More from Brian Spencer
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Why Ukraine getting one more HIMARS matters
You can always tell when soldiers in Ukraine really like weapons systems, because they usually write a song about them. There’s at least one song about Bayraktar drones, and a little ditty dropped in the summer of 2022, praising the U.S.-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Based on the most recent U.S. aid… -
This tiny tracked vehicle can help Ukraine topple mud season
Russians call it “Rasputitsa,” or the Season of Bad Roads. In Ukraine it’s known as “Bezdorizhzhia,” or Roadlessness. They both refer to the same thing: it’s mud season in Ukraine. Days of steady rainfall turn every unpaved road, field and tree line into a quagmire of muck in which most anything will get stuck. Thankfully,… -
Sniper sets record in Ukraine, drones go thermal
Ukraine’s Security Services (SBU) said its snipers are “rewriting the rules of global sniping.” A recently published video is making the rounds on Ukrainian and Russian social media channels showing the proof. The video shows the point of view of a Ukrainian sniper targeting Russian troops at a distance of 3,800 meters — over two… -
Russia hypes nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle on ICBM
The war in Ukraine is not going Russia’s way. Ukraine has established multiple beachheads along the Dnipro River in recent weeks. At the same time, thousands of Russian soldiers died in the war’s new meat grinder, Avdiivka. As he is known to do when suffering a series of battlefield losses, Vladimir Putin is rattling his… -
ExxonMobil and other major companies are making big investments in EVs
ExxonMobil has announced plans to become a leading supplier of lithium for electric vehicle (EV) batteries by the end of the decade. Dubbed “white gold” for its increasing value and silver-white color, the oil company’s investment in this critical mineral comes as demand for it is expected to grow exponentially, nearly doubling over the next… -
US sends staggering amount of firepower to help Israel
The United States said it wants to prevent the war in Gaza from spiraling into a greater, regional conflict. To achieve this mission, the U.S. government sent a staggering amount of firepower to the Middle East. There are near daily weapons shipments to Israel, and there are enough U.S. Navy and Air Force assets in… -
Ukraine creates Dnipro beachhead, Russia reeling in Avdiivka
Ukraine’s counteroffensive may be moving slower than expected, but that doesn’t mean Ukrainians aren’t pressing the attack. Over the last month, the Armed Forces of Ukraine ferried troops and armored vehicles across the Dnipro River, south of Kherson. Now, it looks like Ukraine established a beachhead on the east bank of the river, which could… -
China’s not-so-secret base in Cambodia is bigger than we thought
The People’s Republic of China is building a naval base in Ream, Cambodia. Both governments said the Chinese navy won’t operate out of the base, but that argument doesn’t really hold water. New analysis of satellite imagery by Naval News shows the addition of a very large main pier at the Ream Naval Base, and… -
FBI director questions pick of Maryland site for FBI HQ, lawmakers react
There was celebration in Maryland on Friday, Nov. 10, as officials claim victory after the announcement that the new FBI headquarters is set to be constructed in Greenbelt, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. However, not everyone is celebrating the decision. FBI Director Christopher Wray says Congress may review the matter, after he sent an… -
US military suffers another hypersonic missile setback
The United States military is still playing catch-up to China when it comes to modern hypersonic missiles. The Army hoped it could field a battery of hypersonic missile launchers by the end of the year, but several consecutive failed tests are putting a damper on those hypersonic hopes. While every intercontinental ballistic missile since World… -
US Air Force buying 1,000 nuclear-capable cruise missiles
The United States Air Force is buying 1,000 nuclear-capable cruise missiles. The new missiles are called Long-Range Standoff Weapons (LRSOs) and should offer commanders more options when considering possible nuclear strikes against enemy factions. The United States’ nuclear arsenal is broken up into three distinct areas of delivery, collectively known as the nuclear triad. Intercontinental… -
Ukraine needs help countering Russia’s minefields. This machine is a huge boost.
Ukraine’s top general, Valery Zaluzhny, said the war with Russia is at a stalemate. Zaluzhny wrote in an essay published in The Economist saying that in order to win, his troops need more advanced weapons systems to overcome the miles of minefields crippling Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Systems needed are like the U.S.-made M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle.… -
Navy tests launching drones from robot boats, containerized missiles
Drone boats launching lethal loitering munitions at sea. Containerized missiles strapped to the deck of stealthy ships. The United States Navy is looking at innovative designs like these to better compete with near-peer adversaries like China. At the end of October, Task Force 59, under orders from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), conducted…