More from Brett Baker
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Understanding the complex US-China relationship
The United States and China share a relationship that can be described as “complicated.” Their economies are deeply intertwined and interdependent. According to a Government Accountability Office report, nearly a third of foreign students and scholars in the U.S. are from China, with some involved in developing defense-related technologies. At first glance, the two countries… -
Addressing the China Problem: Weapons and Warfare
This week on Weapons and Warfare, the team is taking a look at the China problem. Host Ryan Robertson breaks down some key thoughts from three of America’s most informed voices, discussing the challenges China poses to the U.S. military. The experts address strategic, technological, and operational issues, highlighting the implications for national security and… -
Is BlueHalo’s VigilantHalo a C2 game changer?: Weapon of the week
“Command and control” is a buzz term frequently heard at military conferences. For troops in the field, having a centralized piece of equipment that can perform a multitude of tasks is crucial. Enter BlueHalo’s latest innovation, VigilantHalo. The first thing one would notice about VigilantHalo is its impressive appearance. However, beyond its sleek design lies… -
US could eliminate Russia and China’s nuclear capabilities in 2 hours: Study
The United States and its allies possess enough conventional weapons and delivery systems to neutralize all of Russia and China’s nuclear launch sites within approximately two hours, according to a study by two British researchers. The study, titled “Masters of the Air: Strategic Stability and Conventional Strikes,” made the claim that sparked debate. Matt Shoemaker… -
Barracuda missiles present themselves as the solution to cost, difficult production
New concepts of warfighting lead to new solutions, and there are a lot of firsts being shown off lately. These solutions could include the Barracuda missile. For the first time, both a commercial and the weapon itself are being featured. Anduril Industries has introduced the Barracuda-M family of cruise missiles through an anime-style video. As… -
Can the US take out nuclear weapons in Russia, China?: Weapons and Warfare
This week on Weapons and Warfare, the team reviewed a controversial new paper that makes some extraordinary claims about the U.S. and its ability to deal with its near-peer adversaries. Host Ryan Robertson visited with one of the paper’s authors, as well as a former U.S. military intelligence officer, for his take on the paper’s… -
Air Force leaders give update on service-wide changes addressing new threats
Six months ago, on a stage in Aurora, Colorado, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin announced a series of service-wide changes to address evolving threats and the changing nature of warfare. Recently, the two returned to deliver a progress report to the troops. Kendall opened… -
The Air, Space and Cyber Conference 2024: Weapons and Warfare
This week on Weapons and Warfare, the team is on location at the AFA’s Air, Space, and Cyber 2024 Conference. Hear from Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, as they provide a progress report on the United States Air Force’s effort to restructure in the face of… -
The race for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft: Weapon of the week
More than two years ago, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall announced plans for the Air Force to build a fleet of autonomous drones to fly into combat alongside crewed platforms. Called the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), five companies were initially selected for the contract competition: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics and… -
Going hypersonic with the Mako missile: Weapons and Warfare
This week on Weapons and Warfare, the team goes hypersonic. Host Ryan Robertson talked with one of the decision-makers behind Lockheed Martin’s entry into the race: the Mako Multi-Mission Hypersonic Missile, a stand-off hypersonic weapon designed to fit the F-35A/C and F-22A. Also featured in this episode: You can subscribe to the Weapons and Warfare… -
Filling in capability gaps with Lockheed Martin’s hypersonic weapon: The Mako
The proliferation of hypersonic missiles and the Unites States’ position in the world relative to its near-peer adversaries presents an ongoing discussion over what weapons to prioritize and what gaps to close. Lockheed Martin’s director of Air Dominance and Strike Weapons Advanced Programs, Scott “Fish” Fisher, recently visited with Ryan Robertson to discuss Lockheed’s latest… -
Operation Hard Kill’s counter-drone warfare showcased: Weapon of the week
One of the many lessons learned from Ukraine’s war against Russia’s illegal invasion is the effectiveness of drone warfare. While the offensive advantages to drones are clear, the ability to defend troops against drones in the hands of bad actors is equally crucial. This was the motivation behind Operation Hard Kill, a critical counter-drone warfare… -
Ukraine’s Kursk offensive is shifting the lines in the war of information
A little more than a month ago, the Ukrainian military showed that it was not afraid to take the fight to Russia on Russian soil. The offensive push into Kursk Oblast caught Vladimir Putin and the rest of the world by surprise, and Russia is still trying to muster forces to mount a viable defense…