In November 2019, the US Air Force retired its inventory of Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (AGM-86C/D CALCM) which had been in service since 1986. While not particularly well known compared… Continue reading "CALCM and The Birth of Cruise Missile Diplomacy"
Two decades ago the US Army began the replacement program for the Bradley IFV (infantry fighting vehicle). This week, the latest attempt, the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) programme was… Continue reading "What Next for the US Army’s Bradley Replacement?"
China has developed anti-ship ballistic missiles, and wants the world to know it. From parades to propaganda, the PLA has touted their DF-21 and DF-26 missiles as a Sword of… Continue reading "Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles: Over Hyped or a True Carrier Killer?"
The true ramifications of the current US withdrawal from Syria for counter-terrorist (CT) operations will unlikely to be fully realised for some time. What is clear, however, is that the… Continue reading "The Future of Counter Terrorism Operations Against Islamic State in Syria"
The Army has handed out two large contracts for the development and production of it’s upcoming Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW). On August 30th Dynetics was awarded a $352 million… Continue reading "Lockheed Martin, Dynetics, and Raytheon together will produce the US Army Long Range Hypersonic Weapon"
Ever since Henry Shrapnel invented the Shrapnel shell in the early 1800s, gunners have been looking for ways to control when and how their projectiles detonate downrange. For most of… Continue reading "Programmable Munitions: Projectiles ‘Evolved’ For The Modern Era"
In light of the recent “back to basics” directive issued by the head of US Naval Special Warfare, Overt Defense considers some of the issues around the SEALs’ “drift” from… Continue reading "SEALs Behaving Badly?"
The proxy conflict in Libya has begun to heat up between the Turkish supported Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA) supported by Egypt and the… Continue reading "Libyan Proxy War Heats Up: 3 Ukrainian-Owned Il-76s Destroyed"
As I have written before, the balance between the primacy of the missile or the defense in the maritime battle-space is unclear at the moment. Missiles are getting smarter and… Continue reading "Behind a Tin Foil Shield: The Importance of Soft Kill Measures in Shipboard Missile Defense"
Loitering munitions go by many names. Whether they are labeled suicide drones, kamikaze drones, or lethal miniature aerial munitions, they are a very real and evolving capability and threat on… Continue reading "In Profile: Loitering Munitions"