Ryan Pickrell
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Articles by Ryan Pickrell
286日寄港なし、航行距離17万km、投下した弾薬600トン…空母「エイブラハム・リンカーン」の過酷な任務を示す驚異的な数字の数々 | Business Insider Japan
空母エイブラハム・リンカーンは10月8日、母港のサンディエゴに戻った。 U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron J.
亞伯拉罕・林肯號航艦打擊群部署321天背後的驚人數字
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Here are the staggering numbers behind the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group's 321-day deployment Original
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln returned home this week. Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln returned home this week after a long and difficult combat deployment. The numbers shared by the sea service for that deployment are staggering.
更迭されたウクライナ前国防相、パランティアCEOの支援を受け新会社を設立 | Business Insider Japan
ウクライナの前国防相ミハイロ・フェドロフ氏は、ドローン戦を推し進めた改革派として知られる。 Danylo Antoniuk/Ukrinform/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect 7月に更迭されたウクライナ前国防相のミハイロ・フェドロフ氏が、防衛テック企業を立ち上げる。 データ解析企業パランティアのアレックス・カープCEOが、新会社の最初のリード投資家となる。 フェドロフ氏は、ウクライナが戦時下で得たテクノロジーに関する教訓を、新たな能力へと転換させると語っている。 戦場におけるテクノロジー、とりわけドローンに関して急速なイノベーションを牽引してきたウクライナの前国防相ミハイロ・フェドロフ（Mykhailo Fedorov）氏が、防衛テック企業を新たに立ち上げる。同氏はこの夏、国防相を更迭されていた。 フェドロフ氏はプレスリリースで、新会社はウクライナの防衛力強化とパートナー国の支援を目的とする防衛技術の開発に注力すると明かし、「詳細は追って発表する」としている。...
Ukraine's ousted pro-tech defense minister is launching a new company backed by Palantir's Alex Karp Original
Mykhailo Fedorov, who helped drive rapid innovation in battlefield technology, particularly drones, before being ousted as Ukraine's defense minister this summer, is launching a defense tech company.
The US Navy is testing a jet-powered JDAM that can deliver standoff cruise-missile-like strikes for less Original
The US Navy has successfully tested a new air-launched jet-powered bomb, bringing the sea service a major step closer to effectively fielding an affordable cruise-missile-like munition that can be fired from standoff ranges. Loading audio narration... The new bomb — a long-range variant of the Navy's Joint Direct Attack Munition — can be launched from F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets embarked on US aircraft carriers and can be used in combat missions like those flown during the Iran war.
'Long live the Warthog:' The US military decided it isn't yet ready to give up the A-10 after its fights in Iran Original
The US Air Force is extending the service life of the decades-old A-10 "Warthog" until at least 2030, again pushing back the attack aircraft's retirement following heavy combat use against Iran. Loading audio narration... Air Force Secretary Troy Meink shared the news in a social media post on Monday.
What a US destroyer shooting a cargo ship's engine out says about how the Navy is handling Iran blockade runners Original
A US Navy destroyer opened fire on an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel's engine room in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, a rare use of force that shows how far the US is willing to go to enforce its blockade on Iran. Loading audio narration... US forces routinely train to escalate from warnings to disabling fire, but they almost never have to carry it out in sanctions enforcement. The strike on the ship is a rare case where that playbook moved from training to reality.
A Ukrainian drone company says it's teaming up with a US firm because staying home means getting 'eliminated' Original
A Ukrainian drone maker worried about getting "eliminated" at home is teaming up with a US manufacturer to make weapons on American soil. Loading audio narration... Stanislav Hryshyn, co-founder of General Cherry, told Business Insider that "actually to stay in Ukraine, that means actually to stay local and to be eliminated in a couple of years or even months." Rising Ukrainian defense companies like his are increasingly seeing opportunities beyond their own conflict.
Ukraine is betting big on war robots, with plans to buy 25,000 and remove humans from front-line supply runs Original
Ukraine is taking steps to boost its rapidly growing arsenal of war robots, including buying thousands of new ones and pushing to turn over 100% of front-line logistics to robotic systems. Loading audio narration... Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced changes to boost the production of ground robots, also known as unmanned ground vehicles, which already help Ukrainian troops carry gear, lay mines, evacuate the wounded, and attack Russian positions.
This Ukrainian counter-drone company is worried about missing its moment in the Iran war Original
The Iran war could be a big opportunity for Ukraine's battle-proven counter-drone tech, but one company says it worries it will miss its window without export access. Loading audio narration... The US and its allies in the Middle East are now facing drone threats that Ukraine has fought for years, driving demand for low-cost interceptor drones. Many are built by Ukrainian firms, but exports of battlefield tech remain tightly controlled.
Commercial vessels are sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Here's what 'completely open' looks like for now. Original
Iran announced Friday morning that the Strait of Hormuz is open for maritime traffic, and data shows that commercial vessels are passing through the strategic waterway, though only a small number. Loading audio narration... Opening the strait has been a central demand since the start of a fragile ceasefire earlier this month and amid the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
The US Army has been surging cheap interceptor drone purchases to flip the cost war with Iran's Shaheds Original
The US Army has purchased thousands of cheap interceptors since the Iran war began, its top civilian official has disclosed, as the Pentagon looks to grow its arsenal of low-cost air defenses. Loading audio narration... Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told lawmakers that after the US began Operation Epic Fury, the Army purchased 13,000 interceptor drones for its Merops system within roughly eight days.
Iran's arsenal still has teeth. US intelligence says it still has thousands of missiles and drones. Original
The Iranian military still has thousands of missiles and drones in its arsenal despite weeks of heavy US and Israeli airstrikes, according to a new intelligence assessment. Loading audio narration... Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Adams, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told lawmakers that Iran "retains thousands" of missiles and one-way attack drones, which pose a threat to US and partner forces in the Middle East.
Ukraine didn't just bring its interceptor drone know-how to the Middle East. Zelenskyy says it shot down Iranian Shaheds. Original
Ukrainian forces shot down Iranian Shahed drones in the Middle East, the country's president said, as countries turn to Ukrainian expertise in counter-drone warfare. Loading audio narration... Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters this week that Ukrainian personnel have shot down drones in multiple countries as Ukraine looks to help friendly nations now seeking Ukrainian knowledge amid Iranian attacks resembling the Russian ones Ukraine has been fighting for years.
Russia's air force is much more dangerous now than it was before it invaded Ukraine, airpower experts warn Original
Russian airpower has become far more dangerous and poses a greater threat to the NATO alliance than it did before the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, air combat experts warn. Loading audio narration... Russia's war in Ukraine has provided its pilots with combat experience and lessons in modern warfare. Russia has also upgraded systems and weaponry and has been producing more aircraft than it has lost, boosting its overall end strength.
What to know about changes to the US military draft registration Original
The US is moving to change the Selective Service registration process this year, but that does not mean a military draft is in the works. Here is what's happening. Loading audio narration... After Congress approved automatic registration in last year's defense policy bill, which was signed into law in December, the Selective Service System proposed rules at the end of March.
Operation Epic Fury strikes were fueled by 2 million energy drinks, about a million gallons of coffee, and nicotine, top general says Original
After over a month of war, US forces have hit thousands of targets in Iran — all while consuming millions of meals and energy drinks, hundreds of thousands of gallons of coffee, and a lot of nicotine, the top US general said. Loading audio narration... The US, Israel, and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement late Tuesday, halting American military action against Iran for two weeks. At a press briefing on Wednesday, Air Force Gen.
Epic Fury bombers made 18 round-trip flights from the US to strike Iran, each spending more than 30 hours in the air Original
American bombers made numerous round-trip flights from the US to strike Iran, with each aircraft spending over a day in the air to execute these missions. Loading audio narration... Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Wednesday that the US staged 62 bomber missions during Operation Epic Fury before the Trump administration said it reached a ceasefire with Iran Tuesday evening.
NATO ignored the drone threat, and now it's scrambling to learn new ways of war, top commander says Original
Before the US conflict with Iran and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, cheap strike drones were used to attack energy targets in the Middle East, setting the stage for a new type of warfare. Loading audio narration... NATO, however, ignored the warning signs, a top alliance commander told Business Insider. Now, it's scrambling to catch up to rapidly changing modern combat tactics.
'Sandy' A-10s the Air Force says it no longer needs flew 'close-in gunfights' in high-risk Iran rescues Original
US Air Force A-10 Warthogs, decades-old attack aircraft the service has been pushing into retirement, were part of the risky rescue missions to retrieve downed American airmen in Iran. Loading audio narration... The Warthogs flew in their "Sandy" roles, supporting search and rescue while engaging in close-in battles at low altitudes. The rescue marks the latest involvement of the A-10 in the US war in Iran despite the Air Force's plans to imminently shelve its remaining fleet. Air Force Gen.
Why the US military risks so much to save downed airmen stuck behind enemy lines Original
Over the past few days, US forces launched high-risk missions into Iran to rescue a downed Air Force pilot and a weapon systems officer, underscoring one of the military's most deeply held promises: if Americans are shot down behind enemy lines, the US will come for them. Loading audio narration...
NATO needs Ukraine's 'adaptation DNA' and an 'HOV lane' for new war tech, top commander says Original
A top NATO commander has said Ukraine's battlefield adaptation is impressive and that the alliance needs something like an "HOV lane" to fast-track new war tech. Loading audio narration... In its four years of fending off Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has demonstrated an "adaptation DNA," Adm. Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, told Business Insider. "That means that they've been very good at solving the problems at a very high speed.
A top US shipbuilder is exploring how AI and robots can do some of the hardest jobs on the production floor Original
America's biggest shipbuilder wants to know whether artificial intelligence and robots can do some of the most labor-intensive parts of the shipbuilding process. Loading audio narration... A new partnership between Huntington Ingalls Industries and GrayMatter Robotics, announced Monday, aims to work AI and physical robotic systems into shipbuilding operations. Autonomous robotic systems could help speed up building and help workers prepare materials for construction.
The US surged over 150 aircraft into Iran for a high-risk rescue and used deception to trick Iranian forces Original
The high-stakes combat search and rescue missions to recover two downed US airmen stranded in Iran involved numerous aircraft, close calls, and a deception campaign, President Donald Trump and other administration officials said Monday. Loading audio narration... The shootdown of an F-15E Strike Eagle last Friday in Iran saw both the pilot and the weapon systems officer eject from the aircraft and land deep inside hostile territory.
Here's how US combat search-and-rescue crews save downed fighter pilots in the middle of a war Original
When a US aircraft goes down in combat, rarely used but highly trained airborne search-and-rescue crews spring into action. Loading audio narration... Multiple American media outlets, citing anonymous US officials, reported the loss of a US Air Force F-15E fighter jet to enemy fire over Iran and the subsequent search for the downed airmen on Friday. Later reports indicated that two search-and-rescue helicopters were hit during operations, underscoring the risks of these kinds of missions.
White House pushes ahead on Golden Fleet and the new Trump-class battleship with a request for billions of dollars for shipbuilding Original
President Donald Trump's massive $1.5 trillion defense budget request includes $65.8 billion for Navy shipbuilding. It also establishes the new Golden Fleet, providing funding for the new Trump-class battleship, the White House said. Loading audio narration... The fiscal year 2027 shipbuilding request is a marked increase over last year, underscoring the Trump administration's push to expand the fleet and industrial base.
The US lost a fighter jet over Iran, reports say, adding to a growing list of aircraft losses in the war Original
The US military lost a fighter aircraft over Iran, according to multiple American media reports citing US officials, as well as Iranian reports. Loading audio narration... Iran's Tasnim, a semi-official news agency associated with the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said that Tehran shot down an American fighter jet. Both Iranian and American media reports say that a search for the pilots is ongoing.
The US is burning through expensive missiles. DARPA is looking for cheaper ones that can be built in days, not months. Original
The US military's research arm is looking for missiles that can be built in a matter of days rather than months. Loading audio narration... In recent documents posted on the government's contracting website, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, said it's looking for faster, cheaper ways to produce missiles, sensor technology, weapons avionics, and counter-air systems.
Shahed-killing interceptor drones may look simple, but building them to keep up with the threat isn't easy Original
Cheap, lightweight, and built for mass production, interceptor drones may look simple. Loading audio narration... They aren't. And keeping them relevant against evolving threats is anything but easy. Ukraine is making these inexpensive Shahed-killers at scale — it says up to roughly 2,000 a day — and demand is rising globally as militaries look beyond multimillion-dollar missiles to confront cheap, mass drone attacks.
Ukrainian troops showed 'greater tactical imagination' than Western trainers, British officer says, pointing to their ambush tactics Original
Ukrainian soldiers often showed far greater tactical imagination than their Western trainers, a former British trainer said, pointing to their ambush tactics. Loading audio narration... The UK leads multinational training for Ukrainian soldiers to prepare them for war with Russia, sharing Western best practices. In the process, though, Ukraine has shared its hard-won combat experience. Its troops have impressed and taught the soldiers training them.
The first Japanese destroyer to get Tomahawks will begin live-fire tests of the missiles this year Original
The first of Japan's destroyers is ready to carry Tomahawk missiles, with live-fire testing planned in the coming months. Loading audio narration... Modifications for launching Tomahawks mark a major development in Japan's defenses, providing the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force with a new, powerful weapon for its arsenal. Tokyo is also developing its own stand-off missile capabilities, paving the way for more ranged firepower.
The US military says its 70-year-old B-52 bombers are now flying overland missions as air superiority expands Original
The growing US air superiority over Iran is opening the door for B-52 Stratofortress bombers to fly overland missions, America's top general said Tuesday. The US Air Force has been flying its B-52 bomber fleet for over 70 years. Although it lacks the speed and stealth of bomber aircraft like the B-1 Lancers and B-2 Spirits, the B-52s are a workhorse strike platform and will continue to see service into the coming decades with major upgrades. At a Tuesday press briefing, Air Force Gen.
US allies are scrambling to buy Ukraine's counter-drone tech, but gear alone isn't enough to defeat the Shahed threat Original
American allies in Europe and the Middle East are scrambling to catch up to Ukraine on anti-drone tech, but just buying its tech isn't enough to meet the threat, officials and industry figures say. Loading audio narration... The Iran war has exposed gaps in the air defenses of the US and its allies in the Middle East. The defenses were built to stop missiles and combat aircraft, not low-cost attack drones that can be sent in massive waves.
These Kid Rock videos of an Apache helicopter hovering around his Nashville home have triggered an Army investigation Original
The US Army is investigating after videos showing at least one Apache attack helicopter hovering outside musician Kid Rock's home in Nashville were posted over the weekend. Loading audio narration... "The Army is aware of a video circulating online that appears to show AH‑64 Apache helicopters operating in the vicinity of a private residence in the Nashville area," Army spokesman Maj. Montrell Russell said in a statement to Business Insider.
Ukraine is developing interceptor drone swarms to defend against Russian attacks Original
Ukraine's defense industry is developing interceptor drone swarms to better protect its territory from massive Russian aerial attacks. The development work marks a major next step for interceptor drones, which have emerged over the past year as a top defense priority for Ukraine, given their low cost and scalability.
NATO official says members often aren't buying weapons together, and it's a mistake Original
NATO members aren't regularly buying weapons together, limiting how quickly and cheaply they can build up stockpiles, a senior alliance official said. Loading audio narration... Tarja Jaakola, NATO's assistant secretary general for defense industry, innovation, and armaments, said that allies can acquire weaponry most cost-effectively by jointly purchasing it.
Can't do a pull-up? This Marine colonel told us how to get your first rep Original
At a petite 4 feet, 10 inches, Misty Posey couldn't rely on her height to clear the Marine Corps obstacle course as a prospective young recruit. Instead, she learned to pull her entire body over it, eventually developing a pull-up program now used across the service. Posey, who is now 49 and a commanding officer leading a Marine unit in California, didn't grow up lifting weights and avoided strength training until she was in her 30s for fear of bulking up.
Inside NATO's 'Sentry' missions and the urgent drive to ready for new threats Original
NATO has rolled out new "Sentry" missions aimed at strengthening defenses across eastern and northern Europe, even into the Arctic, after years of warnings that its forces haven't kept pace with modern threats. These missions, launched over the past 15 months, include new capabilities but also expand or repackage existing NATO operations, from air policing patrols to regional deployments, under a more urgent framework.
The value of cheap weapons in modern war isn't just the low price Original
Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion has shown Western militaries the value of cheap weaponry in a large-scale conflict, and the advantages go beyond cost. Cheap weapons matter because they enable mass. That mass allows militaries to absorb losses, overwhelm defenses, and more. "We don't go for mass because it's cheap," retired Air Marshal Greg Bagwell, who spent 36 years in the British Royal Air Force and served as its joint warfare director, said.
The US Navy is pouring almost $1 billion into automating submarine production amid skilled worker shortages Original
The US Navy is investing $900 million in automated factories to build parts for its top nuclear submarines. The sea service and congressional analysts have said that the submarine industrial base needs thousands of additional workers to meet its production goals, with shortages across shipyards and suppliers slowing output. Facing worker shortages, delivery delays, and cost overruns on programs like the Columbia-class submarine, Navy leaders are turning to automation to speed production.
Drones haven't won the fight in Ukraine. That matters as the West learns new ways of war. Original
Drones are everywhere in Ukraine — hunting tanks, guiding artillery, and killing soldiers in staggering numbers. These weapons have reshaped how the war is fought, but they haven't decided it. Drone warfare in Ukraine is a survival tactic in a bloody slog, not necessarily a tool for victory. Defense experts argue that heavy drone usage in this war is a workaround for weak points, rather than a blueprint for decisive combat strength.
Total air defense is effectively impossible. In a major war, the West may have to make hard choices. Original
In a major armed conflict, even the most advanced militaries will not be able to stop all incoming attacks everywhere, forcing them to decide what they're willing to lose, a hard choice. Loading audio narration... The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are previewing possibilities for future fights as mass drone attacks stack on top of missiles in heavy ranged bombardments. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shown that targets in a large-scale war may not be military alone.
The US Navy's most advanced aircraft carrier pulled into port after months at sea facing combat, fire, and plumbing problems Original
The US Navy said on Monday that its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier has pulled into port in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, removing it from the fight with Iran. The first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford is in port at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, a US and NATO base located on the Greek island of Crete, where it will receive maintenance and repairs after operating in the Red Sea.
Ukraine says its 'red' team forces beat NATO's 'blue' team forces in every combat scenario during recent naval drone drills Original
Off the coast of Portugal, a Ukrainian-led team went up against NATO forces in a naval combat drill targeting ships and ports with naval drones. The Ukrainian "red" team, operating the naval drones, won in every scenario. Ukraine has employed a range of naval drones throughout the ongoing war with Russia, continuing to invest in the development of its naval drones, critical innovations that have provided its forces with a tremendous asymmetric advantage over Russia's large traditional navy.
Don't expect a quick and easy oil miracle from the US Navy in the Strait of Hormuz
The US Navy would need to lean heavily on its deployed destroyers if it were ordered to protect oil tankers from Iranian attack. Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Cheap drones, missiles, and mines make chokepoints like Hormuz harder for the US to secure quickly. US military forces could need weeks or months to fully secure shipping lanes. Even limited transit disruptions can spike oil prices and rattle global markets.
Don't expect a quick and easy oil miracle from the US Navy in the Strait of Hormuz Original
Securing the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global crude oil artery — is proving a far more complicated challenge than perhaps many investors had expected, given US military might. Loading audio narration... Energy and defense experts say the problem is the difficulty of sufficiently degrading Iran's ability to threaten it with missiles, mines, and increasingly prolific low-cost weaponry.
A US F-35 stealth fighter made an emergency landing after flying a combat run over Iran Original
A US F-35 stealth fighter jet made an emergency landing at a base in the Middle East after flying a combat mission over Iran, a military official confirmed on Thursday. Loading audio narration... "We are aware of reports that a US F-35 aircraft conducted an emergency landing at a regional US airbase after flying a combat mission over Iran," said Cpt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command. "The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition.
Russia is adding fiber-optic cables to its cheap 'Molniya' strike drones, making them unjammable Original
Russia is using fiber-optic cables to control some of its larger, fixed-wing strike drones, making them effectively immune to the electronic warfare interference that dominates the battlefield, a top Ukrainian drone expert confirmed. Loading audio narration...
A-10 Warthogs are 'in the fight' against Iran and hunting down its fast-attack boats, top US general says Original
US Air Force A-10 Warthogs are now chasing down Iranian fast-attack boats in the Strait of Hormuz, the top US general said Thursday. Loading audio narration... At a Thursday press briefing, Air Force Gen.
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