Amphibious warfare is treacherous; moving a military force from sea to land can turn mistakes into disasters. As the US military begins to focus its attention on the Asia-Pacific region, an area of increasing military tension and territorial disputes, the Marine Corps is being called upon to return to its roots in amphibious assault. VICE News visited RIMPAC, the world's largest maritime warfare exercise, to see how the Marine Corps is testing new technologies and tactics to face the new challenges of amphibious warfare and remain the world's preeminent amphibious force in the future.
The US military has been experimenting with the use of drones for almost a century, but it’s only recently that technological advances have made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) a game changer in warfare. Today, at least 79 countries field drones; 23 of those countries arm them. Earlier this year, VICE News was one of the first media outlets ever granted access to the US military's annual Black Dart exercise, a decade-old joint exercise that focuses on detecting, countering, and defeating UAVs.
The emergence of drug cartels working together with paramilitary groups has been a rising threat for countries in the Western hemisphere. One of the most effective responses has been Fuerzas Comando, an inter-military and special ops exercise attended by forces from across North, Central, and South America. The goals of the event are to promote inter-military relationships, increase interoperability, and improve regional security. This year, military forces from 17 countries, ranging from Belize to the United States, came together for the exercises at one of Colombia's biggest military bases, Fort Tolemaida. While each country has their own set of security threats, they all share the need to boost and innovate their military capabilities. In this episode of War Games, VICE News travels to Colombia to attend Fuerzas Comando, and see how these countries are working together to learn how to better combat threats within and beyond their borders.
The city has become a battlefield. As modern militaries must adapt to a landscape that often gives the upper hand to insurgents, proper training becomes more essential than ever. VICE News correspondent Alex Miller travels to Israel, home to one of the largest and most advanced urban warfare training centers in the world, to embed with a unit practicing effective urban combat tactics before employing them in the streets.
