Zach
@thrustwr.bsky.social
Former NavalNews & USNINews writer, Track Fuser, R-1/P-1 Budget Reader.
For defense-related stuff
Site: https://defensearchives.com/news
For defense-related stuff
Site: https://defensearchives.com/news
Pinned
Zach
@thrustwr.bsky.social
· Aug 11
The second edition of my introductory piece on the PATRIOT system is now public. I have once again put a lot of effort into this and added the necessary graphics, so go grab a copy (it is free!) and enjoy!.
patreon.com/posts/109863935
patreon.com/posts/109863935
Innovative ideas back then: (Naval Postgraduate School cooking up diabolical ideas)
November 26, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Innovative ideas back then: (Naval Postgraduate School cooking up diabolical ideas)
Clearly @uticaeric.bsky.social doesn't have the innovative mindset gene. Get on the grind.
November 25, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Clearly @uticaeric.bsky.social doesn't have the innovative mindset gene. Get on the grind.
All this talk about strengthening the atrophy in the shipbuilding industrial followed by cancelation of major shipbuilding programs that are sustaining whatever dwindling number of shipyards the US has left.
November 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
All this talk about strengthening the atrophy in the shipbuilding industrial followed by cancelation of major shipbuilding programs that are sustaining whatever dwindling number of shipyards the US has left.
F/A-XX in shambles, Connie canceled, LSM/LAW stuck in perpetual torment, SM-6 production in shambles, F-35C buys at lowest rates, F/A-18E/F line being terminated, DDG(X) sent to the indeterminate future. The US Navy's century of Burkiliation is here. Arleigh-Burkes now and forever.
November 25, 2025 at 11:03 PM
F/A-XX in shambles, Connie canceled, LSM/LAW stuck in perpetual torment, SM-6 production in shambles, F-35C buys at lowest rates, F/A-18E/F line being terminated, DDG(X) sent to the indeterminate future. The US Navy's century of Burkiliation is here. Arleigh-Burkes now and forever.
One of the most annoying things about the Constellation class is that people complain about the fact that the US Navy bought an existing design and then modified it. Like, what was it supposed to do? Operate French and Italian radars, missiles, guns, sonars, combat systems?
NAVSEA picked a design based on a mature parent design under the pretext that this was easier/faster/cheaper than starting from scratch. They were both right (the program moved very fast) and wrong (design modifications to support USN systems were immense).
November 25, 2025 at 10:06 PM
One of the most annoying things about the Constellation class is that people complain about the fact that the US Navy bought an existing design and then modified it. Like, what was it supposed to do? Operate French and Italian radars, missiles, guns, sonars, combat systems?
I don't even have much to say. This was a good vessel, the USN panicked at the slightest hint of delays and now is killing the program. There has not been a single vessel in US Navy service that hasn't been redesigned, delayed, and had some cost overruns in the last 60~ years.
This is the stupidest and most self-destructive USN procurement decision in at least a decade.
Constellation was a relatively healthy program and progressing on a realistic budget and schedule, mostly baseless criticism of it notwithstanding.
Constellation was a relatively healthy program and progressing on a realistic budget and schedule, mostly baseless criticism of it notwithstanding.
BREAKING: Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program, Considering New Small Surface Combatants — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I don't even have much to say. This was a good vessel, the USN panicked at the slightest hint of delays and now is killing the program. There has not been a single vessel in US Navy service that hasn't been redesigned, delayed, and had some cost overruns in the last 60~ years.
The deal that is touted as being a major win for Ukraine because it includes a "mutual defense treaty," or "article V," like language, is the only one in which the US already states that if it chooses, it MAY respond to future attacks on Ukraine by simply just offering logistical or economic help.
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The deal that is touted as being a major win for Ukraine because it includes a "mutual defense treaty," or "article V," like language, is the only one in which the US already states that if it chooses, it MAY respond to future attacks on Ukraine by simply just offering logistical or economic help.
The Russians leaked a Russian wishlist that could have probably been negotiated as a part of a larger deal to Axios and claimed it was co-authored with US. State Department and WH weren't in on the deal, nor were any GOP or Dem members in FP or Armed Service Committees nor were any US allies.
November 23, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The Russians leaked a Russian wishlist that could have probably been negotiated as a part of a larger deal to Axios and claimed it was co-authored with US. State Department and WH weren't in on the deal, nor were any GOP or Dem members in FP or Armed Service Committees nor were any US allies.
I have never seen a more embarrassing damage control in 24 hours.
1. Witkoff is an idiot and got used.
2. The Admin is completely out of the loop on what their little failsons are doing around the world.
3. They are tired of a war they aren't fighting.
What a clusterfuck
1. Witkoff is an idiot and got used.
2. The Admin is completely out of the loop on what their little failsons are doing around the world.
3. They are tired of a war they aren't fighting.
What a clusterfuck
what is going on
November 23, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I have never seen a more embarrassing damage control in 24 hours.
1. Witkoff is an idiot and got used.
2. The Admin is completely out of the loop on what their little failsons are doing around the world.
3. They are tired of a war they aren't fighting.
What a clusterfuck
1. Witkoff is an idiot and got used.
2. The Admin is completely out of the loop on what their little failsons are doing around the world.
3. They are tired of a war they aren't fighting.
What a clusterfuck
Dan Driscoll is an idiot and they have him running the show in Europe.
November 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Dan Driscoll is an idiot and they have him running the show in Europe.
Some unfinished maps i recently did showing PLARF brigades and their reach. It also includes US MDTF systems that are being deployed right now. Also included are US-Allied bases in the region and what sort of assets they have regularly. Two DF-11 brigades not included.
November 22, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Some unfinished maps i recently did showing PLARF brigades and their reach. It also includes US MDTF systems that are being deployed right now. Also included are US-Allied bases in the region and what sort of assets they have regularly. Two DF-11 brigades not included.
Concessions this, Concessions that. They need to bring back Zaluzhnyi, let him put together the multinational III Corps and let it loose on the Zapo front and Crimea.
November 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Concessions this, Concessions that. They need to bring back Zaluzhnyi, let him put together the multinational III Corps and let it loose on the Zapo front and Crimea.
This Is the type of shit you tell the lone Chinese brigade trying to establish a beachhead on Taiwan after a flight of B-21s wiped out their supplies and Block X Virginias keep sinking the resupply ships.
November 22, 2025 at 1:31 AM
This Is the type of shit you tell the lone Chinese brigade trying to establish a beachhead on Taiwan after a flight of B-21s wiped out their supplies and Block X Virginias keep sinking the resupply ships.
The problem with trying to force Ukraine to do this deal is that US support has completely dried up. The last supplementals were passed in middle of 2024. The Trump Admin hasn't asked any major new funding for Ukraine..some USAI equipment remains undelivered but that is it. It has little leverage...
November 21, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The problem with trying to force Ukraine to do this deal is that US support has completely dried up. The last supplementals were passed in middle of 2024. The Trump Admin hasn't asked any major new funding for Ukraine..some USAI equipment remains undelivered but that is it. It has little leverage...
How do you in one paragraph go from saying you won't relinquish occupied territories in another country because you need a buffer but condemn another country for having had those same concerns under Assad? Who have had the burden of hosting millions of displaced persons.
In an interview today, Netanyahu says the following
•There will never be a Palestinian state, even if this means no normalization with Saudi Arabia
•Israel won't leave the occupied Syrian territories
•Israel would like a deal with Turkey but is prepared to treat it like Iran
•There will never be a Palestinian state, even if this means no normalization with Saudi Arabia
•Israel won't leave the occupied Syrian territories
•Israel would like a deal with Turkey but is prepared to treat it like Iran
Netanyahu: ‘There will not be a Palestinian state,’ even at cost of ties with Saudis
In interview with Telegram channel, PM says border deal with Syria 'preferable' but won't budge on security demands; Israel to boost arms industry to ease reliance on US
www.timesofisrael.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM
How do you in one paragraph go from saying you won't relinquish occupied territories in another country because you need a buffer but condemn another country for having had those same concerns under Assad? Who have had the burden of hosting millions of displaced persons.
International security politics discussions here are somewhat annoying because people want there to be clear cut action-reaction results. The truth is that the world is far more complicated than this and many conflicting and sometimes contradictory things can be true at the same time..
November 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
International security politics discussions here are somewhat annoying because people want there to be clear cut action-reaction results. The truth is that the world is far more complicated than this and many conflicting and sometimes contradictory things can be true at the same time..
The US is both erratic and burning bridges and yet remains a more reasonable leader for Euros than Germany, Britain or France. Years of Western Europeans completely ignoring the security concerns of Eastern Europe and Southern Europe being located in its own bubble.
You usually don’t invite US nuclear forces and new Typhon deployments back to continent, or do record breaking arms purchases from the US if they don’t think the US if reliable fwiw
November 21, 2025 at 1:05 PM
The US is both erratic and burning bridges and yet remains a more reasonable leader for Euros than Germany, Britain or France. Years of Western Europeans completely ignoring the security concerns of Eastern Europe and Southern Europe being located in its own bubble.
In 2022 I was attending a seminar/training for helping displaced Ukrainians find services/get guidance in my city and an acquaintance from Russia who described himself as a "liberal" was mad at me in the West because he couldn't buy GPUs due to the impact of sanctions.
one genuine issue is that like, there's a sort of generalized cynicism that gets turned into "look everybody sucks so i'm going to support the demon at home"
November 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
In 2022 I was attending a seminar/training for helping displaced Ukrainians find services/get guidance in my city and an acquaintance from Russia who described himself as a "liberal" was mad at me in the West because he couldn't buy GPUs due to the impact of sanctions.
Reposted by Zach
Yes, they were. A single later model Spruance-class destroyer brought more to the fight in 1991 than any Battleship. It could out fight it and out survive it. Their reactivation had less to do with their utility and more to do with Reagan overpromising and underdelivering.
November 15, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Yes, they were. A single later model Spruance-class destroyer brought more to the fight in 1991 than any Battleship. It could out fight it and out survive it. Their reactivation had less to do with their utility and more to do with Reagan overpromising and underdelivering.
Most countries in Europe be like:
-no immigration for any reason
-deportation
-lower taxes
-higher pensions
-no new investments
-no new construction cause that will devalue our current property
-higher spending
You can't govern under these circumstances. It is suicidal.
-no immigration for any reason
-deportation
-lower taxes
-higher pensions
-no new investments
-no new construction cause that will devalue our current property
-higher spending
You can't govern under these circumstances. It is suicidal.
November 15, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Most countries in Europe be like:
-no immigration for any reason
-deportation
-lower taxes
-higher pensions
-no new investments
-no new construction cause that will devalue our current property
-higher spending
You can't govern under these circumstances. It is suicidal.
-no immigration for any reason
-deportation
-lower taxes
-higher pensions
-no new investments
-no new construction cause that will devalue our current property
-higher spending
You can't govern under these circumstances. It is suicidal.
She's just like me fr
Two hours a night: Japan PM’s sleep schedule prompts concerns about work-life balance
Two hours a night: Japan PM’s sleep schedule prompts concerns about work-life balance
Takaichi caused a stir last week after she summoned aides to her office for a 3am meeting to prepare for a budget committee hearing
Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has said she gets by on just two to four hours sleep a night – prompting concern over her commitment to a better work-life balance among the country’s fatigued employees.
Pointing to the bags beneath her eyes, Takaichi told MPs that she survives on minimal sleep – a habit she shares with her political hero Margaret Thatcher – after being asked how she would tackle Japan’s notoriously long working hours. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 AM
She's just like me fr
Hey all, if you like my work and would like to support me to continue this work (more videos + some digest volumes) you can support me over at: www.patreon.com/c/Vrmillion
Get more from Vermillion on Patreon
making defense documentaries
www.patreon.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Hey all, if you like my work and would like to support me to continue this work (more videos + some digest volumes) you can support me over at: www.patreon.com/c/Vrmillion
Reposted by Zach
The wonks think history bends to charts and confidence intervals, but the last hundred yards aren’t graphed—they’re clawed through mud, smoke, and screaming metal. You don’t calculate victory, you drag it bleeding across the finish line with grit under your nails and God in your teeth.
What a load of horseshit. "Victory is built on 85%" stopping 85% of a mass raid still means you die.
November 8, 2025 at 4:19 AM
The wonks think history bends to charts and confidence intervals, but the last hundred yards aren’t graphed—they’re clawed through mud, smoke, and screaming metal. You don’t calculate victory, you drag it bleeding across the finish line with grit under your nails and God in your teeth.
Immigration is such a "big problem" to them so their solution is to create a humanitarian crisis that will make this supposed concern much worse.
November 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Immigration is such a "big problem" to them so their solution is to create a humanitarian crisis that will make this supposed concern much worse.