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Trump administration releases first tranche of ‘never-before-seen’ UFO files
“With these new Documents and Videos, the people can decide for themselves, ‘WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?’” Trump wrote, adding, “Have Fun and Enjoy!"
‘Maverick Act’ saves last 3 F-14 Tomcats from destruction
New legislation is keeping hope alive that the iconic swept-wing fighter could someday fly again.
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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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MilTech
Pentagon turns to AI targeting to help troops shoot drones
The technology can detect threats and distinguish them from non-threats, such as birds, faster than a human operator can.
Opinion
Why Congress must end the remarriage penalty for military survivors
A policy that causes surviving spouses to lose their benefits if they remarry suggests their sacrifice ends the moment they seek a new chapter in life.
Commissaries reverse decision to charge for single-use bags
The decision came only one month after the bag fees went into effect.
Life or death centered around a canteen for this AEF soldier
While under a hail of machine gun fire, William Sawelson crawled through the mud to deliver water to a wounded soldier.
In other news
Refusing evacuation, this Marine packed dirt into his wound and continued to fight
The patch of contested real estate known as the Battle of Getlin’s Corner is also remembered for an officer who stood out in a field full of valor.
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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Navy looks to expand tech, autonomy for future fleet | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 5.5.26
The commander of the Naval Research Laboratory outlines goals for the fleet at Sea-Air-Space 2026. Plus, global defense spending updates for the year.
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MORE STORIES
Maryland lawmakers allege lack of transparency following Air Force base jet fuel leak
The 32,000-gallon jet fuel spill at Joint Base Andrews occured between January and March, contaminating soils and the Piscataway Creek.
Commissaries reverse decision to charge for single-use bags
The decision came only one month after the bag fees went into effect.
B-52 engine replacement clears critical design review, first modifications to begin this year
The Air Force’s program to replace the B-52H Stratofortress’s 1960s-era engines cleared its critical design review, the service announced May 4.
By Michael Scanlon
Life or death centered around a canteen for this AEF soldier
While under a hail of machine gun fire, William Sawelson crawled through the mud to deliver water to a wounded soldier.
By Jon Guttman
Danger pay for US troops could double, expand to more regions
The U.S. defense budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 has raised the prospect of an increase in the monthly stipend paid out to troops in dangerous regions.
By Hope Hodge Seck
Refusing evacuation, this Marine packed dirt into his wound and continued to fight
The patch of contested real estate known as the Battle of Getlin’s Corner is also remembered for an officer who stood out in a field full of valor.
By Jon Guttman
Defense Department proposes splitting military health system budget
The Defense Department wants to split its funding for the military health system to protect military facilities and care.
By Patricia Kime
Pentagon says Iran ceasefire holds despite exchanges in Strait of Hormuz
Gen. Dan Caine characterized the hostile actions as “all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point.”
By Tanya Noury
US, Iran launch new attacks as they wrestle for control of Gulf waters
It was the first apparent attempt to use military force since last month’s ceasefire announcement.
By Parisa Hafezi, Ahmed Tolba and Phil Stewart, Reuters
Air Force clears T-7A Red Hawk for low-rate production
The decision authorizes a $219 million contract for the first 14 aircraft.
By Michael Scanlon
US destroys six Iranian small boats, shoots down missiles, drones, admiral says
Adm. Brad Cooper said Iran was trying to interfere with a U.S. military operation to open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic.
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Reuters
Former Qatari aircraft on track for summer Air Force One delivery
The new aircraft in the Boeing VC-25B Bridge program completed modifications and flight testing and is now being painting red, white and blue.
Impacts of Strait of Hormuz tensions stifle searches for US missing in Laos
The ripple effects of the Iran war have spread to Laos, where fuel shortages have forced the cancellation or curtailment of searches by U.S recovery teams.
By Richard Sisk
Trump says US operation will aid ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz
It was not immediately clear which countries the U.S. operation would aid or how the operation would work.
By Reuters
2 US troops reported missing amid African Lion exercise
The Moroccan army said the service members went missing near a cliff. The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing.
By Reuters
US withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, US officials say
The move comes as a rift over the Iran war widens between President Donald Trump and Europe.
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Reuters