Gary Warner, Stars and Stripes
With volleys of cannon fire and a marching brass band, the Army on Thursday signaled a major military merger

Gary Anderson, RealClearDefense
After dominating the world’s sea lanes since the end of World War II, surviving challenges from the Soviet Navy throughout the Cold War, the United States…

MC Compass Points
In just one report, Congress’s most trusted source of unbiased information raises a roster of issues

Jesse H. Ausubel, RealClearDefense
Andrew W.

The Biden Administration’s Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall (a West Point graduate whom a classmate said is “left of Marx”), displayed remarkable tone deafness quoted in a recent article, Pete Hegseth’s blocks on promotions rankle former military leaders, where those interviewed erroneously think SecWar Hegseth is blocking promotions because the person is black or a woman.
That is the complete opposite of what Hegseth is trying to do in eliminating DEI–throwing out selections based on skin color or sex.

Nearly 250 years after he died in the Battle of Camden, researchers identified Pvt. John Pumphrey as one of more than a dozen Continental Army John Does that were found near the battlefield.
On Thursday, researchers in South Carolina announced that they confirmed the identity of one set of remains. Pumphrey, whose death was not recorded and whose identity was nearly lost to history, had been from a prominent Maryland family who enlisted in the Continental Army in his early teens.

How Iran Won the Negotiations Without A Military: A CNN report claimed on Thursday that U.S. intelligence agencies believe that Iran now has the ability to shut down the Strait of Hormuz whenever it decides to. If true, the assessment means that Tehran could once again hold the global economy hostage and has a major point of leverage over the next sixty days as Washington attempts to hash out a deal with the regime.

According to the report, U.S.

In February 2023, the Biden administration dashed Kyiv’s hopes of launching long-range strikes deep into Russia when it refused to deliver Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine. During meetings with the Pentagon, Kyiv representatives were told that Washington did not have sufficient ATACMS to spare to transfer to Ukraine. The Biden administration also expressed concern that providing long-range weapons would risk escalating the conflict and give Russian President Vladimir Putin an excuse to threaten or attack NATO territory.

Today, Ukraine doesn’t need those ATACMS.

As Ukraine continues its long-range strike campaign into Russia, its president warned on Friday that his forces may also begin targeting Belarus. Speaking during a joint news conference with Honduran President Nasry Asfura, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to remove Russian drone-support equipment from his territory or face Ukrainian strikes that eliminate them instead.

On June 14, 2026, President Donald Trump took to TruthSocial to announce a deal with Iran. “I hereby fully authorize the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” he declared.

Trump’s belief in the power and permanence of his own agreements misunderstands Iran. Multiple power centers have always characterized the Islamic Republic, allowing the regime to entangle the United States in an elaborate game of good cop-bad cop.

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New footage has shown that the Russian Army’s most capable type of attack helicopter, the Mi-28NM, has been modified to enhance its performance in counter-drone roles. The sighting of new antenna housings in multiple locations across the airframe indicated that a significant upgrade has been implemented to the Mi-28’s electronic warfare capabilities, following the similar appearance of such antenna on Su-34M strike fighters which were first observed earlier in the month. The antenna housings were seen on the sides of the helicopter’s nose, atop its stub-wing pods, and on its tail boom.

This year’s intake of recruits to the Bri

Hanwha Aerospace and Thales have reached an agreement to pursue the compatibility of the South Korean firm’s Chunmoo guided missiles with the latter’s X-Fire launcher platform.

One of the biggest days in Gurkha sport is almo

This video describes the military situation in

The Russian Aerospace Forces were on June 20 reported to have deployed Su-34 long range strike fighters for attacks on Ukrainian Armed Forces drone control points, with footage from Russia’s own unmanned aircraft confirming the targets’ destruction. The Russian Defence Ministry reported: “In the settlements of Dobropolye and Kucherov Yar of the DPR [Donetsk], pilots destroyed the control points of UAVs of two separate brigades of the National Guard of Ukraine with FAB-500 aerial bombs.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has initiated a major six-month review of American military presence in Europe, dubbed “NATO 3.0,” while significant cuts to U.S. forces assigned to the alliance are already taking effect, NATO officials confirmed Thursday.
The review aims to shift primary responsibility for European defense to European allies, with Hegseth stating that the assessment will identify which nations are prepared to step up and which are not. “Some countries will fail,” he told defense ministers, “while others will pass with flying colors.

Penalty shootout. Pressure.

Stocking up at sea – no problem 🚁
This

This video describes the military situation in

The Navy will keep its ships in the area around the Strait of Hormuz after lifting its blockade, U.S. Central Command said on Thursday, ending two months of a dual stoppage of the waterway.
“American forces are not impeding the transit of vessels to or from Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said in its announcement. “All U.S. military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased.” 
The move comes after President Donald Trump signed an initial agreement to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz.

This video describes the military situation in

The Army Tennis Championships delivered some ex

Speaking to NBC, a U.S. official confirmed that Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire.

The news substantially increases the chances that Washington can agree to a lasting peace deal with Tehran over the next sixty days, as per the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

Merkava Tank Israel. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The news follows an escalation between the militant group and Israeli forces that threatened the peace process.

Defence Blog
Scientists at the U.S.

Tyler Rogoway, TWZ
Radar pod-toting MQ-9s present an economical and highly-flexible persistent airborne early warning solution that is needed now more than ever.

Defense News Aerospace, Global Defense News
Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II is poised to become one of the U.S.

Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering
Autonomous wingmen, software-defined upgrades, and multi-aircraft teaming. Here’s what Shield AI’s latest Air Force contract means.

The Aviationist
The RQ-4Bs operated by the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron permanently relocated to Yokota AB, where they already deployed every year during the typhoon season

Royal Logistic Corps Corporal Samuel Stock has

An influenza outbreak that started in late May has left nearly 160 Air Force recruits sick, with some hospitalized.
An Air Force spokesperson told Task & Purpose that the 37th Training Wing has been dealing with a “localized influenza outbreak among trainees at Basic Military Training” at Lackland Air Force Base. The flu outbreak has been going on for three weeks, the Air Force said, although training at the base has not been interrupted.

Warsaw, Poland – What Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his drone force commanders call their “middle-strike” campaign has become a series of merciless attacks on the main artery that provides supplies for both the population and the Russian military in Crimea. One swarm after another of wide-ranging drone aircraft is destroying hundreds of Russian fuel trucks, paralyzing truck and rail shipments of food, medicine, and other daily consumables.

This has put the Crimean Peninsula, an area roughly the size of the US state of Arizona, into what has become an almost total blockade.

Gunners of 12th Regiment Royal Artillery test t

The Eurosatory 2026 exhibition displayed a remarkable balance of change and continuity in its armoured vehicle line-up.

In an event that has generated some of the most dramatic video footage to date, for the second time in three days, Ukraine has sent a massive wave of drones to attack Moscow.

At least 194 Ukrainian drones were intercepted on approach to the Russian capital, making it the largest attack of its kind since the start of the full-scale war in February 2022.

Ukraine Cruise Missile 2026. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

One of the main targets of this attack, which was also struck during the previous drone assault, is the Gazprom Neft-owned Moscow Oil Refinery.

Continued Fighting In Lebanon Results In Iran Calling Off Talks: Intense fighting in southern Lebanon briefly derailed high-stakes U.S.-Iran peace negotiations, leading Iran to pull out of scheduled talks in Switzerland.

The violence escalated after an attack on an Israeli tank killed four soldiers, including a Battalion commander, prompting retaliatory Israeli airstrikes that killed at least 18 people in southern Lebanon.

F-35I Adir Israel Stealth Fighter. Image Credit: IDF

Vice President JD Vance canceled his planned travel to Switzerland.

Australia’s DroneShield and Dutch tactical mobility firm Defenture have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop and pursue commercial opportunities in mobile counter-uncrewed aerial system (UAS) solutions.

Rheinmetall and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) formalised an agreement to assess joint production possibilities for the Vektrex manoeuvring projectile, a 155 mm artillery munition.

The views and opinion expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities mentioned.
The Marine Corps taught me how to fight.The Army Green Berets taught me when.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: Why would a Marine join the Green Berets? It’s a long story, but a good one. It came with lethality, knowledge, humility, and learning when to shut up, think, and wait.

Moscow Threatens “Massive Group Strikes” After Ukrainian Drone Attack: The latest from the tone-deaf Russian Federation strikes an ominous tone.

“It is no coincidence that President Putin announced some time ago, after yet another Kyiv terrorist attack, that we will now conduct massive group strikes on a regular basis against targets whose condition directly affects the combat readiness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

This year’s intake of recruits to the Bri

They Are Not Born Strong.

Ever since announcing the war in Iran, President Donald Trump has faced enormous opposition – not just from Democrats, but from Republicans, too.

While Trump loyalists unsurprisingly remained publicly and ferociously supportive of the president, the decision was not universally accepted within the Republican camp and even faced intense scrutiny from members of what would fairly be described as the far right of the party.

Trump Is Looking for an Exit From Iran, Not Another War: Trump may bomb Iran again. He says he will if there is no deal, or if Iran cheats, or if the final terms look wrong to him. That is worth taking seriously. The United States has already struck Iran. Tehran cannot assume the threat is theater.

The more likely outcome is still that Trump takes a thin deal, calls it a major victory, and moves on.

Donald Trump Giving a Speech. Image Credit: Gage Skidmore.

That sounds cynical only if we pretend wars end in clean strategic settlements. They usually do not.

On June 18, 2026, two Vietnam War Marines and an Army Ranger received the Medal of Honor. The ceremony took place at the White House with President Donald Trump presenting the Medals earned by Maj. James Capers, Jr., Col. John Ripley, and Maj. Nicholas Dockery.
Here’s what you need to know about these amazing Americans.
The Force Recon Legend
(Courtesy of James Capers, Jr.)
Born in South Carolina on Aug. 25, 1937, Capers is the Recon Marine that other Recon Marines hope to become. In Vietnam, he led over 50 long-range reconnaissance patrols with “Team Broadminded.

The UK MoD has awarded a contract to the supply of 270 unspecified 4×4 vehicles under Project Niala, intended for special operations forces.

The Russian A-235 strategic missile defence system has since 2019 formed the top tier of the country’s ground-based air defence network,and was designed to protect Moscow and other key national command assets from intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic weapons, satellites, and space aircraft. The system is assessed to have longest engagement range of any operational missile defence system in the world, with interceptors capable of engaging targets hundreds of kilometres away and at altitudes extending into space.

This video describes the military situation in

This video describes the military situation in