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US Navy commissions newest Virginia-class submarine USS Idaho
The Navy welcomed the 26th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine to active service during a Saturday ceremony in Connecticut.
US sailor deploying to Middle East injured in monkey attack in Thailand
The sailor was transferred back to Japan for medical care, a Navy spokesperson said.
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3 sailors injured after fire breaks out aboard USS Zumwalt
A fire broke out aboard the guided-missile destroyer as it was stationed pierside at a Mississippi shipyard.
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.
US Navy is reviewing cost of future Ford-class carriers to ensure they ‘make sense’
The service is looking at how superior Ford-class carriers are to Nimitz-class carriers, said the recently ousted Navy Secretary John Phelan.
John Phelan out as Navy secretary, Pentagon says
The Pentagon provided no reason for the move.
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Veterans
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.
Remains of USS Arizona crew buried as unknowns after Pearl Harbor to be identified
While the advocacy group Operation 85 met the 60% DNA threshold last November, the DPAA has finally confirmed its effort.
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
US Marine Corps, Navy join forces to combat insufficient amphibious fleet size
The two services will work together to boost the country's amphibious fleet size and availability after the readiness rate of its ships dropped in 2025.
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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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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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MORE STORIES
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
Navy ‘going to study’ possibility of building ships outside US, Phelan says
The Navy is exploring ways to alleviate pressure as U.S. shipbuilding faces issues with labor capacity, Navy Secretary John Phelan said.
By Riley Ceder
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
Saildrone announces new USV class aimed at anti-submarine warfare
Spectre, a new class of unmanned surface vessel, will face sea trials in early 2027.
US Navy to integrate PAC-3 MSE interceptor missile with Aegis Combat System
The Navy will integrate PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles with the Aegis Combat System, according to Lockheed Martin.
By Eve Sampson
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