More from Ryan Robertson
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N. Korea condemns US-S. Korean military drills as ‘prelude to a nuclear war’
U.S. and South Korean forces have kicked off their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, a massive military drill designed to boost their defense capabilities against North Korea’s ever-growing nuclear threat. The drills, which feature around 19,000 South Korean troops and a series of land, air and sea exercises, are meant to prepare both nations for… -
Chinese, Philippine coast guards clash near Sabina Shoal
Tensions escalated in the South China Sea on Monday, Aug. 19, when Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships collided near Sabina Shoal, a disputed area in the Spratly Islands. Both sides blamed each other for the incident, which resulted in damage to at least two Philippine vessels. The Philippines accused China of engaging in “aggressive… -
Why US special operators training in the Arctic matters to China
Things are heating up in one of the coldest places on the planet. For the better part of July and into early August, some of the most elite special operations forces in the U.S. military participated in Operation Polar Dagger. The exercises test the most highly trained U.S. personnel in one of the planet’s most… -
Russian nuclear bomber goes down in fiery crash in Siberia
A Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber erupted into flames midair during a routine flight over Siberia, crashing and killing one crew member. The crash occurred far from any battlefield, and videos shared on social media showed the bomber catching fire before plummeting into an uninhabited area. Russia’s Defense Ministry attributed the crash to a technical malfunction,… -
F-16s arrive in Ukraine after negotiations, training: Weapons and Warfare
This week on Weapons and Warfare, the F-16s have arrived. After nearly two years of negotiations and intense training, Ukraine’s long hoped for F-16s have started arriving. Host Ryan Robertson takes an in-depth look at the road traveled to turn a dream into a reality, and what role experts say the fighter jets will play… -
New Hawkeye howitzer could boost Army speed, stealth: Weapon of the week
A military theorist once wrote “the backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy” — an idea that perfectly describes the capabilities of the Hawkeye Mobile Howitzer System (MHS). The Hawkeye MHS is made by AM General, the same company that created the Humvee. A howitzer is a type of artillery weapon that is generally… -
Dreams become reality for Ukraine with the F-16’s arrival
In May 2023, President Joe Biden announced his decision to move forward with a plan to have U.S. allies train Ukrainian pilots and provide the country’s military with surplus F-16s from the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Norway. About year later, those plans became a reality as Ukraine took delivery of its first F-16s on Aug.… -
Ukraine takes war to Russia, capturing dozens of villages
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said it now controls around 386 square miles in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, an area roughly the size of Indianapolis. This region includes nearly 30 different towns or settlements and is home to hundreds of thousands of Russians, many of whom are now fleeing. Previously, Kyiv took… -
Manila files diplomatic protest after Chinese jets fire flares near patrol plane
The Philippine Navy condemned recent actions by Chinese fighter jets over the disputed Scarborough Shoal as “coercive, aggressive and deceptive.” During an incident on Aug. 8, Chinese aircraft reportedly dropped flares dangerously close to a Philippine Air Force patrol plane, escalating tensions over the strategic South China Sea territory, which both nations claim. Philippine Rear… -
NATO responds to Russian military activity with air and sea operations
NATO forces were on high alert over the weekend of Aug. 10, engaging in sophisticated monitoring of Russian military maneuvers close to Western territories. On Saturday, Aug. 10, a Russian spy plane equipped for electronic intelligence but unresponsive to radio contact breached international norms by entering the Baltic Sea airspace without a flight plan. In… -
Israel kills Hamas security official in airstrike on car deep within Lebanon
An Israeli airstrike reportedly killed a senior Hamas member deep inside Lebanon in the southern city of Sidon on Friday, Aug. 9. Sidon is about 40 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border. The strike hit a car carrying a Hamas security official and another occupant inside; both were killed in the attack and some bystanders were… -
Poll reveals disconnect between American public and US foreign policy
Growing skepticism is shaping American views on international aid, especially regarding Ukraine. According to a poll released Thursday, Aug. 8, by Defense Priorities and YouGov, most Americans are hesitant to provide unconditional aid to Ukraine amid doubts about its ability to succeed against Russia. This unease reflects broader concerns that U.S. foreign policy may not… -
Ukraine troops enter Russia, taking territory and prisoners
What was first thought to be a small cross-border raid by Ukraine into Russia is now the deepest incursion into enemy territory made by either side since the war began. Kyiv is being pretty tight-lipped about the operation, but Russian military bloggers are not. As is usually the case, much of the information coming from…