U.S. Navy Archives

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

H-6: China’s Oldest Bomber Is Now A Threat to U.S. Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carriers

Brandon J. Weichert, Senior National Security Editor at 19FortyFive and author of multiple defense books, examines China's Xi'an H-6 strategic bomber — a Soviet-era...

Brandon WeichertMarch 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

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 LarsonMarch 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

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 WeichertMarch 16, 2026

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

China is Watching Iran—and Preparing to Strike the Indo-Pacific While America’s Military Hits the Decline Button

Summary and Key Points: National security editor Brandon J. Weichert warns that the Trump administration’s Operation Epic Fury in Iran is creating a strategic...

Brandon WeichertMarch 16, 2026

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy’s Trump-Class Battleships Could Fire Mach 7 Railguns

Caleb Larson, an American defense journalist and former POLITICO Europe reporter, evaluates the strategic "resurrection" of electromagnetic railgun technology. Following a disclosure in the...

Caleb LarsonMarch 15, 2026

U.S. Navy photo by PH2(AW) Sarah Bir, CNE-C6f Public Affairs.

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Blue Ridge-Class: The U.S. Navy’s Most Important Warship You Never Heard Of

Christian D. Orr, Senior Defense Editor and national security veteran, provides a deep-dive analysis of the Blue Ridge-class command ships. While they lack the...

Christian D. OrrMarch 14, 2026

Littoral Combat Ship. Image Credit: U.S. Navy.

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy Spent $22 Billion on the Littoral Combat Ship And Got Busted Warships They Can’t Use

Brandon J. Weichert, Senior National Security Editor at 19FortyFive, delivers a scathing post-mortem of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. Dubbed the "Little Crappy...

Brandon WeichertMarch 14, 2026

19FortyFive

All posts tagged "U.S. Navy"

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

H-6: China’s Oldest Bomber Is Now A Threat to U.S. Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carriers

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

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

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

China is Watching Iran—and Preparing to Strike the Indo-Pacific While America’s Military Hits the Decline Button

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy’s Trump-Class Battleships Could Fire Mach 7 Railguns

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Blue Ridge-Class: The U.S. Navy’s Most Important Warship You Never Heard Of

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Navy Spent $22 Billion on the Littoral Combat Ship And Got Busted Warships They Can’t Use

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