Author: Michael

Key Points and Summary – China’s J-35 is a carrier-borne stealth fighter that has moved from prototype to repeated deck trials on the Fujian, a new flat-deck aircraft carrier with electromagnetic catapults.

-The jet’s design choices—internal weapons bays, stealth-friendly inlets, folding wings, and a modern sensor window—make it a credible “first-look, first-shot” platform.

J-35 Factory in China. Image Credit: CCTV Screenshot.

China J-35 Fighter on Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Chinese Navy.

-It won’t match the U.S.

The Texas Military Department has removed an unspecified number of National Guard troops deployed to Chicago for not being “in compliance” with its validation process.
A spokesperson for the Texas Military Department confirmed to Task & Purpose that some of the 200 National Guard members sent to Illinois this past week have been replaced after they were found to not meet certain standards.

Marriage in the military is not a cute romance novel or Lifetime movie. It’s a battlefield of long deployments, constant moves, temptations, and stress. Whether you are a new milspouse or seasoned soul, it never hurts to talk about ways to protect your relationship from heartbreak, setbacks, and the silent enemies of distance and distraction.
Marriage is hard, but a military marriage is a whole different battlefield.

Key Points and Summary – A recent GAO report warns of a “Hollow Military 2.0” crisis, revealing U.S. Navy crews are forced to “cannibalize” various platforms for spare parts.

-This practice serves as a workaround for chronic shortages resulting from “just-in-time” logistics and limited sourcing from manufacturers.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 performs maneuvers above the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during the departure of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 Dec. 10, 2013, in the Pacific Ocean.

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Key Points and Summary – Operation Black Buck was a series of daring, long-range bombing raids conducted by the UK’s Royal Air Force against Argentine forces during the 1982 Falklands War.

-Using near-retired Avro Vulcan bombers flying from Ascension Island, the missions were logistical marvels.

A Royal Air Force Vulcan Display Team Vulcan B. Mk 2 aircraft performs during Air Fete ’85. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

-The first raid, a nearly 16-hour round trip, was the longest bombing run in history at the time, requiring numerous mid-air refuelings.

Key Points and Summary – In 1946, the U.S. military conducted the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, detonating nuclear weapons against a target fleet of 95 warships to study their effects. Many of the warships were World War II-era battleships.

-The tests, including a powerful underwater blast, sank over a dozen ships and showered the fleet in radioactive fallout. While providing valuable scientific data, the operation had a dark legacy.

-The local inhabitants were displaced for decades due to contamination, and many of the thousands of participating U.S.

Key Points and Summary – China has developed a formidable, multi-layered anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) system, effectively creating a “defensive bubble” designed to deter the U.S. Navy and potentially sink aircraft carriers.

-This system integrates numerous threats, including “carrier-killer” ballistic missiles, new hypersonic anti-ship weapons, quieter submarines, and an emerging “drone wall” of unmanned systems.

China UUV Drones. Image Credit: X Screenshot.

-Together, these layers create vast ocean areas that are too dangerous for U.S.

Key Points and Summary – Vladimir Putin is losing the war in Ukraine; the West must prepare for escalation. Russia’s recent summer offensive failed militarily, resulting in massive casualties for little gain.

-More critically, Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes are crippling Russia’s economy by taking a huge portion of its oil refining capacity offline, leading to domestic fuel rationing and falling revenues.

Putin Back in 2023 Speaking. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The Korean People’s Army has unveiled a new type of main battle tank, the Chonma 20, which was first seen in Kim Il Sung Square at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the ruling Korean Workers’ Party. The tank represents a further improvement on the Chonma 2 design that was first unveiled in October 2020, and follows the unveiling of the previous iteration of the design, the Tianma 2, in November 2024.