Join 31,064 decision makers who get The SOFX Report delivered daily.
Share
Ukraine Lessons for SOF in Large Scale Combat Operations – Fires, Unmanned Systems, and Intelligence
Published about 19 hours ago • 4 min read
Alert Line
Hi everyone, If you are an expert in government acquisition and are interested in providing services to SOFX clients as a 1099 member of various SOFX project teams, please send us your resume along with your top 3 superpowers or areas of specialized access or knowledge. Be specific, not vague. For example, “relationship building” is not a superpower in and of itself. “Extreme influence in USD x, y, z as a function of n years working in it and knowing where bodies are buried” is. Email to agency@sofx.com. Thx!
Ukraine Lessons for SOF in Large Scale Combat Operations – Fires, Unmanned Systems, and Intelligence
Ukraine’s battlefield reveals three key lessons for U.S. SOF: drones now surpass artillery in effectiveness and must be treated as primary combat tools; air support can’t be assumed, making UAS, mortars, and portable fires critical; and intelligence depends heavily on civilian networks and social media. Future SOF operations must adapt to contested environments with tech-driven, decentralized, and resilient approaches. (Read More)
Gaza Clan Executes Hamas Officer Who Killed One Of Their Relatives
A prominent Gaza family killed a Hamas police officer on Tuesday after accusing him of shooting their relative earlier that day. The killing happened in broad daylight in Deir al-Balah and was recorded and shared on social media. According to The Times of Israel, the Abu Samra family claimed that Ibrahim Shaldan, a Hamas officer, shot and killed Abdulrahman Sha’aban Abu Samra while he was waiting in line for flour. (Read More)
Israel Kills Hezbollah Officer in Lebanon Airstrike Over Planned Hamas Attack
An Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut on Tuesday killed a Hezbollah officer accused of helping Hamas plan an imminent attack on Israeli civilians, according to Israeli officials. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike, which hit a residential building in Dahiyeh, targeted and killed Hassan Ali Bdeir, a Hezbollah operative who was also linked to Iran’s Quds Force. (Read More)
Ukrainian MiG-29 Hits Russian Command Post in Kherson Region with US-supplied GBU-62
A Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet struck a Russian underground command post near the occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson region this morning, using a U.S.-supplied GBU-62 precision-guided bomb, according to Ukrainian sources. The information and a video of the strike were first shared on the Ukrainian Telegram channel @soniah_hub/9849. (Read More)
Russian Bomber Crashes in Siberia, One Pilot Killed
A Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed during a training flight on Wednesday in Irkutsk Oblast, southeastern Siberia. One pilot died, and three others were injured. A report by Russian media outlet Meduza, citing the Russian Ministry of Defense, stated that the aircraft went down near the village of Buret in the Usolsky district. The ministry said the crash was likely caused by a technical malfunction. (Read More)
DARPA Unintentionally Invents New Rocket ‘Radar’ Thanks to SpaceX | Gizmodo
DARPA researchers testing atmospheric sensors accidentally detected a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket reentry by observing a sudden drop in electron content. The pattern repeated across multiple launches, revealing a new method to track objects reentering Earth’s atmosphere. Findings will be shared at a DARPA workshop April 15–17. (Read More)
DRC Reduces Death Sentences of Three Americans in Failed Coup Case
The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi, has reduced the death sentences of three American citizens to life in prison. The three were convicted for taking part in a failed coup attempt in May 2024. Marcel Malanga, 21, Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36 — were sentenced to death in September by a military court, along with 34 others. (Read More)
Fourth US Soldier Missing in Lithuania Following a Training Incident Found Dead, Army Confirms
The U.S. Army confirmed Tuesday that the fourth soldier who went missing during a training mission near the Lithuania-Belarus border had been found dead, concluding a seven-day recovery effort. In a news release, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) said the final soldier’s remains were located near Pabradė on Tuesday, one day after the bodies of the other three were recovered. His identity was not disclosed pending family notification. (Read More)
Starliner’s Flight To The Space Station Was Far Wilder Than Most Of Us Thought | Ars Technica
During its June 2024 mission, Boeing’s Starliner lost four thrusters near the ISS, leaving astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams unable to maneuver or return safely. NASA aborted the docking and later returned the crew to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. The astronauts publicly shared their experience in March 2025, confirming the failure and uncertainty. NASA is now investigating the issue; Starliner remains in orbit, awaiting an uncrewed return. (Read More)
Alert Line Hi everyone, If you are a legitimate expert in government acquisition and are interested in providing services to SOFX clients as a 1099 member of various SOFX project teams, please send us your resume along with your top 3 superpowers or areas of specialized access or knowledge. Be specific, not vague. For example, “relationship building” is not a superpower in and of itself. “Extreme influence in USD x, y, z as a function of n years working in it and knowing where bodies are...
Alert Line The CTC Sentinel March 2025 edition is out now. It features an in-depth look at the evolving terrorist drone threat, with Don Rassler and Yannick Veilleux-Lepage analyzing trends shaped by the Russo-Ukrainian War. Read it here. Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a first time reader? Subscribe. Lithuanian Armed Forces and emergency services personnel with excavators during recovery efforts for a U.S. Army M88 Hercules recovery vehicle near a training area in Pabradė, Lithuania, March...
Alert Line The CTC Sentinel March 2025 edition is out now. It features an in-depth look at the evolving terrorist drone threat, with Don Rassler and Yannick Veilleux-Lepage analyzing trends shaped by the Russo-Ukrainian War. Read it here. Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a first time reader? Subscribe. Satellite image of Diego Garcia — A strategically vital atoll in the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia hosts a major U.S. and U.K. military base. (Zelvan / Shutterstock.com) Armed Conflict Open-Source...