Why the US Marine Corps Wants a New Anti-Tank Loitering Munition
The U.S. Marine Corps has issued a Request for White Paper seeking a new anti‑tank loitering munition, the Organic Precision Fires‑Medium (OPF‑M). The system must travel at least 15 miles, weigh under 35 lb, loiter for 20 minutes, and feature autonomous target tracking while keeping a man‑in‑the‑loop. The deadline is May 26, with an initial production estimate of 50 munitions and 10 ground stations, and the Corps is also outlining future capabilities beyond tank killing. The request comes as the Army recently awarded AeroVironment a $186 million contract for Switchblade drones and unveiled the multifunctional MAYHEM 10.
3 Sailors Injured After Fire Breaks Out Aboard USS Zumwalt
A fire broke out aboard the DDG‑1000 USS Zumwalt while it was docked at a shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on April 19, 2026. The crew quickly extinguished the blaze, but three sailors were injured—one hospitalized and later released, two treated...
The US Military Wants a Fleet of Missile-Killing Laser Drones
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) told a House subcommittee it is “all in” on mounting high‑energy lasers on unmanned aerial platforms for domestic air defense. Lt. Gen. Heath Collins said the agency will accelerate operational use of directed‑energy weapons...
Three’s Company: Trio of US Carriers Operating in Middle East for First Time in Decades
For the first time since 2003, three U.S. aircraft carriers—USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford and USS George H.W. Bush—are simultaneously operating in the Middle East, according to U.S. Central Command. Together they field over 200 aircraft and more...
Could the US Military Handle a Monster Invasion? Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Begs the Question
Season 2 of Apple TV+’s "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" ends on May 1, using a fictional Kaiju invasion to expose how the U.S. military would respond to a giant, mobile monster. The article outlines three major gaps: ambiguous command authority under the National...
Marine Creates Ride-Hailing App to Combat Impaired Driving Among Service Members
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Christian Smellie created GY6Lift, a free ride‑hailing app launched in October 2025 to curb impaired driving among service members and their families. The platform relies on volunteer drivers, currently supporting 56 passengers and 15 drivers...
US Navy Is Reviewing Cost of Future Ford-Class Carriers to Ensure They ‘Make Sense’
Former Navy secretary John Phelan announced a comprehensive review of the next two Gerald R. Ford‑class carriers, CVN‑82 (USS William J. Clinton) and CVN‑83 (USS George W. Bush). The analysis will cover construction costs, sustainment expenses, and the performance of...
In First, Ukrainian Unmanned Vessel Launches Interceptor to Knock Out Shahed Drone
Ukraine’s 412th Brigade Nemesis intercepted a Russian Shahed drone by launching a Sting interceptor from an unmanned seaborne vehicle, marking the world’s first successful sea‑borne counter‑UAV operation. The maneuver adds a new layer to Kyiv’s air‑defense architecture, which has been...
US Marine Corps, Navy Join Forces to Combat Insufficient Amphibious Fleet Size
U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith told the 2026 Sea‑Air‑Space Conference that the services’ 31‑ship amphibious fleet is too small for emerging operational demands. He outlined a three‑pronged effort—optimizing maintenance, extending the service life of the best vessels, and...
As Iran Saps US Focus, the Troop Math for Monitoring a Ukraine Peace Deal Looks Grim
The Pentagon’s redeployment of tens of thousands of troops to the Middle East amid the Iran conflict is eroding the United States’ capacity to lead a peace‑keeping force in Ukraine. A CSIS analysis estimates that a modest 25,000‑troop monitoring mission...
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Soldier Who Sued Contractor over 2016 Bagram Bombing
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6‑3 decision, affirmed Army Specialist Winston Hencely’s right to sue Fluor Corp. for negligence after a Fluor employee detonated a suicide bomb at Bagram Air Base in 2016, killing five and injuring 17. The...
US in Talks to Resettle 1,100 Afghans in Congo
The Trump administration is negotiating with the Democratic Republic of Congo to resettle 1,100 Afghan allies who have been stuck in Qatar after U.S. immigrant visa processing was halted in 2025. The Afghans, many of whom served U.S. forces or...
Navy ‘Going to Study’ Possibility of Building Ships Outside US, Phelan Says
U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan announced the service will study using foreign partners to build warships, citing a domestic labor capacity crunch. The Navy points to successful maintenance, repair and operations contracts with South Korean shipbuilders as a model for...
US Navy to Integrate PAC-3 MSE Interceptor Missile with Aegis Combat System
The U.S. Navy will integrate the PAC‑3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor into its Aegis Combat System, marking the first sea‑based deployment of the Patriot‑derived missile. Lockheed Martin received a multi‑million‑dollar contract to adapt the interceptor for launch from destroyers...
US Commander Warns Taiwan Not to ‘Starve the Chicken’ on Defense
U.S. Indo‑Pacific commander Adm. Samuel Paparo warned Taiwan that it must fund its own defense, emphasizing that the United States cannot prioritize Taiwan’s security over the island’s own spending. Taiwan’s president has proposed an additional $40 billion in defense outlays to...
US Navy Unmanned Surface Vessel Fleet to Grow Sevenfold in Indo-Pacific
The U.S. Navy announced it will grow its medium‑sized unmanned surface vessel (USV) fleet in the Indo‑Pacific from roughly four today to about 30 by 2030, a sevenfold increase. The expansion is part of a broader vision that includes thousands...
US Did Not Move Defense System From Korea, General Says
The United States confirmed that its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system remains stationed in South Korea, countering reports that it was being relocated to the Middle East for the Iran conflict. General Xavier Brunson clarified that only munitions...
Unregulated Prediction Market May Endanger US National Security, Experts and Lawmakers Warn
A Polymarket prediction market allowed users to bet on the rescue timeline of a downed U.S. Air Force F‑15E weapons officer in Iran, prompting swift condemnation from Rep. Seth Moulton and Rep. Mike Levin. The platform removed the contract after...
Anduril, HD Hyundai Expand Partnership with First Autonomous Surface Vessel in Production
Anduril and HD Hyundai have deepened their collaboration to build autonomous surface vessels, with the first ship in a new class now in production after a successful critical design review. Construction is underway at U.S. shipyards operated by Edison Chouest...
Trump Clears Path for Expanded Psychedelic Research to Treat Veterans’ PTSD
President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the FDA to accelerate reviews of psychedelic therapies and earmarking at least $50 million for ibogaine research aimed at treating veteran PTSD. The order also creates a Right‑to‑Try pathway for severely ill patients...
After Watchdog Slams Understaffing, AI to Vet Pentagon-Backed Professors’ China Ties
The Pentagon’s Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency disclosed that only two staff members were tasked with vetting roughly 27,000 defense‑funded research awards for foreign influence, prompting the department to roll out artificial‑intelligence tools to screen academics for ties to China....
Boeing Lands Chinook without a Pilot at the Controls
Boeing announced that a U.S. Army CH‑47 Chinook completed a fully autonomous landing using its Approach‑to‑X (A2X) software. The test, part of the Army’s broader push for autonomy, required the pilot only to set key parameters before the system guided...
US Army Wants Doctrine for Landing Helicopters on Arctic Ice
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ ERDC has demonstrated that a CH‑47 Chinook can safely land on 21‑inch Arctic ice, ten inches thinner than the decades‑old 31‑inch requirement. The test, conducted in Alaska’s Yukon Training Area, paves the way for...
US Marine Corps Releases Video Showcasing New Medium Landing Ship Design
The Marine Corps released a video showcasing its new Medium Landing Ship (LSM), based on Damen’s LST‑100 design. The 100‑meter vessel can travel 3,400 nautical miles, beach itself and off‑load over 800 tons of cargo, and features a flight deck for...
How Chest-Thumping Rhetoric Erodes Service Member Safety
Over Easter, two U.S. F‑15E crew members were rescued after their plane was downed in Iran, drawing national attention to the daring operation. The author, a military‑family advocate, argues that recent aggressive rhetoric from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—promising “no quarter”...
US to Delay Weapons Deliveries to some European Countries Due to Iran War, Sources Say
U.S. officials have warned several European NATO members, chiefly in the Baltic region and Scandinavia, that deliveries of weapons purchased through the Foreign Military Sales program will be delayed as the ongoing Iran war drains U.S. stockpiles. The postponements affect...
‘American Solitaire’ Puts a Veteran’s Invisible Wounds Front and Center
"American Solitaire" premieres in select theaters, following combat veteran Slinger as he grapples with invisible wounds after Afghanistan. Director Aaron Davidman spent years interviewing service members to craft a nuanced script that avoids typical war‑movie tropes. Lead actor Joshua Close...
Advocates Press for Preventive Programs, VA Benefits for Struggling Vets
Advocates urged Congress to expand Veterans Treatment Courts and restore VA benefits for incarcerated veterans, highlighting gaps that leave many with other‑than‑honorable discharges without care. Currently more than 600 VTCs exist, but veterans in prison lose disability compensation and health...
Army Veteran Tasked with Prosecuting Nazi Death Squads Awarded Congressional Gold Medal
The U.S. Congress posthumously awarded Benjamin Ferencz the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, recognizing his pivotal role as chief prosecutor of the Nazi Einsatzgruppen at the Nuremberg Trials. Ferencz, a 27‑year‑old Harvard graduate with no trial experience,...
US Navy Destroyer Intercepts Iranian-Flagged Vessel Trying to Skirt Blockade
The U.S. Navy began a maritime blockade of Iran on Monday after former President Donald Trump announced a seal on the Strait of Hormuz following failed nuclear talks. An Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer, USS Spruance, intercepted an Iranian‑flagged cargo ship on...
Amid Focus on Strait of Hormuz, Experts Sound Warning on Yemen’s Houthis and Red Sea
The Trump administration has ordered a U.S. Navy blockade of ships bound for Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, a move projected to cost Iran about $435 million per day. Foreign‑policy experts warn that Iran’s proxy, the Yemeni Houthis, could...
Bill From Vets in Congress Would Keep Military Roles Open to Women
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, joined by 35 fellow veteran lawmakers, has introduced the Women Add Resourcefulness and Resilience to Improve Operational Readiness (WARRIOR) Act, which would bar the military from excluding service members based on sex. The bill responds to the...
Pentagon’s Women-in-Combat Review Reassigned; Deadline Extended
The Pentagon has reassigned its six‑month independent review of women’s effectiveness in ground combat from the Institute for Defense Analyses to the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The new mandate adds combat‑relevant field tests and extends the deadline, giving...
US Navy Should Rely on Allies to Boost Maritime Industrial Base, Report Says
The Center for Maritime Strategy released a report urging the U.S. Navy to lean on allied partners to revitalize its shrinking maritime industrial base. It highlights the Navy’s current shortfall—295 ships versus a 381‑ship target—and a FY2027 budget of $65.8 billion...
Marines Win Top Sniper Competition
Marine snipers Staff Sgt. Tyler Johnson and Sgt. Spencer Harrell captured first place at the 2026 International Sniper Competition held at Fort Benning, Georgia. Their victory marks only the second time a Marine Corps team has won the event and...
The President Who Threatened to End a Civilization Is Supposed to Guarantee Ukraine’s Survival
President Trump posted an ultimatum on Truth Social demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m., threatening to bomb every bridge and power plant. Iranian civilians formed human chains to protect the infrastructure, while retired U.S. officers warned the...
Army Debuts Data Operations Center to Serve as Information Hub
The U.S. Army inaugurated its Army Data Operations Center (ADOC) on April 3, creating a centralized hub to streamline the flow of battlefield data to commanders and soldiers. Housed under Army Cyber Command, the six‑month pilot aims to replace fragmented data...
After Three-Year Hiatus, VA to Resume Rollout of New Electronic Medical Records System
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is restarting its Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) rollout after a three‑year pause, with four Michigan facilities going live this Saturday. The program, originally projected at $10 billion, has ballooned to an estimated $37.2 billion and...
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Finds a New Voice
Harvard professor Maria Tatar has released a fresh English translation of Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 WWI novel “All Quiet on the Western Front,” leveraging the book’s public‑domain status to restore the original German voice. The new edition replaces the long‑dominant...
Pentagon, Lockheed Martin Agree to $4.7 Billion PAC-3 Interceptor Deal
The Pentagon has signed a $4.7 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to accelerate production of the Patriot Advanced Capability‑3 (PAC‑3) interceptor. The deal builds on a January framework that aims to lift annual output from roughly 600 to 2,000 missiles over seven...
US Navy Ends USS Boise Submarine Overhaul After Price Tag Soars
The U.S. Navy announced it will inactivate the Los Angeles‑class attack submarine USS Boise after its overhaul costs spiraled. The refit, begun in 2024 at Huntington Ingalls’ Newport News shipyard, has already consumed $800 million and is projected to need another...
That Time the Air Force Proposed Making a ‘Gay Bomb’
In 1994 the U.S. Air Force’s Wright Laboratory drafted a declassified proposal, dubbed “Project Sunshine,” that included a bizarre non‑lethal chemical weapon called the “gay bomb,” intended to induce homosexual behavior among enemy troops. The lab sought $7.5 million over five...
Army Moves Toward Contractor-Run Pilot Training After Years of Safety Concerns
The U.S. Army has moved two bidders—Bell and M1 Support Services—forward in its Flight School Next program, a plan to outsource rotary‑wing pilot training to a contractor‑owned school. The proposal would replace the current UH‑72A Lakota curriculum with stripped‑down trainers...
Pentagon’s Ouster of Anthropic Opens Doors for Small AI Rivals
The Pentagon has officially labeled Anthropic a supply‑chain risk, effectively ending its primary AI partnership and sparking a rapid diversification push. Smaller defense‑focused AI firms such as Smack Technologies and EdgeRunner AI are now fielding a flood of contract inquiries...
Green Berets Infiltrate 90-Plus Miles Undetected in Weeklong Exercise
In February, the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) completed Exercise Deep Strike at Germany's Joint Multinational Readiness Center, infiltrating more than 90 miles of simulated enemy terrain without detection. Teams operated solely at night, using mission‑specific gear and...
13 US Troops Killed, More than 380 Wounded in Operation Epic Fury
Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. campaign against Iran, has entered its 40th day with 13 service members killed and 381 wounded, according to U.S. Central Command. The Defense Department has incorporated the conflict into its Defense Casualty Analysis System, cataloguing...
Automatic Registration for US Military Draft-Eligible Men to Begin in December
The Selective Service System will begin automatically enrolling men ages 18 to 25 into the U.S. draft registry this December, after a rule was proposed in March and mandated by the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act signed by former President...
US Navy Seeks 1,200% Increase in Tomahawk Missile Procurement for 2027
The U.S. Navy is asking for roughly $3 billion to buy 785 Tomahawk missiles, a 1,200% increase over its 2026 request, to replace the 850 missiles fired during the Iran conflict. The FY2027 budget also seeks 494 AMRAAMs for about $800 million...
Trump’s VA Budget Request Tops $488 Billion for Fiscal 2027
The White House’s FY2027 budget request proposes a 7.7% increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs, lifting its total to a record $488 billion. The plan allocates $205.6 billion in discretionary spending and $282.6 billion in mandatory funds, funding new facilities, a medical...
Marines Deepen Ties in Philippines as Rotations Continue
The U.S. Marine Rotational Force‑Southeast Asia (MRF‑SEA) began a new rotation in the Philippines, replacing the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit on March 31. A command element from I Marine Expeditionary Force will stay for a standard rotation, emphasizing deeper integration with...