Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

Sure, we’ve all heard the tales of George Washington’s exploits, Paul Revere’s famous “one if by land, two if by sea” ride, Benjamin Franklin’s role in well, just about everything. But what about the foreign fighters that served with distinction, nay, may have even saved the revolution?Here are seven foreigners who freely joined the fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.Baron Steuben at Valley Forge, 1778. (Library of Congress)1. Baron von Steuben: Fraud Turned HeroThe Prussian’s resume was impressive. America’s diplomats in Paris, Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, claimed he was once the major general and quartermaster general…

I’ve spent a career looking at the battlefield through the periscope of a tank, and I know what it means to rely on a platform that skeptics call a “relic.” For decades, pundits have predicted the death of the Main Battle Tank, yet every time the lead starts flying, the grunt on the ground looks for the 70-ton beast with the 120mm smoothbore to clear the path. Today, with the advent of widespread drone usage in Ukraine, some of that same “obsolescence” talk is being directed at the attack helicopter. We’ve all seen the grainy footage from that war: a…

Press release The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts with five suppliers to provide support services for the fleet of 3,000 smaller vessels used by Royal Navy, Army, RFA and MOD Police. From: Ministry of Defence and Luke Pollard MP Published 25 March 2026 Over £280 million in contracts awarded to maintain and support 3,000 Navy, Army and defence boats, protecting UK waters for years to come. Contracts back British businesses, creating more than 100 skilled jobs across the UK, from Scotland to Cornwall. Programme supports the reopening docks, showing how defence is…

Group of soldiers or spies in dark room with large monitors and advanced satellite communication technology launching a missle. Includes flashing yellow light. Leonardo, through its UK wholly owned subsidiary Leonardo UK Ltd, has taken a further step to strengthen its role in the cybersecurity sector by entering in a binding agreement for the acquisition of the UK company Becrypt. The acquisition will immediately enhance Leonardo positioning in UK and Five Eyes cyber defences domain and complements the strong existing collaboration between Leonardo UK Ltd (Leonardo), the UK Government and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), to secure the country’s…

The U.S. Army wants mobile short-range air defense for light infantry forces that lack the ability to transport heavy equipment.So, the service is looking for sled- or pallet-mounted weapons that can be hauled by light manned and unmanned vehicles during joint forced entry, or JFE, operations such as airborne assaults, according to an Army Request for Information.The goal is to provide “air defense capability to support dismounted maneuver, JFE (C-130 transportable, air droppable, and sling load capable) and light mounted maneuver operations that are C-130 transportable and more robust than JFE solutions,” according to the RFI, which has a deadline…

Harry Gigliotti is one of the more intriguing crossovers between BKFC and BKB in recent times, with his looming promotional debut with the former only days away. The now former BKB champ, who vacated his belt to embark on this debut in BKFC, will be jumping into the ring on March 28th as part of the BKFC Fight Night: Mohegan Sun card. When discussing the road leading into this bout against Timmy Mason in Connecticut, Harry Gigliotti said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker], “I had to vacate the [Police Gazette] title sadly and and part ways with BKB, but we got…

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org Three additional B-1B Lancers arrived at RAF Fairford on March 26, bringing the total number of bombers stationed at the U.K. base to 21—one of the largest bomber deployments in recent history. There are now some 15 B-1B and six B-52H aircraft stationed at the base, located in southwest Britain, according to local spotters, air traffic control communications, and flight-tracking data. The 15 B-1s in particular represent a third of the…

Another vessel in the U.S. Navy’s rapid acquisition Golden Fleet initiative has been unveiled, with production-ready systems skipping traditional prototyping phases for production unit deliveries by 2027. The U.S. Navy announced its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) Family of Systems (FoS) this morning, opening another avenue of Golden Fleet procurement and force design that aims to deliver several production-ready, multi-role ships capable of working with the Chief of Naval Operations’ ‘containerized capability campaign plan’. Rebecca Gassler, Portfolio Acquisition Executive, Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS), and Capt. Jeremiah Daley, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, RAS, briefed reporters on the new…

Leading experts have strong and diverging views about the future of artificial intelligence (AI), especially the speed of technological progress, the desirability of that speed, the risks of adoption, and appropriate public policy responses. As the increasing adoption of AI transforms society, policymakers should aim for resilience—the ability to withstand shocks, adapt, and recover—as the central goal of public policy. Drawing lessons from engineering, psychology, and ecology, this paper’s authors explore how resilience can guide policy choices as AI profoundly changes the economy, individuals and communities, and national security. Resilience stands in contrast to other approaches to policy: An overarching…

Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan wants to knock out Islam Makhachev if he ever gets another chance to run it back with the Dagestani wrestling maestro.In 2019, on his UFC debut, Tsarukyan locked horns with Makhachev and lost the three-rounder by unanimous decision. Last year at UFC 311, “Ahalkalakets” was supposed to run it back with then-lightweight titleholder Makhachev. However, the Armenian had to withdraw from the title bout at the eleventh hour due to a hernia. Renato Moicano served as the last-minute replacement and proved to be easy game for Makhachev, who submitted him in Round 1.After four…