Tech & Tactics (Page 2)

News, explainers, and analysis about military tech and tactics.

Latest in Tech & Tactics

A U.S Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Tsushima Strait, Sept. 18, 2024.
Fighter Aircraft

How the F-35 is changing Marine airpower

By David Roza

Posted on Apr 23, 2026

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division Artillery, work with Philippine Army partners to sling load a Philippine Army M101 howitzer to a CH-47 Chinook during an air assault operation as part of Exercise Salaknib 2026 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 7, 2026. The training enhances the rapid deployment of artillery assets, increasing the combined readiness of the U.S.-Philippine Alliance. Salaknib is an annual exercise designed to enhance combat readiness and strengthen the U.S.-Philippine Alliance. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Taylor Gray)
Helicopters

Army Chinook makes first landing without a pilot

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Apr 23, 2026

An HH-60W Jolly Green II hoists a simulated survivor during an aerial demonstration for Saluting Our Aviation Roots, Feb. 25, 2026, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The demonstration highlighted combat search and rescue capabilities for students and families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Bre Lewis)
Helicopters

Air Force wants to use lasers to help protect rescue helicopters after Iran mission

By Kyle Rempfer

Posted on Apr 22, 2026

A prototype of the new M1E3 Abrams tank was revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in January.
Vehicles

1st Cavalry Division soldiers will get the Army’s newest tank and infantry combat vehicle first

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Apr 21, 2026

U.S. Air Force Capt. Josiah Bierle, 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, awaits takeoff in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 30, 2025. Stationing A-10s in the CENTCOM AOR reinforces U.S. commitment to regional stability and strengthens deterrence against potential threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonah Bliss)
Fighter Aircraft

Air Force can’t quit the A-10 Warthog, extends service into 2030

By Nicholas Slayton, Matt White

Posted on Apr 20, 2026

A Hunter Wolf unmanned ground vehicle assigned to Charlie Battery, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Mobile Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), holds a steady overwatch position with a mounted remote operated .50-caliber machine gun during a combat simulation exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana, April 13, 2026.. The Hunter Wolf platform has been selected by the U.S. Army for the Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) program. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Anthony Hewitt)
Drones

The Army wants an unmanned ground vehicle to evacuate wounded and resupply the front line

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Apr 19, 2026

C-130 aircraft from the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand prepare for takeoff on the runway at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on July 21, 2025. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tyler McQuiston.
Missiles

Is the US military’s most important island in the Pacific ready for war?

By David Roza

Posted on Apr 16, 2026

SMASH 2000L
Guns

Marines on way to Middle East seen using rifles with anti-drone smart scope

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 14, 2026

U.S. Army Private First Class Ajryan Scales , assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps Signal Detachment, trains and familiarizes with the 5.56mm L-variant Drone Round to defeat small unmanned aerial systems at Oak Grove Training Center, N.C., April 9, 2026. The training offered units the chance to build proficiency and familiarize Soldiers with techniques to engage and defeat sUAS while rapidly advancing operational capabilities. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Alexis Fischer)
Drone Swarms

Soldiers with the XVIII Airborne Corps are training with anti-drone rounds

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Apr 14, 2026

Members of the 163d Attack Wing pilot an MQ-9 Reaper taxing down the runway after returning home from a milestone mission to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, February 15th, 2024. The mission marked the first ever MQ-9 to grace the runway at Shaw AFB. This one of many examples of how the 163d ATKW is pushing innovation and the MQ-9 platform to new heights.
Drones

The Iran war took a toll on the Air Force’s Reaper fleet

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Apr 13, 2026

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron prepare to conduct combat search-and-rescue from an MH-6M Little Bird that was offloaded from a MC-130J Commando II during Exercise Agile Chariot near Riverton, Wyoming, May 2, 2023. Agile Chariot tested Agile Combat Employment capabilities, including using smaller, more dispersed locations and teams to rapidly move and support aircraft, pilots and other personnel wherever they’re needed. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)
Aircraft

A 2023 special ops exercise in Wyoming was a preview of the Iran rescue mission

By Matt White

Posted on Apr 10, 2026

A maintenance crew comprised of AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairers assigned to Delta Company, 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment "Sabers", 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, rebuild a rotor head after a static mass repair on a AH-64 Apache Helicopter at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii from February 2-25, 2026. This repair took place during aerial gunnery. For AH-64 Apache crews, aerial gunnery is a semi-annual requirement necessary to maintain proficiency of aircrews, and allows the unit to build a more reliable combat power. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Olivia Cowart)
Tech & Tactics

Right to repair: Why the US military can’t fix much of its own equipment

By David Roza

Posted on Apr 3, 2026

Marine Expeditionary Unit
Amphibious Operations

Here’s what Marine Expeditionary Units are designed to do

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 1, 2026

Army officials said they have opened an investigation into the flight of two AH-64 attack helicopters that buzzed a Nashville, Tennessee-area home with Kid Rock.
Helicopters

Apache crews who buzzed Kid Rock’s home won’t be punished, Hegseth says

By Jeff Schogol, Matt White

Updated on Mar 31, 2026

USS Gerald R. Ford
Carriers

USS Gerald R. Ford’s ‘record-breaking’ deployment could last 11 months, top admiral says

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 31, 2026

U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 174th Attack Wing, New York Air National Guard, conduct pre-flight operations on an MQ-9 Reaper aircraft during exercise Sentry South 26-2 in Gulfport, Mississippi, March 3, 2026. Sentry South 26-2 is a large force employment exercise focused on major combat operations and joint maritime opportunities in a contested or degraded operational environment. Sentry South 26-2 applies joint and combined warfighting doctrine against realistic and robust enemy integrated threat systems, all while under safe and controlled conditions. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Dylan McCrink)
Drones

Air Force reactivates Reaper drone squadron at Nevada base

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Mar 31, 2026

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Zachary Savage, an anti-tank missile gunner with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, forward deployed with 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program, fires a Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missile during the Korean Marine Exercise Program 25.2 in Pocheon, South Korea, July 29, 2025. KMEP is conducted regularly between the ROK and U.S. Marine Corps to increase their combined capabilities through realistic training geared towards deterrence and maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Van Hoang)  
Missiles

Marine corporal charged with stealing and selling a Javelin missile

By Jeff Schogol, Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 30, 2026

Image: The USS Constitution sails past the Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) during Massachusetts’ commissioning in Boston, on March 28th, 2026. Massachusetts is the newest fast-attack submarine and the fifth U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lucas J. Hastings) 
Submarines

Navy commissions its newest submarine, the USS Massachusetts

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 29, 2026

A U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter flown by Soldiers from the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, California Army National Guard, lands in a field near Irvine Lake, March 19, 2022, in Silverado, California. Annual interagency training between the California National Guard and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
Helicopters

FAA investigating close call between National Guard Black Hawk and a passenger jet

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 28, 2026

Iranian F-14 Tomcat landing at Mehrabad International Airport.
Aircraft

How Iran got the F-14 Tomcat and kept it flying for decades

By Kyle Gunn

Posted on Mar 26, 2026

Body image: The U.S. Army officially received a groundbreaking H-60Mx Black Hawk helicopter, extensively modified to fly with or without a pilot at the controls. (Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company) (Photo Credit: Courtesy)
Helicopters

Army receives a new Black Hawk helicopter, pilot optional

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 22, 2026

A picture taken on February 25, 2026, shows Rafale M (Marine) fighter jets parked on the flight deck with the conning tower in the background as the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle during a media tour while moored at the quay of the North Port in Malmo, Sweden. (Photo by Johan NILSSON / TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP via Getty Images) / Sweden OUT
Carriers

French sailor goes running, reveals flagship’s location via fitness app

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 22, 2026

Marine pistol qualifications
Guns

Marines can now use optical sights with pistols for qualifying

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 20, 2026

An AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter assigned to 1st Attack Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), takes off for a routine mission, July 15, 2024 at Erbil Air Base, Iraq. Army aviation assets are used to support CJTF-OIR’s mission to advise, assist, and enable partner forces to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. (U.S. Army Photo by Joseph Kumzak)
Helicopters

US Apache helicopters attack Iranian militias in Iraq, Chairman of Joint Chiefs says

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 19, 2026

XM8
Guns

The Army has another new rifle, the XM8 carbine

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 18, 2026

U.S. Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during the ship's departure from Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, March 14, 2026. Nimitz is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations as part of a scheduled homeport shift to Norfolk, Virginia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter K. McHaddad)
Carriers

Navy says USS Nimitz will put off retirement and stay in service into next year

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 16, 2026

An MQ-9 Reaper taxis on the runway after landing in support of Freedom Flag 24-1 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 23, 2024. Freedom Flag 24-1 is an advanced, large-scale tactical exercise between the U.S. and allied partners dedicated to the protection of regional peace and stability through the adaptation of novel and collaborative training methods, ensuring readiness against a wide range of threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Maria Umanzor Guzman)
Drones

The Reaper just won’t quit: Try as they might, the military can’t ditch the MQ-9

By Kyle Gunn, Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 16, 2026

An F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 87, lands on the flight deck of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Dec. 11, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president's priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Navy photo)
Fighter Aircraft

Navy F-18 that got the US’s first air-to-air kill in the 21st century is taking part in the Iran War

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 14, 2026

Marine KC-130T
Aircraft

Air Force engineer found not guilty of cover-up in deadly Marine KC-130 crash

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 13, 2026

M111 Offensive Hand Grenade
Weapons

Why the Army’s new M111 grenade uses blast overpressure instead of fragmentation

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 12, 2026

U.S. Soldiers with the 1-151st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 59th Aviation Troop Command, South Carolina National Guard, conduct their annual aerial-gunnery qualification table at the Poinsett Range, Sumter, South Carolina, May 22, 2024. Aircrews fired both 30mm rounds and rockets, the training allowed Soldiers to sharpen their armory skills, communication and team work with their assigned AH-64 Apache helicopters. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Tim Andrews)
Helicopters

US Apache pilots explain how helicopters are shooting down Iranian drones

By Matt White

Posted on Mar 11, 2026

Image: U.S. Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during the ship's final departure from Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Mar. 7, 2026. Nimitz is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations as part of a scheduled homeport shift to Norfolk, VA. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter K. McHaddad) 
Carriers

USS Nimitz sets off for Latin America in its last deployment

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 9, 2026

251217-N-QR679-1019 PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 17, 2025) - Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) steams forward off the coast of Guam during a photo exercise, Dec. 17, 2025. Assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam, Annapolis is one of five fast-attack submarines forward-deployed in the Pacific. Renowned for their unparalleled speed, endurance, stealth, and mobility, fast-attack submarines serve as the backbone of the Navy's submarine force, ensuring readiness and agility in safeguarding maritime interests around the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. James Caliva)
Submarines

Why Iran’s warship ‘didn’t have a chance’ against a Los Angeles-class submarine

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 4, 2026

NELLIS AFB, NV - APRIL 25: A United States Air Force pilot (L) and weapons system officer look out the cockpit of their F-15E Strike Eagle as the jet is prepared for takeoff at Nellis Air Force Base while participating in the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 (JEFX 06) April 25, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. JEFX is a biannual test of new systems and technologies by every branch of the military in an attempt to speed their introduction into the modern battlefield. This year's tests involve about 1,400 personnel from the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia studying new technologies during mock combat over the Nevada desert and center on finding better ways to communicate critical information between armed forces. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Fighter Aircraft

Former fighter pilots explain what it’s like to eject, following Kuwait shoot downs

By Matt White

Posted on Mar 3, 2026

A Vulcan rocket carrying the USSF-87 mission successfully launches from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Feb. 12, 2026. The USSF-87 payload includes the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) system that will improve our ability to rapidly detect, warn, characterize and attribute disturbances to space systems in the geosynchronous environment. (U.S. Space Force photo by Gwendolyn Kurzen)
Tactics

Space Force to refine ‘orbital warfare’ maneuvers with new prototype

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 2, 2026

Image: U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 23, 2025) Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones are positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operating area, Nov. 23. The LUCAS platforms are part of a one-way attack drone squadron CENTCOM recently deployed to the Middle East to strengthen regional security and deterrence. (Courtesy Photo) 
Drones

Iran strike marks first time US used new one-way attack drones in combat

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 1, 2026

U.S. Army Spc. Israel Arreguin with the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 759th Military Police Battalion, assigned to Joint Task Force - Southern Border and a Border Patrol agent conduct detection and monitoring operations from an observation post near Wellton, Ariz., April 23, 2025. Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, Joint Task Force – Southern Border aligns efforts to seal the southern border and repel illegal activity and is responsible for full-scale, agile, and all-domain operations, which will allow for more effective and efficient DoD operations. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Erica Esterly)
Drones

Military shoots down Customs and Border Protection drone with a laser

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 27, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 11: A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter is displayed on the National Mall in preparations for celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army on June 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
Aircraft

Fight over military aviation safety reform stalls in Congress

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

Image:  A Soldier assigned to 1st Cavalry Division maneuvers a drone on the Hunter/Killer Lane during the U.S.Army Best Drone Warfighter Competition on Feb. 18, 2026, in Huntsville, Ala. Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers began competing for the top warfighter while showcasing their agility, adaptability, and lethality as they adapt to the evolving modern battlefield. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michelle Lessard-Terry)
Drones

The Army crowns the winners of its first drone competition

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 22, 2026

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lauren Sweitzer, 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, marshals an E-3 Sentry, assigned to the 968th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 6, 2022. The aircraft provides an accurate, real-time picture of the battlespace to the Joint Air Operations Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Ross)
Aircraft

As aging Air Force AWACS heads to Middle East, where is its replacement?

By David Roza

Posted on Feb 20, 2026

An AH-64E Apache crew, assigned to 1-3 Attack Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, prepares to engage during aerial gunnery training at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Oct. 2, 2025. Gunnery qualifications are a cornerstone of their ability to provide a lethal and credible aviation force to U.S. Army Europe and Africa, essential for maintaining the combat readiness and lethality of 1-3 Attack Battalion. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Josefina Garcia)
Drones

Army successfully tests Apache with new ammunition meant to shred drone swarms

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 17, 2026

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), departs Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Dec. 6, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Navy photo)
Carriers

US sends Ford aircraft carrier, fresh off Venezuela operations, to the Middle East

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 14, 2026

M27
Guns

Marines not interested in switching from M27 to Army’s M7 anytime soon

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

Marine AH-1Z Viper helicopter armed with Red Wolf launched effects.
Missiles

Marine attack helicopters will now be able to hit targets 200 miles away with a missile

By Kyle Gunn

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

Caption: An A-10 Warthog flies by for close-air support while taking part in live-fire training with the USS Santa Barbara on Feb. 2, 2026. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Iain Page.
Aircraft

A-10 and LCS, both headed for retirement, spotted together in the Middle East

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 10, 2026

Image: Coast Guard members conduct personal watercraft interdiction training at Coronado Beach, California, Jan. 15, 2026. The training is part of The Office of Rapid Response and Prototyping (CG-RAPTOR) Coast Guard program, which identifies, tests and deploys new technologies, including tactical personal watercraft. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Roberto Nieves)
Ships

The Coast Guard is now using ‘tactical’ jet skis

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 9, 2026

Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing refuel and rearm an F-35 Lightning II during a Distributed Integrated Combat Turn (D-ICT) exercise, June 12, 2025, at Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee, Mass. The D-ICT allows for rapid refueling and rearming of fighter aircraft to increase sortie generation and mission readiness. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Jay Hewitt)
Tech & Tactics

Air Force bans smart glasses for troops in uniform

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

Royce Williams
Fighter Aircraft

Navy pilot to receive Medal of Honor nearly 75 years after shooting down 4 MiGs

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

Special operators conduct training in austere conditions near Pituffik Space Base, Greenland, on May 9, 2023, in support of exercise ARCTIC EDGE 2023. ARCTIC EDGE 2023 (AE23) is a U.S. Northern Command-led homeland defense exercise demonstrating the U.S. military's capabilities in extreme cold weather, joint force readiness, and U.S. military commitment to mutual strategic security interests in the Arctic region. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Adams)
Warfare

A brief history of the US military’s presence in Greenland

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

Image: U.S. Air Force loadmasters with the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron load cargo onto a C-130J Super Hercules at Manda Bay, Kenya, May 2, 2025. As U.S. Air Forces Africa’s sole airlift unit, the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron provides C-130 tactical airlift support to multiple users in East Africa, including aeromedical evacuation, logistical movements, alert aircrews, and aircraft for crisis response and humanitarian operations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Kevin Ray J. Salvador)
Aircraft

US starts $70 million upgrade to Kenyan airfield used in Somalia operations

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 1, 2026

A U.S. Army paratrooper assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade learns to operate the Dronebuster Block 4 at Caserma Ederle, Italy, Dec. 2, 2025. The Dronebuster Block 4 is a hand-held counter-unmanned aerial system designed to detect, disrupt and defeat commercial off-the-shelf drone threats, strengthening the brigade’s ability to counter emerging aerial risks. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to U.S. European, African and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward-stationed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains with NATO allies and partners to enhance interoperability and readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Jennifer French)
Drones

Pentagon gives base commanders more control on countering drones

By Nicholas Slayton

Updated on Feb 1, 2026

The Air Force is in the middle of replacing its aging rescue helicopter fleet. But the number it plans to buy has been cut.
Helicopters

The big problem facing Air Force combat search and rescue

By David Roza

Posted on Jan 30, 2026

Chinese PLA Navy ships, including the Hainan, sail together in excercises.
Tech & Tactics

Inside China’s plans for ‘national total war,’ according to the Pentagon

By Kyle Gunn

Posted on Jan 28, 2026

Japan Air Self-Defense Force members from the Naha Air Rescue Squadron ride on a U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron, in support of exercise Cope Angel 25-1 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 26, 2025. Cope Angel is an annual bilateral personnel recovery exercise conducted with U.S. Air Force and JASDF personnel, providing the opportunity for both services to integrate, plan and train together. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melany Bermudez)
Helicopters

Air Force helicopter landed too close to crowd in death of school teacher, report finds

By Nicholas Slayton, Matt White

Updated on Jan 25, 2026

F-15s in Middle East
Drones

F-15 squadron that took out Iranian drones returns to the Middle East

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jan 21, 2026

YOKOSUKA, Japan (Jan. 30, 2024) Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class James Burrous, from Richmond, Texas, assembles a toilet for replacement aboard the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), while in-port Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Jan. 30. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Kyree Rogers)
Carriers

The toilets on the Navy’s largest aircraft carrier keep failing

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 17, 2026

CV-22 Ospreys assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron (SOS) approach an MC-130J Commando II for aerial refueling over the Sea of Japan, Mar. 17th, 2023. The 21st SOS utilizes the unique capabilities of the Osprey to conduct long range infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply missions for special operation forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trevor Gordnier)
Aircraft

Air Force crew reacted rapidly to sudden power failure in Osprey mishap

By Matt White

Posted on Jan 13, 2026

From left, Maj. Gen. Winston Brooks, Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Sartain, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Augustin, and Maj. Benjamin Page shake the hands of soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery regiment as they board a plane at the Lawton Fort Sill Regional Airport on May 2, 2024.
Training

The Army wants soldiers to travel less for training, do more in virtual reality

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Jan 13, 2026

 U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 19, 2025) A U.S. Air Force chaplain prays over an A-10 Thunderbolt II at a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 19, 2025. (U.S. Air Force Photo) 
Aircraft

An A-10 taking part in Syria airstrikes sports ‘Metroid’ nose art

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 12, 2026

The Navy has released a video that shows the FF(X) frigate’s proposed design.
Frigates

Here’s why the Navy is planning to turn a Coast Guard cutter into a frigate

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jan 8, 2026

A photo of the prototype for the Army's M1E3.
Tanks

These are the first photos of the Army’s M1E3 Abrams prototype

By Matt White, Patty Nieberg

Posted on Jan 7, 2026

Image: (Original Caption) The Charleston shot was part of Operation Plumbbob and was fired from a balloon on September 28, 1957. (Photo by © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Nuclear

The military once considered using balloons as nuclear weapons systems

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 5, 2026

An F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 213, launches from the flight deck of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Dec. 28, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president's priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Navy photo)
Bombers

More than 150 fighters, bombers and other aircraft took part in Venezuela strike

By Nicholas Slayton

Updated on Jan 4, 2026

Technician from Office of Naval Research (ONR) participates in freeflight after extensive testing for the Hiller Flying Platform. The platform was first flown in public in 1955. (Photo by US Navy/Getty Images)
Tech & Tactics

When the military tried to give soldiers personal flying platforms

By Nicholas Slayton

Updated on Jan 1, 2026