HG S2 (Intel Bot)

So, is this the time to make battleships great again? I would be hard-pressed to think of a better guest to help us explore that question than returning guest, Rob Farley. A starting point for our conversation will be his article from December, The Trump-Class Battleship Summed Up In 1 Word. You can listen at this link, subscribe to the podcast, or listen at the Spotify widget below. Show LinksThe Battleship Book, by Robert Farley’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Lawyers, Guns, and Money Dr. Robert Farley’s X Profile Dr. Robert Farley’s Blue Sky Profile My thoughts on SLCM-N SummaryIn this episode, Dr. Robert Farley discusses the concept of battleships, their historical significance, and the strategic considerations for modern naval warfare. The conversation covers technological challenges, political implications, and future force structure planning. Chapters00:00: Introduction to the Battleship Debate 02:31: Historical Context and Modern Relevance of Battleships 07:44: Survivability and Modern Warfare Challenges 13:11: The Role of Nuclear Capabilities in Battleships 20:11: Political and Strategic Implications of Battleship Armament 23:15: Technological Innovations and Future of Naval Warfare 32:36: Design Philosophy and Size of Modern Warships 39:32: Historical Lessons and Future Capabilities 46:03: Political Implications of Naval Procurement 52:30 Shipbuilding Challenges and Future Directions Dr. Robert Farley has taught security and diplomacy courses at the Patterson School since 2005. He received his BS from the University of Oregon in 1997, and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 2004. In addition to the book of the moment, The Battleship Book (Wildside, 2016), Dr. Farley is the author of Grounded: The Case for Abolishing the United States Air Force (University Press of Kentucky, 2014), and Patents for Power: Intellectual Property Law and the Diffusion of Military Technology (University of Chicago, 2020). He has contributed extensively to a number of journals and magazines, including the National Interest, the Diplomat: APAC, World Politics Review, and the American Prospect. Dr. Farley is also a founder and senior editor of Lawyers, Guns and Money. Leave a comment Share This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. View the full article

Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed two Russian military helicopters — a Ka-52 attack helicopter and a Mi-8 multirole helicopter — during a drone strike on the Pugachevka airfield in Russia’s Oryol region on the evening of February 20, 2026, according to reporting by Militarnyi. The attack highlights Ukraine’s continued use of long-range strike drones to target […]View the full article

New satellite imagery has confirmed extensive destruction at Russia’s Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a key missile production hub in the Udmurt Republic, following a Ukrainian strike carried out on the night of February 21, according to independent open-source analysts. The confirmation through satellite imagery provides the first visual assessment of damage at one of Russia’s […]View the full article

Two United States defense companies have announced a new maritime security partnership aimed at protecting offshore energy and shipping operations in the Gulf of America, according to a public statement promoted by Polaris Media. The agreement brings together South Carolina-based marine autonomy specialist Janus Marine & Defense LLC and New Mexico-based RF systems contractor Raven […]View the full article

Israeli robotics company Macushla has developed the Shadowfax unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) equipped with the SAURON Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS). According to Macushla, Shadowfax was developed as a flexible robotic platform adaptable to multiple operational scenarios. The company described the system as “the new Swiss army knife that can be kitted for every operational […]View the full article

Soldiers assigned to the United States Army’s 17th Field Artillery Brigade conducted a ground raid mission using the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) 26-02 in Alaska, validating long-range precision fires in extreme Arctic conditions while supporting the 11th Airborne Division, the Army said. The live-fire event focused […]View the full article

Russia struck a United States–owned Mondelez factory in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Trostianets on February 21, damaging a civilian food production facility that manufactures the well-known Oreo cookies and other American snack products for the Ukrainian market, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The missile hit one of the plant’s production buildings, though […]View the full article

The United States Army briefly published new official images of its Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon system before removing them without explanation, with the photographs quickly spreading online after their deletion. The images, released and then withdrawn within a short period, showed updated views of the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), a trailer-launched strategic strike […]View the full article

Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern presented a range of weapons and mobility systems currently in demand in combat operations in Ukraine during a defense exhibition hosted by state corporation Rostec, where company representatives demonstrated new electric military transport platforms alongside small arms and reconnaissance equipment. The presentation was shown to Rostec chief executive Sergei Chemezov as part […]View the full article

The United States Marine Corps has awarded Oshkosh Defense LLC a $16,8 million contract modification supporting procurement of Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE-Fires) carriers used in the Navy and Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, according to an official contract announcement released Feb. 20, 2026. The work will be performed across multiple U.S. […]View the full article

The United States Army awarded Lockheed Martin Corp a $43,5 million contract modification on Feb. 20, 2026, supporting product assurance and launcher recapitalization for the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) air and missile defense system, according to an official contract announcement. The modification increases the total cumulative value of the contract to $223 million. The award […]View the full article

The United States Army Corps of Engineers has awarded Exyte US, based in Albany, New York, a $96,2 million contract to support infrastructure construction and aircraft bed-down for Israel’s incoming CH-53K King Stallion helicopters, according to an official contract announcement. The work will be performed in Israel with an estimated completion date of March 23, […]View the full article

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces released combat footage showing the detection and destruction of a Russian 300-mm Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system during an operation conducted on occupied territory in the Zaporizhzhia region. The strike was carried out by operators of the “Ptahi” unit from the 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces, coordinated by […]View the full article

Ukraine carried out a long-range strike overnight on February 21 targeting Russia’s Votkinsk Machine Building Plant in Udmurtia, a key facility tied to Moscow’s ballistic missile production program. Explosions were reported shortly before midnight local time, followed by a large fire inside the industrial complex located roughly 1,400 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The attack […]View the full article

Lithuania has begun construction of a new rail connection to the Rudninkai military training area to improve troop and equipment transport in support of a German brigade deployment, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence announced in February 2026. The project is intended to accelerate military mobility and ensure reliable movement of forces and heavy equipment […]View the full article

It is curious what the U.S. military chooses to honor. There are five or so U.S. Army units that in one way or another refer to themselves as “Spartans.” Even the U.S. Navy and USAF have a unit or two in that game. It isn’t just ancient Greek history; it is all over the place. Heck, back in the day, the U.S. Navy had an attack squadron named the Clansmen, with a “C” not a “K”, VA-46, that served from 1955 to 1991. It was stationed in the very un-Scottish Cecil Field in the piney woods of northeast Florida. Yes, the U.S.A. is a young country, but we have plenty of martial legends of our own—well-documented with real people from real units. You don’t have to look far. As this is my blog, I’ll pick something that is very tangentially connected to my American story, but still connected. Let’s set the scene. At age 16, you enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in the Mexican American War. A decade and a half later, you find your nation embroiled in a Civil War and are offered a commission in the Eighteenth Ohio Infantry. Subsequently you were brevetted for gallant and meritorious service at the battle of Chickamauga on the 29th of September, 1863. You participated in the Atlanta and Jonesboro campaigns and on the 1st of September, 1864, was brevetted major for distinguished gallantry. The U.S. Civil War just ended, and there you find yourself, at the edge of nowhere. 37 years old with 20 years of service, facing a new enemy. An enemy so brutal that your Soldiers make various plans to kill themselves before they would ever let themselves be captured alive. A month earlier, you had to go through an investigation about the Fetterman Massacre the previous December, with questions that, if you have ever been part of a U.S. military investigation, remind you that the U.S. military has a lot of traditions. Question: What evidence have you, that the Indians who appeared so frequently, were all hostile. Answer: By their killing any and every White Man they could, and taking the herd whenever they could do so by fighting for it. … Question: Who brought in the first reliable information of the fate of Col. Fetterman and party. Answer: The men in advance of the returning command. Question: At what time did Capt. Ten Eyck return to the Post. Answer: Shortly after sundown, and brought with him about thirty of the bodies of the dead. Question: When were the remainder recovered. Answer: Next day, about sundown. Question: Who went out for the remaining bodies. Answer: Col. Carrington, Capt. Ten Eyck, and Lt. Matson, with eighty or ninety enlisted men. Question: Did you see the bodies when they were brought into the Post. Answer: I did. Question: From their appearance, how were they killed. Answer: They were killed with arrows, and in some cases their bodies were chopped to pieces, and all their bodies were more or less mutilated. Question: Did any of Col. Fetterman’s party escape alive. Answer: Not one, every man that left this garrison under his command, was brought back dead, including two citizens, Jas. Wheately [sic] and Mr. Fisher. At the bottom, I am going to post a superb video of the battle (I don’t like the term ‘fight’ that too many places call it), but let’s get the very direct, first-person report from then-Brevet Major Powell. Pay attention to the numbers. Head Quarters Company C 27th Infantry Fort Philip Kearney, D. T., August 4th, 1867. To the Post Adjutant, Fort Philip Kearney, D. T. Sir, I have the honor to present for the information of the Post and Department Commanders a report of the engagement between a large body of hostile Indians, supposed to be Sioux Cheyennes and Arappahoes [sic], numbering at the lowest estimate three thousand (3,000) men, and part of my Company (C.27th Infantry) consisting of twenty-six enlisted men four civilians and two Officers (myself included), which occurred near Piney Island, five miles from this post, on the 2d day of August 1867. On the 31st day of July 1867 pursuant to Special Order No. 128, bearing date July 31st, 1867, I left this post with fifty one (51) enlisted men and one (1) Officer, for the purpose of escorting and furnishing details to protect the laboring parties engaged by contractor J. R. Porter in hauling fuel to the Post. Upon my arrival at the above named place I found the train divided; one part encamped on a plateau, and with one exception, the position well selected for defence [sic], and the best security that the country afforded for the stock; the other part was encamped about one mile distant in a south westerly direction, on a commanding point across the Little Piney Creek, at the foot of the [Bighorn] Mountains. My details consisted in sending twelve (12) men to protect the working parties of both trains and thirteen (13) men as escort to the trains when coming into the post. On the morning in question I had made the usual details, which left the twenty six (26) men, four (4) citizens and one (1) Officer above mentioned at my disposal. About 9 o’clock in the morning two hundred (200) Indians attacked the herders in charge of the herd, driving them back off; at the same time some five hundred (500) attacked the train at the foot of the Mountains, driving off the men belonging there and burning it. Some fifteen minutes afterwards I was surrounded by about eight hundred (800) mounted Indians, but owing to the very effective fire of my small party they were driven back with considerable loss. Finding they could not enter the corral they retired to a hill about six hundred (600) yards distant and there stripped for more determined fighting; then with additional reinforcements continued to charge on foot for three consecutive hours, but were each time repulsed. The hills in the immediate vicinity were covered with Indians who merely acted as spectators, until they saw how fruitless were the efforts of their comrades near my corral when they also moved up and seemed determined to carry my position at all hazards and massacre my command, which they undoubtably would have done but that Pvt. Lieut. Col. Benjamin F. Smith Major 27th U. S. Inft. was seen approaching with reinforcements when they retired, leaving some of their dead and wounded near the corral, thus closing the fight about half past twelve (12 1/2) o’clock P. M. In my opinion there were not less than sixty (60) Indians killed on the spot, and one hundred and twenty (120) severely wounded, although the citizens who took part in the action are of the opinion that my estimate is far below the actual figures. The following is a list of the casualties at my corral. Killed 1 Lieutenant John C. Jenness, 27th U. S. Infantry Private Thomas C. Doyle ” Thomas Haggerty ” Horace Kittridge Killed while escaping from the other corral ” Hermann Lang Killed while escaping from the other corral ” George W. Haines Wounded Private Nelson W. Demming Co C 27th Inft., shoulder ” John L. Somers, Thigh That we escaped with such a comparatively small loss considering the large number operating against us, and their being so well provided with carbines and other breech loading arms, is due in a very great measure to the gallantry and coolness displayed by the men of my command together with their excellent marksmanship. In the death of Lieutenant Jenness the service has lost a gallant and promising young officer, one who had endeared himself to his comrades and who on the morning of his death fell while setting a noble example of coolness and daring to those who were serving with him. I am Sir Very Respectfully Your Ob’d’t Servant James Powell Captain Co. C. 27th Infantry, Brevet Major, U. S. A. Commanding Company The Powell Project, where I got the above, has something you could close a miniseries with. No longer a Brevet Major, back to Captain. Fort Philip Kearney August 4th 1867 To the Asst Adjt Genl Department of the Platte Omaha Neb Sir, I have the honor to apply for a leave of absence for ninety (90) days. Commencing on the 1st of October or November next-; for the purpose of visiting my family and attending to some [illegible] matters which they cannot possibly settle without my presence. I have not had a leave of absence for several years and in the event of this application being granted my company would still have a commissioned officer on duty with it. I am Sir Very Respectfully Your Obdt Svt James Powell Captain “C” Co 27 U.S. Inftry The man saw a lot of war. It was time to come home. I can appreciate that. He lived another 26 years, dying at age 71 in Peoria, Illinois. You can visit him at the Springfield Cemetery if you’re there. What about the men he fought with on that day? If you ever find yourself on Interstate 90 between Casper, Wyoming and Billings, Montana—perhaps coming back from a bike weekend in Sturgis, South Dakota—take a moment to hop off I-90 and head west on Highway 90 for about a mile, and then take a left on Wagon Box Road. The monument is only a dozen minutes or so off the interstate. I think they earned a visit. Final note: what does this have to do with ‘Ole Sal? Well, as regulars know, multiple lines of my family fought through the entire U.S. Civil War with Company C of the 7th Mississippi Infantry. They fought from Shiloh all the way until the final surrender in North Carolina. They were all in the Atlanta Campaign and fought opposite James Powell in many of those battles. In the Battle of Jonesboro, I’ve always liked this quote from Captain D. Stanton Bruch from our sister company, Company E, at the close of action of the 7th Mississippi on 31 August, 1864. You can find the quote in Volume 2 of my signed edition of Ron Skellie’s, Lest We Forget: The Immortal 7th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. Atlanta evacuated. Health of company good, casualties heavy. First we win at the railroad cut, then we retreat, then we attack at Lickskillet and Ezra Church and we get whipped, then we survive a month in red clay ditches to get beat at Jonesboro and now we hear Atlanta’s lost and “smart men” call it an evacuation. I do know that for those who are still alive our health is good, but for those ‘heavy casualties’ theres ain’t so good. What I do know is the report should say…Atlanta falls-enuff said-let’s go! My direct Great-Great Grandfather was, like me, a recidivist staff weenie and spent most of the war on General Joseph E. Johnston’s staff and survived the war…and there are stories from his time my family knows that perhaps best left to be told over drinks. Leave a comment Share This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. View the full article

The United States Navy has approved Raytheon’s StormBreaker smart weapon for operational use on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter, the company announced Feb. 20, 2026. The approval expands the Navy’s precision strike capability at a time when naval aviation forces are adapting to contested environments that demand engagement of mobile targets in poor visibility […]View the full article

The United States Marine Corps has decided to retain the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle for its close combat formations rather than adopt the Army’s M7 Next Generation Squad Weapon rifle, a Marine Corps spokesperson confirmed to Task & Purpose. “The Marine Corps will retain the M27 for our close combat formations as it best aligns […]View the full article

The United States Air Force used the Skiron X hybrid unmanned aircraft as a simulated enemy drone during counter-UAS training at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany on Feb. 19, 2026, according to a statement from the 7th Army Training Command. Instructors supporting the Air Force’s Joint Multi-Domain Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator Course flew […]View the full article

Residents in western Belarus have reported sudden reserve call-ups and rapid deployment orders near the country’s border with NATO member states, according to statements from opposition officials and local accounts published Feb. 2026, raising attention over what critics describe as an undeclared mobilization effort. Reports from the regions of Grodno, Slonim, and the village of […]View the full article

Florida-based Petrel Technologies announced new performance results for its AERO Sky hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, confirming the unmanned system achieved six hours of flight endurance and extended reconnaissance reach during recent testing, the company said in a statement released in February 2026. According to the company, the hybrid-electric aircraft demonstrated sustained airborne […]View the full article

The United States Air Force has awarded DCS, based in Alexandria, Virginia, a nearly $100 million research and development contract to deliver advanced tools designed to model and predict mission-level operational effects across multiple warfighting domains, according to a contract announcement released Feb. 19, 2026. The $94,745,601 contract provides the Air Force with analytical capabilities […]View the full article

BAE Systems FalconWorks and SURVICE Engineering have signed a framework agreement to collaborate on the development of uncrewed air system (UAS) technologies, expanding cooperation tied to military logistics drones and future tactical unmanned aircraft, the companies announced in a joint statement. The agreement builds on an existing partnership dating back to 2015 involving Malloy Aeronautics, […]View the full article

I know it is just a little bit more than a week after my last post on the outstanding performance of the under-appreciated Expeditionary Mobile Base (ESB)—by the way, can we get this class of ships a proper classification? We have other options. However, they are doing the heavy lifting again in the post-Maduro takedown. Here we have U.S. forces capturing the tanker VERONICA III in the Indian Ocean. The tanker is linked to the illegal transportation of crude oil from Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. She could run, but could not hide from the yet-to-be named U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke destroyer. And as Sal Mercogliano let us know over the weekend, in the background of the picture you can see the USS Miguel Keith (ESB-3). In a fashion, she is functioning as a mini-LHA, carrying helicopters and forces used for boarding these vessels…and probably all sorts of other goodies. I would just like to underline that we only have six of these ships; four commissioned and two on order. That is it. Two things need to happen. Extend the buy to at least two, preferably four. Buy and pay for them as a batch purchase, and demand a discount for doing so. We need to up-arm these ships. There is no reason they should not have at least SeaRAM and a couple of 30mm MK 38 remote weapons stations. It is criminal that the crew is only provided—I believe—with .50 cal M2 machine guns as their largest defensive weapon system. NB: for full disclosure, I am not a neutral party in this argument. You can go back to 2012 and the experimentation with USS Ponce (LPD 15) and read about my enthusiasm about the concept, or listen to our Midrats Podcast with her CO from 2014. Leave a comment Share This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. View the full article

Swarm Aero announced the opening of its Advanced Manufacturing Center on Feb. 17, 2026, at Drake Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas, marking the launch of an 80,000-square-foot facility designed to produce large uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms, the company said during a ribbon-cutting event attended by Congressman Steve Womack. According to the company, the Arkansas facility […]View the full article