More from Ryan Robertson
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Why did Pakistan and Iran trade strikes?
Pakistan and Iran both launched strikes into each other’s territory in the week of Jan. 15. Neither country appears to want a war with the other, but in a region where military might is the most common form of diplomacy, the tension could still boil over. Iran and Pakistan are making the same argument: The… -
North Korea claims to test underwater nuclear-capable drone
North Korea claims to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone in response to a joint naval exercise by the United States, South Korea and Japan. North Korea continues to throw blame at its adversaries as tensions rise in the region. The country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, announced North Korea allegedly tested the new weapon… -
Feds warn China is collecting data from drones used in the US
More than a thousand police departments and first responders across the United States use drones for public safety, but a new memo from federal officials warns that those drones may do more harm than good, posing a threat to national security depending on who manufactures them. A Wednesday, Jan. 17 memo from the FBI and… -
Ukraine’s US-supplied Bradley IFVs shredding Russian armor
The M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle is not a tank, but troops do call it the “Tank Killer.” In Ukraine, Bradleys are getting credit for holding back Russian advances, and new footage from the frontlines shows just how appropriate the Bradley’s nickname really is. The video was originally posted by Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade and… -
US Air Force using mixed reality to train new pilots: Weapons and Warfare
In the second episode of Weapons and Warfare, step into the cockpit of a U.S. Air Force Huey helicopter and learn about the latest in mixed reality learning. This video game-like experience is part of the branch’s effort to streamline and modernize training for the next generation of Air Force helicopter pilots. Also featured in… -
Air Force helicopter pilots embrace cutting-edge extended reality training
The second episode of Weapons and Warfare explores how the U.S. Air Force is leveraging extended reality (XR)–an umbrella term for virtual, mixed and augmented reality–to redefine the training experience for aspiring helicopter pilots. The system, modeled after the TH-1H Huey helicopter, combines virtual and mixed-reality environments, allowing airmen to engage in hands-on training by… -
Army to send out the next generation of guns: Weapon of the week
American troops will be getting some new weaponry heading into 2024, as detailed in the second episode of Weapons and Warfare. After 27 months of testing and evaluations, the M7 rifle and the M250 machine gun from Sig Sauer will be the next generation of rifles for close-contact Army troops. That, combined with the M157… -
US Navy testing new plan to relieve its warships
The United States Navy is an elite maritime force. Its carrier strike groups project American power around the world, protect global shipping lanes, and offer humanitarian aid during disasters. But even the best need to take a break, which is why the Navy is experimenting with a new way to relieve warships while they’re on… -
Economic impact to US from Red Sea attacks likely delayed
A U.S.-owned vessel was hit by a Houthi missile in the Red Sea. Houthis used an anti-ship ballistic missile on Monday, Jan. 15, to hit the bulk carrier Gibraltar Eagle. There was a fire in the ship’s hold, but it remained seaworthy. It’s the latest incident to highlight the tenuous situation playing out at sea,… -
2 Palestinians arrested for car-ramming attack, US calls on Israel to scale down operations
Two Palestinian men killed at least one person and injured at least 12 others on Monday, Jan. 15, in a coordinated “car-ramming” attack, according to Israeli police. The incident occurred in the central Israeli city of Ra’anana. Authorities believe the drivers are relatives from the Israeli-occupied city of Hebron in the West Bank, as reported… -
China can’t take Taiwan because its weapons are filled with water
A driving force in the U.S. military is preparing for competition with near-peer adversaries like China and Russia. But as it turns out, perhaps those peers aren’t so near. For decades, Russia said it controlled the world’s “second army.” However, current events in Ukraine are punching plenty of holes in that argument. This leaves China… -
Russia to mass produce ‘invisible’ glide bomb with cluster munitions
Russia said it’s going to start mass producing a new type of cluster bomb that’s supposedly invisible to radar. Russian state media reported the Drel — or “Drill” in Russian — is a new type of glide bomb made by the state-owned Rostec defense conglomerate. Drels are some of Russia’s newest weapons, so there isn’t… -
US Marines train 100th Reaper drone pilot
The United States Marine Corps trained its 100th MQ-9 Reaper drone pilot. The milestone marks the latest shift under the Corps’ Force Design 2030 plan, which aims to reoptimize the branch for a potential dust-up with China. It was only in 2020 that the Corps even created a Reaper occupational specialty. The 2022 training numbers…