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.

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Day the U.S. Got a Secret Russian MiG-25 Fighter (It Was Junk)

MiG-25 Defection Key Words and Summary – In 1976, Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko made a daring defection, landing his top-secret MiG-25 Foxbat fighter in...

Steve BalestrieriJuly 25, 2025

(Aug. 22, 2023) Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Chase Allen maintains the barrel of a Mark 45 5-inch light-weight gun on the fo’c'sle of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) in the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 22, 2023. Paul Hamilton is deployed to the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elliot Schaudt)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Navy Crisis No One Saw Coming

Key Points and Summary – The U.S. Navy is facing a severe shipbuilding and maintenance crisis at the very moment China’s naval power is...

Steve BalestrieriJuly 25, 2025

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team commander, performs an aerial maneuver during the Cocoa Beach air show in Florida, July 12, 2025. The F-22 Aerial Demonstration Team highlights cutting-edge airpower, precision, skill, all while reinforcing public confidence in the Air Force’s ability to protect and defend. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Slow Death of the U.S. Air Force

Key Points and Summary – The U.S. Air Force is facing a severe modernization crisis. Its fleet is shrinking to its smallest size in...

Steve BalestrieriJuly 25, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

A-12 Avenger II ‘Flying Dorito Stealth Bomber’ Summed Up in 1 Word

Key Points and Summary – The A-12 Avenger II, nicknamed the “Flying Dorito” for its radical triangular shape, was the U.S. Navy’s ambitious attempt...

Steve BalestrieriJuly 25, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Air Force’s F-16XL ‘Cranked-Arrow’ Was a Radical Fighter Idea

Key Points and Summary – The F-16XL was a radical, experimental variant of the iconic F-16, featuring a massive “cranked-arrow” delta wing. -This innovative...

Steve BalestrieriJuly 24, 2025

Staff Sgt. Will Gonzales, 36th Security Forces Squadron armory NCO in charge, displays a Sig Sauer M18 pistol on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Aug. 26, 2019. The M18 provides improved trigger pull, tritium night sights, larger ammo capacity, weapon reliability and durability to strengthen shooter lethality. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Michael S. Murphy)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Sig Sauer M18 Gun Might Fire Itself

Key Points and Summary on M18 – The Air Force Global Strike Command has ordered an immediate halt to the use of its M18...

Steve BalestrieriJuly 24, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Navy’s Alaska-Class WWII Battlecruiser Failure Was Obvious

Key Points and Summary – The Alaska-class ships were unique American warships from World War II, designed as massive “large cruisers” or battlecruisers. -Their...

Steve BalestrieriJuly 24, 2025