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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
Syria denies it is holding missing Marine veteran Austin Tice
President Joseph Biden’s remarks were the clearest indication so far that the U.S. is certain Tice is being held by Syria.
Disney’s Veterans Institute shares insights on civilian opportunities
Disney's Veterans Institute will feature speakers from a number of companies and non-profits sharing insights on navigating civilian employment.
Why do kids keep falling from windows in military base housing?
Fifteen children fell out of windows in military housing from 2017 to 2021, plus three more in 2022. What are privatized housing companies doing about it?
By Karen Jowers
Overseas military retirees’ postal privileges still in limbo
A week before military mail privileges were supposed to stop for retirees living overseas, there's no clear answer.
By Karen Jowers
Judge rejects Navy engineer’s plea agreement in submarine spy case
A Navy nuclear engineer and his wife have withdrawn their guilty pleas in a case involving the sale of secrets about American nuclear submarines.
US forces in Syria decry suicide drone and rocket attacks
Coalition forces were attacked by aerial drones Monday at a U.S. base in rebel-held southern Syria.
By Zamone Perez
T-45 Goshawk crashes near Naval Air Station Kingsville; pilot safe
The pilot safely ejected, and there are no reported injuries due to the incident.
By Diana Stancy
Stricter social media rules for DoD officials aim to prevent snafus
For public affairs officers who also post in a private capacity, their profiles can’t indicate what they do professionally.
Veteran who testified against friend avoids prison for Jan. 6
Prosecutors did not seek prison time for Jacob Fracker, pointing to his cooperation and trial testimony against Army veteran Thomas Robertson.
This officer is the first woman to lead Naval Test Wing Atlantic
Capt. Elizabeth Somerville, an EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler naval flight officer, is tasked with leading the Navy’s largest developmental air wing.
By Diana Stancy