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Microliberations newsletter #4 September 2022: Disintermediate

James Simpkin

• 4 min read
Microliberations newsletter #4 September 2022: Disintermediate
Ukrainian army soldier checks her phone after a military sweep on the outskirts of Kyiv. (Rodrigo Abd/The Associated Press)

This month's digest of the impact of military technology on strategy has an emphasis on ballistic missile defence interceptors. There's also the full public release of the first Hypervelocity podcast, the latest round of Read and Relax as well as some interesting looking books. Hope you find it interesting.

In this month's digest:

  • UK defence strategy since the Integrated Review: the view from Washington
  • Priorities for detecting missiles from Guam
  • Japan to Build Two 20,000-ton Missile Defense Warships, Indian Carrier Commissions
  • RAF Fylingdales marks 30 years of missile warning radar
  • Northrop Grumman-Led Team Selected by the Missile Defense Agency for Next Generation Interceptor Program
  • Radical War
  • The Everywhere war
  • Read and Relax: The Holy Bible KJV
  • Interesting looking books round up.

UK defence strategy since the Integrated Review: the view from Washington

UK defence strategy since the Integrated Review: the view from Washington
What do US policymakers make of UK strategic thinking in the wake of the Integrated Review, and how could subsequent events affect the transatlantic defence relationship?
Shephard MediaDavid Isby

'The UK participated this year in US Army’s Project Convergence demonstrations and it became the first international connection in the US ballistic missile defence network.'

Priorities for detecting missiles from Guam

Vice Adm. Jon A. Hill. The priorities will be trying to make sure next generation interceptor architecture for the defence of the US homeland is sited in an acceptable location for ordnance/radars.

Japan to Build Two 20,000-ton Missile Defense Warships, Indian Carrier Commissions

Japan to Build Two 20,000-ton Missile Defense Warships, Indian Carrier Commissions - USNI News
Japan’s Ministry of Defence is proposing to build a pair of ballistic missile defense ships – the among largest warships in the Japanese inventory since World War II – government officials said last week. The Ministry of Defense listed design expenses and engines for the two Aegis BMD ships among 10…
USNI NewsDzirhan Mahadzir

I don't usually read much about Japanese BMD developments, but these BMD developments would seem to complement

RAF Fylingdales marks 30 years of missile warning radar

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Since the beginning of the Ukrainian invasion of Russia, in the past 6 weeks they've detected more ballistic missiles than in the whole previous year.

Northrop Grumman-Led Team Selected by the Missile Defense Agency for Next Generation Interceptor Program

Northrop Grumman-Led Team Selected by the Missile Defense Agency for Next Generation Interceptor Program
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – March 23, 2021 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a contract by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) for the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program. The contract is for the rapid development and flight test of...
Northrop Grumman Newsroom

Hypervelocity episode 1: Radical War with Dr Matthew Ford and Professor Andrew Hoskins

This was a great way to kick off the Hypervelocity podcast. Had a great discussion with Matthew and Andrew about how smartphones have disintermediated the frontline between combatants and civilians.

The Everyone War

The Everyone War
Smartphones have disintermediated the frontline between combatants and civilians.
MicroliberationsJames Simpkin

Out on public release now, my digest of Radical War to coincide with the podcast episode.

Read and Relax: The Holy Bible KJV

I recently started a new round of Read and Relax, each Saturday at 4pm UK time. This time round I'm reading the Holy Bible. I wanted to read it because it's probably the most influential book in word history, whether you're a believer or not. Can you call yourself truly educated if you haven't read it? And by reading the Bible as part of my read and relax series I'm certainly not saying that the Bible is just a book like any other.

So far I've been reading Genesis. It's certainly surprising to find all those classic tales - Creation, Adam and eve, the Fall, Cain and Able, Noah's Ark, Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham's attempted sacrifice of Isaac - unfold with around 50 pages.

Interesting looking books round up

      What did my arms do before they held you - Sylvia Plath