 

Reagan’s Revolution in Military Affairs

On top of that, the Reagan revolution in U.S. politics occurred. One of the hallmarks of President Ronald Reagan’s revolution was massive spending on defense projects. As a result of these expenditures came a revolution in military affairs, one that was felt for decades to come. Indeed, many of the military technologies that the Department of Defense takes for granted today are expressly born out of the Reagan revolution in military affairs.

The world’s most advanced warplane, for example, is the F-22 Raptor. This bird was originally created at the height of this revolution. It took years to finish designing and to properly test. But its origins are during the glory days of Reagan’s revolution. 

Multiple other capabilities, some of which remain classified today, originated in the Reagan era. One such platform, the Seawolf-class attack submarine, emanates from this halcyon era of innovation and development in the defense sector. 

The Context of the Seawolf-Class Submarine’s Time

Although she was not ready for deployment when Reagan was in office, the Seawolf class was meant to replace the Los Angeles-class attack sub. Seawolf was launched in 1995, the second term of President Bill Clinton, and was commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1997. 

USS Seawolf was supposed to be the first of some 29 Seawolf-class submarines. But the time she was commissioned in was far different from the Reagan days when she was first conceived.

The Cold War was over. It was a blessedly bloodless victory. Clinton had bested the more competent President George H.W. Bush in the 1992 election, partly because Clinton sang the populist song of retrenchment, lauding the so-called peace dividend.

The peace dividend meant drastic cuts to key systems that were designed during the Reagan years. The Soviets were gone. There were no significant near-peer challengers on the horizon. Counterterrorism and humanitarian military operations were the primary concerns of the post-Cold War-era military. The Seawolf class, which was explicitly designed to fight the Soviet Red Navy, was considered a wasteful investment.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20. 

Had Washington followed through on its initial plans for the Seawolf class, the U.S. Navy would be in a much better strategic position as it now faces real near-peer challengers in China and Russia. 

What Might Have Been

The Seawolf class remains America’s most technologically sophisticated submarine. It’s also wildly expensive. At $3.5 billion per submarine in this class, Congress understandably balked at the thought of spending for a fleet of more than 20 Seawolf-class submarines. Still, they were significantly cheaper than the increasingly obsolete U.S. aircraft carrier force. 

The four Seawolf-class subs that the U.S. Navy does use are all legendary boats. 

What the Seawolf-Class Can Do

These subs are used for daring covert missions. They can transport special forces operators to remote locations or carry out risky surveillance missions. They’re equipped with next-level weapons capabilities. The Seawolf class is designed to operate in the most forbidding environments in the world. 

A Seawolf-class sub could easily go from secretly tapping undersea communications cables to popping through the Arctic ice to keep an eye on the pesky Russians, who have been angling to dominate the High North since at least 2008.

Can other submarines do these tasks? 

Yes. 

However, the technology found within the Seawolf-class submarines remains among some of the most advanced systems in the world, even more than 20 years after they were first commissioned. There are so few Seawolf-class submarines available, though, that the loss of one would be catastrophic for the Navy’s fleet disposition. 

In 2022, USS Connecticut, another Seawolf-class submarine, crashed into an undersea mountain while it was covertly surveying the secretive Chinese naval base on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.

While the submarine was not destroyed, it won’t be returning to service until the fall of 2025. With how backlogged America’s ailing shipyards are, it’s probable that it won’t be hitting the high seas for some time. 

The short-sighted decision not to build the requisite number of Seawolf-class attack submarines will cost America when the next great power starts.

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. 

From the Vault

Russia Freaked Out: Why the U.S. Navy 'Unretired' the Iowa-Class Battleships

Battleship vs. Battlecruiser: Iowa-Class vs. Russia's Kirov-Class (Who Wins?)

Le BC Ami BK joue, ce mardi 30 juillet, le BC Chaux Sport à la série de 5 finales à l'Entente urbaine de basketball de Bukavu.

Le coup d'envoi du premier Game est prévu au Stadium de l'Institut supérieur et pédagogique (ISP) de Bukavu à partir de 16h heure locale.

C'est le remake de deux saisons précédentes ayant vu les guérillas (Chaux Sport) remporter le titre face aux Bakonzi ya terrain (Ami BK).

Summary and Key Points: The Russian military is intensifying its offensive in the Donbas, making steady advances despite heavy casualties.

-Over recent weeks, Russian forces have captured several villages and moved closer to the logistics hub of Pokrovsk, which supports a significant portion of the Ukrainian defensive line.

-Additionally, the town of Niu York remains contested. Despite these tactical gains, Russia's operational capability is hampered by high attrition, limited training, and a shortage of officers. Ukrainian defense forces report significant Russian losses, including 1,060 personnel, 53 vehicles, and 47 artillery systems in the past 24 hours.

-The conflict remains intense, with no sign of de-escalation.

The Ukraine War: Russia Steps Up Attacks in Donbas 

Over the past few weeks, the Russian forces have made some progress. 

“In July 2024, Russian Ground Forces (RGF) maintained continuous attacks in central Donetsk Oblast,” British Military Intelligence assessed in its latest estimate on the war. “The RGF made steady advances westwards, taking control of several villages and moving closer to the logistics hub of Pokrovsk.”

The logistical functions at Pokrovsk support a good part of the contact line in the Donbas. Losing it would complicate Ukraine’s defense. 

“The RGF also made advances northwards into the town of Niu York, which has been on the frontline since 2014. The town is almost certainly contested between the RFG and Ukrainian Armed Forces,” British Military Intelligence stated.

It is worth remembering that the fighting in some parts of the Donbas has been going on for a decade now. It began soon after the illegal Russian invasion and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. Pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts then launched a full-scale insurgency in the Donbas with Russia's direct and indirect support. 

When the Russian military launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, fighting in the area reignited. However, despite fluctuations on the contact line, there are some places where the positions have remained fairly similar to 10 years ago. 

“It is likely that Russia will continue to make tactical advances in the coming weeks. However, its overall operational capability remains limited by several factors including a high attrition rate, limited training, and a shortage of officers,” British Military Intelligence concluded. 

As we have discussed previously here at The National Interest, Russian forces are taking extremely heavy losses on a daily basis. 

Russian Casualties are Mounting in Ukraine War  

According to the latest data released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense – data generally corroborated by Western military intelligence estimates – Russian forces over the last 24 hours lost approximately 1,060 men killed, wounded, or captured, as well as 53 tactical vehicles and fuel trucks, 47 artillery guns and multiple launch rocket systems, 38 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 27 unmanned aerial systems, 25 main battle tanks, and 6 pieces of special equipment. 

Despite the heavy losses, the Russian forces continue to be on the offensive. However, the scope of the Russian offensives is very limited. Indeed, instead of trying to achieve an operational breakthrough and move the conflict forward, the Russian forces are vying for tactical successes. This is almost certainly because they lack the necessary combat capability and resources to conduct maneuver warfare of the sort necessary to achieve larger results on the battlefield. As such, Moscow’s casualties both dictate and restrict the way the Russian military fights in Ukraine. 

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

All images are Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock. 

Summary and Key Points: The Pentagon has announced a substantial $2 billion security aid package for Ukraine, aimed at bolstering its defenses against Russian missile attacks and achieving battlefield superiority. The package includes air defense systems like NASAMS missiles and RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles, long-range fires like HIMARS and M270 rocket systems, and 155 mm artillery shells.

-It also provides Javelin anti-tank missiles, small arms, and electronic warfare equipment. This aid is split between the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which quickly supplies existing U.S. military resources, and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which funds the purchase of new weapon systems.

-This support is crucial for Ukraine's continued resistance and counter-offensives against Russian forces.

Pentagon Announces $2 Billion Security Aid Package for Ukraine

The Pentagon announced another big package of security aid to Ukraine. The aid is worth almost $2 billion. 

This latest package of weapon systems and munitions is designed to help the Ukrainians fend off Russian missile attacks and to obtain fires superiority on the battlefield. 

Air Defenses and Artillery for the Ukraine War

The latest package includes missiles for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); short- and medium-range air defense munitions; RIM-7 Sea Sparrow air defense missiles modified to go with Kyiv’s SA-11 Buk mobile air defense systems; and precision aerial munitions. 

For long-range fires, the latest package of security aid includes ammunition for the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems; 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells; and 120 mm heavy mortar rounds. The 155 mm shells are in the highest demand. On days with high operational activity, the Ukrainian military will go through as many as 7,000 of these artillery rounds.

In addition, the latest package of military aid contains other weapon systems and munitions for ground combat, including Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided missiles; FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles; small arms, AT-4 anti-tank missiles; explosives and demolition equipment; secure radios; commercial satellite imagery services; electronic warfare equipment; spare parts, maintenance, and sustainment support; and other ancillary equipment.

“Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package valued at up to $200 million to provide Ukraine with key capabilities, including: air defense interceptors; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons,” the Pentagon stated in a press statement. 

In addition to the PDA package, the Pentagon announced a $1.5 billion security aid package under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. 

“This package includes capabilities to augment Ukraine's air defenses, fires, and anti-tank weapons, as well as funding to sustain equipment previously committed by the United States,” the Pentagon added. 

The difference between PDA and USAI military packages is simple. PDA draws from the existing supplies of the U.S. military. For example, the M1 Abrams main battle tanks sent to Ukraine are refurbished U.S. Marine Corps tanks. PDA is fast and efficient. On the other hand, USAI gives money to buy new weapons systems and munitions off the market. Although the Ukrainians are getting new materials, there is more delay than with PDA security assistance. 

The Ukrainian military depends on Western military aid for its survival. Certainly the Ukrainians are stout fighters with unmatched creativity and resilience. However, it is Western military aid that has allowed the Ukrainian forces to first stop and then push back the invading Russian forces. It is Western military aid that will help the Ukrainians win this war and liberate their country. 

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

Image Credit: Creative Commons. 

Historically, lame-duck presidents have experienced mixed success.

Dans une lettre adressée au Roi du Maroc Mohammed VI et rendue publique par l’Élysée ce mardi, Emmanuel Macron a fait part du soutien de la France au plan marocain d’autonomie du Sahara établi en 2007, « la seule base pour aboutir à une solution politique juste, durable et négociée conformément aux résolutions du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies » selon les mots du président français. Si Stéphane Séjourné, ministre des Affaires étrangères, avait annoncé le cap en évoquant le « caractère existentiel » de la question sahraouie pour le Maroc en février dernier, la lettre du président Emmanuel Macron marque un véritable tournant diplomatique dans la position française sur le conflit. Ainsi, si la France se montre ostensiblement en faveur de Rabat et entend entamer un nouveau chapitre des relations avec le Maroc, tout porte à croire que s’ouvre une nouvelle période de tensions avec l’Algérie voisine.
L’analyse de Pascal Boniface.

La situation de sécurité et de paix dans l'Est de la République démocratique du Congo a été au centre des échanges que le Chef de l'Etat angolais, João Lourenço, a eus mardi 30 juillet à Luanda avec les chefs de la diplomatie de la RDC, du Rwanda et de l'Angola, rapporte l’Agence angolaise de presse.

Summary and Key Points: China is rapidly advancing its naval capabilities, particularly with its Shang-class attack submarines, designed to replace the outdated Han-class.

-The Shang-class, featuring advanced sonar systems, anechoic tiles, and YJ-82 anti-ship missiles, is as quiet as the U.S. Navy's Los Angeles-class submarines. With virtually unlimited endurance from its nuclear reactor, the Shang-class is a formidable adversary.

-The U.S. Department of Defense expects more Shang-class submarines, including the Type 093B variant with enhanced missile capabilities, to be built soon. China's industrial efficiency and proximity to potential conflict zones give it a strategic advantage, challenging U.S. naval dominance.

China’s Growing Naval Power: The Shang-Class Submarine Threat

China is the only great power thinking seriously about naval power today. Beijing sits atop the second-largest economy in the world (in GDP terms) and the largest economy in PPP terms. China’s rulers are effectively deploying that vast wealth and technological advancements in Beijing’s bid to become the world’s dominant superpower by the hundredth-year anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (the year 2049). 

As part of the effort, China is building a fleet of advanced submarines that can counter the U.S. Navy’s submarine force.

Paired with China’s industrial efficiency, Beijing has an edge that, if not in terms of quality, certainly surpasses the Americans in terms of quantity. That, as well as the fact that any future engagement between the US Navy and the Chinese Navy would be much closer to Chinese shores, means that China’s growing submarine fleet will have considerable leverage over their American enemies.

The Shang-class attack submarine is China’s second-generation nuclear-powered attack sub. It was designed to replace the aging Han-class attack submarine, which had considerable drawbacks. 

The Han-class Sub Informs the Shang-class Submarine

China’s first-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine, the Han-class, was China’s first nuclear-powered submarine ever. Its development was a significant leap in China’s naval abilities. 

But the Han-class was a mess compared to its Soviet or American rivals. This boat had a length of approximately 98 meters and a displacement of around 5,100 tons when submerged. The Han class was powered by a single nuclear reactor. She was equipped with six 533 mm bow torpedo tubes capable of launching a variety of anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel torpedoes. 

She carried around 75 crewmembers.

The common complaint among China’s submariners was that the Han class was far too noisy. In undersea warfare, stealth and silence are the greatest advantages. 

What’s more, the Han-class was about 20 years behind similar U.S. vessels, and its performance was limited by the development level and manufacturing capacity of China’s defense industrial base at the time of its construction. 

Some Capabilities…

As for the Shang-class submarine, there are roughly six in service to China. In terms of her capabilities, the Shang-class comes equipped with six 533 mm bow torpedo tubes of similar capability to its Han-class predecessor. Further, the Shang-class can launch YJ-82 anti-ship and land-attack missiles. Meanwhile, the Shang II-class submarine (Type 093B) is equipped with a Vertical Launch System for YJ-18 supersonic and anti-ship missiles as well as variants of the anti-ship CJ-10 cruise missile.

Shang-class attack submarines carry around 100 crewmembers, and their defensive capabilities include advanced sonar systems and anechoic tiles to reduce the submarine’s acoustic signature. The Shang class is considered to be as quiet as the U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class attack submarines, with a noise level of around 110 decibels. 

Shang-class subs are powered by a nuclear reactor, giving them virtually unlimited endurance and range. The top cruising speed of this boat is estimated to be around 30 knots (or just shy of 35 miles per hour). She displaces around 6,675 tons when submerged for the Type 093/A variant, and 6,700 tons when submerged for the Type 093B variant.

China is planning to build more Shang-class submarines, with the U.S. Department of Defense estimating that China will build the Type 093B guided-missile nuclear attack submarine in the next year or so. 

A Fool’s Errand: Underestimating China's Submarines

China continues to catch up to the Americans in key areas. The Shang-class submarine represents one key area where China’s military is moving toward parity with the Americans. 

The Shang-class submarine is a real improvement from what came before it. The West is foolish both for underestimating China’s threat and capabilities as well as for assuming that the United States can counter and/or deter China indefinitely. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. 

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Summary and Key Points: The U.S. Navy's new Transferrable Rearming Mechanism (TRAM) allows surface warships to reload missile canisters at sea, potentially extending combat operations without returning to port. This innovation aims to address logistical challenges in conflicts, particularly against China.

-However, China's anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities pose significant threats that the Navy has yet to effectively counter. While TRAM enhances operational endurance, its effectiveness is limited if U.S. ships can't penetrate China's A2/AD defenses.

-Overcoming these advanced defensive systems remains crucial for TRAM's utility in future naval engagements. Until then, the Navy's new capability may be premature against a well-prepared adversary like China.

The U.S. Navy Misses the Boat with Its TRAM Capability

It takes many things to win modern wars. But the baseline requirement is a proper logistical supply chain linking your forces with their base of support. In the U.S. case, that means linking a forward-deployed military, in particular the Navy, with its homeland. America is blessed to be free of threats in its near-abroad. Instead, the U.S. moves its all-volunteer force to Eurasia and the rimland surrounding it. 

The Navy is therefore essential to America’s military dominance.

For the first time since the Second World War, though, American rivals are rising to challenge the Navy’s freedom of movement. 

The Navy’s primary role is what’s known as “sea control.” Essentially, it is the Navy’s job to ensure the Americans can access any waterway in the world quickly in order to win whatever conflict the U.S. is fighting. But the Navy’s ability to do this has shrunk as the capabilities of rival nation-states like China increase relative to America’s.

China’s threat is far away from the United States. The Pacific is a vast ocean separating the power base of the U.S. military from the possible battlefields of any conflict with the People’s Republic of China. Given the geography and disposition of the U.S. military, the Navy will play a leading role in any fight with China. That is why China has worked assiduously to undermine the ability of the U.S. Navy to reliably project power into contested regions in the Indo-Pacific. 

TRAM: Understanding the Role of Logistics 

One likely area of attack from China would be against American logistics supporting any naval activity in the Indo-Pacific during a possible war with Beijing. Finally, the Navy appears to be on the brink of overcoming a deficit in this regard. A recent successful demonstration from the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Port Hueneme in California showed how the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet intends to keep besieged units in combat for longer. 

The folks at Port Hueneme proved they can reliably reload missile canisters into the Mk41 Vertical Launching Systems of U.S. Navy surface warships that are forward-deployed. 

Known as the Transferrable Rearming Mechanism (TRAM), it is believed that this new capability of reloading at sea will be decisive for the Navy’s surface fleet in any engagement with a hostile navy. 

Or, as the Navy’s official site exudes, “No longer will our combatants need to withdraw from combat for extended periods to return for vulnerable in-port reloading of weapon systems.” 

It’s an unqualified good that the Navy can now do this. But it might come too late. 

China has developed substantial countermeasures designed to overcome America’s perceived military advantages at sea. Its anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities are now the foundation of China’s military presence in the South and East China Seas. These defensive systems are built to deny U.S. access to a contested battle area. Advanced sensors, anti-ship ballistic missile systems, and hypersonic weapons define China’s A2/AD threat. 

Contrary to whatever the Navy’s official position on these A2/AD capabilities from China may be, the U.S. Navy does not have viable defenses against these systems. 

The Navy is Not Keeping Up

More than that, the Navy has not yet effectively demonstrated that it has the ability to produce directed-energy weapons or hypersonic weapons of its own that can reliably challenge China. This creates a severe strategic deficit and lends China significant tactical advantages that it otherwise would lack.  

America’s problem is the A2/AD threat. Being able to “fire two broadsides to the enemy’s one,” as Hunter Stires, a maritime analyst for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, described this new TRAM capability, misses the point. There’s no reason to reload at sea with TRAM if the surface fleet cannot get close enough to fire on Chinese targets that are protected by A2/AD defensive bubbles, nor is there any reason to reload at sea if China can simply sink U.S. warships with their A2/AD systems.

A Parade of Horribles 

Will this capability be useful for the Navy? 

Undoubtedly, yes. 

Will it be useful before rival A2/AD systems can be overcome? Absolutely not. 

Are rival A2/AD systems being overcome by Navy innovations? Not yet. 

Once the A2/AD threat is mitigated, then the Navy surface fleet can be more fully used, and that reload-at-sea capability becomes more important. Until then, however, the Navy is basically putting the cart before the horse. This will have profoundly negative consequences for the U.S. military if a war with China erupts. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. 

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