Summary and Key Points: Australia’s six Collins-class submarines were meant to be the pride of its navy. Instead came defective welds, propellers too loud to hide, and a combat system so bad the Navy scrapped it for U.S. tech. By the mid-2000s, often just one of six could put to sea — then came the turnaround.

The Collins-Class Nightmare? 

SSN-AUKUS. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Australia’s Collins-class submarines were supposed to be the pride of the Royal Australian Navy—stealthy, advanced, and the cornerstone of Australian undersea power.

🗣️“That peace they fought for 82 years a

Summary and Key Points: After years of delays turned its next frigate into an expensive disaster, the Navy made a hard call — and the Trump administration pulled the plug on the troubled Constellation-class program. Now the Navy is racing to fill the gap, and its solution is raising eyebrows: a new warship called the FF(X) that, stripped of the jargon, is essentially a militarized Coast Guard cutter.

Here Comes the FF(X)
After the disastrous cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program, the U.S.

In 1863, Adm. David Dixon Porter famously wrote, “A ship without Marines is like a garment without buttons.”
Remembering that this was a time before t-shirts when people dressed properly, his words hold true. Sailors crew and fight a ship, but a Marine detachment is a critical element on a warship.
Also Read: The role of the Marine Corps during the Civil War
The Army loves to remind the Marine Corps that the largest amphibious invasion in military history was conducted by soldiers.

Summary and Key Points: China’s island fortresses in the South China Sea are usually told as a military story — the runways, the missiles, the unsinkable aircraft carriers. But there’s a second story beneath the surface, and ecologists call it one of the fastest ecological collapses ever recorded. To build those bases, China dredged and buried tens of thousands of acres of living coral reef — some of the most biodiverse oceans on the planet.

An Ecological Disaster for the History Books 

J-35 Fighter from China. Image Credit: PLAAF.

Tributes have been paid to those who gave their

Summary and Key Points: Most people picture China’s South China Sea islands as little more than runways carved out of the sea. The reality is far more imposing — and far stranger. Thousands of Chinese troops now live on these man-made outposts year-round, scattered across dozens of reefs, crewing missile batteries, radar arrays, and runways that push Chinese air power hundreds of miles toward America’s allies.

China’s South China Sea Island Reality 

J-20 Fighter Fueling Up. Image Credit: Chinese Weibo.

Summary and Key Points: It was supposed to be one of the great strategic masterstrokes of the century. Over more than a decade, China dredged up coral and sand to build a chain of artificial island fortresses across the South China Sea — runways, radars, hangars, and harbors, some rivaling Pearl Harbor in scale, all designed to lock the United States and its allies out of the Pacific. But according to one regional analyst, Beijing may have overlooked something its own scientists could have warned it about: these islands sit on loose, waterlogged sand and coral.

Russia’s economic forecast is gloomy, with slow growth predicted for 2026. Economic forecasts range from around 0.8% to 1.1% of GDP, according to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, respectively. Indeed, Russia’s central bank largely concurs with the forecast and estimates this year’s growth in the 0.5% to 1.5% range. Conservatively, Russia can expect about 1% growth this year, give or take a few tenths of a percentage point.

Why Growth is Slowing

China’s Xi Jinping. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

By some estimates, Russia has recruited tens of thousands of foreign fighters to support its war in Ukraine. The countries of origin of these foreign fighters are incredibly varied, but some of the biggest sources appear to be South and Central Asia, parts of Africa, and many post-Soviet countries. Investigations have pointed to recruits from at least 44 countries, depending on the source.

The Foreign Fighters of Ukraine

Su-34 Fullback Fighter-Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

A tribute to the fallen
Lieutenant Commander Ch

This video describes the military situation in

This video describes the military situation in

The second Choe Hyon class destroyer built for the Korean People’s Army Navy, the the Kang Kon, was confirmed on June 6 to have begun its maiden sea trials, over a year after its launch on May 21, 2025. Chairman of the ruling Kim Jong Un personally boarded the destroyer for the trails, and announced that North Korea will build 10,000 ton destroyers in the future, which only the U.S., China, Japan and South Korea have ever achieved.

Patrouille de France – the French Air & Space

This video describes the military situation in

Footage released on Chinese social media has provided a first clear look at the new heavyweight attack helicopter developed for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces, which is reported to be designated the Z-21. Although Chinese authorities have not formally acknowledged the program or released official specifications, the aircraft first came to public attention in early 2024 after photographs of a prototype first appeared on social media. The program represents the first by China to develop a heavyweight attack helicopter, which will occupy a comparable weight range to the U.

After confirmation from Russian sources on June 4 that the Iranian Defence Ministry had ordered 12 Russian Su-30SM2 fighter aircraft, which will be delivered second hand from mid-2027 from frontline Russian Navy or Aerospace Forces units, analysts have speculated the reason for the expected procurement decision. The Iranian Defence Ministry was previously confirmed to have ordered 48 Su-35 fighters, which began production in Russia in 2025, while there have been multiple indications that orders for more advanced Su-57 fifth generation fighters have also been placed.

Recently, The Wellness Company announced a first of its kind human observational study of the off-label use of Ivermectin and Mebendazole in the treatment of cancer was published by the Anticancer Research Journal.
Dr. Peter McCullough, Chief Scientific Officer for The Wellness Company, and one of the authors of the manuscript, praised the results of this groundbreaking analysis. “In this first of its kind human observational analysis, off-label use of Ivermectin+Mebendazole showed a remarkable 84% Clinical Benefit Ratio in the treatment of cancer.

Following confirmation on June 4 that the Iranian Defence Ministry had ordered 12 Russian Su-30SM2 fighter aircraft to modernise its combat aviation fleet, significant questions have been raised regarding how their service entry scheduled for mid-2027 will improve the combat capabilities of the Iranian fleet.

The Russian Su-57 fifth generation fighter was designed to be able function as an airborne command centre, according to a recent statement by the state defence conglomerate Rostec which is responsible for overseeing the aircraft’s development. “The Su-57 is a highly intelligent aircraft capable of acting as an airborne command centre, including for unmanned aerial vehicles. The aircraft is also equipped with a wide range of modern and advanced weapons,” Rostec announced. “The aircraft is capable of engaging both enemy air and ground targets.

Recent reports suggest a shift within Russia whereby influential voices within the political establishment are increasingly questioning the trajectory of the Ukraine war. The criticism is not necessarily anti-war; the Russian population has mostly been, at least passively, accepting of the war. But the shift reflects a growing concern that Russia is trapped in a quagmire with no obvious path to victory, one that promises only to erode its economy and political capital.

Last summer, I made a point of standing in front of both surviving YF-23 Black Widow II prototypes. I saw the first restored aircraft indoors at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, and then the second, the Gray Ghost, sitting outdoors in Southern California near Los Angeles. The photos and video I shot of both run throughout this piece.

How the Army Rewards Self-Protection and Calls It Leadership

Public Domain

A subordinate walks into a commander’s office with a serious problem — a readiness shortfall, credible misconduct, a flawed decision, or evidence that someone is about to be treated unfairly. He believes leadership will want to know. After all, leaders are taught that integrity demands confronting problems before they grow.
Instead, the commander shifts uncomfortably in his chair. The issue is inconvenient. The people involved are influential. There are careers at stake, including his own.

Prior to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Iran’s economy was not in the greatest shape. Despite economic partnerships with China and Russia, Iran’s economy was already in decline. Now, with the Strait of Hormuz closed and pressures mounting from U.S./Israeli attacks, the average Iranian citizen has been forced to bear the brunt of the economic fallout as the regime refuses to negotiate with President Trump. With the war heating up once again, conditions for the people continue to worsen, forcing many to sell their household goods to afford basic necessities.

I Stood Next To The Only B-2 In The World At A Museum Last Summer — And Realized Why America Needs Every B-21 Raider It Can Build
Last July, I walked into the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force outside Dayton, Ohio, and stood beside the only B-2 Spirit on public display anywhere on earth. The photos and video I shot that day run throughout this piece, but no image quite captures the feeling of standing under that black flying wing in person. What struck me was not nostalgia. It was urgent.

Ukraine War Keeps Inching Toward NATO Territory: There have been multiple instances of the war in Ukraine spilling over into NATO territory over the last four years, and recent events show that the risks to neighboring NATO members are not going away. This week, a sea drone explosion near one of Romania’s most important ports forced evacuations and reignited concerns that the conflict is a direct security threat to countries that are not officially involved in the war.

“It’s not for us, it’s the chaps we

Commemorative events have begun in Normandy, ma

Ukraine is using mid-range drones, fiber-optic

If the military established a separate Cyber Force, what would it look like? According to a new report from two Washington, D.C. think tanks, it would initially cost upwards of $11 billion dollars through reallocations of existing funds, focus on offensive and defense cyber operations, and — crucially — employ roughly 30,000 uniformed and civilian personnel, excluding enlisted troops.
On Wednesday, the Commission on U.S.

In the past months, Ukraine has been ramping up its drone attacks against Russian oil infrastructure. These attacks have been felt especially hard in Russian-controlled Crimea, which is forced to introduce fuel rationing in major cities like Sevastopol, resulting in long lines for citizens to fill up their cars. Crimea currently operates a limited number of supply corridors, with the most secure being the Novorossiysk highway, which connects the peninsula to other occupied territories of Ukraine.

Summary and Key Points: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has done something he hasn’t done in over four years of war: written directly to Vladimir Putin, daring him to meet face-to-face and end it for good, with the offer of a full ceasefire and a prisoner swap. Putin was predictably dismissive. But the most telling sign came from Moscow itself: reports suggest some Russian officials are now weighing whether to lower the country’s working age to as young as 12 — putting children into the workforce to fill the jobs the war has left vacant. The pressure on Russia is mounting.

China’s DF-100 Cruise Missile Threat Can’t Be Ignored: “If you think Iran’s missiles are a problem, wait until the U.S. Navy has to deal with China’s missiles.” That’s what a former U.S. Navy commanding officer told me when I asked him about the threats Navy warships faced in the Pacific around the First Island Chain.

I was taken aback by his blunt nature: “China has so many different missile platforms, I don’t even think the U.S. Navy can keep track of them all now, let alone defend against them.

The current war in Ukraine has lasted longer than World War II did for Russia, but they have not yet achieved one of their primary goals of the war.

But this war in Ukraine has backfired, not just militarily, but politically as well. His needless invasion of Ukraine nearly four and a half years ago has fundamentally changed Europe’s political and security landscape.

Putin with a Rifle. Image Credit: Russian State Media.

Throughout the war, Russia has maintained several strategic advantages over Ukraine. Not only did it have a larger military and more resources, but its geography also made it significantly harder for Ukraine to strike back at the same level and cause major damage to its critical industries and logistics hubs. Meanwhile, Ukraine has endured daily missile and drone strikes from the Russian side. It meant that, for years, the war was almost completely one-sided. But that has changed.

The Department of the Air Force has tapped Ashley Devoto — a veteran and cybersecurity expert — as its new chief information officer, the department announced Thursday.
Devoto enters the role after the department has been without a permanent CIO for over a year following the departure of Venice Goodwine in March 2025. With a decades-long career in cybersecurity fields, Devoto will now oversee the Air and Space Forces’ modernization and sustainment efforts for information technology and more.
“Ms.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has continued to demand that any ship passing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz must pay the Iranian government a toll.

The ISW reported that “Iran continues to try to frame the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) ‘management’ of transit through the Strait of Hormuz as the new status quo.” Tehran threatens to target any non-compliant vessels or Western military forces operating in the critical waterway.

USS Billings. National Security Journal Original Photo.

​Russia has long held that Western sanctions have failed and that its economy is resilient. Moscow continues to insist that it can fight in Ukraine for as long as is necessary. But at Russia’s flagship economic forum this week, one of President Vladimir Putin’s most senior economic officials admitted that the war has damaged the Russian economy.

Speaking to reporters at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 5, Kremlin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev acknowledged that the war has “cost us a lot.

ST. LOUIS — In an era when unauthorized drone incursions at U.S. military installations are surging, these disruptions pose a particularly unique threat for U.S. Transportation Command.
“It is a clear and present issue that we have to pay attention to,” Transcom Commander Gen. Randall Reed said Wednesday. “So, yes, we have conversations in that realm — and we have done so quite frequently.

The Ukrainian Air Force just got another weapon that could be a game-changer in its war with Russia. Sweden announced that it will donate 16 JAS 39 C/D Gripen aircraft to Ukraine, while the administration of President Zelenskyy also announced that Ukraine will purchase 20 Gripen E/F aircraft.

Sweden is replacing the donated aircraft with recently built Gripen E/F models. The first Gripens are expected to begin flying for Ukraine early in 2027. The expected cost will be $2.9 million or €2.5 billion.

JAS 39 Gripen E Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Here’s a not-so-fun fact: before the Trump administration and the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated their war of choice against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28, American households were collectively $100 billion richer. The specific cost since February 28 has been around $750 per household.

But if you believe, as I do, that we are not getting normalization anytime soon between Iran, the United States, and Israel, that cost is going to increase over the next several months.

F-16 fighter from Lakeland, Florida Air Show.

This video describes the military situation in

All 184 of the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptors will officially be here to stay, according to a pending amendment in the House Armed Services Committee. This amendment came after years of debate, arguing whether the USAF should withdraw a small number of Raptors from service due to cost considerations. The F-22 is considered one of the U.S.’s most capable fighter jets and is a crucial component of the Air Force’s fleet. The aircraft is expected to remain in service until the 2040s, when sixth-generation platforms such as the F-47 will replace them.

A new Army directive outlines how service officials will examine the religious basis and sincerity of soldiers’ requests for waivers to wear beards.
Published on Thursday, the directive implements Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s mandate from March that troops meet new requirements for submitting such requests. The new rules include having to provide sworn statements and other supporting evidence to prove that their religious beliefs include growing beards.

Disabled American Veterans is backing congressional legislation that would greatly expand former service members’ access to dental care.
Jon Retzer, DAV national legislative director, testified for House Resolution 210 before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on May 20, 2026. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-California), a committee member, introduced the Dental Care for Veterans Act earlier this year. 
The bill proposes increasing the eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs dental services to all those enrolled in VA health care. That eligibility would be phased in over four years.

Ukrainian bounty hunters continue to press gang Ukrainian men to force to the front for certain death.
SOURCE: “This is a video of torture camera of 63 Brigade of private ZSU army in Ukraine. Please, do not confuse private army and bounty hunters with regular government army. The current army is not anymore a governmental entity. The ministry of defense in Ukraine has become private, the army is being financed by the grants and credits from the EU and the USA.”
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There’s much confusion dominating the international news and economics scene, as the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s seven major oil transit chokepoints, remains blockaded.

On the one hand, oil prices were spiking, and inflation rates are, predictably, increasing.

President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Cabinet Room. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a National Day of Prayer event, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in the White House Rose Garden.

America Can’t Simply Bomb Iran Again — It Burned Through Years’ Worth Of Missiles And Interceptors In 39 Days: As the ceasefire between the United States and Iran holds into June with the Strait of Hormuz still closed and no diplomatic breakthrough in sight, a question keeps surfacing across Washington: why doesn’t the U.S.

The US Army has selected Teledyne FLIR Defence to provide more than 45 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) kits designed for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threat detection under a contract worth $11.2m.