Caleb Larson

Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war's shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war's civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.

(Jan 31, 2009) An F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to the "Tomcatters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 launches from the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 are operating in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility and are focused on reassuring regional partners of the United States' commitment to security, which promotes stability and global prosperity (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Snyder/Released)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Navy Just Tested a Bomb that Flies Twenty Times Farther than the Old One — and it Could Be the Key to Beating China’s Air Defenses

Summary and Key Points: For decades, American warplanes ruled the skies against enemies who could barely shoot back. That era is ending — and...

Caleb LarsonJune 6, 2026

Putin at November 2023 Science Fair Russian Government Photo

Ukraine War

Russia’s Ukraine War Disaster Is Quietly Turning It Into Something It Never Wanted to Be: China’s Junior Partner

Russia’s economic forecast is gloomy, with slow growth predicted for 2026. Economic forecasts range from around 0.8% to 1.1% of GDP, according to the...

Caleb LarsonJune 6, 2026

Russian President Putin in 2024 Russian Federation Photo

Ukraine War

They Were Promised Safe Jobs in Warehouses and Construction. Russia Sent Them to the Front to Die in the Ukraine War

By some estimates, Russia has recruited tens of thousands of foreign fighters to support its war in Ukraine. The countries of origin of these...

Caleb LarsonJune 6, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-47 NGAD Fighter May Be the Costliest Weapon in History — and China Says That’s Exactly Why It Won’t Matter

As the United States Air Force prepares to accept its newest jet, the F-47, into service, the reaction from America’s principal geopolitical adversary toward...

Caleb LarsonJune 5, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The West Sent Ukraine Its Most Advanced Weapons. The Ones Everyone Bet On Flopped — and the One Winning the War, Ukraine Built Itself

One of the clearer lessons from the ongoing war in Ukraine is that there is probably no single weapon or weapon system from the...

Caleb LarsonJune 5, 2026

Putin Back in 2022 Russian Government Photo

Ukraine War

Ukraine Just Proved Russia Can’t Protect Its Two Greatest Cities — and the Timing Couldn’t Have Been More Humiliating

Summary and Key Points: For one week a year, St. Petersburg belongs to Vladimir Putin — host to a glittering economic forum built to...

Caleb LarsonJune 4, 2026

Ukraine War

Most Russians Still Back Putin’s Ukraine War. A Record Number Also Want It to End. The Gap Between Those Two Numbers Is the Kremlin’s Real Problem

Summary and Key Points: There’s no harder place on earth to take an honest poll than wartime Russia. Answers come wrapped in fear, censorship,...

Caleb LarsonJune 4, 2026

The US Navy's troubled Zumwalt-class destroyers are being revitalized with the integration of Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missiles, transforming them into powerful long-range strike platforms. The original class of 32 ships was cut to just three after its Advanced Gun System failed due to exorbitant costs. Now, these stealthy, $8 billion warships are having their defunct guns replaced with vertical launch tubes for hypersonic weapons. This upgrade will dramatically increase their strike range from a mere 63 miles to over 1,700 miles, making the Zumwalts relevant and formidable assets for deterring adversaries like China in the 21st century.

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

There’s a Reason the World’s Most Powerful Navy Struggles in the Strait of Hormuz — and It’s the Water Itself

The most powerful navy in history should be able to pry open the world’s most important shipping lane. In practice, it’s far harder than...

Caleb LarsonJune 3, 2026

Putin in March of 2025 Russian Federation Photo

Ukraine War

Putin Is Reportedly Hiding From Public View Due to Ukraine War — Afraid of Drones, Assassination, and His Own Instability

Summary and Key Points: Russia’s own polls show Putin is as popular as ever — with approval near 80 percent and no sign of...

Caleb LarsonJune 3, 2026

National Security Journal

Caleb Larson

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Navy Just Tested a Bomb that Flies Twenty Times Farther than the Old One — and it Could Be the Key to Beating China’s Air Defenses

Ukraine War

Russia’s Ukraine War Disaster Is Quietly Turning It Into Something It Never Wanted to Be: China’s Junior Partner

Ukraine War

They Were Promised Safe Jobs in Warehouses and Construction. Russia Sent Them to the Front to Die in the Ukraine War

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-47 NGAD Fighter May Be the Costliest Weapon in History — and China Says That’s Exactly Why It Won’t Matter

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The West Sent Ukraine Its Most Advanced Weapons. The Ones Everyone Bet On Flopped — and the One Winning the War, Ukraine Built Itself

Ukraine War

Ukraine Just Proved Russia Can’t Protect Its Two Greatest Cities — and the Timing Couldn’t Have Been More Humiliating

Ukraine War

Most Russians Still Back Putin’s Ukraine War. A Record Number Also Want It to End. The Gap Between Those Two Numbers Is the Kremlin’s Real Problem

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

There’s a Reason the World’s Most Powerful Navy Struggles in the Strait of Hormuz — and It’s the Water Itself

Ukraine War

Putin Is Reportedly Hiding From Public View Due to Ukraine War — Afraid of Drones, Assassination, and His Own Instability

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