Reuben Johnson

Stories by Reuben Johnson

Korean Aerospace Industries eyes new fighter designs, FA-50 sales in Pacific

Korean Aerospace Industries eyes new fighter designs, FA-50 sales in Pacific
Korean Aerospace Industries eyes new fighter designs, FA-50 sales in Pacific

Underpinning KAI’s plan is an overall goal of reducing the company’s dependence on Korean government procurement and to increase sales in the export market.

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Armed with Storm Shadow, Ukraine could ‘starve’ Russian front lines of logistics, leadership

Armed with Storm Shadow, Ukraine could ‘starve’ Russian front lines of logistics, leadership
Armed with Storm Shadow, Ukraine could ‘starve’ Russian front lines of logistics, leadership

Giving the long-range missile to Ukraine “will help them to hit the command-and-control nodes, the logistics, where you have a sort of coalescence of Russian soldiers,” Rear Admiral Tim Woods told Breaking Defense.

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A Russian Su-34 accidentally bombed a Russian city. Here’s what it tells us about Putin’s forces.

A Russian Su-34 accidentally bombed a Russian city. Here’s what it tells us about Putin’s forces.
A Russian Su-34 accidentally bombed a Russian city. Here’s what it tells us about Putin’s forces.

“Using the Su-34 to drop unguided bombs is like pressing a Rolls-Royce automobile into being used as a taxicab,” a former Russian aviation designer told Breaking Defense.

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Why drones targeted a Russian A-50U, vital for hypersonic Kinzhal strikes

Why drones targeted a Russian A-50U, vital for hypersonic Kinzhal strikes
Why drones targeted a Russian A-50U, vital for hypersonic Kinzhal strikes

A defense attaché to Kyiv told Breaking Defense that anytime the A-50 was aloft it was accompanied by two or more MiG-31Ks and that there was no telling when or if these aircraft might launch on demand.

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One year in, finding a path forward for a Ukrainian victory

One year in, finding a path forward for a Ukrainian victory
One year in, finding a path forward for a Ukrainian victory

One volunteer ferrying supplies and vehicles into the city of Bakhmut told Breaking Defense the Russian forces attacking act “like a zombie army.”

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At Munich Conference, Ukraine drives an unusual focus on acquisition over policy

At Munich Conference, Ukraine drives an unusual focus on acquisition over policy
At Munich Conference, Ukraine drives an unusual focus on acquisition over policy

Last week’s Munich Security Conference included call-outs on specific weapon systems, an unusual occurrence at the normally high-minded dialogue.

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Putin’s comments underline growing Russian concern over jet, tank production

Putin’s comments underline growing Russian concern over jet, tank production
Putin’s comments underline growing Russian concern over jet, tank production

Experienced observers of Russia’s defense sector point out that the US-led sanctions have a disproportionate effect on aerospace production, more so than any other sector.

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‘Everybody has weapons’: Russia’s balkanized military sparks civil unrest concerns

‘Everybody has weapons’: Russia’s balkanized military sparks civil unrest concerns
‘Everybody has weapons’: Russia’s balkanized military sparks civil unrest concerns

The Wagner Group is one of several armed factions that rarely coordinate with Russia’s mainline military forces – and more may be forming.

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Ukraine held off Russia for nine months. Here’s what it needs to keep going.

Ukraine held off Russia for nine months. Here’s what it needs to keep going.
Ukraine held off Russia for nine months. Here’s what it needs to keep going.

Despite its ingenuity when it comes to available weapons, Ukraine still has a number of requirements it hopes to fill with help from Western nations.

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Flimsy numbers and sparks of protest: How Putin’s mobilization may end up another miscalculation

Flimsy numbers and sparks of protest: How Putin’s mobilization may end up another miscalculation
Flimsy numbers and sparks of protest: How Putin’s mobilization may end up another miscalculation

“Even if the Russians are able to mobilize significant numbers, think about how many months [it is] going to take for them to emerge as operational formations,” Ben Hodges, the former head of US Army forces in Europe, told Breaking Defense.

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As Ukraine counterattacks, Russia’s military facing steep artillery, resupply challenges

As Ukraine counterattacks, Russia’s military facing steep artillery, resupply challenges
As Ukraine counterattacks, Russia’s military facing steep artillery, resupply challenges

Even before this weeks’ gains by Ukraine, there were signs that Russia’s artillery is wearing down, and that it is running low on munitions – potentially limiting Moscow’s options.

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Saab’s anti-tank systems could find new life thanks to Ukraine conflict, updated capabilities

Saab’s anti-tank systems could find new life thanks to Ukraine conflict, updated capabilities
Saab’s anti-tank systems could find new life thanks to Ukraine conflict, updated capabilities

Saab has put renewed emphasis on anti-armor, anti-structure and anti-personnel weaponry, the kind of equipment which could be vital in the sort of urban combat now occurring in Ukraine.

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Russian attempts to restock its military may be doomed to failure

Russian attempts to restock its military may be doomed to failure
Russian attempts to restock its military may be doomed to failure

New revelations about Russia’s reliance on foreign components means replacing equipment lost in Ukraine may prove nearly impossible.

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Russian troops held me captive at gunpoint for two weeks in Ukraine. Here’s what I learned.

Russian troops held me captive at gunpoint for two weeks in Ukraine. Here’s what I learned.
Russian troops held me captive at gunpoint for two weeks in Ukraine. Here’s what I learned.

On March 4, Breaking Defense correspondent Reuben Johnson was captured by Russian soldiers outside of Kyiv and taken prisoner. This is the story of what happened next.

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