Challenges to national defence in contemporary geopolitical situation

The article analyzes new phenomena that in military tactics. The first part identifies new phenomena that have emerged in recent years. These phenomena are categorized according to their impact at the tactical level and their potential for utilization in the near future. The most important of these, with the greatest potential for future tactical use, are discussed in the second chapter. As a result, options for future utilization, protective measures, and possible procedural solutions are proposed, which could give us the advantage in battle. The article relates to the tactical level of command and control. The qualitative analytical methods for this character of an article are crucial. The methodical procedure starts with analysis of literature and comparative analysis and selection according to the most important phenomena, and what is the “theory of rational option," which is related to impact at the tactical level of command and control (C2), especially tactical tasks and missions. Some of the topics are discussed with experts from “Operation Community." The authors sort the phenomena using “warfighting function” and discuss them. All the findings can be in mutual relation, so the method of triangulation is also used.

The paper examines the role of Polish artillery in a multi-domain battlefield. It uses literature and doctrinal analysis to assess how integration across land, air, sea, space, cyber, and cognitive domains affects artillery effectiveness. Findings show that artillery is increasingly dependent on interoperability, information flow, and systemic resilience. The study highlights new threats and opportunities, including A2/AD development. It concludes that multi-domain integration, rather than firepower alone, determines future combat effectiveness.

The transition toward sustainable energy solutions has become a strategic priority for modern defence organizations. This study evaluates the impact of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and its blends on the performance and emissions of a compression ignition engine (OM 366 LA II), which represents the mid-range logistics vehicles deployed by the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Numerical simulations were performed using the Diesel-RK software and validated against engine manufacturer performance data, achieving a mean absolute torque difference of 0.64%. The results indicate that increasing the HVO fraction reduces brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.

This study examines the formation of the professional identity of future officers in the context of contemporary defense challenges, with a focus on pedagogical competence. A quantitative study was conducted using a questionnaire developed by the author. Cadets rated pedagogical competence as no less important than tactical and technical competence; however, they indicated that psychological competence is not sufficiently developed. The study’s findings contribute to research on officers' professional identity by emphasising the educational aspect of military professionalism. Pedagogical, leadership, and psychological competencies should be systematically integrated into officer training programs to strengthen professional identity. In this article, pedagogical competence is defined as an essential element of the professional identity of future officers, helping them respond to contemporary defense challenges.

In recent decades, the importance of supply chain management has increased due to the frequency and severity of disruptions. The issue of supply chain resilience is widely discussed in the scientific literature. It should be noted that most studies focus on the functioning of commercial supply chains. Given the lack of a systematic approach to the specific threats and measures to ensure the resilience of military supply chains within the context of the Lithuanian Armed Forces (LAF), the objective of this article is to present the main findings of the research conducted to identify threats that are crucial for the supply chains important to the LAF and to outline measures that are taken to cope with the identified external threats.

This article examines the key determinants influencing psychological well-being among students in both types of institutions by synthesizing findings from empirical research published in peer-reviewed academic journals. The comparative perspective adopted here aims to illuminate shared challenges as well as the psychosocial specificities of military higher education. Understanding these patterns is particularly relevant in contexts such as the Czech Republic, where military universities operate under the authority of the Ministry of Defence and follow unique structural, educational, and professional mandates. By integrating existing evidence, the article seeks to inform more effective, context-sensitive mental health strategies within both civilian and military academic settings.

This paper evaluates how the distance between air defence sensors and the command and control (C2) element influences fire-control effectiveness. Three deployment variants at 1, 7 and 20 km were assessed by means of operational analysis and the TOPSIS multi-criteria method using latency, connection reliability, situational awareness (SA), probability of kill (𝑃𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙), survivability and logistical complexity. The baseline model favours the short-distance configuration, but sensitivity analysis shows that greater emphasis on survivability shifts the optimum towards the medium-distance variant. A separation of approximately 5-10 km provides the most robust operational compromise for contemporary air defence employment.

The growing presence of asymmetric threats require effective C-UAS systems. This study addresses the challenge of integrating sensors (RF and EO/IR) onto multirotor platforms while maintaining flight endurance. Of the four scenarios developed, it analyzes Use-case B in detail, mathematically comparing six variants of hardware modifications to a heavy drone during reconnaissance of a 300×300 m area against both active and radio-silent targets. The results reveal the paradox of SWaP limits: fully equipped "All-in-One" platforms excel against active targets thanks to rapid guidance but face critical battery depletion during area-wide reconnaissance of autonomous threats. For future research, therefore, cooperation among multiple platforms, reduced energy consumption, and the integration of effectors are proposed.

Geographical distance between locations plays a crucial role in establishing healthcare accessibility in Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) models. In this article, we analyze three sets of distances: a straight-line distance and two network-based distances to determine how the distance calculation affects the models. We empirically examine the distances across several 2SFCA models and several input parameters. We find that the accessibilities derived from network-based distances correlate with each other, whereas the accessibility derived from straight-line distance does not correlate with them. The study is based on the data from the South Moravian region.

This paper presents an expanded discussion of the mathematical curriculum within the Cybersecurity specialization at the Faculty of Military Technology, University of Defence, with particular emphasis on discrete mathematics and number theory. Building on earlier work describing experiences in teaching Mathematics I–III and Graph Theory, we focus on selected number-theoretic topics and their concrete applications in cybersecurity- and cryptography-oriented courses. Through representative examples solved by students in discrete mathematics courses, we illustrate how concepts such as modular arithmetic, finite fields, and algebraic structures support the understanding of cryptographic algorithms and protocols. The paper further reflects on the role of mathematically grounded education in preparing future cybersecurity specialists for national defence tasks in the context of contemporary geopolitical challenges.