Alex Hollings

Alex Hollings

USMC
Alex Hollings writes on a breadth of subjects with an emphasis on defense technology, foreign policy, and information warfare. He holds a master's degree in communications from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as a bachelor's degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Framingham State University.

Another Russian spy ring destroyed

On Thursday, the Justice Department announced the indictment of seven Russian intelligence officials, as accusations and allegations regarding Russia’s intelligence community continue to mount. All seven defendants are members of Russia’s GRU, KGB’s successor and rough equivalent to the CIA. The charges include hacking, wire fraud, identity theft, and money laundering carried out in an […]

Opinion: Like it or not, it matters what the rest of the world thinks of America

Here in the United States, we have a short memory and even shorter foresight when it comes to international politics. We can’t seem to find it in ourselves to view the world through anything other than our own partisan lenses, qualifying our nation’s behavior, as well as the responses it garners, from the rest of […]

International pressure is mounting against China in the South China Sea

On Sunday, a Chinese Type 052C destroyer confronted the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Decatur in the international waters of the South China Sea. The Chinese-flagged warship attempted to assert China’s sovereignty over the waterway by crossing the Decatur’s bow in a maneuver U.S. Navy officials characterized as “unsafe and unprofessional,” forcing the Decatur to take […]

Russian trolls use ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ to advance political divide in America

If you’ve found yourself feeling as though there’s no way to escape domestic politics in this era of heightened partisan bickering, you may have Russia to thank. Recent studies into online behavior tied to Kremlin-linked accounts in recent years have repeatedly shown how Russian operatives engage with Americans regarding far more than presidential candidates. Although […]

This 5-barrel electronic rifle could become the Army’s replacement for the M16

Service members joining the United States military today are generally issued a rifle that would look familiar to anyone that’s worn an American uniform since 1963. The M16 has seen several versions. But young troopers today essentially carry the same rifles as their grandfathers in Vietnam. The general operating principles haven’t changed all that much since […]

US and Chinese destroyers almost collide in South China Sea standoff

Tensions between the U.S. and China continue to escalate. On Sunday, an American warship conducting a Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea was confronted by a Chinese destroyer. The Chinese vessel, aiming to enforce China’s claims of sovereignty over the geopolitically crucial waterway, closed to within just 45 feet of the […]

Watch a Ukrainian fighter pilot make the craziest low-altitude pass you may ever see

The thing about fighter jets is that just about every developed nation in the world has some, and while the capabilities of these aircraft vary greatly from platform to platform, it’s hard to withhold the awe you experience seeing any one of these purpose-built aviation marvels do their thing. And for the most part, those […]

China announces new sub detection system so advanced experts aren’t sure it’s even possible

In an effort reminiscent of the massive Apollo program that landed American astronauts on the moon, the Chinese government recently announced that they’ve brought together the combined resources and brainpower of 20 different research institutes and universities around their nation to do something many believe could be impossible. Like Apollo, this endeavor will require launching […]

UK to deploy troops to the Arctic amid massive Russian buildup

Gavin Williamson, Britain’s Defense Secretary has announced the UK’s plans to expand its military presence in the Arctic, amid a significant buildup of Russian forces within the region. For years, Russia has dominated expansion in the Arctic, thanks in no small part to President Vladimir Putin’s belief that the waterways being freed up by climate […]

Russia attacks China for ‘ripping off’ its carrier based fighter

China has a long history of skipping the research and development stage when it comes to fielding new military aircraft, instead opting to purchase or outright steal aviation technology from peers and competitors like the United States and Russia. Much ado about China’s fifth-generation J-20 and forthcoming J-31 platforms has already been made in the […]

F-35 crashes in South Carolina days after first entering combat operations

Thursday marked a momentous occasion for the trouble F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, with Marine Corps F-35Bs flying their first ever combat mission, conducting air strikes against Taliban targets. While some called the use of the advanced and stealthy F-35 for air strikes in uncontested air space a “waste” of taxpayer money, the operation provided […]