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☆ How the US Navy's Virginia-class attack submarine gives the US an edge in global undersea superiority
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Kris Osborn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Navy's Virginia-Class: The best submarine of all timeThe Virginia-class attack submarine USS Virginia returns to Naval Submarine Base New London after her maiden six-month deployment. Given these and other variables, Virginia-class submarines are becoming increasingly critical to clandestine "intel" missions in high-risk areas. Virginia-class vs. Kilo-class submarinesFuture Virginia-class attack submarine PCU Idaho during a christening ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard facility in Groton, Connecticut. Attack submarines as "intel spy" submarinesThe Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Indiana surfaces in the Beaufort Sea during Operation Ice Camp. This can increase the speed of maneuverability and an attack submarine's ability to quickly shift course, change speed, or alter depth positioning when faced with an attack.

Persons: —, Steven Myers, John Narewski Block, Foster, Alexander Yachanin Organizations: Service, Pentagon, US Navy, Business, Naval Submarine Base, intel, General Dynamics Electric, Intelligence, Camp, Stanford University, Nuclear, Electronics, Brandon Holland, United States Submarine Force, Special Operations Forces, Tomahawk, Forces Locations: Navy's Virginia, Virginia, London, South Dakota, Idaho, Groton , Connecticut, Indiana, Beaufort, Los Angeles, The Virginia, Mississippi, Yokosuka

☆ Ukraine's air-defense problems are letting Russia launch HIMARS-style deep strikes behind the front lines
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewUkraine's struggling air-defenses have opened doors for the Russians to launch their own strikes similar to Ukraine's HIMARS attacks. AdvertisementWith better targeting, Russia is executing strikes behind the lines with Iskander tactical ballistic missiles and rocket launchers like the Tornado-S system. "There have been other notable strikes of a kind that Russia has long aspired to but rarely successfully executed." Russia was originally unable to defeat or conduct the same kind of strikes as Ukraine's HIMARS due to a lack of precision, targeting capabilities, and timely intel. "The outlook in Ukraine is bleak," Watling wrote.

Persons: —, Jack Watling, Serhii Mykhalchuk, Watling Organizations: Service, Business, Royal United Services Institute, Russian, Artillery Rocket Systems, Getty, intel Locations: Russia, London, Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donbas

☆ Australia and US unveil undersea drones Ghost Shark and Manta Ray
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —Ghost Shark and Manta Ray protect the undersea realm. Ghost Shark and Manta Ray are the names of prototype uncrewed underwater vehicles – UUVs or drones – introduced recently by Australia and the United States respectively. But when Australia unveiled Ghost Shark last month, it called the prototypes “the most advanced undersea autonomous vehicles in the world.”The first Ghost Shark prototype, "Alpha," was co-developed by the Defence Science and Technology Group, Navy and Anduril Australia. Like the Orca, the Manta Ray hasn’t come together as quickly as Ghost Shark. Its program began in 2020 and DARPA didn’t give a goal for the Manta Ray – or some variant of it – to join the US fleet.

Persons: Ray, Manta Ray, Rodney Braithwaite, ” Shane Arnott, Anduril’s, ”, Tanya Monro, Emma Salisbury, “, ” Salisbury, Chris Brose, Northrop, Manta, Northrop Grumman, ” Kyle Woerner, Kyle Woerner, Manta Ray hasn’t, Manta Ray –, –, Salisbury, Sutton Organizations: South Korea CNN, Marvel, Defence Science, Technology Group, Navy, Anduril, Government Defence, Australian Defense Ministry, “, US Navy, Boeing, Pentagon, Advanced Research Products Agency, DARPA, Research Projects Agency, Northrop Grumman, Manta, Defense, Research, Agency, US, U.S . Navy Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Australia, United States, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Kyiv, Swiss, Anduril Australia, Geostrategy, Southern California, Maryland, California, China, UUVs, Beijing, Canada, France, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Norway, Russia, United Kingdom, Sutton

☆ US Marines Special Ops test rifle-wielding, AI-powered robot dogs, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Marines are testing rifle-equipped robot dogs, The War Zone reported. Onyx Industries supplied the rifle system. AdvertisementThe US Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) is testing rifle-equipped "robot dogs," according to a report in The War Zone. "MARSOC is aware of and follows all DoD policy on autonomous weapons, and comments by Onyx Industries may be more indicative of their current or future offerings." Business Insider has reached out to Onyx Industries and MARSOC for comment.

Persons: —, MARSOC, Eric Shell, Nvidia Xavier Organizations: US Marines, Ghost Robotics, Onyx Industries, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Service, US Marine Forces Special Operations Command, The Department of Defense, Robotics, Nvidia, US Department of Homeland Security Science, Technology Directorate Locations: Philadelphia

☆ Congressmen demand answers after CNN report contradicts Pentagon investigations into deadly Kabul airport attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The reporting included a video obtained by CNN captured by a Marine’s GoPro camera that had not been seen publicly in full before. Much of the controversy about the Pentagon’s two investigations into the attack has focused on gunfire in the aftermath of the blast. “Lastly, why do journalists have this video footage and the Department does not? The recent discovery of new video released by CNN directly contradicts and exposes outright lies from our recent briefing last month from CENTCOM officials,” the Gold Star families said in a statement they sent to CNN. Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images/FileThe evidence also suggests the Pentagon may have more video footage than it has acknowledged in public.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin “, –, ”, Mike Waltz, Darrell Issa, Tim Burchett, Brian Mast, Rich McCormick, Keith Self, Cory Mills, Chris Smith –, Sayed Ahmadi, Ahmadi, “, ” James Adams, Hamid, Jared Schmitz, Humberto Sanchez, Taylor Hoover, Nicole Gee, Kareem Nikoui, Hunter Lopez, Rylee McCollum –, Biden, Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM, I’m, Haroon Sabawoon, Rob Lodewick, ” Lodewick Organizations: CNN —, Defense, CNN, Pentagon, House Foreign Affairs, Command, Marines, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Department, Gold Star, Department of Defense, Biden Administration, “, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Army, DoD, Service Locations: Kabul, Afghanistan, US

☆ Armies need their own drone air force flown by specialist soldiers, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The air war in Ukraine has become a cat-and-mouse game where drones must constantly evolve. AdvertisementRUSI envisions each drone battalion being equipped with everything needed to conduct a variety of UAV operations. This would include "situational awareness UAVs optimized for tactical reconnaissance; tactical strike UAVs; ISR [reconnaissance] UAVs able to penetrate into operational depth; operational strike UAVs; and platform-launched effects designed specifically to synchronize with and enable other weapons systems." To support friendly ground troops in contact with the enemy, flocks of expendable reconnaissance drones would operate up to 5 miles beyond the enemy front line. AdvertisementA Ukrainian serviceman launches a drone during a press tour in the Zhytomyr Region, northern Ukraine on September 20, 2023.

Persons: —, Jack Watling, Justin Bronk, Kirill Chubotin, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Royal United Services Institute, Ukrainian, Staff, Publishing, Getty, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, British, Zhytomyr Region, Forbes

☆ US sends land-attack missile system to Philippines for exercises in apparent message to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The presence of the US Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) ground-based missile system, increases the risks of “misjudgment and miscalculation” in a region already on edge over Chinese-Philippines face-offs in the South China Sea, Beijing says. It’s the first-ever deployment of the MRC missile system, also known as the Typhon system, to the Indo-Pacific theater, and it comes amid a series of US-Philippine military exercises, including the largest-ever edition of the bilateral Balikatan exercises beginning Monday. It also can fire the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, a maneuverable cruise missile with a range of 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), according to the CSIS. Those are the same rules Washington and Manila accuse Beijing of ignoring with aggressive Chinese actions that have injured Filipino sailors and damaged vessels around disputed features in the South China Sea. US Army PacificChina’s missile advantageAnalysts say the deployment of the Typhon missile battery is the first signal of US plans to address what has long been an advantage for Beijing in the region.

Persons: Lin Jian, ” Lin, Stephen Koehler, “, equalizes, ”, Collin Koh, Christopher Milhal, Koh, Rupert Schulenberg, Donald Trump “, Thomas, CNN’s Steven Jiang Organizations: South Korea CNN, US, MRC, US Army, Missile Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Foreign, US Pacific Fleet, Sunday, Xinhua, CNN, US Air Force, US Army Pacific, Beijing, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, ”, don’t, International Institute for Strategic Studies, South, Lewis, McChord, Nuclear Forces Treaty, Russian, Philippine News Agency, CNN Philippine Locations: Seoul, South Korea, China, United States, Philippines, South China Sea, Beijing, Philippine, South China, Taiwan Strait, Qingdao, Washington, Manila, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Taiwan, Guam, Singapore, South, Soviet Union, Palawan, Sulu, Spratly

☆ NATO navies can exploit a Russian fear and keep Putin from invading more neighbors
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Today, NATO's naval power is far superior to Russia's. NATO may dominate the oceans, but that may not be much help if Russian tanks invade the Baltic States or Poland. Or more specifically, use naval power to scare Moscow into allocating its scarce resources to defending its huge coastlines rather than invading neighbors. "Rather than naval combat per se, the purpose of Russian sea power is to ensure that the Russian state can compete and engage in conflict safely and effectively," the essay said. In 2024, the fear is that NATO ships could launch long-range guided missiles at the Russian heartland.

Persons: Napoleon, Hitler fumed, Russia —, Kaushal, Rene Balletta, Alfred Thayer Mahan, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Channel, Royal Navy, NATO, Alliance, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Russian Navy, Black, Century, Russia, Russian Army and Aerospace Forces, West, Baltic, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: British, Russia, Baltic States, Poland, Moscow, Britain, Europe, Asia, Russian, Crimean, Sevastopol, Ukraine, Russia's, Finland, Norway, Forbes

☆ Chinese media claims it doesn't fear Taiwan's new weapons that can strike deep into China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewTaiwan's new long-range cruise missiles are slow and easy to shoot down, Chinese media reports — claims whose truth depends on many unknowns. In the game, Taiwan used its missiles against the Chinese invasion fleet in the Straits of Taiwan, rather than striking ports. Could Taiwan's long-range cruise missiles penetrate Chinese defenses? As the Ukraine war has shown, subsonic cruise missiles can be intercepted by anti-aircraft missiles such as the U.S. Patriot and Russia's S-300. AdvertisementEither way, the technical capabilities of Taiwan's cruise missiles may not be the biggest issue.

Persons: —, Feng, Tien, Yun Feng, Mark Cancian, Cancian, Russia's, Masao Dahlgren, Dahlgren Organizations: Service, Business, Ordnance Industry Science Technology, China Morning, Missile, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Abrams, Missiles, US, CSIS, U.S . Patriot Locations: Beijing, U.S, China, Taiwan, Washington ,, Straits, Ukraine

☆ China's air force is far from ready for a crucial mission it needs to seize Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A key component will be close air support , or CAS, which the US Air Force defines as "air action by aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces." But air support became more responsive "as the ground forces became more motorized and mechanized, and PLAAF capabilities improved." But the biggest limitation for Chinese close air support remains command and control. AdvertisementWhile China is beginning to make strides here, the PLA's approach to close air support has key differences with America's. Chinese CAS also "appears to have a simpler and streamlined command and coordination system compared to U.S. close air support," wrote McCauley.

Persons: Kevin McCauley, McCauley, Ethan R, Jones, Brendan Mulvaney, Mulvaney Organizations: Service, Business, US Air Force, Air, Marine Corps, People's Liberation Army, People's Liberation Army Air Force, US, Foreign Military Studies, CAFS, US Army, US 9th Air Force, CAS, US Marine Corps, PLA, US Air, China Aerospace Studies Institute Locations: China, Taiwan, Ukraine, Russian, Soviet, Normandy, Britain, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq

☆ Russia's huge Air Force is still mostly intact, but it hasn't been building the jets it needs to win on the ground in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After nearly two years of combat in Ukraine, Russia's air force is still largely intact. If Russia's air force can't perform that mission, Russian ground forces will continue to struggle. AdvertisementDespite its losses in the Ukraine, Russia's air force is still quite robust. What Russia doesn't have is the support aircraft needed to find and attack enemies on the ground. AdvertisementAs long as Ukraine's air defenses aren't suppressed, the Russian Air Force can't provide meaningful support to ground troops.

Persons: —, Cmdr, Matthew Galamison, Michael Petersen, Galamison, Petersen, Sukhoi Su, Mihail Tokmakov, Sefa, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, AP, NATO, US, US Naval War College, US Air Force's Air, Space Operations, Getty, Russian Air Force, EA, Kyiv, Russia's, Russian Army, REUTERS, British Defence Ministry, Anadolu Agency, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Kyiv City, Chernihiv, Forbes

☆ Big Oil has a place in ESG funds, says Deutsche Bank CIO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Fossil fuel stocks have boomed (.dMIWO0OG00PUS) since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sent fossil fuel prices soaring, leaving the performance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds lagging. Pure-play renewable energy stocks such as Orsted (ORSTED.CO) and First Solar (FSLR.O) have also fallen sharply this year as higher interest rates and inflationary pressures squeeze profitability. European oil and gas companies including BP (BP.L) and Shell (SHEL.L) have increased renewable energy investment, although they are expanding production of dirtier energy too. Sustainability-minded investors, Müller said, needed more disclosures from firms about their plans for shifting to lower-carbon models, and regulatory clarity on labelling transition-focused funds. Morningstar estimates that 45% of funds have exposure to traditional energy, totalling 7 billion euros ($7.6 billion).

Persons: Markus Müller, Müller, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Susan Fenton Organizations: Deutsche Bank's Private Bank, Reuters, BP, Shell, ISR, Morningstar, Investors, Deutsche, Investment Office, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, France, Europe

☆ Exploding drones are proving a weapon unlike any other in Ukraine, and no one is safe, combat videos show
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

These weapons are unlike any other threat in Ukraine and are reshaping combat. AdvertisementMore and more, it isn't just tanks and armored vehicles falling prey to cheap hobby drones packed with explosives in Ukraine. "Earlier, FPV strikes took place only after it was scouted by an ISR drone," he said, referring to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. "Now, FPV drones take off and look for the target while in flight," and when they find one, "they just strike it." A serviceman of Separate 14th Regiment of Armed Forces of Ukraine, holds FPV strike drone on the front line on October 26, 2023 in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine.

Persons: —, Samuel Bendett, Bendett, Vitalii Nosach Organizations: Service, Regiment, Armed Forces of Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukrainian

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The United States will provide $425 million worth of additional arms and equipment to Ukraine for its ongoing fight against Russia's invasion, the Biden administration announced on Friday. The package uses the last of the funds in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a more than $18 billion fund that allowed the Biden administration to buy weapons from industry, rather than pull from U.S. weapons stocks. Biden, a Democrat, is calling on U.S. lawmakers to approve more aid for Kyiv. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022 the U.S. has sent about $44 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine. Reporting by Mike Stone and Susan Heavey; editing by David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Joe Biden, congressionally, Mike Stone, Susan Heavey, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis, Leslie Adler Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, L3Harris Technologies, U.S, Reuters, Authority, Pentagon, Air Missile Systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Biden, Democrat, Kyiv, Republican, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Tel Aviv, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Kyiv, Russian

☆ Investing in Space: How the Pentagon sizes up China’s military strength in space
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. Coming in at a whopping 212 pages, the document represents the latest in-depth, albeit unclassified, view of China's military ambitions. The Pentagon highlighted that the space capabilities of the Chinese military, or PLA, are continuing to "mature rapidly" thanks to "significant economic and political resources to growing all aspects of its space program." China's PLA has a "Strategic Support Force," or SSF, under which is the "Space Systems Department", or SSD, that leads its military space operations. The Pentagon emphasized that most of those Chinese satellites can "support monitoring, tracking, and targeting of U.S. and allied forces worldwide, especially throughout the Indo-Pacific region."

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, landers, it's, Richard DalBello, China isn't Organizations: Taiyuan Satellite, CNBC's, Pentagon, PLA, Force, Systems Department, U.S, China, GPS, NASA Locations: Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, United States, Xi's, China, Namibia, Pakistan, Argentina, Kenya, U.S, Baku

☆ Cheap drones and expensive missiles mean there's no more 'safe rear areas' in wartime, top NATO general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia and Ukraine have made prolific use of cheap drones and pricier cruise and ballistic missiles. One such insight has been how the proliferation of drones and long-range missiles is changing the battlefield. AP Photo/Roman Hrytsyna, FileUkraine and Russia are both using drones in a variety of roles, including surveillance and strikes. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia has also leaned heavily on long-range missiles and drones to target Ukrainian logistical nodes, command-and-control hubs, and civilian infrastructure, often far from the frontlines. For its part, Ukraine is using Western-made long-range missiles to hit Russian military targets and using drones, some of them possibly deployed on Russian territory, to hit targets deep inside Russia.

Persons: —, Johnny Stringer, you've, Stringer, Phil Speck, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: NATO, Service, AP, Royal United Services Institute's, Air, Allied Air Command, US Air National Guard, US Air Force, Combat, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School, International Studies, Boston College Law School Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Kyiv, Russian, Wyoming

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said Thursday that it has not restarted counterterrorism operations in Niger, a day after the head of U.S. airpower for Europe and Africa said those flights had resumed. Gen. James Hecker, responding to a question from The Associated Press at a security conference Wednesday, said the U.S. military has been able to resume some manned aircraft and drone counterterrorism operations in Niger. In the weeks since, the approximately 1,100 U.S. forces deployed there have been confined inside their military bases. And we’re able to do some of our surveillance operations primarily for force protection in the area. The bases are a critical part of America’s overall counterterrorism efforts in West Africa.

Persons: James Hecker, Sabrina Singh, “, ”, Robert Firman, Hecker, ” Hecker Organizations: WASHINGTON, Pentagon, Associated Press, U.S ., Nigerien, Department, Atlantic Council, State Department Locations: Niger, Europe, Africa, U.S, Niamey, Niger’s, West Africa

☆ Buy this defense technology stock as acquisitions add long-term value, Citi says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Citi says L3Harris Technologies ' short-term growth headwinds are outweighed by expanding defense budgets. The bank resumed coverage of the defense technology stock on Monday with a buy rating and a $193 per share price target. L3Harris stock has slumped nearly 19% since the start of the year, after falling in three of the five years from 2018 through 2022. LHX YTD mountain L3Harris Technologies stock. "Execution is key at this point given elevated leverage after a recent string of acquisitions," Gursky said.

Persons: Jason Gursky, Rocketdyne, Gursky, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Citi, L3Harris Technologies, U.S Locations: Ukraine

Ultimately, as many as half of the 1,100 troops stationed in Niger could be pulled from the country, two officials said. A final decision to withdraw troops from Niger has not yet been made, the officials said, and the number of troops that could leave has not been determined. But a transfer of troops from one base to another could compel the military to pull some troops from Niger. The removal of some troops from Niger could start in the coming weeks, one official said, and the pace at which it happens depends on conditions on the ground. In addition, some troops from Air Base 101 near the capital of Niamey would relocate to Air Base 201 in Agadez.

Persons: Biden, Sabrina Singh Organizations: CNN, US, Pentagon, Air Base, Politico, Defense Department, Nigerien Locations: Niger, Niamey, Agadez, Mali, Burkina Faso

☆ Russia is massively expanding its arsenal of drones, and Moscow's unmanned attacks on Ukraine are likely to only get bigger
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Experts say Moscow could use its expanded arsenal for bigger drone attacks against Ukraine in the coming months. The Russian drones seen in Ukraine have come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and with varying missions. We can see greater pressure on Ukrainian air defenses and electronic warfare defenses." Larger drone attacks could also be explained by a shift in how Russia carries out its high-volume strikes. And that could, in turn, up the pressure on Ukraine's air defenses.

Persons: Shaheds, George Barros, —, Vladimir Putin's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Samuel Bendett, Oleksii, Bendett, Barros, It's, ISW Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Institute for, National Police, REUTERS, Research, Russian Federation, Center for Naval, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Getty, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense Drones, Russia Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Washington, Iran, Russian, Kyiv region, Kyiv, Iranian, Zaporizhzhia

☆ Another one of America's adversaries just unveiled a new drone that closely resembles the US military's combat-proven MQ-9 Reaper
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Another US foe just revealed a drone that looks very similar to the American MQ-9 Reaper. One of the missiles is named after Qasem Soleimani, the former chief of the IRGC's elite Quds Force who was killed in a 2020 US military Reaper drone strike. AdvertisementAdvertisementWell-armed and tested in combat, the powerful Reaper drone has operational experience around the world. An MQ-9 Reaper drone on San Clemente Island in California on June 23. Iran and North Korea have cooperated in the past on various military issues, including the development of long-range missiles.

Persons: Israel —, —, IRNA, Ebrahim Raisi, Qasem Soleimani, Joseph Pagan Iran's, Kim Jong Un, Vann Van Diepen, Vladimir Putin's Organizations: American, Service, Islamic Republic News Agency, country's, Industry, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Quds Force, — IRNA News Agency, Islamic, Kremlin, US, US Air National Guard, Staff, North, North Korean, Korean Central News Agency, Korea News Service, US State Department, Stimson Locations: Iran, Korean, Wall, Silicon, Tehran, Russia, Ukraine, American, Russian, Islamic State, Clemente Island, California, North Korea, Pyongyang, Korea, Moscow

☆ Kim Jong Un just showed off two new North Korean aircraft that look shockingly similar to US military drones
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

North Korea unveiled two new aircraft this week that very closely resemble US military drones. Thousands of people can be seen standing along the sidelines and waving North Korean flags. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang, North Korea, on July 27, 2023. This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile during a military parade on Thursday. North Korea has not conducted a nuclear test since 2017 but remains determined to stand among the world's nuclear powers, despite widespread international pressure and concern.

Persons: Kim Jong, Sergei Shoigu, Kim Il, Phil Speck, it's, Hawk, Bobbi Zapka, Kim Jong Un, Shoigu, Kim, Vladimir Putin Organizations: American, Kim Jong Un, Service, North, North Korean, Korean Central News Agency, Korea News Service, AP, US Air National Guard, ISIS, Russian Defense, Getty, Air Force, U.S . Air Force, REUTERS, Korean, Russian, AP Pyongyang, DPRK, White, Democratic People's, UN Locations: Korea, China, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Pyongyang, North Korea, Wyoming, Handou, Korean, South Korea, Ohio, Kentucky, American, Ukraine, North, United States, Democratic People's Republic of Korea

☆ U.S. to announce $1.3 bln in military aid for Ukraine -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - The United States will announce a new pledge to buy $1.3 billion worth of military aid for Kyiv in its conflict with Russia in the coming days, two U.S. officials said. The previously unreported weapons package includes air defenses, counter-drone systems, exploding drones and ammunition, one of the U.S. officials said. The United States is using funds in its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program, which allow President Joe Biden's administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull from U.S. weapons stocks. The Pentagon has provided more than $10.8 billion in security assistance for Ukraine under the USAI in fiscal 2023, in seven separate tranches. Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington Editing by Don Durfee and Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden's, AVEVEX, Australia's DroneShield, Washington, Mike Stone, Don Durfee, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Kyiv, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, L3Harris Technologies, AeroVironment Inc, U.S . Department, Ukraine Defense Contact, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: United, Russia, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Kyiv, California, Washington

☆ Top US general predicts troops will have to always be on the move and be 'nearly invisible' to survive on future battlefields
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Gen. Mark Milley painted a terrifying picture of what future battlefields will look like in a new podcast interview. Soldiers will have to be almost invisible to survive on battlefields that are far more lethal, he warned. Breakthroughs in this space include the development of long-range precision munitions, the emergence of hypersonic weapons, an increased ability to sense and track environments, and integration of unmanned robotic systems. "What are some of the attributes of a future force? But speed, size, and being nearly invisible will be fundamental to survival on a future battlefield."

☆ US government tracking more than 650 potential UFO cases, Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US government is tracking more than 650 potential cases of so-called “unidentified aerial phenomenon,” commonly known as UFOs, according to the director of the office created last year to focus on the sightings. He played video from two of cases that had been declassified, one that had been resolved and the other unresolved. Kirkpatrick explained that this case was unresolved because there was no other evidence beyond the video. He said that in a small number of cases, he has concerns the episodes could be evidence of potential technological advancements. Those cases, he said, are handed off to the intelligence community to investigate further.

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