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Pentagon’s FY27 budget seeks 85 F-35s, but most ride on reconciliation
The Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 budget request seeks 85 F-35 Lightning II fighters across the joint force, up from 47 in fiscal 2026.
Golden Dome has ‘pathways to pivot’ if delays arise, general says
Gen. Michael Guetlein, the appointed czar for America's “Golden Dome” initiative, told lawmakers that plans to build the shield were proceeding apace.
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Military Times has outlined helpful information about car insurance, renters insurance, and life insurance for troops.
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Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
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Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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MilTech
What we know about the US military’s new joint laser weapon system
The Army-Navy effort aims to produce a containerized 150-kilowatt high-energy laser weapon to counter incoming cruise missiles.
Vietnam veteran, daughter sue VA over Agent Orange birth defect benefits
The VA provides disability compensation for birth defects to the children of women Vietnam veterans, but not to the children of men who served in the war.
The US military wants a fleet of missile-killing laser drones
The U.S. military is once again pursuing flying directed energy weapons to counter threats to American airspace.
A century of the ‘Ma Deuce’: How the M2 Browning became America’s workhorse machine gun
The highly versatile weapon has seen action affixed to the wings of P-51D Mustangs, aboard vessels in Vietnam and atop Humvees in the Middle East.
In other news
John Phelan out as Navy secretary, Pentagon says
The Pentagon provided no reason for the move.
Sailor reportedly finds dead rat in finished energy drink
The sailor said medical personnel informed him, “with the chemicals that are in Monster, that it should be OK.”
That time the Air Force proposed making a ‘gay bomb’
The Air Force once explored the idea of a chemical weapon that would make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible to one another — striking a blow to morale.
Master Chief actor condemns use of character in White House’s Iran war hype video
“I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately,” Steve Downes wrote in a post on X.
‘War Machine’ review: Finally, a training scenario with aliens
The sci-fi flick raises the premise: What if the final phase of U.S. Army Ranger selection suddenly involved fighting a giant alien robot?
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The Navy absorbs lessons from Epic Fury | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.28.26
At the Navy League of the United States’ recent conference, Navy leaders digest lessons from the U.S. campaign in the Middle East and look to the future.
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MORE STORIES
US Air Force aims to double F-15EX Eagle fleet
The U.S. Air Force plans to boost the number of F-15EX Eagle II aircraft in its inventory to 267.
By Michael Scanlon
The US military wants a fleet of missile-killing laser drones
The U.S. military is once again pursuing flying directed energy weapons to counter threats to American airspace.
By Jared Keller
Three’s company: Trio of US carriers operating in Middle East for first time in decades
Three U.S. aircraft carriers are operating in Central Command's area of responsibility for the first time since 2003.
By Eve Sampson
Used as an ‘individual target’ by the Germans, this Medal of Honor recipient kept up the fight
Although mortally wounded, Robert Booker “remained retrained and unfazed as he continued to encourage his squad and helped direct their fire.”
By Jon Guttman
Push to identify remains of POWS who endured Bataan Death March, hell ships
Since 2014 the DPAA has been working to identify, recover and repatriate the remains of POWs who died in the prison camps or aboard Japanese hell ships.
By Richard Sisk
The Spanish Flu — a deadly postscript to WWI — started at a US military base
Approximately 43,000 service members were killed by the influenza virus that was first identified at an Army base in Haskell County, Kansas.
US in talks to resettle 1,100 Afghans in Congo
Some of the Afghans are relatives of U.S. citizens or partnered with the U.S. during the 20-year war.
By Jessica Donati, Reuters
This WWI soldier saved two men from a burning tank with his bare hands
With his green unit "loaned" to the Australians, Reidar Waaler proved that bravery made up for lack of battle experience.
By Jon Guttman
Pentagon seeks funds for Golden Dome, drones, AI in largest-ever budget request
According to Pentagon officials, the president's key priorities include the Golden Dome, drones, AI, data infrastructure and the defense industrial base.
By Tanya Noury
Flu vaccine requirement discarded ‘effective immediately,’ Hegseth says
The flu vaccine has been required annually for U.S. military personnel since the 1950s .
By Patricia Kime
Unregulated prediction market may endanger US national security, experts and lawmakers warn
With how futures markets are structured, officials could place bets anonymously and influence combat operations to ensure they get a payout, experts say.
By Riley Ceder
Trump clears path for expanded psychedelic research to treat veterans’ PTSD
The order commits at least $50 million in federal funds to boost research on ibogaine, a powerful hallucinogen.
By Tanya Noury
Air Force extends 3 A-10 squadrons, each expected to keep 18 Warthogs
The decision comes as A-10s have seen increased involvement during Operation Epic Fury in Iran.
By Michael Scanlon
Space Force’s 15-year vision calls for more personnel, simulators and survivability
A new Space Force vision document grapples with the future of space warfare and how the service can prepare for it.
By Michael Peck
US Air Force wants better infrared jammers for its combat rescue helicopters
The HH-60W, recently used to rescue downed pilots in Iran, lacks a capable infrared countermeasure system, Air Force Material Command said.
By Michael Peck