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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. 

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?)

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. 

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?)

ENQUÊTE - Tournées vers la présidentielle 2027, Marine Le Pen et ses troupes entendent toutefois se préparer en cas de nouvelle dissolution d’ici là.

Summary and Key Points: During recent U.S.-led naval exercises near Hawaii, the Harpoon missile demonstrated its enduring capabilities by sinking two large warships. Used by over thirty nations, this American-made anti-ship missile has been a mainstay since the Cold War.

-Developed by McDonnell Douglas in response to the 1967 sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eilat, the Harpoon features a low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory with active radar guidance. Various versions, including the air-launched Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM), have been utilized in multiple combat operations, showcasing its versatility and effectiveness.

-Despite its age, the Harpoon missile remains a formidable force in modern naval warfare.

Harpoon: A History of the Best Anti-Ship Missile Ever (According to Some Experts)

This month, two large warships were sunk by the U.S. Navy and its allies on a U.S.-led international military exercise on the Rim of the Pacific, near the Hawaiian Islands. These live-fire sinking drills included a consortium of twenty-nine nations, forty surface ships, three submarines, and roughly 25,000 personnel. 

Footage of these wargames showcases the capabilities of the naval capabilities of America’s allies, namely the Royal Netherlands Navy’s De Zeven Provincien-class frigate: the proud HNLMS Tromp with its advanced, and expensive, Harpoon missiles, valued at more than $1.4 million.

These resilient, American-made, anti-ship missiles have been used by America’s allies since the days of the Cold War. These systems, while aged, did so like fine wine, as they continue to play a leading role in America’s power on the high seas. Today, the Harpoon missiles remain in service, utilized by more than thirty nations as the world’s most successful anti-ship missile available.

An Overview of the Harpoon

Conceptualization for the Harpoon peaked in the 1960s, following the shocking sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eilat during the Israeli-Egyptian war of 1967. The warship was on patrol off the coast of the Egyptian town of Port Said when a Soviet-designed P-15 Termit/SS-N-2 Styx anti-ship missile thoroughly destroyed the Israeli vessel. This attack began a new stage in naval warfare, as the first surface-to-surface missiles had sunk a warship at sea.

Militaries around the globe, including the United States, were shocked by the success of the Soviet weapon. Thick was the kick that American officials were looking for to prioritize constructing a more advanced anti-ship missile inventory. Manufacturer McDonnell Douglas was then tasked with developing the Harpoon to rectify the gap in capability.

Harpoon Missile Variants Over the Years

The first Harpoon was delivered by the end of the 1970’s. Utilizing a low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory with active radar guidance, capable of using both anti-ship and land-strike missiles. Following its second anniversary in the service, air-launched Harpoons were developed on the Navy’s P-3C Orion aircraft and later for use on the Air Force’s B-52H bombers. Over time, multiple Harpoon variants have been created for the platform, retaining an edge over any competitors. 

The missiles could be launched from a range of systems, from surface ships and submarines to fixed-wing aircraft and coastal defense batteries. The Block 1E version of the missile, better known as the Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) was first introduced in the 1990s, and the Harpoon Block II debuted in 2009.

While many Harpoon variants may differ slightly in terms of capabilities, the Block 1E (AGM-84E/SLAM) largely departs from its predecessors.

As outlined by the Center for International and Strategic Studies (CSIS), “An air-launched land attack missile, the addition of a Global Positioning System receiver, a Walleye infrared (IIR) optical guidance system, and a Maverick data-link system resulted in a significantly more precise weapon. The missile is 4.5 meters in length and 0.34 meters in diameter, with a launch weight of 628 kg. SLAM entered service in 1990 and was successfully employed in Operation Desert Storm and UN relief efforts in Bosnia.”

Since the Harpoon’s introduction to service, the anti-ship missile has been deployed in numerous combat operations. In its first decade of service, Harpoon missiles were used to sink the Iranian frigate Sahand during Operation Praying Mantis and against Libyan forces in the Gulf of Sidra.

About the Author: Maya Carlin, Defense Expert 

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

All images are Creative Commons. 

Americas Sikorsky Aircraft won a $120 million modification, which adds scope to procure additional long-lead time materials to support 21 full rate production, Lot Nine, CH-53K King Stallion aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in March 2025. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The US Army has demonstrated the capabilities of nine of its counter-small unmanned aerial systems (C-sUAS) against more than 40 aerial targets. Described by the service as its “most challenging counter-drone systems test to date,” the test aimed to evaluate the command-and-control capabilities of its available C-sUAS weapons. These systems include radio frequency scanners and jammers, electro-optical/infrared cameras, kinetic interceptor drones, and guided rockets. Middle East & Defense Elbit Systems has received a $190-million contract to provide its Iron Sting mortar munition to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The Iron Sting is a laser and GPS-guided shell developed for precision strikes in complex environments, minimizing collateral damage to a target area. The warhead is typically launched from 120-millimeter mortar for a range of up to 6.2 miles. Europe The United States on Monday announced new military aid for Ukraine valued at around $1.7 billion […]

F-16 “Iron Eagle”, similar to the F-16s now making their way to Ukraine.

The 1980s was an era that was characterized by high levels of patriotism in he United States, supported by a generation of action films and accompanying stars. A few months before the release of Top Gun, there was a movie about a kid and his plane called Iron Eagle, a film built around the F-16A/B Viper (as opposed to the F-15 Eagle) being used to dominate a fictional country that played the role of fake Libya at the time. With new developments in Ukraine, the first F-16s are making their way to the war zone, a conflict that has had reduced air power due to the prevalence of so many anti-aircraft systems in the region.

While the renewal of patriotic movements remains to be seen, the promotion of the F-16 in Ukraine is seen as a game changer in the conflict despite the aircraft being a 1980’s classic, with non-stealth vulnerabilities and a limited fuel capacity. The F-14 from Top Gun, F-15 and F-16 were all designed in the late 1970s as a response to the prevalence of the nimble Soviet MiG-21, keeping their place in the front line of US Air Power ever since. While the F-14s have already been retired for sometime, the F-15 and F-16 are still considered some of the best aircraft in operation to date, even if being of an increasingly older design. Upgrades often are to the internal systems, software, radars and modernization of computer systems to keep the F-15 and F-16 potent on the battlefield. Much of these improvements have also been challenged by modern anti-aircraft systems, designed to kill an F-15 and F-16 through many layers of air defence. The narrative on the F-16s being a singularly awesome tool to turn the tide in the conflict comes with a softening of Russian Air Defence and good PR on the 1980s system. Perhaps they would do well with a promotional film after the success of Top Gun: Maverick, as wonder systems like the Leopard 2s and M1 Abrams have not matched the hype in performance, while still operating within successful realistic measures on the battlefield.

Air power in the War in Ukraine was met with some horrific tragedies, with Russian S-300 missile systems tracking Ukrainian aircraft from Belarus and shooting them down. Ukraine’s air arm, while flying in Ukraine, was in danger soon after takeoff in their own territory earlier in the conflict. Recent techniques to destroy Russian Air Defence radars and missiles have taken shape using drones and tactical ballistic missiles like Hi-Mars, focusing on larger and more complex S-400 missile batteries that are designed to challenge advanced ballistic missile systems, but fail against simple drones and is questionable in defending against Hi-Mars. While drone attacks have been able to avoid being shot down by advanced systems on both sides of the conflict, often the S-400 would carry a smaller missile capability and be covered by other shorter range missile systems and radar guided cannons. Why the recent S-400 system in Crimea was unable to be protected is likely due to the lack of the smaller missiles in its own battery. We also do not know if the battery was lacking cover from TOR and Pantsir systems in the area, designed for battery defence. Even with layered defences, swarming a radar with drones and using advanced missiles at the same time are difficult to defend against, especially since the last truly operational radar/gun system was the 1980s era West German Gepard, now dusted off to shoot down terror drones in Ukraine.

It is difficult to know the success rate of drones and Hi-Mars attacks as there is the possibility that many missiles were launched and intercepted until a Hi-Mars was able to complete its mission. These targeted assaults on S-400 systems looks to be preparing for an increased air campaign in Ukraine, likely using donated NATO F-16s. While F-16s have a better chance of surviving anti-air shields, there are so many different systems in Ukraine that the success of the F-16 will be probably come from launching longer range weapons from a distance as opposed to close in attacks. All Russian and Soviet systems were designed to kill F-16s, coming out in the late 1980s, possibly as a response to Maverick and Goose with the ability to detect a volleyball from many miles away. They did not prevent Maverick attacking another fictional country however, and the real risks to the F-16s going to battle in Ukraine comes at high risk as well. The pilots for those missions need to hope for the best, but expect the worst in order to keep themselves safe during missions.

CH-53K concept (click to view full) The U.S. Marines have a problem. They rely on their CH-53E Super Stallion medium-heavy lift helicopters to move troops, vehicles, and supplies off of their ships. But the helicopters are wearing out. Fast. The pace demanded by the Global War on Terror is relentless, and usage rates are 3 times normal. Attrition is taking its toll. Over the past few years, CH-53s have been recalled from “boneyard” storage at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ, in order to maintain fleet numbers in the face of recent losses and forced retirements. Now, there are no flyable spares left. Enter the Heavy Lift Replacement (HLR) program, now known as the CH-53K. It aims to offer notable performance improvements over the CH-53E, in a similar airframe. The question is whether its service entry delay to 2018-2019 will come too late to offset a serious decline in Marine aviation. The HLR Program Lifts Off [youtube:v=k_pAe8Gvua8] Sikorksy on HLR, 2011 The $25.5 billion, 200-helicopter CH-53K program will define the long-term future of the US Marine Corps’ medium-heavy lift capabilities – and may be needed to save Marine aviation in the medium term. On average, existing CH-53E aircraft are more than […]

Jeune réalisateur documentariste, la trentaine, Issa Tiendrébéogo ne se contente plus de filmer le réel, il y ajoute désormais sa vision, sa touche, ses ressentiments. Ex pensionnaire de l'Institut supérieur de l'image et du son-Studio école (ISIS-SE) au Burkina Faso où il a étudié pendant cinq ans le cinéma, Issa décide de mêler documentaire et fiction : le documentaire de création, ce genre cinématographique pas très connu des Burkinabè. Portrait !

Le rêve d'Issa en intégrant une école de formation en cinéma, était de faire de la fiction. Il voulait « passer de l'autre côté de la caméra », confie-t-il. Dans le monde cinématographique, il a deux casquettes. Il a une formation de comédien de théâtre et de cinéma. Dans la pratique professionnelle, Issa Tiendrébéogo a joué dans plusieurs pièces, des films et des séries. Même si le métier de l'audiovisuel est une passion inhérente en lui, il avoue arriver dans le documentaire par contrainte.

« Je peux dire que je suis venu au documentaire un peu par contrainte », a-t-il confié. Cette situation, explique-t-il, est due aux difficultés auxquelles l'école était confrontée pour produire les films de fiction de fin de cycle de la licence. Du coup, ajoute-t-il, nous sommes tous devenus documentaristes en Master. Mais très vite, la passion va prendre le dessus. Face à des enseignants de renom comme Issaka Konaté et Issa Traoré de Brahima, Issa est fasciné par ce genre cinématographique.

Venu au documentaire par le fait d'un hasard, aujourd'hui Issa loue ce hasard. Pour lui, le genre documentaire de création est le meilleur support pour s'exprimer. Il est moins budgétivore que la fiction, a-t-il fait savoir. « Le documentaire, tu peux aller juste avec ton cadreur et ton ingénieur de son et vous travaillez », explique-t-il.

A l'entendre, le documentaire de création permet une plus grande flexibilité esthétique et formelle que la fiction. « En documentaire, vous pouvez faire de telle sorte que la caméra soit plus proche de votre sujet, donc il n'y a pas besoin de s'encombrer d'accessoires », raconte-t-il.

Original dans son approche créative, il commence un film par une poésie qu'il griffonne, affine, avant de passer au scenario (le traitement pour le cas du documentaire). Cette touche particulière se retrouve le long du film où une poésie est déclamée. C'est son fil conducteur.

Déjà auteur de plusieurs courts métrages et lauréat de plusieurs festivals, Issa Tiendrébéogo travaille sur un projet de série documentaire : La danse des devins.

Ce projet lui tient énormément à cœur, surtout à cette étape de sa carrière. La danse des devins, c'est une fenêtre ouverte sur les pratiques ancestrales. Issa nous plonge avec sa caméra dans ce monde mystérieux et fermé. Il nous amène au contact de ces hommes d'une autre époque qui ne jurent que par la spiritualité africaine.

Un seul épisode, sur les dix de ce projet, a été réalisé. Le deuxième épisode a reçu le soutien du ministère de la Culture à hauteur de 500 000 francs CFA pour le développement du scenario. Le jeune réalisateur est toujours en quête de soutien pour réaliser les huit autres épisodes de cette série documentaire.
« On va postuler au Marché international du cinéma et de l'audiovisuel africains (MICA) pour chercher des fonds afin de réaliser ne serait-ce que cinq épisodes », espère-t-il.

En attendant l'aboutissement de ce projet, il finance ses initiatives sur fonds propres par sa petite maison de production. « On fait de petits boulots, puis quand on a 5 000 ou 10 000 francs, on remet le sac au dos et on fait ce qu'on peut avec ces maigres moyens », a-t-il indiqué, parlant des difficultés auxquelles font face les jeunes cinéastes pour trouver des financements.

Issa Tiendrébéogo, confiant, malgré les difficultés, espère présenter un court métrage au prochain Festival panafricain du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou (FESPACO).

Auguste Paré
Lefaso.net

Germany’s Constitutional Court approved on Tuesday (30 July) the government’s plans to downsize the Bundestag by roughly 100 lawmakers but threw out some parts of the proposed reform to protect smaller political parties.

Tania Zeng a abandonné le tennis de table pendant plus de 30 ans. Elle ne l'a repris que lors de la pandémie de covid-19 et n'a cessé de briller sur le terrain depuis lors.

U.S. Air Force pilots and air battle managers are getting “hand-on” experience with the E-7A Wedgetail during the latest iteration of Pitch Black. Beginning in 2022, the U.S. Air Force initiated a program to embed [...]

The post USAF Airmen Embed with Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail Unit At Pitch Black 2024 appeared first on The Aviationist.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron proposed incumbent EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton for a second five-year term in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seen by Euractiv.

Greece’s Supreme Court prosecutor has shelved a case against the intelligence service, EYP, as a preliminary probe by the court showed no evidence that the agency used illegal phone malware to spy on targets.

Spain's competition watchdog fined Booking.com with a record €413 million fine for "abusing its dominant position" during the past five years.

Au sud-est de Ljubljana, je me suis arrêté à Novo Mesto le temps d'y découvrir ce qu'avait à me raconter mon hôte Artem...

- Balkans Rhapsodie • Le blog de Basile Hiegel / Blogs - Diaporama