Nick Chen
8.7K posts
Quick note on the supposed capability gap from the Trump administration halting the planned MDTF long-range fires battalion deployment to Germany: the US Navy and Air Force can partially substitute: carrier strike groups with Tomahawk-armed destroyers and subs, B-52s and B-2s carrying JASSM-ER/LRASM, and forward-deployed F-35s. PrSM on HIMARS/M270 is already fielded across regular Army field artillery brigades and can fill part of the ground-based fires role. The harder gap, next to mid-range capability, is the MDTF sensor-to-shooter fusion.
The MDTF is also a key element in how the US Army envisions implementing multi-domain ops. I wrote about this and the potential escalatory risks in my book „Die Rückkehr des Krieges”.
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@secwar, @ASWCTDoddFather
Please pass on this vital msg and also reach out to small manufacturers not just the shiny corporations listed in the S&P or Dow Jones.
MANUFACTURE LOCAL®@JohnGardnerVoH
The Pentagon is asking major automakers how to boost weapons production. Someone needs to brief the President: the major automakers, just like our major defense primes, are mostly final assemblers. They outsource the actual manufacturing. The reality is that 65% of their components are built by the small shops that make up 90% of our industrial base. The exact same applies to naval shipbuilding. The prime shipyards are completely reliant on our 90% to build the actual parts, but Washington never asks us for the solutions on how to make America the Manufacturing Superpower of the world again. If Washington wants to rebuild the arsenal of freedom, they need to engage directly with the shop owners to learn what we need to achieve the President's goal. Here is the true math of the American industrial engine: • 48% of US manufacturers operate with 5 employees or LESS. • 75% have under 20. • 90% have fewer than 50. The real supply chain isn't built in a boardroom. It is built in the small shops. Perhaps @realpnavarro can bring this reality directly to the President. Engage the real builders who actually move the metal, and American manufacturers will out-build anyone.
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@manu_golla @Douglas4Wood Got to hand it to the USMC, they understand expeditionary and light vs US Airborne and Air Assault going with heavier platforms,lol.
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if it fits in the back of osprey the marines are going to want 10,000
Dylan Malyasov | 🧐@DylanMalyasov
The U.S. Army just tested an ISV-mounted mortar in the Philippines that fires 8 rounds and drives away in under two minutes — before the enemy can shoot back. Read more: defence-blog.com/u-s-army-evalu…
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Nick Chen retweetledi
This exchange between @SenBlumenthal and Trump’s judicial nominees is utterly astounding.
If you can watch this and still think this country isn’t falling into authoritarianism and fascism under Donald Trump, then you are not being honest with yourself.
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@ReelXEnt @SprinterPress Issue is that they're surprised. It's been known for a long time.
Only ones remotely close to taking an honest look at trends &being truly adaptive are the USMC.
CENTCOM knew & saw trends with drones hitting troops in the last years of Iraq, predating even Ukrainian battlefields.
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@SprinterPress People keep throwing around big claims like it is simple. War is not a social media debate.
Yes, reforms may be needed, but acting like the entire US military is outdated ignores reality and oversimplifies a very complex defense system.
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The US turned out to be unprepared for modern warfare, despite a nearly trillion-dollar military budget, according to The New York Times.
According to the publication, Iran is maintaining pressure and holding strong positions, including through the use of missiles and drones.
The US's problem lies in its reliance on expensive systems and its weak ability to quickly produce weapons, whereas modern warfare requires mass-produced and affordable solutions.
The US needs reforms, including the development of drones and the modernization of the defense industry.
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Nick Chen retweetledi
This pathetic piece of shit Raped Children.
Pass it on.
Not Your Average Liberal@NotAvgLiberal
This pathetic piece of shit Raped Children. Pass it on.
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@mysticalcolt @ColbyBadhwar Not with that puny 30lb warhead even if it's hypersonic.
I don't even think it has a hard penetrating case to allow for digging into hardened & deeply buried targets.
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@ColbyBadhwar Could it penetrate mountains better than a bunker buster?
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Deliveries of serial production LRHW All Up Rounds is still 2 years away.
Unclear how many RDT&E funded Tactical AURs have been ordered and delivered so far.
Colby Badhwar@ColbyBadhwar
🇺🇸 CENTCOM has made a Request for Forces submission to have the US Army's Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapon deployed to their Area of Responsibility. The justification is that Iran has moved their own missile TELs beyond the 500km range of the US Army's Precision Strike Missile. It would be the first combat deployment for the system, which has not yet completed operational testing. Via Bloomberg
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@zhinaslayer3000 @ColbyBadhwar Can you be specific? What's wrong with GD or Rheinmetall's other than neither has counter UAS systems?
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@ColbyBadhwar Both of the current submissions suck. Hopefully BAE can bring something that carries the spirit of the BFV
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🇺🇸 Some news on the US Army's Bradley replacement program. The Army issued a new RFI in February, opening the door to possibly re-competing requirement, rather than proceeding with an award of the XM30 contract to either Rheinmetall USA or General Dynamics Land Systems.
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@jamoses92 @Firestorm_Labs @SilentVentures But this would be manufacture of body parts and casting of frames. Not in situ production of engines or semiconductor chips which are still needed, no?
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IYKYK is really the best way to describe @Firestorm_Labs. What they've done in so little time, with relatively minor investment, is something we rarely see at @SilentVentures. This $82M raise really did put the defense ecosystem on notice. Many, many contracting vehicles live; actual deployments with the United States Air Force across the Indo-Pacific. @DanMagy, Chad McCoy, Ian Muceus, and their talented team are quiet, but operate with exceptional pedigree. To rethink and rebuild manufacturing from its foundation is one of those "plausible science fiction" pitches. I think many investors simply cannot wrap their head around eliminating supply chain bottlenecks by moving production capacity to the front lines. Go figure, a defense tech company that actually generates significant cash flow. The times are changing!
Silent Ventures@SilentVentures
We had the privilege of backing @DanMagy and team from the very beginning, leading Firestorm's Pre-Seed with @decisivepointvc and doubling down at Seed alongside Lockheed Martin Ventures. From day zero, the founders had a bold vision for manufacturing: remotely deploy industrial capabilities to the front-line. Watching this vision evolve into xCell - a containerized drone factory that produces autonomous systems in under 24 hours - has been nothing short of remarkable. Today, we applaud @Firestorm_Labs for completing an oversubscribed $82M Series B fundraise led by the good people at @WashingHarbour, with participation from @NEA @LockheedMartin @BoozAllen and IQT. Congratulations to the entire Firestorm family. Crazy to think the best is still to come. 🔥 axios.com/pro/all-deals/…
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@TrentTelenko For what? Switchblade 300 even if improved can only take out a few personnel and it's too expensive for that role.
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@cameron19460429 Yup.We need an MRBM that can dispense 250lb bombs w/penetrating casing so they dig in b4 detonating . Like GLSDB, but in an MRBM.
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PRSM inc 3 and Inc 4 should help alleviate some of the cost and stockpile concerns posed by LRHW however I would like the U.S army to acquire an affordable SRBM with a larger warhead than PRSM an a more affordable larger warhead MRBM.
PRSM is limited by MFOM form factor reqs.
Colby Badhwar@ColbyBadhwar
🇺🇸 CENTCOM has made a Request for Forces submission to have the US Army's Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapon deployed to their Area of Responsibility. The justification is that Iran has moved their own missile TELs beyond the 500km range of the US Army's Precision Strike Missile. It would be the first combat deployment for the system, which has not yet completed operational testing. Via Bloomberg
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@HellfireGinsu @Trippy_McGuire @MGecko117 Neither can a grenade rifle, they aren't accurate, if you need to do that use the designated guided missile
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China in 2011: “We have auto-loading 35mm airburst grenade guns built to destroy enemies behind trenches at 1000m”
Everyone: “What a stupid idea, it’ll never work”
US in 2026: “We have auto-loading 30mm airburst grenade guns built to destroy enemies behind trenches at 500m”
Everyone: “Wow this is like my le warhammer 40k in le real life, what a great idea!”
Chris Cappy@Cappyarmy
The US Army's new 30mm airburst grenade gun is built to destroy Russian trenches with precision explosives at 500m. It aims to change entire infantry squad, you will have 2 per squad one in each fireteam. This will be their primary weapon weighing about 11 lbs no side M4.
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@dbryant_MU13 @USronaldcarter Isn't there another solution to avoid this gerrymandering mess done on both sides?
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@HellfireGinsu @USronaldcarter Congressional districts are for your state representatives in the House of Representatives. They represent that district. The 1 vote only regardless of address applies to statewide elections for governor and senators.
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NOBODY IS TELLING YOU THE REAL STORY OF THE SCOTUS VOTING RIGHTS RULING
Yes, the Court ruled 6-3.
Yes, race-based districting is now unconstitutional.
Yes, Louisiana's map got thrown out.
But here's the part everyone is missing:
Democrats don't have a House majority without those court-ordered maps.
→ A dozen of their current seats sit in districts that only exist because federal courts FORCED states to draw them
→ Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina — every one has at least one Democrat seat in a court-created black-majority district
→ Their House margin is FOUR seats
→ SCOTUS just made 12 of their 213 seats legally redrawable
→ Republican-led legislatures don't need new voters — they need a redistricting committee and a Tuesday afternoon
If race-based districts are unconstitutional, then Louisiana redraws.
If Louisiana redraws, then Alabama redraws.
If Alabama redraws, then every Southern state redraws.
If every Southern state redraws, the Democrat House majority was a 60-year courtroom artifact — not an election result.
That's what nobody is saying out loud.
The 2026 midterms were just decided 6-3 — six months before Election Day.
if you're not following me you're finding out about this 48 hours late from someone who read my post..
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@Legolago1 @VetDad25 @BDHerzinger Sure, but why do it in an area that is swarming with overhead Chinese sats at the moment & spy ships?
Would only do this if we knew w/out doubt we can hack and jam Chinese SIGINT from capturing missile telemetry and flight profile. Otherwise we are making it too easy for them.
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Finally, we start burning the *really* important, exquisite munitions on a war nobody wants.
Colby Badhwar@ColbyBadhwar
🇺🇸 CENTCOM has made a Request for Forces submission to have the US Army's Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapon deployed to their Area of Responsibility. The justification is that Iran has moved their own missile TELs beyond the 500km range of the US Army's Precision Strike Missile. It would be the first combat deployment for the system, which has not yet completed operational testing. Via Bloomberg
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@DeltaClimbs That warhead on the Dark Eagle is abysmally small at 30lb.
Even with hypersonic speeds to add punch, this thing is limited in its target set.
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You think that's cool, just wait until you see what's planned for block II, which I know absolutely nothing about, of course, but one might wonder
Anyway, these aren't your Castellion "hypersonic" missile PrSM competitors. This is the real deal.
Let's crank things up...
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@CUAS_NEWS @AMGeneral_LLC @ModernDayMarine I like the Fireant being able to carry all that, but worry that it's a bit too too heavy for such a narrow wheel base.
It would easily topple over when making a turn, no?
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🇺🇸 AM General (@AMGeneral_LLC) showcased its unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) with counter-drone configurations during Modern Day Marine (@ModernDayMarine).
Debuted in March at AUSA Global Force, the UGV is a collaboration between Carnegie Robotics that integrated robust,low-cost autonomy stack and Textron Systems hardware and software control layer.
At the show UGV is equipped with Moog's Reconfigurable Self‑Loading Equipment Dock (MR SLED) - a modular, mission‑ready Air Defense/C‑UAS solution built around the proven RIwP® turret fielded on SGT Stout and MLIDS.
And there is enough room for Swarmbotic's FireAnt attritable sUGV.
Learn more >> tinyurl.com/35yesfnt
@Moog_Inc @SwarmboticsAI @CarnegieRobotic @TXTSystems
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@BellFlight Wasn't K-MAX doing this years ago in Afghanistan?
What am I missing?
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@OPTester_Chris @ColbyBadhwar They could maybe idk make something inbetween prism and hypersonic? Other countries have plenty of MRBM to choose from
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Do not use bespoke weapons to make a point or test them for some godforsaken reason.
To call it a “test” is misleading. That would require the ability to gather data, or truth, on all sorts of things from flight dynamics, warhead accuracy, etc.
Using it to make a point discloses weapon system performance and possible limitations to potential adversaries.
Please and thank you for attending my TED Talk
Colby Badhwar@ColbyBadhwar
🇺🇸 CENTCOM has made a Request for Forces submission to have the US Army's Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapon deployed to their Area of Responsibility. The justification is that Iran has moved their own missile TELs beyond the 500km range of the US Army's Precision Strike Missile. It would be the first combat deployment for the system, which has not yet completed operational testing. Via Bloomberg
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Soldiers 🪖 of the 4th Infantry Division recently tested and trained with the newest Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) prototypes at U.S. Army Fort Carson.
Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) is a U.S. Army initiative for a head-borne, AI-enabled digital platform, designed to provide dismounted soldiers with real-time situational awareness, sensor fusion, and tactical command capabilities. The system connects soldiers to a common operational picture in contested environments
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