In The News

Michael Kofman says, “What I see in that military is that it's just very uneven. It's very uneven because there are folks that have come from civilian life and some have had a bunch of training and some had very little."

Samuel Bendett says, "The whole point is cost. These are extremely cost effective."

David Finkelstein says, “Whatever is happening with the former leadership of the P.L.A., Rocket Force will remain mostly opaque to the outside world. Either way, the message to the force will be: ‘No one, however high in rank, is beyond the long reach of the party when lapses in discipline have occurred.’”

Samuel Bendett says, “Over decades, non-Russian high-tech systems and technologies became more advanced and really have become industry and global standards. So, a Russian military, as well as its civilian economy, have become dependent.”

Samuel Bendett says, “Ukraine made an operational decision to strike at Russian logistical and supply lines, supply chains, facility warehouses, etc., to really try and degrade Russian forces stationed at the front. This is a long-term project. The results will not be visible right away, but we are seeing some spectacular successes.”

Ralph Espach has said, “China’s military outreach to Latin America bears watching but is not yet cause for alarm. Meetings and agreements have increased … but China’s weapons sales are insignificant, and it does not have the presence that other countries do, particularly the United States.”

Jonathan Schroden wrote in a tweet, “The fact that the (seemingly) most substantive talks between the US & the #Taliban since the signing of the Doha deal in 2020 didn’t even register as a news item here makes clear where #Afghanistan stands on the US list of priorities these days.”

Samuel Bendett says that it is difficult to define "winning" despite Ukraine's apparent success in striking "deep into Russia's heartland."

Samuel Bendett says that Russian state media have also reported that residents working in the financial district are now staying home, rather than venturing into the area.

Samuel Bendett says, “The Ukrainian defense industry is learning and adapting very quickly.”

Jonathan Schroden says that, the Taliban have taken no serious actions against other groups such as al-Qaida and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which "is troubling to the U.S. and its Western allies, as well as to China, Russia and other regional countries.

Samuel Bendett says, “Both sides are leaning heavily on FPV-type drones — light, portable, kamikaze, expendable systems. There’s a need, right now, for a large number of FPV-type drones. But there’s also a need to advance that development further out, beyond just the immediate line of contact, to where these drones can strike in the rear.”

Samuel Bendett says, “They are making gains indeed, and this is that very difficult stage of attritional warfare where both sides are trying to gain advantage. Again, we have discussed before that Russians have established massive amounts of fortifications along the front to slow down the Ukrainians. And on some parts of the front, that set of fortifications has been successful, and the Russian tactics have been successful.”

Samuel Bendett says, "Since many countries in South America do not have large military budgets, they may opt to procure UAVs they think can best fit their requirements, such as relatively low costs and significant combat potential."

Josiah Case says that by publicly announcing its intercepts at sea and in the air, Beijing is sending messages not only to the United States and its allies and partners but also to the Chinese public. The Chinese Communist Party “is really concerned in sending the right message to its people.”

Samuel Bendett says, “With tens of thousands of people going through drone training on both sides of this war, it is very likely that this experience is spreading far and wide, including to nefarious actors.”