Jake Epstein
@byjepstein.bsky.social
Senior defense reporter at Business Insider covering national security and global military issues. Reach out: jepstein@businessinsider.com.
https://www.businessinsider.com/author/jake-epstein
https://www.businessinsider.com/author/jake-epstein
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Scenes from this actual NATO training look like Star Wars' planet Hoth — complete with arctic camouflage, assault vehicles and lasers.
Read @byjepstein.bsky.social's report from the Arctic circle: www.businessinsider.com/how-finland-...
Read @byjepstein.bsky.social's report from the Arctic circle: www.businessinsider.com/how-finland-...
NATO is readying soldiers for a frozen Arctic war. It means learning to fight on skis and snowmobiles.
Business Insider traveled north of the Arctic Circle to watch Finland's Jaeger Brigade train NATO forces on winter warfare and cold-weather survival.
www.businessinsider.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Scenes from this actual NATO training look like Star Wars' planet Hoth — complete with arctic camouflage, assault vehicles and lasers.
Read @byjepstein.bsky.social's report from the Arctic circle: www.businessinsider.com/how-finland-...
Read @byjepstein.bsky.social's report from the Arctic circle: www.businessinsider.com/how-finland-...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
"The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces," the CENTCOM spokesman told @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/navy-jet-sho...
An F-35 stealth fighter shot down an Iranian drone flying toward a US Navy aircraft carrier
A defense official said the drone's intent was unclear. It was shot down after it "unnecessarily maneuvered" toward the carrier.
www.businessinsider.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:55 PM
"The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces," the CENTCOM spokesman told @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/navy-jet-sho...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
"You don't have time to think about what's happening," one NATO pilot said of scrambling jets within 15 minutes via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/inside-nato-...
Inside a NATO air base on Russia's doorstep, where fighter pilots on scramble alert have just 15 minutes to launch
Here's what it's like on an air base in Lithuania, on Russia's doorstep, where Spanish jets are deployed to support NATO air policing operations.
www.businessinsider.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:53 PM
"You don't have time to think about what's happening," one NATO pilot said of scrambling jets within 15 minutes via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/inside-nato-...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Only seven US service members were injured during the helicopter-borne raid, @byjepstein.bsky.social reported: www.businessinsider.com/us-troops-hu...
7 US troops were hurt in the covert Venezuela raid. Here's what we know about their condition.
A defense official said so few injuries on such a complex raid spoke to the expertise of US forces.
www.businessinsider.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Only seven US service members were injured during the helicopter-borne raid, @byjepstein.bsky.social reported: www.businessinsider.com/us-troops-hu...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
In a war against Russia, NATO would face the same casualty evacuation challenges via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-reli...
Hunted by drones, Ukrainian forces hide behind darkness, bad weather, and smoke to rescue wounded troops, officer says
The surge of drones on the battlefield has made it almost impossible to pull off traditional casualty evacuations.
www.businessinsider.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:19 PM
In a war against Russia, NATO would face the same casualty evacuation challenges via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-reli...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Before this week, an attack like this would've needed a torpedo-carrying submarine. No longer. via @byjepstein.bsky.social
www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-carr...
www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-carr...
Ukraine says it just carried out the first-ever underwater drone strike on a Russian submarine
Ukraine's internal security agency said the attack damaged and disabled a Russian Kilo-class submarine in the port city of Novorossiysk.
www.businessinsider.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Before this week, an attack like this would've needed a torpedo-carrying submarine. No longer. via @byjepstein.bsky.social
www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-carr...
www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-carr...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
A Navy warship fired a missile at a F/A-18 Hornet, getting so close the jet shook.
@byjepstein.bsky.social has the harrowing details on the US Navy's worst friendly fire incident in decades: www.businessinsider.com/navy-warship...
@byjepstein.bsky.social has the harrowing details on the US Navy's worst friendly fire incident in decades: www.businessinsider.com/navy-warship...
A Navy warship mistook US fighter jets for enemy missiles and opened fire. The targeted pilot saw his life flash before his eyes.
New documents reveal how the USS Gettysburg shot down an F/A-18 and nearly hit a second one above the Red Sea last year.
www.businessinsider.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:05 PM
A Navy warship fired a missile at a F/A-18 Hornet, getting so close the jet shook.
@byjepstein.bsky.social has the harrowing details on the US Navy's worst friendly fire incident in decades: www.businessinsider.com/navy-warship...
@byjepstein.bsky.social has the harrowing details on the US Navy's worst friendly fire incident in decades: www.businessinsider.com/navy-warship...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Frightening situation for a 32,000-pound jet to start rolling out of control. via @byjepstein.bsky.social who FOIA'd records of what happened
www.businessinsider.com/us-aircraft-...
www.businessinsider.com/us-aircraft-...
A US aircraft carrier's hard turn to avoid enemy fire surprised sailors and sent a jet with bad brakes into the sea
The $60 million F/A-18 and a tow tractor slid off the USS Harry S. Truman while it evaded a Houthi missile attack, new documents show.
www.businessinsider.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Frightening situation for a 32,000-pound jet to start rolling out of control. via @byjepstein.bsky.social who FOIA'd records of what happened
www.businessinsider.com/us-aircraft-...
www.businessinsider.com/us-aircraft-...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
"It's a rare day when someone earns a Silver Star." -Gen. Ken Wilsbach
@byjepstein.bsky.social got the details: www.businessinsider.com/us-pilot-dod...
@byjepstein.bsky.social got the details: www.businessinsider.com/us-pilot-dod...
A US F-16 pilot outflew enemy missiles with extreme high-G turns for 15 minutes during a Middle East mission
An Air Force citation obtained by Business Insider describes how the pilot survived a harrowing mission in enemy airspace.
www.businessinsider.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:51 PM
"It's a rare day when someone earns a Silver Star." -Gen. Ken Wilsbach
@byjepstein.bsky.social got the details: www.businessinsider.com/us-pilot-dod...
@byjepstein.bsky.social got the details: www.businessinsider.com/us-pilot-dod...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
"We can operate anywhere," an RAF Voyager pilot told @byjepstein.bsky.social on a nine-hour mission: www.businessinsider.com/inside-high-...
Inside the high-speed missions fueling Western fighter jets on Russia's doorstep
Business Insider went aboard a Royal Air Force Voyager tanker to watch it refuel NATO fighter jets operating over Eastern Europe.
www.businessinsider.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:05 PM
"We can operate anywhere," an RAF Voyager pilot told @byjepstein.bsky.social on a nine-hour mission: www.businessinsider.com/inside-high-...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
"We employed weapons to great effect against multiple surface-to-air missile sites."
via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/f-35s-flew-d...
via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/f-35s-flew-d...
F-35 stealth fighters spearheaded strikes deep inside Iran and were the last ones out, Midnight Hammer commanders say
The stealth fighter jets escorted B-2 bombers during the US military strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities in late June.
www.businessinsider.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:21 PM
"We employed weapons to great effect against multiple surface-to-air missile sites."
via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/f-35s-flew-d...
via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/f-35s-flew-d...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
NATO soldiers are learning to operate an interceptor that can down Russia's latest jet-powered drones, @byjepstein.bsky.social reports from Poland: www.businessinsider.com/nato-trying-...
Ukraine proved this drone-killer works. Now, the West is giving it a shot.
The American-made Merops system has already recorded over 1,000 kills against Russian Shahed-type drones in Ukraine.
www.businessinsider.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:30 PM
NATO soldiers are learning to operate an interceptor that can down Russia's latest jet-powered drones, @byjepstein.bsky.social reports from Poland: www.businessinsider.com/nato-trying-...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
"It's kind of a big leap to actually make something without people," Blue Water Autonomy's CEO told @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/us-company-l...
A US company making long-range drone warships for a China fight just put its tech to the test in the water
The US Navy needs multi-mission, long-range autonomous warships that can traverse and fight across the vast waters of the Pacific.
www.businessinsider.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
"It's kind of a big leap to actually make something without people," Blue Water Autonomy's CEO told @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/us-company-l...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
"If the conditions make refueling difficult, it can be stressful," a refueling boom operator told @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/how-air-forc...
How boom operators aboard the US Air Force's flying gas stations keep their cool doing an 'inherently dangerous' job
Business Insider spoke to a boom operator about their responsibilities aboard a KC-135 tanker at a base in England.
www.businessinsider.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:26 PM
"If the conditions make refueling difficult, it can be stressful," a refueling boom operator told @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/how-air-forc...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Ukraine shared footage on Tuesday of a helicopter raid with special operations troops via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/video-specia...
Front-line combat video captures special ops Black Hawk raid into Pokrovsk, Ukraine's fiercest fight
The footage shows how Ukraine is scrambling to defend the embattled city from brutal Russian assaults.
www.businessinsider.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Ukraine shared footage on Tuesday of a helicopter raid with special operations troops via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/video-specia...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
These infiltration tactics are terrifying and typically suicidal, via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/russian-infi...
Ukrainian forces say small Russian infiltration teams are increasingly appearing out of nowhere and sowing chaos in their lines
Ukrainian soldiers told Business Insider the tactic is becoming increasingly frequent and a growing challenge.
www.businessinsider.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
These infiltration tactics are terrifying and typically suicidal, via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/russian-infi...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Great perspective on Skyfall: "It's a subsonic (~260 m/s) cruise missile. NATO aircraft could intercept it."
Via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/trump-us-nuc...
Via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/trump-us-nuc...
After Russia's 'Skyfall' missile test, Trump says the US has a nuclear submarine 'right off their shores'
It's the second time in just a few months the US president has brought up nuclear submarines in response to Russian talk about its weapons.
www.businessinsider.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Great perspective on Skyfall: "It's a subsonic (~260 m/s) cruise missile. NATO aircraft could intercept it."
Via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/trump-us-nuc...
Via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/trump-us-nuc...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
NATO forces can respond to unusual activity in the Baltic Sea within an hour, thanks in part to AI monitoring and drones, reports @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/nato-baltic-...
NATO's Baltic Sea patrol surge and much faster reaction time are driving down undersea sabotage, Western officials say
The NATO mission began in January after several incidents of sabotage in the Baltic Sea, some of which has been linked to Russia.
www.businessinsider.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:55 PM
NATO forces can respond to unusual activity in the Baltic Sea within an hour, thanks in part to AI monitoring and drones, reports @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/nato-baltic-...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
As long as a country is willing to pay a higher price, there are people who can get them the sanctioned technologies through a shell game @byjepstein.bsky.social and Sinéad Baker report: www.businessinsider.com/how-russia-g...
Russia's missiles and drones run on Western tech. Here's how it keeps getting the parts.
Ukraine is still finding thousands of foreign-made parts in Russian weapons over three and a half years into the war.
www.businessinsider.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:48 PM
As long as a country is willing to pay a higher price, there are people who can get them the sanctioned technologies through a shell game @byjepstein.bsky.social and Sinéad Baker report: www.businessinsider.com/how-russia-g...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Ukraine says its new sea drone has the mass of a heavyweight torpedo and the range of a Tomahawk cruise missile, via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-reve...
Ukraine shows off new 'Sea Baby' naval drones decked out with automated machine guns and rocket launchers
Ukraine has relied on its armed naval drones to battle Russia's Black Sea Fleet in a display of asymmetric warfare.
www.businessinsider.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Ukraine says its new sea drone has the mass of a heavyweight torpedo and the range of a Tomahawk cruise missile, via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-reve...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Interceptor drones are a window into the future of air defenses. @businessinsider.com 's Matthew Loh and @byjepstein.bsky.social look at their rise www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-inte...
Ukraine's interceptor drones are rewriting the air war playbook. NATO is taking notice.
Interceptor drones, once a far-fetched experiment, are now a cornerstone of Ukraine's air defense, downing Russian Shaheds. NATO is watching closely.
www.businessinsider.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Interceptor drones are a window into the future of air defenses. @businessinsider.com 's Matthew Loh and @byjepstein.bsky.social look at their rise www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-inte...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Ukraine is increasingly turning to helicopters as Shahed-hunters, via @byjepstein.bsky.social: www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-send...
Ukraine forms new helicopter units to fight off Russia's nightly drone attacks
Helicopters with guns have increasingly become an important part of Ukraine's air defense network.
www.businessinsider.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Ukraine is increasingly turning to helicopters as Shahed-hunters, via @byjepstein.bsky.social: www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-send...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
A drone pilot says they're Russia's "Target No. 1," @byjepstein.bsky.social and Sinéad Baker report: www.businessinsider.com/russian-stri...
Russia is stepping up its hunt for top targets: the pilots powering Ukraine's drone fight
Ukrainian soldiers and drone operators said that Russia has ramped up its attacks on drone pilots since the war began.
www.businessinsider.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:33 PM
A drone pilot says they're Russia's "Target No. 1," @byjepstein.bsky.social and Sinéad Baker report: www.businessinsider.com/russian-stri...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Recent NATO exercises included a robot that relays sonar data to ashore command centers, @byjepstein.bsky.social reports: www.businessinsider.com/nato-fieldin...
NATO is trying to beat Russia and China on drones and robots. A top commander says it's not moving fast enough.
NATO is betting on drones, robots, and other emerging technologies to modernize its naval forces and help gain an edge over foes.
www.businessinsider.com
September 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Recent NATO exercises included a robot that relays sonar data to ashore command centers, @byjepstein.bsky.social reports: www.businessinsider.com/nato-fieldin...
Reposted by Jake Epstein
Oil prices initially jumped at news of this oil port attack via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-dr...
Ukrainian long-range drones struck a major Russian oil port, causing a fire and disrupting key shipments
Long-range drones struck the Russian port of Primorsk, setting a ship and a pumping station on fire. Oil prices initially jumped on the news.
www.businessinsider.com
September 12, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Oil prices initially jumped at news of this oil port attack via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-dr...