Iran Archives

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The F-35’s Most Critical Software Upgrade Was Essentially Useless in 2024 — and the Delays Are Getting Worse

Jack Buckby, British defense researcher and analyst based in New York, reports on a damning Pentagon Director of Operational Test and Evaluation assessment finding...

Jack BuckbyMarch 17, 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

China Almost Sold Iran a Mach 4 Carrier-Killer Missile — and Beijing Is Lying About It

Reuben F. Johnson, 36-year weapons systems analyst and Director of Research at the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, investigates China's near-completed sale of the CM-302 supersonic...

Reuben JohnsonMarch 17, 2026

B-2 Bomber. The B-21 Raider will look very similar. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The B-2 Spirit Is Dropping 30,000-Pound Bombs on Iran’s Underground Bunkers — Here Is How

Kris Osborn, Pentagon veteran and President of Warrior Maven, details the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber's active combat operations against Iran. Armed with 30,000-pound Massive...

Kris OsbornMarch 17, 2026

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy Is Losing 616 Tomahawk Missile Cells and Has No Way to Replace Them in Time

Isaac Seitz, defense columnist and Strategic Intelligence graduate, maps the compounding crisis in U.S. Navy long-range strike capacity. The simultaneous retirement of four Ohio-class...

Isaac SeitzMarch 17, 2026

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The B-52 Is Flying Over Iran — and That Tells You Everything About How the War Is Going

Kris Osborn, Pentagon veteran and President of Warrior Maven, argues the B-52 Stratofortress operating over Iran is the clearest proof of U.S. air superiority....

Kris OsbornMarch 17, 2026

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 9th Bomb Squadron parks on the flightline at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Sept. 15, 2025. Carrying the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory, the multi-mission B-1B is the backbone of America's long-range bomber force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The B-1B Lancer Is Destroying Iran’s Missile Program — Here Is How It Is Being Done

Kris Osborn, President of Warrior Maven, reports on the B-1B Lancer's combat role during Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Flying from RAF Fairford in...

Kris OsbornMarch 17, 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

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 SeitzMarch 17, 2026

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 LarsonMarch 17, 2026

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 KassMarch 17, 2026

19FortyFive

All posts tagged "Iran"

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The F-35’s Most Critical Software Upgrade Was Essentially Useless in 2024 — and the Delays Are Getting Worse

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

China Almost Sold Iran a Mach 4 Carrier-Killer Missile — and Beijing Is Lying About It

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The B-2 Spirit Is Dropping 30,000-Pound Bombs on Iran’s Underground Bunkers — Here Is How

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy Is Losing 616 Tomahawk Missile Cells and Has No Way to Replace Them in Time

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The B-52 Is Flying Over Iran — and That Tells You Everything About How the War Is Going

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The B-1B Lancer Is Destroying Iran’s Missile Program — Here Is How It Is Being Done

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

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

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