Consequences and Recurrence of Dangerous Occurrences in Air Transport in 1919-2018

The paper presents statistical research results regarding the occurrence of which dangerous aviation events in 1919-2018. The source of the information about the events was the AviationSafetyNetwork website. With the use of Excel 2016 and Statistica v. 12 computer programs, five-time intervals were identified in which hazardous aviation incidents took place.Characterizing the distribution of these events in all periods, due to the technological advancement and capabilities of airplanes, the distribution of dangerous events in the last three periods was compared. The following tests were used to verify the statistical hypotheses: , Shapiro-Wilk, Brown-Forsythe, Kruskal-Wallis. When choosing the appropriate test, the following factors were taken into account: the type of measurement scale, the dependence/independence of samples, and their number. The standard significance level was assumed to be α = 0.05. The consequences and repeatability of aviation events in the identified time intervals were analyzed. The research questions that were posed were the following: in which seasons of the year, months, days of the month, and days of the week did the most dangerous events deaths occur? How often did dangerous events take place? Was the distribution of events similar in the identified periods? The results of the conducted research allowed to identify five periods in which hazardous events took place and demonstrate that in particular periods the distribution of hazardous air events in subsequent seasons, months, and days of the week was not the same.

Suborbital rockets in safety & defense applications

This paper presents benefits from using suborbital rockets in safety & defense applications. The paper describes suborbital rockets and their contribution to modern science, research and technology development. A historical view of suborbital rockets and their applications in safety & defense roles is discussed. Chosen research & development activities, military exercises and air defense systems’ tests performed using suborbital rockets in various countries are listed and described based on a literature review of publicly available sources. The paper presents capabilities of Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation in the field of suborbital rockets. A development of ILR-33 AMBER 2K rocket reaching flight speeds over Mach 4 and optimized to reach 100 km altitude is described with comment regarding its applicability in safety & defense applications supported by flight simulations.

Cooperation Between Poland and the USA in the Protection of Classified Information

The military cooperation between Poland and the USA so far has undoubtedly influenced the shape of the external security. The tangible expression of this cooperation is, among others, the signing of an agreement between Poland and the USA for the purchase of the Patriot system in July 2017. As a result, Poland joined the elite group of countries possessing weapons capable of countering enemy ballistic and maneuvering missiles. It also adjusts the domestic armed forces to the NATO standards and the requirements of the modern battlefield. An additional aspect of the existing cooperation between Poland and the USA is the agreement on the protection of classified information in the military sphere. In this context, the aim of this article is to identify the scope of cooperation between Poland and the USA in the area of security measures, which should guarantee the protection of classified information considering the interests of both countries. During the considerations, two basic research methods were used: analysis and synthesis. The former method was used in relation to the content of the concluded contract and the opinions presented in the literature on the subject. The latter method was used to formulate conclusions resulting from the conducted analysis. The considerations undertaken proved that there is an area of mutual cooperation in the field of protection of classified information between Poland and the USA. They also made it possible to obtain an answer to the question of what security measures determine the effectiveness of the protection of classified information in the military sphere between the contracting states.

The Political and Military Aspects of Creating Anti-Access/Area-Denial Systems (A2/AD): The Example Of China and Russia

Over the last two decades, China and Russia have been developing Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) systems mainly based on long-range Air Defense, ballistic and cruise missiles, supported by Electronic Warfare and cyber-attack capabilities. Initially, these systems were used for defense purposes, but over time. it was recognized they could be also applied for imposing military situation in the specific regions and create effective response to NATO countries and their concept of conducting military operations. The main aim of the article is to asses and present the impact of Chinese and Russian Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) systems on changes in global political relations and balance of military power. In the course of this study, the author used numerous analyzes, synthesis, comparisons and case studies methods mainly concentrated on presently operating A2/AD systems. This article undertakes the analysis of the Chinese bases located in the South China Sea and Djibouti, Russian A2/AD systems within Russia's borders with particular emphasis on Kaliningrad Oblast, and A2/AD systems in Crimea and Syria created as part of Russian military operations. This research allowed us to conclude that some of the A2/AD systems serve to defend borders, while the rest are created to influence the geopolitical and military situation or to gain an advantage in the area of military operations. It can be also evaluate that the use of these systems allow dominate future conflicts because they enable to establish a full control zones which are completely closed for opponents forces operations.

Landmarks in Romanian History of Anti-Aircraft Artillery

The main purpose of this article is to present the decisive contribution that Brigadier General Ion Bungescu had to the development of anti-aircraft artillery in Romania. To achieve this objective we describe in the paper the evolution of the anti-aircraft gun director computer he invented, as well as its modus operandi. The adopted methods include quantitative and qualitative analyses of documents, manuals and albums published during the considered period, and some published by Brigadier General Ion Bungescu. The results of the article are presented in the context of the accelerated development of military aviation between the two world wars. This development put terrible pressure on the development of anti-aircraft artillery that started with land guns adapted for anti-aircraft firing in 1916 and reached anti-aircraft guns controlled by Gun Director Computer in 1945. We can compare the development of military aviation during that time with the development of information technology over the last 30 years, from connecting computers in the network to the use of artificial intelligence.

Flight screening of military pilots in Poland

This article diagnoses and evaluates the process of selecting and preparing candidates for military pilots in Poland. The presented changes in the screening training system are to help with understanding the principles of organizing an effective system of recruitment and selection of military pilots at present. It also indicates directions for improvement. The organization of initial flight screening contributes to improving the efficiency of flight training and can serve as a model for use by flight training systems in other countries. The purpose of the article is to diagnose and evaluate recruitment and selection of candidates for military pilots in Polish Armed Forces. The problem that the author addresses is expressed in the following question: in what directions should the current solutions in the selection and training of candidates for military pilots, be improved in order to reduce the attrition rate at subsequent stages of flight training in the future? The research has been conducted at the Military University of Aviation using case study methods. The theoretical research methods, such as analysis and synthesis of information contained in literature and source materials, conclusions and comparison were used to develop the article. In order to confirm the conclusions drawn with the use of theoretical methods, an empirical method was used, which consisted in examining the opinions with the use of expert interviews. Experts were selected from the group of commanders of training units and military pilots involved in selection training, who had an impact on the applicable aviation training and recruitment system in Polish Armed Forces. The results shows main directions of military pilots initial flight screening improvement.

The Multi-Criteria Method for the Evaluation of Combat Capabilities of Anti-aircraft Missile Systems Under the NAREW Programme

The selection of weapon systems involves a number of activities to choose the best system in relation to the predefined operational requirements and other vital criteria. In the case of surface to air missile systems competing for the NAREW program, attempts are being made to obtain an asset that will be capable of engaging a spectrum of air threats, under specified conditions, with a predefined high degree of probability. In order to make the right choice, it is necessary to analyze information on performance and combat capabilities. Thus, the aim of this article is to develop a preliminary method of evaluating the capabilities of surface to air missile systems offered under the NAREW program. The theoretical foundation of the empirical study was provided by the method of literature content analysis. Using the methods of comparison and generalization, the author obtained data on the combat capabilities of surface to air missile systems expressed through their tactical and technical parameters. Among the empirical methods, the author applied the algorithm of a multi-criteria analysis and an assessment of the capabilities of surface to air missile systems based on the use of matrix calculus. The diagnostic survey, conducted by means of the questionnaire technique, made it possible to prioritize the adopted evaluation criteria and, consequently, to conduct proper research. The formulation of the final conclusions and establishing the links between the theoretical and empirical part of the study was achieved by means of a synthesis. The results obtained in such a manner may constitute a valuable information database, showing the directions that should be considered when selecting a short-range surface to air missile (SAM) system for Poland. The evaluations and suggestions included in this study can be used for prospective solutions and research conducted in a similar area.

Global Challenges and Threats of Hypersonic Weapons – the Russian Context

This article presents the results of research that set out to identify and characterize the challenges and threats to international security posed by the use of hypersonic weapons. The research process mainly employed the critical assessment of the literature, systemic and comparative analyses and generalization. As a result of the research, it was established that hypersonic weapons are an indispensable tool in the conducting of international competition by the Russian Federation and can be treated on par with nuclear weapons. Due to its attributes, it meets the criteria of an offensive weapon and poses certain uncertainties and real threats to the international security environment mainly because, so far, the capabilities to intercept and destroy it in the active phase of flight to the target has not been acquired. The Russian Federation considers hypersonic weapons as an excellent tool for applying pressure and aggression, allowing it to conduct international competition in the gray zone and achieve foreign policy objectives without the need for direct military confrontation. Due to its ability to cause almost immediate operational and strategic effects, it accelerates the dynamics of conflict escalation and rapidly affects the transition from a state of stability to international instability. It cannot be ruled out that in the third decade of the 21st century hypersonic weapons may be the key element determining the Russian Federation's achievement of global dominance.

Modern Missile Defense System As An Indispensable National and NATO's Deterrence Tool

The main aim of this article is to prove the significance of the missile defense system for military deterrence at the allied (NATO) and national level (the US, Poland, etc.). To achieve the aim, theoretical research methods such as analysis, synthesis, comparison and generalization were applied. The results of the conducted research show that the missile defense system of Poland and other alliance members, and the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense System should be considered as the crucial elements of the military deterrence, even though such systems are not offensive in nature. Thus, the formulated thesis undermines the up-to-date understanding of the problem, and therefore may contribute to further discussion on the topic of using means of defensive deterrence.

The Tactical and Technical Functioning Conditions of the S-200C Vega Missile System on the Modern Battlefield

The Polish armed forces have used the S-200 Vega surface-to-air missile (SAM) system since the middle of the 1980s. In the early 21st century, it was upgraded to a digital version and adapted to the reality of air combat at the time. After almost twenty years of service since its upgrade, it remains the only long-range SAM in the armament of the Polish Air Force. Today, this SAM system is undergoing a major modification, again, to maintain its long-range anti-air attack potential and the required combat functionalities. The objective of this paper is to identify the technical and tactical functioning conditions of the S-200 family of SAM system on the modern battlefield. In order to achieve this goal, the authors used theoretical methods of research. As a result of the conducted analyzes, this paper presents the operational experience gained so far and a justification for the continued service of the Vega SAM system.