Summary and Key Points: Despite America’s intense bombing in Operation Epic Fury, Iran is rapidly rebuilding its missile and drone arsenal — roughly half its launchers survived, many hidden in underground “missile cities” carved deep into granite mountains.
-Defense columnist Brent Eastwood argues the conflict revealed a new era of warfare he calls the “Kinetic Missile Fight,” where massed barrages decide outcomes and victory depends on stockpile depth.
France is building an 80,000-ton nuclear supercarrier, the FS France Libre — twice the displacement of the Charles de Gaulle and the largest warship ever built in Europe. Announced by President Macron, it will carry up to 30 Rafale-M fighters launched by three American-made EMALS catapults, the same system on the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class. Due in 2038 at a cost of €10.25 billion, the carrier is built for global power projection — and to operate alongside U.S. forces against China.
Libre: France’s New 80,000-ton Aircraft Carrier Dream
PANG France Aircraft Carrier.
Ukraine’s parliament has ratified an agreement with the European Union on a €90bn ($104bn) Ukraine Support Loan.
A fifth round of talks to end the Iran war is underway, but there’s little sign of a breakthrough. The proposed 60-day ceasefire would give Tehran 30 days to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — but Iran, which has built a bureaucracy to charge transit fees, has little reason to hurry as the global economy strains.
The Iran War Just Won’t End
Iran’s Drones That Russia Is Using. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
A new round of negotiations to end the war between the Trump administration and the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran is dominating the news cycle.
Summary and Key Points: The Iowa-class battleships were the fastest and most powerful the U.S. Navy ever built. The four ships — Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, and Wisconsin — could hit 33 knots and fire nine 16-inch guns, hurling 2,700-pound shells up to 24 miles.
-They escorted carriers across the WWII Pacific, hosted Japan’s surrender aboard Missouri in 1945, and returned for Korea, Reagan’s Navy, and the 1991 Gulf War armed with Tomahawks. All four survive as museum ships.
-We present here both the original video and photos of our USS Iowa battleship visit last year.
When Darius Rucker started Hootie and the Blowfish in 1986, he sang in bars with his buddies hoping they’d make enough money to keep playing music another week. Four decades later, he’s still making records, still touring, and even more impressive, he’s giving back to a very deserving demographic: veterans.
Also Read: 6 songs that will always remind America of the Vietnam War
At the 52nd American Music Awards on May 25, 2026, Rucker received the Veterans Voice Award, presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action.
Drone warfare now dominates the war in Ukraine,
Summary and Key Points: Iran has quietly built the legal and bureaucratic machinery to take permanent control of the Strait of Hormuz.
-In May 2026, it created the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which now requires transit permits — banning Israeli ships, restricting American ones, and charging up to $2 million per passage, paid in Chinese yuan to dodge U.S. sanctions.
Navy Aircraft Carrier At Sea. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Iran’s map even claims waters that the UAE and Oman have long held. Five Gulf states, the U.S., and China have all objected.
Summary and Key Points: For decades, rumors claimed the U.S. had secretly built the SR-91 Aurora — a hypersonic spy plane flying at Mach 5 to replace the SR-71 Blackbird.
-The legend was fueled by a mysterious 1980s Pentagon budget line, a triangular aircraft spotted over the North Sea, and “sky quakes” over Los Angeles near Area 51.
B-2 Bomber Sitting in Museum National Security Journal Photos. All Rights Reserved.
B-2 Stealth Bomber July 2025 National Security Journal Photo.
Edwin “Ned” Nye didn’t want to become a lawyer.
Seeing that he was already enrolled in law school, Nye—whose famous son simplified complex topics for millions of television viewers as Bill Nye the Science Guy—did the only thing he could. He dropped out.
Also Read: This plane survived Pearl Harbor and struck back at Midway
Not one to sit around, Nye went job-hunting. He found work as a contractor for the United States Navy, building an airstrip on Wake Island.
