Steve Balestrieri

Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Wash. (Aug. 14, 2003) -- Illustration of USS Ohio (SSGN 726) which is undergoing a conversion from a Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) to a Guided Missile Submarine (SSGN) designation. Ohio has been out of service since Oct. 29, 2002 for conversion to SSGN at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Four Ohio-class strategic missile submarines, USS Ohio (SSBN 726), USS Michigan (SSBN 727) USS Florida (SSBN 728), and USS Georgia (SSBN 729) have been selected for transformation into a new platform, designated SSGN. The SSGNs will have the capability to support and launch up to 154 Tomahawk missiles, a significant increase in capacity compared to other platforms. The 22 missile tubes also will provide the capability to carry other payloads, such as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Special Forces equipment. This new platform will also have the capability to carry and support more than 66 Navy SEALs (Sea, Air and Land) and insert them clandestinely into potential conflict areas. U.S. Navy illustration. (RELEASED)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

727 Days on Patrol: A Navy Nuclear Ohio-Class Missile Submarine ‘Broke All the Rules’

Key Points and Summary – USS Florida (SSGN-728) wrapped a staggering 727-day deployment (Aug 2022–Jul 2024), spanning 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet waters and...

Steve BalestrieriOctober 28, 2025

(Sep 30, 2025) -- Recruits perform Instructional Training Exercise (ITE) at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command September 30, 2025. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy's only boot camp. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stuart Posada)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Real Reason the U.S. Navy’s Recruiting Numbers Are Surging

Key Points and Summary – The U.S. Navy’s recruiting is surging, signing up over 44,000 sailors in FY2025—its best year in over two decades....

Steve BalestrieriOctober 27, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

China’s White Emperor ‘NGAD’ Stealth Fighter Summed Up in 2 Words

Key Points and Summary – China’s 2024 unveiling of the “White Emperor” (Baidi), a full-scale mock-up of a sixth-generation “space-air” fighter, has sparked intense...

Steve BalestrieriOctober 27, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The ‘New’ M1E3 Tank Has a Message for the U.S. Army

Key Points and Summary – The U.S. Army has canceled its planned M1A2 SEPv4 tank upgrade, a program that would have pushed the Abrams...

Steve BalestrieriOctober 27, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

‘New’ Challenger 3 Tank Has a Warning for NATO

Key Points and Summary – The UK is upgrading 148 Challenger 2 tanks into the new, more lethal Challenger 3 variant, which features a...

Steve BalestrieriOctober 27, 2025

USS Midway Aircraft Carrier of Midway-Class

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Midway-Class Aircraft Carrier Has a Message for Every Navy on Earth

Key Points and Summary – Despite long and distinguished service careers spanning from 1945 to 1992, the Midway-class aircraft carriers were considered a “less...

Steve BalestrieriOctober 24, 2025