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.
Policy
How will Ukraine spend its new US aid?
It’s a fraught question amid Russian gains, uncertain long-term U.S. support, and Kyiv’s eventual need to end the war.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
Army SOF's new drone course teaches gamer and maker skills
By graduation, the students will know how to build their own drones and teach foreign partners on tactics.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
How Army special operators use deepfakes and drones to train for information warfare
One soldier helped create a voice-cloning program using off-the-shelf AI.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Army recruiting on pace to hit goal—and break a years-long streak
Service secretary says new initiatives have put the 55,000-recruit goal within reach.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
To adapt command posts to modern war, Army wants more commercial tech
Plans include more commercial satellite tech, plus more options to hide within commercial communications traffic.
- Sam Skove
Threats
The State of the Army 2024
The cancellation of a scout helicopter might signal a new era of agility.
- Sam Skove
Threats
The State of the Marine Corps 2024
The Corps' race to become a lighter service might move faster if its budget weren’t flat.
- Sam Skove
Threats
How two brigades are leading the Army’s charge toward cutting-edge tech
From Hawaii to Europe, Army units are running drone racing competitions and experimenting with predictive software for the battlefield.
- Sam Skove
Threats
The future is ‘not bright’ for towed artillery, Army general says
Light infantry units also need more indirect fire systems, Gen. Rainey said.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Army announces plan to help spread commercial drones across infantry units
Army also hopes ordering more Coyote drone interceptors will eventually drive down cost.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
Army mulls introducing robot platoon into armored brigades
The platoons would be able to use a variety of drones, and swap out components as needed for missions.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
Marines trade slow ships for drones and supply caches as they prep for modern warfare
Fulfilling sweeping modernization plans are “challenging,” but there's been progress with prepositioned stocks and drones.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
Army puts drones front and center in unfunded wishlist
List includes commercial drones for infantry units, plus more counter-drone gear.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
Marines see progress with drones, despite flat budgets
However, a program to mount loitering munitions to vehicles faces delays.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
Army aims to equip a division with hand-held counter-drone gear
But one expert said the service may have underestimated just how much that will cost.
- Sam Skove
Business
Army orders another $0.75 billion worth of Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles
New award brings total order for M113 replacements to nearly $1.6B.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Army continues focus on munitions amid Ukraine war, China tensions
The service is also seeking alternatives to its long-range cannon program amid technical problems.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
Army to launch deep sensing cross-functional team and equip units with experimental tech
The 101st’s Airborne Division’s second brigade will be the first unit to be equipped with new, experimental tech.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Targeting time shrinks from minutes to seconds in Army experiment
The latest edition of Project Convergence streamlines processes and adds new tech.
- Sam Skove
Threats
With an eye on Ukraine, Army revamps training to reflect modern war
Soldiers are learning to hide their Starlink dishes—and relearning the importance of digging a deep foxhole.
- Sam Skove