This video describes the military situation in

Experience the 2026 Flying Finale LIVE as IWM D

See Department of War Press Release Below:
Over the last two years under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth‘s leadership, the Department has been relentlessly reshaped to focus on lethality, the warfighters, and rapid modernization. Today, the Secretary continues that momentum by unveiling six major strategic initiatives that will govern the Department’s direction for years to come.

Lindsey Gray never served a day in uniform, yet she battles on the front lines every day against an issue tormenting the military community.
Veteran suicide.
Released in February 2026, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ most recent data showed that 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023. That’s a slight decline from 2022, when 6,442 former service members took their lives, but it still averages out to more than 17 suicides per day.

Following Boeing’s selection for the development of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX sixth generation fighter program, the United States has established a distinct division of labour between its three largest military aircraft manufacturers for fifth and sixth generation combat aviation programs. Boeing has emerged as the principal contractor for the country’s sixth generation fighter programs, having unexpectedly been awarded with contracts for both the F/A-XX, after it was also selected for the Air Force’s F-47 under the Next Generation Air Dominance Program in 2025.

This video describes the military situation in

During a recent training exercise in the western Pacific, a small group of engineers single-handedly saved the day.In the scenario, adversary covert forces used first-person view drones to intercept American helicopters that were shuttling between austere forward island airbases. Some helicopters were shot down, and the rest were forced to suspend flight operations, meaning the island bases were cut off from each other and from easy resupply. Fortunately, one of the U.S. bases included a small, forward-deployed team of military engineers and their equipment.

This video describes the military situation in

In 1901, military analyst Jan Bloch declared that new military technologies had changed war so radically that the study of history had become useless. He castigated military officers who prepared for future war based on “musty precedents” and who failed to recognize that the past was as irrelevant to the future as the experiences of caterpillars were to butterflies. Some of his tactical predictions did prove prescient: He anticipated that modern firepower and entrenchments would make decisive battle impossible. But he was very wrong about the continued value of history.

Army Technology
The contract includes ground and flight tests to validate XRC ramjet design and production processes

. Whitney, M+A
The current AIM-120D generation incorporates a two-way datalink, GPS-enhanced inertial measurement unit, expanded no-escape envelope, improved high-angle off-boresight…

Carley Welch, Breaking Defense
Anduril, Castelion, Lockheed Martin, RTX and Mach Industries were awarded Other Transaction Agreements for an undisclosed amount

Parth Satam, The Aviationist
The W93 warhead and Mk7 reentry body assembly are part of the Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE2) which will modernize the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad

Brian Everstine, Aviation Week
The U.S.

Ukraine has launched a major counteroffensive n

This video describes the military situation in

Japan is advancing its F-15 Japan Super Interceptor (JSI) programme, with the first 20 upgraded aircraft scheduled to complete deployment by the end of fiscal year 2029. The program is intended to substantially extend the capabilities of selected F-15J Eagles operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), which were procured from the early 1980s and are currently considered decades past obsolescence. The revised schedule represents a delay from the original target of completing modifications to the initial 20 aircraft by the end of FY2027.

COVID cases rising across the US. Image: The Wellness Company

The failed Fauci approach to COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on our healthcare system. Not only are millions of Americans still dealing with the long-term health impacts from the COVID vaccine, but now COVID – like the flu – is now an unwanted annual guest for tens of millions of Americans all across the country.
For the first time since early spring, COVID numbers are on the rise, and in some places – particularly in the south and on the west coast – the numbers are rising dramatically.

Russia has delivered a direct warning to NATO: if the alliance attempts to isolate Kaliningrad from the rest of Russia, Moscow could respond with military force, including nuclear weapons.

The warning was embedded within a diplomatic document sent directly to NATO, in which Moscow accused the alliance of following a “dangerous and reckless course” that created “high risks” of direct armed conflict.

Tu-95 Bomber Russian Air Force. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Tu-95 Bear Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, September 29, that he did not know whether Iran was ready to concede in its war with the United States, but he did insist that Tehran would eventually give up. 

The comments come as Washington’s continued economic sanctions campaign has driven the value of the rial to a historic low, and as Qatari mediators continue to exchange proposals between the two sides.

President Donald J.

Iran claimed on Wednesday, September 30, that it had received an official response from Washington to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume peace negotiations.

Tehran did not disclose the contents of Washington’s response, however, which came days after President Donald Trump publicly rejected it.

Former President of the United States Donald Trump speaking with attendees at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s 2023 Annual Leadership Summit at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. By Gage Skidmore.

President Donald J.

Gulf oil exports may be picking up pace, but they still aren’t driving oil prices down.

But why, even with crude exports from the region hitting 80 percent of the pre-war levels, are prices still proving troublesome?

Is This Really a ‘Win’?

Gas Prices on May 9 outside of Orlando, Florida. Image Credit: Harry J. Kazianis for National Security Journal.

On Wednesday, Brent crude remained over $100 a barrel. “If this is winning, what would losing look like?” Bloomberg columnist Javier Blas quipped.

The latest figures support Blas’ point.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday the launch of a new U.S. military command with “service-like authorities” to facilitate the rapid adoption of autonomous and robotic assets across the entire joint force.
The Autonomous Warfare Command emerges as Defense Department personnel have been confronting severe technical and structural bottlenecks as they hustle to buy and deploy affordable drones and associated unmanned capabilities en masse for modern combat operations.

President Donald Trump nominated Lt. Gen. David Miller Jr. to command U.S. Space Command and pin on a fourth star as the American military modernizes for orbital warfare.
On Wednesday, the Space Force’s top officer, Gen. Douglas Schiess, confirmed on social media that Miller was tapped to lead Spacecom, the U.S. military’s combatant command whose area of responsibility begins at 100 kilometers altitude above mean sea level and extends far into outer space. The nomination was transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday, according to a congressional notice.

“We can fly supersonic in the area… that&

Nearly every soldier in the Army has completed the military’s new test meant to track cognitive health and the potential effects of explosive blast exposure, officials said Monday.
Army officials said 97% of soldiers have taken the Neurocognitive Assessment Tool, a computer-administered assessment that establishes a baseline for cognitive function. Doctors and specialists can later reference that baseline to track cognitive issues if a soldier suffers a blast overpressure injury.

At a recent ceremony at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, six F-22 Raptor pilots were awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses, or DFCs, the military’s top award for valor in flight.
The pilots received the DFCs from one of the Air Force’s most senior officers, Gen. Adrian Spain, the commander of Air Combat Command. DFCs are the military’s highest award for flying, and the fourth-highest award of any kind, above the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

The Navy intends to procure 30 medium unmanned surface vessels from three vendors at an average cost of $40 million per platform, the sea service announced this week, part of a broader effort to ramp up its arsenal of robotic capabilities.
Galliano Marine Services, HII and Saronic Technologies were each awarded other transaction agreements to produce 10 MUSVs in the wake of “successful at sea testing,” according to a press release from the Navy’s direct reporting program manager for robotic and autonomous systems.

Iran’s top diplomat has presented Washington’s response to its latest proposal regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefed President Masoud Pezeshkian on the matter during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

F-15 Museum photo taken by 19FortyFive.com Staff.

Tehran’s announcement did not say whether the U.S. had refused its offer.

According to Reuters, Qatari mediators received Washington’s feedback on Monday. On Tuesday, they relayed the update to Araghchi and his delegation in Doha.

Iran said on Wednesday, September 30, that it had received an official response from the United States to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart negotiations.

The claim comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly rejected the offer.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, pilot and commander of the F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team, performs an aerial demonstration at Air Dot Show Tour Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 9, 2026. Capt. Le Tourneau showcased the unmatched capabilities of the F-22 by performing a series of combat maneuvers. (U.S.

This video describes the military situation in

In the latest mediated talks on a potential ceasefire agreement and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. and Iran have been exchanging proposals through mediators from Qatar.

According to FirstPost, Iran had made a proposal late last week for a timeline in which the Strait will be opened, in exchange for the U.S. unfreezing Iranian assets, lifting its blockade, and lifting sanctions.

President Donald Trump greets President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, Friday, February 28, 2025, in the West Wing Lobby.

What does the US withdrawal from Iraq mean for

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a 26-page letter to Americans urging voters to “change the makeup” of the U.S. government.

The letter comes just weeks before November’s midterm elections, where voters will decide who will control Congress for the next two years.

Iran Army Tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Iran Drone Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The conflict and the associated rise in the cost of living have been key issues throughout much of 2026, ever since the war began in February.

The post How to build observability for the agentic AI era appeared first on DefenseScoop.

Iran’s ability to disrupt Middle Eastern oil exports is pretty firmly established at this point — but that leverage is weakening as Gulf producers begin to restore shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and restore routes that bypass it.

But that recovery is not guaranteed to last, and Washington has not yet defeated Tehran or eliminated its ability to escalate.

Iran’s Drones That Russia Is Using. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Iran F-14 Tomcat Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Seven months after the U.S.

A single weapon used predominantly in World War I and with a limited deployment in World War II was so effective and so terrifying that Germany lodged a diplomatic protest against its use by American forces. It wasn’t the flamethrower or the machine gun. It was “trench broom” shotguns, especially the Winchester Models 1897 and 1912.
Also Read: CMP boss says M14s will be under $2,000. They have trench shotguns too.
The two shotguns were first entered into combat after America realized how brutal trench warfare really was.

Threats by nuclear-armed states against their adversaries are usually implicit. But Russia, this week, made such a threat explicit and directed it at NATO. According to Reuters, Russia this week sent a document to NATO in which it threatened to resort to using nuclear weapons if NATO enforces a blockade of the Kaliningrad region on the Baltic Sea — an idea that seems to have originated in a British TV broadcast.

Abu Dhabi could soon spend tens of billions of dollars on ports and other infrastructure to decouple the United Arab Emirates from the Strait of Hormuz, as the war with Iran forces Gulf governments to rethink the trade routes their economies depend on.

Diversification On the Way

The Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) transit the Atlantic Ocean March 20, 2021, marking the first time a Ford-class and Italian carrier have operated together underway.

Over the better part of three days, President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington for a summit that drew international attention for its high-stakes agenda, from trade and AI to Taiwan. While some experts saw the summit as an exercise in kicking the can down the road on major issues, others emphasized the significance of Trump treating Xi as an equal on the world stage. Read more below.Sam Bresnick Research Fellow and Andrew W. Marshall Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging TechnologyThe Xi-Trump summit yielded little progress on AI. Yes, U.S.

President Donald Trump has nominated Vice Adm. John “Brad” Skillman to serve as the Navy’s second-highest-ranking officer and become a four-star admiral.
Skillman’s nomination as vice chief of naval operations was submitted to the Senate on Tuesday, according to a congressional notice. A Navy official confirmed that the nomination has been transmitted to the Hill.

Ever since the conflict between the United States and Israel with Iran began back in February, Iran has utilized a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz to disrupt oil exports from neighbors in the Persian Gulf.

The move has driven up global oil prices, fueling cost-of-living rises worldwide and limiting foreign support for Operation Epic Fury.

Pascagoula, MS – The future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) completed acceptance trials, May 18. DDG 125 is the first Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer built in the Flight III configuration.

Russia’s latest bombardment of Kyiv isn’t just another attempt to destroy isolated military targets; rather, it reflects a broader campaign against the systems that allow Kyiv to function.

Electricity, heating, transportation, communication, logistics—Russia’s recent strikes have targeted crucial infrastructure. The timing also seems purposeful, with winter fast approaching.

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City, New York, Friday, August 14, 2026.

The Pentagon is debating its military presence in the Middle East after months of Iranian missile and drone attacks revealing the vulnerability of some of its largest forward bases. The discussion is still ongoing, with no official decisions made on mothballing any particular installations.

‘Quiet Talk’ Over How War Ends

U.S. Navy Lt. Andrew Bentley signals an F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “Blue Blasters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34, to launch from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Nov. 30, 2023.

The U.S. military-led mission to counter the Islamic State in Iraq has officially come to an end. 
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Wednesday that the “orderly departure” of U.S. personnel and equipment from Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq was officially complete. Officials said the withdrawal marked the end to Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, the U.S. military’s counter-ISIS mission in the country.
The Erbil Air Base had served as a central hub for the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve mission since U.S.

Northrop Grumman has secured an $18.8m contract from the US Army to develop and integrate solid-fuel ramjet propulsion for missile prototypes in the eXtended Range Counter-Uncrewed Aircraft System (XRC) programme.

Avio USA has broken ground on a roughly 900,000ft2 solid rocket motor plant in Hurt, Virginia, its first manufacturing facility in the US.

On Sept. 29, 2026, the Department of War announced a contract awarded by the U.S. Navy to Boeing for the sixth-generation F/A-XX Strike Fighter. Under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, the contract is valued at over $20 billion for the aircraft’s full-scale development phase. This includes procurement of multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness, systems, and weapons integration testing.
Boeing, which previously won the Air Force NGAD contract for the F-47, beat out Northrop Grumman for the Navy’s F/A-XX contract.

In its efforts to isolate Iran, including the Operation Economic Outcast effort that was announced last month, the Trump Administration has sought to punish countries that continue to do business with Iran.

One of the biggest challenges of that approach is that Iran gets more help than many believe from a powerful country: China.

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron is photographed after landing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 22, 2025.

SS Richard Montgomery was a Liberty Ship.