WorldCargo News’ Post

As #NATO conducts a simulated defense exercise of the #Suwalki #Corridor, linking #Belarus with the Russian enclave of #Kaliningrad through #Poland🇵🇱, Polish President Andrzej #Duda announced his country's readiness to #deploy #nuclear #weapons on its territory. This proactive stance is a direct response to the positioning of #atomic #systems in #Belarus in June 2023. The #Suwalki #Corridor holds strategic significance as a vital land bridge between #NATO members in the #Baltic #States and #Poland, serving as a critical link for reinforcement and resupply efforts in the event of a conflict. Recognizing the potential vulnerability of this corridor to aggression or disruption, NATO's simulated defense exercise underscores the alliance's commitment to collective #security and #deterrence against potential #threats. President #Duda's announcement regarding the readiness to deploy nuclear weapons reflects Poland's firm resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The decision to deploy nuclear weapons on Polish soil underscores the evolving security landscape in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, characterized by increased military activities and geopolitical tensions.

#NewColdWar | When regional conflict and strategic tensions overlap. #Russia has 12 #nuclear weapon storage sites, and one of them is in Belgorod — within 100 miles of the border with #Ukraine. Those weapons were evacuated from the Belgorod site last summer, a year after this incident. That overlap I referred to is why the fact that it is being reported that the U.S. Department of Defense is involved in the sensing and targeting of Russian positions by the Ukrainians is very worrying. When it appears that the United States is using a regional conflict to reshape the strategic environment by targeting key locations like that NIP-16 strategic missile warning radar in Crimea a couple weeks ago, the calculations in the Kremlin will likely change, if they haven’t already. SOURCE(S): SOFREP

U.S. researchers have identified a probable deployment site for Russia's nuclear-powered cruise missile, the 9M370 Burevestnik, near a nuclear warhead storage facility called Vologda-20 or Chebsara, located 295 miles north of Moscow. Using satellite imagery, analyst Decker Eveleth reported construction of nine horizontal launch pads in protected berms, which may allow for rapid launch capabilities. Despite President Vladimir Putin's claims of the missile's invincibility and unmatched range, Western experts have raised doubts regarding its strategic value and potential safety risks, including the possibility of a radiation leak. The Burevestnik has a history of poor testing outcomes, and while it could theoretically enhance Russia's nuclear arsenal, analysts suggest it may not offer new capabilities. The site’s identification indicates Russia is advancing with the missile's deployment amid ongoing debates about its effectiveness and the risks associated with its nuclear-powered engine. #AsiaRisk #GeopoliticalConflictandDisputes #India Follow us for daily updates on risk and operations in Asia! https://lnkd.in/d47rcWNG

https://lnkd.in/gRqx3tyb OVERTHROW IRAN USING ALL MEANS NECESSARY INCLUDING NEUTRON AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS IMMEDIATELY

US researchers find probable launch site of Russia's new nuclear-powered missile WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Two U.S. researchers say they have identified the probable deployment site in Russia of the 9M370 Burevestnik, a new nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile touted by President Vladimir Putin as "invincible." Putin has said the weapon - dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO - has an almost unlimited range and can evade U.S. missile defenses. But some Western experts dispute his claims and the Burevestnik's strategic value, saying it will not add capabilities that Moscow does not already have and risks a radiation-spewing mishap. Using images taken on July 26 by Planet Labs, a commercial satellite firm, the two researchers identified a construction project abutting a nuclear warhead storage facility known by two names - Vologda-20 and Chebsara - as the new missile's potential deployment site. The facility is 295 miles (475 km) north of Moscow. Reuters is the first to report this development. Decker Eveleth, an analyst with the CNA research and analysis organization, found the satellite imagery and identified what he assessed are nine horizontal launch pads under construction. They are located in three groups inside high berms to shield them from attack or to prevent an accidental blast in one from detonating missiles in the others, he said. The berms are linked by roads to what Eveleth concluded are likely buildings where the missiles and their components would be serviced, and to the existing complex of five nuclear warhead storage bunkers. The site is "for a large, fixed missile system and the only large, fixed missile system that they're (Russia) currently developing is the Skyfall," said Eveleth. Russia's defense ministry and Washington embassy did not respond to a request to comment on his assessment, Burevestnik's strategic value, its test record and the risks it poses.

The Kursk submarine incident is one of the most famous and tragic submarine accidents in history. Kursk, a Russian Oscar II-class nuclear submarine, sank on August 12, 2000, in the Barents Sea, during a military exercise. All crew members, 118 of them, died. Here is a detailed overview of this incident: ### Kursk (K-141) - **Type**: Oscar II class nuclear submarine - **Role**: Missile Submarine (SSGN), designed to attack aircraft carriers and other surface ships - **Crew**: 118 members ### Incident 1. **Initial Event**: - On August 12, 2000, the Kursk took part in a large-scale military exercise of the Russian Northern Fleet in the Barents Sea. - Around 11:28 local time, the first explosion occurred. That explosion was probably the result of hydrogen peroxide (HTP) leaking from the torpedo, which caused a chemical reaction and detonation of the torpedo. 2. **Consequences of the first explosion**: - The first explosion did not immediately sink the submarine, but it caused a fire and damage to the internal partitions. - A few minutes later, a second, much stronger explosion occurred, which was strong enough to be recorded on seismographs around the world. The second explosion was probably caused by the detonation of the remaining torpedoes in the first compartment. 3. **Sinking**: - After the second explosion, the Kursk quickly sank to a depth of about 108 meters, about 135 kilometers from the northern cape of the Kola Peninsula. ### Rescue attempts 1. **Initial reaction**: - The Russian Navy quickly noticed that the Kursk was not responding to communication calls and began a rescue operation. - The first rescue attempts were unsuccessful due to bad weather, technical problems and insufficient equipment. 2. **International assistance**: - A few days later, Russia accepted help from Great Britain and Norway. - British and Norwegian rescuers arrived on August 20 and managed to open the back door of the submarine, but by then all the crew members were already dead. ### Causes of the accident Investigations indicated that the likely cause of the accident was a leak of hydrogen peroxide (HTP) from the torpedo, which caused a chemical reaction and explosion. Factors that contributed to the disaster include: 1. **Technical problems**: - Deficiencies in torpedo design and maintenance. 2. **Poor communication**: - Insufficient communication and coordination during rescue efforts. 3. **Organizational problems**: - Delays in accepting international aid. ### Consequences 1. **Loss of life**: - All crew members died, which caused great sadness and anger in Russia and around the world. 2. **Reputation of the Russian Navy**: - The accident seriously damaged the reputation of the Russian Navy and showed the deficiencies in the rescue capacities. 3. **Changes in procedures**: - The accident led to a change in the procedures for maintenance of torpedoes and improvement of rescue capacities. ChatBotAI

Major differences between the B-1 and Tu-160 strategic bombers: 1. Country of Origin B-1 Lancer: The B-1 was developed by the United States, specifically by Rockwell International (now part of Boeing) for the U.S. Air Force. Tu-160 (Blackjack): The Tu-160 is a Soviet (now Russian) bomber, designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau for the Russian Air Force. 2. Primary Role B-1 Lancer: The B-1 was originally designed as a nuclear bomber but was later modified to focus on conventional bombing. Today, it is primarily a long-range, high-speed, conventional bomber. Tu-160 (Blackjack): The Tu-160 remains primarily a strategic nuclear bomber. It can also perform conventional strikes, but its primary role is nuclear deterrence. 3. Maximum Speed B-1 Lancer: The B-1 has a maximum speed of Mach 1.25 (around 950 mph or 1,500 km/h). It is classified as a supersonic bomber but focuses on long-range, low-altitude flight. Tu-160 (Blackjack): The Tu-160 is faster, with a maximum speed of Mach 2.05 (around 1,380 mph or 2,220 km/h), making it one of the fastest bombers in service today. 4. Payload Capacity B-1 Lancer: The B-1 can carry up to 75,000 pounds (34,000 kg) of both nuclear and conventional ordnance, but it is currently used solely for conventional warfare. Tu-160 (Blackjack): The Tu-160 has a larger payload capacity, capable of carrying up to 88,000 pounds (40,000 kg) of weapons, including nuclear and conventional missiles. 5. Operational Range B-1 Lancer: The B-1 has a combat radius of about 3,000 miles (4,800 km) without refueling. It often operates with aerial refueling to extend its range. Tu-160 (Blackjack): The Tu-160 has a longer unrefueled range, capable of flying up to 7,600 miles (12,300 km). This gives it extended reach for global nuclear missions. It highlight the distinct design philosophies and roles of the two bombers, with the B-1 Lancer focusing more on conventional roles and flexibility, while the Tu-160 remains a powerful nuclear deterrent with superior speed and range.

Check out this BBC article highlighting how Planet's satellite imagery captured a Chinese nuclear submarine that sank in its dock during construction. The imagery reveals floating cranes salvaging the submarine, demonstrating the critical role of optical satellite technology in monitoring and managing key installations on a broad scale. Interested in how Planet’s daily satellite imagery can support your operations? Reach out to me to explore your specific use cases! #SatelliteImagery #GeospatialIntelligence #OpticalSatellites #BroadAreaManagement #PlanetLabs #DailyMonitoring #DefenseTech #Surveillance #SituationalAwareness #RemoteSensing

Contemporary armed conflicts - challenges in humanitarian law

On 26 April, Ukraine commemorates the 38th anniversary of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) accident, which became the largest man-made catastrophe of the 20th century. More than 8.5 #million people were irradiated. The releases affected large areas of #Europe. Over 200 000 km2 were contaminated with caesium-137, which has a 30-year half-life. 💡30 employees of the nuclear power plant died as a result of the explosion or acute radiation sickness within a few months of the accident. 💡500 000 people #died from radiation, according to estimates by independent experts. 💡90,784 individuals were evacuated from 81 #settlements in Ukraine by the end of the summer of 1986. 💡Over 600 000 people became liquidators of the accident 💡2,293 Ukrainian #cities and towns with a population of approximately 2.6 #million people were contaminated with radioactive nuclides. The USSR authorities made the first official announcement on April 28 under the #pressure of the international community, but it did not even mention the extent of the problem. The impression was formed that there was no threat, and the problem was local. All foreign mass media talked about the danger caused by the Chornobyl accident, but the Soviet ones said almost #nothing about it. Although it was at this time that all the cities of the USSR were preparing parades and demonstrations in honour of May 1. In #Kyiv, for example, on the day when thousands of people took to the streets of the city, the level of radiation exceeded the norm by several #dozen times. When Russians started the full-scale invasion in 2022, they occupied the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant on 24 February. Russians took Ukrainian soldiers prisoner and held the #civilian staff of the station #hostage. ❗️The occupation lasted 35 days, and then Ukraine returned control over it. During this period, Russian troops ransacked laboratories, #destroyed and looted equipment, detained and #mistreated security personnel, and used the facility as a base for further military operations. The anniversary of Chornobyl is an opportunity to draw attention to the nuclear threat #posed by Russia. 📹 The speech provided in the video is an official notification made on the national channel following the accident. Credits @flyua_kyiv