#Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance

[petnews2day]

Red Cat Unveils New Family of Surveillance, Precision Strike Drones

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/BJG9E

Red Cat Unveils New Family of Surveillance, Precision Strike Drones

Puerto Rico’s Red Cat Holdings has unveiled a new family of surveillance and precision strike drones that it said to be an alternative to expensive air defense solutions. During the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition in Paris, the drone tech firm lifted the lid on its Edge 130 Blue unmanned aerial system (UAS) capable of vertical takeoff […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/BJG9E #CatsNews #Air, #AirDefense, #DroneIndustryNews, #DroneProduction, #Drones, #IntelligenceSurveillanceAndReconnaissance, #PuertoRico

[nocternalrandomness]

MC-12W Liberty - Beale AFB - 18 July 2011

[amrutmnm]

Understanding the Airborne ISR Market: Growth Drivers and Emerging Trends

The Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance ISR Market is gaining unprecedented importance across the defense sector, driven by global security demands and technological advancements. With a projected Airborne ISR Industry size growth from $12,700 million in 2023 to $15,600 million by 2027, Airborne ISR systems are playing a crucial role in gathering intelligence, enhancing situational awareness, and ensuring real-time responses to emerging threats. Here’s an in-depth look into how Airborne ISR works, the current market growth drivers, opportunities, Major Players, and key takeaways to understand this transformative technology better.

Understanding Airborne ISR Systems

Airborne ISR refers to airborne-based systems providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, offering real-time data from varied terrains and battlefield situations. These systems support data collection through diverse platforms like UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), military aircraft, and helicopters equipped with sensors and radars. ISR systems gather critical intelligence through digital, voice, and video data, analyzed by powerful processors onboard or transmitted to ground stations for interpretation.

The primary roles of airborne ISR systems include:

Monitoring enemy movement and military assets

Supporting reconnaissance missions

Enhancing situational awareness

Contributing to intelligence assessment

How Does Airborne ISR Work?

ISR systems are typically mounted on aircraft, UAVs, and helicopters to provide coverage over vast geographical areas. Here’s a breakdown of how ISR functions:

Data Collection: The system’s sensors gather data on various targets through radar, optical, and infrared imaging.

Data Processing: ISR systems process the collected information in real-time using advanced algorithms.

Data Analysis: Information is analyzed by AI-based software, enhancing pattern recognition and decision-making.

Information Dissemination: Data is transmitted securely to command centers or ground-based stations for actionable intelligence.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=262860641

Market Growth Drivers for Airborne ISR

Several critical factors are driving the growth of the airborne ISR market:

1. Increased Security Requirements

Rising political tensions, border security concerns, and regional instabilities propel the need for ISR technologies, as defense departments aim to fortify situational awareness.

2. Advancements in ISR Technology

Breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and big data are enhancing ISR functionalities, with improved detection accuracy and faster decision-making capabilities.

3. Rising Demand for UAVs

Drones equipped with ISR systems are in high demand due to their effectiveness in hard-to-access regions. UAVs are expected to witness the highest growth in this sector, thanks to their agility and cost-efficiency.

4. Shift in Warfare Tactics

Modern warfare increasingly relies on ISR capabilities, with digital battlefields necessitating real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Opportunities in the Airborne ISR Market

1. Growing Investment in Small UAVs

Technological advancements have enabled the production of lightweight UAVs with high-resolution ISR capabilities. This is a massive opportunity for the market, especially in emerging economies.

2. Enhanced AI Integration

AI-powered ISR systems allow for more accurate and predictive intelligence, assisting in preemptive defense strategies. This trend continues to offer growth opportunities across defense and security sectors.

3. Demand from Homeland Security

ISR systems are increasingly adopted by homeland security agencies for tasks like border monitoring, wildlife tracking, and disaster response, expanding the market’s applications beyond traditional military uses.

Ask for Sample Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=262860641

Key Players in the Airborne ISR Market

The airborne ISR market is highly competitive, with major players investing heavily in R&D to enhance ISR capabilities. Here’s an overview of some of the key players:

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

Known for its strong ISR systems, L3Harris Technologies is a leader with a portfolio including the CORVUS, Viper Shield, and the IDECM F/A-18 Countermeasure System.

BAE Systems PLC

BAE Systems is a major player, providing electro-optical sensors, electronic warfare systems, and ISR solutions across the defense landscape.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

This company develops ISR systems with advanced radar and sensor technology, including solutions for electronic warfare and situational awareness.

Northrop Grumman Corporation

With products like the AN/APG-83 AESA radar, Northrop Grumman provides scalable ISR systems for diverse applications, including fighter aircraft.

Elbit Systems

Based in Israel, Elbit is renowned for its ISR systems and has expanded its market presence with international contracts, such as providing the Hermes 900 marine UAS to the Royal Thai Navy.

Recent Developments in Airborne ISR

Elbit Systems (2022): Secured a contract with the Royal Thai Navy to provide ISR systems and training.

Lockheed Martin Corporation (2022): Awarded a contract to develop advanced targeting systems for the F-35, enabling clear target resolutions in ISR missions.

Northrop Grumman (2021): Advanced its AESA radar system for the F-16 Viper, enhancing ISR capabilities for fighter aircraft.

Challenges in the Airborne ISR Market

1. High Costs and Maintenance Requirements

The development and integration costs of ISR systems, combined with their maintenance requirements, make these systems a high-investment venture for governments.

2. Complex Integration with Existing Systems

Many ISR systems face compatibility issues when integrated with legacy systems, which can impact their overall operational efficiency.

3. Regulatory Constraints

Strict regulations regarding technology transfer and ISR deployment restrict the market’s growth potential, especially across international borders.

Airborne ISR Market Growth Forecast (2023–2027)

The airborne ISR market is expected to expand significantly, with growth rates driven by increased investments in national security, advancements in sensor technology, and the evolving role of UAVs. North America and Asia-Pacific regions are anticipated to lead in market growth, with North America benefiting from increased defense budgets, while Asia-Pacific countries face regional security issues that heighten demand.

Key Takeaways

Significant Market Growth: The airborne ISR market is projected to grow from USD 12,700 million in 2023 to USD 15,600 million by 2027, driven by the demand for enhanced intelligence capabilities.

Technological Advancements: AI, big data, and small UAV advancements are shaping ISR systems, increasing their accuracy and utility.

Challenges: High costs, integration issues with legacy systems, and regulatory limitations present ongoing challenges.

Key Players: L3Harris Technologies, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Elbit Systems lead the market with advanced ISR offerings.

Regional Growth: Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest CAGR, driven by the need for advanced defense capabilities amid regional tensions.

To Gain Deeper Insights Into This Dynamic Market, Speak to Our Analyst Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=262860641

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the current market size of Airborne ISR? The airborne ISR market was valued at $12,400 million in 2022 and is expected to reach $15,600 million by 2027.

Q2: Who are the major players in the Airborne ISR market? Leading companies include L3Harris Technologies, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Elbit Systems.

Q3: What are the primary growth drivers in the Airborne ISR market? Key drivers include rising global security demands, advancements in sensor and AI technology, and the growing adoption of UAVs in defense applications.

Q4: What are the main challenges facing the Airborne ISR market? Challenges include high development costs, integration difficulties with existing systems, and regulatory restrictions on technology transfer.

Q5: How do Airborne ISR systems work? These systems use sensors to collect data, analyze it in real-time, and transmit actionable intelligence to command centers or ground stations for mission planning and response.

The Airborne ISR market is poised for growth, driven by the defense sector's increasing reliance on intelligence-gathering systems for enhanced national security. With technological advancements, the ISR ecosystem is becoming more versatile, efficient, and accessible across various platforms. Though the industry faces challenges, innovations in sensor technologies, AI integration, and small UAVs are expected to propel the market forward in the coming years.

By understanding market dynamics and staying informed of technological advancements, stakeholders can leverage opportunities in this rapidly evolving domain to enhance their competitive edge and contribute to global security.

[coffreclef]

La reconnaissance faciale sur la voie publique ? Fonctionnement, avantages, inconvénients, Légalité, en quoi consiste l'utilisation de la reconnaissance faciale dans les lieux ou espaces publics. https://www.coffreclesfavre.ch/page-85.html

[thewidowsghost]

The Perils of Avenging (Natasha x Civilian!Reader)

Main Masterlist

Natasha Romanoff Masterlist

Not me posting for once, also, English class coming in clutch with this one (?)

Natasha Romanoff had faced countless dangers in her life as an Avenger and a former agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., but this particular assignment felt different. It was supposed to be routine reconnaissance — a simple extraction and intelligence gathering operation in a remote part of Eastern Europe. 

Natasha, clad in black tactical gear, reviews the mission parameters one last time with Steve and Sam. The briefing room was starkly lit, seriousness etched on Steve’s face, creating an atmosphere of tense anticipation.

"Remember, our primary objective is to retrieve the data from the Hydra facility without alerting their operatives," Steve reminds them, his voice steady and authoritative. "Natasha, you'll lead the infiltration. Sam and I will provide aerial support and stand by for extraction."

Natasha nods, her mind already calculating possible scenarios and contingencies. She had seen Hydra's resurgence firsthand, remnants of the organization scattered like poisonous tendrils across the globe. This mission is crucial in unraveling their latest operations and preventing further destabilization. 

The team departs from their base under cover of darkness, their Quinjet slicing through the night sky with practiced precision. 

As they approach the drop zone, Natasha's focus intensifies. She’s the first to descend, a shadow slipping silently from the aircraft and disappearing into the dense forest below.

The Hydra facility is nestled deep within the wilderness, its existence hidden from all but the most trained eyes. Natasha moves with grace through the underbrush, her senses attuned to every rustle of leaves and crack of twigs. She approaches the perimeter with caution, utilizing her years of training to evade detection.

Her entrance is swift and silent. Natasha incapacitates the guards with calculated efficiency, swiftly disabling surveillance systems and securing the outer defenses. Each step brings her closer to the heart of the facility, where the encrypted data awaits extraction. The corridors are cold and sterile, lined with doors that lead to rooms filled with ominous machinery and clandestine experiments.

Meanwhile, above the Hydra base, Steve and Sam maintained a vigilant watch from the Quinjet, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble.

Inside the facility, Natasha encounters unexpected resistance. Bullets ricocheted off metal walls, and Natasha’s combat skills like a deadly dance amidst the chaos. The mission had escalated beyond reconnaissance — for now it is a battle for survival.

Minutes pass in a blur of adrenaline and danger. Natasha fights her way deeper into the facility, each confrontation testing her resolve and skill. She sustains minor injuries — a graze here, a bruise there — but her focus remains unwavering. 

Back in the Quinjet, tension mounts as Steve and Sam monitor Natasha's progress. They dispatch drones to provide additional reconnaissance and firepower support, their hearts pounding in unison with every transmission from Natasha.

Suddenly, a burst of static disrupted the comms. Steve's voice crackles through moments later, strained but resolute. "Natasha, report."

There was a tense pause before Natasha's voice came through, breathless but determined. "I've secured the data. Heading to the extraction point."

Relief washes over both Steve and Sam. They guided Natasha through the facility, clearing a path for her retreat while monitoring Hydra's response.

Outside, the night air crackles with tension as Natasha sprints towards the extraction point. She can hear the distant shouts of Hydra operatives closing in, their footsteps echoing through the darkness. Adrenaline surges through her veins, every sense heightened as she navigates the treacherous terrain.

Just as Natasha nears the rendezvous point, a sudden explosion rocks the ground beneath her. Debris rains down, and she is thrown off her feet, the force of the blast sending shockwaves through her body. Pain flares in her left arm, and dazed but determined, Natasha staggers to her feet, her vision blurred. The extraction point is within reach, a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. She sprints towards it, every step a battle against exhaustion and pain.

Meanwhile, in the Quinjet, Steve and Sam watch in horror as the explosion erupts on their screens. "Natasha!" Steve shouts, his voice filled with urgency.

Sam's hands fly over the controls, adjusting their position to provide cover fire. "She's almost there, Cap," he says, his voice tight with concern. "Hold on, Romanoff."

Back on the ground, Natasha pushes herself, the extraction point looms ahead, its promise of safety a tantalizing reality. She can hear the whir of the Quinjet's engines, feel the rush of adrenaline as rescue draws nearer.

With a final burst of energy, Natasha reaches the extraction point. The Quinjet hovers above, its hatch open and waiting. Steve and Sam lean out, their arms extending to pull her aboard amidst a hail of gunfire from Hydra operatives.

Natasha dives into the safety of the Quinjet, her breath coming in ragged gasps as Steve and Sam secure the hatch behind her. She collapses against the cold metal floor, relief flooding her weary body. The data secured, the mission accomplished — but at what cost?

As the Quinjet ascends into the night sky, Natasha's thoughts turn to (Y/n). Her anchor, the steady presence that grounded her in a world of chaos and danger. She knows (Y/n) will be waiting for her back at their shared apartment, her worry and love a beacon of light in the darkness that Natasha had been forced to endure through her childhood.

Hours later, the Quinjet touches down at the Compound, the team dispersing with practiced efficiency. Natasha heads straight for the debriefing room, her mind still processing the events of the mission. Steve and Sam followed close behind, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and relief.

Inside the debriefing room, Natasha recounts the mission. She details the layout of the Hydra facility, the resistance she’d encountered, and the extraction of vital data. Her voice is steady, betraying none of the turmoil that churns beneath the surface.

Steve and Sam listen intently, asking probing questions and offering insights based on their observations from above in the Quinjet. The debriefing is thorough, every detail scrutinized in their quest for understanding and improvement.

Finally, the debriefing concludes, and Natasha is dismissed to MEDBAY so her injuries could be treated. Steve and Sam accompany her, their concern palpable as they watch the medical team tend to Natasha's wounds.

The MEDBAY is a stark contrast to the chaos of the mission — a haven of sterile surfaces and hushed voices. Natasha sits on the exam table, her mind still reeling from the adrenaline-fueled rush of combat. The medical staff works swiftly, cleaning and stitching her injuries with practiced efficiency.

As Natasha waits for the medical team to finish, her thoughts inevitably turn to (Y/n). Her girlfriend was her constant, the one person who understood the weight of her choices and the dangers she faced every day. Natasha longs for her embrace, her touch a soothing balm to her battered soul.

Finally, the medical assessment is complete, and Natasha is cleared to leave the bay. She dresses in fresh clothes provided by the medical staff, the weight of exhaustion settling heavily upon her shoulders. Steve and Sam wait outside, their concern etched on their faces.

"You did good back there, Nat," Steve says quietly, his voice tinged with admiration. "We'll get through this."

Natasha nods, her gratitude evident in her eyes. "Thanks, Steve," she murmurs, her voice hoarse with exhaustion. "And Sam, you too."

Sam grins, though there is a flicker of worry in his gaze. "Anytime, Nat," he replies, his voice steady despite the underlying concern. "Let's get you back to the safehouse."

The journey back to the apartment is quiet, the hum of the car’s engines a comforting backdrop to Natasha's thoughts. She leans against the cool leather of the seat, her mind drifting between the mission's successes and its costs.

Upon returning to the apartment building, Natasha headed straight for her apartment, her steps heavy with fatigue. She pauses at the doorway, steeling herself before entering. Inside, the living room is bathed in soft lamplight, casting shadows across the walls.

And there, sitting on an armchair reading, is (Y/n). Her presence is a welcome sight, a beacon of warmth and love amidst the darkness of Natasha's thoughts. (Y/n) looks up as Natasha enters, her eyes widening at the sight of Natasha’s disheveled appearance.

"Baby!" (Y/n) exclaims, her voice filled with concern as she rushes to Natasha’s side. "You're back. Are you okay?"

Natasha manages a faint smile, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. "Just a scratch," she reassures her girlfriend, though the weariness in her voice betrays her attempt at nonchalance.

(Y/n) frowns, her hands gently cupping Natasha's face as she studies her injuries. "You're hurt," she murmurs softly, her touch gentle against Natasha’s skin.

Natasha leans into (Y/n)’s touch, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "It's nothing serious," she insists, though her voice holds a note of weariness. "Just a part of the job."

(Y/n) shakes her head, her expression a mixture of frustration and affection. "You shouldn't have to go through this alone," she says quietly, their voice tinged with concern.

“I don’t have to come home alone anymore,” Natasha murmurs, stepping into a hug offered by her girlfriend. “I have you now.”

“And you’ll always have me,” (Y/n) replies firmly, and Natasha nods, smiling widely into (Y/n)’s shoulder, despite her exhaustion. “Now,” she takes Natasha’s hand, leading her to the bedroom where their cat, Liho, lies at the foot of the bed, “let's get to bed.”

Word Count: 1581 words

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[planesawesome]

The F-35's engine produces 43,000 lbs of thrust and consists of a three-stage fan, a six-stage compressor, an annular combustor, a single-stage high-pressure turbine, and a two-stage low-pressure turbine.

Pratt & Whitney, which makes the F135 engines that power all three version of the F-35, said in a separate statement Tuesday it expects to finish the preliminary design of its Engine Core Upgrade for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in December

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft designed for air superiority and strike missions; it also has electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities

[celestialprincesse]

🎩🪄

Seeing as everyone is currently sharing their COD OC's over at @charliemwrites I thought I'd share mine who's in the works!💕🎀

Name : Katarina 'Kitty' Jones

Aliases : Houdini , Witch , Kitty , KJ Age : 26 DOB : August 29 1998 Birthplace : Dallas , Texas , USA Current residence : Manchester , UK Spouse : N/A Height : 5'1 , 155cm, 1.55m Role : Intelligence acquisition - TS/SCI Date enlisted -2010 , British Infantry -2017 , Special Air service Date discharged:2021, honorable discharge Skills & specialisations: Covert reconnaissance , covert surveillance , long range shooting (sniper skills) , weapons handling , sabotage & infiltration , languages Languages : English (fluent) , French (Fluent) Notes : - Physically active (swimming, running) - Emotional support animal - Next of Kin N/A

Notable features : Heterochromia , mallen streak , large scar from left shoulder to right hip

Kitty Jones, known to most in her field simply as 'Houdini' specialises in intelligence acquisition and reconnaissance, having served four years in the SAS, honourably discharged following capture by enemy officers which led to severe physical and psychological trauma.

Having worked closely alongside CIA Agent Kate Laswell, Jones was offered a role working alongside the Task Force 141 ( see files below : John Price , Kyle 'Gaz' Garrick , John 'Soap' MacTavish , Simon 'Ghost' Riley ) Gathering information on enemy forces and supporting infiltration missions.

Teammates and coworkers have described Jones as 'fiery, but a real sweet lass when you know her' , 'too smart' , 'tiny but deadly' , and 'polly pocket if she was evil'

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: November 12, 2024

Reworked Species #1: Martians

Overview

Their scientific name is Cephalorepens galacticus (meaning “creeping head of the galaxy”). They're commonly referred to as the Martians, but some people also refer to them as the Mars People. An omnilinguistic alien species led by their queen, Rootmars, possesses intellectual and sensory capabilities surpassing those of humanity. They possess exceptional expertise in three key areas: necromancy, biological engineering, and technological proficiency, encompassing the use, processes, and mechanical intricacies of advanced technology.

Language

Their language consists mainly of words formed with the syllables Pa, Pe, Pi, Po, and Pu. However, translation is challenging due to the seemingly random application of the Pa, Pe, Pi, Po, and Pu syllables, making it difficult to discern a predictable pattern or meaning. They’re capable of producing audible sounds, these noises resemble feline growls, mouse-like squeaks, avian chirps, and unearthly squeals. When speaking their native language, they’re capable of vocalising their words and syllables. When interacting with beings who don't share their language, they shift to telepathic communication, transcending linguistic barriers and conveying their thoughts in the recipient's native tongue.

Hierarchy

The Mars Elite (Cephalorepens galacticus albus) are comprised of four distinct castes: leading scientists who drive innovation, esteemed judges who uphold the law, elite soldiers who embody excellence, and commanding officers who lead with strategic precision.

The Mars Garrison (Cephalorepens galacticus fuscus) are comprised of three main castes: scientists who conduct technological and biological experiments, assassins who conduct covert operations, and assault troops who wield stronger and heavier weaponry.

The Mars Quotidian (Cephalorepens galacticus pallidus) are comprised of four distinct castes: hive workers who repair technology and nurture the young, spies who gather intelligence, researchers who advance their knowledge, and common troops.

Martian youth, from toddlers to pre-teens, approaching adolescence, begin their training within the caste system aligned with their natural-born subspecies. Those selected for the military castes typically undergo training for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Appearance

Martians are taller than the average human, standing approximately at 7’ 3” (220.98 cm) for males and 7’ 6” (228.6 cm) for females. They have a large head with two sets of tentacles: thirty stinger tentacles act as their hands, capable of controlling an electrical pulse to temporarily paralyse people; and twelve leg tentacles with protruding greenish veins and suckers. Their stinger tentacles are half their body length, but they won't stop growing until they have reached double their height, an indication of older and wiser age. They’re sufficiently strong to grasp items firmly, being able to wield a weapon with one of their appendages. They can contract their leg tentacles, enabling them to jump considerable distances and descend slowly in a controlled manner. The skin on their heads and tentacles is surprisingly smooth and contains small pores that can release a thin layer of purplish-white slime. They have greenish-pink blood with a strange taste reminiscent of melon soda.

Female Martians possess a distinctive sac located beneath their head and at the centre of their leg tentacles. This sac is characterised by a bulbous orifice and a translucent yellow-orange coloration with visible skin wrinkles and greenish veins. The interior of the sac is coated with a protective purplish secretion that serves to repel harmful parasites. It also maintains the sac's cleanliness by preventing the accumulation of dirt and menstrual fluid.

Male Martians possess a writhing penis that is translucent and orangish-white in colour. The morphology of this organ bears a resemblance to that of a leopard slug's reproductive structure. It features greenish veins and is characterised by soft, spike-like protrusions encircling its tip. They feature three testicular organs located within cavities situated posterior to their head. These organs are partially visible, protruding slightly from the skin at the back of their head. Two of the testicles contain fertilised seminal fluid with a celadon-green colour, while the central testicle houses eggs with a distinctive amethyst hue and crimson spots. These reproductive organs are incapable of urinating as Martians have a unique physiology that eliminates the need to release bodily waste.

They have a skull of golden-yellow hue, covered in whitish neural veins, and possess an involuntary nervous system. They possess a navel cavity, and when they exhale, the barely visible slits on their face open, revealing small, thin, oval-shaped openings, before promptly closing again. They have two bead-like eyes with white pupils that can constrict or dilate, allowing them better visual control. They possess a mouth capable of opening into a circular, gaping maw with a full set of fleshy, omnivorous teeth that can inject a deadly poison as lethal as cyanide. They also have a serpentine tongue covered in microscopic hooks.

The Mars Elite (Cephalorepens galacticus albus): They have pearlescent white skin, lilac eyes, China rose-coloured leg tentacles, and Syracuse red-orange suckers. They possess two iridescent purple bat-like wings with bony, silver-clawed hands and an impressive wingspan of 9' 5" (287.02 cm). From the back of their head, they have a tail that's eerily similar to a human spine, but it's held together by greenish veins and stretched, glistening dark purple flesh. They have a spiked ball at the tip of their spine-like tail, which holds a black acid. The spikes have small holes, allowing them to spray the acid at their enemies.

The Mars Garrison (Cephalorepens galacticus fuscus): They have brown-tanned skin, raspberry rose eyes, lavender grey leg tentacles, and palatinate purple suckers. They have a large amber-coloured eye in the middle of the back of their head, featuring a slit pupil. At the back of their head, they possess two elongated, mantis-like arms, equipped with two rows of razor-sharp spines, enabling them to grab people from behind.

The Mars Quotidian (Cephalorepens galacticus pallidus): They have greyish-green skin, ultramarine eyes, pale azure leg tentacles, and lapis lazuli suckers.

Infant Martians measure approximately the length of two human adult feet. At this stage, they lack genitalia and the distinctive features of the three Martian subspecies, except for their eye colours. Characteristic features of infant Martians include glossy lime green skin, large eyes, toothless mouths, silver-white leg tentacles with black suckers, and stinger tentacles that lack stinging cells. As Martian younglings progress to toddlerhood, they experience rapid growth and significant developmental milestones, including accelerated language skills acquisition and refining control over their unique abilities. Upon reaching adolescence, Martians undergo another transformative phase, characterised by rapid development of distinctive physical features specific to their subspecies and maturation of genitalia.

Abilities

To facilitate telepathic communication with other sentient beings, they employ their mouth and tongue to replicate the physiological processes of human speech. Two exceedingly thin, iridescent tentacles, reminiscent of dew on a spider's silk, emerge from two minuscule openings above their eyes. These tentacles can bifurcate into millions of tiny, hair-like tendrils, which are inserted into the ears of their chosen communicants. The tendrils then navigate to the brain, where they manipulate the electrical signals traversing the neural pathways to access areas responsible for thought and auditory perception.

They shapeshift by mentally imagining what they want to change and coating themselves in a thin layer of purplish-white slime. This strange slime drastically alters their bodily molecules and DNA structure, allowing them to perfectly transform into whatever they envisioned. The Martians possess the ability of dichotomous intangibility, but it’s limited to a duration of 10 minutes. Overextending this power can lead to severe consequences, including ocular degeneration, causing their eyes to become mushy, and cerebral overflow, resulting in permanent blindness and neural damage.

They possess telekinetic abilities, but require the movement of their stinger tentacles and intense concentration on the object they intend to lift or manipulate. Notably, they can focus on up to 20 different objects simultaneously. They can teleport up to 20 metres to different locations, but only in areas they are intimately familiar with. This ability is achieved by vibrating at imperceptible speeds, effectively propelling themselves to their desired destination.

They can sustain themselves by absorbing the vital fluids of other living organisms and the heat of electrical devices, fire, and solar radiation. The Martians possess a unique optic nerve that captures and stores a small portion of their body heat and absorbed energy. This specialised nerve forms a ring around their eyes, featuring a subtle opening that enables the focused release of intense, fiery energy beams.

They can hear low-frequency hums from any planet's core, echoes of ancient riverbeds, whispers of the wind, and the creaking and groaning of dust devils. They can smell the metallic scent of iron oxide dust, the acrid smell of sulphur from volcanic regions, and the ozone-like smell of electrical storms. The Martians can taste soil, the metallic taste of recycled water, the sweet taste of hydroponic crops, the sour taste of fermented food supplies, and the umami taste of protein-rich algae. They can see plankton, the tops of mountains, every pore on a human's face, and the texture of clouds.

Technology

Their technology is based entirely on expertise in bioengineering and energy manipulation. Their technology features a unique blend of elements, including circular shapes, industrial tubes resembling intestines, engravings of ancient pictograms that depict their ancestry, glistening flesh-like surfaces, malleable metal plates, and eerie metallic sheens. Their technology also incorporates pillars, computer modules, pulsating electric fields that double as protection and prison cells, fleshy orifices, and opaque stasis chambers filled with a clear liquid capable of inducing sleep for cloning purposes.

Their primary weapon is a ray gun that fires spores and features a settings mode, offering three distinct options:

Transformation: Transforms individuals into Man Eaters

Electrification: Emits an electric charge to incapacitate targets

Energy Beam: Generates circular light blue energy beams that can effortlessly ensnare targets

There are two types of ray guns: lightweight models, resembling those used by Martians in the mainline Metal Slug games, which emit slow-moving orange spores; and heavyweight models, similar to those used by the Mars People Attacker in Metal Slug Attack, which fire fast-moving blue spores. These spores can be easily neutralised with gunfire or effectively eliminated with well-timed melee attacks.

They employ the same gauntlet-point shields and staffs used by the Mars People Tanks and Healers in Metal Slug Attack. However, when a Martian utilises the staff for healing or summoning lightning storms, the glowing light blue orb transforms into a bright neon pink, and they’re temporarily enveloped in a fiery aura.

They utilise advanced, portable communication devices to connect with fellow members of their species and allies over vast distances. These devices feature a screen displaying a contact list and enable real-time video transmission, allowing users to see the recipient's surroundings. The design bears a striking resemblance to the handheld device depicted in the Mars People artwork from Neo-Geo Battle Coliseum.

Their mothership, the Rugname, measures 459’ 3” (13997 cm) in length and 75’ 5” (2298.7 cm) in height. The exterior is protected by a thin layer of adamant, providing an extremely durable coat that makes it resistant to destruction by conventional weaponry. Its interior features a unique spiral layout, with a continuous corridor stretching from the outer rim to the central hub. On board, the ship houses a variety of facilities, including living quarters, a nursery, a laboratory, a cloning chamber, and a torture chamber.

It’s controlled by a simulated, lifeless replica of infant Rootmars, whose brain is encased in a protective glassy film. This replica can generate electric signals that accumulate and discharge as massive blasts of circular, flashing blue and green energy spheres, capable of incinerating individuals. They deploy surveillance drones known as Pupastiko, which resemble massive, sunset-hued locusts with a singular metallic blue-orange eye. These drones are capable of projecting orbs of green fire and expelling streams of acidic, corrosive fluid that mimics blood.

The Dai-Manji boasts exceptional armour, comprising malleable metal plates reinforced with bullet-resistant flesh and a thin shielding of greenish-blue electricity. Serving as the core of the Rugname, it releases Mini-UFOs, unleashes lethal electrical discharges, shoots purple fireballs electrified with sparkling blue sparks, and propels fiery energy bolts with precision to target enemies. It’s believed that there are forty Dai-Manji stored within the Rugname with only four to six permitted to be deployed at any given time. Each one features a logo with the insignia of the Martian race: a circular pickled bluewood crest with an eight-pointed red-orange star at its centre, outlined with a gold border and adorned with four emerald dots at the cardinal directional points (north, south, east, and west).

The Pupivah, also known as the Mars Satellites, are remotely controlled spacecraft shaped like feldgrau Nazi UFOs with a gilded sheen, capable of achieving remarkably high velocities. They are equipped with dual luminous laser systems, emitting either emerald green beams that incinerate targets or magenta beams that petrify them.

The Pepapiro, also known as the Mini-UFOs, are highly agile aircraft equipped with a beehive-shaped ray gun that emits slow-moving greenish-blue lasers capable of penetrating cloth and flesh. The Mini-UFOs are distinguished by their colour schemes and pilots: grey metal variants with eight saffron-yellow stripes are operated by the Mars Quotidian, black metal variants with six red-orange stripes are operated by the Mars Garrison, and gilded variants with four crimson stripes are operated by the Mars Elite.

The Popaphubi, also known as the Hopper Mechas, are suicidal drones that detonate explosive payloads fueled by nuclear radiation and flammable bile, delivering a lethal blow to their targets. They are ten-legged, rust-coloured arachnids featuring gilded pedipalps and a distinctive, shaky silver stripe extending from the cephalothorax to the mid-abdomen. Their forehead bears a triangular arrangement of six blackish-brown eyes, while their entire body is covered in flexible, crystalline hairs.

The Papophiv, also known as the Mars Walkers, are gigantic quadrupeds with metallic blue-red flesh and articulated legs terminating in five clawed, slender fingers. Their bulbous knee joints are covered in hook-like spikes. The creatures' belly features sixteen intestinal tubes encircling a large, glossy jade half-orb. They are capable of producing a black, poisonous gas that causes rapid skin decay and lung rupture. The jade half-orb can produce bouncing bubbles that cause highly corrosive burns once in contact with living organisms. They possess three slit-shaped eyes that exhibit a purely iridescent purple hue, and an antenna that strikingly resembles a sunflower. However, this antenna conceals a deadly capability–it can emit intense, fiery purple lightning bolts.

The Pipopuvhax, also known as the Ring Laser Mechas or Utoms, are sentient, glistening purplish-grey cerebral entities that propel a navy blue tubular body replete with biomechanical organs akin to those found in mammals. They possess four highly flexible robotic arms, surpassing human limb dexterity, which manipulate tusk-like, porcelain-hued levers and metallic green, red, and orange buttons. Their muscular brain features prominent, jutting veins and is shielded by a protective film of whitish, heat-resistant, bulletproof slime. They’re capable of unleashing rings of electrokinetic force, inducing bodily combustion, and generating nearly invisible, bony appendages to grasp individuals.

The Popuxakh, also known as the Mars Battle UFO, is a high-performance, heavy-attack spacecraft predominantly flown by seasoned pilots from the Mars Elite and Mars Garrison.

The Mars Gigantalos are a line of advanced battle mechas, typically piloted by Mars Quotidian and Mars Garrison operators.

Goals and beliefs

Their primary objective is to debilitate Earth's military forces and leverage the planet's technological advancements to subjugate humanity. However, their motivations aren’t entirely malevolent; they seek to eradicate the destructive exploitation and harmful activities plaguing Earth. By doing so, the Martians believe they can redirect its resources towards fostering universal unification. They have a disgust for species who harm and abuse the resources and well-being of their home planets. They automatically deem them as inferior and in need of re-education through assimilation into their culture and ways of thinking.

Rootmars and many Martians advocate for the subjugation of humanity to save Earth, but a splinter faction disagrees with this ideology. This dissenting group led by Pupipi, known as the Pipakhroz Army, believes that cohabitation and global cooperation are the only paths to achieving universal peace and protecting the planet. However, due to this belief, the Pipovulaj Army views them as traitors, finding it foolish and shameful that they can have sympathy for an "inferior species". They will stop at nothing to publicly humiliate and/or brutally execute anyone who joins or is found to be part of the Pipakhroz Army, if that person is one of their own kind.

It's well-known that humans and Martians share a similar DNA structure, making interbreeding possible. However, due to the Martians' dominant genetic makeup, offspring always exhibit predominantly Martian traits with subtle human influences. The dynamics of Martian-human reproduction are complex as only male Martians can produce viable offspring with humans. Female Martians can engage in intimate relations with both male and female humans but are incapable of conception.

The two prominent Martian armies, the Pipovulaj Army and Pipakhroz Army, hold differing views on human-Martian reproduction. Those who serve the Pipovulaj Army are vehemently opposed interbreeding, prioritising the preservation of their pure Martian lineage. They fear genetic contamination from outsiders, especially if they find out that they’re wrongfully exploiting their own home planet. In contrast, those who serve the Pipakhroz Army view human-Martian reproduction as a means to enhance their survival prospects. They also believe it can foster meaningful relationships, alleviate human fears, and promote coexistence.

The Martians are open-minded and embrace a diverse range of spiritual concepts, including reincarnation, the psyche, and deities that embody specific principles. In their view, deities serve as avatar conduits for the principles they represent with some requiring more worship and acknowledgement than others to sustain their power. They believe in the supremacy of a unified cosmos, where every individual has a purpose determined by their willingness to align with moral righteousness and strive towards their hopes and dreams.

They hold that no being is above the true purpose of existence and the eleven fundamental powers of the universe: seamlessness, centration, allurement, emergence, homeostasis, cataclysm, synergy, transmutation, transformation, interrelatedness, and radiance. They firmly believe that the true purpose of existence lies beyond human comprehension and will only be revealed to those who have attained divine enlightenment, thereby gaining the capacity to grasp the vast expanse of extraterrestrial mysteries and horrors.

All Martians share the conviction that natural resources provided by planets are invaluable and should be treated with utmost care and reverence. The mishandling of such resources is viewed as a heinous and sacrilegious act against the divine forces of the universe. They hold in high esteem the preservation of ancient knowledge and architecture, and endeavour to protect and pass on the cultural heritage of all species through various means, including meticulous drawings, written works, and other forms of documentation. They regard biological evolution and technological advancement as two pivotal, dynamic forces that shape and transform society and ecosystems in a perpetual state of flux.

[usafphantom2]

EP-3E Aries II Spy Plane Has Flown Its Last Operational Mission

Current tensions in the Middle East prolonged the final deployment of the EP-3E Aries II intelligence-gathering aircraft.

Posted on Nov 7, 2024 3:41 PM EST

Another long-serving U.S. military aircraft has completed its final operational deployment, with the return of the U.S. Navy’s EP-3E Aries II surveillance platform from the 5th Fleet area of operations. The countdown to the spy plane’s final retirement is now on, which will see its vital intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission handed over fully to the MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance drone.

VQ-1

Another long-serving U.S. military aircraft has completed its final operational deployment, with the return of the U.S. Navy’s EP-3E Aries II surveillance platform from the 5th Fleet area of operations. The countdown to the spy plane’s final retirement is now on, which will see its vital intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission handed over to the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane, the MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance drone, and other assets, including ones in space.

The last EP-3E deployed on operations was Bureau Number, or BuNo 159893, which completed its final flight in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations on October 29. The aircraft then made a homecoming to its base at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, according to the Facebook account of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1 (VQ-1), the “World Watchers,” which posted photos of the event yesterday.

Ground crew welcome EP-3E BuNo 159893 on its return to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. VQ-1/Facebook

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations covers approximately 2.5 million square miles of water and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, as well as parts of the Indian Ocean. The area includes three highly strategic choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

The tense security situation in the region at the moment saw the EP-3E’s final operational deployment extended.

240928-N-AC117-1132 (Sept. 28, 2024) A U.S. Navy EP-3E Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System (ARIES) II, assigned to the “World Watchers” of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1 (VQ-1), transits within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation.

EP-3E BuNo 159893 transits within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation, in a photo dated September 28, 2024. U.S. Navy Commander, Naval Air Forces

Originally, the U.S. Navy had scheduled VQ-1 to cease operations by September 30, 2024, ahead of the formal deactivation of the unit on March 31, 2025.

According to the VQ-1 Facebook account, the squadron was first ordered to delay the cessation of operations until October 8, 2024, after which it was required to continue its missions in the region until an undetermined date.

240928-N-AC117-1118 (Sept. 28, 2024) A U.S. Navy EP-3E Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System (ARIES) II, assigned to the “World Watchers” of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1 (VQ-1), prepares to take flight within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation.

EP-3E BuNo 159893 prepares to take flight within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation. U.S. Navy Commander, Naval Air Forces

Another VQ-1 EP-3E that had been deployed also recently returned to Whidbey Island, with photos of that aircraft’s homecoming posted by the unit on November 4. This was BuNo 161410 that had been operating from Souda Bay, on the Greek island of Crete, under U.S. Central Command.

For some time now, the Navy has been sending EP-3Es into retirement, delivering them to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, for storage.

As we reported last month, the most famous EP-3E of all — BuNo 156511, which was involved in a collision with a Chinese J-8 interceptor over Hainan Island in 2001 — has been moved from the AMARG boneyard to go on public display in the future at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

The spy plane at the center of one of the most notorious post-Cold War Today air incidents, a U.S. Navy EP-3E Aries II, has arrived at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, for future public display. The EP-3E’s journey to get to the museum has been a long one, starting with the dramatic collision with a Chinese fighter in the so-called Hainan Island incident in 2001.

EP-3E Aries II BuNo 156511 is towed to the Pima Air & Space Museum last month. Pima Air & Space Museum

Pima Air & Space Museum

Meanwhile, the end of the EP-3’s operational commitment after nearly six decades of service has been commemorated by the Navy. A press release from the service included recollections from EP-3E crew members, providing a rare glimpse into a highly secretive community, and one with a very sensitive mission.

“It’s amazing to think of the number of folks who have been part of the EP-3 heritage over the last 55 years,” said Lt. Cmdr. Justin “Gump” Roberts, the VQ-1 detachment officer-in-charge. “Success in this platform has solely been because of our hard-working maintenance team while on deck and our aircrew’s superior ISR while on station. It’s an honor to be part of a legacy that’s bigger than the sum of its parts.”

The aircraft commander at VQ-1, Lt. Bradford “Chad” Holcombe, added that he was “tremendously grateful” to be part of the EP-3E’s history.

“From my first day at VQ-1, it’s been obvious to see the pride each member has in the platform, the mission, and most importantly the effort it takes to execute wherever and whenever we’re asked,” he said. “Flying the last mission flight is a privilege.”

240928-N-AC117-1132 (Sept. 28, 2024) A U.S. Navy EP-3E Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System (ARIES) II, assigned to the “World Watchers” of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1 (VQ-1), transits within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation.

240928-N-AC117-1132 (Sept. 28, 2024) A U.S. Navy EP-3E Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System (ARIES) II, assigned to the “World Watchers” of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1 (VQ-1), transits within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation. Commander, Naval Air Forces

Finally, words were offered by Capt. Dennis “Rudy” Jensen, Commodore of Task Force 57:

“My father was a P-3 pilot during the Cold War, and I’ve flown the variants of the same aircraft since 2002. Few other airplanes are as ‘time-tested and mother approved’ as the P-3,” Jensen said. “Its longevity and ability to operate from remote locations in austere environments for over half a century is a testament to those who designed, built, maintained, and operated it. Much like the ever-changing platforms onboard the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, the mission systems inside the EP-3E have evolved over time. The ability to evolve has enabled the EP-3E to remain viable and effective through today.”

During its time in operational service, the EP-3E played a fairly covert role as a central intelligence-gathering asset within the Navy’s Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF).

Derived from the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, the EP-3E was optimized for operations in the maritime/littoral domain. It was packed with equipment to gather real-time tactical signals intelligence (SIGINT), including intercepting communications and locating and classifying emitters, especially those related to hostile air defense systems.

The cabin of the preserved EP-3E BuNo 156511 as it appears now. Pima Air & Space Museum

A typical EP-3E comprised six flight crew and a reconnaissance crew of 18, who would be drawn from the Navy, Marines, and Air Force.

Data could be processed and analyzed onboard by the crew, then fused together with other critical information. The resulting ‘product,’ including full-motion video intelligence, could be provided in near real-time to fleet and theater commanders.

Overall, the EP-3E was able to provide commanders with specific indications and warnings, as well as build a better picture of the battlespace for situational awareness. Intelligence it gathered on air defense systems would be potentially vital for suppression of enemy air defenses and destruction of enemy air defenses, while other information would be used for anti-air warfare and anti-submarine warfare applications.

Successive upgrades ensured that the EP-3E remained a valuable asset and also added new capabilities. While it was primarily a SIGINT platform in the early years, it later became a ‘multi-intelligence reconnaissance aircraft,’ with new equipment that could hoover up a variety of electronic emissions including at long standoff range.

An EP-3E Orion aircraft, center, is followed by two EA-3B Skywarrior aircraft during flight operations near Gibraltar. The three aircraft are from Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 2 (VQ-2).

An EP-3E followed by two EA-3B Skywarriors during flight operations near Gibraltar, circa 1991. The three aircraft are from Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 2 (VQ-2). U.S. Department of Defense PH3 FRANKLIN P. CALL, USN

The EP-3E’s mission saw it operate in various high-threat areas throughout its career. As well as around the coasts of China — which led to the Hainan Island Incident — regular areas of interest included the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. In the process, intercepts by hostile or potentially hostile fighters were commonplace.

The video below shows an encounter between an EP-3E and a Russian Su-27 Flanker fighter jet over the Black Sea, in 2018. On that occasion, the Navy says the jet came within five feet of the surveillance aircraft, causing a mission abort, and return to base.

Replacing the EP-3E with the MQ-4C has been a gradual process. Tritons have been operating from forward deployment bases in Guam in the Pacific and Sigonella in the Mediterranean, for some time. Most recently, a third Triton deployment base was established in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, on October 1, allowing the EP-3E to stand down from its duties there.

A Navy MQ-4C Triton drone arrives at NAS Sigonella in Italy on March 30, 2024. U.S. Navy

Flying at a higher altitude and offering a longer endurance than the EP-3E, the MQ-4C offers some significant advantages. While a multi-mission platform, it’s the Triton’s so-called Multi-Intelligence (Multi-Int) configuration with additional electronic and signals intelligence capabilities that will take over from the EP-3E. Since it’s uncrewed, there is also no risk to the crew, something that EP-3E operators were exposed to on a fairly regular basis.

Despite this, in 2022 the Navy decided to dramatically reduce its total planned purchases of MQ-4Cs from 70 to 27. This came after increased questions about the drone’s survivability after one of the interim Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Demonstrator (BAMS-D) aircraft was shot down by Iran in 2019.

Some of the EP-3E’s missions will also be taken over by the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The baseline Poseidon has a signals intelligence capability, allowing it to detect, geolocate, and classify emissions, including from radars and other air defense nodes, which is also now set to be upgraded. Some P-8s are configured to carry other intelligence-gathering payloads, such as the AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor, as well. Boeing has internally funded the development of a modular multi-mission gondola-like pod for Poseidon, which is set to offer an additional way to relatively rapidly integrate sensors and other capabilities.

A U.S. Navy P-8A carrying the AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS), a powerful and secretive radar system mounted in an elongated pontoon-like pod under the fuselage. cvvhrn

“The transition from the EP-3E to the P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton platforms has been carefully planned to avoid capability gaps,” the Navy says. “These platforms offer enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, with greater range, endurance, and the ability to operate in more complex environments.”

The Navy will also be able to leverage other emerging U.S. military ISR assets, including new spaced-based surveillance capabilities.

While the EP-3E’s time is now nearly up, there remain a handful of other Orion variants still in U.S. Navy service. These include P-3C, NP-3C, and NP-3D aircraft flown by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30 (VX-30) at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, and by Scientific Development Squadron One (VXS-1) at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Many of these are also in the process of being replaced.

While many secrets of the EP-3’s exploits are still to be revealed, there’s little doubt that this platform made an enormous contribution to gathering intelligence from hotspots around the globe during its long and eventful period of service.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

[sign on a local bar in Milwaukee]

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

July 15, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

JUL 16, 2024

This morning, after a day of Republicans insisting that it is political polarization to suggest that Trump is a danger to our democracy, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump in the last days of his presidency, dismissed the classified documents case against the former president. She wrote that “Special Counsel Smith’s appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.” 

Other federal courts have tested this argument and dismissed it, but Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, whose wife Ginni was part of the attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, suggested earlier this month that it could be the basis for getting rid of Jack Smith. Cannon cited Thomas repeatedly in her decision. 

When he left office in January 2021, Trump took with him to Mar-a-Lago hundreds of pages of classified national security documents, some of which bore the highest level of classification. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), where by law presidential papers must be deposited, noted that many documents were missing from the materials Trump released to them and, in May 2021, emailed Trump’s lawyers to get them back. 

When his lawyers tried to push him to do as the law required, they told FBI investigators, Trump answered: “It’s not theirs, it’s mine.” Finally, in December 2021, after Trump had personally gone through the documents, a Trump representative told NARA that they had found “some records,” and in January 2022, NARA retrieved 15 boxes from Mar-a-Lago. Archivists found more than 150 documents marked classified, making up hundreds of pages of classified national security information. 

By April the Justice Department had convened a grand jury to investigate Trump’s removal of the documents. Trump’s lawyers tried to keep those documents out of the hands of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by claiming they were covered by executive privilege, but in May 2022, NARA gave the FBI access to the records. In June 2022, Trump representative Christina Bobb certified that “a diligent search” at Mar-a-Lago had turned up nothing more and that they were returning “any and all documents” they had found. Concerned about the sheer number of documents turning up, the Department of Justice subpoenaed security video tapes, which showed people moving the documents. 

Federal officials obtained a search warrant for Mar-a-Lago. When they executed it in August 2022, they found 13 more boxes with classified documents: a total of more than 11,000 government documents and photographs. They also found 48 empty folders labeled “classified,” but they did not check a locked closet on which Trump had recently changed the lock, or a “hidden room” in Trump’s bedroom. They found that the boxes, which contained the most valuable intelligence of the United States government, had been stored haphazardly in public areas, including a ballroom stage and a bathroom. 

In November 2022, after Trump announced his presidential candidacy—an early announcement that many thought was an attempt to avoid criminal prosecution—Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to oversee the two federal investigations that touched on the former president, thus deliberately moving those investigations outside the department so they could not be seen as part of the presidential race.

In June 2023 a federal grand jury indicted Trump on 37 criminal counts under the Espionage Act, including scheming to conceal documents; three more charges were added the following month. Trump allegedly compromised national security documents from the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense, the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (surveillance imagery), the National Reconnaissance Office (surveillance and maps), the Department of Energy (nuclear weapons), and the Department of State and Bureau of Intelligence and Research (diplomatic intelligence). He was a one-man wrecking ball, aimed at our national security. 

The case fell randomly to Cannon, who has appeared to be trying to delay the case since it came into her hands. Today, she threw it out altogether.

Former attorney general Eric Holder called Cannon’s dismissal “so bereft of legal reasoning as to be utterly absurd.” Legal analyst Mark Joseph Stern called it “an extreme outlier view with no basis in precedent” and noted that “Cannon’s indefensible opinion will still serve its purpose of delaying this trial indefinitely.” 

Global politics scholar Brian Klaas wrote “Trump appoints judge. Trump does something that virtually all legal experts—including Trump’s own former Attorney General—see as a clear-cut felony. Judge that Trump appointed dismisses case.” Washington Post global affairs columnist Ishaan Tharoor wrote: “if this happened in another country, the DC establishment would immediately point to the erosion of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.” 

Special Counsel Jack Smith has said he will appeal Cannon’s ruling.

Trump responded to the news exactly as yesterday’s Republican demands that Trump’s opponents stop calling out his lawlessness suggested he would. He posted: “As we move forward in Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts—the January 6th Hoax in Washington, D.C., the Manhattan D.A.’s Zombie Case, the New York A.G. Scam, Fake Claims about a woman I never met (a decades old photo in a line with her then husband does not count), and the Georgia “Perfect” Phone Call charges. The Democrat Justice Department coordinated ALL of these Political Attacks, which are an Election Interference conspiracy against Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, ME. Let us come together to 

END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!”

The Thomas opinion on which Cannon relied was his concurrence in the July 1, 2024, decision in Donald J. Trump v. United States. In that decision, the Supreme Court overturned the central principle of American democracy when it said that the U.S. president cannot be prosecuted for crimes committed as part of a president’s “official duties.” Cannon’s decision echoes the idea that Trump cannot be held accountable even for what is allegedly the most serious breach of our national security in our history. Indeed, MAGA Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) posted a picture of Cannon on social media with the heading: “Future Supreme Court Justice Cannon.” 

Legal analyst Keith Boykin listed the many excuses and arguments Trump enablers have made over the years. “He can’t be prosecuted in office,” Boykin wrote. “He can’t be impeached because the courts should decide. He’s immune from prosecution after office. He can’t be prosecuted by Biden’s DOJ because that’s ‘lawfare.’ And he can’t be prosecuted by a special counsel. We have created a dictator.”

Legal analyst Norm Eisen noted that Cannon’s decision will boost Trump on the first day of the Republican National Convention, held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from Monday through Thursday of this week. So will the weekend’s shooting, which has inspired MAGA Republicans to insist that all their party members must rally around Trump. 

While Trump has been the presumptive nominee for years, that anointment was contested. Around 20% of Republican primary voters, who tend to be the most loyal and fervent partisans, consistently voted for former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley rather than Trump. Those voters seemed to be concentrated in the suburbs, thus making up a constituency Trump needs to win.

On the other end of the party’s spectrum, the fringe right has been saying that Trump is too soft for them. Antisemitic white nationalist Nick Fuentes has told his followers that he and his “groypers” are fed up with Trump because they are sick of “battling the Jews in the White House, battling the neocons, battling the Israel-firsters.” 

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and right-wing provocateur Ivan Raiklin have speculated for months that removing Trump from the running—they speculated about assassination—would open the way for Trump’s far-right former national security advisor Michael Flynn, and appeared to be putting pressure on Trump to name Flynn as vice president. Yesterday, Raiklin posted on social media a “Trump/Flynn 2024” graphic with the legend “FAFO,” under the words “Assassination-Proof.” 

This afternoon, perhaps in hopes of avoiding an embarrassing floor fight, Trump dashed the hopes of both ends of the Republican spectrum by naming Ohio senator J.D. Vance as his vice presidential pick. Vance is 39 and was elected to the Senate in 2022 with the help of $10 million from right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel. In the short time he has been in office, he has echoed Trump’s Big Lie that the 2020 presidential race was stolen, has said that he does not believe in rape or incest exceptions for abortion bans and that people should stay in violent marriages, and has praised Project 2025. He is pro-Russia and against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 

It “will be interesting to see how the RNC attempts to spin Vance as a candidate of Unity,” journalist Anne Applebaum wrote. The Fox News Channel helpfully reminded viewers that Vance has, in the past, said that Trump “might be America’s Hitler,” “might be a cynical a**hole,” and is “cultural heroin,” “noxious,” and “reprehensible.” 

Still, factional differences might not matter in today’s Republican Party. This afternoon, in the hall of the RNC convention, attendees chanted, “Fight, fight, fight,” as they punched an arm in the air, in an eerie echo of Germany in the 1930s.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[nocternalrandomness]

MC-12W Liberty Special Mission Aircraft

[opencommunion]

"Among West Asian countries, few face the brunt of foreign intelligence meddling as Lebanon does. Its sovereignty is routinely disregarded by intelligence services from abroad, who operate within its borders with brazen impunity. In some cases, foreign militaries have even sought unrestricted access to the country. 

These clandestine activities not only violate Lebanese law but also undermine its national security. The recent incursion of Dutch special forces into Beirut's southern suburb ... is the latest such incident. Under the guise of evacuating Dutch nationals, these foreign militants were armed with military-grade weapons, ammunition, and equipment without coordination with Lebanese authorities, demonstrating a level of freedom not permitted even in their own country.

Spying for Israel 

Last week, the Beirut Military Court convicted Russian national Yuri Rinatovich Chaykin of espionage, sentencing him to eight years behind bars for spying on behalf of Israel. Chaykin's expertise in lock picking led him to make an attempted breach into a secret facility belonging to Hezbollah, only to be thwarted by surveillance cameras.

His arrest at Beirut Airport while trying to leave the country unveiled a web of espionage activities, including the collection of sensitive intelligence and reconnaissance missions conducted on behalf of Israel.

... Earlier this year, Al-Akhbar also reported that Lebanese Army Intelligence refused to grant a former British officer, now part of a CNN team, an entry permit to southern Lebanon on suspicion of collecting information about the military activities of Hezbollah and the Hamas movement. The newspaper alleges that Officer 'Wayne G' had previously been part of the British military team charged with training the four land border regiments of the Lebanese Army before moving to Ukraine as part of a CNN-affiliated unit where he worked closely alongside Ukrainian forces. After the events of 7 October, 'Wayne G' joined the CNN team in Beirut. Al Akhbar further noted that the former British officer had also tried to obtain a permit to enter southern Lebanon through the BBC team in Beirut. ... These ramifications extend beyond Hezbollah: British and other foreign intelligence agencies have spent years infiltrating Lebanon's various intelligence, security, and telecommunications apparatus, posing a threat to the country's national security and endangering the lives of its citizens."

7 March 24

[mariacallous]

NATO concluded a major anti-drone exercise this week, with Ukraine taking part for the first time as the Western alliance seeks to learn urgently from the rapid development and widespread use of unmanned systems in the war there.

The drills at a Dutch military base, involving more than 20 countries and some 50 companies, tested cutting-edge systems to detect and counter drones and assessed how they work together. The 11-day exercise ended with a demonstration of jamming and hacking drones in a week when their critical role in the Ukraine war was demonstrated once again. On Wednesday, a large Ukrainian drone attack triggered an earthquake-sized blast at a major Russian arsenal. The following day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was ramping up drone production tenfold to nearly 1.4 million this year. The proliferation of drones in the war – to destroy targets and survey the battlefield – has prompted NATO to increase its focus on the threat they could pose to the alliance. "NATO takes this threat very, very seriously," said Matt Roper, chief of the Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Centre at the alliance's technology agency. "This is not a domain we can afford to sit back and be passive on," he said at the exercise site, Lieutenant General Best Barracks in the east of The Netherlands. Experts have warned NATO that it needs to catch up quickly on drone warfare. "NATO has too few drones for a high-intensity fight against a peer adversary," a report from the Center for European Policy Analysis think tank declared last September. "It would be severely challenged to effectively integrate those it has in a contested environment."

The drills that wrapped up on Thursday – complete with ice cream for onlookers provided by a radar company – were the fourth annual iteration of the exercise. Claudio Palestini, the co-chair of a NATO working group on unmanned systems, said the exercise had adapted to trends such as the transformation of FPV (first-person view) drones - originally designed for civilian racers – into deadly weapons. "Every year, we see an evolution of the threat with the introduction of new technology," he said. "But also we see a lot of capabilities (to counter drones) that are becoming more mature." In a demonstration on Thursday, two small FPV drones whizzed and whined at high speed through the blue sky to dart around a military all-terrain vehicle before their signal was jammed. Such electronic warfare is widespread in Ukraine. But it is less effective against long-range reconnaissance drones, a technology developer at Ukraine's defense ministry said. The official, giving only his first name of Yaroslav for security reasons, said his team had developed kamikaze drones to destroy such craft – a much cheaper option than firing missiles, which Ukraine had previously done. "You need to run fast," he said of the race to counter the impact of drones. "Technology which you develop is there for three months, maybe six months. After, it's obsolete."

[navcommrelay]

JUNO 1-1

Operation: TOUCHDOWN LZ JUNO Battle Report

First Deployment: 0600 Hours

Drop Pod Near Objective  1st Wave (0600 hrs)

SWMC Alpha Lance 

SWMC Bravo Lance

2nd Wave (0630 hrs)

SWMC Bravo Lance Auxiliary (Fire Moth, Elementals)

Objectives: Alpha Lance: Deploy directly to target zone “MADELEINE,” eliminate any local garrison elements and await support. Bravo Lance: Deploy behind and support Alpha Lance, assist with cleanup on any remaining garrison elements, then coordinate fire with Alpha to disable or destroy all non-capital-class AA targets. 

DropShip Deployment at Primary LZ

CFRI 1C Beta Lance

CFRI 2C Alpha Lance

CFRI Angel-4, Angel-5, Angel-6

Objectives:

Alpha Lance: Make landfall at LZ JUNO. Secure drop site. Disperse into surrounding forest / highlands and sweep for contacts utilizing reconnaissance equipment.

Beta Lance: Make landfall at LZ JUNO. Hold position within 100 meters of clear drop point and ensure no hostile forces threaten LZ.

Angel Element: Mid-flight deployment during reentry. Break away from DropShip wing and proceed north towards SWMC Alpha / Bravo. Neutralize any active enemy air elements en route, conduct bombing run against primary capital-class AA targets to secure near-orbital space.

After-Action Report:

SWMC Alpha and SWMC Bravo lances made planetfall on schedule into a curtain of enemy anti-aircraft fire. No casualties on descent. One Drop Pod struck by LRM surface artillery, but damage minimal. OpFor presence at installations limited to a single Level II armored formation at the target. Armor engaged and Anti-Air defense infrastructure targeted at distance. SWMC Forces continued to engage for several hours following the initial drop. Both lances suffered moderate damage, leaving Alpha 2 and 3, and Bravo 3, 4 and 5 below standard performance. Anti-Aircraft Missile batteries targeted with ARAD LRM fire, opening nearby airspace for CFRI Angel Squadron. Objectives complete, awaiting reinforcement and resupply to push to target “HERA.”  Engaged and Destroyed: 1x Prowler IFV (3140) 1x Black Blizzard IFV 1x Fury III MBT 1x Burke C3i (Heavy PPC) 2x Zephyr C3i 6x Heavy Air Defense Turret  Damage and Losses: All Units - Armor and external damage Alpha 2 - 2 Jump Jets (RT), Lower Leg Actuator (LL), significant internal damage (RT, LL) Alpha 3 - Shoulder (LA), Lower Arm Actuator (LA), significant internal damage (LA) Bravo 3 - ER Medium Laser (LA), ER Micro Laser (LT), significant internal damage (LA, LT) Bravo 4 - ER Medium Laser (HD), moderate internal damage (HD, RT), Pilot injury (Treated) Bravo 5 - minor internal damage (RL)

CFRI 2nd Company Alpha Lance Swept a one-klick radius of LZ for enemy contacts. Two targets neutralized, returned to secure the site for the second drop wave. Surveillance equipment noted a significant increase in encrypted traffic over local networks and a concerningly large heat signature originating ~200 klicks southwest- request OPSCOM pass this along to CENTCOM and relay any available intelligence.  Engaged and Destroyed: 2x Hi-Scout Cunningham

CFRI Angel Element deployed during drop and made for targets at full afterburners. Contacts en route did not delay element arrival to the AO. Successful operations by SWMC Alpha and SWMC Bravo resulted in minimal close AA support. Angel-4 and Angel-5 scored hits against enemy command and control structures. Arrow-IV Anti-Ship Missiles launched from Angel-6 achieved confirmed kills on target “MADELEINE” for primary objective success. Engaged and Destroyed: 2x Ripper (ERML) 3x Command Bunker 1x Heavy Anti-Ship PPC “MADELEINE” Damage and Losses: Angel-4 Meteor Inseki II successfully deployed ordinance against auxiliary targets before AC-2 anti-aircraft fire caused catastrophic ammunition detonation. Deceased with Honors.

SWMC Combat Comms Log Excerpt:

SB1: “Kerensky’s cock sheath! Alpha three are you ok?” SA3: “Right as rain, Commander. Just barely- Fuck!” SA2: “LRM impact on your drop pod, Alpha three.” SB4: “Think he’s going to shit?” SA4: “Oh, for sure.” SB2: “One hundred percent.” SA3: “Yeah…” (Severe ‘mech damage aural warning audible)

CFRI Combat Comms Log Excerpt:

NL: “Angel Actual, this is OPSCOM. You have incoming, weapons hot.” A4: “Roger, OPSCOM, Angel 4 taking wing lead. Angels, go hot.” A5: “Angel 5 copies. Sensors show two VTOL craft inbound, we- Fuck! A5: “SPIKE, SPIKE! GO DEFENSIVE!” A6: “Breaking formation! Watch clearance!” A4: “Angel 4 defending! Fox-2 on the first target!” A5: “Hell yeah, you got him! Eat HE you Blakist son of a bitch!” A6: “Coming about, high. Cover me, this boat doesn’t turn that fast!” A4: “Copy, copy! I’m on your low 5-o’clock, pulling with- A5: “FOUR, WATCH BELOW! TRIPLE-A!” A4: “What? I- Fuck! Incoming, incoming! Dropping payload!” A4: “Bombs away! Bombs away! Evading, someone check effect on target-” (A4 FEED ENDS. A5 / A6 FEEDS RECORD DETONATION.) A5: “ANGEL-FOUR, PUNCH OUT! PUNCH OUT!” A6: “He’s gone, Lieutenant!” A6: “OPSCOM, Angel-4 is down. Angel-6 assuming command. On target.” NL: “Copy, Angel-6. Finish the mission and get your ass home.” A6: “Roger, OPSCOM. Ordinance away.” (EXCERPT ENDS)

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not @the-tired-merc @the-clawtake @lt-chari @frogblast-the-ventcore

[workersolidarity]

🇱🇧⚔️🇮🇱 🚀🚀🚀🪖💥 🚨

HEZBOLLAH RESISTANCE FORCES TARGETS COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTER FOR ISRAELI SPY EQUIPMENT

📹 Scenes from the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, known as Hezbollah, targets the command and control center for Israeli spy equipment and balloons at the "Admit" settlement, in the north of the occupied Palestinian territories.

In the video, three sets of anti-armor guided rockets are fired one at a time towards an Israeli occupation forces (IOF) targeting unit for the Israeli 330 Skylark airship, used for surveillance and reconnaissance by the 869th Battalion along the border with Lebanon.

The rockets hit all their targets and destroy the unit, which was designed to fill an intelligence gap in the area of Wadi Dalam, in the area of the Admit settlement.

#source

@WorkerSolidarityNews