FYSA: For Your Situational Awareness l Issue 23

September 29, 2015

Operating in the Dark: Rules of Engagement Needed for Space by Todd Harrison
Space has been an integral part of U.S. military power since the 1991 Gulf War. From global positioning system (GPS)–guided bombs to satellite-linked unmanned vehicles, space-based capabilities are a routine part of military operations—and a growing source of vulnerability.

Russia’s Play in Syria by Melissa Dalton
Russia’s military deployment into Syria this month adds a layer of complexity to a multifaceted conflict, complicating how the war there will be fought and how it will end. Russia stands to gain, in the short term, from positioning itself as a backer of the faltering regime of Bashar al-Assad and a bulwark against the total collapse of Syria

Keeping the Technological Edge by Leveraging Outside Innovation by Ryan Crotty
One month ago, Defense Secretary Ash Carter officially launched his “new start-up” in Silicon Valley, the Defense Innovation Unit X, tasked with renewing the relationship between American entrepreneurs and technologists and the Pentagon.

War Powers Irresolution by Colin McElhinny
The one-year anniversary of the commencement of the U.S. military campaign against the Islamic State passed with little fanfare in August, overshadowed by reactions to the Iran nuclear agreement.