Rick Spencer II retweeted
Credible deterrence demands that we move with urgency, and the progress we’re making on W93/Mk7 demonstrates exactly that.
We are revitalizing and modernizing the Nuclear Security Enterprise to design, develop, and produce this critical new weapon with the precision our Warfighters demand.
We will continue working together to deliver this capability to the fleet and ensure our sea-based strategic deterrent remains ready for the future.
navy.mil/Press-Office/News-S…
Rick Spencer II retweeted
Since early 2026, Russia has fielded a family of low-cost, turbojet-powered cruise missiles and dramatically scaled up production.
Russia is now launching hundreds of low-cost cruise missiles each month, soon likely thousands. In some raids, they already account for half or more of incoming projectiles.
These missiles exploit a gap in Ukraine's layered air defense that neither interceptor drones nor high-end surface-to-air missiles can close cost-effectively.
My latest Missile Matters post profiles all six missile systems in this emerging arsenal, covering performance characteristics and production rates. I also identify the single supply-chain vulnerability the arsenal currently rests on.
You can access the analysis here: missilematters.substack.com/…
Rick Spencer II retweeted
The iconic weeping willow trees outside the Kennedy Center have been cut down by Trump.
Rick Spencer II retweeted
Ukrainian military intelligence confirms @fab_hinz’s assessment that the Tsirkon missile uses solid propellant. They say the missile carries a 120kg warhead and its “highest recorded speed … does not currently exceed Mach 6.8 and is not maintained throughout the entire flight.”
The missile uses “inertial guidance during the cruise phase and an active radar seeker during the terminal phase of flight” and “is equipped with the ‘Baget-83’ onboard digital computing complex, typical of russian ballistic missiles.”
‼️DIU exposes details of russia’s 3M22 Zircon ballistic missile — including its components, production chain, 70 companies involved, key personnel, and foreign equipment used to manufacture the weapon: war-sanctions.gur.gov.ua/en/…
Rick Spencer II retweeted
I've been doing this work for over a decade and covered multiple conflicts, but I don't remember a time when open source investigators and fact-checkers have been this busy.
The sheer scale of this war between the US, Israel and Iran, the volume of major daily incidents happening across the Middle East that need to be investigated, and the rampant spread of misinformation on social media are beyond any one person's capacity to cover.
And that's why the ever increasing community of online investigators, geolocaters, and fact-checkers on this platform are vital to understanding major global events like this war.
Make sure to follow their work!
Rick Spencer II retweeted
This was a very good event: youtu.be/wg94UXgY0a4
Tune in tomorrow to the all-star discussion on post-#NewSTART hosted by @StimsonCenter and moderated by @PeterSlezkine: stimson.org/event/starting-o…
Rick Spencer II retweeted
I tried to put together an update of the status of the Russian strategic forces. My estimate is 575 launchers/1530 warheads (can "upload" to about 2100). It appears that R-36M2/SS-18 has been withdrawn. Website: russianforces.org/blog/2026/… Substack: open.substack.com/pub/russia…
Rick Spencer II retweeted
💬 Kennan Conversations: Maduro’s Fall and Russia’s Response
Join @HannaNotte and @stephenwertheim for a discussion on the implications of recent U.S. action in Venezuela and what it means for Russia’s global foreign policy and its approach to Ukraine.
Moderated by @mkimmage
RSVP Now: zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_…
#KennanConversations #KennanInstitute #Venezuela
Rick Spencer II retweeted
The Kennan Institute returns as an independent, non-partisan institute entering a new era of scholarship and statecraft
🎥Watch members of our community reflect on the past, present and future of research and policy analysis on Russia, Ukraine, the South Caucasus & Central Asia
Rick Spencer II retweeted
🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukrainian drones score first confirmed destruction of Russian Iskander-M missile system
armyrecognition.com/focus-an…
Rick Spencer II retweeted
BREAKING
1/ The U.S. Army’s Typhon Missile System has been deployed to Japan for the first time.
Unveiled at Iwakuni base, Typhon can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles (range ~1,600 km) — enough to strike across the East China Sea and into parts of China.
This marks a major shift in U.S. deterrence posture in East Asia.
Probably shouldn't say, "get it while it's hot," since nukes are hot for a very long time, nor, "get it before it blows up," since that's just bad taste. How about, "clock is ticking, don't sleep on this one..." sheesh. No good clichés... IYKYK, this will be a good read.
The president has sole authority to order nuclear use- How did we get here? How does it work? What’s the issue? Can we solve it?
My new @scientistsorg report on nuclear launch authority in the U.S. - “All the King’s Weapons” - is out! Read it below 👇
fas.org/publication/all-the-…
Rick Spencer II retweeted
🚨 BREAKING:
China showcased the LY-1, a massive directed-energy laser system (DEW) during the military parade 🇨🇳 — research suggests such systems have the capability to engage and potentially destroy hostile missiles, drones, and even fighter jets in flight .
Rick Spencer II retweeted
🇨🇳 BREAKING: China unveils the YJ-17 hypersonic missile at the 80th WWII Victory Day parade.
Rick Spencer II retweeted
RUSSIA’S NUCLEAR POLICY IN TIMES OF GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION: REGISTRATION FOR WEBINARS IS OPEN This fall, the Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS) launches a series of webinars, “Russia’s Nuclear Policy and the Nonproliferation Regime in a Shifting World Order”. 1/12