About Jim Dorschner

Jim Dorschner is a Special Correspondent for IHS Jane’s and the Shephard Media Group. He is a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel with 24 years of service roughly divided between aerial ISR operations and, from 1991, service as an intelligence officer with Army Special Forces and a Joint Special Operations Command component.


Recent Posts By the Author


Opinion: A Mistral For Canada

Opinion: A Mistral For Canada

Russian Mistral Vladivostok under construction on April 22, 2014. U.S. Naval Institute Combat Fleets of the World Photo

Russian Mistral Vladivostok under construction on April 22, 2014. U.S. Naval Institute Combat Fleets of the World Photo

The September decision by France to withhold delivery of two Mistral-class Landing Platforms Helicopter (LPH) building for Russia is an opportunity for NATO, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and for the French shipbuilding industry and economy. France should not suffer economically for taking a stand against Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine. Rather, NATO, France and Canada can benefit if a little mutually beneficial creativity is applied.

While France desperately wants to complete the two amphibious warships — and get paid for them — NATO and Canada need the capabilities these ships can provide. Read More