Author Archive
Sam Skove
Staff Writer
Sam Skove is a staff reporter at Defense One, where he writes about the Army and Marine Corps. He previously worked in Ukraine covering the Russia-Ukraine war for The Daily Beast, Radio Liberty, and The New Republic, among other publications. He holds a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and a master's degree from Georgetown's Security Studies Program.
Science & Tech
How two units are learning from each other as the Army moves to modernize
The units’ experiences are also driving interest in new capabilities, like automated object detection for drones.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Europe-based units are learning from Ukraine, officers say
A small group of soldiers regularly travels to Kyiv to collect observations, said one general.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
Army to expand tech-equipping effort—and cut some programs
Gen. Randy George also said the Army will cancel programs that don’t serve the service’s modernization goals.
- Sam Skove
Defense Systems
In Pacific, Army brigade tweaks its modernization program for jungle warfare
The unit has over 100 drones, but must balance their use against the tropics' punishing heat.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Army ups recruiting target for FY25 after hitting goal
Service will once again aim to bring in 61,000 new recruits.
- Sam Skove
Policy
How many drones does the Army need? A lot more.
The experience of two brigades suggests that the number is far larger than it’s buying—and that’s just for training.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Russian casualties have topped 600,000 in Ukraine war, US says
September was the deadliest month yet for Russia, as its forces drove toward Ukraine’s Pokrovsk.
- Sam Skove
Defense Systems
How to build a multi-sensor anti-drone dashboard in just two weeks
A CENTCOM experiment shows it’s possible.
- Sam Skove
Defense Systems
Two years after rollovers, Marines’ ACV is landing on Pacific beaches
Amphibious Combat Vehicles were sent ashore in South Korea amid “negligible” waves.
- Sam Skove
Defense Systems
Replicator 2 effort aims to produce anti-drone defenses
The second phase of the Pentagon’s make-more-stuff-quickly effort will kick off in the 2026 budget request, a memo says.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Is the US military learning enough from Ukraine?
Relatively few analysts at the services’ doctrine organizations are working full-time to glean lessons from the war.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Increased efforts, lower goal help Army end recruiting slump
One-quarter of recruits used the service’s new pre-enlistment course to get up to snuff.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
How a US armor brigade is applying lessons from Ukraine
The 1st Armored BCT rigged an old satellite dish to emit like a command post—and ensnared the opposing force.
- Sam Skove
Business
Protest puts US Army’s $990M loitering-munition contract on hold
The month-old sole-source award went to AeroVironment for its Switchblades.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Army embraces Ukraine-style warfare with new all-drone unit
The 101st Airborne’s nine-man team is designed to coordinate fire, reconnoiter ahead of vehicles, and strike with loitering munitions.
- Sam Skove
Business
Army wants to buy as many drones as it does munitions
The Army could theoretically acquire thousands—if not hundreds of thousands—of drones.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Inspired by Ukraine, US Army picks two commercially available drones
The drones, including one type that can drop bombs, are bound for company-level units.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Why there’s no easy answer to Russia’s glide bombs
Allies are still discussing how to counter them, with officials indicating that Ukrainian drone attacks may be the best bet.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Old-school soldiers prove they can still beat tech-heavy troops
Deep in the Louisiana woods, the U.S. Army's “Ghost” unit showed that doing the basics well can still turn the tide.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
Army puts new unit loaded with cutting-edge tech to the test
The reconnaissance unit is the poster child for Army plans to field more drones, electronic warfare, and communications equipment across the force.
- Sam Skove