Top stories
Iranian strikes target the infrastructure behind US airpower
Iran has struck radar systems, satellite communications and mission-critical aircraft at US bases across Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
USS Gerald R. Ford will likely notch record-setting deployment, Caudle says
The world's largest aircraft carrier is currently in Croatia undergoing maintenance after a non-combat fire broke out in its main laundry room.
Latest
Minesweeping technology in the Middle East is ‘a very good package,’ Caudle says
The U.S. Navy has three Independence-class littoral combat ships with a mine countermeasures mission package homeported in the Middle East.
USS George H.W. Bush deploys amid Iran war
The Navy didn't provide details on its destination, but with the USS Gerald R. Ford currently sidelined, there is a warship vacancy in the Middle East.
Hegseth reveals secret trip to Middle East amid escalating Iran war
Hegseth said morale is high and service members are determined to “finish the mission."
The US Navy brought a ‘one-of-a-kind’ laser weapon back from the dead
The U.S. Navy's lone 150 kW laser weapon is back in action – sort of.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Your Navy
‘Infrastructure is the weapon’: Inside the race to build portable interceptor factories
As the Iran war drives global demand for interceptor drones, defense startups are betting they can fit a production line into a shipping container.
Fewer service members died by suicide in 2024 than year prior, report finds
The report on 2024 suicides found a decrease in the total force suicide rate, though active component rates have steadily increased from 2011 to 2024.
Trump says massive military complex to be built beneath White House ballroom
The new White House ballroom "essentially becomes a [shield] for what's being built under by the military," Trump said.
The ‘March of Folly’: America’s headlong lurch into Vietnam began with just 3,500 Marines
“Johnson’s idea was to fight and negotiate simultaneously. The difficulty was that the limited war aim … was unachievable by limited war," wrote Tuchman.
In other news
Hegseth reportedly removes 2 Black, 2 female Army officers from 1-star promotion list
Hegset has blocked promotions of four Army officers — two Black men and two women — to the rank of brigadier general, the New York Times reported Friday.
VIDEOS
"It's real, it's here." Elbit shows off "combat proven" Sigma mobile Howitzer at AUSA Global Force
Elbit says its Sigma mobile Howitzer platform is American-made, combat effective and ready to roll out to the Army and other customers.
Featured Videos
SPECIAL FEATURES
Iran Coverage
Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
Insurance Guide
Military Times has outlined helpful information about car insurance, renters insurance, and life insurance for troops.
2025 PCS Guide
Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
2025 Benefits Guide
Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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?
By Clay Beyersdorfer
When veterans take the pen, war stories start to change
Hollywood has never lacked war stories. But it has often lacked veteran storytellers telling them.
How MREs inspired today’s meal-delivery industry
The MRE has to survive heat, cold, impact and time. And it has to do all of that at scale. Sound familiar?
Don't miss
MORE STORIES
Limited missions, big risks: What a US ground fight in Iran could become
Military analysts point to several possibilities of what ground operations could entail, including coastal assaults and nuclear site raids.
By Eve Sampson
Trump says massive military complex to be built beneath White House ballroom
The new White House ballroom "essentially becomes a [shield] for what's being built under by the military," Trump said.
By Tanya Noury
The ‘March of Folly’: America’s headlong lurch into Vietnam began with just 3,500 Marines
“Johnson’s idea was to fight and negotiate simultaneously. The difficulty was that the limited war aim … was unachievable by limited war," wrote Tuchman.
US Navy commissions fast-attack submarine USS Massachusetts
The newest addition to the U.S. Navy fleet is the 12th Virginia-class submarine and the fifth vessel to be named after the U.S. state.
By Riley Ceder
Thousands of US Army paratroopers arrive in Middle East as buildup intensifies
The paratroopers add to the thousands of additional sailors, Marines and Special Operations forces sent to the region.
By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart, Reuters
The US Navy wants you ... to make ‘Drone Killer’ ammunition
The Navy designed the Drone Killer Cartridge to address the emerging threat of small quadcopters. It now wants ammo makers to make millions of the rounds.
By Daniel Terrill
Senator stalls 3 ‘unfit’ officer promotions in retort to Hegseth
The senator made clear the holds were a direct response to Pete Hegseth's decision to block the promotions of two Black and two female officers.
By Hope Hodge Seck
Japanese destroyer can now fire Tomahawk missiles, extending nation’s combat punch
Japan’s Tomahawk orders are unlikely to be affected immediately, but longer military campaigns in the Middle East could cause setbacks, one analyst said.
Pentagon reportedly preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran
The report comes as U.S. military assets — most recently the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 31st MEU — continue to flood the region.
By J.D. Simkins
USS Tripoli, embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrive in Middle East
The Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit entered CENTCOM waters Friday.
By J.D. Simkins