Reuben Johnson

Stories by Reuben Johnson

Three reasons Russia dismissed Sergei Shoigu, its longtime defense minister

Three reasons Russia dismissed Sergei Shoigu, its longtime defense minister
Three reasons Russia dismissed Sergei Shoigu, its longtime defense minister

Andrei Belousov will be the third in a series of Russian Defense Ministers with no military experience and no background in national security matters.

What a Chinese academic’s takedown of Russia says about Beijing’s view of Moscow

What a Chinese academic’s takedown of Russia says about Beijing’s view of Moscow
What a Chinese academic’s takedown of Russia says about Beijing’s view of Moscow

China watchers are asking whether Feng’s article is a step in the evolution of differences in Chinese and Russian positions — or is it an overt signal of internal Chinese Communist Party debate over Beijing’s policy of supporting Putin’s war in Ukraine?

Ukraine’s strikes deep into Russia have a new tool: A small commercial plane

Ukraine’s strikes deep into Russia have a new tool: A small commercial plane
Ukraine’s strikes deep into Russia have a new tool: A small commercial plane

The A-22, a small, Ukrainian-designed, hobbyist-grade aircraft made by the firm Aeroprakt, could prove to be a deep strike option for Kyiv.

After historic shoot-down, why Russia will struggle to replace its A-50 AEW&C plane

After historic shoot-down, why Russia will struggle to replace its A-50 AEW&C plane
After historic shoot-down, why Russia will struggle to replace its A-50 AEW&C plane

As rumors swirl about an alleged cagey Ukrainian operation, sanctions are likely to hurt any chances at new A-50s rolling off Russian lines with enough specialists to man it, experts told Breaking Defense.

Clearing Ukrainian land of dangerous mines, ordinance will take decades, EOD firm says

Clearing Ukrainian land of dangerous mines, ordinance will take decades, EOD firm says
Clearing Ukrainian land of dangerous mines, ordinance will take decades, EOD firm says

The task “will be unlike any previous former battle zone,” Henrik Faerch, CEO of the Danish mine clearing firm Damasec, told Breaking Defense.

Why Russia now has to use its A-50U closer to the fight in Ukraine

Why Russia now has to use its A-50U closer to the fight in Ukraine
Why Russia now has to use its A-50U closer to the fight in Ukraine

“They will have to decide what costs them more: to lose one or more of these A-50s or to continue to see their combat aircraft and S-400 units progressively degraded,” a Ukrainian expert told Breaking Defense.

Production and politics: The twin concerns that could derail arming Ukraine

Production and politics: The twin concerns that could derail arming Ukraine
Production and politics: The twin concerns that could derail arming Ukraine

Last week’s European Council meeting in Brussels ended with a pledge that Ukraine will “remain a priority,” but there are fissures, both political and logistical, in Kyiv’s support.

Russia’s Air Force ‘eating into’ aircraft lifespans, with no easy solution

Russia’s Air Force ‘eating into’ aircraft lifespans, with no easy solution
Russia’s Air Force ‘eating into’ aircraft lifespans, with no easy solution

“When it comes to the Russian VKS all you can say sometimes is ‘thank God for shoddy maintenance,’” a NATO-nation military aviation analyst told Breaking Defense.

In Argentina’s fighter competition, Washington and Beijing fight for regional influence

In Argentina’s fighter competition, Washington and Beijing fight for regional influence
In Argentina’s fighter competition, Washington and Beijing fight for regional influence

SOUTHCOM head Gen. Laura Richardson spelled it out clearly, saying Chinese investment in the region means Beijing is “on the 20-yard line of our homeland.”

What an S-400 kill and a spec ops raid reveal about Ukraine’s ability to hit Russia

What an S-400 kill and a spec ops raid reveal about Ukraine’s ability to hit Russia
What an S-400 kill and a spec ops raid reveal about Ukraine’s ability to hit Russia

According to Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, the Neptune preformed “flawlessly” during the Aug. 23 attack on a Russian Almaz-Antei S-400 “Triumf” air and missile defense complex.

China’s J-20 fighter seems to have a new homegrown engine, after years of struggle

China’s J-20 fighter seems to have a new homegrown engine, after years of struggle
China’s J-20 fighter seems to have a new homegrown engine, after years of struggle

“No one wants the Chinese to become capable of designing and building their own jet engines,” said a retired NATO-nation intelligence officer who spoke to Breaking Defense.

‘Show the flag’: In Paris, Ukrainian propulsion organization says it’s working amid war

‘Show the flag’: In Paris, Ukrainian propulsion organization says it’s working amid war
‘Show the flag’: In Paris, Ukrainian propulsion organization says it’s working amid war

Air attacks haven’t stopped the Ivchenko/Progress Design Bureau’s work “support[ing] the armed forces,” a rep told Breaking Defense.

How the war in Ukraine is impacting security in the Indo-Pacific

How the war in Ukraine is impacting security in the Indo-Pacific
How the war in Ukraine is impacting security in the Indo-Pacific

At this year’s Shangri-La Diaglogue, it was impossible to escape talk of the conflict thousands of miles away.

At Malaysia’s largest defense show, Turkey and China fight to make inroads

At Malaysia’s largest defense show, Turkey and China fight to make inroads
At Malaysia’s largest defense show, Turkey and China fight to make inroads

Running a close second to Turkey’s presence at LIMA were a constellation of PRC firms, including large exhibits from four of the major state-owned defense firms.

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