Written by  Brian Kalman     Brian Kalman is a management professional in the marine transportation industry. He was an officer in the US Navy for eleven years. He currently resides and works in the Caribbean. Introduction The beginning of the year 2016 has seen major operational developments in naval power design, born of differing strategic considerations and philosophies of naval power projection. The United States Navy is doubling down on the concept of the nuclear powered aircraft carrier, as well as stealth technology, to form the backbone of its new fleet additions. The resurgent nations, China and Russia, have designed a number of new surface vessels which leverage next generation radar and missile technology. Chief amongst these are next generation guided missile destroyers that will provide both nations with very potent and flexible surface warfare platforms. The  USS Zumwalt  DDG 1000, first in class of a projected three vessels, was handed over to the U.S. Navy to

On July 7, Iraqi forces have seized and secured the strategic highway betwen Samarra and Ramadi. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Security Forces launched a military operation in order to liberate 19 villages in the Upper Euphrates region of Anbar from ISIS.

Syria War Report, July 5, 2016   Russia will send more advanced aircraft, including K-52 helicopter gunships, to Syria in order to strengthen the Russian military grouping that takes part in anti-terrorist operations. According to the Defense Ministry, Russia’s sole aircraft carrier of Admiral Kuznetsov will in October carry Ka-52 helicopters to Syrian waters to participate in combat missions across the crisis-hit country. In case the new helicopters’ successful missions in Syria, Russia may to replace some Su-25 fighter bombers deployed in Latakia with Ka-52 helicopter gunships. In total, the Russian aircraft carrier will have about 15 Su-33 and MiG-29K/KUB fighter jets and more than 10 Ka-52K, Ka-27 and Ka-31 miltiary helicopters that will strikes at militants in Syria from an eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Since last week, Russian warplanes have conducted actively air strikes with special attention to northern Lat