#Military Tank Containers Market

[determinate-negation]

In the face of the Biden administration’s aggressiveness and belligerence in foreign affairs, one can’t help but wonder: among the U.S. ruling elite, who is advocating war? Is there still a mechanism to curb such belligerence in the country?

This article comes to three conclusions: first, in the Biden administration, two foreign policy elite groups that used to compete against each other, liberal hawks and neoconservatives, have merged strategically, forming the most important foreign policy consensus within the elite echelon since 1948 and bringing the country’s war policy to a new level; second, in consideration of long-term interests, the big bourgeoisie in the United States has reached a consensus that China is a strategic rival, and has established solid support for its foreign policy; and third, due to the design of the U.S. Constitution, the expansion of the far-right forces, and the sheer monetization of elections, the so-called democratic institutions of checks and balances are completely incapable of restraining the belligerent policy from spreading.

[...]

In the field of foreign policy, the most influential think tank since World War II is the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). This think tank receives donations from a variety of sources, and its current board includes Richard Haass, Bush Sr.’s principal adviser on the Middle East, and Ashton Carter, Obama’s Secretary of Defense. The German magazine Der Spiegel has described the CFR as “the most influential private institution in the United States and the Western world” and “the central politburo for capitalism”. Richard Harwood, senior editor and investigator at the Washington Post, called the council and its members “the closest thing to an American ruling body”.

Regardless of which party’s candidates they support in the elections, this long-standing collaborative network has maintained the stability of foreign policy. This U.S. supremacy worldview that denies other countries’ involvement in international affairs dates to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, which proclaimed U.S domination to the entire Western hemisphere; only today’s U.S. foreign policy elite has applied this doctrine to the whole world rather than just the American continents. Cross-party synergy and party switching are common for this group of foreign policy makers, and they are closely tied to the ruling capitalist class, as well as to the Deep State (the intelligence services together with the military) that control U.S. foreign policy.

[...]

More critically, the upper echelon of the U.S. bourgeois elite has long been more influential than the “industrial elite” ever was. For example, Michael Bloomberg, whose value is estimated to have reached U.S. $83 billion and who owns 88% of the information services company Bloomberg, has also made considerable stock market investments over the years. Today’s billionaires from Eric Smidt to Charles Koch, George Soros, and Elon Musk, diversify their investments across industries and fund think tanks and policy groups through nonprofit foundations, enabling them to overcome the confines of short-term economic interests and see the big picture of foreign policy, in contrast to those old millionaires who, in the past, were focused on a single industry. A bourgeoisie with a shared consciousness would expect long-term excess returns from a fully liberalized Chinese market following the overthrow of the Chinese state, which is greater motivation for these billionaires to be willing to suffer temporary losses in some sectors as a result of containing China.

The CFR, which is depicted as “leading the U.S. government from behind the scenes,” has Founder-level corporate members including companies in energy (Chevron, ExxonMobil, Hess, Tellurian), finance (Merrill Lynch, Citi, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Blackstone), IT (Accenture, Apple, AT&T, Cisco), Internet (Google, Meta), among other sectors. In a research report published in January, the CFR proposed to “strengthen U.S.-Japan coordination in response to the Taiwan issue”. These policy proposals of preparing for war and containing China reflect the long-term strategic assertions of the bourgeois elite, which include the controllers, shareholders, and key accounts of the CFR members.

[sneakyscarab]

hello! it's been a while since ive written out my thoughts about touhou! part of the reason why is that i've been working on a website of my own, which now hosts all my grimoire of nina entries with enhanced bonus features! plus a lot of other things on other pages but this is the relevant part to this post. i'm not sure whether i want to continue making tumblr versions of the posts now that i've set this up, but for now im gonna do both a tumblr edition and a neocities edition. with that out of the way lets get started on...

Touhou 1-5 PC98 Extravaganza!

after finishing the main series (and taking a probably needed break from bullet hells for a bit) I went back to the beginning and checked out the first wave of Touhou, the 5 PC98 games!

putting this up front, while i absolutely respect what these games did to kick off the series and get things going, i cant say i was very fond of them, so the overall tone of this writing is on the neutral to negative side. just something i feel i should note. with that said, let’s get started.

Touhou 1 - Highly Responsive to Prayers

Highly Responsive to Prayers is a weird game. contrary to what one would expect, the First Touhou Game is not a vertical scrolling shooter like others. HRtP is instead a sort of breakout/arkanoid type game, where you control a miko-shaped paddle named Reimu running back and forth bouncing a giant yin-yang orb that clears up tiles, beating a stage once you’ve cleared the screen. it does actually have whispers of the series’ future though, with turrets in levels that shoot bullets towards you, Reimu having a amulet-shooting ability (influence the orb's movement), screen-clearing bombs, and menacing boss fights.

you heard me right, this breakout clone has boss fights, and theyre kinda wild. every 5th stage is a boss, which have big hitboxes and shoot out tons of bullets and other attacks which you have to simultaneously avoid while also manipulating your orb in order to hit the boss (because only the orb does damage). After beating the first boss youre given a branching path between Makai or Hell, and either choice gives you 15 more stages for a total of 20.

overall HRtP is a very bizarre and not particularly great game, but its uniqueness makes it really stand out, and if you're in the market to play a weird breakout/bullet hell game for whatever reason you should try it out.

Touhou 2 - Story of Eastern Wonderland

now This is a Touhou game! released alongside HRtP at Comiket 52, Story of Eastern Wonderland is what i would say is the true first Touhou game, being a vertical scrolling shooter with 6 stages, fancy boss fights, and ridiculous characters.

right out of the gate SoEW shows off how wacky the PC98 era lore is, with the first stage containing not one but two military tanks as boss fights. the third stage's boss as well is a weird metallic wall with 5 "eyes" and innumerable laser cannons. its wild. as for gameplay, it's pretty much what you would consider Standard Touhou, although with some features missing that havent been invented yet, notably the movement-slowing Focus mechanic.

one interesting thing about this game is the colour choice: likely due to palette restrictions pretty much the entire game is a combo of red+purple, with the occasional blue+green sprites. even marisa is not immune, having bright red hair only in this game alongside a purple robe+hat.

its very surprising how close SoEW already is to the modern gameplay loop, although i guess it shouldnt be Too surprising considering scrolling shooters are like one of the first game genres ever made. its a pretty fun time, but also pretty rough around the edges.

Touhou 3 - Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream

if you thought we would stablize into the regular style now that we've seen SoEW, you'd be off the mark. Phantasmagoria of Dim Dream is actually a VS game in the same style as the later PoFV and UDoALG titles! it was really surprising to me seeing just how much experimentation was going on with the series this early in its lifespan, but I suppose that happened a lot back then.

in terms of gameplay PoDD plays surprisingly similar to PoFV, with the same enemy combos, sending spells at each other through a charge meter, and summoning yourself as a boss fight on the other guy's screen as an ultimate move. it even has the same insane boss summon rebound mechanic and the same cheating bastard final boss ai!

one funny difference is that, since faeries hadnt yet been established as go-to mooks, the enemies during duels are a variety of random things. besides ghosts you just have star, moon, or heart shapes with ' ' and ^^ faces. theyre so abstract I kinda love it lol.

like SoEW its surprisingly functional for its age, although also like that game it still lacks features like focus, leaving it being unpolished in comparison to newer variations of this formula. unless youre a PC98 enthusiast id recommend playing PoFV or UDoALG instead, especially since the multiplayer on this one is local-only.

Touhou 4 - Lotus Land Story

now things are starting to standardize. Lotus Land Story is another vertical scrolling shooter and adds in a bunch of features not in SoEW that would go on to be series mainstays: focus, boss phases, boss item drops, and most notably having Marisa as a deuteragonist! if SoEW was a standard touhou missing some features, LLS is taking steps to a full on touhou game, missing just a few mechanics from EoSD, notably the spell card system and point-of-collection line.

LLS is also notable for a few other reasons, one being the character Yuuka who is one of the few PC98 characters to get remade in the windows games, and the other being the origin of the iconic song Bad Apple!! which got remixed by nomico and memed half to death.

Its pretty good, albeit still rough around the edges and missing the sort of spark thats found in later entries.

Touhou 5 - Mystic Square

Mystic Square is where we settle in, playing identical to LLS, which means theres not much to talk about. there are 2 more playable characters than LLS, with both Mima and Yuuka. Mystic Square also includes the 4th and final PC98 character to get remade later in the Windows canon, Alice Margatroid. besides the name and the blonde hair though theres pretty much nothing connecting the two Alices together. if you liked Lotus Land Story you'll probably like this too, i dunno.

alrighty with all those games out of the way its time to talk about the characters of note. and of course if theres one name thats synonymous with PC98 its...

Mima! appearing in four of the five games of this era, Mima is the most consistent character besides Reimu and Marisa, and yet she has never been seen since Mystic Square. this may be a hot take, but i think Mima is emblematic of a lot of the qualities of this era that make it hard to get into from a story perspective. for starters, Mima is incredibly inconsistent. She shows up 4 times and is basically a different character each time; being a random Hell boss in HRtP, a vengeful spirit bent on destroying all humanity (except Marisa i guess?) in SoEW, a woman of few words and a short temper in PoDD, and a snarky bully who tells blatant lies just to see how people react in MS. she also has a weird conceptual design and wack power scaling, being a ghost who was never alive, always been a ghost, who also for some reason has like dragon wings but only when she gets angry (Marisa also has these in PoDD which is really bizarre) and shes able to simply escape being magically sealed away as if she was cracking the seal on a pickle jar and casually beats up everyone in Mystic Square without even blinking. While i do like elements of her character (her lying bastard personality from MS is pretty funny and I see why people would want that back) i think its for the best that she stays in the PC98 era, the one seal she cannot break free of. If she were to come back, so much would have to be rewritten either of the world around her or Mima herself that she would basically be a different character entirely, which i think would cause way more drama than her return is worth.

moving on, lets talk about Genjii! this old fart is basically Reimu's grandpa who is also a magical flying turtle. since Reimu doesnt know how to fly in these games, her pops Genjii gives her a ride whenever she needs to go solve an incident. He also acts as a straight-man to Reimu's comedy in her storylines, often questioning the bizarre things that she says or weird noises she makes. he's just a funny turtle grandpa and i'm here for it. while Genjii has never officially appeared in a game in the Windows era, ZUN has stated that the reason is that he's just enjoying his retirement. Reimu can fly on her own now, so he's just resting in the pond out behind the shrine, doing whatever it is grandpa turtles do in their free time. good for him :>

the last character spotlight is for Meira! she's a cool samurai lady from stage 2 of SoEW who was also Reimu's gay awakening :P (for context, Meira and Reimu's pre-battle conversation is a bit where Meira claims to seek the Hakurei Maiden [for her power] but Reimu assumes that Meira's hitting on her. After clarifying that Meira wants to fight Reimu and take her power after winning, Reimu counter-offers by implying that she'll take Meira as her girlfriend if she wins.) this was almost certainly just intended as a joke, but considering that Touhou Project is basically a yuri wonderland its very funny to see gay implications in literally the second spoken conversation in the entire series. besides that, Meira also has cool attacks utilizing her sword where she makes huge slashes in the air that explode into bullets after a second, which were probably inspiration for Youmu's sick swordplay five games later.

and thats the PC98 era! with these games under my belt ive now played each whole-numbered entry in the series, woo~! so having played them all, what are my thoughts on the origins of Touhou?

i'll start by clarifying that i am generally not a 'Retro Gamer'. while i acknowledge the importance of early entries into series, they are very frequently rough, unpolished, or just straight up unfun because the devs are still working out the kinks on how they want the series to go. this is doubly so for games from this pre-2000s era, where game design in general was still a new concept and most games were working off arcade standards of high difficulty to steal quarters. early Touhou is not exempt from this, these games are missing a lot of features added later that make the games more fun, and the difficulty is much higher with a lot more 'bullshit' design like bullets that spawn on your character or a lack of proper resources given on respawn leading to a cycle of death.

all said, i cant say i really enjoyed my time with the PC98 titles. you may have noticed that i didn't mention 1cc runs so far in this article, and the reason for that is i couldnt find the motivation to keep trying for more runs like i did with the future games. mix that in with the bizarre, nonsensical, and often self-contradictory writing and you have a recipe for mediocrity. PoDD in particular is an absolute dearth of writing and worldbuilding. most character interactoins are like one sentence long, and the plot involves two scientists on a "Probability Space Hypervessel" who somehow invited in the characters from Gensokyo to the real world so that they could capture them and steal their magic for clout. In Marisa's route after she beats them up they give her a weapon as a reward which is a ICBM with a smiley face that Marisa names Mimi-chan and rides around instead of her broom. like its all so ridiculous you can just tell that these were like student projects done by a dude in his free time and not a serious attempt at making a world or story.

overall i just really have trouble finding passion for these titles compared to the later entries, to the point that i had to shove all 5 of these games into a single article and its about as much writing as Subterranean Animism alone. im sorry if youre a big PC98 and/or Mima enjoyer but theyre not for me, and i have to say im glad that Touhou moved on and evolved past this point.

thank you for reading, and i'll see you next time, whenever that is!

[eretzyisrael]

BY JACOB SIEGELAND and LIEL LEIBOVITZ

The Israeli political class has known about the lopsided reality of the U.S.-Israel arrangement for some time, but for the past eight or nine years seems to have decided the farce had some value. For them, U.S. aid is valuable not because it is a good deal for Israel’s military-tech complex, but because the appearance of close strategic alignment with the U.S. serves as a public, tangible pledge, renewed annually, of Great Power backing, in a world that is largely hostile to the country’s existence. Even now, as it’s clear from Washington’s courtship of Iran that U.S. security pledges no longer mean what they once did (ask the Afghans, or before them the Vietnamese, Cambodians, and a long list of other former recipients of U.S. military aid), the value of these pledges to Israel has been based on the belief that other parties believe in them—and are therefore constrained accordingly. The point is for the world’s only hyperpower to be seen publicly putting a big diamond ring on Israel’s finger, even if the diamond is actually made of glass. The more “special” the relationship appears to others, the better.

As the price of its dependency, Israel is now being forced to downgrade its own defense industries. Whereas the previous MOU contained a special provision for Off-Shore Procurement (OSP) that allowed Israel to spend around 26% of the aid it received on domestic products, the new terms require that all aid received from Washington be spent inside the U.S. In 2018, Israel’s Defense Ministry projected that the new MOU would cost the country $1.3 billion annually in lost revenue and cause the loss of some 22,000 jobs. Moshe Gafni, a former chairman of the Knesset’s financial committee, warned of the deal’s “severe ramifications for the delicate fabric of the State of Israel, harming its security.” A separate assessment in 2020 by the Israeli think tank INSS, concluded that “anywhere between several thousand and 20,000 of the 80,000 jobs in the defense industries in Israel will be lost.”

In return for accepting Obama’s aid package, Israel has now become dangerously reliant on U.S. military technology. The result of this enforced dependency, according to the retired General Hacohen, is stunting the IDF. “Israel is so addicted to advanced U.S. platforms, and the U.S. weaponry they deliver, that we’ve stopped thinking creatively in terms of operational concepts,” Hacohen told the U.S. publication Defense News in 2016—two years before the new MOU went into effect.

This is especially dangerous because, having short-circuited Israeli competition and dumped tens of billions of dollars worth of equipment into Ukraine, the U.S. is increasingly having trouble arming itself—let alone anyone else. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found systemic problems in the U.S. procurement system leading to widespread delays. The report found that more than half of the 26 major defense acquisition programs under review “had yet to deliver operational capability” and were delayed due to “supplier disruptions, software development delays, and quality control deficiencies.” And what does get produced often isn’t up to par. As part of its “special arrangement,” Israel gets preferential access to the F-35, but is then locked into a fleet of aircraft both riddled with technical problems and a poor fit for Israel’s strategic air priorities. At the risk of stating the obvious, it would be nice to be able to shop on the open market. 

The consequences for Israel’s economy and to the country’s security posture will get more severe in coming years as the full bill from the MOU comes due. According to a congressional report, the “phasing out [of] Off-Shore Procurement (OSP) is to decrease slowly until FY2024, and then phase out more dramatically over the MOU’s last five years, ending entirely in FY2028.” As a consequence, the report notes “some Israeli defense contractors are merging with U.S. companies or opening U.S. subsidiaries”—in other words, transferring their personnel and capacities from Israel to the U.S.

[suzilight]

More ‘forever chemicals’ found in WA drinking water as cleanup costs mount

Dec. 11, 2022 Seattle Times (paywall)

570,000 people, 7.4% of the state’s population, according to a Seattle Times analysis of test results

LAKEWOOD, Pierce County — The water pumped from the ground here was once considered pure enough to mix with a little chlorine and then pipe directly to homes.

Today, every gallon from two water district wells must first be flushed through six enormous tanks, each filled with 40,000 pounds of specially treated coal, to remove contaminants.

This pollution, known as “forever chemicals” or PFAS, can increase health risks for certain cancers and other diseases when present in drinking water in minuscule concentrations measured in parts per trillion. Lakewood is one of more than a dozen Washington public water systems with detections above levels defined by the state to be suitable for long-term consumption — and widespread testing is just ramping up.

a massive legal battle is playing out across the country as more than 200 providers of public drinking water, including Lakewood, sue manufacturers, distributors and in some cases the Defense Department in federal court to determine who will pay the cleanup bills that will tally in the billions of dollars.

In December 1988, 3M chemist Eric Reiner wrote a memo to his colleagues about the corporation’s firefighting foams formulated with PFAS.

For years, the corporation’s marketing pitch portrayed them as “biodegradable.” Reiner termed this a “myth” that was not in 3M’s long-term term interest to perpetuate.

“It is probable that this misconception will eventually be discovered, and when that happens, 3M will likely be embarrassed, and we and our customers may be fined and forced to immediately withdraw products from the market,” Reiner warned.

3M no longer produces the foams that contained PFOA and PFOS. Reiner’s memo is one of many internal 3M documents put into the public record in the avalanche of litigation now consolidated in the U.S. District Court of South Carolina.

3M and other manufacturers initially sought to have many lawsuits dismissed based on case law that has sometimes granted immunity from liability to contractors supplying products requested by the U.S. military.

In a Sept. 16 opinion, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Mark Gergel of South Carolina found 3M and other defendants “knowingly withheld” information detailing the full risks of the product and denied that motion.

[mariacallous]

The Kyiv Independent Ukraine Daily: Friday, December 2

Reznikov believes Russia behind letter bomb attacks in Spain. “The world is beginning to recognize that (Russia) is a terrorist state. And terror knows no borders,” Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said. “They use terrorist means to cause terror.”

Media: US Embassy in Madrid receives letter bomb similar to one that exploded in Ukraine's embassy. This is the sixth explosive sent to administrative or military buildings in Spain. All of them contained similar, homemade substances, according to Spanish authorities.

General Staff: Russian troops withdraw from some settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Russia is withdrawing some of its military units and preparing to evacuate occupation administration personnel from some settlements in the Russian-occupied part of Zaporizhia Oblast, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said in its evening update.

ISW: Russian military movements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast suggest that it can't defend critical areas amidst increasing Ukrainian strikes. Russia may be withdrawing its military personnel from positions closer to the front line in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to reduce the impact of increasing Ukrainian strikes on Russian manpower and equipment concentrations, the Insitute for the Study of War said in its latest report.

Energoatom fires engineer Russia made ‘head’ of occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Ukraine’s state nuclear energy operator Energoatom Head Petro Kotin on Dec. 1 fired Yury Chernichuk, acting chief engineer of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, for collaborating with Russia. On Nov. 30, Russia’s state nuclear power operator Rosatom said it made Chernichuk run the Russian-occupied nuclear power plant.

50 Ukrainian soldiers return home in new prisoner exchange with Russia. President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak said on Dec. 1 that Russia had released 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war under the prisoner exchange. Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that it also received 50 people back as part of the prisoner swap.

International response

Macron, Biden say West will 'never persuade Ukraine' to unacceptable compromise with Russia. "We will never call on Ukrainians for a compromise that will be unacceptable. Because they are defending their lives, nation, and our principles, and because this will never lead to lasting sustainable peace," French President Emmanuel Macron said during a joint press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden.

France, its partners discuss creation of special tribunal for Russia’s crimes. France has started to work with international partners, including Ukraine, on a proposal to set up a special tribunal to investigate Russia’s war crimes during its full-scale war, the French Foreign Ministry reported. “We mobilized in support of both the Ukrainian justice system and the International Criminal Court, which are competent to conduct impartial and independent investigations so that those responsible for these crimes are held accountable,” reads the report.

Germany to supply Ukraine with bridge-laying tanks, border protection vehicles. Germany has handed over to Ukraine unmanned surface vessels, some bridge-laying tanks and dozens of border protection vehicles as part of their new batch of military aid, according to a statement posted on the German government website.

Spanish minister: Letter bombs won't change decision to help Ukraine. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Dec. 1 that no letters with explosives or any other violent actions would change the country's "firm and clear" commitment to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression, BBC reported.

Reuters: EU governments 'tentatively' agree on $60 a barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil. The decision envisages an adjustment mechanism to keep the cap at 5% below the market price, according to diplomats and a document seen by Reuters.

Ukrainian soldiers to train on Czech territory. The Czech Republic's parliament on Dec. 1 approved a proposal to train Ukrainian soldiers in the country and deploy Czech soldiers in European Union member states to train Ukrainian service members, Radio Prague International reported.

Switzerland freezes almost $8 billion in Russian assets under EU sanctions. Switzerland has frozen financial assets worth nearly $8 billion as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said on Dec. 1. Fifteen Russian properties have also been blocked as of Nov. 25, the agency reported.

In other news

Ukrainian authorities seek to ban Moscow-backed church amid Russian invasion. Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council has proposed banning Russian-affiliated religious groups, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Dec. 1. The most significant of the groups is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, an affiliate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

SBU finds Russian propaganda, xenophobic literature in Moscow Patriarchate monastery in Zakarpattia Oblast. The Security Service of Ukraine said it had found brochures where Ukraine's right to independence is denied, while stating that Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus "cannot be divided."

Parliament appoints Infrastructure Minister Kubrakov as Deputy PM for restoration of Ukraine. Oleksandr Kubrakov has served as Infrastructure Minister since May 2021.

[conquerthroughfear]

Conqueror - military record

Enter credentials: ************** Loading data... Security clearance level: insufficient

Name: INSUFFICIENT PERMISSIONS

Callsign: CONQUEROR

Handler: RUYXIL

Status: DECEASED (KIA)

Age: TWENTY-FIVE(26)(TOD)

QUALIFICATIONS

SSQ (STANDARD SOLDIER QUALIFICATIONS)

HEAVY WEAPONRY

HEAVY WEAPON SYSTEMS

AUXILIARY WEAPONS

BREACHING

DEMOLITIONS

INTERROGATION

SOS (SOLDIER ON SOLDIER) COMBAT

CYBERPSYCHOSIS CONTAINMENT

DEPLOYMENT HISTORY

INSUFFICIENT PERMISSIONS

CYBERWARE

Neural interface

Hercules skeleton

Hercules muscle grafts

SAMURAI fortified ankles

Blacksteel Demon Arm breacher & launcher systems

SAMURAI NUpalm launcher

Shock absorber recoil compensator

Prototype integumentary armor

SAMURAI-VI optics & ICE

Blood pumps

Adrenal booster

Pain editor

Detailed descriptors at bottom of file.

EQUIPMENT

Standard SAMURAI-VI equipment.

HEAVY SAMURAI-VI equipment.

CUSTOM MELEE WEAPON: halberd (196 cm, 10 kg). Material appears to be Blacksteel™. Exact origins unknown. Initial combat tests have proven extremely promising. Note: not found by retrieval unit.

CYBEREWARE (DETAILED)

NEURAL INTERFACE: SAMURAI-VI INTERFACE. SPECIFICATIONS: Eisher SAMURAI Interface Mark VI. DESCRIPTION: Standard fare SOLDIERS interface. Requirement for integration of other cyberware. Integrated computer for simple tasks and communication.

SKELETON: HERCULES SKELETON. SPECIFICATIONS: Titanium bones (Hercules series 5.6), Dense marrow (Hercules prototype series), Bionic joints (Hercules prototype series). DESCRIPTION: Requirement for effective employment of muscle grafts & synthmuscle. Standard fare for heavy-class SOLDIERS. Tests have shown promising improvements for durability against small arms fire over the H4 series. Increased mass offers considerable resistance against being moved, and improved striking power.

MUSCLES: HERCULES MUSCLE GRAFTS. SPECIFICATIONS: Synthmuscle & biomuscle grafts (Hercules prototype series & series 5.6 respectively), situated on all non-trivial muscles (see SAMURAI-VI documentation section 4.7.2). New range for heavy-class SOLDIERS. Early tests have shown promising results, with lifting capacity exceeding the previous series by up to 134%.

LEGS: SAMURAI FORTIFIED ANKLES. SPECIFICATIONS: Ichibangase SAMURAI Mark V "BANSAI" Fortified Ankles. DESCRIPTION: Pressure-loaded joint capsules and plastic fibers (combined with muscle grafts) allow subject to jump great heights, allowing for quick vertical repositioning.

ARMS: BLACKSTEEL BREACHER ARMS, VARIANT LAUNCHER-SYSTEMS, SHOCK ABSORBER. SPECIFICATIONS: Blacksteel Demon Arm Breacher T4, Blacksteel Demon Arm Launcher L-E3, Eisher SAMURAI Mark VI "DRAGON" NUpalm launcher, Shock Absorber (Immovable Force series). DESCRIPTION: Breacher arms are outsourced from Blacksteel Security Group, reinforcing the arms with Blacksteel™ pistons and microgel joint capsules, marketed as "designed to punch through a tank". Initial tests have proven this to be possible. The NUpalm launcher replaces the original shrapnel launcher in subject's left (dominant) arm. Original purpose would be to create a hole in enemy armor and fire a blast of shrapnel through it. Considering subject's targets will be largely resistant to shrapnel, NUpalm was deemed more effective. Extensive tests pending. Tests confirm that Immovable Force shock absorbers, combined with skeleton and muscle enhancements, result in negligible recoil.

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM: SAMURAI-VI.II INTEGUMENTARY ARMOR. SPECIFICATIONS: Subdermal plating (Eisher mark 14), Impact-absorbers (Eisher prototype series), Conqueror synthskin (unique prototype). DESCRIPTION: Significantly improves subject's resistance to harm. Extensive testing on effectiveness when armor is pierced has been postponed due to budget issues. Prototype synthskin has proven slash-resistant against unaugmented humans. Significant healing properties require further studying to be copied.

OPTICS: SAMURAI-VI OPTICS. SPECIFICATIONS: Ichibangase / Eisher corporation SAMURAI optics Mark VI. DESCRIPTION: Standard fare SOLDIER optics. Capable of low-light, infrared, and magnetic vision/filters. Zoom: 20x. Smart-targeting systems were previously installed, but testing showed negligible to negative results.

FRONTAL CORTEX: Self-ICE, Tracker. SPECIFICATIONS: Gestalt Bureau Self-ICE v12.2, Jäger Security Tracker v36.7. DESCRIPTION: Standard fare SOLDIER ICE. Self-ICE is capable of periodically shutting down pathways to defend against netrunners. Tracker interfaces to let subject zero in on netrunner's position.

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM: BLOOD PUMPS. SPECIFICATIONS: Ichibangase Blood Pump (Archangel series 2.0).DESCRIPTION: Standard fare circulatory cyberware for frontline/breacher SOLDIERS. Allows more efficient and faster distribution of blood, increasing stamina (test results: +72%) and rate of healing (test results: +52%). In case of critical damage to the heart, the pumps can function as a back up for up to several minutes.

NERVOUS SYSTEM: ADRENAL BOOSTER, PAIN EDITOR. SPECIFICATIONS: Ichibangase / Eisher corporation SAMURAI adrenaline booster Mark VI, Pain Editor (Eisher mark 12). DESCRIPTION: Adrenal booster allows for more extreme responses to adrenaline, and for the effects to last up to an hour. Regenerative purposes require further testing (initial tests suggest it speeds up the process by ~200%). Pain Editor allows subject to "turn off" pain signals: initial tests with subject have proven promising.

[spookysaladchaos]

Collapsible Fuel Tanks, Global Market Size Forecast, Top 10 Players Rank and Market Share

Collapsible Fuel Tanks Market Summary

According to the new market research report “Global Collapsible Fuel Tanks Market Report 2023-2029”, published by QYResearch, the global Collapsible Fuel Tanks market size is projected to reach USD 813.2 million by 2029, at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period.

Figure.   Global Collapsible Fuel Tanks Market Size (US$ Million), 2018-2029

Based on or includes research from QYResearch: Global Collapsible Fuel Tanks Market Report 2023-2029.

Market Drivers:

Increasing remote military training, weapon testing, surveillance, and defense activities are to augment the sales of collapsible fuel tanks in the market.

Collapsible fuel tanks are gaining huge popularity across the various industries such as oil & gas, mining, agriculture, and industries among others, owing to their favorable attributes such as easy install, bulk storage, high durability, resistance to temperature fluctuation & moisture, others.

In addition to this, collapsible fuel tanks are also finding numerous applications for disaster relief fuel supply purposes, owing to their high portability and ease of installation for fuel storage purposes. Hence, increasing floods, landslides, forest fires, earthquakes, and others worldwide is expected to create lucrative opportunities for growth in the global market.

Restraint:

Inability to install on irregular surfaces, high risk of puncture, and safety issues associated with the collapsible fuel tanks are the factor hampering the growth in the global market.

Growing concerns about environmental issues have led to stricter material requirements for these temporary storage tanks.

Opportunity:

Increasing demand for temporary storage solutions across rising on-shore mining and oil & gas exploration activities across the world is projected to accelerate the sales of collapsible fuel tanks in the global market.

The Russian-Ukrainian war and the game between China and the United States have increased instability in some regions, and frequent military activities will drive market demand in the short term.

Increasing floods, landslides, forest fires, earthquakes, and others worldwide is expected to create lucrative opportunities for growth in the global market.

Figure.   Collapsible Fuel Tanks, Global Market Size, The Top 10 Players Hold 70% of Overall Market

Based on or includes research from QYResearch: Global Collapsible Fuel Tanks Market Report 2023-2029.

This report profiles key players of Collapsible Fuel Tanks such as Continental, MPC Containment, Safran.

In 2022, the global top five Collapsible Fuel Tanks players account for 52% of market share in terms of revenue. Above figure shows the key players ranked by revenue in Collapsible Fuel Tanks.

Figure.   Collapsible Fuel Tanks, Global Market Size, Split by Product Segment

Based on or includes research from QYResearch: Global Collapsible Fuel Tanks Market Report 2023-2029.

In terms of product type, Polyester Fabric is the largest segment, hold a share of 34%.

Figure.   Collapsible Fuel Tanks, Global Market Size, Split by Application Segment

Based on or includes research from QYResearch: Global Collapsible Fuel Tanks Market Report 2023-2029.

In terms of product application, Commercial is the largest application, hold a share of 55.7%.

Figure.   Collapsible Fuel Tanks, Global Market Size, Split by Region

Based on or includes research from QYResearch: Global Collapsible Fuel Tanks Market Report 2023-2029.

About The Authors

Wangzhuang - Lead Author

Email: wangzhuang@qyresearch.com

John is a technology & market senior analyst specializing in semiconductor devices, materials, and equipment. Wang has 3 years’ experience in semiconductor and focuses on Chemicals, consumer goods, food and beverages, machinery and equipment, software and business services, etc. He is engaged in the development of technology and market reports and is also involved in custom projects.

About QYResearch

QYResearch founded in California, USA in 2007.It is a leading global market research and consulting company. With over 16 years’ experience and professional research team in various cities over the world QY Research focuses on management consulting, database and seminar services, IPO consulting, industry chain research and customized research to help our clients in providing non-linear revenue model and make them successful. We are globally recognized for our expansive portfolio of services, good corporate citizenship, and our strong commitment to sustainability. Up to now, we have cooperated with more than 60,000 clients across five continents. Let’s work closely with you and build a bold and better future.

QYResearch is a world-renowned large-scale consulting company. The industry covers various high-tech industry chain market segments, spanning the semiconductor industry chain (semiconductor equipment and parts, semiconductor materials, ICs, Foundry, packaging and testing, discrete devices, sensors, optoelectronic devices), photovoltaic industry chain (equipment, cells, modules, auxiliary material brackets, inverters, power station terminals), new energy automobile industry chain (batteries and materials, auto parts, batteries, motors, electronic control, automotive semiconductors, etc.), communication industry chain (communication system equipment, terminal equipment, electronic components, RF front-end, optical modules, 4G/5G/6G, broadband, IoT, digital economy, AI), advanced materials industry Chain (metal materials, polymer materials, ceramic materials, nano materials, etc.), machinery manufacturing industry chain (CNC machine tools, construction machinery, electrical machinery, 3C automation, industrial robots, lasers, industrial control, drones), food, beverages and pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, agriculture, etc.

[lalsingh228-blog]

Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market May Set New Growth Story

Advance Market Analytics published a new research publication on "Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market Insights, to 2028" with 232 pages and enriched with self-explained Tables and charts in presentable format. In the Study you will find new evolving Trends, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities generated by targeting market associated stakeholders. The growth of the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market was mainly driven by the increasing R&D spending across the world.

Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This Research @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/69228-global-aircraft-fuel-tanks-market-1 The Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market report covers extensive analysis of the key market players, along with their business overview, expansion plans, and strategies. The key players studied in the report include: Lockheed Martin Corporation (United States), GKN Aerospace (United Kingdom), ContiTech (Germany), Cobham (United Kingdom), TAG Aviation (Switzerland), Boeing (United States), UTC Aerospace Systems (United States), Meggitt (United Kingdom), PFW Aerospace (Germany), General Dynamics (United States), Zodiac Aerospace (France). Definition: Aircraft Fuel tanks refer to a major component which manages fuel distribution between tanks on the aircraft. These tanks come in a variety of types and sizes and can be located almost anywhere in the aircraft such as near wings, fuselage, and tail. A fuel tank contains a different component which includes pumps, piping, gauges, valves, filters and inserting systems for performing the desired action. In Aircraft Fuel tanks, the safety aspect is one of the major concern, which needs to be examined during the investigation and manufacturers are focusing on developing lightweight fuel tanks to increase the overall efficiency of aircraft. Rising in the number of aircraft delivery is expected to drive the market for aircraft fuel tanks in the forecasted period. The following fragment talks about the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market types, applications, End-Users, Deployment model etc. A thorough analysis of Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market Segmentation: by Type (Internal Tanks (Integral Tank, Rigid Removable Tanks, Bladder Tanks and Tip Tanks), External Tanks (Conformal Fuel Tank and Drop Tank)), Aviation Type (Commercial Aviation, Military Aviation, Private Jet), Capacity (<30 L Aircraft Fuel Tank, 30 L to 50 L Aircraft Fuel Tank, 51 L to 70 L Aircraft Fuel Tank, More than 70 L Aircraft Fuel Tank), Aircraft type (Narrow Body Aircraft, Wide Body Aircraft, Regional Jet, Turboprop, Rotary-wing Aircraft, Military Transport Aircraft, Fighter Jets), Material (Aluminum Aircraft Fuel Tank, HDPE Aircraft Fuel Tank, Steel Aircraft Fuel Tank) Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market Drivers:

Rising Global Air Traffic Owing to Influx of Air Passenger Led to Increase in Demand of Aircraft

Growing Aircraft Production for Military Applications

Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market Trends:

Use of Automation Techniques Such as Robotics For Aircraft Fuel Tank Designing

Growing Focus Towards Designing Low Weight Aircraft Fuel Tanks

Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market Growth Opportunities:

Rise in Aircraft Fuel Tank Deliveries Across The Countries

Heavy Investment in Research and Development of Aircraft Technologies

As the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market is becoming increasingly competitive, it has become imperative for businesses to keep a constant watch on their competitor strategies and other changing trends in the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market. Scope of Aircraft Fuel Tanks market intelligence has proliferated to include comprehensive analysis and analytics that can help revamp business models and projections to suit current business requirements. We help our customers settle on more intelligent choices to accomplish quick business development. Our strength lies in the unbeaten diversity of our global market research teams, innovative research methodologies, and unique perspective that merge seamlessly to offer customized solutions for your every business requirement. Have Any Questions Regarding Global Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market Report, Ask Our Experts@ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/69228-global-aircraft-fuel-tanks-market-1 Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary and the basic information of the Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market.

Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges & Opportunities of the Aircraft Fuel Tanks

Chapter 4: Presenting the Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market Factor Analysis, Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region/Country 2018-2022

Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile

Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by Manufacturers/Company with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions (2023-2028)

Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source

Finally, Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies. Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/69228-global-aircraft-fuel-tanks-market-1 What benefits does AMA research study is going to provide?

Latest industry influencing trends and development scenario

Open up New Markets

To Seize powerful market opportunities

Key decision in planning and to further expand market share

Identify Key Business Segments, Market proposition & Gap Analysis

Assisting in allocating marketing investments

Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Middle East, Africa, Europe or LATAM, Southeast Asia. Contact US : Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA – 08837 Phone: +1 201 565 3262, +44 161 818 8166 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com

[hardynwa]

Navy discovers five illegal refineries in Ondo

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, said it had discovered five illegal refineries in some communities in the Araromi seaside area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The military said the illegal refineries contained a total of 365,000 litres of crude oil, adding that the illegal refineries are undergoing destruction. The Commanding Officer of the base, Navy Cpt. Wasuku Alushi disclosed this on Wednesday after he led the military team on a tour of the illegal refining sites. According to him, the move was in furtherance of the Navy’s fight against crude oil theft and other related vices in the Niger Delta region, specifically in Ilaje LG of Ondo State He said, “You will recall that a fortnight ago, the Chief of Naval Staff launched the ‘Operation Delta Sanity’ with the overall goal of intensifying the Nigerian Navy’s efforts in curbing crude oil theft in the Niger Delta area with a view to sanitising the environment. “Operation Delta Sanity is to sanitise the entire Niger Delta basically from the menace of crude oil thieves, illegal refiners, cultism and other related activities. Part of that mandate is to dismantle these illegal refining sites to render them inactive.” The commander added, “We are here today based on credible intelligence, you can see that this is an illegal refining site. We are basically to dismantle this site to stop them from carrying out their nefarious activities and also to enlighten the public on the activities of these economic saboteurs to the nation.” The commander explained that inside the refining field, there were five different illegal refining ovens, saying each of the ovens had 33,000 litres refining capacity as major refining, including two other 10,000 refining capacity. He stated that these implied that each of the ovens had a refining capacity of 83,000 litres of crude oil per day. The commander stated further that the illegal refiners “transport the illegally refined crude into these tanks where they apply local technology.” He said that the refiners use the “principles of fractional distillation in their own crude way and then at the end of it they come up with illegally refined HGO which they further transport, perhaps back through the sea to where the market is.” Alushi noted, “There are networks of pipes there, most of the pipes are buried under the ground and are connected to the high sea where at night, this locally constructed boat called Cotonou boat come to lift these products for onward delivery to where the markets are. “We came with welders and other resource persons that will help us dismantle this well-orchestrated network of engineering perpetrated here by these criminal elements so we are here to dismantle this site basically to make it ineffective.” Read the full article

[blueweave8]

United States Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) Market Industry Trends, Share, Forecast 2022-2029

 BlueWeave Consulting, a leading strategic consulting and market research firm, in its recent study, estimated the United States styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market size at USD 1.41 billion in 2022. During the forecast period between 2023 and 2029, BlueWeave expects United States styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market size to grow at a significant CAGR of 6.45% reaching a value of USD 2.06 billion by 2029. Major growth drivers for the United States styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market include an increasing interlinking of polymer chains brought on by oxidation. Unlike natural rubber, which tends to harden with time, SBR retains its softness due to this cross-linking, rendering it a favorable material for manufacturing tires. This distinctive property underscores SBR's prominence as a preferred option within the market. The demand for SBR is particularly significant in the tire industry due to these attributes. Also, as the population grows, leading to higher vehicle demand and subsequently increased tire production, the demand for SBR is expected to rise in the USA. Also, its non-slip attributes make SBR suitable for producing footwear soles and heels, contributing notably to market expansion. It is projected that the USA's styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market will likely reach a volume of 1500 thousand tons throughout the forecast period. However, fluctuations in prices of raw materials and limited supplies of natural rubber are anticipated to restrain the overall market growth during the forecast period.

United States Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) Market – Overview

Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) is a synthetic rubber derived from the copolymerization of styrene and butadiene. The predominant method for its production is emulsion polymerization. SBR boasts exceptional mechanical attributes, including high heat resistance, strong tensile strength, resistance to cracking and tearing, and notable resilience. Consequently, it finds widespread application, notably in tire manufacturing. Often combined with natural rubber for enhanced resilience, SBR is employed in various industries, such as tire production, conveyor belts, foam articles, adhesives, sealants, domestic mats, footwear soles, chewy candy, food container adhesives, car mats, brake pads, tubing, V-belts, floor coverings, military tank pads, and rubberized battery box cases.

Sample Request @ https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/report/united-states-styrene-butadiene-rubber-market/report-sample

Impact of COVID-19 on United States Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) Market

COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the United States styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market. It led to disruptions in supply chains, reduced manufacturing capacities, and shifts in consumer demand. Lockdown measures and reduced economic activity during the pandemic's peak resulted in decreased demand for automotive and industrial products, influencing SBR utilization. While the gradual recovery in economic activities led to a rebound in demand, challenges remained due to supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages. The pandemic emphasized the need for resilient supply chains and adaptive production strategies to navigate uncertainties and ensure the United States SBR market's sustained growth amidst such unprecedented challenges.

United States Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) Market – By Application

Based on application, the United States styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market is divided into Tires, Industrial, Footwear, Polymer Modification, and Adhesives segments. The tires segment held the highest share in the United States styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market by application. SBR's unique blend of mechanical properties, such as durability, abrasion resistance, and high tensile strength, make it a preferred material for tire production. As the automotive sector continues to grow, the demand for high-quality, long-lasting tires has surged. SBR's ability to enhance tire performance and safety while meeting stringent industry standards has propelled its widespread adoption. This strong alignment between SBR's properties and tire manufacturing requirements underscores its dominant position in the United States SBR market within the tires application segment.

Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in the United States styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market include Goodyear Tire and Rubber, LANXESS AG, Lion Elastomers, Bridgestone Corporation, Trinseo, Zeon Chemical, Dow Chemical, INEOS Styrolution, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, and Sinopec. To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches.

Contact Us:

BlueWeave Consulting & Research Pvt. Ltd

+1 866 658 6826 | +1 425 320 4776 | +44 1865 60 0662

info@blueweaveconsulting.com

[testormblog]

The Love is Here

Nana, my paternal grandmother, also gave me a present for Christmas, always something special. Once, she bought me a metal Tonka truck, a prized toy for a poor boy like me. I spent lots of time with Pop and Nana, usually the weekends; my parents happily offloading me. Like us, they lived alongside the Beaudesert branch line, near the Waterford siding. I loved Pop and Nana and they loved me. I had a special seat and place at their kitchen table. Perhaps, I reminded them of the teenage son, their first born, they lost to peritonitis. I didn’t resemble my father, their second son, in character. Where I was inquisitive and contemplative; he was quick tempered and impatient. He had a reputation for trouble. Though, age would mellow him.

Pop had retired from the Railway. He had worked in a maintenance gang like Dad but on the Logan Village to Canungra branch line, which divided from the Beaudesert branch line. He had been stationed at Logan Village. There he had lived in a basic railway hut with other men from Sunday night to Friday. He may have been the ganger in charge of a track section although he never mentioned this. He must have had influence to obtain a job for Dad. In his younger days, Pop had worked for a sawmiller. He knew everything about timber and could fell giant trees. I deduce he began with the Railway during the depression years when building work was slow.

In the war, he would have worked on the Canungra branch line’s upgrade, part of Camp Cable’s construction. Every local, trade skilled man, not enlisted, had been employed on this project. Camp Cable was the largest US military base on Australian soil at that time. The railway line ran through it and included a siding. The line was responsible for the deployment of thousands of troops, equipment and provisions. If I had been born earlier, I’d have seen the constant stream of troop trains. Whilst Pop never talked of the war, he ‘owned’ a few US Army souvenirs; things he had traded with soldiers. I inherited his woollen long johns. These have survived intact nearly eighty years.

Pop was skilled with his hands. He built his and Nana’s house in his younger days. The Queensland style house, perched on a hill, overlooked the Logan River. I played on its large veranda, which skirted its three sides. My grandparents had no electricity. They relied on kerosene lights and weekly ice deliveries to fill their ice chest. They drew their water from a tank and the creek. They had no bathroom. Nana washed herself with an earthen ware jug and basin in her bedroom. I thought the house nice though. It always smelt fresh. Nana kept it spotless. The backyard thunderbox was also clean and ready for use unlike the overfilled one at my home.

I found everything at this house interesting. I shadowed Pop nearly everywhere. The washroom had once been a smokehouse where meat was cured. It still contained the meat trellis on which a beast or a pig was hung. Now, the butcher called weekly. Pop’s workshop was under the house. Here, there was a sandstone wheel to sharpen axes and saws, vices to hold timber steady and numerous tools. Neatly stored were paint cans and brushes, egg cupboards to hatch chickens, vegetable boxes and horse gear.

Pop and Nana survived well despite their insignificant aged pensions. Pop ran a cow and fowls and grew every vegetable and type of fruit they ate. He sent produce and eggs to the market. He also sharpened the saws for all the local sawmillers including the sawmill that cut the pit props for Ipswich’s underground coal mines.

Pop was a mystery to me and wouldn’t answer my questions about his life. He descended from German religious refugees, settling in the 1840’s. He didn’t attend the local church often; possibly because his prior work life had limited his time at home. Nevertheless, the Lutheran Church and many German customs influenced our family’s values. Pop spoke English mixed with German idioms. He was the eldest of a large farming family, who owned much of the best surrounding farm land. In spite of this, his brother had inherited the land. Mother often jabbered that Pop had heaps of money. Not so, he had just sufficient to cover his funeral.

Like my parents, Pop and Nana weren’t affectionate to each other although they were to me. Similarly, they didn’t share money. When I grew older, Nana regularly asked me to doublecheck their division of expenses. Maybe, the hardship of Pop’s work life had extinguished their flame. Still, they lived together amicably and cared for each other.

When I was eighteen in 1961, Pop became so sick a doctor was called to the house. He had never seen a doctor before and was most upset. I watched his son-in-law, an ambulance driver, drive him away. He died soon after in the foreign, sterile environment of a Brisbane hospital. He had wished to pass away at home. I was bereft. To worsen my grief, I contracted mumps and couldn’t attend his funeral to farewell him. From the kitchen window, I watched the hearse deliver Pop’s coffin to the Lutheran Church then everybody gather at the cemetery beside.

Pop’s and Nana’s children sold their house and its furniture as quickly as possible for £800. The furniture alone would have been worth that sum. They packed my beautiful Nana up to live with one of them then later moved her into a dreadful nursing home. She deserved far better. Overnight, she shrank into a fragile, old lady, crippled with arthritis. Yet, she lived for nine more years. She was my angel.

A month after Pop’s death, a girl, my future wife, slipped her hand into mine. The love from one ended and the love of another began.

[pravalika]

Aerosol Paints Market - Forecast (2023 - 2028)

Aerosol Paints market size is forecast to reach US$302.6 million by 2026, after growing at a CAGR of 5.8% during 2021-2026. This growth can be attributed mainly due to the extensive utilization of aerosol paints in the construction industry. Aerosol paint or spray paint is paint that comes in a sealed, pressurized container and is released in as an aerosol spray. The paint is dispersed by depressing a nozzle on the top of the can, connected to a valve inside the can. Aerosol paint leaves a smooth, evenly coated surface, unlike standard, rolled or brushed paint finishes. It is applied on surfaces for both, aesthetics and protection. The most important resins used in aerosol paints are acrylic polymers, epoxy polymers and alkyd polymers. Spray painting is one of the most preferred ways of applying paint. As compared to conventional paints, aerosol paints have unique atomization, storage and application methods. Aerosol paints are designed to be used on a wide range of surfaces like metals, plastic, wood, glass, and masonry. Primarily due to their high quality, quick-drying, and easy applicability, aerosol paints can be used on both new and existing structures, such as monuments, private offices, factories, residential spaces, and public buildings, which is increasing their demand. Aerosol paints are also widely utilized in DIY projects which is the latest trend, led by the pandemic. For automotive DIY, acrylic enamel spray paints are used because they last a lot longer, as they form a hard shell when dry. The increasing DIY applications also fuel the growth of the aerosol paint market.

COVID-19 Impact

The pandemic has impacted every industry across the globe in one way or another. One key issue that has arisen is the availability of raw materials has dramatically reduced. This has severely impacted the overall paints market in general. The core industries, construction industry and automobile industries have been impacted owing to shortages of labour, rising safety concerns and government-imposed lockdowns which have led to closing down of manufacturing plants. This has result in lower demand and consumption of commercial purpose aerosol paints in 2020. However, during the lockdown consumers have taken up DIY projects utilizing aerosol paints. According to a DIY survey in the US, 60% of respondents said they started a new home DIY project in April 2020 and home improvement purchases grew from 55% in March 2020 to over 80% by April. The top product being searched for home improvement online is paint, up 700% from March to April. Hence the DIY sector helped boost the aerosol paint market.

Report Coverage

The report: “Aerosol Paints Market – Forecast (2021-2026)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Aerosol Paints Market.

By Resin: Acrylic, Alkyd, Epoxy, Polyurethane, Silicone, and Others.

By Technology: Solvent borne and Water borne.

By End-Use Industry: Building & Construction (Residential- Private Dwellings, Row Houses, Apartments, Commercial- Educational Institutes, Hotels, Restaurants, And Cafes, Sports Stadiums, Airports, Office Buildings, Shopping Malls & Supermarkets, Hospitals, Clinics and Healthcare Institutes and Others), Transportation (Automotive- Passenger Vehicles (PV), Light Commercial Vehicles, Heavy Commercial Vehicles; Aerospace- Commercial, Military and Others; Locomotive; Marine- Passenger, Cargo and Others), Furniture (Cabinets, Plywood and Others), Oil and Gas (Pipelines, Tanks and Others), Water and Wastewater (Water Tanks, Water Pipes, Wastewater Pipes), Electrical & Electronics, General Industry (Storage Tanks, Railing, Pipes, Fences) and Others.

By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Belgium, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Rest of South America), Rest of the World (Middle East, and Africa).

Key Takeaways

Asia-Pacific dominates the aerosol paints market, owing to the increasing construction and automotive industries in the region. 

The advent of electric cars is making waves in the automotive world. Also, auto refinish manufacturers are seeing a strong move into cosmetic repair where aerosol paints are extensively used. 

The development of bio-based products and increasing government support due to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions is likely to act as a driver for a growth of water borne aerosol paints market. In the automotive industry, water-based acrylic enamel is currently the most widely used paint for reducing the environmental impact. 

The major opportunity for this market is to completely transition towards eco friendly products in a move to support sustainable development.

[prajnene]

Military Sensors Market Trends, Technological Advancement, And Driving Factors

The global military sensors market is set to gain impetus from the emergence of the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technology. It is mainly designed for recording and monitoring various conditions at different locations. This information is given by Fortune Business Insights™ in a new report, titled, “Military Sensors Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Platform (Ground, Airborne, Naval, Space), By Component (Hardware, Software), By Application (Navigation & Communication, Intelligence & Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare, Command & Control, Monitoring & Surveillance, Target Recognition), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027.” The report further states that the market size was USD 25.94 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 34.58 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.91% during the forecast period.

How Did We Create This Report?

As customer expectations are changing, the aspirations of dealers are also transforming rapidly. Distribution channels are becoming complex. To provide our clients with detailed information, we have conducted extensive primary and secondary research. We have thoroughly investigated each opportunity qualitatively and quantitatively so that our clients get a complete picture of both emerging and existing opportunities. We have also conducted a techno-economic study.

Browse Complete Report Summary:

Drivers & Restraints-

Increasing Development of MEMS-based Sensors to Accelerate Growth

The development of military sensors depends more on optical microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and RF MEMS devices. These are capable of meeting special military requirements. MEMS have multiple beneficial properties. They have high reliability, low power consumption, and compact sizes. Hence, they are mainly used to develop sensors for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles, battlefield tanks, drone electronics, and surveillance.

At the same time, nanotechnology-based and MEMS-based military sensors are extensively utilized in monitoring the weapon's health and battlefield environment. However, these sensors have complex designs, which, in turn, may obstruct the military sensors market growth in the near future.

Segment-

Airborne Segment to Grow Rapidly Backed by Surging Usage of Military Helicopters & UAVs

Based on the platform, the airborne segment generated 27.03% in terms of the military sensors market share in 2019. It is expected to show the highest CAGR throughout the forthcoming years because of the rising usage of UAVs, fighter jets, and military helicopters in India, China, and the U.S.

Regional Insights-

Rising Modernization Programs to Boost Growth in North America

In 2019, North America procured USD 10.05 billion in terms of revenue and is set to dominate in the coming years. The rising initiatives by governments to conduct modernization programs, as well as the procurement of 3D expeditionary long-range radar in the region, would aid growth.

Europe, on the other hand, is set to grow substantially on account of the rising usage of EOIR military sensors by the U.K. Defense Ministry. In Asia Pacific, the increasing territorial disputes between India and Pakistan, as well as the geopolitical tensions between China and India, would contribute to growth.

Competitive Landscape-

Key Players Focus on Gaining New Contracts to Compete with Their Rivals

The market contains numerous prominent companies that are persistently striving to gain a competitive edge by procuring new contracts from government agencies. They are doing so to deliver their in-house military sensors. Below are two of the latest industry developments:

November 2020: BAE Systems won a contract worth USD 94 million from the U.S. Navy to deliver the latter with advanced technology. It will be used to develop several unmanned aerial systems.

May 2020: FLIR Systems received a second contract from the Army to provide unmanned aerial systems for the Soldier Borne Sensor program. The program is capable of offering real-time visual sector scanning.

[mrudula01]

Vetronics Market | Global Trends & Military Opportunities

Aerospace and Defense

29, September 2022

Technology has significantly advanced, playing a crucial role in several industries. The paradigm for R&D in the defense sector has evolved investments in vetronics. This is a result of the growing trend across different defense forces to equip military vehicles with technologically sophisticated electronic systems.

According to our experts, the global vetronics market was valued at $3668.33 million in 2021 and is expected to reach $5372.01 million by 2028, with a CAGR of 5.62% during the forecast period 2022-2028.

Vetronics, also known as vehicle electronics, enables military units to implement and integrate systems such as communication, command and control, vehicle warfare, navigation, vehicle protection, and surveillance. Over the years, its relevance has increased as defense departments seek to make their armed forces lighter, faster, and more deployable.

Integration of Digitalization in Battlefield Operations

The digitization of domains such as communication and surveillance is critical in the integrated operations of the modern battlefield. Electronic warfare has already been adopted as a sub-domain by the majority of advanced nations. They actively engage in advanced capability research to equip their forces and gain a tactical advantage over their competitors.

For example, the US Army is testing the Electronic Warfare Tactical Vehicle (EWTV), containing an unspecified specification of radio jamming equipment. It can detect and disrupt a wide range of signals, from cellphones to enemy UAV control links.

Factors such as ease of deployment and a broad range of sensing and disruption are key features incorporated in modern armored vehicle-mounted jamming systems that increase their utility. The rapid adoption of such technology is expected to drive the studied market during the forecast period.

Additionally, the ongoing military modernization programs in respective armies worldwide have increased the number of land-based vehicles. Our study suggests tanks are the fastest growing land-based fleet type segment, with a CAGR of 5.82% during the forecast period. The development is due to the interconnection systems of the new tanks. The technological update enables tanks to integrate with wheeled armored vehicles outfitted with standard vetronics to collect and transform battlefield sensor data into high-value security and combat services.

Impact of Competitors’ Strategic Initiatives

The global vetronics market is highly fragmented, with key players controlling significant market shares. Major companies like Thales Group, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and L3Harris Technologies continue to invest in the R&D of military robotics and related subsystems. Such measures have enabled them to expand the spectrum of applications for their distinctive and exclusive product line of vetronics.

The market participants’ operations focus on designing, engineering, and manufacturing high-performance vetronics for the world’s armed forces’ terrestrial assets. Furthermore, because a contract for armored vehicles necessitates high technological expertise, the companies are merging to enhance their current portfolio.

Some of the examples are listed below-

Collins Aerospace Military Global Positioning System (GPS) division was successfully acquired by BAE Systems, bringing decades of experience, cutting-edge technology, and a sizable installed base of products.

With the purchase of Gemalto by Thales for €4.8 billion, the acquisition will cover every step of the important decision-making process in the digital age, from sensor-generated data to real-time decision support.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced on July 5, 2022, that it had successfully acquired the Safran Aerosystems Arresting Company (SAA) for $240 million in cash. The acquisition of Safran’s arresting systems division solidifies Curtiss-position Wright as the world’s leading recovery and arresting systems provider for fixed-wing aircraft. Curtiss-Naval Wright’s & Power division will include the company.

Key Challenges & Regional Opportunities

Although cuts in the defense budget and the rising cost of raw materials can challenge the vetronics market, it is continuously expanding due to breakthrough technology in military vehicles.

The current fiscal condition worldwide is the key barrier to the market’s expansion. Many emergent breakthroughs offer considerable long-term benefits but need significant investments in deploying new technologies and platforms.

Based on the global scenario, the North America vetronics market held the largest share in 2021 and is expected to maintain its stronghold throughout the forecasting period. The region is witnessing considerable growth, owing to its military and government efforts to modernize its army and fleet.

Additionally, the United States is the key contributor to the regional market, accounting for 96.93% of the share in 2021. The country’s large market share is due to the rapid development of venture capital markets. For instance, American Rheinmetall Systems has received a multi-million-dollar investment to offer cutting-edge combat vehicle mission systems technologies to support the modernization of US Army combat vehicles.

FAQ

Ques 1: Which segments are studied in the Vetronics Market?

Land-based fleet type, component and vertical are the segments studied in vetronics market.

Ques 2: What are the key component of vetronics market?

Electronic Warfare & C4 Systems, Navigation Systems, Power Systems, and Vehicle Protection Systems are the key component of vetronics market.