#tpy:2023

[usukustwiceperyear]

Announcing:

USUKUS Twice Per Year 2023 Part 2: "Across the Universe"

Themes based upon the fusion of USUKUS and other media franchises. This can include other AUs, such as Star Wars, Good Omens, Skyrim, and other TV shows/films/videogames. (* Due to the recency of the "Based On A Book" event, unfortunately we are disallowing book-based franchises. Please contact an admin if you would like to base your work on a series that originated as a book but is now multimedia, i.e. has a TV show.)

SIGN-UP FORM

⮞ CLICK HERE ⮜

Form closes on October 2 at 11:59 PM PST.

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General Rules

General - Progress updates are required monthly for the next 3 months before works are due. We will contact you on the dates below and give you some pointers on recommended progress. This does NOT mean that we expect you to have your work completed at time of check-in. People work at different paces, after all!

Check-in #1: October 15, 2023 - 25% complete Check-in #2: November 15, 2023 - 50% complete Check-in #3: December 15, 2023 - 75% complete

FINAL DUE DATE: December 31, 2023 at 11:59 PM PST

Regarding Drop Outs - If you have to drop out of the event at any point, that’s totally okay! Life happens, or sometimes motivation wanes. Just let us know via Discord (@narcoleptic or @verusmayaii), email (usukustwiceperyear (at) gmail.com), Twitter DM (@usukusnetwork), or Tumblr Ask so we can adjust for you. - However, please note that if we notice you’ve dropped out of 2 consecutive events, we reserve the right to bar you from the following Twice Per Year event (next soonest half of the biannual year). You can reapply for the one after! (I.e.: If you dropped out of 2023-2 and 2024-1, you will be barred from 2024-2 and eligible again for 2025-1.)

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Event-specific Rules

About Crossovers/Fusions - Every submission must be based on an existing media such as a manga, anime, videogame, film, or TV show. - The work must include America and England as the focal characters and elements of the selected media. Characters from the medium itself are NOT ALLOWED to be included directly in your work.         >> Example: If Pokémon is the selected media, England and America can engage in a Pokémon battle and exist within the known Pokémon world. However, they cannot interact with the canon cast (Ash, Red, Team Rocket, etc.) - The selected media must be submitted to the admin team ahead of time so choices can be reviewed and approved. If you want to change your choice at any point in time during the creation period, please let us know as soon as possible so there is time to re-review. - The admins reserve the right to reject any media chosen by creators and categorize works as NSFW at our discretion. - If there are any questions regarding crossovers/fusions you may have, please don't hesitate to message the admin team via Discord (@narcoleptic or @verusmayaii), email (usukustwiceperyear (at) gmail.com), Twitter DM (@usukusnetwork), or Tumblr Ask. We're happy to help!

Crossover/Fusion Rules - All variations of USUKUS are allowed, including but not limited to 2P, Nyotalia, Nekotalia, etc. - Non-English language media is allowed, however, the submitted works must be in English.         >> We encourage you to select media that has an English option (dubbing, subtitled, iteration, etc.) so that people can appreciate your work as both a fanwork for USUKUS and the respective media. - Please try your best not to spoil any important plot, story, or character elements from the selected media. This is at your own discretion. - If the media you wish to select contains explicit material (referenced drug use, sexual activity), any work made for it will be marked as NSFW regardless of if your work contains any NSFW elements or not. >> If you are an underage writer or artist, any media selected that contains NSFW elements will NOT be accepted.

Writer-specific Rules - If your selected media includes terminology that is not otherwise discernible from the text alone, please do your best to elaborate/explain in the story itself for people who may not be familiar with your selected media. Likewise, if there are any unique aspects to the media's world or its functioning, please do your best to elaborate/explain in the story itself. Do not assume the reader knows anything.         >> World Example: If Genshin Impact is the selected media, then explain its in-universe magic system, especially if applicable America and England within your story.         >> Terminology Example: If Star Wars is the selected media, then explain in-universe proper nouns like the Force, Jedi, and Sith, especially as it relates to America and England within your story. - OCs are allowed to be used as long as they are not the critical focus of / do not have a significant impact on the story.

Artist-specific Rules - Outfits, iconic poses, specific locations/scenes, are all allowed, however, please use discretion when considering any spoilers for the viewers. - Please use any direct visuals listed above at your discretion as this can be considered plagiarism.

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As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us!

[girlactionfigure]

After posting earlier today about the THAAD Battery going to Israel, it’s surprising to me how many didn’t know about “Site 512” which is the only Permanent U.S. Military Installation in Israel. 

Site 512, which is operated by the 1st Space Brigade of the U.S. Army and sits atop Mount Har Qeren in Southern Israel, was opened in the Early 2000s by the Bush Administration as a Top Secret Radar Facility featuring less than 100 Soldiers; but since then the Base has received several Expansions, including one in 2017 and one 2023 which constructed enough Barracks Space to house roughly 1,000 Personnel.

 Currently around 300 American Service members are stationed at the Base, alongside a AN/TPY-2 Surveillance Transportable Radar and several Early-Warning Systems focused on Iran; in addition, there is believed to be a MIM-104 “Patriot” Surface-to-Air Missile Battery and at least some of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Battery located at the Site.

[raccoon-pizza]

852：底名無し沼さん (ｽｯﾌﾟ Sd03-USzX [1.66.105.115])：[sage]：2023/12/11(月) 15:31:32.83 ID:qJfumJxUd

富士宮焼きそばってB級グルメとしてもたいして美味しいとは思わんけどなぁ

【静岡県内発 世界で手応え　「コ��モンコンテスト」富士宮やきそばが米国で圧勝(東京新聞)】

静岡県富士宮市のご当地グルメ、富士宮やきそばを全国区の知名度に押し上げた「富士宮やきそば学会」は、米国で開かれた「コナモン（粉もん）コンテスト」に初めて参加し、グランプリに輝いた。

新型コロナ禍もあって近年は海外進出に向けた動きが停滞。今年に入ってから本腰を入れ始めており、「日本のご当地グルメを引っ張っていく存在になりたい」と意気込む。

https://news.goo.ne.jp/article/tokyo/region/tokyo-295226.html

https://i.imgur.com/wcpgcpH.jpg

853：底名無し沼さん (ﾌﾞｰｲﾓ MM43-m4TX [49.239.64.75])：[sage]：2023/12/11(月) 19:33:37.85 ID:iV1vnFCwM

日本人の口に合わなくても向こうの人の好みには合ったんだろう、ってだけのこと。

854：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 9bec-CbLu [2001:268:9673:d67d:*])：[sage]：2023/12/11(月) 20:58:39.30 ID:+iaYEpdH0

旨いかどうかはともかく

知名度でそこまでか？とは思う

856：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 95b1-cbrN [36.2.249.60])：[sage]：2023/12/11(月) 21:19:50.66 ID:I6XGOGEM0

それ世界大会というからどんなもんかと思ったらジャパンフェスの1企画で参加者が7団体しかいなかった

857：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 3581-ndax [240b:11:60e0:3600:*])：2023/12/12(火) 00:18:39.89 ID:SM9+0HDM0

道の駅とかSAでまぁご当地ものだから食うかって感じで食う事はあるけど

ぶっちゃけ普通の焼きそばの方がうまいと思うわw

858：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ b530-GdqS [110.131.34.241])：2023/12/12(火) 00:52:31.03 ID:hrL2IX430

情弱観光客狙いは明白

861：底名無し沼さん (ｽｯｯﾌﾟ Sd43-rx0E [49.98.129.212])：[sage]：2023/12/12(火) 15:45:17.94 ID:mATzwEf5d

富士宮焼きそば出すとこなら大抵あるホルモン焼きそばオススメ

鉄板前で食べるとこなら　しぐれ焼きも

862：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 3584-USzX [240b:10:20c0:5700:*])：[sage]：2023/12/12(火) 22:07:36.51 ID:dfI1C6CS0

>>861

普通の人が富士登山と焼きそば以外で富士宮市に行く観光目的って何かあるん？

863：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ e3ed-cbrN [115.125.17.26])：[sage]：2023/12/12(火) 22:10:28.22 ID:9YATfCBf0

>>862

おいおい

浅間大社参拝や白糸の滝やまかいの牧場とか富士宮は観光スポットはたくさんあるぜよ

864：底名無し沼さん (ｴﾑｿﾞﾈ FF43-USzX [49.106.237.91])：[sage]：2023/12/13(水) 00:32:34.45 ID:WlgZSXdcF

>>863

華厳の滝とかなら知ってるけど白糸の滝ってここ？

なんか動画見る限り富士宮焼きそばみたいにB級スポットらしいけど

https://youtube.com/watch?v=t_MNB4-X8eI&si=zUlWBSZkDQH8YAmM

865：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 35d7-ndax [240b:11:60e0:3600:*])：2023/12/13(水) 02:34:35.91 ID:EtlcjX/40

白糸の滝はかなり有名だし、逆さ富士やダイアモンドで有名な田貫湖とか富士五湖ではなけど富士山を見る上では外せないだろう

浅間大社の湧き水とか忍野八海並の透明度でビビるで

地味に🦆がいっぱい居て癒される

866：底名無し沼さん (ﾊﾞｯﾄﾝｷﾝ MM19-3yS0 [114.156.46.117])：[sage]：2023/12/13(水) 07:50:41.75 ID:Ce1igEv/M

まかいの牧場もいいけど道の駅朝霧高原もいい

隣にフードパークもあるのもポイント高い

867：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ b588-Z9Xq [180.35.99.245])：[sage]：2023/12/13(水) 09:40:30.66 ID:+9HKDrNl0

>>862

無いな

観光スポットがあるから行くのではなく、あの辺行くから何があるか調べたら出てくるのがレスに挙がってる観光スポット

868：底名無し沼さん (ｽﾌｯ Sd43-J7TY [49.104.26.72])：2023/12/13(水) 12:17:16.20 ID:yKLA3W97d

白糸の滝は自分のイメージよりも小振りだった

地下水が岩盤の途中から涌き出てたのが印象的

869：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ fdd3-69xs [240b:c010:442:8b65:*])：2023/12/13(水) 12:18:34.03 ID:5D47Mx1d0

軽井沢のより大きいじゃん

870：底名無し沼さん (ｽｯｯﾌﾟ Sd43-USzX [49.98.161.106])：[sage]：2023/12/13(水) 15:30:03.74 ID:CQ348TuYd

富士宮以上に御殿場のほが富士登山以外に普通の人が行く目的なくないか？

思いつくのでも御殿場アウトレットと足柄SAくらいだぞ

875：底名無し沼さん (ﾌﾞｰｲﾓ MM43-m4TX [49.239.66.40])：[sage]：2023/12/13(水) 20:49:11.36 ID:AgtI8H6iM

御殿場と富士宮なら、東名だと裾野ICと沼津ICを挟むくらい遠いから一括りにはならんぞ。

>>870

足柄SAより駿河湾沼津SAのほうが一般受けしてるでしょ。

871：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ fd3c-ndax [2001:268:9867:b489:*])：2023/12/13(水) 15:41:04.42 ID:N3ycy2Me0

その御殿場アウトレットが強すぎんのよ

そういうの例外にしだしたら吉田も富士五湖も何もねーよ

872：底名無し沼さん (ｽｯｯﾌﾟ Sd43-rx0E [49.98.135.67])：[sage]：2023/12/13(水) 18:21:53.43 ID:xT6E/3TUd

御殿場アウトレットは数回行けばもういいよう��

関東圏の人にはそもそも行く理由も無いような

御殿場は山中湖周辺まで行けば色々遊べるけど富士登山と一緒は遠いな　

後は時之栖で肉と御殿場高原ビール

880：底名無し沼さん (ｽｯﾌﾟ Sd43-USzX [49.97.106.3])：[sage]：2023/12/14(木) 01:17:30.40 ID:uXlTtvErd

>>872

御殿場アウトレットはバスタ新宿から毎日直通バス出てるし5年くらい前にその直通バス往復券予約して乗ったら満席だったぞ

御殿場アウトレット内にある「さわやか」は休日とか開店前に1日の整理券全部売り切れるって聞いたけど

https://i.imgur.com/MshpY94.jpg

881：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 359d-ndax [240b:11:60e0:3600:*])：2023/12/14(木) 01:21:41.35 ID:ELDwqxeH0

>>880

まぁあそこのさわやかは異常だわな

昼前に見たら7時間待ちとかで初見の人は理解するのに少し時間かかるレベルw

882：底名無し沼さん (ｽｯﾌﾟ Sd03-USzX [1.75.7.201])：[sage]：2023/12/14(木) 02:12:02.21 ID:8aTba2oud

>>881

富士登山の行列含め並ぶの嫌いだから行ったことないけどさわやかのハンバーグってそんなに美味しいの？

873：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ fdff-5Qt1 [114.177.66.134])：[sage]：2023/12/13(水) 19:33:58.50 ID:4ZhRHIHF0

あそこ、元々遊園地だったから無駄に広い

一筆書きで歩けないから好きじゃないｗ

874：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 1576-TPys [240d:1a:77a:fe00:*])：[sage]：2023/12/13(水) 19:38:13.74 ID:U/J2BPL80

そうそう小田急ファミリーランドな

ガキの頃行ったことある

877：底名無し沼さん (ｽｯｯﾌﾟ Sd43-USzX [49.98.134.240])：[sage]：2023/12/14(木) 00:01:07.75 ID:9UC++uBad

富士サファリパークとか富士スピードウェイも御殿場じゃなかったっけ？

878：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 359d-ndax [240b:11:60e0:3600:*])：2023/12/14(木) 00:50:04.23 ID:ELDwqxeH0

サファリは裾野だぞ

883：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 359d-ndax [240b:11:60e0:3600:*])：2023/12/14(木) 02:30:15.65 ID:ELDwqxeH0

うまいのはうまいよ

とびきりうまいから行くと言うより静岡にしかない有名なご当地チェーンだから折角だし行っとくかって感じの店

車で来てるなら態々アウトレット内でアホみたいに並んで食わなくても

ちょっと行ったとこにもあるからそこで食えばいい

885：底名無し沼さん (ｽｯｯﾌﾟ Sd43-rx0E [49.98.138.63])：[sage]：2023/12/14(木) 07:16:05.52 ID:Rc+nlrDAd

さわやかはユッケ好きな人なら楽しめる

886：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ b588-Z9Xq [180.35.99.245])：[sage]：2023/12/14(木) 14:29:35.65 ID:IRMHXE8G0

中までしっかり火を通してくれって注文するから普通のハンバーグとたいして変わらん

887：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ fdb0-CbLu [2001:268:966e:ba0b:*])：[sage]：2023/12/14(木) 22:46:11.62 ID:p+s2RcyZ0

御殿場に限らず

大抵のさわやかは待ちが発生する印象

889：底名無し沼さん (ﾜｯﾁｮｲ 35bf-ndax [240b:11:60e0:3600:*])：2023/12/15(金) 01:03:45.24 ID:51FQBmS/0

>>887

御殿場のとこはどうしてもね。平日ならまだマシだけど

浜松の店舗ならまぁまぁ空いてる

[prajnene]

Gallium Nitride Device Market: Market Size and Forecast

The global gallium nitride (GaN) devices market reached USD 20.56 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to expand, rising from USD 21.18 billion in 2020 to USD 28.40 billion by 2027. This growth is expected to occur at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.28% during the period spanning 2023 to 2027.

COVID-19: Increasing Sales of Smartphones and Laptops to Affect Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic is set to positively affect growth. Governments of various countries have implemented stringent lockdown measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. Owing to the work from culture, nowadays people are investing more in smartphones, IoT-based devices, laptops, and chargers. These factors are expected to surge the sales of these devices throughout 2020. We are also delivering accurate research reports to help you battle this pandemic and regain business confidence.

Browse In-depth Summary of This Research Insight:

Drivers & Restraints-

Expansion of Telecommunications Domain to Accelerate Growth

The demand for energy-efficient GaN devices is surging rapidly owing to the expansion of the telecommunications domain. Most of the internet service providers are nowadays focusing on providing lower latency with optical cable wires, ubiquitous connectivity, and network with higher capacity. Apart from that, the rising utilization of GaN devices in the 5G infrastructure is likely to propel the gallium nitride device market growth in the near future. However, the high cost associated with the maintenance and development of gallium nitride devices may hinder growth.

Segment-

Opto-semiconductor Device Segment to Grow Rapidly Backed by Increasing Usage in Lasers

Based on device type, the opto-semiconductor device segment procured the highest gallium nitride market share in 2019. This growth is attributable to their increasing usage in various aerospace applications, such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and pulsed lasers. Besides, they are used in optoelectronics, LEDs, lasers, photodiodes, and solar cells.

Regional Insights-

High Demand for Wireless Devices to Favor Growth in Europe

Geographically, North America generated USD 7.38 billion in 2019 because of the presence of numerous prominent manufacturers, such as MACOM, Cree, Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Microsemi, and others in this region.

Europe, on the other hand, is anticipated to grow significantly on account of the rising demand for wireless devices in Germany, France, and the U.K. In Asia Pacific, the rising demand for gallium nitride devices from emerging nations, such as India and China would aid growth.

Competitive Landscape-

Key Companies Focus on Winning New Contracts to Intensify Competition

The global market for gallium nitride devices is highly fragmented with the presence of numerous reputed manufacturers. Most of them are focusing on achieving new contracts from significant governments, as well as private agencies to deliver their in-house products. Below are the two latest industry developments:

June 2020: Raytheon Missiles & Defense provided a contract worth USD 2.3 billion to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The latter will deliver seven GaN-based Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance (AN/TPY-2) units. It is a part of the company’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

July 2019: Transphorm announced a new contract worth USD 18.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Naval Research (ONR). It includes a Base Program that is aimed at commercializing nitrogen polar GaN.

[ultrajaphunter]

(via Plan To Massively Upgrade Guam's Missile Defenses Takes Shape)

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/plan-to-massively-upgrade-guams-missile-defenses-takes-shape

Plan To Massively Upgrade Guam’s Missile Defenses Takes Shape

The U.S. military has a sense of what new missile defenses it wants on Guam but now it has to figure out where to put it all.

BY

JOSEPH TREVITHICK

AUG 16, 2022 5:52 PM

THE WAR ZONE

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JOSEPH TREVITHICK

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FranticGoat

The head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Jon Hill, recently provided new details on progress toward establishing vastly upgraded air and missile defenses on the highly strategic island of Guam. Requirements for the overarching system are starting to solidify, but U.S. military officials still face challenges in figuring out how to fit all the components on the island.

Vice Adm. Hill gave the update on the state of the Guam Defense System during a webcast of a live interview with Defense News' Jen Judson on the sidelines of the 2022 Space and Missile Defense Symposium, which ran from August 9 to 11. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is working with the U.S. Army and Navy on this project. Installing new air and missile defense capabilities on the island, which is a U.S. territory, is part of a broader effort to deter China across the Asia-Pacific region. The stated goal, at least in the past, has been to have at least some additional defenses in place on Guam by 2026.

Guam is home to critical air and naval facilities, and is currently seeing a significant expansion of its military infrastructure, in part in order to better serve as a launch pad for Marines in the region, and would be a major target in any large-scale fight in the Indo-Pacific. MDA director Vice Adm. Hill noted in his chat last week that the island now faces an "evolved threat," especially from China, in the form of increasingly advanced ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as new hypersonic weapons and even potential threats from space, which could strike from multiple different vectors at once.

"So, if you look at the PB 23 budget [President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2023] submittal, you will see that there's an MDA portion, which is the Ballistic Missile Defense capability and the hypersonic missile defense capability. And then the Army brings in cruise missile defense," Hill explained. "And what's great is both systems kind of have a crossover in what they can do."

"So, the integration of those into a command suite with command and control battle management on top of it, [that] is the basic architecture," he continued. "So you can think of a number of radars that ensure we meet the requirement, which is persistent 360-degree coverage, right, because of the evolved threat."

"We have a very good feel for at least technically and operationally where things should go, okay, in order for it to function as a system," the head of MDA added.

Hill made clear that the exact number and combination of interceptors, sensors, command and control nodes, and other components of the Guam Defense System has yet to be finalized. Initially, there had been talk about establishing an Aegis Ashore missile defense site on Guam, but the MDA boss revealed last year that plans were shifting toward a more novel and distributed architecture, which could include hardened underground facilities.

MDA and the Army currently provide more limited ballistic missile defense on Guam. This comes in the form of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system battery, designed to engage certain types of ballistic missiles in the final stages of their flight. An unit equipped with the Israeli-made Iron Dome system, which manufacturer Rafael says has a demonstrated anti-cruise missile capability, had been deployed on a temporary basis to the island, but for purely test and evaluation purposes.

The THAAD program is currently managed by MDA, though all of the units equipped with these systems, including the launchers and their powerful AN/TPY-2 radars, fall under the Army. The Army also bought two Iron Dome systems as part of what was originally expected to be a larger acquisition program. The service subsequently canceled that program, ostensibly over issues integrating it into its air and missile defense ecosystem. It is now in the process of purchasing examples of Dynetics’ Enduring Shield, which uses a canisterized version of the AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air missile as its interceptor.

Adding a traditional Aegis Ashore site to Guam would have provided an additional radar and the ability to launch additional types of interceptors, including versions of the Standard Missile-3, which are capable of executing mid-course intercepts against longer-ranged ballistic missiles, and the highly capable multi-purpose SM-6. The future Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI), designed to engage incoming hypersonic boost-glide vehicles, has to be able to be fired from Navy ships using the Mk 41 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) and therefore should also be compatible with the Arleigh Burke class destroyer derived Aegis Ashore architecture.

Whether the distributed options MDA considering replicate some or all of the Aegis Ashore capabilities, or will add substantial additional ones, is not entirely clear. The agency could also seek to deploy additional THAAD systems, possibly equipped with improved interceptors. The system's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, has proposed a THAAD-Extended Range (THAAD-ER) missile, which it says would have greater reach and an expanded engagement envelope, including against hypersonic threats.

On the cruise missile defense side, National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), which the Army has a number of already, but that are deployed almost exclusively to protect Washington, D.C. and the surrounding National Capital Region, might be one option. The Army together with the Air Force has been looking to expand NASAMS' capabilities against cruise missiles and potentially pair it with other future counter-cruise missile capabilities, including self-propelled 155mm howitzers firing hypervelocity projectiles (HVP).

The War Zone, among others, has also discussed the potential repurposing of decommissioned Navy Ticonderoga class cruisers to provide extra higher-end air and missile defenses for Guam and other surrounding areas, as you can read more about here.

There have been no public discussions, at least so far, about the possibility of adding Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptors, which are large silo-launched missiles, to the island's array of defenses.

Future Army Enduring Shield systems could very well supplant Iron Dome as an option for the cruise missile defense component. They could also provide defenses against other lower-tier aerial threats. As The War Zone highlights regularly, including about Guam specifically, the dangers posed by even relatively low-end unmanned aerial systems are real now and only likely to grow as time goes on.

Additional mobile, semi-mobile, or fixed site radars, to include more AN/TPY-2s, and other sensors will undoubtedly be part of the final Guam Defense System. The Guam Defense System could incorporate newer radars, such as the AN/SPY-7(V)1 Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), or a version or derivative thereof. The U.S. military's first fixed-site LRDR is already operational in Alaska. MDA and the U.S. Space Force are separate working to expand the U.S. military's space-based missile defense sensing capabilities.

New command and control facilities and improved networking capabilities will be critical, too. MDA already has a number of existing and planned sensor fusion architectures that would be applicable. Given the Army's heavy participation in the air and missile defense efforts on Guam, the service's new Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS), which you can read more about in this past War Zone feature, is likely to be part of the ultimate networking solution.

The video below primarily provides an overview of how MDA expects to defend against hypersonic weapons in the future, but also gives a sense of existing and planned air and missile capabilities that could be woven into the final Guam Defense System.

In addition, the Guam Defense System will be just one node in a larger air and missile architecture both in this particular part of the Pacific and the broader Indo-Pacific region as a whole. There are already discussions about installing a multi-mission radar in Palau, an independent archipelago nation some 805 miles to the southwest of Guam. The Pentagon has all but abandoned plans to establish a new homeland defense radar in Hawaii, thousands of miles to the east. However, there is a Congressional mandate to build something there by 2028 and the department says it is still exploring how it might meet requirements for air and missile defense sensor coverage in that part of the Pacific.

Maritime assets, especially the Navy's ballistic missile defense-configured Arleigh Burke class destroyers, will continue to provide additional sensor and interceptor capacity. The Navy's Ticonderoga class cruisers have missile defense capabilities, too, though it now looks increasingly like these ships are set to be decommissioned in the coming years.

On top of all of this, the U.S. military has been moving in recent years to better integrate its allies in the Pacific region into its missile defense ecosystem. As an example, the Navy recently hosted the latest iteration of the Pacific Dragon missile defense exercise, which included warships from South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Canada. This was the first time Australia and Canadian warships participated in one of these exercises and Pacific Dragon 2022 was the first to include a live interception of a surrogate for a short-range ballistic missile using an SM-3 Block IA missile.

Whatever happens, the Guam Defense System will almost certainly be highly distributed, including assets that may not even be on the island itself. Doing so can only help improve its survivability in a high-end conflict scenario, such as one involving China. The U.S. military has been very open about the potential vulnerability of the island, as a whole, in major conflict against a near-peer adversary. New airbase facilities now under construction on the nearby island of Tinian, another U.S. territory, that could be utilized if Andersen Air Base on Guam is put out of action for any reason, reflect broader U.S. military efforts to expand available basing options in the Indo-Pacific.

Just earlier this year, the Army, working in cooperation with the Air Force and the Guam National Guard, conducted a demonstration involving the deployment of a THAAD launcher from Guam some 40 miles to the northeast to Rota Island, a U.S. territory that is part of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Communications and data-sharing links were then established that would have allowed the launcher on Rota to engage threats based on targeting information from tertiary sensors, a mode of operation known as "launch-on-remote."

This reflects a more general interest on the part of MDA and the Army in separating THAAD launchers, as well as those for Patriot surface-to-air missiles, from their associated sensor systems, and linking elements of both of those systems together, to improve their overall flexibility and survivability. In his remarks last week, Hill highlighted separate testing of Patriot launch-on-remote capabilities utilizing THAAD's fire control architecture and targeting data from the systems AN/TPY-2 radar. Earlier this year, the final phase of those tests showed that THAAD's command and control systems could be used directly to execute an intercept using a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) missile fired from a networked Patriot launcher.

"Flying a Patriot missile based on what the THAAD can see, that allows us to now see new threats and use up the full kinematic expanse of the Patriot - not have it limited to a shorter range radar," Hill said. "So, now we can take a longer-range radar and go farther with the missile."

Distributing the new air and missile defense capabilities on and around Guam also reflects what is the biggest hurdle that the project still has to overcome: finding places on the island to put the various new systems.

"We just finished our second, what we call a sitting summit, last week. My team was out there for a couple of weeks, met with all the major leadership out in Hawaii and on Guam, and then walked every single candidate site that's out there," Hill said during the Defense News-hosted chat last week. "It's not final."

A variety of environmental factors, including basic terrain issues on Guam that can make or break construction plans, are still at play. There is also a need to ensure no hazards are created in the process for the local population, either.

"So, when you think about transporting yourself to some other location, whether it's in the United States or abroad, you have to worry about explosive arcs... you have to worry about the electromagnetic interference of the radars," Hill added. "So, one of the first conflicts we had, it's been in the press already, but I think it's resolved, is if you're going to build a hospital on this site, and you have a radar over here, is it okay to put radar energy through that site where you bring MEDEVAC [medical evacuation] helicopters in? The answer's no."

How exactly MDA and its Army and Navy partners will work around these issues remains to be seen. If the goal remains to at least have some components of the new Guam Defense System in place by 2026, decisions will have to start being made sooner rather than later.

As it stands now, MDA certainly seems committed to seeing new air and missile defenses on the island become a reality amid the growing threats in the region.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com

[courtneytincher]

Lockheed Martin receives $1.48 billion Saudi missile defense contract modification

U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin has received a $1.48 billion contract modification for Saudi missile defense efforts.

Lockheed Martin was awarded a $1.48 billion contract modification to build the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system for Saudi Arabia, bringing the total value of the deal to $5.36 billion, the U.S. Department of Defense said on Friday.

“Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas, is being awarded a firm-fixed-price, $1,473,941,756 modification (P00019) to previously-awarded contract HQ0147-17-C-0032 for the procurement of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Interceptor support items in support of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA),” said Department of Defense.

Also added that the period of performance is from July 19, 2019, through July 31, 2023.

According to UPI.com, THAAD provides the missile defense system with a globally transportable, rapidly deployable capability to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final, or terminal, phase of flight.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency reported in 2017 that the Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of 44 THAAD launchers, three hundred sixty THAAD Interceptor Missiles, sixteen THAAD Fire Control and Communications Mobile Tactical Station Group and seven AN/TPY-2 THAAD radars. The estimated cost is $15 billion.

“This potential sale will substantially increase Saudi Arabia’s capability to defend itself against the growing ballistic missile threat in the region,” said in DSCA’s statement.

THAAD’s exo-atmospheric, hit-to-kill capability will add an upper-tier to Saudi Arabia’s layered missile defense architecture and will support modernization of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Force (RSADF).

from Defence Blog

U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin has received a $1.48 billion contract modification for Saudi missile defense efforts.

Lockheed Martin was awarded a $1.48 billion contract modification to build the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system for Saudi Arabia, bringing the total value of the deal to $5.36 billion, the U.S. Department of Defense said on Friday.

“Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas, is being awarded a firm-fixed-price, $1,473,941,756 modification (P00019) to previously-awarded contract HQ0147-17-C-0032 for the procurement of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Interceptor support items in support of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA),” said Department of Defense.

Also added that the period of performance is from July 19, 2019, through July 31, 2023.

According to UPI.com, THAAD provides the missile defense system with a globally transportable, rapidly deployable capability to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final, or terminal, phase of flight.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency reported in 2017 that the Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of 44 THAAD launchers, three hundred sixty THAAD Interceptor Missiles, sixteen THAAD Fire Control and Communications Mobile Tactical Station Group and seven AN/TPY-2 THAAD radars. The estimated cost is $15 billion.

“This potential sale will substantially increase Saudi Arabia’s capability to defend itself against the growing ballistic missile threat in the region,” said in DSCA’s statement.

THAAD’s exo-atmospheric, hit-to-kill capability will add an upper-tier to Saudi Arabia’s layered missile defense architecture and will support modernization of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Force (RSADF).

via IFTTT

[usukustwiceperyear]

Twice Per Year 2023-2 "Across the Universe" second check-ins!

Hey there participants, messages will be sent out via Discord (if ID provided) and e-mail (if no Discord) for the second check-in November 15th. We're just asking a couple of questions to see where people are at with their creations!

Keep an eye out for a Discord DM from either @verusmayaii or @narcoleptic, or an e-mail from usukustwiceperyear (at) gmail (dot) com!

We hope to hear back sometime within the week. If we don't hear from you, we will try an alternative method of contact.

Thanks in advance!

[usukustwiceperyear]

Hey TPY participants,

Congratulations are in order!! Your hard work has paid off and we have received all your amazing submissions. We are so, so excited to see everyone's creations and we know you are too!

The admin team has just got back from holiday, so we haven't yet had time to thoroughly check we've gotten all the information we need from you. What this means is that we may still reach out and contact you with some questions.

But, if you don't hear from us, no news is good news! The collection will begin production here in the next day or so, and should be ready for release hopefully within 3 weeks from now. (More detailed ETA to come.)

If you have any questions for us, or realised you forgot something, or whatever, as always do not hesitate to reach out either via Discord (@verusmayaii or @narcoleptic) or email (usukustwiceperyear@gmail.com).

Thank you sincerely, and stay tuned for the release!! <3

[usukustwiceperyear]

Twice Per Year 2023-2 "Across the Universe" first check-ins!

Hey there participants, messages will be sent out via Discord (if ID provided) and e-mail (if no Discord) for the first check-in this Sunday, Oct 15th. We're just asking a couple of questions to see where people are at with their creations!

Keep an eye out for a Discord DM from either @verusmayaii or @narcoleptic, or an e-mail from usukustwiceperyear (at) gmail (dot) com!

We hope to hear back sometime between next Wednesday 10/17 and Friday 10/19. If we don't hear from you, we will try an alternative method of contact.

Thanks in advance!

[usukustwiceperyear]

Hey TPY participants,

Congratulations are in order!! Your hard work has paid off and we have received all your amazing submissions. We are so, so excited to see everyone's creations and we know you are too!

The admin team has just got back from holiday, so we haven't yet had time to thoroughly check we've gotten all the information we need from you. What this means is that we may still reach out and contact you with some questions.

But, if you don't hear from us, no news is good news! The collection will begin production here in the next day or so, and should be ready for release within the next week, 2 weeks max.

If you have any questions for us, or realised you forgot something, or whatever, as always do not hesitate to reach out either via Discord (@verusmayaii or @narcoleptic) or email (usukustwiceperyear@gmail.com).

Thank you sincerely, and stay tuned for the release!! <3

[usukustwiceperyear]

Twice Per Year 2023-2 "Across the Universe" final check-ins!

Hey there participants, the time has come for the final check-in (dun dun)! Messages will be sent out later today via Discord and e-mail, so please take a peek at your soonest opportunity.

We're just confirming submission instructions to make sure final submissions go as smoothly as possible! The rules can be double-checked on our Rules page as well.



Final submission date and time is December 31st, 2023, at 11:59 PM PST!

Thank you all so much for participating and we look forward to seeing your work!

[usukustwiceperyear]

ONE WEEK LEFT Twice Per Year 2023-2 Sign-Ups

Sign-ups for the second event of 2023 ("Across the Universe," other media fusions) close in one week (Oct 2nd, 11:59 PM PST)!

INFO & RULES HERE:

⮞ CLICK ⮜

SIGN UP HERE:

⮞ CLICK ⮜

Interested but still on the fence? Go ahead and give it a shot - we'd love to have you! Even if you sign up and things don't work out this time, there's always next. The important part is our love for this ship, the fandom, and all the incredible people we've met along the way.

Please look forward to it!!

[usukustwiceperyear]

Twice Per Year 2023-1 "Love Song" final check-ins!

Hey there participants, the time has come for the final check-in (dun dun)! Messages have already been sent out via Discord and e-mail, so please take a peek at your soonest opportunity.

We're just confirming submission instructions to make sure final submissions go as smoothly as possible! The rules can be double-checked on our Rules page as well.

Final submission date and time is July 30th, 2023, at 11:59 PM PST!

Thank you all so much for participating and we look forward to seeing your work!

[usukustwiceperyear]

RELEASE:

USUKUS Twice Per Year 2023-2: "Across the Universe"

At long last! Featuring 6 fanfics and 18 fanarts by 24 dedicated creators, this collection clocks in at an incredible 165 pages. This fandom is full of so much love, and it's clear in every piece submitted here. And with all the crossovers and fusions, you might even find a series or franchise you want to look into!

[usukustwiceperyear]

RELEASE:

USUKUS Twice Per Year 2023-1: "I Love You Like A Love Song"

With profuse apologies for the extended delay, we now present to you the release of the first half event! Featuring 9 fanfics and 12 fanarts by 19 dedicated creators, this collection clocks in at a whopping 202 pages. Please enjoy the incredible fruits of everyone's labor, and make sure to listen to the real Spotify playlist set up with the songs that inspired it all!

EDIT: Due to an error, a v2 has been released! The link above is updated to the most recent version. Apologies!

[usukustwiceperyear]

Hello everyone,

Congratulations on another amazing Twice Per Year! We hope everyone has been enjoying the batch of new content, or if you haven't had the chance yet, we encourage you to take a look.

This publication was a bit rough going, and largely because of that, the Admin Team has decided to write this post to share with everyone the state of TPY and our (tentative) plans moving forward.

The Process

First, we'd like to explain a little about our process. At the beginning of a year, we open up a poll to take idea submissions from everyone, regardless of whether they hope to participate or not. The admins then compile these submissions into specific choices and themes for people to vote on what they'd like to see for the coming year. This is what acts as our "interest check," to see a birds' eye view of not just participants but also readers. After that, we open sign-ups for the selected theme. While we underline the fact that sign-ups are a show of commitment and there are penalties for dropping out later, we have also attempted to emphasize that these penalties are mild and temporary and mostly just to discourage noncommittal sign-ups. The admin team uses sign-ups to gauge the size of TPY (both literally in page numbers, and fandom-wise in "activity" especially in comparison to interest check numbers), and has to manually collate a spreadsheet of each participant's sign-up info and progress at every check-in. Then, the check-ins. These are checkpoints at set dates during the TPY "term" where we message participants to get an idea of where they're at in the creation process and answer any questions or concerns they may have. The actual status of the work isn't really what matters here - the more important function of a check-in is to open an avenue of dialogue with people so they don't feel shy or hesitant to message the admin team. We understand that stuff happens, and either people don't want to be a bother, or it slips their mind because they're busy with other things, so the check-ins function as, well, a check-in to see how things are going. Finally, the submissions. This is where the admins' crunch time begins, as we rush to begin production of the actual zine itself. If participants do not submit their works correctly with the template provided, then this stage can also involve chasing people down for info within a timely manner (and if responses are slow, can delay production). Unfortunately, this part has been a struggle over the last 3-4 TPYs, as participants have not consistently submitted their works as requested (mostly artists). At this point we are aware that things tend to drop into radio silence, so we'd like to briefly list what we're busy working on. In addition to participants' submissions, the sum total of a TPY publication is made up of: a cover page (whose artist is selected from the sign-up sheet); a disclaimer and thank you page; original graphics for the acknowledgements, table of contents, and contributors pages; original graphics for the SFW and NSFW category pages; and an original document template for written works. It is a large amount of work and can take time to get looking right. We also re-format and SPAG (spelling and grammar) check written works, and resize any incorrectly submitted artwork. Once everything is made and ready, it is compiled with Adobe Acrobat into a single PDF.

The Numbers

There are a couple of pain points in this process that we'd like to elaborate on.

In 2022, we took over TPY from the old team, and as such only ran one theme as we built our new system and processes. We are missing full voting and participant information from this time, but we do know that there were:

24 sign-ups, with 12 final participants (12 drop outs/potentially ghosted)

Last year (2023), TPY had:

52 votes on the themes

23 sign-ups for part one, with 19 final participants (4 drop outs)

31 sign-ups for part two, with 24 final participants (7 drop outs)

This year (2024), so far TPY has had:

43 votes on the themes

26 sign-ups for part one, with 18 final participants (8 drop outs - 5 of which ghosted)

Overall numbers are varied, but it's the ratio for each year we're looking at. For 2023, the percentage ratio from votes to sign-ups were 44~59.5%, dropping to 36.5~46% for final participation (a drop of 7.5~13.5%). These are pretty good numbers - it means roughly around half of the people who voted were planning to participate! For 2024 however, it started out strong (60%!) but dropped to 41.9% upon final submissions (a whopping 18.1% right out of the gate). But more importantly: not only did it drop below the participant threshold that the admin team has set, but there were a staggering number of people who simply vanished and did not inform us of dropping out. This was when we posted our notice saying that we were extending the submission deadline, in hopes to get word from those people on their status - which severely delayed the production of the zine. We received 2 further submissions in this way, but the rest remained MIA.

But What Does It Mean

The takeaway here is the growing number of drop outs (not to mention the ghosting). Sign-up numbers are largely looking great, as it's natural for that number to rise and fall as people come and go from the fandom, get busier or have more leisure time, are interested in that term's theme or not, etc etc. The admin team's threshold is for a 20 participant minimum, as we believe this is a reasonable number for current fandom activity/popularity, in addition to allowing for a wide variety of fanworks submitted (the ratio of written works to artworks can be very skewed). Dropping below this number is concerning, as not only does it mean decreasing interest, but it also starts tipping the level of work needed by the admin team into unbalance. We're working adults, with jobs and responsibilities, and dedicate not only our personal time but also our personal money (Adobe ain't cheap) to this fandom tradition. Understandably we want TPY to be the very best it can be, but that does require others to "meet us halfway," so to speak, by participating. If not enough people do so, the work involved begins to feel less like a willing celebration to contribute to and give back to the fandom, and more like we're, well, wasting our time and effort (and money).

And while we understand life does happen and sometimes it's necessary to drop out despite original intentions to participate, the Admin Team would like to re-emphasize that if you don't believe you can fully commit (perhaps you don't have a solid idea for the theme, or you know you'll be gone on holiday for an extended period, etc.), then please don't sign-up. If you must drop out - no worries, truly, but please let us know! Don't just disappear! Conversely, we really hope that more people do consider signing up - there's no "requirements" you must meet (anyone can participate), the process is easy (all we ask is you respond to the check-ins and follow submission rules, otherwise we do the rest), and you get to be published in one of this ship's longest running events!

We hope that by making all this information transparent, we can empower and encourage people to be more willing to participate and support TPY. The Admin Team has occasionally received some absolutely lovely and kind messages thanking us, which we appreciate more than words can say, as this really is a labor of love. But we'd also love to see those feelings returned to the fandom at large, not just kept in our email inbox!

Moving Forward

Thankfully this time, we were able to get TPY out at the very end of September/start of October, but unfortunately this has messed up our timeline for the remainder of the year.

The Admin Team took some additional time to discuss whether TPY would continue or not, after this rough term, but we didn't want to just end things with no transparency and no chance for people to have their say. So we've chosen to continue for now, with some changes.

As there are only 3 months left in the year, it would be a very rushed term (not to mention end of year holidays), and we have decided that that would be unfair to hopeful participants. As such, the Admin Team has made the decision to push the voted-on theme, "Ocean's 1923" (love at sea), to the beginning of next year (2025-1).

Sign-ups will start December 1st and run through December 31st. (A further timeline of check-in and submission dates will be shared later.)

As the numbers start rolling in, and we see how that term fares in sign-up and final participant rates, we will make a final decision on the ultimate fate of TPY. If interest has simply waned over the years and people no longer wish to participate, then we would like to end TPY with dignity, and would likely hold one final wrap-up theme to top things off.

Final Words

We know this was a lot to get through, so thank you if you got this far. We are so appreciative of everyone who has touched TPY in some way - whether as a participant or a reader, you are an important part of this ship.

We understand if there's questions or comments people would like to make in response to this. Our email is always open (usukustwiceperyear (at) gmail (dot) com), or feel free to message Narcoleptic via Discord (@narcoleptic).

Thank you again, and until next time, The USUKUS Network & Twice Per Year Admin Team