Only 1 in 4 F-35s is fully mission capable, GAO finds
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter’s readiness rates continued to decline through fiscal 2025, with the fleet’s full mission capable rate falling to 25%, according to a new Government Accountability Office report released Thursday. The mission capable rate, which measures the percentage of time...
Navy to commission tech leaders as officers for Navy Innovation Unit
The U.S. Navy announced an expedited recruiting pipeline to bring technology experts into the service to help build innovative products at scale. The service is seeking professionals from the commercial sector and offering them direct commissions as an officer in the Navy Reserve in exchange...
As tick threat grows, Navy lab investigates ‘gummy bear’ bug repellent
As the U.S. enters peak season for mosquitoes and a summer that could be “the worst … in memory” for disease-carrying ticks, a new bug repellent solution that may make it easier to stay protected is sitting on the shelf in a Navy lab, awaiting...
Secret recording exposes claims of toxic leadership after a Marine’s suicide
Editor’s note: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter. This report contains discussion of suicide. Troops, veterans and family members experiencing suicidal thoughts can call the 24-hour Suicide and...
Navy to reevaluate religious accommodations for facial hair
The U.S. Navy announced that it is implementing new procedures to redetermine whether individuals will be granted religious waivers to grow facial hair that doesn’t adhere to military grooming standards. The reevaluation applies to all active and reserve sailors with approved or pending religious accommodations...
US Army commissions second cohort of tech executives into innovation unit
As the U.S. Army races to modernize for warfare that is increasingly defined by autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, it is recruiting some of the country’s most influential technology leaders into uniform. The Army this week added three more technology executives into the Executive Innovation...
Ukraine’s defense AI chief predicts ‘new paradigm’ of warfare
KYIV — Warfare in Ukraine and beyond faces a paradigm shift in the coming years as artificial intelligence systems integrate into unified networks that speed up decisions on the battlefield, a senior Ukrainian official said. Ukraine, in the fifth year of fighting a full-scale Russian...
US plans major cut to jets, warships for NATO operations in Europe, NYT reports
The United States plans to significantly reduce the aircraft and warships it makes available for NATO operations in Europe, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing two senior European officials. The decision would limit NATO’s ability to launch long-range strikes and conduct surveillance, the...
Senate committee backs Department of War name change
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted this week to advance legislation that would rename the Department of Defense to Department of War, moving the proposal one step closer to law. The name change is included in the committee’s version of the fiscal year 2027 National...
In US Air Force first, commandos complete grueling Argentine mountain warfare course
Two U.S. Air Force air commandos completed a rigorous mountain warfare school in Argentina, becoming the first to do so in the service’s history. The airmen from the 492nd Special Operations Wing and 919th Special Operations Wing graduated recently from the Escuela Militar de Montaña...
