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Questions tagged [military]

Questions related to the military. This may include questions about the actions or inaction of the military, the armed forces themselves or government action related to the military.

23 votes
3 answers
3k views

Does nuclear propulsion applied to military ships fall under civil or military nuclear power?

From what I know very few countries are authorized to possess nuclear weapons, although a few others might secretly have some. But using nuclear power for civilian use (to produce electricity) is ...
Speedphoenix's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
134 views

Why did Turkey not wait until after acquiring US F-35 before initiating talks with Russia about S-400? [closed]

The United States has blocked shipment of F-35 technology to Turkey over a Turkish decision to purchase S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia. Why didn't Turkey wait until they had ...
Nat's user avatar
  • 1
44 votes
7 answers
16k views

Why does the U.S military use mercenaries?

With a defense budget now totaling ~686-billion dollars a year – which is about the size of the next 8 largest defense budgets combined (figure) – why does the U.S military see the need to ...
user3208727's user avatar
-9 votes
2 answers
623 views

Why do world governments allow North Korea to continue to exist with it's current government? [closed]

I was recently listening to the story of a North Korean defector that was born and raised in internment camp #14. Hearing about the horrendous conditions, the brutal treatment of people, and the ...
Patrick's user avatar
  • 93
1 vote
2 answers
125 views

Are cost effectiveness studies regularly done for weapon systems?

Possibly I have some economist bias, but I'm used to idea of assessing cost effectiveness. In a few cases, when there was something like political debate in my country, I tried to google basic fact ...
Shadow1024's user avatar
  • 5,917
2 votes
1 answer
720 views

Did US vice president Pence say anything close to "by any means necessary"?

I have not been able to find a transcript of US vice president Pence's recent (26-Mar-2019) speech to the US Space Council. This one is from last year. The phrase By any means necessary carries a ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 17k
-3 votes
2 answers
312 views

Why doesn't US use military force to retrieve citizens from North Korea?

There have been several American citizens detained in North Korea and one mortally injured during his incarceration. Under what circumstances do countries (such as the USA) use military force to ...
ESamual's user avatar
  • 461
10 votes
3 answers
700 views

What arguments do proponents of the second amendment use to conclude that gun ownership helps protect the people against the government?

It is said the reason for the second amendment to the US constitution is protection from an oppressive government. Should push come to shove, although hugely outnumbered in personnel numbers, the US ...
DMC's user avatar
  • 109
3 votes
1 answer
124 views

What happens in transfer of technology in defence deals

As per an article, Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai, is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines under technology transfer from Naval Group of France under a 2005 contract. I don't understand the term ...
Vishal Sharma's user avatar
-3 votes
2 answers
384 views

Conscription rights if UK Locked in Backstop

Does the EU have the power to develop a European Army, and to conscript European citizens into it? If so, would the Northern Ireland Backstop mean that UK citizens could also be conscripted into this ...
Michael Lewis's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
260 views

Can defense acquisitions by countries be kept secret?

Or are they usually are? Take for example between US and its allies. In modern days, are there any safe guards for them to be kept classified. Or safeguards to be kept transparent? Take for example: ...
Nederealm's user avatar
  • 317
0 votes
2 answers
351 views

Why aren't there any protectorate anymore?

Republic of Minerva looks good. It fails in one thing. It fails to protect itself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva_Reefs Capitalism is good for pretty much everything but security. So a rich ...
user4951's user avatar
  • 4,311
2 votes
1 answer
191 views

What concessions did India make to get a 9% discount on the Rafale jets deal?

The Modi government claims that the Rafale deal it brokered is cheaper than the original deal by 9%. How did it achieve this? What concessions did Modi give to Dassault in order to get the deal at a ...
Niteesh Shanbog's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
579 views

Why would a US armed forces branch not give back a property (it took over during wartime) for free?

Short context (inspired by a post on Aviation.SE): In 1941 the Navy took over Bennett airfield in NYC and banned all commercial and civilian flights. After WWII the airfield was meant to return to ...
ymb1's user avatar
  • 391
2 votes
1 answer
315 views

Are Russian, North Korean and other countries' show of strength aimed for a domestic or international audience?

I don't know if I'm asking this on a correct site but here it goes. I've noticed this trend on many occasions. Examples: recently Russia announced the start of production of new "superweapons" such as ...
Anthropomorphous Dodecahedron's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
168 views

On what basis is matériel used in EU military operations?

On what basis is matériel used in EU military operations? For example, Operation Sophia is the EU military mission to interdict people smuggling routes in the Mediterranean. On what basis are the ...
52d6c6af's user avatar
  • 10.4k
2 votes
1 answer
171 views

Who commands Operation Sophia?

Operation Sophia (formerly EU NAVFOR Med) is an ongoing European Union military operation, established in 2015 to interdict refugee smuggling routes in the Mediterranean Sea. Who commands this ...
52d6c6af's user avatar
  • 10.4k
11 votes
2 answers
3k views

What are the arguments for the militarisation of the European Union?

Since Maastricht the European Union has been developing a military element. Firstly with the Common Foreign and Security Policy, then (via the Western European Union vehicle) the European Security and ...
52d6c6af's user avatar
  • 10.4k
4 votes
1 answer
537 views

Why are dams so controversial in Pakistan?

Given the situation of water in Pakistan and seriousness that can be raised due to lack of water, why is the construction of dams in Pakistan so controversial? E.g., nowadays Mohmand Dam is very ...
localhost's user avatar
  • 141
2 votes
1 answer
325 views

What happened to the steam catapult topic?

In mid 2017 Donald Trump communicated to the press, that the US Navy would not be going forward with the electric aircraft carrier catapult system (around which the new Ford class aircraft carrier has ...
Doug's user avatar
  • 51
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Criticism of Trump's drawdown of forces in Afghanistan, what would be the alternatives?

We've recently seen high level departures from defence officials in the Trump administration. And criticism and concern by allied governments. Those frustrations are motivated largely by the US ...
Italian Philosophers 4 Monica's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

Do countries inform each other about ballistic missile test launches?

Informing potential adversaries about intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test looks logical, to not trigger false alert. I can't find any info - do countries do it? Do some protocols exist for ...
Heopps's user avatar
  • 212
3 votes
1 answer
678 views

How does "the military" control Pakistan?

I read recently that PM Imran Khan literally holds no power in Pakistan, and that every decision he takes is drastically influenced by the military. How? Isn't the military, owned by the government? ...
Aravind Suresh Thakidayil's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
833 views

Where does China buy its hi-tech weapons from other than Russia?

If US sanction on Russia kicks in, where can China look for buying its hi-tech weapons? Does China have any source other than Russia to buy its weapons from? . P.S. By hi-tech weapons, I meant ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
379 views

Can a militia (for example, a mafia's armed wing) defeat a nation's army and take over the government? [closed]

As the question suggests, is there a scenario where a mafia or some sort of armed gang roll out their forces on public roads, then attack the nation's army and declare a coup? If this were possible, ...
Waseem Alkurdi's user avatar
45 votes
12 answers
17k views

Why isn't demilitarization used as a defensive strategy?

If a country was to disband any and all of its military, and sell off its military assets, wouldn't it be an effective way to prevent an invasion? Because after this, it's clear to anyone that this ...
Vilx-'s user avatar
  • 1,059
2 votes
1 answer
519 views

Who designed the proposed Space Force logos?

On August 9, 2018, the Trump administration provided several proposed logos for their planned Space Force. Who designed these logos? Is there some government organization that is tasked with creating ...
Thunderforge's user avatar
  • 7,777
5 votes
2 answers
210 views

Negative impact of the Ottawa treaty / Convention for Cluster Munitions for the modern army?

The Ottawa treaty prohibits anti-personal mines, the Convention for Cluster Munitions prohibits cluster munitions. Several nations with modern armies are signatories of the treaty. I was wondering if ...
Martin's user avatar
  • 671
19 votes
3 answers
3k views

Politicians to remove sexism in registration for potential conscription in the USA?

According to Wikipedia, only men are required to register for the draft with the Selective Service System in the US. Some feminists want equal conditions for men and women. Are there any USA ...
user avatar
39 votes
5 answers
12k views

Why was Congress able to create an Air Force without a constitutional amendment?

Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress and includes the creation of military forces: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use ...
Thunderforge's user avatar
  • 7,777

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