Kris Osborn

Washington, D.C.

Managing Editor, Warrior Maven at defensemaven.io

The Center for Military Modernization - Kris Osborn, President

Articles

USS Forrestal 'Supercarrier': The US Navy Aircraft Carrier That Broke All the Rules

4 days ago | 19fortyfive.com | Kris Osborn

Key Points – Today’s advanced U.S. Navy aircraft carriers trace their origins to the groundbreaking USS Forrestal (CVA-59), the first supercarrier launched in the 1950s. -Forrestal introduced critical innovations, such as the angled flight deck, steam catapults, and the optical landing system, enabling safer, more efficient jet fighter operations. -Nicknamed “First in Defense,” the carrier operated across global theaters before retiring in 1993.
The Walls Are Closing in on the F-22 Raptor Fighter

4 days ago | 19fortyfive.com | Kris Osborn

Key Points – The U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor remains arguably the world’s finest air dominance fighter, yet only 185 were produced—far fewer than initially planned. -Early termination resulted from short-sighted budget decisions following the Cold War’s end, similarly impacting other critical platforms like the B-2 bomber and Seawolf submarine. -Unlike the widely exported F-35, the F-22 was restricted to U.S.-only use due to classified technologies, limiting production and raising costs.
Limitless Upgrades: The Navy's Virginia-Class Submarine Has a Secret Weapon

4 days ago | 19fortyfive.com | Kris Osborn

Key Points – The U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class attack submarines have continuously advanced with each new “Block,” introducing game-changing capabilities without requiring entirely new hull designs. Block III boats feature computerized fly-by-wire navigation, advanced bow sonars, improved stealth coatings, and enhanced special operations facilities. -Block V submarines further extend capabilities by significantly increasing Tomahawk missile capacity with additional Virginia Payload Modules.
The SR-72 Darkstar Might Have a China and Russia Problem Mach 6 Can't Solve

4 days ago | 19fortyfive.com | Kris Osborn

Key Points – Lockheed Martin’s SR-72 “Darkstar,” successor to the legendary SR-71 Blackbird, promises revolutionary hypersonic flight capabilities. -Reportedly able to achieve Mach 6 speeds—nearly double the SR-71—it can evade modern air defense systems by outrunning missiles and complicating radar tracking. -Its unique turbine-based combined cycle engine merges conventional jet propulsion with scramjet technology, enabling sustained high-speed flight.
How The Pentagon's F-47 6th-Gen Stealth Fighter Could Counter China

4 days ago | warriormaven.com | Kris Osborn

By Kris Osborn, President, WarriorThe Pentagon’s emerging 6th-generation stealth fighter, now called the F-47, could prove essential in any effort to contain or defeat China in the air in the Pacific for a number of key reasons; it seems conceivable that the Pentagon might engineer a Pacific-specific F-47 variant designed to prevail in the extensive ranges or “tyranny of distance” known to characterize the region.
Will the AUKUS Submarine Surge Into Operation in 2030?

5 days ago | warriormaven.com | Kris Osborn

By Kris Osborn, WarriorThe US, Australia and the UK are surging forward with a multi-national effort to build a new generation of attack submarines intended to help deter China in the Pacific. The effort, widely referred to as AUKUS, is intended to result in the deployment of new Australian and British submarines, supported by cutting edge US f attack submarine technology.
Russia's S-300-Armed Kirov-class Battleships Make Comeback

5 days ago | warriormaven.com | Kris Osborn

By Kris Osborn, WarriorRussia’s S-300-armed Kirov-class battleships are surging to make a comeback due to ongoing repairs and an apparent Russian interest in again deploying the massive warship for ballistic missile defense and at-sea fire-support operations. The Soviet-era Kirov class is a large-deck, heavily armed guided missile cruiser with guns, rockets, torpedoes, missiles and, perhaps of greatest tactical significance, S-300 air defenses.
Should the US Sell the B-21 to Allies?

6 days ago | warriormaven.com | Kris Osborn

by Kris Osborn, Warrior(Washington DC) The Air Force’s B-21 program is progressing quickly and successfully, and while little is publicly known about its technologies, there is a high measure of widespread confidence among senior Pentagon leaders that the Raider will introduce a new era in stealth bombing attack. The arrival of the paradigm-changing platform has some wondering if the B-21 should be sold to US allies?
China Claims Breakthrough Hand-Held Device Can Detect Stealth Aircraft

6 days ago | warriormaven.com | Kris Osborn

by Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News China claims to have modified a low-cost, hand-held commercially available device so that it can detect US stealth aircraft which – if true – would be a major breakthrough. Scientists at the 38th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation reportedly used $68,000 spectrum analyzers that are typically used in the telecommunications industry locate emissions from what is known as low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPIR).
China Will Have 1,000 Nuclear Warheads by 2030

6 days ago | warriormaven.com | Kris Osborn

By Kris Osborn, Warrior(Washington DC) Beneath the visible threshold of China’s well known military expansion in the realm of carriers, destroyers, stealth aircraft, drones armored vehicles, the People’s Liberation Army is also massively accelerating production and modernization of its nuclear arsenal. An Arms Control Association essay says DoD and independent researchers states China now has a total of at least 500 nuclear weapons.