March 2026

(June 28, 2022) – Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, June 28. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Devin M. Langer)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Kharg Island Explained: Why This 1 Spot Could Collapse Iran’s Entire War Economy

Award-winning journalist Stephen Silver examines President Donald Trump's claim that U.S. strikes "totally decimated" Kharg Island — the Persian Gulf terminal handling 90% of...

Stephen Silver4 minutes ago

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 96th Expeditionary Bomber Generation Squadron salute the crew of a B-52H Stratofortress aircraft as they begin to taxi at Morón Air Base, Spain, Nov. 19, 2025, as part of Bomber Task Force Europe 26-1. The ability of U.S. forces and equipment to operate in conjunction with those of our Allies and partners is critical to bolstering an extended network of capabilities to decisively meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Codie Trimble)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

America’s 70-Year-Old B-52 Bomber Just Struck Iran — and It Is Not Going Anywhere

Isaac Seitz, defense columnist and Strategic Intelligence graduate, traces the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress from Cold War nuclear deterrence to active combat operations during Operation...

Isaac Seitz16 minutes ago

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Army Quote of the Day By General George Patton: ‘Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and…’

Isaac Seitz, defense columnist and Strategic Intelligence graduate, examines three of General George S. Patton's costliest tactical miscalculations: the Sicily Operation Husky advance on...

Isaac Seitz38 minutes ago

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) transits the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 15, 2026. The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is at sea training as an integrated warfighting team. Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) is the Joint Force’s most complex integrated training event and prepares naval task forces for sustained high-end Joint and combined combat. Integrated naval training provides combatant commanders and America’s civilian leaders highly capable forces that deter adversaries, underpin American security and economic prosperity, and reassure Allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mitchell Mason)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Is Not Retiring Yet — the Iran War Just Changed Everything for the U.S. Navy

Caleb Larson, former POLITICO Europe defense reporter, covers the U.S. Navy's decision to keep USS Nimitz — its oldest aircraft carrier — in service...

Caleb Larson55 minutes ago

190907-N-UR565-0660NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUDA BAY, Greece (Sept. 7, 2019) The Ohio-class cruise missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) arrives in Souda Bay, Greece, for a scheduled port visit, Sept. 7, 2019. NSA Souda Bay is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. (Photo by Joel Diller/Released)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy Is Keeping Its Ohio-Class Submarines Alive After Iran Proved They Are Irreplaceable

Caleb Larson, former POLITICO Europe defense reporter, examines the U.S. Navy's decision to extend the service lives of USS Ohio and USS Florida. Following...

Caleb Larson2 hours ago

A Tomahawk cruise missile launches from the forward vertical launch system of the USS Shiloh (CG 67) to attack selected air defense targets south of the 33rd parallel in Iraq on Sept. 3, 1996, as part of Operation Desert Strike. The attacks are designed to reduce risks to the pilots who will enforce the expanded no-fly zone. President Clinton announced an expanded no-fly zone in response to an Iraqi attack against a Kurdish faction. The larger no-fly zone in Southern Iraq will make it easier for U.S. and coalition partners to contain Saddam Hussein's aggression. The U.S. Navy Ticonderoga Class cruiser launched the missiles as it operated in the Persian Gulf.

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The Ticonderoga Tomahawk Missile Cruiser Retirement Is Creating a Strike Gap the U.S. Navy Cannot Afford

Harrison Kass, attorney and national security journalist, examines the strategic consequences of retiring the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser. Each ship carries 122 Vertical Launch...

Harrison Kass2 hours ago

Russian President Putin. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The Embassy

The Signs that Putin’s Grip on Russia Is Finally Starting to Slip

Is a coup against Russia's president Putin possible? One expert gives us what the evidence might look like as the war in Ukraine goes...

Reuben Johnson3 hours ago

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

B-52 Stratofortress in Iran: How 70-Year-Old Bombers Strike Without Entering Airspace

The B-52's survival in a 2026 high-threat environment is entirely dependent on its Standoff Range. By launching stealthy cruise missiles from outside the enemy's...

Jack Buckby4 hours ago

210618-N-JW440-2165 STRAIT OF MALACCA (June 18, 2021) As seen from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67), the Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transits the South China Sea with the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97). The ships are part of Task Force 70/Carrier Strike Group 5, conducting underway operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rawad Madanat)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy’s Nuclear USS Nimitz Is the ‘Reserve’ Supercarrier for Now

The decision to retain the USS Nimitz is a symptom of a deeper industrial and strategic malaise. While the Ford-class was intended to revolutionize...

Brandon Weichert15 hours ago

M60 Tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Forget the M1 Abrams: 17 Nations Still Rely on the M60 Patton Main Battle Tank

The M60's transition from a primary U.S. combatant to a global "security staple" highlights a 2026 reality: a well-maintained 2nd-generation hull with 3rd-generation sensors...

Christian D. Orr15 hours ago

19FortyFive

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Kharg Island Explained: Why This 1 Spot Could Collapse Iran’s Entire War Economy

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

America’s 70-Year-Old B-52 Bomber Just Struck Iran — and It Is Not Going Anywhere

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Army Quote of the Day By General George Patton: ‘Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and…’

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Is Not Retiring Yet — the Iran War Just Changed Everything for the U.S. Navy

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy Is Keeping Its Ohio-Class Submarines Alive After Iran Proved They Are Irreplaceable

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The Ticonderoga Tomahawk Missile Cruiser Retirement Is Creating a Strike Gap the U.S. Navy Cannot Afford

The Embassy

The Signs that Putin’s Grip on Russia Is Finally Starting to Slip

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

B-52 Stratofortress in Iran: How 70-Year-Old Bombers Strike Without Entering Airspace

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy’s Nuclear USS Nimitz Is the ‘Reserve’ Supercarrier for Now

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Forget the M1 Abrams: 17 Nations Still Rely on the M60 Patton Main Battle Tank

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