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US commander says China has failed to coerce rivals in South China Sea
Adm. Stephen Koehler gave assurances of U.S. commitment to help defend freedom of passage and the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region.
New aircraft carriers face years of delivery delays
Delivery of the Navy's next Ford-class aircraft carrier, the John F. Kennedy, was delayed two more years to 2027, budget documents show.
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Army tests robotic coyotes to defend fighter jets
Unmanned ground vehicles mounted with life-size plastic coyotes are one idea proposed as part of a new effort to keep wildlife away from military aircraft.
Navy to clear records for some sailors who refused COVID-19 vaccine
The settlement comes as the result of a class-action lawsuit brought by sailors who denied the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious reasons.
Iran hit dome on US air base in Qatar in June attack: Report
The Pentagon has acknowledged that an Iranian ballistic missile hit Al Udeid Air Base in June during an Iranian attack after Trump downplayed the assault.
Appeals court throws out plea deal for alleged 9/11 mastermind
Friday's decision undoes an attempt to wrap up more than two decades of military prosecution beset by legal and logistical troubles.
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Pentagon & Congress
Proposed Senate defense bill would add $500M in long-term Ukraine aid
The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is one of two main ways the Pentagon has provided military support to Ukraine over the last three years.
US is selling weapons to NATO allies to give to Ukraine, Trump says
After a pause in some weapons shipment, U.S. officials said this week that 155 mm munitions and precision-guided rockets were on their way.
Hegseth calls for extensive reforms to Pentagon drone-buying practices
The memo directs the military services to create active duty formations by September, built for the sole purpose of scaling the use of drones across DOD.
USS Michael Monsoor arrives in Japan for port visit
The stealth destroyer is slated to be upgraded with a hypersonic missile system that the Navy plans to field by the mid-2020s, the service said.
In other news
US resumes sending some weapons to Ukraine after Pentagon pause
The defense secretary directed the pause last week to allow DOD to assess its weapons stockpiles, in a move that caught the White House by surprise.
VIDEOS
What’s in the Pentagon budget for 2026?
In a year without a large-scale DOD budget rollout, our reporters decipher what programs will receive Pentagon funding in fiscal 2026.
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Sea-Air-Space 2025 Coverage
Defense News is reporting on the top headlines and news coming out of Navy League’s annual show.
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.
‘A new challenge’: Air Force vet becomes two-time living organ donor
Air Force veteran Lindsay Gutierrez is a two-time living organ donor after giving a kidney to a fellow veteran and part of her liver to another recipient.
An ode to Dwight Schrute, The Office’s best squad leader
He'd rub people the wrong way in a real squad. But he'd also make sure you had water, ammo and a working red lens flashlight on the night of land nav.
By Clay Beyersdorfer
Why Despicable Me’s Gru is just a warrant officer with better branding
If Gru wore a uniform, it wouldn’t have stars or stripes. It would have a coffee stain and rank that no one really understands.
Why Patrick Star is the blue falcon of Bikini Bottom
Patrick Star is every lovable mess-up squadmate who cost you a weekend because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut during formation.
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MORE STORIES
Celebrities forge bonds on ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’
Four of the 16 celebrity participants have already been eliminated from 'Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test."
By Sarah Sicard
Did you write a New Year’s Day deck log poem? Enter it in this contest
You could win a piece of Old Ironsides.
China holds large-scale joint strike drills aimed at Taiwan
The exercises coincided with the visit of a group of German lawmakers who landed in Taiwan on Monday morning.
VA outlines rules for staff to opt out of abortion-related work
The policy allows employees to opt-out of providing any abortion services, bit the department still insists the offerings are critical to veterans' health.
US Navy considers Cold War-era squadrons to boost readiness
The sea service is poised to establish “surface groups” meant to renew the Navy’s focus on maintenance and training.
Ukraine praises US military aid as cease-fire said to falter
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Bradley armored vehicles included in the latest U.S. aid package are “exactly what is needed” for Ukrainian troops.
By Andrew Meldrum, The Associated Press
Two years after Jan. 6, trials are ‘far from over,’ Justice Dept. says
More than 950 people have been charged for involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Michael Flynn restored to Twitter on Jan. 6 anniversary
Twitter suspended the account of the retired Army lieutenant general two days after the violent assault on the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Prince Harry’s claim he killed 25 in Afghanistan draws anger, worry
Harry says he killed more than two dozen Taliban militants while serving as an Apache helicopter copilot gunner in Afghanistan in 2012–2013.
US airstrikes in Somalia increased in 2022, killing more than 100
The number of airstrikes conducted by the United States represents an uptick over the previous year, but far from the record highs in 2019 and 2018.
By Zamone Perez