Author Archive
Sam Skove
Staff Writer

Sam Skove is a staff reporter at Defense One, where he writes about the Army. 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
Estonia plans loitering-munitions unit to hunt enemy air defenses
Inspired by the wars in Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh, the new battery may be NATO’s first.
- Sam Skove
Threats
U.S. government shutdown could slow weapons transfers to Ukraine, Taiwan
Contracting and arms transfer vetting departments may not be able to process new requests.
- Sam Skove
Business
Beset by Russian airstrikes, Ukraine looks to make its weapons abroad
The country’s defense firms have cheap, battle-tested kit—and no safe place to build it.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Army recruiting: better than last year, still short of goal, officials say
The service inducted around 9,000 more new soldiers this year than in 2022, commander says.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Ukraine learns to fight with a hodge-podge of foreign artillery
It's also working to protect its field guns from loitering munitions and counter-battery fire, Ukrainian officer says.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Navies face ‘dreadnought moment' as Ukraine destroys more Russian warships, British admiral says
“We're once again facing something completely new, a paradigm shift,” the First Sea Lord said.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Europe’s defense spending sluggish despite Ukraine war
Slow growth isn’t compensating for post-Cold War divestments, analysts say.
- Sam Skove
Threats
How a tiny Polish airport became a key node for Western aid to Ukraine
Daily jumbo-jet landings now eat up the fuel once allotted for a whole week of passenger flights.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Polish support for Ukraine brings lessons, but also risks
Warsaw is learning just what is killing its donated field guns, and battling Russian spy rings back home.
- Sam Skove
Exclusive
Policy
EU plans to arm Ukraine bearing fruit, but more is needed, Estonia says
Ahead of a US visit, top defense ministry leader says effort to deliver a million artillery shells will likely reach its goal by next summer.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Meet the tiny State Department offices clearing billions of dollars’ worth of weapons for Ukraine
They’ve handled a 150-fold increase in work by doing in hours what used to take months.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Women face misogyny, barriers to promotion in special operations forces, US Army study says
The “very small percentage” of respondents who espoused such views included officers and senior enlisted leaders.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Russian jets playing chicken with US planes over Syria, officials say
Air Forces Central Command reports head-on passes; denies Russian state-run media reports U.S. is doing it, too.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Army launches second phase of ad campaign amid recruiting slump
New ads continue Army’s focus on the needs of Gen-Z.
- Sam Skove
Threats
How innovation cells in Army combat units are harnessing soldiers’ ideas
Four divisions are turning projects around in record time, from leashed drones to mold trackers.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Logisticians battle distance, weather, red tape in giant Pacific exercise
A joint U.S.-Australian wargame turns its focus to supply challenges.
- Sam Skove
Policy
What a counter-drone truck says about US aid to Ukraine
Many programs are moving quickly—but there’s plenty of room for improvement.
- Sam Skove
Policy
Army now 2nd service without Senate-confirmed leader
At the “relinquishment of authority” ceremony, senior military leadership blasted Sen. Tuberville’s hold on nominations.
- Sam Skove
Science & Tech
AI-powered health monitors may boost readiness, Army's next top enlisted leader says
Weimer highlighted a program at his old command that uses health data to help candidates going through the rigorous Army physical tests.
- Sam Skove
Threats
Army looking to hide bases, speed up anti-drone capabilities amid modernization drive, Under Secretary says
The service also sees AI as key, but warns that data management is a major hurdle.
- Sam Skove