The U.S. Department of War’s Fiscal year 2027 Procurement Programs document has confirmed that the U.S. Air Force is set to receive 38 F-35A fighters under the new defence budget request, as the previously planned procurement rate of 48 per year continues to be missed due to new budget priorities. This compares to just 24 aircraft requested in 2025 for Fiscal Year 2026, the year the F-47 sixth generation fighter program was announced, and 40 aircraft requested for the preceding year.

The French Air Force has deployed Rafale fighters to Siauliai Air Base, a facility located 130 kilometres from Russian territory, to take the lead in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission in Lithuania. Rafales at the airbase are capable of firing air-to-air missiles deep int Russian airspace, and can easily conduct cruise missile strikes deep into the country including thousands of kilometres beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The U.S. military surged more than 150 aircraft deep into Iran’s territory this weekend in a search-and-rescue mission President Donald Trump initiated to recover an airman who hid in a mountain crevice for almost 48 hours to evade being captured after ejecting from his F-15E fighter jet that was hit by enemy fire.
When it was struck Thursday night, that F-15E — known by call sign Dude 44 — marked the first confirmed shootdown of an American military aircraft by Iran since the war began a little over a month ago.

Donald L. Miller spent years tracking down the men of the Eighth Air Force; haunting reunion halls, poring over diaries at England’s Mass Observation Archive, and sifting through declassified records at Maxwell Air Force Base. He wasn’t thinking about slipcovers or gilt-blocked cloth bindings. He was thinking about the 25-year-olds who climbed into B-17 Flying Fortresses at 25,000 feet, without long-range fighter escort, and somehow kept doing it until they had flown 25 missions or died trying.

The Air Force is asking for nearly $1 billion in fiscal 2027 to initiate procurement of the first Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones, according to newly published budget documents. 
The Trump administration released a record-breaking $1.5 trillion defense budget proposal Friday, comprising $1.15 trillion of discretionary funds for FY27 and $350 billion from a future reconciliation bill. The request would allocate $30.6 billion in total for Air Force aircraft procurement, which for the first time includes the CCA program.

The Defense Department is asking Congress for about $20.2 billion in the next fiscal year for a loan program designed to help eligible companies working in certain technology areas of interest.
The funding request for the Defense Strategic Capital Credit Program, which is overseen by the Office of Strategic Capital, was included in fiscal 2027 budget documents recently released by the Pentagon and seeks to boost spending on the initiative by more than an order of magnitude.
The program was allotted less than $1.5 billion for fiscal 2026, according to budget documents.

This video describes the military situation in

The Marine Corps awarded a second prototyping phase for its Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) program last week, driving an expensive, high-stakes competition between two major defense companies to replace a decades-old platform and shape part of the service’s amphibious repertoire.
The Marine Corps announced April 1 that General Dynamics Land Systems and Textron Systems “will be building and delivering” three pre-production variations of the ARV by 2028: a command and control model with drone capabilities, one with a 30mm autocannon and a third for logistics.

A new Pentagon policy for veterans still in the Individual Ready Reserve puts a sharper tone on how the Pentagon views inactive soldiers, moving from a last resort to a backup source for manpower.
“First and foremost, the [Individual Ready Reserve] is a mobilization asset. Deliberative plans will be in place that account for the use of the IRR, especially in plans for full mobilization,” according to a Department of Defense instruction released March 23.

A Tomahawk Costs $2 Million — The LUCAS Drone Does the Same Job for $35,000, and the Pentagon Can Build Hundreds for the Price of a Few Missiles
Nothing demonstrates the greatest military superpower like having to reverse-engineer a drone from the Islamic Republic of Iran. But that’s exactly what the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) is.

It’s a dynamic, deadly, and cost-effective system.

Cheaper is Better in Modern War
A one-way attack “Kamikaze” drone is designed to loiter then dive into targets. They are built to be cheap, mass-producible, and expendable.

China Launched 10 Nuclear Submarines Between 2021 and 2025 — Surpassing the U.S. Production Rate for the First Time
A series of reports and analyses of satellite imagery of activity at China’s submarine construction facilities indicates that Beijing is accelerating the production of nuclear-powered submarines at a pace that is beginning to draw serious attention in Washington.

The expansion of infrastructure at shipyards like Bohai is part of a larger increase in output of both attack and ballistic missile submarines. It reinforces conclusions already laid out in U.S.

The pilot of an A-10 Warthog had to eject due to damage and a helicopter was hit during the rescue on Friday of one of two F-15 crew members who were shot down over Iran, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Monday.
At 4:40 am local time, the F-15 with the call sign “Dude 44” went down over Iran, prompting President Donald Trump to immediately order a rescue mission, Caine said at a White House briefing.

Aircraft Carrier HMAS Melbourne Served 27 Years in the Australian Navy — It Deployed to Vietnam and the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation 
As a former U.S. Army infantry soldier, I admire the Australian military for its strength in anti-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations. The Australians have their own Special Air Service Regiment modeled after the British, and these Tier One operators can punish the enemy. Ninety of the commandos may be in the Middle East now.

Department of Veteran Affairs case managers failed to refer veterans experiencing homelessness to the VA’s supportive housing program, due to understaffing, high turnover and staff burnout, according to a recent watchdog report.
The Government Accountability Office’s report found that the VA, during a time period covering both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration, suffered from high case manager turnover that left many veterans not properly supported. As a result, just over 174,000 veterans were not referred to a federal voucher program between 2020 to 2024.

Two retired U.S. admirals with deep experience at sea and in the air joined Ryan to discuss the military challenge of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Adm. (ret.) Jamie Foggo and Vice Adm. (ret.) John “Fozzie” Miller unpack how Iran has been able to throttle one of the world’s most important waterways and what it would actually take to restore freedom of navigation. The conversation explores mines, drones, missiles, escorts, air strikes, how a Marine expeditionary unit might raid Kharg Island, and (of course) the strategy. Hours before this was recorded, news had broken that a U.S.

Despite spending billions of dollars on weapons

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war.

All seemed peaceful as Union Army Pvt. Commodore Smith lay asleep on the steamship Sultana on April 27, 1865.
Smith, who was on the vessel’s lower deck, didn’t stay unconscious for long. Three boilers exploded, killing hundreds of passengers instantly and setting the vessel ablaze.
Related: This is how the Titanic was discovered on an unrelated top-secret missionSmith recalled later that he could hardly move initially. Dead and wounded passengers covered him, along with various body parts and pieces from the Sultana’s upper decks.

Soldiers in the Army taking part in the war with Iran can now reenlist up to two years before their service ends.
The Army announced the change on Friday, April 3 as part of several authorizations and bonuses for troops participating in Operation Epic Fury, which is now in its second month. Soldiers who are deployed in support of the mission are eligible to reenlist as early as 24 months prior to their expiration term of service or ETS date.

KNDS France has completed the previously announced acquisition of Texelis Defense, which will now operate as KNDS Mobility.

Saab has secured an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for a mobile and modular counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS), valued at about Skr2.6bn ($273m).

A video released by the U.S. military shows how sustained air support secured their second airman until extraction – eliminating anyone who attempted to approach him.
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By the summer of 1945, World War II had reached its most dangerous crossroads.
Nazi Germany had surrendered in May, but the war in the Pacific continued with relentless intensity. American forces had fought their way island by island toward Japan, encountering fierce resistance at Iwo Jima and Okinawa that stunned even veteran commanders. Japanese military doctrine emphasized surrender as dishonor, and civilians were being prepared to resist invasion.

This video describes the military situation in

D1
Almost none of the $17.

Hoff, RCD
In an era defined by increasing geopolitical conflict and rapid technological change, the United States faces an uncomfortable reality: its defense spending is misaligned with…

Tyler Rogoway, The WarZone
At least one burned-out AH/MH-6 Little Bird can be seen in photos of the austere airfield that served as a hub for the rescue of the F-15E WSO.

AP
The head of intelligence for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Maj. Gen.

Vera Bergengruen, et al., The Wall Street Journal
As Iranians closed in on injured airman, U.S.

The past several years have produced a quiet but consequential shift in how the United States understands, and fails to understand, time. American strategy has gradually weakened through bureaucratic cuts, institutional downgrades, and political incentives that privilege immediacy over endurance and partisanship over long-term statecraft. The temporary elimination of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment last year is particularly emblematic.

Editor’s note: This article is the fifth in an 11-part series examining how the United States should organize, lead, and integrate economic statecraft into strategy, defense practice, and the broader national security ecosystem. This special series is brought to you by the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and War on the Rocks. Prior installments can be found at the War by Other Ledgers page. Debates over defense budgets and economic statecraft are not a distraction from warfighting. They reflect a basic reality: Military power does not exist in isolation.

The annual Sikh military festival Holla Mohalla

Chairman and Managing Director of the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Dr. D.K. Sunil has provided details on ongoing plans for the license production of the Su-57 fifth generation fighter in the country, 14 months after it was confirmed that talks for such a deal were underway. “I think presentations have been made regarding the Su-57 to the Air Force team by the Russian team regarding the capabilities of the aircraft. We have had one estimation of the capacity of our Plants for the Russian equipment.

Pete Blaber, a former Delta Force Commander, breaks down what it would actually take to go after cartel networks and why the approach isn’t as simple as most people think. Drawing from real-world experience targeting figures like Pablo Escobar and helping gather intelligence that led to the downfall of the Cali cartel, Blaber explains why cartels operate differently than terrorist organizations and how money-driven motivations change the battlefield entirely.
This is one segment of a 12 hour interview with Ryan.

American special operations forces located and extracted the missing F-15E crew member in southwestern Iran overnight. The complex recovery mission involved hundreds of troops, a forward operation point inside the country and multiple aircraft being flown in — with some being destroyed by the U.S. after they failed on the ground. 
The complex rescue operation in a mountainous part of the country came nearly two days after a two-seater Air Force F-15E was shot down over Iran. Overnight U.S.

Eerily reminiscent of Desert One mission under President Carter, only this time with successful outcome

After evacuating the second crew member of the downed F-15E, the U.S. had to destroy two HC-130J Combat King II rescue aircraft and two helicopters that, for unknown reasons, were unable to leave Iran.
The aircraft were blown up on the ground to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands after landing at an improvised refueling site. 
Three additional HC-130J Combat King II aircraft were then dispatched to continue the combat search-and-rescue mission.
The wreckage of a U.S.

The Liberty Bell is one of the most recognizable artifacts associated with the founding of the United States.
Today it stands silently in Philadelphia, its crack instantly identifiable and its message understood around the world. Yet during the era of the American Revolution, the bell was not originally intended to become a national symbol. It began as a civic instrument meant to call lawmakers and citizens to order. Over time, however, it became intertwined with the struggle for independence and the larger revolutionary ideals of liberty, self-government, and public participation.

America’s Naval Shipyards Run on WWII-Era Infrastructure — The CBO Says Labor Shortages Will Persist for the Next 25 Years
About 40 percent of all US Navy attack submarines are out of service due to maintenance delays, according to the US Naval Institute’s report.

In essence, nearly half of the Navy’s essential underwater strike capability has been sidelined during peacetime.

This isn’t caused by a major war, but by ongoing neglect from the US government toward America’s critical naval shipyards.

SILVERDALE, Wash. (Oct.

Torpedo training in action🚀
HMS St Albans te

Following the shootdown of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter over Iranian territory, the United States Armed Forces’ efforts to recoverthe two airmen that ejected and parachuted into Iran have resulted in losses of aircraft on a scale unprecedented in the post-Cold War era. After the U.S.

The post BREAKING CONFIRMATION: Second F-15E Crewmember Rescued In Iran, Extraction Team Exfiltrated Safely After Massive Firefight appeared first on Armed Forces Press.

The post BREAKING CONFIRMATION: Second F-15E Crewmember Rescued In Iran, Extraction Team Exfiltrated Safely After Massive Firefight appeared first on Armed Forces Press.

This video describes the military situation in

A former Air Force master sergeant pleaded guilty to defrauding the Air Force out of $37 million in a scheme surrounding information technology contracts. On Wednesday, Alan Hayward James, 51, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rig bids, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and bribery as part of a nine-year-long fraud plot. According to the agreement and the indictment against him, James, who called himself “Al Capone,” took part in the scheme while in the military and after retiring.
And much like the historic Capone, he got caught for the money scheme.

RAF landed a knockout🥊🔥
First Inter Servi

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, Americans are reflecting not only on the triumphs of the Revolutionary Era but also on the sacrifices that made independence possible.
Commemorations across the nation highlight the battles, leaders, and ideals that shaped the struggle for liberty. Yet amid these celebrations, it is important to pause and remember those whose suffering unfolded far from the glory of the battlefield.

“‘Sum Function’ is not a sports story, and it’s not a war story. It’s a raw, unflinching look at survival, connection, and the fight for access in a world that isn’t built for people with disabilities.”—official press release of “Sum Function”
The teammates of the Oscar Mike Militia—the nation’s only all-veteran wheelchair rugby team—have learned to survive great loss.
Every athlete on the team is impaired in all four limbs due to war, illness, or life-altering events. But now these military vets are rediscovering their strength and resiliency through sports.

Wings of distinction!

Mike Coté, Providence
… criticism of the efficacy of Epic Fury at neutralizing the threat posed by Iran, the most common argument against this war is that it is simply not in America’s…

Francis P. Sempa, AllOTSEGO
The United States is at war with Iran.