More from Ryan Robertson
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Japanese toothpaste ad pulled after sound mistaken for national emergency alert
A Japanese toothpaste commercial was pulled off the air because it accidentally made people think they were facing a national emergency. Lion Corporation, a major household goods manufacturer, debuted the commercial for its Systema Gum Plus Premium Toothpaste. For a country known its quirky, often bizarre commercials, the ad seemed pretty tame on the surface.… -
‘Stinky’ scheme to install unauthorized Wi-Fi on Navy warship
How far would you go for some good Wi-Fi? Sure, plenty of people probably took advantage of their neighbor’s network from time to time – but very few people in this world would go so far as to install an unauthorized Starlink satellite dish on the side of a U.S. Navy warship. Well, that’s exactly… -
Biden could send Ukraine long-range cruise missiles soon
The United States may soon send long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. However, even if a deal were approved tomorrow, it would take several months before Ukraine could actually use them against Russia. According to three sources within the White House, Reuters reported President Biden may approve sending AGM-158 JASSMs (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles) to Ukraine,… -
EpiSci’s AI technology shines in Silent Swarm 2024 as pilot, captain
Southern California-based software development firm EpiSci had a significant year. In May, the company participated in an effort that put Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall in the cockpit of an AI-piloted F-16 for a capabilities demonstration. Recently, EpiSci took part in Silent Swarm 2024, where it moved its AI pilot from the air… -
Testing plug-and-play AI pilots: Weapons and Warfare
This week on Weapons and Warfare, the team met with a company taking AI pilots out of the cockpit and putting them into the captain’s chair. Host Ryan Robertson takes a look at EpiSci’s most recent effort to plug and play its AI into multiple platforms. Also featured in this episode: You can subscribe to… -
The US Army’s Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company: Weapon of the week
The U.S. Army’s multi-functional reconnaissance company (MFRC) represents a new era in combat. The war in Ukraine remains an active conflict, but the lessons learned are reshaping how American military leadership views the future of combat. Lighter, more lethal units, equipped with state of the art technology, are being seen as the way forward for… -
Ukraine unleashes ‘Dragon’s Breath’ against Russia
The drone innovators in Ukraine are at it again, this time rigging an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to rain fire from above. Video from Ukraine’s 108th Territorial Brigade was recently posted online, depicting a scene along the front lines between Russia and Ukraine in the Zaporizhzia region. It shows a drone showering down what looks… -
Russian missile strike on Ukrainian military college leaves 41 dead
At least 41 people were killed and over 180 wounded on Tuesday, Sept. 3, after Russian forces launched a missile attack on a military training facility and a nearby hospital in the city of Poltava, Ukrainian officials said. The strike, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned as “barbaric,” is the deadliest single attack in Ukraine… -
Russia makes oil production data a state secret
Ukraine’s continued attacks on Russian oil refineries are no doubt hurting Russia militarily and financially. In the last few months, Ukrainian drone and missile attacks struck dozens of refineries, depots, storage units, and ferries full of fuel. Now, Russia — the nation Sen. John McCain once said was a “gas station masquerading as a country”… -
The US’ ironclad commitment to Israel means lots of ships, jets
The United States has a significant amount of naval and air assets in the Middle East right now. The Pentagon said those forces are “postured to support the defense of Israel and protect U.S. troops and assets in the region.” Israel’s war against Hamas is still mostly contained to Gaza, and the back-and-forth attacks with… -
Pentagon pressured to address hazardous conditions on US bases
Eight advocacy groups are calling on the Pentagon to address hazardous living conditions faced by military families on U.S. bases worldwide. These conditions include mold, contaminated water, lead paint and pest infestations. The groups insist these issues need immediate attention rather than waiting for long-term renovations that could take years. Leading this effort is Hots&Cots,… -
Morocco will be first North African nation with HIMARS
Morocco is on track to be the first nation in North Africa with HIMARS. The deal was approved last year by the U.S. government. The Pentagon awarded the contract to Lockheed Martin in July for the munitions to go in the launchers. Morocco is buying 18 M142 HIMARS launchers, along with 9 Humvees and other… -
US deploys Reaper drones to Okinawa to boost Pacific surveillance
The U.S. military deployed a fleet of MQ-9A Reaper drones to the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, as part of a broader effort to enhance its surveillance capabilities in the Pacific. This deployment intends to improve the U.S.’ ability to monitor critical areas near Japan and China. The drones, designed for long-range surveillance and…