The Australian government and Boeing recently unveiled their plans for a "Loyal Wingman" drone system that would provide multiple support drones for fighters, bombers, and even unarmed aircraft during combat operations. Now, the U.S. Air Force has begun touting a new endeavor, dubbed "Skyborg," that could take the Loyal Wingman concept to the next level. Revealed! Our new … [Read more…]
Who’s afraid of the Russian wolf? Why the nuclear ‘doomsday’ sub is strategically worthless
Russia's struggling economy may not make for a particularly effective military, but the Kremlin's ability to mold public perceptions remains among the nation's most comprehensive and powerful skill sets. While some within the United States are still content to dispute the idea that Moscow uses a combination of state-run media outlets and social media outreach campaigns to shape … [Read more…]
So long, Spooky: US Special Operations just took delivery of their first new Ghostrider gunship
For years now, the AC-130U Spooky gunship has been nightmare fodder for America's enemies. These massive platforms carry a 25mm or 40mm cannon, 105mm cannon, and a 25mm Gatling gun, making them among the most potent air-support platforms on the planet. Now, as the era of the Spooky gunship comes to a close, there's a new nightmare on the horizon: the AC-130J Ghostrider. The … [Read more…]
Hijacking artificial limbs? Researchers demonstrate how cyber hackers can do it
According to a Congressional report, about 1,645 veterans lost limbs during the War on Terror years, causing bodily harm and lasting effects but also a heavy psychological burden. Not all veterans require prosthetics or even want them, but for the ones who do, innovations in this field cannot come soon enough. However, with more technology and complexity also comes an added … [Read more…]
The Air Force’s new stealth drone has a huge advantage over Russian and Chinese air defenses
The United States has long led the world in the development and use of stealth technology in aviation. Starting (operationally) with the F-117 Nighthawk and continuing with the forthcoming B-21 Raider bomber, America's lead in the realm of low observability has long been the product of both the country’s willingness to invest in tech aimed at curbing an aircraft's detection, … [Read more…]
The Army believes the secret to faster aircraft might be shark skin
In the never-ending quest to improve the performance of military aircraft, the U.S. Army is testing an unusual material that may make airplanes and helicopters faster and stronger: the skin of the mako shark. New research currently being done at the University of Alabama is exploring why mako sharks can reach unbelievable speeds underwater. According to a recent report from … [Read more…]
Rescuers deploy drones to search for survivors in the aftermath of deadly Alabama twisters
Twenty-three people were killed when a powerful storm produced multiple tornadoes that hit residential areas of southeastern Alabama last weekend. In the aftermath of the disaster, rescue crews began the tedious task of digging through the debris of houses and trailers, looking for survivors. In years past, first responders had to do this work by hand, occasionally employing a … [Read more…]
The Army’s ATLAS program isn’t building killer robots (yet)
Last week, a number of media outlets pounced on the idea the U.S. Army may be trying to turn its gun duties over to artificial intelligence, prompting a flurry of headlines about robotic killing machines and allusions to the popular "Terminator" franchise. The truth, however, isn't quite so apocalyptic, and may well help make American trigger-pullers more capable and accurate … [Read more…]
Cold War-era ‘Assault Breaker’ program revived with aim to decimate advancing Russian or Chinese forces
Back in the heyday of the Cold War, Europe had a real problem: even with American military might on its side, the region faced a Soviet military with overwhelming numbers on its eastern flank. If the Soviet Union had opted to invade, there was little NATO could do to stem the flow of Russian armor as it poured through Baltic allies in Estonia, Latvia and … [Read more…]
The US is trying to expand its submarine fleet with massive undersea drones
While Russia's submersible "doomsday" drone, the Poseidon, made headlines the world over, the truth is, such a weapon offers an extremely limited range of strategic capabilities. The large unmanned submarine and its claimed 100-megaton nuclear warhead would, if detonated, unleash a level of destruction never before seen by a man-made weapon. However, it would also prompt an … [Read more…]
Cyber warfare: US Cyber Command strikes back at Russia
“The fact that the 2018 election process moved forward without successful Russian intervention was not a coincidence,” according to U.S. Senator Mike Rounds. The Republican from South Dakota refused to elaborate on specific mission details targeting the Internet Research Agency (IRA) in the Washington Post. Rounds added, without the aid of United States Cyber Command … [Read more…]
Search complete: Australian Special Operations Forces to get American choppers
For some time now, the Australian military has been searching for new helicopters for its Special Operations Forces (SOF). The American company Bell is considered a favorite to win the contract. More specifically, Bell, in partnership with Hawker-Pacific, is proposing the Bell 407 or Bell 429 helicopters. In October, Australia’s Defense Capability Acquisition and Sustainment … [Read more…]