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Air Force Thunderbird crashed after failure in engine ‘blind spot,’ investigation finds
The December crash of one of the famed demonstration team’s jets was the second time in less than two years that an F-16 pilot was forced to eject after a failure in an engine’s mechanical “blind spot.”
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Each week on Tuesdays and Fridays our team will bring you analysis of military tech, tactics, and doctrine delivered from a rank-and-file perspective.
More from Task & Purpose
Fishing charter catches Air Force attack drone off Florida coast
The Air Force confirmed the LUCAS drone went down during testing two days before a charter crew found it floating off Florida.
Veterans have higher levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in their blood than civilians, new study finds
The research found that veterans between 20 and 39 had the highest concentration of PFAS chemicals compared to their non-veteran counterparts.
Tracking America’s latest conflict: The Iran war timeline
To date, at least 19 American service members have been killed and hundreds more wounded.
Marine veteran wins in a quick upset at UFC 331
Sean Sharaf, who served six years in the Marine Corps, won his fight against Gable Steveson with a fast knockout.
Pentagon invites Paul Brothers, YouTube influencers, to speak to troops
The Department of Defense released footage showing the influencers meeting with members of the armed forces and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
US shifts Reaper drones from Africa to Latin America
The airpower is being moved as the U.S. ramps up anti-drug cartel operations with partner nations in the region.
How the military imagined combat around the Moon
The U.S. recently put a weapon in orbit, but the military has imagined lunar combat for decades.
Pentagon reboots testosterone screening plan for men 30 and over
Screenings will be mandatory for men in the ranks who are 30 or older, although getting hormone replacement therapy is voluntary, the Defense Department said.
More than 16,000 troops could face stricter rules with medical shaving waivers
Under a new Pentagon policy, service members could be forced out if they have medical shaving accommodations for more than a year.
Army drill sergeants will now automatically be promoted to staff sergeant
Earn a campaign hat, get a stripe.
Why moral injury could be a signature wound of the AI battlefield
Early theories of autonomous warfare thought remote battlefields might insulate troops from moral damage. Veterans and experts say the dangers are just as close.
The Air Force wants a cannon to shoot down drones
The Air Force wants a ground-based air defense cannon to hold back a growing tide of drones and cruise missiles.
Alabama Air National Guard wing commander wins appeal after firing
Col. Douglas DeMaio was relieved of command of an F-35 wing in the Alabama Air National Guard in 2022. A panel of judges ruled in August that he should be reinstated with back pay.
Air Force to create new career field to defend bases from drones and missiles
As the Iran war persists and drones repeatedly target U.S. bases, the Air Force is developing a new career field to counter the threat.
Army pays nearly $5 billion for massive defensive upgrade to helicopter fleet
The plan is to “equip all Army rotary-wing aircraft” with the new laser defense tech, officials said.
US munition stockpile ‘especially problematic’ in a war with China, report warns
The U.S. used a significant number of its missile interceptors in defense of Israel in June and throughout Operation Epic Fury, the Congressional Budget Office found.
Task & Purpose was founded in 2014 to cover the military and veteran community from a rank-and-file perspective, and continues to do so with accurate reporting and great storytelling to this day. Our journalists have reported on the front lines of the Standing Rock protests in North Dakota and the war in Afghanistan. We’ve uncovered American veterans being abused in Kuwaiti prisons, deported veterans being forced to work for Mexican cartels, and drawn national attention to a longstanding legal rule barring service members from suing the government — even in the face of gross negligence.
