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.

A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron taxis pre-flight during exercise Combined Strike 25 at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Aug. 20, 2025. Combined Strike 25 is a readiness training with RAF Lakenheath’s 48th Fighter Wing F-15s and F-35s alongside Aviano’s 31st Fighter Wing F-16s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Bartoszek)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

India Doesn’t Want the F-35 or Su-57 Stealth Fighters

Key Points and Summary – India has rejected offers to purchase both the American F-35 and the Russian Su-57, signaling a major pivot towards...

Steve BalestrieriAugust 26, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

A-12 Oxcart: The CIA Spy Plane Faster Than the SR-71 Blackbird

Key Points and Summary – Before the SR-71 Blackbird, there was a faster, more secretive spy plane: the CIA’s A-12 Oxcart. -Developed in the...

Steve BalestrieriAugust 25, 2025

A joint team consisting of F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force flight test members, U.S. Sailors and Marines, and the crew of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184) are executing developmental sea trials in the eastern Pacific Ocean to gather the necessary data to certify F-35B Lightning II short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft operations. While aboard the MSDF’s largest ship, the Pax ITF flight test team has been gathering compatibility data for analysis in order to make recommendations for future F-35B operational envelopes, further enhancing the Japanese navy's capabilities. The results of the testing will contribute to improved interoperability between Japan and the United States, strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance and contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan is an F-35 Joint Program Office foreign military sales customer planning to purchase 42 F-35Bs. The F-35 Joint Program Office continues to develop, produce, and sustain the F-35 Air System to fulfill its mandate to deliver a capable, available, and affordable air system with fifth-generation capabilities.

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

An Expert Reveals the Real F-35 Fighter ‘Kill Switch’

Key Points and Summary – Rumors of a secret F-35 “kill switch” that would allow the U.S. to remotely disable allied jets are a...

Steve BalestrieriAugust 25, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The JAS 39 Gripen Fighter Summed Up in 2 Words

Key Points and Summary – Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen is a fast, capable, and affordable fighter, yet its export success is surprisingly limited. -The...

Steve BalestrieriAugust 25, 2025

Ukraine War

Will Russia Collapse?

Key Points and Summary – While not facing imminent collapse, Russia is on an unsustainable path due to the immense strain of the Ukraine...

Steve BalestrieriAugust 24, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Russia’s Su-57 Felon: The Stealth Fighter Almost No Nation Wants to Buy

Key Points and Summary – Despite being marketed as Russia’s premier 5th-generation stealth fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” has failed mainly in the export...

Steve BalestrieriAugust 23, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

China’s New J-35A: The Stealth Fighter No Military Wants to Fly

Key Points and Summary – Despite being heavily marketed as an affordable alternative to the F-35, China’s J-35A stealth fighter has failed to secure...

Steve BalestrieriAugust 23, 2025