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Strategic Order of Battle: Russian Airborne Forces

This handbook from Open Briefing provides an in-depth look at the ongoing transformation of Russia’s airborne forces, together with a strategic order of battle that details personnel and equipment levels for each of Russia’s four airborne divisions, four independent air assault brigades, Spetsnaz regiment, headquarters units and training division. As such, it represents the most detailed open source intelligence on Russia’s airborne forces available today.

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Trends in remote-control warfare: March-September 2014

Since April 2014, Open Briefing has produced a series of monthly intelligence briefings on developments in remote-control warfare, including special operations forces; private military and security companies; unmanned vehicles and autonomous weapons systems; cyber warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. This report provides a detailed overview of the key trends that have emerged during the period covered by the previous five briefings.

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Gaming the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

In this article, Open Briefing analyst Kevjn Lim reviews the strengths of the existing Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and its executive arm, the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the flaws that have attended the pageant of past proliferation crises. Beyond this, in order to strengthen the NPT and the IAEA in the longer run, Lim argues for seven areas that the non-proliferation regime needs to take into account.

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Southern Africa: Forecasts for insecurity and conflict in 2014

Some narratives have painted Southern Africa as a region largely absent of conflict and insecurity. In reality, instability persists beneath the surface due to corruption and inequitable settlements following independence or struggles for national liberation. This study from Open Briefing provides forecasts for 10 Southern African countries over 2014.

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Central Africa: Forecasts for insecurity and conflict in 2014

The conflicts that have devastated Central Africa have created a profound level of instability, cycles of repeat violence and a ‘bad neighbourhood’ from which its members have no recourse, particularly landlocked states. Given the high levels of poverty and lack of opportunity, the outlook for much of the region looks bleak. This study from Open Briefing provides forecasts for four Central African countries over 2014.

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West Africa: Forecasts for insecurity and conflict in 2014

Some narratives have painted West Africa as a region where conflict and insecurity occur naturally due to ethnic tensions and porous borders. In reality, the underlying sources and drivers of instability are critical to understanding events. This study from Open Briefing attempts to avoid generalisations by analysing specific factors and identifying forecasts for individual countries in the region.

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Key international developments for 2014

In December 2013 and January 2014, analysts from the Open Briefing intelligence unit reviewed the key international developments likely to occur over 2014. This briefing covers ten of these developments, including Russian military build-up in the Arctic, a stalled Myanmar transition, an uncertain future in Syria and civil unrest in Angola.

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