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Air, Space forces request over $24 billion for fiscal 2027 weapons sustainment program
After U.S. missions like Operation Epic Fury, the department is seeking $24.8 billion for their Weapons System Sustainment program.
From prototypes to production: US Air Force seeks nearly $1B for initial CCA procurement
In a first, the Air Force is asking Congress to fund the purchase of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, marking the beginning of the “loyal wingman" era.
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Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
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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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Trump says ‘probably’ when asked if he might pull US troops out of Italy, Spain
The comment came one day after Trump announced that Washington was looking at reducing the number of U.S. military personnel in Germany.
VA shuttering underperforming clinics, addressing leadership shortcomings at others
The VA is closing underperforming clinics and addressing issues at troubled facilities, VA Secretary Doug Collins says.
A combat infantryman stood in the gap. Made the calculation. Pulled the trigger. But at what cost?
"There is a profound, sickening duality in being thanked for your service by people who would be horrified if they ... saw what that service required."
US military commanders to brief Trump on military options against Iran
Top U.S. military leaders, including CENTCOM head Adm. Brad Cooper, will brief President Trump on Thursday on potential military action against Iran.
In other news
Don’t call it a ‘quagmire’: defense secretary refuses to speculate on length of Iran war
The questions over the war’s future come as a 60-day deadline approaches Thursday under the War Powers Act.
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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Don’t call it a ‘quagmire’: defense secretary refuses to speculate on length of Iran war
The questions over the war’s future come as a 60-day deadline approaches Thursday under the War Powers Act.
By Patricia Kime
Iran war has cost $25 billion so far, Pentagon official says
Acting comptroller Jules Hurst III, testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, said that the bulk of the figure has been devoted to ordnance.
By Tanya Noury
Air Force releases plan to recruit, retain AI professionals
The Air Force released its plans to "aggressively" recruit and retain AI professionals to further become an "AI-first force."
Pentagon asks Congress to codify ‘Department of War,’ estimates $52 million cost
Only Congress has the authority to permanently rename executive department names, and it has not yet changed the title of the Department of Defense.
By Tanya Noury
How a band of Marines staved off the British and helped save the Declaration of Independence
Despite the military disaster at Bladensburg, the Marines gave the men and women of the capital precious time to flee.
Trump showcases US military in King Charles White House visit
Hundreds of U.S. service members took part in welcoming King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House on Tuesday.
By Tanya Noury
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.
By Michael Scanlon
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.
By Hope Hodge Seck
US Air Force seeks $3.9 billion to boost KC-46 fleet
The service also clarified plans for the size of its KC-46 fleet.
By Michael Scanlon
US Air Force looks to launch cheap missiles from cargo aircraft
The U.S. Air Force wants inexpensive, long-range missiles that can be launched in mass volleys by cargo aircraft.
By Michael Peck
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.
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