Thu, Jun 6, 2019
Given the controversy over the A-10 and F-35 Congress ordered a fly-off to determine which offers the best close air support. Each had a major advantage and disadvantage leaving Chris the deciding vote.
Tue, Mar 3, 2020
A multi round grenade launcher sound like a great thing to have in combat. But it doesn't work for the US Army and most other armies around the world. Here's why.
Mon, Jun 15, 2020
Motars fill a valuable role in combat that can't be performed by artillery or any other weapon.
Fri, Jan 8, 2021
In general the US Marines are a rapid deployment force that engages in brief, intense conflicts. The Army handles larger scale conflicts in terms of in time and territory that require extensive logistics. The result is the two forces have very different cultures, organizations and missions.
Wed, Sep 22, 2021
Chris thinks the United States Army is finally serious about replacing the M-2 Bradly infantry fighting vehicle in response to a 2016 announcement that Russia is developing a remote controlled version of the BMP-3. Five contractors have been selected to design upgrades to their existing combat vehicles with final selection planned for 2027.
Mon, Sep 27, 2021
The September 11 Attacks made it clear that external threat to the United States had changed and the United States Military needed to change to combat them.
Sat, Nov 27, 2021
In 2011 Izhmash designed the innovative ak-12 assault rifle to replace the AK-74. The Russian Infantry didn't like it so they bought the company and designed an AK-74 look alike that supports advanced optics.
Fri, Dec 17, 2021
Russia's new T-24 tank look like a formidable weapon despite a few weaknesses. The big question is how fast can Russia produce it.
Fri, Dec 24, 2021
The difference between the Navy Seals and Army Special Forces is apparent in their mottoes. One is unit is adept at working with and training indigenous forces essentially as a force multiplier. The other specializes in direct, rapid combat operations against a specific target. Which is which?
Mon, Jan 17, 2022
The DSHK heavy machine gun was intended as an antitank weapon in World War Two. Heavier armor quickly made the weapon ineffective but it is still valuable as an antiaircraft gun and against lightly armored vehicles and fortifications.
Sat, Jan 29, 2022
If the Thompson submachine gun was popular enough that every gangster had to have one, what was the Army's beef with it after fighting a World War using it.
Wed, Mar 16, 2022
The western press has reported a number of Urkranian victories defeating Russian forces in their 2022 invasion of Urkraine. Yet the Russians keep moving ahead in various places so they must also be having victories that aren't being reported in the west. Here is where Chris thinks the Russians are succeeding.
Fri, Mar 18, 2022
.300 blackout is a cartridge that uses fast burning, pistol-type powder with a 7.62 mm rifle-size bullet. It is a nice option for special forces because it is quiet with subsonic velocity and medium range accuracy when used in short barreled rifles.
Sun, Apr 24, 2022
As of 2022 the Bayraktar TB2 is a lowest-cost, unmanned, missile aircraft capable of attacking and destroying tanks. It was effective in the 2022 Russo-Ukraine war because it caught the Rsussians off-guard before they could develop defenses against them.
Fri, May 6, 2022
The United States Army has selected the SIG Sauer MCX-SPEAR rifle, Army designation XM-5, to be its new battle rifle. This weapon replaces the underpowered M4 carbine and is now being criticized for being overpowered. Chris has been following the competition for a new rifle for three years and shares the pros, cons and implications of the XM 5.
Thu, May 12, 2022
The M191 machine gun was a rugged modular gun used from World War Two through the Vienam War. It was designed to be modified to support up to ten calibers. It was man portable and mountable on vehicle, tanks, boats and aircraft.
Sun, Aug 7, 2022
US aid to Ukraine is just barely enabling it to resist the Russian invasion. Chris thinks this may be deliberate for a host of reasons.
Mon, Aug 15, 2022
The United States and other NATO countries are missing their military recruitment goals. How serious is this problem and what can be done about it?
Fri, Sep 30, 2022
North Korea from time to time threatens to invade South Korea and seems to be preparing to do so sporting a huge army, navy and air force each with a wide variety of weapons including a nuclear arsenal. But is it really capable?
Fri, Nov 4, 2022
America's M1224 Maxxpro MRAP is a fast, well armored squad vehicle design to protect troops from improvised explosive devices. The United States bought about 20,000 of them for Iraq war and now no longer needs them. They are expensive to decommission so well over 1,000 have been provided to city police forces. Ukraine now offers another place to unload them but how Urkaine will use them remains unclear.
Tue, Jan 24, 2023
The United States Army is preparing to field it's first light tank in 25 years. It is referred to as "Mobile Protected Firepower" to emphasize its combined arms role with infantry which will be a new combat doctrine for the Army.
Fri, Feb 10, 2023
Japan has tremendous soft power in Asia, already spending considerably more on infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia than China's entire Belt and Road initiative in Asia and Africa. But Japan is extremely dependent on East Pacific sea lanes for trade which it sees as threatened by China. So it had begun a substantial increase in defense spending.
Tue, Feb 21, 2023
Since the United States has a strategic stealth bomb fleet, China just has to have one too, even though it means stealing it. But just what sort of threat is the stealth bomber China is developing?
Fri, Feb 24, 2023
The United States has a guerrilla warfare playbook. It was shared with Ukraine's partisans along with extensive training. Ukraine's partisans are now active, effective and coordinate with Ukraine's military.
Tue, Apr 25, 2023
Since the end of the Cold War India has tried to navigate the superpowers by remaining non-aligned. It's reliance on Russia and the United States has seesawed over the decades since but now India is adding greater self-reliance to the mix.
Tue, May 23, 2023
Considering the Chinese fentanyl connection and the corruption along the Mexican border, Senator's are tempted to authorize the United States Military act against Mexican drug cartels. Despite some successes, such as Colombia and Panama, in the past, Mexico is a different and more complex situation.
Fri, May 26, 2023
The troops in China's first contributions to UN Peacekkeping forces typically had little or no live combat experience and so were unprepared for the turmoil of the United Nations Mission during the South Sudanese Civil War.
Tue, May 30, 2023
High in the Himalayas are some regions that are critically strategic to both India and China. So neither country wants the other to have control.
Tue, Jun 20, 2023
Over the past few decades the United States has developed the ability to effectively conduct military operations at night. Chris shares the technology that has made this possible and discusses why Americas toughest adversaries have not kept up.
Fri, Jun 23, 2023
Lacking inside information on Ukrainse's plans Chris analyzes the early events of Ukraine's 2023 counter offensive versus NATO breaching theory.
Mon, Aug 14, 2023
The effectiveness of cluster bombs. Military posturing on the Poland Belarus boarder. Propects for the Ukraine counter offensive.
Tue, Sep 19, 2023
Tiawan's CM-32/34 Clouded Leopard Armored vehicle is tailor made to the needs of its army. By discarding unnecessary feature like tracks and in some cases heavy armor they gained modularity, leathality, all-terrain and amazing speed and range.
Sat, Sep 30, 2023
At $13 billion each many consider the Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carriers an expensive target. But they provide a lot of bang for the buck. Are they worth it? You be the judge. But no matter what you decide, Congress will still buy them.
Tue, Oct 3, 2023
Although Urkraine and Russia are flying the same air frames, the Russian planes have the benefit of upgrades received over the decades since they were built. F-16s give Ukraine an advantage in air combat. But that's the easy part.
Tue, Oct 31, 2023
Yemen is in the midst of a civil war between Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized, though somewhat fragmented, established government. This plays out on Saudi Arabia's southern border draw them into the conflict. Saudi Arabia's concerns suit Iran just fine so they have supported the Houthis.
Tue, Nov 14, 2023
The history of the rise of Hezbollah.
Wed, Nov 22, 2023
Iran is investing heavily in its missile technology and arsenal believing it will give the country offensive might and an effect deterrence.
Fri, Dec 8, 2023
The JDAM bomb guidance kit provides the most economical way to put a munition on target thereby destroying the target while minimizing collateral damage.
Sun, Dec 10, 2023
Russia's doomsday submarine, the belgorod-k-329, has been under construction for nigh on forty years but is now seaworthy and undergoing testing. To the expert eye it looks like it is designed to attack aircraft carriers. But Russia is claiming a variety of other trouble capabilities.
Wed, Dec 13, 2023
A brief history of the formation and expansion of Hamas amid the turbulence in Palestine from the formation of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928 to the 2023 terrorist attack on Israel.
Tue, Dec 19, 2023
China is preparing to launch its Type 003 Fujian Aircraft carrier that, according to China's promotions, is a state of the art warship. That is questionable and it appears to be facing some difficult birthing issues.
Tue, Jan 2, 2024
The rise of the terrorist ISIS rogue state created and international crisis that required an international military coalition to defeat. Remnants of the coalition remain in Iraq and Syria today (2024) to prevent the organization from reconstituting.
Tue, Jan 23, 2024
A detailed account of Operation Praying Manitis that ended the tanker wars in 1988.
Fri, Feb 2, 2024
Robotic tanks and other combat vehicle are going to be a thing really soon. Let's see what's in the works.
Tue, Mar 5, 2024
As the US Air Force prepares to upgrade the B-1 Lancer fleet for service beyond 1940, Chris takes a look at this beautiful plane's capabilities and combat roles.
Tue, Apr 2, 2024
The numerous conflicts surrounding Turkey have enable the country to expand its influence in the region and make it an essential member for NATO.
Fri, Apr 5, 2024
A close look at North Korea's M2020 tank - or at least as close as we can get.
Fri, Apr 19, 2024
Antimissile defenses have come a long way since Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative. But ballistic missile have gotten better and more numerous in the same time period. Let's see if America's missile defense is finally up to the job.
Tue, May 7, 2024
A review of the recent history of the animosity between North and South Koreas that make joint US-Korea annual military exercises a necessity.