MQ-9 Reaper Simulator

Monthly Drone Report – October 2026

October 29, 2026 John Friberg 0

October’s drone report examines U.S. military robotics initiatives, counter-UAS developments, and lessons from Ukraine’s rapidly evolving drone warfare. Coverage includes autonomous warfare command structures, battlefield medical evacuation, attacks on Russian refineries, and the expanding employment of unmanned systems in Sudan and Colombia.

Navy Search and Recovery Exercise Middle East

SOF Weekly Brief – Oct 26, 2026

October 26, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Brief covers changes in U.S. special operations forces, emerging defense capabilities, SOF operations in Ukraine, fighting in Yemen, international security developments, historical special operations missions, and analysis of irregular warfare and national security issues.

SEALs Operate Submarine Propulsion Vehicle

SOF Weekly Brief – Oct 19, 2026

October 19, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update covers the activation of SPACEFOR-SOC, evolving Army special operations missions, U.S. counternarcotics operations in Latin America, the Russia-Ukraine war, Iranian maritime threats, and significant security developments across Africa, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region.

10th Special Forces in Greenland

SOF Weekly Brief – Oct 13, 2026

October 12, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF Weekly Brief covers special operations developments, the Russia-Ukraine war, escalating tensions in the Middle East, emerging drone threats, and international security challenges. Additional reporting examines multinational SOF exercises, military technology, strategic vulnerabilities, and developments affecting the SOF community.

Task Force South West - MARSOC Marine from Special Operations Task Force West provides security at LZ in Nahr-e-Saraj district, Helmand province. (Photo by Cpl. Kyle McNally, 28 Mar 2012).

SOF Weekly Brief – Oct 5, 2026

October 5, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF Weekly Brief covers the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, developments in the Iran conflict, Ukraine battlefield gains, international SOF activity, Special Forces recruiting, defense policy changes, renewed fighting in Ethiopia, sanctions on Iran, and other national security developments worldwide.

Neros Archer FPV Drone

Monthly Drone Report – September 2026

September 29, 2026 John Friberg 0

September’s Drone Report examines developments in unmanned and autonomous systems, including a Special Forces drone competition, new Army robotics capabilities, lessons from Ukraine, maritime and undersea systems, artificial intelligence, counter-drone technology, and the growing proliferation of drones worldwide.

HALO Jumpers Prepare for Jump From CH-47

SOF Weekly Brief – Sep 28, 2026

September 28, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update covers emerging special operations technology, expanded U.S. military access in Greenland, Ukraine’s evolving battlefield, Cuba contingency planning, the Iran conflict, Houthi ambitions, renewed fighting in Ethiopia, critical minerals competition, and other national security developments worldwide.

Helocast 20th SFG Sep 2026

SOF Weekly Brief – Sep 21, 2026

September 21, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF Weekly Brief covers Ukraine’s drone campaign and counteroffensive operations, growing Houthi pressure on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping, a new Greenland security agreement, major defense sales, U.S.-China diplomacy, and developments affecting special operations forces worldwide.

Polaris Razor (MRZR)

SOF Weekly Brief – Sep 14, 2026

September 14, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF Weekly Brief covers Arctic special operations, Army Civil Affairs changes, emerging drone capabilities, Russian information warfare, and escalating conflicts involving Iran, Yemen, and Ukraine. Additional reporting examines strategic oil chokepoints, intelligence restructuring, veterans’ programs, military publications, and forthcoming special operations community events.

Russian Attitudes Towards the War

Attitudes Towards the War in Russian Society

September 10, 2026 Guest Writer 0

After four years of war, Russian society increasingly shows signs of fatigue, frustration, and desire for peace. Oleksandr Sukhobrus examines how shattered expectations, battlefield setbacks, Ukrainian drone attacks, mounting casualties, and domestic repression have changed public attitudes toward the conflict.

USMC UH-1Y Crew Chief Fires Minigun

SOF Weekly Brief – Sep 8, 2026

September 8, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly brief examines major developments in special operations, irregular warfare, national security, and global conflicts, including SOF education and sustainment, Turkish counter-piracy operations, Army leadership changes, renewed U.S.-Iran fighting, Russian jet-powered drones, emerging technologies, and Kurdish reconciliation efforts.

GAX500-3D and EDDA Laptop

Monthly Drone Report – August 2026

September 1, 2026 John Friberg 0

This monthly report examines major drone developments from August 2026, including JIATF-401’s counter-UAS efforts, Army directed-energy defenses, Ukraine’s horizontal kill-web architecture, expanding Russian capabilities, drone warfare in Myanmar, and new systems designed to detect and defeat small unmanned aircraft threats.

5th SFG Green Beret Fires Anti-Tank Weapon

SOF Weekly Brief – August 18, 2026

August 18, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update examines new USASOC leadership, expanded American special operations activity in the Philippines and Alaska, Iran-war MQ-9 losses, shifting security relationships with Oman and South Korea, the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani defense pact, Ukraine’s battlefield innovation, irregular warfare, intelligence, veterans, history, and upcoming events.

Video Dark Dune 18. AFSOC aircraft conduct aerial refueling of French helicopters during Exercise Dark Dune May 2018. DoD

SOF Weekly Brief – August 10, 2026

August 10, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News update covers leadership changes in Ukraine security assistance, proposed protections for special operations personnel, international exercises, SOF history, conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, emerging technology, Afghanistan, veterans’ issues, and selected reports, commentary, podcasts, and videos from across the national security community.

10th Dive Training July 2026

SOF Weekly Brief – August 3, 2026

August 3, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update covers senior U.S. defense and intelligence appointments, special operations developments, the Iran and Ukraine conflicts, emerging military technology, strategic competition, and global security affairs. It also marks the Extortion 17 anniversary and highlights SOF history, veterans, commentary, and upcoming events.