Military Supply Research Articles

The Unsettled Governance of the Dual-Use Items under Article XXI(b)(ii) GATT: A New Battleground for WTO Security Exceptions

Abstract In an era marked by the ‘technologization’ of modern warfare and the privatization of military supply chains, numerous items possess dual-use potential, capable of serving both civilian and military ends. Concurrently, governments increasingly view the acquisition of specific goods, materials, services, and technologies by rival states as a threat to their security. As a result, economic restrictions imposed on dual-use items, including export controls, have proliferated in recent years. These measures have elicited concerns regarding disguised protectionism and potential non-compliance with trade agreements. Central to the debate is the difficulty to strike a balance between addressing legitimate security imperatives and preventing economic protectionism. This article delves into the intersection of trade and security in the regulation of dual-use goods. It offers a focused examination of Article XXI(b)(ii) of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) concerning trade restrictions on products destined for military use. The paper first reveals limitations of this provision in governing the regulation of dual-use items. Furthermore, it introduces the concept of a ‘purpose test’ provided by the provision as a safeguard against abusive invocation. Lastly, it sheds light on the challenge posed by the standard of proof issue, which complicates the review and mitigation of bad-faith invocations of security exceptions.

Modernization and innovation in Neapolitan artillery: the contribution of Carlo Filangieri in the 19th century

ABSTRACT The history of Neapolitan artillery during the period of Carlo Filangieri reflects an era of military modernization. After the establishment of the Naval Academy in 1735, Carlo di Borbone founded the Corps Academy and the Engineers Academy, merging these institutions in 1769 into the Royal Military Academy. Military facilities were strategically located in the triangle formed by the Royal Palace, Castelnuovo, and the Naval Arsenal, with modern facilities also in Castellammare, Poggioreale, Gaeta, Capua, Torre Annunziata, and Mongiana. The Artillery Arsenal and the Royal Foundry were central to the production of military equipment, utilizing advanced technologies. The Royal Weapon Assembly handled weapon assembly, while the Royal Factory of Torre Annunziata produced cutting and firearms. Carlo Filangieri played a crucial role in reorganizing the military industry and promoting protectionist policies. In 1834, under the leadership of Ferdinand II, Filangieri was appointed to head the reorganization of the Artillery Corps, improving existing facilities and promoting self-sufficiency in military supplies. This period marked a transition toward industrialization of military production in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, highlighting the importance of having a well-equipped central arsenal to ensure the political and military autonomy of the country.

Enhancing disaster management through multi-objective water wave optimization for medical supplies storage and distribution

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of advanced methodologies aimed at addressing the intricate task of scheduling medical supplies in both civilian and military sectors for epidemic prevention and control. This study introduces a multi-objective water wave optimization (MOWWO) algorithm and enhance its efficacy by incorporating a dynamically adjusted component to the metaheuristic approach (DAMOWWO). The primary goal of this research is to assess the proposed approach in contrast to established state of the art methods with similar objectives. The aim of this study is to optimize multiple aspects simultaneously, including the overall satisfaction rates of medical supply delivery and the reduction of scheduling costs, while ensuring a minimum military supply reservation ratio. This paper offers a comprehensive evaluation of the MOOW algorithm, emphasizing its potential applications in emergency response scenarios.

Book Review: Dariusz Grala, "The Security of Military Supply Chains" [“Bezpieczeństwo wojskowych łańcuchów dostaw”], Academy of War Studies Publishing House, Warsaw 2024, ISBN 978-83-8263-503-4, pp. 326.

A new monograph titled "The Security of Military Supply Chains" has emerged in the publishing market, released in 2024 by the Academy of War Studies Publishing House (ISBN 978-83-8263-503-4). This publication spans 326 pages and represents a significant contribution to Polish scientific literature, as the subject matter has not been analysed in such a comprehensive manner until now. The Author of the book is Dariusz Grala, a Colonel in the Polish Army, a Doctor of Engineering, and the current Dean of the Faculty of Management and Command at the Academy of War Studies. The monograph introduces the reader to an extensive, erudite discourse at the intersection of political science research, security studies, and management and quality. The Author meticulously and logically discusses areas related to the security of military supply chains, which have previously been underexplored in the literature. The term "security" is understood here in various contexts, encompassing both states and processes that influence military supply chains. The Author highlights their role as a set of cooperating structures aimed at delivering goods essential for the execution of military training operations, operational activities, and combat missions. The literature often encounters the term "defence sector supply chains"; however, in the military context, the perspective on the functioning of these supply chains has a broader and often sensitive significance. This "sensitive" nature of the security of military supply chains —understood from the intentions expressed in the Introduction — has become the subject of the Author's research, which integrates theories and practices from military logistics and supply chain management. The considerations focus on the processes occurring within these chains under various conditions. This approach is particularly important in the realm of security and defence, as civil supply chain publications often overlook, assuming it to be self-evident, the specific security considerations related to military needs. This publication, in a sense, bridges these two worlds.

Russian Sabotage in the Gig-Economy Era

The West is experiencing the most intense era of sabotage since the Second World War. Russian operations have now reached unprecedented levels. It seems that the main aim of this latest wave is to increase the West’s costs of supporting Ukraine, while at the same time slowing the delivery of military supplies. Daniela Richterova, Elena Grossfeld, Magda Long and Patrick Bury suggest a new conceptual approach for understanding the recent evolution of Russian sabotage operations. Russian operations are increasingly organised around ‘gig-economy’ principles. This article offers suggestions for countering Russian sabotage in this new era.◼

Mitigating GHG Emissions from Military Supply Chain by Use of Aerial Cable Way

The transportation sector being one of the significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, there is growing concerns about environmental sustainability, and reducing GHG emissions which has prompted re-evaluation of transportation systems. The 1.5 million strong Indian defence forces have huge transport fleet and this study delves into the potential of Aerial Cableway (ACW) as a promising alternative mode of transport that can significantly reduce emissions of military supply chain in mountainous terrain. The study takes a case of Himalayan terrain to investigate how ACWs offer a low-impact, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly solution compared to conventional ground-based transportation. It takes a case of Pharkian Pass in North Kashmir where defence forces has presence and this pass is often exposed to frequent landslides, snowfall and avalanches. Every year, on an average, approximately 12,000 trucks cross Pharkian pass in a year for purpose of logistics and sustenance. Without touching sensitive issues and by using a multi-criteria-based cost-benefit analysis, the study establishes that even if 75 % of road transport trips are shifted to ACWs, the reduction of GHG emissions is by 57.7 % in addition to significant benefits of the social cost of carbon, environmental costs, economic savings and ensuring strategic advantage like all-weather connectivity.

Peculiarities of criminal liability for intentional destruction or damage to someone else’s property

The article reveals the specifics of criminal liability for intentional destruction or damage to someone else’s property provided for in Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The problematic issues of the composition of the criminal offense of intentional destruction or damage to someone else’s property are analyzed, the difference between this composition and the intentional destruction or damage to property that has special features (objects of the electric power industry, nature reserve fund, archaeological heritage, weapons, military supplies, official documents, military property, etc.). Intentional destruction or damage to someone else’s property, which has special features to be qualified according to the special norms provided for by articles: 113, 1941, 252, 258, 292, 298, 338, 357, 360, 378, 399, 411, 437, 433, 438 of the Criminal Code, is proposed. of Ukraine. On the basis of the analysis of judicial practice, it was proposed that in the case of using an explosive device, for the intentional destruction or damage of someone else’s property, such actions of the perpetrator must be additionally qualified under Part 1 of Art. 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The imperfection of the provisions of the current criminal legislation in terms of the formulation of the qualifying signs of intentional destruction or damage to property was revealed. It has been established that the current legislation of Ukraine on criminal responsibility does not include the concept of a generally dangerous method, arson, explosion, the content of the death of people, serious consequences is not disclosed. The concept of a generally dangerous method and its varieties is proposed. The concept of a generally dangerous method and its varieties is proposed. A generally dangerous method of intentional destruction or damage to property is a method that causes property, non-property, physical damage to an individual or legal entity or creates a real danger of causing such damage to two or more people. In order to avoid unnecessary differentiation of criminal law norms, it is proposed to exclude from the Criminal Code of Ukraine articles 347, 3471, 352, and part 2 of Art. 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine to add the sign of intentional destruction or damage to someone else’s property in connection with the person’s performance of official powers or professional duties.

Defense supply chain collaboration: an exploratory study and empirical framework

PurposeConsidering the size and intricate nature of defense supply chains (DSC), there exists a need for a conceptual understanding regarding the precise dynamics of collaboration among the various participants engaged in these chains. This paper seeks to address the gap by investigating the practices that enable or inhibit collaborations and the development of new competencies to effectively employ a flexible response to temporary or more sustained surges in demand. Ultimately, the study aims to develop a theoretical framework relevant to the practical implementation and scholarly examination of contemporary military supply chains.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 DSC professionals in 7 embedded cases within an enterprise framework. The resulting transcripts were analyzed using constructs and concepts from a supply chain logistics (SC/L) literature analysis and synthesis relevant to our research purpose. Finally, the results were validated by an industry focus group with 12 participants representing the government, military, industry, and academia.FindingsThis research produced empirical generalizations that provide in-depth and systematic exploratory insights into collaboration’s meaning and characteristics within the DSC context. This study culminates by introducing a conceptual model and definition of defense supply chain collaboration (DSCC) and concludes by proposing future research directions.Originality/valueThis study makes a novel and empirical contribution to the SC/L body of knowledge by investigating embedded cases through unique access to informants within an enterprise framework that focuses on the antecedent influencing factors of collaboration within the contextual domain of the DSC and positions a future research agenda.

元ㆍ安南 간 육상 교통 루트와 驛站

The primary transportation routes of the Yuan Dynasty, known as the postal routes, were developed to facilitate the movement of troops and military supplies. Later, these routes became important for official business and trade between Yuan and neighboring countries. Although land transportation routes connecting the central plains of China with Annam began to be established during the Tang Dynasty, they were not actively used until the Yuan Dynasty. The transportation routes between Yuan and Annam were straightened to shorten the travel time by eliminating detours and to enhance the stability and continuity of the routes by constructing postal stations every 60 li. The primary land transportation routes between the two countries were (1) Chongqing-Mengzi-Thang Long and (2) Chongqing-Yongzhou-Thang Long. The first route, departing from Chongqing in Yunnan Province, went directly through steep mountains to reach Mengzi, and then followed the Hong River into Annam. This was the route used by envoys from both countries before the Southern Song conquest; however, it was time-consuming due to the mountainous terrain. The second route was developed after Yuan took control of Yongzhou, becoming the fastest transportation route between the two countries and mainly used for envoys and trade. This route was established by Toghon, featuring a dense network of postal stations every 60 li within Annam, which intimidated the king of Annam. Since the establishment of these postal stations in 1284, Annamese envoys traveled along this route to Dadu every one to two years to deliver tributes, as well as to transport goods for the Yuan court. Annam’s tributes were used to supply luxuries for the imperial family, while gifts from Yuan were used as ceremonial items to enhance the authority of the king of Annam. During this period, Yongping, a postal station at the entrance to Annam, flourished as a hub for private trade.

Logistics and Crises: Understanding Roman Military Logistics and Procedures from the Unit Level and Upwards in 2nd to 4th Centuries CE Egypt Using the Surviving ‘Paperwork’

Summary The current article wishes to focus on receipts and reports from Roman Egypt in order to reconstruct the bureaucratic procedures in this region or, more precisely, the bureaucratic procedures of the Roman military logistical system, from the unit level and upwards. This examination will aid in understanding the complexity of the Roman system and the Roman mindset, while highlighting how the lack of modern technology was overcome to maintain a highly organised and vast Empire. This will strengthen and support the assumption that an office organising military supply and their records most probably existed at multiple levels; the nome, the province and Empire. Moreover, the article inspects whether the logistical system endured the many crises of the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. As there was no significant change during or after these events, this may indicate the resilience of the Roman system. It could also suggest that some of these crises were not deemed as such by the Romans, and/or that the military structure, especially its logistical-bureaucratic side, was not blamed for these military disasters.

A multicriteria model for assessing item importance and risk using operational data from military supply chains

PurposeThis paper is motivated by the need to assess the risk profiles associated with the substantial number of items within military supply chains. The scale of supply chain management processes creates difficulties in both the complexity of the analysis and in performing risk assessments that are based on the manual (human analyst) assessment methods. Thus, analysts require methods that can be automated and that can incorporate on-going operational data on a regular basis.Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken to address the identification of supply chain risk within an operational setting is based on aspects of multiobjective decision analysis (MODA). The approach constructs a risk and importance index for supply chain elements based on operational data. These indices are commensurate in value, leading to interpretable measures for decision-making.FindingsRisk and importance indices were developed for the analysis of items within an example supply chain. Using the data on items, individual MODA models were formed and demonstrated using a prototype tool.Originality/valueTo better prepare risk mitigation strategies, analysts require the ability to identify potential sources of risk, especially in times of disruption such as natural disasters.

THE IMPACT OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ON SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT IN THE MILITARY ORGANIZATION

This paper provides a general exploration of the transformative impact of emerging technologies on supply chain management in the military organization. It highlights the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and autonomous systems, highlighting their profound effects on improving operational efficiency, security and real-time supply chain management. The study assesses the balance between improved logistics capabilities and the complexities introduced by these technologies, including concerns about dependency and cyber security. Through a technological innovation perspective, the paper proposes a conceptual framework of military supply chain management, proposing a future-oriented strategy for supply chain management in the military organization in an adaptive and resilient manner. This research is essential in understanding the synergy between cutting edge technology and military logistics in the modern era.

Military camouflaged object detection with deep learning using dataset development and combination

Camouflaged object detection (COD) is one of the emerging artificial intelligence technologies. COD identifies objects that require attention and time to detect with human eyes due to the similarity in texture or color to the surrounding environment. Despite the importance of camouflage and its detection in military, there is a lack of military camouflaged object detection research. Previous studies point out that the general COD has not been well studied due to the lack of camouflaged datasets, and the situation is worse in the military domain. This study aims at tackling the challenge in two directions. First, we carefully assemble the military camouflaged object (MCAM) dataset, including camouflaged soldiers and people as well as camouflaged military supplies for military COD. The experiment shows that MCAM can generate better performance results than the other benchmark datasets (CAMO, COD10K). Second, military (MCAM) and nonmilitary camouflage datasets (benchmark datasets) are combined and tested to overcome data scarcity. The experiment shows that the nonmilitary camouflage datasets are effective for military COD at a certain level, and a proper combination of military and nonmilitary camouflage datasets can improve the detection performance.

From Marginalia to Bookends: Industrialization, Capitalism, and Advertising in Hungary’s Modern Literary Journal, <i>Nyugat</i> (1908–41)

This paper examines Nyugat [West], the premier journal of modern Hungarian literature published from 1908 to 1941 and edited by Ernő Osvát (1876–1929), Ignotus (1869–1949), and Miksa Fenyő (1877–1972) until 1917. Although Hungarian scholarship has detailed the role played by Osvát and Ignotus, Fenyő’s contribution to this triumvirate has received less attention, a lack that may have hindered literary historians’ understanding of the more widespread, sociological reasons underlying Nyugat’s long-lasting presence in a highly competitive book market. I argue that examining Fenyő’s editorial position demands the inclusion of marginalia, the term this study utilizes to denote the factory advertisements, banking-related notifications, military supply announcements, railway schedules, and eulogies that display Fenyő’s ties to the industrial lobby organization GyOSz — the National Association of Hungarian Industrialists, also referred to as ‘the Association’ — within the pages of a journal dedicated to promoting fin-de-siècle aestheticism. Exploring what Bernard Lahire would describe as Fenyő’s ‘double life’ thereby paves the way to theorizing what beliefs and ‘rules of the game’ (illusio) may have determined the connection between Hungary’s wealthiest industrialists and Nyugat during a period when the journal’s editors and authors sought to attain both authorial and financial autonomy.

Soldiers, civilians, and supply: lessons from Sevastopol

This article examines the supply crisis in Sevastopol during the Crimean War as a case study of war, economy, and society. Evidence shows that structural change and policy developments, rather than a technology deficit, produced systemic shortages across the Russian Empire. The resulting supply crisis on the battlefield spread from the military through the home front, and back again. Protests erupted as hungry soldiers and civilians sought scapegoats in vulnerable social groups. A new suspicion of internal enemies connected to supply networks emerged, and lasted into the Soviet era. While many aspects are unique to the Russian and Ukrainian historical experience, the potential social threat inherent to military supply remains universal.

Эволюция политики “стратегической неопределенности” США в тайваньском вопросе

The article is dedicated to the analysis of “strategic ambiguity” concept – a tool of U.S. foreign policy aimed at dual deterrence of both mainland China and breakaway Taiwan. Washington stayed deliberately ambiguous in its commitments to defend Taiwan thus leaving Beijing uncertain whether the U.S. will intervene in case of escalation in the Strait, and at the same time not encouraging Taiwanese authorities to declare full independence and sovereignty which would provoke military escalation with mainland China, dragging the U.S. into full-scale conflict with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The article analyzes the roots of this approach during D. Eisenhower’s years in office, its evolution en course and after the Cold War, and its erosion under D. Trump and J. Biden. The article shows that the U. S. President Eisenhower wished to maintain status-quo in Taiwan Strait, fearing that he would either have to turn a blind eye on the communist takeover of Taiwan, or be dragged into conflict with the close ally of Moscow, which would eventually lead to the war with the USSR. Eisenhower and his administration remained ambiguous in their communications with the PRC (mainland China) and Taiwan, not encouraging the island to declare full independence and at the same time not giving Beijing a carte blanche for military intervention. This approach dubbed in political science and international relations theory as “strategic ambiguity” proved to be useful, and was reinforced during Washington–Beijing rapprochement in 1970s. Under Trump administration, the U.S. started to consider dropping the “strategic ambiguity” policy towards clearer deterrence commitments. This trend manifested via emotional statements made by Donald Trump himself, mostly on social media, as well as through a change of tone in key foreign policy documents and new decisions that signaled a serious revision of the American approach to military cooperation between the United States and Taiwan. This trend continued and exacerbated under Biden administration due to number of bills signed, including the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act (TERA) which de-facto dubbed the contested island as Washington’s “Major Non-NATO Ally” and enabled to boost military supplies. The erosion of the “strategic ambiguity” policy also manifested through various high-profile contacts, including the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit on the island.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT OF MILITARY SUPPLY CHAINS

The research problem undertaken to be solved in the article is specified in the following form: what and to what extent determines to the greatest extent the continuity of military supply chains? The article is structured in two main parts, the first theoretical – The essence and dimensions of business continuity management of military supply chains, and second empirical – Challenges in business continuity management of military supply chains. A number of methods were used in the content, the leading ones being analysis and synthesis, literature query, abstraction, and inference. A diagnostic survey method using an expert interview technique was used as the empirical method. The approach adopted made it possible to achieve a cross-sectional character of the considerations, at the same time providing a basis for further, extended research into this extremely important and topical problem.

임진왜란 참전 명 장수 기념비 건립의 지역적 의미 고찰

This thesis focuses on the Gongju Myeongguk Sam three memorial stones, which was built to commemorate the general of the Ming Dynasty, which came as a volunteer during the general Invasion of Korea in 1592, from a regional ersective. A monument honoring a great general who participated in the Imjin War was built nationwide from 1597 to 1600. This period coincides with the time when the Japanese troops began to invade due to the general and the Ming troops withdrew. Mangilsaeunbi Monument, Wigwanimjebi Monument, and guerrilla leader Namgong Jongdeokbi Monument, built in Gongju, are one of the monuments to general in the Ming Dynasty built during this period. The three memorial stones are collectively called 'Princess Myeongguk Samgujang'. It was built in March and April of 1599 (the 30th year of King Seonjo's reign) along the Geumgang River in Gongju, and is now relocated to Gongsanseong Fortress. The reason why Gongju Myeongguk Three Equipment is drawing attention is because of the construction subject. Nearly 20 people from the Gongju area at the time were named on the monument, leaving their presence as they participated in the construction of the monument. There is a clear difference from other local cases in which only the names of one or two inscription writers are engraved. Nevertheless, until now, Myeongguk Samgujang has only been viewed from the perspective of Jaejo-eun's idea related to the Imjin War and a symbolic monument commemorating historical events, but there has been no advanced research on the subject of the monument's construction.
 During the Joseon Dynasty, Gongju was an administrative and military stronghold in Chungcheong-do and a geographical location, and is also deeply related to the Imjin War. Based on his experience as an admiral in Gongju, 1,600 people gathered when he recruited volunteers from Goma Naru, Gongju. Gwanghaegun led the group and stayed for about eight months, and Ming troops were stationed several times during the war due to the smooth advantage of supplying military supplies. I think it is possible to reveal the specificity of the regional aspect by tracking the process of the monument being built under the leadership of Gongju people with such a special environment and experience and looking at the faces and networks of the participants.
 The names of the characters classified by the names of the groups called Jinsa, Hyanggwan, and Win-Win are engraved on the Myeongguk Samgujang. As a result of examining their faces, it was found that they were the students of Hyanggwan, Jinsa, and Hyanggyo, which were registered in Gongju Hyangan. In addition, the construction of a monument was promoted under the leadership of Hyanggwan, a leading local clan, and it is understood that win-win and Shinshi, who led the gathering and coalition of local public opinion, participated in this. In addition, most of the characters were identified as the Imjin War and direct and indirect activities. Hyanggwan did not spare economic support, such as providing food for not only Ming troops stationed in Gongju, but also government troops, and he also participated in the righteous army himself. In the case of win-win, not all participants' records were identified due to the limitations of the data, but some figures were identified as having worked in the righteous army in the early days of the Imjin War or participated in the battle with Jungbong Joheon, and a series of activities related to Joheon.

Supplying of Wheat and Flour to the Army of Arauco during the Government of Francisco Laso de la Vega (1625-1640)

In 1598 southern Chile was engulfed in an Indian uprising that culminated with the abandonment of numerous cities and the loss of Spanish lives and material belongings. To stop the losses, the Spanish King sent to Chile an army of two thousand soldiers with the instruction that they should be supplied locally. Here we analyze the military supply systems of the Arauco Army from its creation after the 1598 Indian uprising until the end of the reign of Francisco Laso de la Vega. We will see the creation and ultimate failure of the Royal Farms and the role of the military landowners in the planting of wheat and the production of flour for the army. We will see the difficulties and commercial possibilities created by the war and their consequences shown in the production of wheat and the functioning of the hydraulic flour mills. We affirm that the region of Concepción archived food self-sufficiency during the reign of Francisco Laso de la Vega, which permitted the region to situate itself into the new Peruvian wheat market at the end of the 17th century.

The norway's policy in the context of the Russia's special military operation in Ukraine

The article examines Norway's policy in terms of the special military operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine (SMO). The author analyses the official position of the Kingdom of Norway on this issue, documents regulating its actions, materials in the media and public polls. Norway is not a member of the EU, therefore it joins sanctions against Russia by decision of its own authorities. Almost all of them coincide, but on some issues (for example, fishing) Norway takes an independent position. The most significant issues for Norwegians are humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine, as well as anti-Russian sanctions and their consequences. This is reflected in the actions of the Storting, the media, as well as the policy documents of leading political parties. The SMO evokes a negative reaction of all leading political actors in Norway, but at the same time there are differences in the possible ways out of the crisis. Also, not all Norwegian politicians consider it necessary to provide assistance to Ukraine in current volumes. This topic arises in the context of military supplies due to the risk of undermining own defense capability, as well as the threat that it may be recognised as a military participant in the conflict. Measures that influence the domestic life of the Kingdom are also discussed in detail. This includes the reception of refugees and their social security in Norway, as well as sanctions that harm the work of businesses that had connections with Russia.