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It is considered the formation of an economic-legal mechanism for the protection of intellectual property rights in the field of national security and defense of Ukraine and it is substantiated that this mechanism is a complex system in a broad sense, where there is a combination of integrated innovative activity of the state scientific and production structures of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine with the Ukrainian National Office of Intellectual Property and Innovations in the direction of protection of intellectual property rights, and also it has a basis of innovativeness (innovative-intellectual activity) taking into account the relevant principles and priorities. The effectiveness of the mechanism in the conditions of creating an innovative and intellectual environment in the field of defense with the cycle «science-technics-technology-production-defense» is determined as a targeted combination of highly qualified leading specialists and scientists in the appropriate organizational-functional and technical-technological production structure, which is aimed at innovative-intellectual activity and technical-technological entrepreneurship, where the economic component is taken into account-receiving remuneration during the commercialization of intellectual property rights objects in the form of profit, royalties, combined payment, which are intended to stimulate the subjects of right to protect intellectual property rights. Attention is focused on the activities of subjects that have violated intellectual property rights in the aspect of the directions of violations. These directions allow us to look for effective ways of countering such activities in the field of national security and defense of Ukraine. It is noted that the formation of an economic and legal mechanism for the protection of intellectual property rights in the sphere of national security and defense of Ukraine will contribute to effective countermeasures against violations of property rights of intellectual property in this important field of activity. Important criteria for the effectiveness of the protection of intellectual property rights are outlined, which are: the level of professionalism and personal responsibility of judges, the level of creative thinking and creativity of judges, the level of court independence, the level of software, organizational, personnel, legal and information support of the court apparatus. Arguably, the lack of appropriate legislative regulation and experience in the commercialization of military and defense technologies and equipment using IPPR is pointed out in Ukraine, creates opportunities for violations of property rights of intellectual property, which lead not only to the lack of effective protection of the rights of IPPR subjects, but also affect on the defense capability of the state. The economic and legal mechanism for the protection of intellectual property rights in the field of national security and defense of Ukraine is presented, which requires coordination of the efforts of all subjects authorized to protect and protect intellectual property. It is noted that the development of the sphere of intellectual property has a decisive influence on the state of national security, which is linked to organizational measures to neutralize internal sources of threats and protect against external threats to national security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of Neapolitan artillery during the period of Carlo Filangieri reflects an era of military modernization. After the establishment of the Naval Academy in 1735, Carlo di Borbone founded the Corps Academy and the Engineers Academy, merging these institutions in 1769 into the Royal Military Academy. Military facilities were strategically located in the triangle formed by the Royal Palace, Castelnuovo, and the Naval Arsenal, with modern facilities also in Castellammare, Poggioreale, Gaeta, Capua, Torre Annunziata, and Mongiana. The Artillery Arsenal and the Royal Foundry were central to the production of military equipment, utilizing advanced technologies. The Royal Weapon Assembly handled weapon assembly, while the Royal Factory of Torre Annunziata produced cutting and firearms. Carlo Filangieri played a crucial role in reorganizing the military industry and promoting protectionist policies. In 1834, under the leadership of Ferdinand II, Filangieri was appointed to head the reorganization of the Artillery Corps, improving existing facilities and promoting self-sufficiency in military supplies. This period marked a transition toward industrialization of military production in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, highlighting the importance of having a well-equipped central arsenal to ensure the political and military autonomy of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressing need for the enhancement of stealth materials that are harmonious with state-of-the-art military equipment is critical, as it plays a pivotal role in bolstering the survivability and operational capabilities of advanced military technology. This research offers a straightforward approach for fabricating a gradient triple-layer absorber utilizing a Cu 2 O/ h -BN nanocomposite and FeCoNi magnetic compounds, characterized by reduced thickness, designed for X-band wave spectrum attenuation purposes. The primary objective of this study is to examine the electromagnetic wave absorption characteristics of single-layer samples and subsequently develop a triple-layer gradient sample with distinct electromagnetic wave stealth features based on the findings. Optimal performance was observed in the gradient sample, where Cu 2 O/ h -BN nanocomposite with 20 and 10 wt% was incorporated as a matching layer with thicknesses of 0.5 and 0.5 mm, respectively, and FeCoNi with 20 wt% was employed as an absorbing layer with a 0.4 mm thickness, surpassing the performance of the other samples. The optimal sample achieves a dissipation loss of −45.6 dB and a bandwidth of 2.9 GHz, all while maintaining a total thickness of just 1.4 mm. Facilitating multiple heterogeneous interfaces among layers, substances, and the synergistic interaction between constituent elements and layers' thickness and arrangement enable this gradient configuration to demonstrate exceptional performance in radar stealth compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The fit of military clothing and equipment is essential for the health and safety of military operators. Given the aim of increasing the proportion of women and the known biological and morphological differences between male and female soldiers, an understanding of fit across different items of kit is needed. The aim of this study was to quantify subjective fit ratings of 8 items of military clothing and equipment, including combat shirt, combat pants, rucksack, small pack, tactical vest, fragmentation vest, helmet, and ballistic eyewear as a function of relative stature and occupational group among male and female Canadian Armed Forces members. Materials and Methods An online survey was distributed to male and female Canadian Armed Forces members, where fit was reported by participants according to a 7-point Likert acceptability scale. Participants were binned into 1 of 6 (3 males, 3 females) standing stature categories based on percentiles in a male and female distribution that included (1) under 35th percentile stature, (2) 35th to 80th percentile stature, and (3) over 80th percentile stature. Additionally, participants were separated according to occupational group: Group A: Infantry, Combat Engineer, Artillery, Armored; group B: Signals, Medical Technician, Intelligence, Signals Intelligence/Cyber Ops; group C: Supply Technician, Weapons Technician, Vehicle Technician, Electronic-Optronic Technician, Ammunition Technician; other: Not in other groups, examples include: Financial Services Administrator, Cook. This study was approved by the Defence Research and Development Canada Human Research Ethics Committee under protocol 2019-048, Amendment 2. Results There were significant effects attributable to stature category and occupational group on the fit of equipment. Specifically, fit acceptability of the rucksack helmet, small pack, and tactical vest was significantly affected by occupational group. Differences between stature categories were detected in all items with the exception of the small pack. Conclusions Military equipment fit has previously been shown to have implications for protection, performance, and mobility. The results of the investigation demonstrate different patterns of fit acceptability in male and female soldiers across items of clothing and equipment and may require different solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing tensions over China's military build-up and modernization, there is little understanding of China's defense budget. Published estimates vary implausibly from one quarter of the USA's defense budget to near parity, and there are very few attempts to understand how its size or composition has changed over time. This paper uses index number techniques to quantify China's real defense spending over time and relative to the USA. I construct price deflators and show that overall growth has been slower than thought, but also that there has been extremely rapid growth in real military equipment spending that has transformed China's defense forces. China's real defense purchasing power is also found to be 60% larger than commonly used market exchange rate estimates and equal to 59% of the USA's defense budget in 2021. Notwithstanding the rapid growth in equipment, the high relative purchasing power mostly reflects China's far larger number of active personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Elektronik Industrie is the property of Hüthig GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article presents global trends in arms production, building on the most recent data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). In 2022, despite Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and heightened tension around the world, arms production fell in real terms by 3.5 per cent to $597 billion. The decrease was mostly due to the performance of US companies – still plagued by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic – and not offset by increases in other regions. Notwithstanding the global decrease, arms revenue was still 14 per cent higher than in 2015, the year in which SIPRI started including Chinese arms companies. Procurement plans for the replenishment of stockpiles and modernisation of military equipment deployed by states around the world are mostly not yet reflected in the revenue of the arms industry. In addition to the lengthy time lag between orders and deliveries, many companies have faced challenges in scaling up production. However, high order intakes suggest that arms revenue may rise significantly in the years ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of titanium alloys in military equipment put forward the requirement for higher strength–plasticity matching. Investment casting is a promising method for the efficient and economical processing of titanium alloys. However, research on the investment casting of higher strength–plasticity matching titanium alloys is still limited. This study systematically investigated the microstructure and mechanical properties of investment casting ultrahigh-strength Ti-1300 alloy under different heat treatment methods and process parameters. The results show that the as-cast microstructure of the investment casting Ti-1300 alloy is a coarse Widmanstätten structure, which exhibits a high ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 1143.0 MPa with elongation (EI) close to 0. After β-solution and single-aging treatments, the UTS decreased and the EI rapidly increased. This is primarily because the width of the αP phase was significantly increased and the orientation was more random. In addition, the UTS and yield strength (YS) increased with decreasing aging temperature, while the EI remained unchanged. This was attributed to an increase in the αP phase content. After 880 °C β-solution and 600 °C aging, the investment casting Ti-1300 alloy exhibited optimal strength–plasticity matching, with a UTS of 949 MPa and an EI of 13.5 pct. Based on these results, to further increase the UTS of the investment casting Ti-1300 alloy, β-solution and double-aging treatment processes were designed to investigate the effect of the morphology of the αs phase on the mechanical properties. The results show that the UTS and YS increase and the EI decreases with decreasing secondary aging temperatures. This was primarily ascribed to the width of the αs phase decreasing with decreasing secondary aging temperatures. After 880 °C β-solution and 750 °C aging followed by 620 °C aging, the investment casting Ti-1300 alloy achieved high strength–plasticity matching, with a UTS of 1094 MPa and an EI of 7.0 pct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technology of military equipment entity extraction, a crucial component in constructing military knowledge bases, holds significant research value and theoretical importance for guiding the development and improvement of equipment support forces. In the military domain, equipment entities exhibit a phenomenon of nesting, where one entity is contained within another, and abbreviations or codes are frequently used to represent these entities. To address this complexity, this paper proposes a method named CoTNER for extracting entities. Initially, a large-scale language model is used to perform data augmentation with chain-of-thought on the original dataset, providing additional semantic and contextual information. Subsequently, the augmented dataset is fine-tuned on a small-scale language model to adapt it to the task of military equipment entity extraction and to enhance its ability to learn complex rules specific to the domain of military equipment. Additionally, a high-quality data filtering strategy based on instruction-following difficulty scoring is proposed to address the catastrophic forgetting issue that may occur during the fine-tuning of large language models. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed military equipment entity extraction method outperforms mainstream traditional deep learning methods, validating the effectiveness of CoTNER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the challenges of the new security situation that Germany faces against the background of current geopolitical conflicts and the potential weakening of US security guarantees for Europe. The article counteracts the widespread idea that more money and more soldiers are necessary and automatically lead to an increase in military power. Instead, the article argue that the financial resources spent on the military sector need to be used more efficiently. The article discusses reform options that concern different fields, e.g. the organisation of military defence in Europe, the procurement of military equipment and the recruiting of soldiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This article examines the diffusion of paramilitary police units across the United States to consider the computational turn in social science. Methods: The process of police diffusion is modeled by comparing traditional predictive models with agent‐based modeling (ABM) under constant and flexible binding conditions. The data are drawn from the Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies 2000, 2004 and the United States Cities Database. Results: ABM was not superior to traditional predictive models when it came to predicting policy diffusion and that flexible binding provides superior predictive capabilities over constant binding. Conclusions: Public policy scholars should exercise caution in adopting computational methods as they may not offer advantages over traditional predicative analysis. Policy diffusion of police militarization is not driven by geographical proximity but may reflect hierarchical influences in the form of federal policy or the influence of far‐flung organizations perceived to be similar. This may cause inappropriate policies and practices to be adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to conduct an experimental and theoretical investigation into fuel pre-delivery effects for a heavy fuel crankcase scavenged spark ignition two-stroke cycle engine for unmanned aerial vehicle application. Design/methodology/approach: One-dimensional computational fluid dynamic modelling of the engine system using WAVE software supported by experimental dynamometer testing of the subject engine with kerosene JET A-1 and gasoline and fuels. Findings: The experimental research has shown performance improvements using fuel preheating via use of auxiliary transfer port fuel injection. Computational simulation has allowed comparisons with auxiliary transfer port injection and direct in-cylinder injection to be made. Practical implications: While some heavy fuel engines are now available for unmanned aerial vehicles the best solution to meet the military equipment single fuel policy remains an area of evolving research. The findings within this study show possibilities for fuel pre-treatment. Originality/value: One-dimensional computational fluid dynamic modelling of the engine system using WAVE software supported by experimental dynamometer testing of the subject engine with kerosene JET A-1 and gasoline fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal camouflage is a highly coveted technology aimed at enhancing the survivability of military equipment against infrared (IR) detectors. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have shown low IR emissivity, widely tunable opto-electronic properties, and compatibility with stealth applications. Among these, graphene and graphene-like materials are the most appealing 2D materials for thermal camouflage applications. In multilayer graphene (MLG), charge density can be effectively tuned through sufficiently intense electric fields or through electrolytic gating. Therefore, MLG's optical properties, like infrared emissivity and absorbance, can be controlled in a wide range by voltage bias. The large emissivity modulation achievable with this material makes it suitable in the design of thermal dynamic camouflage devices. Generally, the emissivity modulation in the multilayered graphene medium is governed by an intercalation process of non-volatile ionic liquids under a voltage bias. The electrically driven reduction of emissivity lowers the apparent temperature of a surface, aligning it with the background temperature to achieve thermal camouflage. This characteristic is shared by other graphene-based materials. In this review, we focus on recent advancements in the thermal camouflage properties of graphene in composite films and aerogel structures. We provide a summary of the current understanding of how thermal camouflage materials work, their present limitations, and future opportunities for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In expeditionary environments, the consistent availability of blood for casualty care is imperative yet challenging. Responding to evidence and the specific needs of its expeditionary context, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) prioritized supplying stored low titer O whole blood (LTOWB) to its units from March, 2023 onward. A strategy was devised to set minimal LTOWB on-hand supply benchmarks, determined by the number of operating beds and point of injury teams. This transition led to a 54% reduction in orders for packed red blood cells. As a countermove, the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) enhanced LTOWB production at a conversion rate 2:1 from packed red blood cell to LTOWB. Consequently, there was a decline in expired blood products, and fulfillment rates for blood requests are projected to reach 100% consistently. This paper delves into the intricacies of the expeditionary blood supply, the rationale behind the LTOWB transition, the devised allocation strategy, and the subsequent impacts of this change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine the project management process of the U.S. military's floating pier that was intended to provide humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict since October 2023. The purpose of this research is to present a summary of the project management procedure for an obscure military capability known as Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS), which transports soldiers, vehicles, and equipment worldwide for military and humanitarian operations. Moreover, it seeks to gain insight into how this process can offer options to enhance mission effectiveness and efficiency to support guaranteed mobility, freedom of movement, and delivery of assistance in volatile and inaccessible areas. Additionally, it seeks to clarify how a complex project costing 320 million U.S. dollars, with a twomonths lifespan, providing supplies equal to only a few days of aid, and now decommissioned before its intended completion, has become a representation of great project failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The West is experiencing the most intense era of sabotage since the Second World War. Russian operations have now reached unprecedented levels. It seems that the main aim of this latest wave is to increase the West's costs of supporting Ukraine, while at the same time slowing the delivery of military supplies. Daniela Richterova, Elena Grossfeld, Magda Long and Patrick Bury suggest a new conceptual approach for understanding the recent evolution of Russian sabotage operations. Russian operations are increasingly organised around 'gig-economy' principles. This article offers suggestions for countering Russian sabotage in this new era.◼ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species, particularly omnivorous rodents, have damaged island ecosystems around the world. The unique flora and fauna of island systems have typically not evolved with omnivorous rodents and are heavily impacted by their introduction. Wake Atoll of the southern Pacific Ocean is a 707-hectare coral island complex of three islands managed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). DoD restricts civilian access to the atoll but aircraft and seacraft regularly visit the island to transport military equipment and to sustain the year-round military and contractor personnel stationed on the atoll. Wake Atoll had been invaded by Rattus rattus complex rats and R. exulans (Pacific rats). A 2012 eradication effort successfully removed the larger-bodied R. rattus complex species but the smaller-bodied R. exulans escaped eradication and continue to be numerous. During routine small mammal monitoring in February 2022, two individuals of another species of rodent were discovered and in August 2022 a pregnant female of this larger-bodied species was captured. Here, we report the mitochondrial DNA-based identification of the three individuals discovered on Wake Atoll in 2022. Based on mtDNA, we were able to ascertain that these individuals are likely Neotoma albigula, a species whose native range is restricted to the south-central United States and Mexico. All three Wake Atoll specimens shared the same mtDNA haplotype, which had 99-100% sequence similarity to several N. albigula specimens collected in south-central New Mexico. We propose that one or more live N. albigula may have been transported from one of the active military bases that routinely supply operations conducted on Wake Island. This work highlights that novel invasive species are an ongoing problem and can arise from species not formerly known to be invasive. Further, management of this problem must focus on biosecurity efforts to reduce the probability of novel or recurring invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SIRIUS - Zeitschrift fur Strategische Analysen is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There is a dearth of comprehensive studies examining the compositional and asymmetric effects of defence spending on simultaneous economic growth. This study uses the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) approach to analyse how disaggregated defence spending affects economic growth in Greece in the short and long term. The results hold significant theoretical and practical policy implications. First, military spending boosts economic growth in the short term but hampers it in the long run. Second, the long-term effects of positive and negative defence spending shocks are distinct, with positive shocks more detrimental to economic growth than the benefits of negative shocks. Finally, our study reveals that personnel expenditures have the most significant and enduring effects on economic growth compared to other military spending categories. Based on these results, Greece should adopt a new defence doctrine that relies on extensive personnel reserves, prioritises state intelligence and production technology, and promotes domestic military equipment over expensive foreign options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ordnance Equipment Engineering is the property of Chongqing University of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Ordnance Equipment Engineering is the property of Chongqing University of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Heat and mass transfer acquired the attention of investigators and experts because of massive uses in the field of medicine, manufacturing of modern aircrafts, uses in advanced water filtration plants, distillation process of water, more efficient electronic instruments, more efficient batteries, textile industry, uses as manufacturer in cosmetics industry and modern defense equipment. By viewing this, we considered the numerical study of Fourier flux and buoyancy driven forces on the flow of thermal and diffusion transmission of body revolutions (Paraboloid and cone), situated in a water-logged Darcy medium by allowing the radiation, Brownian motion, time-space dependent heat source or sink, and thermopheretic. Later on, the governing system is solved via Runge–Kutta method. Properties of convoluted governing measures of the organisms on local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers along with velocity, thermal and diffusion shapes are described with the aid of graphically and tabular form. It is stimulating to declare that the non-uniform heat source or sink is highly dominated in cone form of revolution as associated to paraboloid form of flow due to more distribution of mass transfer. From this, one can draw the conclusion that wherever there are higher mass transportation phenomena, cone-shaped body of revolution can be used. It is found that the time- and space-dependent heat source or sink performs as a regulating factor of the transmission of flow phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight, load-bearing, and penetration-resistant integrated meta-structures have significant potential in military equipment and defense facilities, as they can effectively reduce weight and improve space utilization compared to traditional load-bearing structures and armors. Based on hybrid sandwich meta-structures the load-deflection curves of the meta-structure and the traditional corrugated sandwich under 3-point bending loads were compared. The protective performance and energy absorption mechanism of the meta-structure under multiple ballistic impacts were experimentally studied. The research results indicate that, the hybrid sandwich meta-structure mainly experiences brittle fracture of ceramic, plastic fracture of face-sheets, and debonding of the adhesive layer under bending loads. Its load-bearing capacity is higher than those of traditional corтиgated sandwiches. Furthermore, the study also reveals that the impact location and the lattice core type influence the multi-impact resistance of the meta-structure, with the honeycomb core demonstrating superior multi impact resistance compared to the corrugated core. The corrugated sandwich lacks longitudinal constraints on the ceramic, while the honeycomb core provides stronger constraints on the ceramic, limiting the area of ceramic damage. As a result, the penetration-resistant performance remains relatively consistent as the number of impacts increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges of defense spending in Europe and emphasizes the importance of sustained defense investment for the long-term health of the defense industry. It acknowledges the historical neglect of defense investments in Europe and the recent realization of the need for a strong defense technological and industrial base. The article also examines the issue of defense spending in a NATO context and the specific nature of the EU's process of encouraging defense investment among its member states. It concludes by discussing the political nature of defense spending and the EU's approach to defense expenditure, including voluntary benchmarks and initiatives like PESCO and CARD. The EU's defense expenditure is not accurately reflected in reporting, and while the EU is increasingly engaged in defense, its defense spending as measured against the NATO 2% pledge has been lackluster. The EU recognizes the importance of increased defense spending but acknowledges its limited political power to compel member states. The EU may need to re-energize its defense efforts to hedge against US retrenchment in Europe. [Extracted from the article]

This research aims to analyze the improvement of PT LEN Industri's (Persero) competitiveness through the readiness of human resources to support the development of defence and security equipment mobility in the fourth industrial revolution era. The method used in this research is data collection through questionnaire distribution and literature study. The respondents in this research are employees PT LEN Industri (Persero) who are involved in the development of defence and security equipment locomotion. The analysis results show that most respondents are ready to face the fourth industrial revolution, but there are still obstacles to using digital platforms improving PT. LEN Industri's (Persero) competitiveness can be achieved by enhancing the readiness of human resources to adopt new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Twin. In conclusion, this research recommends PT. LEN Industri (Persero) to further enhance and manage its human resources to be better prepared to increase competitiveness in the fourth industrial revolution era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a little-known raid on Pollard, Alabama during the Civil War. The raid was carried out by a diverse force of Union soldiers, including Black regiments, and aimed to destroy Confederate stores and disrupt supply lines. The raid resulted in the burning of the town and reports of atrocities committed by both sides. The article sheds light on the contributions of Black soldiers in the Gulf South region, which have often been overlooked by historians. [Extracted from the article]

Given the gravity of the element of surprise in modern warfare, military forces worldwide are constantly attempting to achieve and maintain operational readiness of their critical military equipment. Selective Maintenance (SM) is considered an effective approach for achieving system operational readiness. Effective use of the SM approach for military equipment requires considering various military-specific factors such as multiple deployment roles, distinct operating profiles, human reliability, and the use of refurbished or non-OEM spares. This makes the SM approach for military systems very challenging. This paper presents an approach that formulates the SM problem intending to achieve and maintain the required level of operational readiness for predefined future missions from a military viewpoint. This approach employs a novel methodology that estimates the mission reliability of military equipment while modeling the combined impact of several important military-specific factors. This complex yet necessary integration of various military-specific factors makes the present approach accurate and apt to the exact modus operandi of the armed forces. The developed approach is demonstrated for the maintenance of armored vehicles deployed on distinct missions under different operating conditions. Numerical investigations illustrate the efficacy of the present approach and highlight its advantages over the conventional maintenance approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the author carried out a critical analysis of the content of international treaties concluded with the participation of Ukraine from the moment of the full-scale invasion of Russia on the territory of Ukraine (February 24, 2022) until today. The political and legal significance of such international treaties is defined. The conducted analysis made it possible to generalize international agreements within the following blocks: 1) international security agreements, the subject of which are various aspects of guaranteeing national security and support from international partners. In particular, this guarantee concerns military support (supply of weapons, equipment and military equipment; provision of training and education for the Ukrainian military; exchange of intelligence information and joint military exercises), economic assistance (financial support to stabilize the economy; funds for the restoration of infrastructure destroyed as a result of the war, etc. 2) agreements on the provision of legal assistance between states, which were also actively concluded during the martial law regime; 3) agreements, the subject of which is the functioning of logistics and industry, first of all, we are talking about the so-called Black Sea grain initiative (the Agreement on the restoration of grain exports with Turkey and the UN was signed on July 22, 2022; the Agreement on free trade with the European Union; the Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on freight transportation by road transport - the socalled transport visa-free» and others). It was concluded that in the conditions of martial law, Ukraine quite actively uses the instrument of international relations and international treaties to protect its national interests, ensure the stability of the state and its further European integration. It is important to note that some international documents, including international treaties concluded before the start of a fullscale war, need to be revised or adapted to new realities. In addition, there are certain problematic issues of the implementation of certain types of international treaties in the conditions of martial law. In general, the conclusion of international treaties is an important tool for Ukraine in wartime, which enables it to receive international support, protect its interests and move along the path of European integration. This contributes to the strengthening of Ukraine's defense capabilities and its resistance to aggression; restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine; ensuring the protection of the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens; further European integration of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The academic work is dedicated to the analysis of legal and political aspects of one of the ongoing prolonged conflicts that began after the end of the Cold War - the conflict in Transnistria. Compared to other post-Soviet conflicts, the armed clashes in the Transnistrian region at the onset of the conflict were not as destructive and large-scale, and the subsequent situation in the region has been predominantly characterized by stability. Nevertheless, the mere fact of the continuation of this conflict, which is referred to in scientific circles as one of the so-called "frozen conflicts," indicates that international efforts to resolve this conflict are clearly insufficient. As is known, negotiations for resolving the conflict in Transnistria are conducted in the "5+2" format and through separate specialized working groups. In the "5+2" format, a key role is played by mediators, represented by the OSCE, Ukraine, and Russia. Naturally, the most influential and authoritative mediator is the OSCE, represented by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. The activities of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, established in early 1993, play an important role in the overall international efforts of the OSCE. In particular, the Mission's staff conduct field operations on Moldovan territories, through which numerous local incidents occurring on both sides of the Dniester River are effectively resolved. Therefore, such multifaceted activities of the OSCE in resolving the conflict in Transnistria provoke significant scientific discussions and debates. Studying the OSCE's practices, relying on the scientific works of scholars in the field of international law, gives this research a distinctive specificity among scientific works dedicated exclusively to the political aspects of the conflict in Transnistria. The central issue in the Transnistrian settlement is considered to be the question of Transnistria's status. This issue is the cause of numerous discussions between the parties, each of which offers its own narratives to justify its position. The legal arguments justifying this or that option for resolving the issue of Transnistria's status also vary significantly. Therefore, during the research, an analysis of legal norms was carried out that can serve as a basis for identifying the most objective options for resolving the status of Transnistria. The aim of the scientific article is to study the legal and political issues of the Transnistrian settlement and to identify the main shortcomings of international practice in resolving such conflicts. As a result of the research, the main factors hindering more effective OSCE activities in resolving the conflict in Transnistria were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the point of view of signal camouflage, this paper proposes an active network defense system. Then, the optimal camouflage target selection scheme is proposed. Its goal is to solve the problems existing in the information construction of Chinese military equipment support. This method establishes a multistage game model based on weapon support information network attack and defense. The attack and defense benefits are quantitatively calculated based on the cost of signal concealment. The solution to the refined Bayesian balance problem is given. Then, a multistage optimization algorithm for camouflage signal selection is proposed. Finally, experimental research proves the proposed algorithm to be reasonable and practical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a chronology of events that occurred in Europe from January to June 2024. Some notable events include the European Union allowing Kosovo nationals to travel to member states without a visa, the condemnation of Israel's plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza by the United States and France, and Russian President Vladimir Putin offering citizenship to Ukrainians who fought for Russia. Other events include protests in Germany against government policies, demonstrations in support of Gaza and against Israel, and various agreements and initiatives related to climate change, defense, and migration. [Extracted from the article]