Mike Casey

PLA Parade Preview: What to Watch For Analyzing the new capabilities and strategic signals of the PLA's 2025 parade.

China's 3 Sept PLA parade preview is up on Orders & Observations. I break down what rehearsals already revealed and what to watch next. Thanks to the OSINT community for the images and tips. Read: ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/pla-parade...

Paid Drop 4: ISR Fundamentals and an ISR Sensor Cheat Sheet Welcome to the next paid-subscriber release for Orders and Observations. This post includes two products:

New paid Substack drop: ISR fundamentals + an ISR Sensor Phenomenology cheat sheet. The deck covers doctrine, intel process, TPED/PCPAD, & targeting, & compares U.S./PLA/Russia. Next up: Computers. Ideas welcome. ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/paid-drop-...

China's Nuclear Early-Warning Architecture Satellites, radars, and command networks behind early-warning counterstrike.

China is building a launch on warning nuclear early-warning enterprise. My new piece maps Huoyan/TJS GEO coverage and LPARs, explains Base 26 TT&C and Base 37 fusion, and traces warning flows over ISF networks. It also assesses escalation risks. ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/chinas-nuc...

China's Nuclear Early-Warning Architecture Satellites, radars, and command networks behind early-warning counterstrike.

China is building a launch on warning nuclear early-warning enterprise. My new piece maps Huoyan/TJS GEO coverage and LPARs, explains Base 26 TT&C and Base 37 fusion, and traces warning flows over ISF networks. It also assesses escalation risks. ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/chinas-nuc...

China's Evolving Nuclear Command and Control for Launch-on-Warning A Look at the New C2 Architecture and Doctrine Behind China's Move to "Early Warning Counterstrike."

China is tightening nuclear command under Xi and moving toward launch-on-warning. My new article explains the changes and their strategic implications. Read it here: ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/chinas-evo...

China's Evolving Nuclear Command and Control for Launch-on-Warning A Look at the New C2 Architecture and Doctrine Behind China's Move to "Early Warning Counterstrike."

China is tightening nuclear command under Xi and moving toward launch-on-warning. My new article explains the changes and their strategic implications. Read it here: ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/chinas-evo...

The PLA's High-Frequency Direction Finding Network A Key Enabler for China's Long-Range Surveillance and Targeting Capabilities

New article up! China’s HF/DF network: physics, footprint (Spratlys, Hainan, mainland, Cuba), C2 after SSF, and how HF/DF cues a CSG kill chain. I close with limits and counters for the U.S. and allies. Read: ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/the-plas-h...

The PLA's High-Frequency Direction Finding Network A Key Enabler for China's Long-Range Surveillance and Targeting Capabilities

New article up! China’s HF/DF network: physics, footprint (Spratlys, Hainan, mainland, Cuba), C2 after SSF, and how HF/DF cues a CSG kill chain. I close with limits and counters for the U.S. and allies. Read: ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/the-plas-h...

Paid Drop 2: C2 fundamentals and a China ISR satellites cheat sheet (v1.0) C4ISR Brown Bag Session 2 on command and control, plus a living PLA ISR satellite catalog for paid subscribers.

Paid Drop 2 is up on my Substack: Session 2 of my C4ISR primer on command and control + a working China ISR satellites cheat sheet (v1.0). Screenshots in the post, full PDFs for download. Feedback and corrections welcome. #China #C4ISR

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/paid-drop-...

The Military Implications of China's Guowang Megaconstellation Architecture, Ambition, and the PLA's Future in Low-Earth Orbit

Guowang is taking shape as a PLA C4ISR backbone: Q/V-band links, laser ISLs, split ISF–ASF control, a mapped TT&C/C2 architecture, an ASBM kill-chain vignette, ITU deadline math, and a Starlink/OneWeb/PWSA comparison—full piece here: ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/the-milita...

The Military Implications of China's Guowang Megaconstellation Architecture, Ambition, and the PLA's Future in Low-Earth Orbit

Guowang is taking shape as a PLA C4ISR backbone: Q/V-band links, laser ISLs, split ISF–ASF control, a mapped TT&C/C2 architecture, an ASBM kill-chain vignette, ITU deadline math, and a Starlink/OneWeb/PWSA comparison—full piece here: ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/the-milita...

Passive Detection and China's Counter-Stealth Radar Capabilities How Beijing is Leveraging Passive Radar to Challenge America's Stealth Advantage

My latest article is up! I examine China’s development of passive radar, a key counter-stealth technology designed to neutralize the foundational advantage of U.S. airpower. ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/passive-de...

Passive Detection and China's Counter-Stealth Radar Capabilities How Beijing is Leveraging Passive Radar to Challenge America's Stealth Advantage

My latest article is up! I examine China’s development of passive radar, a key counter-stealth technology designed to neutralize the foundational advantage of U.S. airpower. ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/passive-de...

China's Military Satellite Communications PLA SATCOM Infrastructure, C2, and Operational Employment

My new article is up: China’s military SATCOM—from Shentong and Fenghuo to the 13,000-satellite Guowang—now links Beijing to forces worldwide. I chart the satellites, ground stations, and vulnerabilities. Read on Orders and Observations.

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/chinas-mil...

China's Military Satellite Communications PLA SATCOM Infrastructure, C2, and Operational Employment

My new article is up: China’s military SATCOM—from Shentong and Fenghuo to the 13,000-satellite Guowang—now links Beijing to forces worldwide. I chart the satellites, ground stations, and vulnerabilities. Read on Orders and Observations.

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/chinas-mil...

An Operational Assessment of PLA Autonomous Airpower Deconstructing the Doctrine, CONOPS, and Core Challenges of China's Manned-Unmanned Force

How does the PLA plan to employ drone swarms & loyal wingman aircraft in future conflict?

Part 2 of my series on PLA autonomous airpower analyzes its plans to counter the U.S. in a Taiwan contingency.

#PLA #China #drones #military #IndoPacific

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/an-operati...

An Operational Assessment of PLA Autonomous Airpower Deconstructing the Doctrine, CONOPS, and Core Challenges of China's Manned-Unmanned Force

How does the PLA plan to employ drone swarms & loyal wingman aircraft in future conflict?

Part 2 of my series on PLA autonomous airpower analyzes its plans to counter the U.S. in a Taiwan contingency.

#PLA #China #drones #military #IndoPacific

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/an-operati...

The C4ISR Architecture Behind China's Autonomous Airpower The Datalinks, Hardware, and Algorithms Enabling the PLA's Autonomous Kill Web and How They Compare to U.S. Efforts.

NEW on Orders and Observations: How do Chinese drone swarms actually work?
My new article is a technical deep dive into the C4ISR architecture behind PLA autonomous airpower.
Part 1 of 2.

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/the-c4isr-...

#C4ISR #drones #China #PLA #militarytech

The C4ISR Architecture Behind China's Autonomous Airpower The Datalinks, Hardware, and Algorithms Enabling the PLA's Autonomous Kill Web and How They Compare to U.S. Efforts.

NEW on Orders and Observations: How do Chinese drone swarms actually work?
My new article is a technical deep dive into the C4ISR architecture behind PLA autonomous airpower.
Part 1 of 2.

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/the-c4isr-...

#C4ISR #drones #China #PLA #militarytech

Golden Dome’s Digital Brain Inside the command and data fusion systems connecting sensors to shooters for hypersonic defense.

How do you build the digital ‘brain’ to defeat a hypersonic missile?

My new Substack post looks at the command and control (C2) and data fusion architecture behind the “Golden Dome”initiative, examining both the key systems and challenges.

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/golden-dom...

(1/5) How does China locate U.S. aircraft carriers?
I just wrapped a 4-part deep dive into the PLA's space-based maritime kill chain—exploring how China is building a system to find & track U.S. ships from orbit.
Find the full series below:
#C4ISR #PLA #Space

The ISR Sensors Behind Golden Dome The U.S. is fielding an ambitious sensor network to counter hypersonic weapons. I look at the technology behind it, as well as the challenges of physics, data, and strategy that stand in the way.

My latest analysis is out!
I take a deep dive into the “Golden Dome” initiative and the complex sensor architecture designed to track the next generation of hypersonic threats.

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/the-isr-se...
#C4ISR #MissileDefense #Hypersonics #MilitaryTech

The ISR Sensors Behind Golden Dome The U.S. is fielding an ambitious sensor network to counter hypersonic weapons. I look at the technology behind it, as well as the challenges of physics, data, and strategy that stand in the way.

My latest analysis is out!
I take a deep dive into the “Golden Dome” initiative and the complex sensor architecture designed to track the next generation of hypersonic threats.

ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/the-isr-se...
#C4ISR #MissileDefense #Hypersonics #MilitaryTech

(2/2) But tactical C2 collapsed at Omaha: V Corps lost most radios, coordination degraded to immediate vicinity. Success came through mission command principles: junior leaders executed intent when formal communications failed. Resilience through decentralized execution, not technology.

(1/2) Some thoughts on C2 with D-Day 81 years ago today. Eisenhower's SHAEF demonstrated sophisticated command architecture: Montgomery dual-hatted as 21st Army Group & Allied land forces cmdr, controlling Bradley's 1st Army during Neptune phase. Clean delineation of strategic vs tactical authority.

China's Autonomous "Tip-and-Cue" Satellites How China's multi-INT satellite networks pursue automated, high-speed targeting.

(5/5) Part 4: Multi-Phenomenology Satellite Formations.
Putting it all together: How the PLA networks different satellites to autonomously "tip-and-cue" each other, creating a resilient tracking system.
ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/chinas-aut...

PLA Space-Based Automatic Target Recognition How China is leveraging artificial intelligence to automate satellite surveillance and sharpen its military targeting.

(4/5) Part 3: Automatic Target Recognition.
The data is overwhelming. This is how the PLA uses AI & Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) to process imagery at machine speed and find the high-value targets.
ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/pla-space-...

The PLA's Imagery Satellites How the PLA's advanced remote sensing capabilities are supporting its long-range strike ambitions.

(3/5) Part 2: Imagery satellites.
Once a fleet is detected, they need a picture. A look at the vast constellations of imagery satellites (both optical and radar) the PLA uses to get a positive ID.
ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/the-plas-i...

How the PLA Finds U.S. Ships at Sea The SIGINT satellites and techniques the PLA uses to geolocate U.S. forces.

(2/5) Part 1: SIGINT/ELINT satellites.
It starts with the signals. How China uses its SIGINT satellites as its primary, over-the-horizon tool to detect U.S. naval forces.
ordersandobservations.substack.com/p/how-the-pl...

(1/5) How does China locate U.S. aircraft carriers?
I just wrapped a 4-part deep dive into the PLA's space-based maritime kill chain—exploring how China is building a system to find & track U.S. ships from orbit.
Find the full series below:
#C4ISR #PLA #Space