Top stories
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.
US strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program up to 2 years, DOD says
“We’re thinking probably closer to two years — like degraded their program by two years,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Wednesday.
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Coverage: Paris Air Show 2025
Defense News is covering the top headlines and stories coming out of Paris Air 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.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Commentary
Why it’s hard to know the damage the US did to Iran’s nuclear program
Opinion: Analysts will need more intelligence from more sources to make a confident judgment about the effects on Fordo and Iran’s broader nuclear efforts.
House passes Trump megabill with $150 billion in military funding
The bill includes $150 billion for the Pentagon, earmarked for shipbuilding, the Golden Dome and restocking precision weapons, among other priorities.
Opinion
What’s in a name? Fighters, bombers and modern aerial combat
Opinion: Fielding survivable bomber-sized aircraft for long-range aerial combat could mitigate shortfalls in achieving air superiority against China.
Illinois veteran bestowed military honors nearly a decade after death
An extraordinary cold case investigation revealed a formerly unidentified ward of the state to be a Women's Army Corps veteran.
In other news
Honolulu water agency sues US Navy over Red Hill fuel spill damage
The suit estimates it is costing $1.2 billion for the Board of Water Supply to clean up and protect Oʻahu’s drinking water wells.
‘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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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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MORE STORIES
Pilots who bombed Iran sites invited to White House for July Fourth
The U.S. pilots who carried out Operation Midnight Hammer last month were invited to the White House for July Fourth.
Honolulu water agency sues US Navy over Red Hill fuel spill damage
The suit estimates it is costing $1.2 billion for the Board of Water Supply to clean up and protect Oʻahu’s drinking water wells.
By Marcel Honoré, Honolulu Civil Beat
Ukraine arms freeze part of wider military aid review, Pentagon says
The decision to pause the delivery of some munitions to Ukraine "was made to put America's interest first," a White House spokesperson said.
Top enlisted Marine takes a swipe at Audie Murphy’s uniform regs
The top enlisted Marine faced a sea of roasters on Army and Marine Reddit pages after he took a swipe at WWII combat soldier Audie Murphy.
The toilet paper war: A submariner’s battle against bureaucracy
In 1942, Lt. Cmdr. James Coe of the submarine Skipjack battled for his boat to receive what he deemed a basic necessity: toilet paper.
Air Force, Space Force hit recruiting goals months ahead of schedule
The Air Force's recruiting continues to rebound since 2023, when it missed its goal for the first time in decades.
All US military boots should be made in America, lawmakers contend
The bill requires all combat boots worn by U.S. service members, including optional boots, to be American-made.
By Zita Ballinger Fletcher
Former Green Berets seek justice in Texas killing of Afghan teammate
Two months after Abdul Rahman Waziri was shot and killed outside his Houston home, authorities have yet to make an arrest despite identifying the shooter.
By Hope Hodge Seck
Senate passes Trump’s major policy bill with $150 billion for the DOD
Funding included in the bill would go toward shipbuilding, the Golden Dome homeland missile defense project, munitions and other key Pentagon priorities.
This US paratrooper faced down 100 Nazis and 2 tanks... and won
Pvt. John Towle who, faced with a company-size enemy force with armor support and comported himself like a one-man anti-tank unit.
By Jon Guttman
Military requests pulling 200 troops back from California protest duty
The commander in charge of the troops in LA asked the Defense Secretary if 200 of those forces could be returned to wildfire fighting duty.
By Tara Copp, AP
US Air Force uses leftover ICBM funds to revamp Qatar plane
“This looks like one of the bigger wastes of money inside your budget," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said of plans to turn a Qatari jet into Air Force One.
Air Force to manage new militarized zone along US-Mexico border
Military personnel will patrol and stop trespassers along the stretch of land, which spans 250 miles of the Rio Grande River in Texas.
By Zita Ballinger Fletcher
US Air Force to retire all A-10s, cancel E-7 under 2026 spending plan
The Air Force wants to retire hundreds of older aircraft, including the entire Warthog fleet, to free up money for future planes.
No ‘significant’ mover capacity problems expected for troops, DOD says
The DOD says a new task force is "fully engaged" in overseeing the process of troops' household goods moves during this peak season.
By Karen Jowers