Stephen Silver

U.S. Navy Carrier Air Wing 8 aircraft fly in formation over the world’s largest aircraft carrier, Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), during Carrier Air Wing 8’s aerial change of command ceremony while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Jan. 19, 2026. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Navy photo)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

600 Sailors Are Sleeping on Decks Aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford Due to Fire — Some Keep Suggesting the Aircraft Carrier Was Sabotaged

Award-winning national security journalist Stephen Silver analyzes the recent 30-hour fire aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. While speculative reports from British...

Stephen SilverMarch 23, 2026

Trillions - 19FortyFive

An F-35A Was Just Hit by Iranian Fire During a Combat Mission — The First Time a Stealth Fighter Has Ever Been Struck by an Enemy

National security journalist Stephen Silver breaks down the first instance of a U.S. F-35A being hit by enemy fire during the 2026 Iran campaign....

Stephen SilverMarch 22, 2026

210911-N-OP825-1213 PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 11, 2021) Sailors aboard amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) man the rails on the ship's flight deck as the ship prepares to pull into San Francisco in support of San Francisco Fleet Week (SFFW), Sept. 11, 2021. SFFW is an opportunity for the American public to meet their Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard teams and experience America’s sea services. During fleet week, service members participate in various community service events, showcase capabilities and equipment to the community, and enjoy the hospitality of San Francisco and its surrounding areas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Erica Higa /Released)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

USS Tripoli and 2,200 Marines Are Headed to Iran — Joining a War That Is Already Costing America $1 Billion a Day

The Tripoli Transit: 2,200 Marines and F-35Bs Move Toward the Middle East A United States warship has been spotted appearing to head towards the...

Stephen SilverMarch 21, 2026

A U.S. Air Force Airman from Fairchild Air Force Base shaves his mustache off during the Mustache Dash event at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, March 31, 2023. The Mustache Dash was an event created to raise awareness for mental health that encompasses all four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness, mental, physical, spiritual and social. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Morgan Dailey)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Staff Were Told to Hide Bearded Soldiers Before Pete Hegseth Arrived — Now He’s Ordering the Pentagon to Strip Religious Beard Waivers

The pivot toward strict grooming standards reflects a broader 2026 shift in Department of Defense philosophy: the belief that uniformity is a prerequisite for...

Stephen SilverMarch 20, 2026

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

‘Predominantly Unusable’: The F-35 Stealth Fighter Has a Software Update With ‘Stability Problems’

Award-winning journalist Stephen Silver reports on a damning Pentagon assessment revealing the F-35's TR-3 software upgrade was "predominantly unusable" throughout 2024, delivering zero new...

Stephen SilverMarch 19, 2026

USS Billings Littoral Combat Ship 2025 Fleet Week

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Iran Is Mining the Strait of Hormuz — and the Only Two U.S. Navy Ships Built to Sweep Those Mines Were Just Spotted Thousands of Miles Away in Asia

Iran has more than 5,000 naval mines and a doctrine built around closing the Strait of Hormuz — and the U.S. Navy's only minesweeping...

Stephen SilverMarch 18, 2026

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 29, 2019) USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) conducts high-speed turns in the Atlantic Ocean. Ford is at sea conducting sea trials following the in port portion of its 15 month post-shakedown availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Connor Loessin)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

100,000 Ton Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Is the U.S. Navy’s Problem Child

Award-winning journalist Stephen Silver reports on a 30-hour fire aboard USS Gerald R. Ford in the northern Red Sea, displacing over 600 sailors from...

Stephen SilverMarch 18, 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 SilverMarch 17, 2026

220213-N-TL932-1221 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 13, 2022) Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), back, and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) transit the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 13, 2022. Vinson and Nimitz are currently conducting routine maritime operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Joshua Sapien)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Time to Say Goodbye to Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz of the U.S. Navy

Stephen Silver, an award-winning national security journalist, evaluates the historic final voyage of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) as it departs the Pacific Northwest for...

Stephen SilverMarch 11, 2026

U.S. Air Force Capt. Ethan “Bantam” Smith, Pacific Air Forces F-16 Demonstration Team pilot, conducts a falcon turn during Misawa Air Fest at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 8, 2024. The demonstration team’s primary mission is to inspire goodwill and promote positive relations between the U.S. and partner nations across the Indo-Pacific region by showcasing displays of F-16 combat prowess and dedication to U.S. Air Force core values. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Peter Reft)

Trillions - 19FortyFive

Iran War Chaos with 1 Million Passengers Stranded: 12,000 Flight Cancellations are Upending Middle East Travel

Summary and Key Points: National security analyst Stephen Silver evaluates the civilian impact of the U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran. As of March 2026,...

Stephen SilverMarch 9, 2026

19FortyFive

Stephen Silver

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

600 Sailors Are Sleeping on Decks Aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford Due to Fire — Some Keep Suggesting the Aircraft Carrier Was Sabotaged

Trillions - 19FortyFive

An F-35A Was Just Hit by Iranian Fire During a Combat Mission — The First Time a Stealth Fighter Has Ever Been Struck by an Enemy

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

USS Tripoli and 2,200 Marines Are Headed to Iran — Joining a War That Is Already Costing America $1 Billion a Day

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Staff Were Told to Hide Bearded Soldiers Before Pete Hegseth Arrived — Now He’s Ordering the Pentagon to Strip Religious Beard Waivers

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

‘Predominantly Unusable’: The F-35 Stealth Fighter Has a Software Update With ‘Stability Problems’

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Iran Is Mining the Strait of Hormuz — and the Only Two U.S. Navy Ships Built to Sweep Those Mines Were Just Spotted Thousands of Miles Away in Asia

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

100,000 Ton Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Is the U.S. Navy’s Problem Child

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

Time to Say Goodbye to Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz of the U.S. Navy

Trillions - 19FortyFive

Iran War Chaos with 1 Million Passengers Stranded: 12,000 Flight Cancellations are Upending Middle East Travel

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