Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

This report examines human uplift studies — randomized controlled trial (RCT)-style evaluations of artificial intelligence (AI) systems — that increasingly inform decisionmaking for AI. Drawing on interviews with 16 practitioners, the research identifies methodological challenges across the study life cycle and documents emerging solutions, including standardized task libraries and versioned evaluation infrastructure. This publication is part of the RAND working paper series. RAND working papers are intended to share researchers’ latest findings and to solicit informal peer review. They have been approved for circulation by RAND but may not have been formally edited or peer reviewed.This document and trademark(s) contained…

The U.S. Army faces a critical modernization crossroads in field artillery. Ukraine’s war has made viscerally clear what doctrine writers warned for years: A self-propelled howitzer that stops to fire is a vulnerable target. A towed howitzer does not have a chance. Russia’s Zoopark-1 radar can locate a firing howitzer within seconds of the first round leaving the barrel. The KNDS RCH 155 — Germany’s remote-controlled howitzer — offers a transformative answer, allowing a standard howitzer battery to fight and survive like a HIMARS battery.The fires gapThe Army’s current self-propelled workhorse, the M109A7 Paladin, requires the crew to halt, emplace,…

A new survey of more than 10,000 current federal workers documents the drastic downturn in employees’ engagement and morale in 2025,Each year, the Partnership for Public Service publishes its Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, based upon the results of the annual Federal Employees Viewpoint Survey. But last year, the Office of Personnel Management announced it would not conduct the statutorily mandated survey, citing the need to make changes to comply with President Trump’s anti-diversity executive orders.So last fall the Partnership developed and deployed its own survey, closely modeled after FEVS, called the Public Service Viewpoint Survey.…

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) — Anduril Industries will begin building its new Fury, “loyal wingman,” high-speed combat drones in the coming days at a new facility in Ohio, as the U.S. military’s interest in unmanned aircraft surges following battlefield successes in Ukraine and Iran. Amid cornfields and horse farms 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Columbus, Ohio, the defense tech start-up is expecting its $1 billion Arsenal-1 autonomous systems manufacturing campus to employ more than 4,000 people over the next decade, starting with roughly 250 by the end of this year, officials said on Thursday.Anduril is one of a new but…

The RCH155 emphasises using mobility and automation to deliver a responsive artillery platform with enhanced lethality and survivability. Using the Boxer 8 X 8 chassis ensures it can keep pace with supported formations and simplifies logistics. (KNDS Germany) The British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme is advancing following the award by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) to ARTEC GmbH for the RCH155 self-propelled howitzer. Under the £53 million contract, ARTEC will produce and deliver 37 of the Boxer-based artillery systems.  The contract covers the production of the artillery weapon system module’s barrel, muzzle brake, recoil system, and…

Every once in a while, I step off the mat, into a canoe, and peregrinate about in wild places. There are undeniable dangers associated with this, but in all my travels in the Far North the most consistently dangerous place has been the Hudson Bay coast. Hudson Bay is an extension of the Arctic Ocean that juts down into the continent. The tundra shore is patrolled by Ursus maritimus, the polar bear, the most dangerous of North American carnivores. The salty ocean is dotted with icebergs and enormous tides that breath in and out across 5-mile tidal flats. Anyway, I’d like to share a couple of…

Iran Press TV Wednesday, 18 March 2026 1:54 PM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced the successful completion of the 62nd wave of Operation True Promise 4, targeting all US bases across the region and Israeli military gathering points and combat support centers with a barrage of advanced missiles and precision drones. The IRGC Public Relations department said in a statement that the wave 62 successfully destroyed targets in Acre, Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Beersheba. The strikes were carried out without the activation of warning sirens, demonstrating the penetration capabilities of the Iranian missiles. The IRGC employed a…

Ronda Rousey’s attack on the UFC for their treatment of fighters and their lack of respect when it comes to paying their athletes has earned the support of Joe Rogan.The UFC has always been the pinnacle of mixed martial arts since its integration into the mainstream media. Fighting, winning titles, and cementing your legacy inside the octagon has been many fighters’ dreams, but that could all change if Netflix takes the sport seriously, believes Rogan. Netflix is on the verge of showcasing its first MMA event when Ronda Rousey collides with Gina Carano on May 16. Ahead of the event,…

March 19, 2026 – Kitchener, Ontario        The Government of Canada is committed to rebuilding, rearming and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to ensure they receive the equipment they need to achieve mission success and protect Canadians. Today, the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement), and the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, announced that the Defence Investment Agency has awarded a contract to Colt Canada of Kitchener, Ontario, to acquire up to 65,402 assault rifle systems under the Canadian Modular Assault Rifle (CMAR) initiative. By awarding this contract to Colt Canada,…

Professional Fighters League (PFL) is back for its second event of the year, PFL Madrid, which goes down tomorrow (Fri., March 20, 2026) inside the Palacio Vistalegre in Madrid, Spain.The promotion has put together a solid card, headlined by a bad-blood rematch with championship stakes.In the main event, PFL Middleweight champion Costello van Steenis puts his title on the line against top contender and 2025 PFL tournament winner Fabian Edwards. The two previously met in 2020, with van Steenis edging out a split decision victory.In the co-main event, former Bellator Featherweight champion AJ McKee takes on Adam Borics in what…